Thirty One Days

Chapter 4: I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning

Fact: Things have a way of working themselves out. Usually.

-x-

July 5th, 2007

I notice that mom's car isn't in the driveway as I cut across the lawn to get to the front porch. I'm not feeling significantly better but I am ready to kill whatever douche bag did this to me. Caleb? Jacob? I don't know, who ever it was is going to die.

I grab the spare key from under the welcome mat (so generic, but it's easy to remember) and shove it into the key hole before turning the doorknob. In a few hours, when my head doesn't feel awkwardly attached to my neck, I'll go next door and smooth things out with Tai. But right now, I'm still in major hang over mode which means I'm more than crabby and would snap at a moment's notice. Be warned.

I'm about to walk into the kitchen when something or rather someone on my couch catches my eye. I'm about to scream, when I notice who it is. "Tai…"

He looks so innocent, asleep in the armchair in the most uncomfortable position imaginable. And god, does he look cute.

Carefully I walk over and sit on the arm. Running my fingers through his soft hair. "I'm sorry" I whisper, lightly tracing my fingers over his cheek.

I'm not going to say that whatever happened last night didn't upset me, because it did. But the truth of the matter is, I have absolutely no right to be upset. I've been playing him hot and cold since I got here, so for him to want to find someone who could actually be with him. Well it's more than understandable. I'm just a vicious, overactive, angry drunk.

As I jump off the side, he stirs. Crap. I really didn't want to deal with this until I had a gallon of coffee in me and a nice and well needed shower. Tai obviously has other plans.

"You're okay" he says in relief.

I don't turn around, "What are you doing here?" I try to keep my tone normal. As oppose to totally freaked out.

I hear him shuffle closer, "Your mom let me in" She's been doing that a lot lately.

"Oh" What else can I say? "And yeah, I'm okay" I know he didn't really ask me, but I might as well confirm it.

I feel his hand lightly touch my shoulder, "I'm sorry" De ja vu.

I turn around, "No, you shouldn't be" I say feebly.

He takes my chin, "Listen, I'm okay with you liking Matt Ish—

I shake my head, "But I don't think I do" I defend, "And I know I like you" I confess.

He stares into my eyes cautiously, "Mimi, you don't know what you want" He says softly, "And as much as I don't want you to get hurt…I don't want to either" I know that must have been hard for him to say.

Guys don't usually like to talk about their "feelings", so I appreciate that. "I get that…, maybe we'd be better just stay friends" I say dejectedly.

But seriously? What did I think would happen? I'm only here for a month so starting a "relationship" or anything with anyone would be emotional suicide. "Maybe" He answers truthfully.

"What happened to you last night?" He asks carefully.

I sigh, "You don't want to know" I'm sure he doesn't.

He nods, "No, I do, tell me" He insists.

"It's kind of a long story and I don't remember much of it" I warn him.

He shrugs, "I'm not busy"

I don't want to tell him, not really. But I feel like I have to. "Well, I mean you have to listen…no interruptions?" I bargain.

"You got it" He complies.

"Okay" I breathe out and begin to recollect the events of last night.

-x-

He's going to leave a little angrier than he came but it was misplaced anger anyway. He loathed himself for not sticking around long enough to kick the douche's ass. I'm sure he secretly hates Matt for being the one who took care of me and he's angry that it was our argument that caused me to take the tainted drink in the first place.

But I can't take it back and neither can he, so he tried (for my sake, I'm sure) to hide his anger by not punching a whole in the wall. That didn't mean he didn't scowl or mutter threats under his breath.

"I'll be back later" He kisses my cheek before departing.

I nod, "I'll be here this time" I assure him, with no intentions of going anywhere but bed.

He cracks a smile, "Good"

"How late?"

"Not too late?"

"Just so I know whether or not I should leave the window unlocked"

"Oh I'll be using the front door"

I smile tiredly, "My mother will be so happy"

He grins "And I aim to please"

"Oh I'm sure" He gives me a last fleeting glance before leaving.

I shut the door behind him before dragging my ass to my suddenly inviting bed.

-x-

"Ice cream" I announce as we walk towards his car.

He gives me an amused look, "It's 7:30, wouldn't you rather go to a movie before getting ice cream?" He asks realistically.

But that's just not me, "Nope, I probably won't want it then"

"Instead, you want it now"

"You catch on quick"

"It's on my list of attributes" He opens the car door for me.

I am so ready to forget about what happened yesterday and move on. I just want to have a good time from here on out. No more drama, no more hospitals, no more passing out and definitely no more Ruphynol. I wish I could say that there'd be no more Matt, but I'm not sure if it's entirely possible. He intrigues me in ways I have yet to figure out.

I prod his side with my finger, "So ice cream?" I'm about to pull out my pout.

But he doesn't seem to put up a fight, "Sure, we'll get you ice cream" So complacent.

I don't ask we're we are going to get said ice cream because let's face it, I wouldn't know what he'd be talking about. Directions have never been my thing and even more so now that I'm in a place I don't live in.

"You seem…pensive" He gives me a side glance.

I shrug, "Slightly"

"Bout?" He asks curiously.

"I'm a complete moron when it comes to directions"

He laughs, "Well naturally" He supplies, "You always seem to surprise me, Mimi, it's never what it seems with you, huh?"

"Never" I attest.

"More interesting that way"

"I would like to think so"

-x-

"How'd we wind up behind the freezer?" I whisper fervently.

He searches his eyes frantically across the ice cream parlor, "Hiding from my ex girlfriend and her stupid friends" He reminds me quickly.

I nod my head, "I still haven't gotten my ice cream" I'm getting tired of waiting for this girl to leave.

He really doesn't want to run into her. Maybe it was a messy break up? Whatever the case, he's adamant on avoiding her. Which is why I'm peeking out from behind the freezer, squishing as close to him as possible, because it's a little cold.

His eyes are fixated on her and her giggling band of annoying friends. All though I do have to admit, they're all very pretty. Especially, Megan, who he pointed out to be the alleged ex. She has flowing waves of red hair reaching the middle of her back, kind-looking, green eyes and a pretty smile. She seems like she'd be one of those girls you could get along with pretty easily.

And Tai seems like a guy who'd appreciate that. "She's about to leave" He tells me.

I sigh loudly, "Tai, my calf is cramping"

"Move around a little" He suggests.

I roll my eyes, "Okay, I'm leaving" I tell him.

He grabs my arm, "No, you can't!" He pulls me back lightly.

I shake off his grip, "She doesn't know me!" I whisper in frustration, sliding out from behind the stupid freezer.

She may not know me, but she definitely notices me. Her and her three friends have their gazes fixated on my back. I don't give them an obvious glance, keeping my line of vision in front of me. They're probably trying to figure out who I am, because from what I've gathered, in this town, everyone knows everybody else. I'm pretty used to getting stared at.

"It's Miss Tachikawa's daughter" I hear one of them whisper. My mother never did change her last name after the divorce. "She lives next door to—" The girl cuts off immediately.

Megan nods, "I know" She puts a hand over her friend's arm.

I pretend to be scanning the flavors of ice cream intently. I just wish they'd leave so Tai could come out from hiding and we could go too. I'm not even in the mood for ice cream anymore. "She's pretty" Another says.

Well duh.

"I saw her at Ken's party" The one that looks the most familiar says, with a glance in my direction. "She got in a fight with—you know" Apparently saying Tai is like saying Voldemort, with these girls.

Megan shakes her head, "I don't care" She says, but in a way that doesn't seem rude. "If Tai likes her, that's good" It sounds so honest.

Her friends don't feel the same. "He's an ass if he goes out with her" The brunette to her left says. "It wouldn't be fair to you, Meg" She sympathizes.

I wonder if they know I can hear them? Do they care?

"It's fine Aiko. I want him to be happy" And with that she gets up.

With out even saying so, Megan has closed the door on this subject. In a weird way I feel like she's trying to tell me something. Like I have her blessing or something and being with Tai would be okay. I never needed it and until today I didn't even care to know who she was. But knowing that I wasn't doing anything wrong, it made me feel a little better. Now if only Tai would come out from behind that damn refrigerator.

They leave money on the table before exiting. Only Megan seems to linger for a few moments. She turns from the door; her eyes meet mine for just a second. "He's here, right?" She asks softly.

I glance towards the freezer by the door, a subconscious smile on my face. I drop my voice to a whisper. "Yes"

She lets out a low laugh, "Tell him, he doesn't have to hide from me" She says loudly, loud enough for anyone hiding behind freezers to hear. "He's a really good guy" She says to me.

"I know" I can tell that much from being around him.

She runs a hand through her red hair, "Be good to him, will you?" It's a simple request.

I hesitate for a second; "I'll try" I amend.

"Meg, you coming?!" A distant voice calls from out side the shop.

"Be right there" She yells back, "And please don't mind my friends? They're a little protective is all" She says sheepishly.

I waive a hand dismissively, "I know how it is, I've got two best friends back home" In fact, Yolie and Sora would have been much worse, had the situations been reversed.

She looks relieved, "Okay" She gives me a smile before leaving.

As she does, Tai comes out from hiding. "Megan" He calls her back.

Megan looks towards the freezer than back at Tai, she laughs behind her hands. "Don't ever change Tai"

He grins unabashedly, "Wouldn't be much fun if I did?"

She shakes her head, "Not even in the least" She says with ease, clasping her hands behind her back.

Another call for her name.

"I should…"

He nods, "I wasn't hiding from you" He tries to tell her.

She puts up a hand, "I understand, really" She says quietly, "I've known you too long to hold a grudge"

"I hope you're happy, Megan" He says sincerely.

"I am Tai, don't worry" She responds before leaving.

He stares after her for just a moment. "Sorry" he apologizes to me.

I can't help but smile. "Let's get out of here, hm?" I extend a hand out towards him.

He walks closer, "You didn't even get your ice cream though" He points out.

I laugh, "It's a little late for that, Tai" I'm really not even in the mood for it anymore.

He shrugs putting his larger hand in mine, "Now what?" he asks, as we leave the deserted ice cream shop.

"You suggest something"

He scratches the back of his head with his free hand, "There's really not much to do around here" he admits.

I'm not that picky though, especially not tonight. "What would you do if you were with Megan?" I ask.

He seems surprised, "I uh, I don't really…" He doesn't feel comfortable discussing her with me, I guess.

But I don't let him off that easy, "Tai, come on" I say sternly.

"We'd probably go to a movie or something" He sighs.

"Okay, so let's do it" I smile up at him.

And how can he resist my patented "Mimi Tachikawa" smile?

I know he can't help but smile back, "Whatever you want" He lets go of my hand and drapes he arms around my shoulders comfortably.

"So, she seems nice" I notice, he's going to talk about this even if it kills him.

"She is" He agrees, looking down the side walk.

I stare up at the starless sky for a second, "And pretty" I hint.

"That too" He doesn't feel the need to lie, that's good.

"Will you ever tell me why you guys broke up?"

"You never asked" I'll give him that much.

"If I ask now, would you tell me?"

"Won't know till you ask" He grins again.

"Why'd you guys break up?"

"Irreconcilable differences" Dude, vague much?

I shove him a little, "Thanks so much for the details" I say sarcastically.

He chuckles. "After two years, we realized that we'd grown apart" He starts, "We grew up, is the best answer, we just became different people" Note to self: Tai is a really bad story teller.

I nod nonetheless, "And you stopped loving each other?" I question.

He thinks about it for a few minutes before answering, "I don't think there was ever love between Megan and me" Tai admits, "Just convenience"

"What do you mean?"

"We were together for so long because I think we were both afraid of what would happen if we let go" He doesn't look at me, "When it got to be too much and neither of us were happy any more, it was over" Just like that? Their relationship seemed a lot like the one me and Michael had. Or still have? I don't know…

"Her friends blame you" They don't have a right to.

He laughs again, "They would, but isn't that how all girlfriends are" He doesn't seem to care; I had a feel he wouldn't. "Besides, Megan isn't like them, I know she doesn't blame me because it was mutual" After everything, he still thinks highly of Megan.

"She means a lot to you, huh?" I ask, slightly unhappy.

"I'm always going to care about her and I guess she used to mean a lot to me" He smiles, "But I don't think I could go down that road again" He says honestly.

Well, that's a relief. I think. Even though it really shouldn't be a relief at all, Tai needs someone who isn't leaving at the end of the month. He needs a girl who doesn't have so many emotional issues and an on and off boyfriend she isn't supposed to let go of. Plus the conflicted feelings for, who seems, like his mortal enemy.

"Mimi?" He nudges me lightly as we stand before the three room movie theater.

I blink up, "Yeap?"

"What movie?" he sounds like he's asked me this once before.

"Whatever's playing as long as there isn't too much blood" I say passively, "I'm not a fun date when there's blood" I warn.

He grins, "Date huh?"

Shit. "You, you know what I meant" I pray to God he did.

"Sure, sure"

I am so not convinced, "Just pick a movie" I mumble, feeling my face burn.

He chuckles before kissing my cheek, "You're blushing" He whispers into my ear.

Which, I'm sure, sends another coat of pink to my cheeks.

-x-

"And did you have fun?" My mom asks as we sit with a carton of cookie dough ice cream between us.

I stick a spoon full of heaven in my mouth before answering, "He is so nice and so funny" I inform her, "And god Mom, he's gorgeous" Surprisingly telling her things like that doesn't feel weird.

My mom's face lights up, "He really is cute" She agrees, "And the two of you together" She nods appreciatively.

I give a laugh, "We aren't going to prom" I snort sarcastically.

She laughs too, putting her spoon into the ice cream, "I really shouldn't be eating this" She says, but still sticks the spoon in her mouth.

I shake my head, "Nuh uh! If I'm eating so are you"

"You could eat four of these" She points at the carton before continuing, "And not have to jump on the treadmill, I on the other hand will be working this off for the next week" But she doesn't seem to care.

I laugh again, "Mom, pajamas and gossip night can not be complete with out ice cream" I say seriously, it's girl code law.

"In that case" She winks, putting another spoon full in her mouth.

I cross my legs Indian style, "But there's another thing…" I sigh.

She raises an eyebrow; she totally needs to stop stealing my move! "Go on" She's interested.

I'm not sure if I should tell her but I think I'm going to for two reasons. One, I hate keeping things to myself—I've never had to before, I'm used to telling Sora everything. And two, if there's anyone who can give me an honest opinion, a straight answer, no bullshit, it's my mom.

"Matt" I mumble.

It seems like she knew this was coming, "You like him?" she asks calmly, but I know nothing would scare her more than me "liking" resident bad boy Matt Ishida.

I shrug, "I don't know, but I just…" I don't know how to word it, "It's kind of like, when I need him he's always there and when we're together I can't really think straight and I get all tongue tied and I talk right—

"You can't talk right?" She asks an amused look on her face, "Honey, you are the fastest talker I know and I mean you can rant with the best of them—

"Who do you think I got that from?" I narrow my eyes at her.

She laughs, "Fair enough, go on" She smiles.

I nod, "Okay, well I dunno I just feel like if I try to get to know Matt better I'll be hurting Tai and not getting to know him…it's not fair to myself" I've never been so confused of anything in my life. Not even Algebra.

My mom is contemplative for a few minutes, "You can't have both" She finally says, "Some where down the line Meems, you're gonna have to choose" And there it is.

I run a hand through my hair, "What are the odds of either of them remembering me, ten years from now?" I ask lightly.

She touches my cheek, "Pretty good, you leave quite an impression on everyone that meets you" But don't all moms say that?

She seems to mean it though, "Well, it's okay to have fun right?" I question. "What's a month anyway?" Seriously, I'll be gone before either of them even get to know me. This is just going to be a way to pass my time.

My mom nods in agreement, "Just thirty one days"

-x-

A/N: Sorry about the late update, we just thought we'd wait for a little bit more reviews. Whatever, we didn't wanna keep you guys waiting to long. It wouldn't be fair.

Hope you enjoy this!

-Liya and Chris

P.S- No fact at the end, we thought that the ending to this chapter was a little more fitting that way.

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