Thirty One Days

Chapter 6: Talk of the Town

Fact: Things go wrong, but sometimes if you're really lucky, they go right.

-x-

July 7th, 2007

"I'm telling you Sora, it's just a big mess" I complain, staring up at the ceiling. My crap excuse for an air conditioner doing absolutely nothing to cool my room.

I hear her sigh. "From what I can tell, yeah but a hot mess" She giggles. "I mean Meems, blonde brooding Matt one night, hot brunette Tai another night. It seems like all you have to do is enjoy" She says. Of course, Sora would see it like that. If the situations had been reversed I'd probably be telling her to do the same thing.

Because as the song goes, us girls, we just wanna have fun.

But not when the fun is at the expense of hearts, his, mine and…his. "But I feel like I'm leading them both on" I persist.

"So what?" She questions. "When the hell are you even gonna see these guys again? In a year, if they're lucky. What are you worrying about?" She scolds.

But she's never going to understand. "Okay Sor, you're right" I concede just to end this conversation. "I should just have fun." I admit, trying to make my voice sound as believable as it can. But as we've already figured out, I'm a terrible liar.

"I'm glad you came to your senses" She approves. "Besides, I feel like you're putting too much pressure on yourself, just do what you want" She says seriously. And normally, I would agree because usually I do exactly what I want, when I want. But being here has changed me in way I'm not sure I can even recognize.

And maybe that's not such a good thing.

"Me too…" I say softly.

"Well listen, I have to go out for a little bit. But I'll give you a call later" She says.

Sometimes, I wish I was back home with Sora. Things had been so much easier then. "Okay, miss you Sor." While I haven't been on the same page as her lately, I still do really miss my red headed best friend. She's the closest thing to family I've really ever had.

"Me too Meems" She says wistfully. "I'll talk to you later, girlie" She dismisses.

"Bye Sor"

-x-

A little while after I'd gotten off the phone with Sora, I'd gotten bored with being at home and doing nothing so I took a walk over to Tai's. Color me disappointed when he wasn't there, but hanging out with Kari is a very good substitute. She's such a fun girl and I don't miss Sora as much when I'm around her. Is that bad?

"But then Davis lands face first in my birthday cake and Tai ends up falling over in fits of laughter" She recounts her fourteenth birthday party. "And then my parents realized that the both of them were high" She finishes.

I'm laughing so hard my insides hurt. "I swear to God, they are always high!" I choke out, "Is that all they ever do?" I ask, wiping my eyes.

Kari rolls her eyes. "Pretty much, they're such idiots" She shakes her head. "And that's not even the half of it. If Tai hadn't made me sign a secrecy contract, trust me, you wouldn't look at him the same" She laughs.

I raise an eye brow. "He is something though, isn't he?" I smile softly.

She sticks a finger in her open mouth and pretends to gag. "Ewh, it's so hard to watch you go all lovey dovey for my brother" She wrinkles her nose.

I feel my cheeks get hot. "I do not get lovey dovey…do I?" I wonder.

Kari laughs, "Right, of course not" She grins.

I elbow her ribs. "Leave me alone." I pout.

"Okay Meems" She says complacently.

I love hanging out with this girl. She's just so easy to get along with. "So, Kar" I start off timidly.

"Oh god, serious talk" She makes a straight face. "Time to put on my shrink cap" She grins.

I give another laugh. "How can I be serious when you say things like "shrink cap"" I sputter, we can't be normal for more than two seconds.

"No really, lay it on me" She says between breaths, patting my leg.

I catch my breath. "Okay, okay. Now I don't even feel like tell you" I say, still smiling.

Kari rolls her eyes. "Out with it M, let's go" She lightly shoves my shoulder. "This therapy session can not begin until you tell me exactly what your problem is" She says professionally.

"Fine, my "problem" is probably that I'm friends with you" I joke.

She sticks her tongue out at me, "Imagine how bored you'd be without me" She reminds.

I'll give her that one. "Yeah, all right"

"Okay, so enough avoiding. Tell me" She prompts, laying next to me.

I stare at her ceiling. "Does Matt have a past?" I wonder out loud.

"Meems, everyone has a past" She points out.

I roll my eyes. "I know K, but I mean like a bad one?"

"What do you consider bad?"

I don't really know. "Well my mom like made him sound like, like a felon" I say sheepishly.

She shrugs. "No, but he isn't the cleanest of guys" She says honestly.

"What do you mean?"

She sighs. "You should really get this from him, I mean all I know is basic hearsay" She warns.

"I'll try not to believe all of it" I assure her.

"Well the school we go to is a prep school, I'm sure Tai's mentioned it" She begins.

I shake my head. "We never really got around to talking about it" I tell her.

She nods patiently. "Well we go to Austin Prep it's like a school in the city. I got in on a merit scholarship and Tai on an athletic one, otherwise Mom and Dad would've never been able to pay for it" She explains honestly.

I bob my head for her to continue, feeling like a total brat at the current moment.

"Anyway, so apparently the Ishidas have been going there since like ever right? I mean why not, they've got money and nothing to do with it" She says, slightly bitter. "But it's like one of those schools that cares a lot about its appearance and basically would do anything but kick a student out—it looks real bad" She stops and stares at me.

But I don't really understand. "So?"

"Well, Matt's on his final warning" She deadpans.

I quirk an eye brow. "What did he do?" I ask, slightly scared to even know.

"You want what he didn't do? That list would be shorter" She says sarcastically.

"Kar, come on" I push her.

She runs a hand through her straight, thin hair. "Hm well, let's start with possession of a an illegal substance, then the frequent fighting, the cutting class and well his complete disregard for authority!" She seems really wound up about this.

"You really don't like him huh?"

She shakes her head. "It's not about like or dislike Meems, it's about the fact that this guy thinks he can do whatever he wants and not have to face the consequences" She criticizes. "And I mean I guess he can, because no matter what he does, Daddy's money makes it go away" She says, her tone angry.

I run a hand over my face. I definitely got more than I bargained for with this one and I'm honestly beginning to think that this guy is more trouble than he's worth. Because if his track record says anything, it's trouble, which I can ill afford. Especially after the talk with my mother.

Yet, I ask. "What about that girl, his girlfriend?"

Kari looks over at me. "Hana?" She questions.

I nod. "Are they…?" I trail off.

She shrugs, "Who knows. Those two break up more than Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson" She snorts. "But I wouldn't put it past him, the girl is exactly his type" She says distastefully.

His type, huh? So what would that make me?

I don't wanna ask her anything else because I don't really think I can take it. She really dislikes him and if I keep digging I'm only going to find more reasons not to see him. And while I already have a text book of them, I still don't want anymore. Because for some godforsaken reason, I wanna give this guy a chance. Maybe because he took me home from the hospital, or coz he looked after me the night of the Fourth of July party or maybe because he's gorgeous. Whatever the reason maybe…I just do.

-x-

"So you're sure we should just leave?" I ask her again as we walk out of her house.

Kari looks at me like I'm crazy. "Why the hell not? Tai doesn't give a shit" She answers.

I loop my arm with hers. "He won't worry?" I ask seriously.

Once again, same look. "I don't think you've met my brother" She grins. "He probably won't even notice Meems" She insures me.

I shrug a shoulder. "If you say so K" I concede.

"Where are we going anyway?" I ask her.

She still hasn't told me, she just jumped off the bed and pulled me out of the house, talking really fast about wanting to get out of the house coz of how nice it was. "I dunno, let's get ice cream and then maybe hit a movie" She suggests with a shrug.

Hey, it's not like I have other plans. "Sounds good" I agree.

"So tell me about life back home" She changes the subject. "Where are you from again?" She furrows her brows trying to remember.

"A small town in North Carolina" I smile thinking of how much I appreciate Tree Hill. "And I guess before I complained about my life a lot. But it really isn't too bad" I says wistfully, feeling the light breeze blow my hair back.

She smiles back. "It seems nice. How about your friends?" She asks genuinely as we stroll leisurely down the walk.

"I've got two best friends, Sora and Yolie and they're basically my sisters" I respond. "And I thought I'd miss them so much—especially Sora, the red head, but I since I've been here, I don't know…" I trail off.

"I guess I'm not as dependent as I thought" I finish and for some reason, the thought of being my own person, by myself, makes me feel good. "And for once, it's okay" I say softly.

She stares at me slightly confused and I really don't expect her to understand. "But yeah, I live with my Dad back home and he's pretty amazing, when he's there" I continue, I like talking about myself, clearly.

"Absentee father? I can relate" She says dryly.

I give her a look of sympathy. "But we all deal. It's a part of life right?" I offer, and it sucks that my dad spends more time at work or with his girl friends than with me but I get over it.

She nods slowly. "I suppose so"

"And I mean, I have an on and off boyfriend." I don't really know why I'm going into so much detail, but it feels nice to have a real conversation with someone who really doesn't know me. "We've been on and off for what feels like forever but after coming here I just—

"Don't know anymore?" She supplies cheekily. "It happens, maybe it was overdue"

I consider that. "Maybe. But I just feel like when I leave things are gonna go back to being exactly the same" I say sourly.

She dips her head. "And you don't want it to." It's more of a statement than a question. "Right?"

I don't know anything anymore. For once in my life, I have absolutely no idea what I want. "I couldn't tell you. Because since I've been here Kar, I've tapped into a part of me that I didn't even know existed" I stress.

She rubs my arm. "I'm not sure I can relate but Meems, I like who you are now and I think you do too" She says honestly. "Don't change" She request.

A small laugh leaves my lips. "Thanks K" I rub my cheek against her hair.

"Ah no prob—

She cuts off immediately and my eyes automatically go to where she's silently pointing. At first I don't really get it, until a familiar sight of blonde hair comes into view. "It's Zoe" Kari whispers, pulling me behind a bush.

She looks like she's waiting for someone. "Kar, why are we behind a bush?!" I whisper back, hiding must run in the Kamiya family. "I feel stupid!" I mumble fervently.

"Shh" She points to a figure approaching the cold blonde. "It's Ken" She informs me, keeping me crouched beside her.

"So?" I don't see the big deal, what does she have a mad crush on Ken or something? "Kar, why are we spying on her?" If there was anyone in the Ishida family I'd think about spying on it would be a tall blonde in the form of Matt Ishida, not his sister!

Kari looks at me warily. "Come on Meems, I just wanna know what's going on between them and besides if we come out now we're gonna look like idiots" She argues.

"As oppose to looking like idiots behind a bush?"

Kari laughs softly, trying to muffle it. "M, I just wanna know what Ice Queen has to say. I mean she's such a bitch, if Ken disses her I wanna be here" She points out.

Okay, well maybe I do too. "Fine, but the second my leg starts cramping I'm sitting on you!" I mock threaten.

"Feel free" She nods towards them. "Now let's listen"

So we do.

At first it sounds only sounds like a murmur of two polite voices. I could only see the back of Zoe's head but Ken's face was in full view. He looks like he's trying to remain cordial to her, but she probably isn't making it easy. I feel for him.

"Zoe, did you really call me over here to fight?" He asks tiredly. "Because we could've done this over the phone" He says sharply.

I see her head bob up and down. "I didn't call you over to fight" She says, her tone slightly less cold then it usually is. Maybe this is her way of being endearing, I bet you if she wasn't so damn pretty guys like Ken wouldn't give her a second look; she had the personality of a wet shoe. "I just need to know where we stand Ken" She clarifies.

"Where we stand? Zoe you told me to go to hell and a number of other colorful things!" He exclaims, clearly frustrated. "What could we possibly have to say to each other after that?" He questions rhetorically.

I see her shoulders move up and down. "Ken I didn't mean that, I was just mad coz you'd been ignoring me at your party and then made out with that random girl!" She says angrily. "And said random girl is totally trying to hook up with my brother not to mention the stoner soccer player!" She shoves his shoulder.

I stare at Kari, stunned. "What the hell?" I manage to get out. "Tell me she isn't talking about me" I moan quietly. How the hell did I become the topic in every one's conversation all of a sudden!

"Shh" Kari waives me down, giving me a look that says "We'll definitely talk later"

I sigh and slump back against the ground; sadly I can still hear them.

"We aren't even together Zoe, I can kiss who ever the fuck I want!" His voice is rising, well good for you Ken; you should stand up for yourself. "And the funny thing is Zoe, you always manage to turn it around on me! Like I'm the bad guy!" He's on the brink of yelling, I can hear it.

But from what I've seen of her, Zoe won't be backing down any time soon. The best bitches never do. "That's coz you usually screw me over Ken and don't even pretend like you don't coz you do!" She hisses back. "You're the one who fucks around in supply closets and coat rooms, not me!" She screams.

Whoa, Ken just lost some major points if that's true.

"Will you let this go, Zoe you're making a scene" He says quietly, almost too quiet too hear. "Get in my car we'll talk there—

"Uhm, no, in case you haven't noticed Ken there isn't anyone around so how about we talk about this now" She interrupts icily.

I hear him heave a loud sigh. "You never make anything easy, huh?" He says, irate.

"Look, I really didn't come here to fight with you, I promise" She says and her voice actually sounds sincere, color me surprised. "But we've gotta work on things Ken" She says stubbornly.

"Work on what? These string of one night stands you like to call a relationship?" He asks harshly. "But I'm done Z, I really am" His tone a lot colder than I would've expected.

I get up to my knees; I'd like to see if she really cares.

Her shoulders slump ever so slightly and it looks very involuntary, she does give a shit. "You want that Ken? Hm, you really think it'll last?" She laughs mirthlessly.

He seems convinced though, "Yeah Zoe, I do" He says confidently. "It's been bad for a while babe, one of us has got to end this" He runs a tender hand across her cheek, I assume.

She smacks at it. "Don't touch me" She snaps.

He raises his hands up. "Fine." He complies, taking a few steps backward. "I just wanted to say goodbye properly" He defends.

She throws something at him, it looks like a piece of jewelry. "Yeah? Well, goodbye asshole" She screams, stomping away from him.

Me and Kari duck as she walks towards us, laying flat against the grass, waiting for her car to start. I can't help but feel pathetic because the two of them just flashbacked a me and Michael moment. Is that really what we sound like? Is that really how trivial our relationship had been? And I know the answer to these questions, I do, they're pretty cut and dry, I guess it just took a while to admit.

"Hey we can get up now" Kari comments, dusting off her cut off shorts.

I follow suit. "That was…something" I mention.

She nods. "Nothing out of the ordinary. We'll see them making out soon enough" She says in a moment of clairvoyance. "They've got the most bipolar relationship I've ever seen" She remarks as we enter the familiar ice cream shop.

I guess I agree but I don't' say it, coz then I'd feel like a big fat hippo-crit.

-x-

Tai is waiting on the porch steps, Davis in tow, when me and Kari return. "Hey squirt! Didn't I tell you to leave the key under the mat before you left!" He calls to her.

Kari blinks innocently. "I don't believe so. I mean if you had, I would never defy you dear brother" She says sweetly.

Tai gives her a look of apparent disbelief. "Whatever, just let us in" He mutters.

"Ahem" I clear my throat dramatically, since he is yet to acknowledge my presence.

His eyes fall on to me, I swear his mouth smiles all by itself. "Well, surprise surprise" He grins, crossing his arms over his chest laxly.

I shake my head. "Not really"

"Come here" He juts his chin out towards me, I guess for a hug.

I step into his embrace, he feels so good. "Missed you" he murmurs into my hair.

Kari makes retching sounds behind his back as I watch her sit next to Davis on the porch steps.

I release him. "Where were you guys anyway?" I clasp my hands behind my as we walk towards the two.

"Park, kicking around the old soccer ball" He informs me.

I nod. "And not lighting up the old joint?" I joke.

"Ha ha" He says sarcastically. "But blazing is what we do best, right Dave?" He cocks his head towards the other brunette.

"Fuck yeah!" He concurs.

I laugh at them, sitting next to Kari, they're the truest form of best friends I've ever seen. They get along so well and really like being in each other's company. It's the kind of brotherhood that lasts a lifetime. "Hey, no sitting. Kar open the door" Tai instructs impatiently.

Kari makes a face at him. "You could ask nicely, jerk" She retorts, taking her time as she gets up.

"Hurry up?" He offers, stepping aside.

She rolls her eyes at him. "You're an ass, Tai, really and honestly" She mutters, shoving open the door.

He takes her head and plants a sloppy kiss to the side of it. "Love ya kid" He smiles and it nearly melts my heart. He really loves his sister, not that there was any doubt in my mind, but more than that he isn't afraid to show it.

"Yeah, yeah" She says back with a small smile.

I follow behind Davis as we walk into the Kamiya living room. "You know, you should move here Meems" He says to me.

"Why is that Davis?"

"Coz baby, you make coming over to Tai's worth while" He smirks.

I shove his shoulder, taking a seat next to Tai on the sofa. "Watch it Dave, you're this close" He stops to show him his index finger and thumb less than an inch apart. "To being thrown out" Tai jokes.

I roll my eyes towards Kari, who is sitting across from me. "I know" She mouths.

"So tell me when you plan on asking my sister out Davis, so I can plan your funeral accordingly"

The two blush at Tai's comment and I can practically hear the wedding bells chiming. If the two of them don't end up married, I'll give up my trust fund! And that's saying a lot. "Shut it Tai" Kari says from across the table.

"Touchy subject sis?" He questions with a half cocked grin.

She glares at him. "No, it's a stupid one, so let's talk about something that isn't" She bites.

I laugh. "So, guys how was the soccer?" I interject quickly.

They respond with a mumble "Fine and Okay" so I suppose that the subject wasn't very interesting. Well, can't blame a girl for trying.

Davis speaks up. "Oh so dude, supposedly Zoe Ishida is single like legit" He tells Tai.

I see Tai's eye brows raise in curiosity and I can't help but feel a little…jealous. Zoe was such a bitch, why should he even care?

"True?" He asks.

Davis nods. "Just what I heard" He shrugs.

"Who'd you get it from?" Tai bobs his head towards Davis.

Davis scrolls through his phone. "Ah, Rika" He answers, throwing Tai his phone.

I peer over his shoulder, making no effort to hide my nosiness. It read: Fwd: Fwd: Ken and Zoe on the outs, looks like for good

Why is the entire town so interested in the two of them? It's like they're royalty or something. "So Britney and Justin broke up! Who cares!" I say out loud, immediately covering my mouth as the words tumble out. That definitely should've stayed in my head.

Tai throws Davis back his phone before turning to me, a slightly impressed look on his face. "Looks like you do princess" He points out.

I shake my head vehemently. "That's just it, I don't. And I'm tired to hearing about them" I huff. Sure Ken is freakin' hot but Zoe is a bitch and I don't care for her one bit.

"Who's Rika anyway?" I ask quietly, still melancholy.

Tai puts an arm around my shoulder. "Just a girl" He shrugs. "She's cool though, plays soccer on the girls' team" He details.

"Yeah, she's good" Davis adds.

"Think so, Dave?" Tai asks humorously.

Davis gives him the finger. "Yo, Kar's right dude. You're an ass" He responds.

Tai gives a slight shrug. "Meems doesn't mind. Right babe?" He looks over at with those pretty brown eyes and that heartbreaking smile.

So obviously I have to say, "No, I don't"

"She's biased" Kari winks over at me.

"Am not" I disagree, but she's right, I totally am partial to Tai.

Tai places a chaste kiss on my cheek. "Doesn't matter" He says softly, probably soft enough for only me to hear.

Davis pats Kari's thigh. "I'm bored here Kar, let's go to your room and make out" He raises his eye brows up and down ridiculously.

She laughs before smacking his shoulder. "In your dreams, but I do have an awesome record to play you" She bats her eye lashes playfully.

He groans. "Fine, but if I'm gonna sit through your emo rock, you owe me one" He follows her up.

"Yeah right, you're lucky I'm letting you hear this. It's straight off the mixing bored, not gonna be out to the general public for another two months!" I hear her explain animatedly as they go upstairs.

I smile at them, I've been doing a lot of the lately, it feels good. "I hope they invite me to their wedding" I tell Tai contemplatively.

"I'm sure you'll be the first on their list"

"Don't patronize"

"Me? Never" He runs a finger down the bridge of my nose.

I raise an eye brow. "Of course not" I say, sarcasm on the tip of my tongue.

"Quite the cynical" He notices.

"Yeah, and?" I say blankly.

He rubs a thumb over my cheek. "Nothin'." He says simply.

I look up at him, he looks at me. I can feel the heat in his stare and even though its burning me I can't tear my gaze away from his. Like magnets, it's that kind of irrefutable attraction, the kind that makes no sense in denying, so why bother?

And I don't bother resisting it. Because as his lips move closer to mine, mine move closer too. Before long, I feel them against mine and just like before I feel sparks. Sparks and passion, something I never felt with Michael. Even though we're timid, testing the waters, it's comfortable, like it was always meant to happen, just took us too long to get there.

I let my hands around his neck as his supports my back. I feel the other one touch my face and it's the most tender but intimate touch I've ever felt.

Finally, we pull apart, just briefly to catch a breath of air that we both needed. But before long my eyes meet his again and we begin to move closer.

Like Magnets.

-x-

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