I do not own digimon.

Chapter 4

-Well done girls! This is it, for today.

I´m in the dance club. This means that I stay after classes almost every day, I love it. Also is the reason why I know how jocks are really like, since they stay until the same hour as us.

-Dancing is so relaxing.- Says a classmate while she stretches herself.

Some of us got in due to our love to dance. It relaxes you and strengths your muscles. Every girl should try it some time.

-I totally agree.- I say smiling at her and taking my bag.

Well, that is what I think.

-Yeah, whatever.- Says a redhead taking out the importance of our words with a hand gesture. Then, she realizes that something, or to be fair, someone is coming.- BOYS!

Sometimes I think I´m too naïve. Most girls sing up just to stay late for them, to talk to them, and for them to see their bodies stretched in shorts. Almost all the class, like lighting, take their things and go to meet the boys. Personally, I don´t see the bright side of "batting my eyelashes" to a sweaty and stinky boy.

Not for me.

I should get home early, there is homework unfinished is on my desk, which is why I start walking the other way. The bouncing of a basketball stops my tracks. I observe the ball while it passes me. From the other part of the gym, some jocks laugh. I don´t mind them, just keep going.

-¡Oye, Kariiiño! ¡Pásala!- Shouts one of them in Spanish, the others laugh out loud.

-You sound like Speedy Gonzales!

If you want them, go and get it.

-Hey, don´t be like that, come with us!- Shouts another one, then he continues:- And bring the ball with you!- Again the laughs.

There is no way I will do as you say. You have legs and hands, go and get it yourselves.

I keep walking, not once I stop, not a single second. Once I´m in the hallway where the changing rooms are, someone pushes me against the wall. Not too hard, but still, he pushes me.

-Get off of me.

There is no one apart from us. This is the only way you will come as you really are, right?

-I´m really tired of this, it´s been too long. What is your problem?

No one can get me out of there. I don´t need to be saved.

-What is your problem?- I counterattack.

His blue eyes shine with fury while he takes me by the shoulders.

-Why can´t you behave like a decent person? Just give us the ball, it is not much.- I turn my face away from his stare.- Or are you going to ignore the inanimate object too?- He asks with challenge in his tone.

I return his gaze lifting my chin, demonstrating him that he does not intimidates me. Who do he think he is claiming those things?

-I can´t? I!- I mock, he is not amused.

I laugh without happiness. He pushes me farther against the wall.

-If you were kinder maybe you would have more friends,- for some seconds, there is silence. His tone drops:- you would still be friend of some people.

-If I wanted to be friends with airheads,- I refute looking into his eyes- I would pay attention to your specie. Anyway, there are lots of options.

-You´ve formed an stereotype, it is far away from the truth.- Yeah, right.- Not all of us are like that.- His face comes closer to my face. I can see all the tones of blue in his eyes.- I am not like that.

-Get off of me.

-I´ve never was.- He murmurs.

I just raise an eyebrow.

-I´ll prove you wrong.- He decides.

Sure, like you did the other time. You are good doing that.

I don´t reply. He takes a step back, then turns around and start walking like this "encounter" never happened. Out of the blue, he spun around and adds:

-Princess- he bows his head and leaves me.

I beat my tongue.

I stay in the same spot until he is out of sight, when that happens; I lay on the wall and let myself fall. Once on the floor, I sit in fetal position trying to contain the tears that threaten to fall out. I won´t cry, this is stupid; definitely I won´t cry because of him. It doesn´t affect me. It doesn´t affect me. He doesn´t affect me.

One word stays in my mind: princess. Also, I can still see the change in his eyes.

I sight heavily.

Those memories are not good for me. I have been avoiding them from a long time now, but it was never easy. Like today.

The next day, I go to school with a big smile plastered on my face. Yesterday nothing bad happened. Not an important bad thing. Not a relevant thing to tell someone. For everyone else I am who I always was, the little and sweet Kari.

It is a good scape, the perfect façade. The most brilliant mask: what everyone expect, what they have always seen.

Let´s see, what was I supposed to do? I make a mental note of all my "to-do list" while I try not to crash into some unknown student. The blonde one crosses my way and he has the nerve to smirk. I almost leave behind my perfectly structured character and tell him lots of things I wanted to say from a long time now. Almost. Immediately, my eyes change of focus, my smile is still on my lips, my feet keep on moving and my heart is still beating. I won´t waver nor I will expose my charade, not in front of this people.

-Hey, Kari!

I stop harshly, which made the guy behind me nearly crash into me, it was just good luck that he didn´t because he was fast enough to move aside. I smile ashamed, he acknowledges my unspoken apology with a nod and leaves. I wait for the one who had call my name to come. When he does, he is catching his breath, I guess he was running.

-Hi- he says.

I bit my lower lip. There was a time when I thought that this boy was the one who could make me smile for real again.

-Hi- my voice is barely heard.

His lips curve upwards, he put in place his backpack, straightens himself and starts walking. I am watching him leave when he turns and mouths "let´s go". I catch up with him quickly and we continue our way to class. He stretches his arms upwards with a funny face, then he looks at me sideways.

-I´ve heard that our teacher will have us do a pair work.- I wait for him to make the question I´m sure he will ask.- Would you mind being my partner in this?- I smile sweetly up at him and give him a thumb up, I don´t mind at all, it saves me the time I would be searching for someone to work with.

I am aware of my mistake. I will not wait for someone to cure my wounds nor to make me smile again. I can do it myself. I won´t depend on someone else, no more; but, meanwhile, I have no reasons to worry the ones who are closer to me.

-Just, please, take this seriously.- I warn him.

The problem with Daisuke is that he takes almost everything as a joke. Once I was told that he befriended me because there was a rumor that no other jock could, just because of a bet. I wouldn´t believe it, but I kind of prefer this thought than knowing he talks to me because I am Tai´s sister. Besides, the important thing is that putting aside all said and thought, he had stay near me without asking much in return.

-Are you doubting of me, your most loyal server?- He asks with fake hurt in his face.

I roll my eyes and sit in my usual place. He does the same in the chair right next to mine.

-I just hope this will be a simple work.- He whispers putting an arm in the back of my chair so that he can come nearer to me.

I try not to let show how rigid I am by moving around the things I put on my desk. It is not only the closeness of the boy beside me that makes me uncomfortable, it is the eyes I feel are on me the worst part.

Why does it keeps happening? It is supposed to have stopped by now.

-I prefer a bigger job.- I confess. What I don´t mention is that my predilection is due to the good distraction it would be.

He looks at me as if I am the strangest person on earth. I smile ironically, well, I´m surely close enough, but no too much people care enough to notice. The eyes are still on me. Fine, almost anyone has notice.

-Good mornig.

Daisuke sits properly and I relax, both guys have freed me. I can breathe again. The lecture continues normally until the last ten minutes, when the sensei takes a look of his wristwatch.

-You´ve probably heard from your other classmates that I will assign a pair work.- Many cross looks and give each others thumps ups.- Neverthess,- ok… I don´t think this is good, at all.- I will choose your partners.- It does not take much time for the disagreeing voices to raise, Sensei crosses his arms and suddenly the class is dead silent.- I will do it, that´s it.

-I am really sorry.- Mutters the messy haired boy.

Poor guy, it seems like he means it.

-Don´t worry, we can work together some other time.- I comfort him putting a hand on his right arm, totally out of character (the touching, I mean). Sometimes I amaze myself.

He smiles down at me and I, up at him. I wonder if a studious classmate would be my spartner. I try to push aside the thought of being stuck with the one I want less. There is something inside of me that tells me that is the thought that will come true.

-Takeru Takaishi and Hikari Yagami.

The heir of the googles looks at me, worried. I wonder what have I done wrong to deserve this torture. Now I certainly take back what I hope for this project: I hope it will be simple and quick. Just like taking off a Band-Aid, fast and painless.

A/N: I hope you enjoy it and that I can make up some time to finish the other chapters fast.

Happy Holidays!