Disclaimer: …you know.

Chapter Seven: Ending With The Dramatic Girl

Kari shook her head at me. "You're not drinking all of that, are you?"

"Of course I am,"

"You've been acting weird all week. What's wrong?…You know you can trust me…"

"You know what's wrong with me."

Kari laughed and took my hand. "I'm so excited. This'll be my first party I've been to in a long time. I bet we'll see Yuki and Mimi. Won't that be awkward…" After a few minutes of silence, she suddenly said, "C'mon, Yamato. You know you wanna talk to me."

I kind of wanted to, but it was too risky. For the past few days I had been hanging out with Kari, getting to know her as almost a sister, but telling her about Tai?

"Guess life's just getting hard," I muttered, taking a small sip.

She dragged me inside the house and I sighed. It was weird to think I used to go to parties twice a week; now it just felt boring. I mean, all people do dance and drink. What could possibly be fun about that?

Just like Kari predicted, Yuki was inside, dancing with some girls beside Noah. Lily was one of them. No sign of Mimi, though. Last I'd heard she was still upset about Yuki dumping her for Sora.

"Hey!"

Dai was standing there, grinning his cheesy smile. He was clearly drunk.

"Oh, you're talking to me?"

He shrugged. "I don't really care, I'm not immature like Yuki and Noah. I haven't hung out with them lately. Yuki's a little psycho now."

"Psycho?"

"Yeah…him and Sora broke up earlier tonight."

Explains the girls, I thought as Kari and Dai started talking about something else. I looked around for other people when I heard,

"Who's the lucky girl?"

I faced Lily. She was wearing that big "What are you hiding?" look.

"Oh, Hikari Yagami. You know Taichi, the soccer captain? His little sister."

Lily studied us. It made me feel a little nervous. Then she just bounced off and started dancing with Yuki. I always wondered if they'd date or something--they were so much alike.

"What happened to Yuki and Sora?" I asked Dai, who seemed to have been hitting on Kari.

"Huh? Oh! Um, he did something last night. I've heard he yelled at her, slept with someone else, slapped her…the list goes on. Gossip's pretty stupid, huh? I just know she broke up with him for sure."

Dai was always…"social" while drinking. He would yak on and on, but I liked that about him.

He suddenly walked away and took Kari with him. I had to bite my lip--Dai was definitely into Kari. I had never seen him flirt with someone, but I couldn't blame him--Kari looked cute that night.

"Hey, Ishida!"

I knew it was Yuki before I turned around and was hit by a fist.

"You wanna go outside?" he demanded, grabbing a hold of my collar.

"Oh, fuck off, Yano!" I heard someone say.

I really wished Tai was there. Or Mai. She would really give him a piece of her mind. But there was no one, so I had to fight my own battle. I'm not gonna lie; I was nervous. I hadn't fought since grade nine. I had to make sure not to show it, though.

"Fine," I snapped, shoving him away from me.

The whole party followed us. I tried to focus on how much talk Yuki was.

It wasn't working.

When we reached grass, I asked, "What's up?"

He answered my question by pushing me, shouting, "You're a fucking fag, that's what's up!"

I didn't have to say anything back. We were at it. Yuki was filled with so much anger that he was pretty much winning. But I couldn't let him go around to the entire school and tell everyone he beat me up. He slugged me hard, and all I could think was,

The little cocky fucker is gonna get fucking killed…

I pinned him to the ground and punched him back. My knees were on his elbows, giving me the chance to punch him a few mores time.

I hit him once.

"That's for cheating on Mimi."

I hit him again.

"That's for whatever the hell you did to Sora."

I hit him one last time.

"…and that's for callin' me a fucking fag!"

I stood up slowly and wiped blood off my lip, looking for Kari. I found her face in Dai's shoulder, almost shaking.

"C'mon," I grabbed her hand. "We're heading to your place. I think I'll spend the night or something."

Everyone was staring at me as if I was supposed to be dead. Yuki was laying there, breathing heavily, blood coming out of his mouth. I felt like kicking him.

I really did.

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According to different people, Yuki was acting weird all weekend. No one really knew why Yuki was trying to fight me. A lot of people were really mad at him and I still don't know why.

"I'm really sorry, Ishida." Noah had said during first period that Monday. "I think he was just really pissed at Mimi."

"Why would he be?"

Noah shrugged. "Friday he called Mimi and asked her to take him back but she said no."

"So…why would he fight me for it?"

"I have no idea."

Later that day, I was encountered with some new information. By none other than Lily.

I was having a decent, normal conversation with Lily about Yuki when suddenly she asked, "Yamato, you wanna tell me why grade ten girls are the new fad?"

"Huh?"

"You and Kari," she stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I laughed. "Hikari Yagami? Noah, we're just friends."

She smiled and rolled her eyes. "C'mon, Matty, everyone knows it. Like when you two left and had a 'slumber party'. Gossip talks, you know."

"Maybe I was at Taichi's house. Come on, Lil, you know I don't do relationships. Never have since Sora."

Lily just looked at me for a few seconds, then walked away. I found it funny, but later that day, a lot of other comments were made. I almost got into a fight with someone who asked me if Kari was good in bed. I hate gossip. I hate people that have nothing better to do than spread rumours about someone else.

I was probably most nervous for the rumours to go around to Tai. He was gonna kick my ass for sure.

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The next day, I was supposed to wait for Kari at one of the downstairs table. I became too impatient and headed to the pizza line instead. On the way, I heard someone shout, "Hey!" in a frantic way. "Hey, wait up, Yamato!"

Dai ran over to me and grabbed his knees, inhaling hard. "I need…some help."

"Sure, what's up?"

He hesitated. "You know Kari, right? Well, um…you're not dating her, are you?"

I shook my head.

"Well, I kind of…I think…I might be a little, you know, interested in her. So do you know how to make her like me or something? Ugh, don't tell anyone about this…especially Noah and Yuki…"

"Isn't Yuki kinda crazy now?"

Dai nodded. "You mean in the way of not talking to anybody about anything and looking for Mimi everyday? Yeah…he called me the other night crying his eyes out. Ask Noah, he has some stories, too."

Crying? I thought, my eyes widening. I had never seen Yuki cry before. And over some girl?

"But anyway, next time you talk to Kari, mention me or something."

"Sure," I said, slapping his back. He walked away quickly when he saw Kari malking our way.

"Do you like Dai?" I immediately asked her.

She smiled. "Daisuke? Um…I don't know. He's cute and all…and he's exactly like Tai used to be a few years ago…I could like him if I wanted to. Why, does he like me?"

"No," I replied quickly, half-laughing. "You were just kind of into him at that party."

"Oh, and guess what I've heard."

"Huh?"

She looked up at me as if she would start laughing. "That we're dating."

We both shared a laugh while I wondered if Kari would date Dai. I sure hoped so; he'd really owe me a favour or two.

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I was stressed on Wednesday. I had found out there was a unit test fifth period, and Tuesday night, I couldn't even remember anything about it. I was sitting at a lunch table reading some notes when Mimi joined me. It was a pleasant surprise , but I didn't want people to get the wrong idea.

"Yuki's stalking me," she announced nervously.

"Um…what?"

"He waits for me in the hallway after all my classes, he watches me all the time, he texts my cell phone constantly, and I don't understand what the hell is going on."

I was stunned. This information really didn't seem like Yuki.

"Didn't he break up with you?"

"Well, he cheated on me, then dumped me. I don't know why he's suddenly so insane. He pretty much begged for me to go back out with him."

I didn't believe her. Yeah, he probably did cheat on her multiple times, but begging for her to come back? It really seemed messed up. How could Yuki act so out of character?

"Did you do anything to him?"

"Well…I think he may have found out something about me."

I shook my head. "Sorry, Mimi. You lost me. You're gonna have to explain the whole story to me."

"Okay," She took a deep breath. "After a while of being with me, Yuki kissed Sora or something at a party and broke up with me. Like a week later, we were hanging out and he told me he ended it with Sora. So I kinda…you know…slept with him. Don't say anything!"

"Wasn't gonna. I thought Sora broke up with Yuki?"

Mimi nodded. "She did. After Thursday night. So then Yuki called me and asked me back out, but I told him I like…one of his friends. Well, that's enough about me. Yamato, are you dating Kari?"

"No, but I sure do wish people would stop asking me that."

"So you don't think she's pretty?"

I looked up at her and blinked a few times. "Uh…Mimi, just because I'm not dating her, doesn't mean I don't think she's pretty."

"So…" She slouched. "You do think she's pretty."

"What are you talking about? Why do you even care?"

Mimi shrugged and developed a pissy expression. I realized she might have been a little jealous and clued in. She probably had a crush on me or something. I still couldn't help but think of her as a cry for attention, though.

Suddenly, she stood up and slowly walked away, probably hoping I'd call after her.

But I didn't care.

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I called Tai that night for no particular reason. I just wanted to talk to him since he was with Mai all week.

"Hey, you know Yuki Yano, right?"

Tai laughed. "You know I know him. Why, what's he up to now?"

"Mimi told me he's stalking her."

He was silent for a few seconds. "Um…stalking? What the hell, what do you mean stalking?"

"Like following her everywhere. You know what's happening, don't you? It's all of his anger rolled up into one situation. He's been pretending nothing can touch him for a long time, even when his parents split up. It's like he's finally snapping or something."

"Yama, aren't you mad at him?"

I shrugged. "Why would I be?"

He laughed. "Gee, I don't know…maybe because he tried to fight you at a party for no reason?"

I rolled my eyes. "He's just angry."

"Give me the phone!" I could hear Kari yell.

A few seconds later, I heard Kari say, "You seemed upset today. How come?"

"Kari, do we have to keep having this conversation daily?"

"If you don't tell me what's wrong? Then yeah, yeah we do. Oh, and you're good at music, right?"

"Decent."

I heard her sigh. "Good. I need help studying. You know our exams are next week, right? Then we're on the summer break! Aren't you excited?"

"Yeah. I completely forgot about our exams, though. I'll come over tomorrow night, okay?"

I hung up the phone and laid on my bed. The year had faced so many changes--Yuki had two different relationships, Takeru was in an accident, me and Tai were talking again…it was hard to believe all of this was in only a few months.

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"It's not going good," Kari greeted as soon as she opened the door.

I looked around the Yagami's house. I hadn't been there in such a long time it was weird. I remembered the time when Tai and I played with toys in the basement then our friend (I forget his name) fell down the stairs. He had to get so many stitches.

"What's not going good?"

"Mai and Tai. He told me he's breaking up with her, so he'll be gone for a while."

I blinked. "They're breaking up? Why?"

"He didn't say. Anyway, my parents are gone out for their anniversary tonight, so we've got the house to ourselves."

"Okay."

We stood in silence for a few minutes. Kari was staring at me as if expecting something. "What?" I snapped, taking a seat on the couch.

"You can tell me now."

I laughed. Tell Kari about my feelings for Tai? There wasn't a chance in hell I would tell her. I would rather tell Tai himself. I would rather tell Takeru than her. There was just no way I could tell her first.

We worked away on the music for a while as I missed the easiness of grade ten. All you had to study was chords and what line the notes are on.

"Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge and Face are some words that'll help."

"You mean…like…this?"

"No, that's a bass clef. You have to--"

The door opened. We both faced Tai and smiled at the same time.

"How'd it go?" Kari suddenly asked, and without saying anything, Tai threw his car keys on the coffee table and walked out of the room.

"I guess not well," I muttered once he left. Kari laughed.

I started gazing into the stairway where he was walking up and sighed. I didn't know if I was happy to see Tai end it with Mai or not. He seemed really happy to be with her…was I some sort of reason?

"Oh my God!" Kari whispered, interrupting my thoughts.

"Huh? What?"

"You're into Tai. I can't believe it…you like my brother!"

How did she do that? I wondered, shifting my eyes around the room, embarrassed. "No I don't," I kept saying, but it was too late to convince her.

"So that's what was wrong with you all week! Everything makes sense now!"

"Kari, shut up!"

She smiled. "Aren't you happy Mai's gone fr--"

"No, as a matter of fact, I'm not."

I stormed out of the house, too embarrassed to even look at Kari. I think my hormones were a little messed up or something. Maybe knowing Tai was just upstairs was making me angry. I don't know why.

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Needless to say, Kari and I made up. Tai talked to me the next day about Mai; he just didn't feel the same way as he had before. I nodded slowly, wondering if that made me happy or sympathetic for Mai.

Mimi happened to call me three times that weekend. I was at Tai's during all three calls, so I could only picture how furious she must have been. For some reason she really wanted to hang out with me. I had to wonder if her crush was going a bit too far.

"You're with Kari, aren't you?" she had demanded, making sure her anger was showing.

It wasn't until Monday that things really started to get weird.

Tai, Kari, and I had just arrived to school. I was getting nervous--I hadn't studied at all for the exam. And science was one of my worst subjects. We were chatting casually as we reached the back door when I realized I forgot my books in Tai's car.

"Shit. Pass me your keys, Tai, I forgot something."

Kari giggled at me. I glared back.

It was such a shame that Tai's car was parked so far away. I took my time anyway, knowing I had twenty minutes.

When I closed the car door and threw a book bag strap over my shoulder, Mimi was suddenly there.

"Hi," I muttered, resisting the urge to roll my eyes.

She smiled. "Did you get my text messages? I might've done it wrong or something. You know how weird it is to get a new cell phone, huh?"

"Uh…yeah."

"I was thinking we could do something after school. Just the two of us. We could get some ice cream or something. Sounds fun, doesn't it?"

"Nah, I'm heading over to Taichi's place for a while."

She gripped her books tighter. "You…you mean Kari's house."

I shrugged. "Whoever's."

There was silence as we reached the doors. Before I could open one, I heard, "You might as well tell everyone, Yamato. We all know about the situation."

"What situation?"

Mimi frowned. "About how Kari can get laid and I can't."

I stared at her. Why would she think I was sleeping with Kari? Did she make that up or hear it somewhere else? I was really getting sick of stupid gossip.

"If I was going out with Kari, why wouldn't I tell anyone?"

"So that Taichi would get mad!"

"Ohh, you have this whole fucking rumour all planned out then. Who else am I dating, Mimi? Am I dating you now?"

She started growing tears while claiming, "I didn't make it up! Why would I make something like that up if it kills me to see you two together?"

I groaned. "Listen, Mimi, you need to leave me alone. Just because Yuki's obsessed with you, doesn't mean everyone else is."

She stared at me with her mouth opened wide and her eyes dripping as if she couldn't believe what I said. Suddenly, she picked up her books and threw them into the school window, shouting, "I like you, you fucking idiot!"

I watched her storm away while wiping tears. But there wasn't any satisfaction--just guilt. I thought maybe I'd apologize to her the next time I'd see her at school…

But she never showed up at school again.

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Even though the science exam was freaking torture, all I could think about was Mimi. I felt so bad, like I had just caused so many problems to so many people. I opened my front door and fell face first onto the couch. I finished my exam after Tai's so I couldn't get a ride home with him and Kari. Instead, I took the freaking bus.

I screamed into a pillow. That always makes me feel better.

A knock on the door startled me. I groaned loudly and rolled off the couch. Who ever it is, it better be important, I thought, frustrated.

I opened the door. Tai was there, and in a second, he was kissing me.

I didn't bother to protest. I grabbed his neck and kissed him back, and for once, it felt right. It didn't feel like kissing Lily or Starla…it felt like it was what I needed to do. It made me so happy, and it sure as hell made me want more.

Tai pulled away and smiled. "Kari told me."

Everything was happening so fast. All I wanted to do was kiss him again. I could feel my smile and I couldn't get rid of it.

"This is never gonna work," I whispered, too happy to say anything else.

"I don't care." Tai smiled. "Wanna get some ice cream?"

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A/N: This isn't the last chapter, but if you want to call it that, you can. I have a very short eprolouge written to explain what's happened that summer, and if you want it up, let me know. If you think it should stay this way, tell me.

Sappy ending…I know. My next Taito story'll be a little bit more dramatic. Look for it in December!