A couple years had passed since our adventure in the DigiWorld, and Tai and I were going into high school. I was still considered a tomboy--even though I worked in my mom's flower shop a lot--because I still played a lot of soccer. I was happy, and everything was back to normal until one day at lunch when I overheard two of my classmates (both girls) whispering together at their lunch table:
"Hey, look over there. It's Sora the Tomboy."
"You know, she'd be really pretty if she'd lose the hat and actually wear a skirt with her uniform instead of pants all the time."
"It must be because of all the soccer she plays--her legs must be all cut and bruised, and she doesn't want anyone to know."
"Soccer is just not a sport for girls. I think it's just too rough."
"Yeah, I mean, how is she ever going to find a boyfriend if she doesn't act more feminine? Most guys do not like tomboys."
"Oh, well. I guess it increases our odds; after all, she's still the prettiest girl in our class, even if she is a tomboy."
I didn't know what to think. They were complimenting me, and yet making fun of me at the same time. But their next words really caught my attention:
"Do you know what I heard? Sora's got a crush on someone."
"Really? Who is it?"
"I don't know. Mimi wouldn't tell me who, she just said that Sora did have a crush on someone."
"I bet Mimi just doesn't know."
"I think she does, but just isn't telling. Mimi has a way of getting what she wants, you know."
"Yeah, I know. I mean, she gets all my secrets out of me! I end up telling her everything."
"Everything?"
"Like, totally everything!"
"Even the secrets I tell you?"
"Well . . ."I tuned out the rest of their conversation, knowing that a huge argument was imminent. I had forgotten that I'd told Mimi I liked Tai. Well, at least Mimi hasn't told them who.
At least, that's what I thought . . .
Later that day I ran into Mimi. "Oh, hi, Sora!" She looked at little surprised to see me; she had moved away to New York City in America not long after our adventure in the Digital World and was just here in Tokyo on a short visit.
"Hey, I just wanted to thank you for not telling anyone that I like Tai. It's been almost three years now! That's a long time to keep a secret. I'm impressed."
Mimi suddenly looked distinctly uncomfortable. "Well, Sora, it's funny that you would mention that . . ."
Uh-oh. She couldn't have, could she?
"Because, you see . . . well, a couple of the guys on the soccer team were asking me if I knew of anyone who liked Tai, and it just sort of . . . slipped out."
I stared at her numbly. "What?! You just told them I like Tai?! I thought you were my friend! Friends don't tell each others' secrets!"
Mimi made a pouty face. "Hey, you didn't tell me it was a secret. How was I supposed to know you didn't want anyone else to know?"
I didn't reply. Instead, I just bolted for the girls' room. I needed to think, and I didn't want Tai to see me just yet.
He still might not know, I thought as I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror. I saw a skinny, ginger-haired girl with brown eyes wearing the top half of a girl's school uniform, a nice pair of dress slacks, and, of course, a hat. How could he ever like me? I'm just a tomboy. I always wear a hat, and I never wear skirts or dresses. Maybe . . . maybe if—" Just then, the bell rang. "Oh, shoot! I'm going to be late!" With that I dashed out of the bathroom.
That day at soccer practice, Tai got covered with mud--it had rained the night before, and it was his turn to play goalie. After practice, he came over and gave me a big, muddy hug and a quick kiss on the cheek, much to the amusement of the rest of the team. They laughed and yelled things like, "Kiss him back! Kiss him back!" or "Score! One point for Tai!" and even "Uh-oh! Someone had better call the fire department! We have two hearts on fire!" I was embarrassed, and a little angry, too. I knew he had only done it because the other guys on the team had dared him to.
I tried to avoid Tai all the next day, and at lunch I sat at a table by myself. But even though everyone else let me to sit alone, Tai wouldn't. He set his lunch tray down, then sat across from me as he always did. "Hey, what's up pretty girl?"
It was our long-running private joke. I forced myself to smile and replied, "Nothing much, good-lookin.' What's up with you?" I still couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze.
"Nothing much." Surprised at the quiet, gentle tone of his voice, I looked up—and my sad, hurt eyes met his. Somewhere deep in those brown depths, I saw that he knew. He knew that I liked him. He knew that he had embarrassed me at soccer practice the day before, and he was truly sorry for it. He even knew that Mimi had been the one to let slip the secret that I liked him. In fact, I realized with a start, he'd probably known that I liked him before Mimi had said anything at all.
He knew everything about me, and what's more, he understood. "I'm sorry, Sora" he whispered, covering my hand with one of his.
My eyes welled up with unshed tears. "I forgive you, Tai." I suddenly remembered his hand on top of mine, and I could feel myself blushing, my face flushed bright fire engine red.
I managed a little laugh.
"What?" Tai asked, a little surprised.
I put my other hand to my face. "I think . . . I might need that fire truck after all!"
Everything was going perfectly. I had the best friend in the world, someone who really loved me and cared about me; someone who didn't see just the outside, didn't see 'Sora the Tomboy' when he looked at me. He looked past the outside, straight through my eyes into the depths of my soul . . . and I ended up throwing it all away.