Italicized words indicate character's thoughts

Takes place between 5th and 8th grade

I do not own Digimon

Chapter 2: Matt

…"Gabumon. Gabumon are you ok?" Matt knelt down beside Gabumon. He looked for any sign that Gabumon was alright. He caught movement from Gabumon's paw. Matt looked back at Gabumon's face. Slowly, he opened his mouth to speak.

"Matt…Matt, did I get him?" Matt smiled with relief at Gabumon's question.

"You did get him buddy. I'm just glad you're alright. I wasn't too sure back there."

"You didn't have to worry Matt. It takes more than a couple of hits from a Kuwagamon to get me down." Matt nodded in agreement. The cold dripping rain couldn't keep Matt's spirit down. He was just happy that his friend would be ok. Gabumon attempted to get up showing visible signs of pain. Matt stopped him and instead helped him to lie back down.

"Don't try to get up yet. Just lie down here. I'm here for you buddy." Matt reassured. Gabumon glanced at Matt's face. He looked at a boy who for so long kept his feelings inside not wanting to break his cool façade. Yet here he was, glad to be next to his friend.

"You know Matt, you're a great friend. I wasn't too surprised when you got you're crest. You deserved it." Matt, not one to get comments like that, wasn't too sure what to say. Showing emotions was something foreign to him. Yet he couldn't help but reflect on Gabumon's words. He had little time to think about it as he heard Tai and the others shout his name. Matt turned around to see their misty figures come through the pouring rain. Again he heard his name: Matt…Matt…

-"Mr. Ishida!" Matt woke up instantly to his teacher calling his name. He had fallen asleep in class. Slowly, he sat up to meet his teacher's stern face, arms akimbo.

"Mr. Ishida, if I can't expect you to stay awake during my class, then I suggest we have a conference with your parents. My class is not time for you to take a nap. Do I make myself clear?" Matt looked around at the empty classroom. He had slept through the bell. It was already the end of school. He looked to his left at Tai's empty seat. Tai had left without even waking him up. He quickly turned to his teacher who was calling his name again.

"Mr. Ishida! Are you listening to me?"

"Yes Mrs. Tomeiki. I'm sorry for falling asleep." Matt replied

"Well Mr. Ishida, I would like to speak to you after class tomorrow. But today I have a meeting to attend to today at 3:20-"

3:20! T.K. is waiting for me. I can't believe Tai. He just left off without waking me up. I should have expected that from that big haired blockhead. I've got to get going.

"Um thanks for your concern Mrs. Tomeiki, but I got to go." Matt quickly got his bag and walked out of the room. He was too preoccupied with catching up with T.K. to hear his teacher call his name.

"Matt Ishida!-"

"Oh, see you tomorrow Mrs. Tomeiki." Matt interrupted as he jetted out the door.

Away from her class, Matt slowed his pace. He couldn't look stupid running down the halls like some loser who didn't want to be late for class just to keep his perfect attendance. The Digiworld had changed all of them in some way. But for Matt, he still was that cool nonchalant kid. He walked casually towards the exit, his hands in his pockets.

I hope T.K. is still there. I probably wouldn't have to hurry if Tai had just woken me up. But you can't trust that boy to do much. Some friend he is. Even after all that in the Digiworld, he's still as brash as ever putting himself before others. He's probably off somewhere getting into trouble like always.

Matt opened the doors to find the soccer team practicing on the field. There in the middle of the field was all the soccer players huddled in one bunch. It looked like there was some commotion going on.

"I'm going to tear you up Kamiya! You think you're a big-shot, well I'm the star of this team not you." Evan rolled up his sleeves ready to take Tai on. His tall and big figure would have intimidated other kids, but not Tai. Tai, fist clenched, yelled back at his opponent.

"You want a fight Evan, you got it. I'm not afraid of you. Just try and get me." Tai replied gritting his teeth. Sounds of "fight" began rising up within the huddled crowd. Matt eased by the others in the crowd to get a view of the commotion. There he saw the dominating figure of Evan on one side and the small, foolish but courageous Tai on the other. Before he knew it, Evan had strolled up to Tai and picked him up by his shirt. Matt shook his head at the sight of Tai lifted in the air, legs flailing, trying to get down. Evan began pulling his fist back ready to strike at Tai, while Tai was still struggling. Matt wasn't too sure of what to do. He looked around at the faces chanting "fight, fight".

Should I step in? Tai's hardheaded and he got himself in this mess…But we both helped each other back in the digiworld when it counted…No, this is his fight…if you can call it that. He's gonna get pummeled.

Matt contemplated on what to do. As if on cue, thunder roared in the distance. A storm was coming through. Matt stood frozen having feelings of ambivalence. Tai was his rival, but still they always put their differences aside to help each other. But Tai had gotten himself in this mess. A whistle broke through the crowd's shouts. The soccer coach struggled his way through the crowd and just in time, pulled Evan and Tai apart. The crowd had dissipated. Matt stood there still as thunder rumbled again.

"I cannot believe my two best players are fighting amongst each other. This is unacceptable. I will not have disputes on my team!" The coach scolded.

"But coach, it was his fault I swear. He just can't handle my superior skills-"

"Oh please, this little yelp keeps on getting in my way." Evan interrupted. Tai stared down Evan catching Matt in the corner of his eye.

"Matt will vouch for me! Tell him Matt, I didn't start this fight." Tai confidently smiled as he was sure Matt would come to his side. The sky was darkening. Grey clouds came rolling in. The three stood there waiting for Matt's response.

What should I say? Tai obviously started the fight, I saw it. But he's my friend…or at least it seemed like it. He completely ignored me in our last class. I was left there sleeping while he ran off like he always does. Thinking of himself. Well Tai, I can't help you here. I can't ignore T.K. like you ignored me.

"I didn't see much. Sorry Tai, but T.K. is waiting for me." Matt replied breaking the silence. Tai's jaw dropped as he was shock to hear Matt's response.

"Matt! Matt, you can't leave me like this. Just tell him I'm innocent."

Matt walked off but this time with more pace. He felt a drop of water break upon his hand. He looked up as rain began pour. The grey clouds appeared much darker now.

-Rain battered the window pane like bullets. The wind was howling outside coupled with a flash of lightning. Matt sat in his living room, staring outside the window. T.K. had called him, canceling their meeting at the park. There, upon an old tattered sofa, Matt sat in silence, still contemplating his actions earlier. His face was calm, in stark contrast to the storm that was brewing inside of him. Outside the storm was starting to break, but inside of him, it was only beginning.

Tai. Just why does he have to do these things? What's his problem? If he had any sense, he would have just accepted that he started it. But I left him there…he needed me and I left him. T.K. cancelling things doesn't help me much either. Tai needed me as a friend…but I'm used to being rivals. Part of me wanted him to get in trouble. All this week, his been going on and on about his soccer skills. That Evan should have just shut him up!

Matt clenched his hands now as the lights began to flicker on and off. A strong gale howled outside the window. The lit room suddenly became dark. All the lights went out. Matt sat still in the darkness. He kept his cool composure as he looked around him.

"Oh, this is just great. This day couldn't get any worse." Matt sighed burying his face in his hands. He brushed back his hair and got up. The pale outside light broke upon Matt's figure casting a long lone shadow on the living room floor. Matt walked towards the window and leaned against the window pane. The storm outside was beginning to disappear, but Matt could see all the lights in the neighborhood had gone out.

Tai's been there whenever we needed him back in the Digiworld. But I left him there…in his own problems. Was he reaching out as a friend, or just to get out of his problems? Either way, I still left him…some friend I was. And to think I had that dream again. I can't get that out of my head. Gabumon there telling me how great of a friend I am…that I deserved that crest. Well Gabumon buddy, I guess I really let you down.

Matt looked out to the sullen gray neighborhood.

-Minutes had gone by before Matt heard a knock on the door. Matt walked through the darkness to the front door. There behind the door was Tai. He was visibly upset, arms folded. Matt was surprised to see him.

"Tai? What are you doing here?" Matt questioned.

"Oh I don't know Matt, after you left me there to fend for myself, I got scolded by my coach! Now I'm suspended for one game! What's worse is that Evan kid is going to pummel me even harder." Tai exasperated.

"What are you talking about Tai?"

"After the coach left, he told me that he was going to finish our fight. Of course, I couldn't miss a chance to teach him who's the best. So long story short, he'll be waiting for me at the park today!"

Matt started massaging his temples out of frustration. "Tai, what do you think you're trying to do? Beat yourself as the world's most stupid kid? You don't stand a chance against him."

"You should know Matt that I can't back down from a fight. Which brings me to why I'm here. I…I need your…assistance. I think if we both combined our strengths, we can take him down!" Tai stood confidently with one of his patented grins. Matt shook his head, not believing what he was hearing.

"No." Matt tersely answered. Tai confident persona quickly turned into shock. The ensuing silence was deafening. Tai tried to speak.

"Matt…what happen to you? I mean come on, I thought by now you would have finally shed that 'I'm cool' attitude by now. You didn't want to help me back on the field and now?...What's your deal?" Tai looked straight at Matt, whose focus was on the sky. Matt took a brief moment before replying.

"Look Tai, this is your problem. Stop dragging me into things that I have nothing to do with! You always think about yourself. You couldn't even bother waking me up at the end of class. It's a good thing that the storm came or else I would have let down T.K." Matt tensely replied elevating his voice.

"Well, you just looked so peaceful sleeping. I thought I'd be disturbing you. Wouldn't want to-"

"Tai! You can never be serious can you? Your stupid decisions always got us in trouble back in the digiworld. It's no different here. Why can't you see that?" Matt interjected.

"The only thing I see Matt, is a kid who's afraid to accept who he is. Your crest is friendship, and the Matt I know lived by it. On the outside you act like a lone wolf, but inside, you are a friend…a great friend, and you would go out of your way to help others. Gabumon always went on about how great of a friend you are…even to point of annoying me. Matt," Tai took a step forward and placed his hands on Matt's shoulders and started lightly shaking him. "Come to grips already. Just help me out. I'm asking as a friend."

Matt brushed aside Tai's arms. "Just leave Tai…" He glared at Tai and slowly backed away from the door and began slowly shutting it. Tai stopped the door abruptly.

"It's the park next to the school." Tai sternly asserted. He nodded to Matt as if acknowledging his acceptance to join him. Tai didn't wait for Matt's response. He turned left his doorstep. Matt shut the door behind him and leaned against it, staring into the dark hallway.

"A great friend" How can that be? I remember there were times that I shouted at Gabumon…but he always told me that I was a great friend despite those times. Why did I receive that crest? I'm hardly the friendliest guy around. I keep things to myself…but Tai was right. Can't believe I'd be saying that... But I guess being a friend isn't just about talking to people all the time, its being there for them when they need you. And Tai needs me now…

Matt slowly slid down against the door. The only light shined through the far window in the living room. Matt caught a glimmer of light from a picture frame. The faces in the frame were hard to discern. Getting up from the floor, Matt walked to the frame and picked it up. He tilted the frame towards the light to get a better view of it. It was a photo of Tai and Matt. Tai, grinning, had his arm around Matt who was giving a thumbs up. Matt let out a big sigh. After a final look at the picture he turned around and grabbed his coat from the closet. Hastily he left out through the door and onto the park.

-The grey clouds gave way to a golden-hued sky created from the setting sun. Tai stood there, fist clenched staring down Evan. Evan on the other hand grinned at Tai.

"I didn't think you show up Kamiya. In fact I was sure you'd chicken out. But I'm glad you came. I've been itching to break you apart." Evan taunted.

"You think you scare me? Hardly. I can take you on." Tai unsteadily replied. He gulped and adjusted his goggles on his head. Suddenly he heard footsteps behind him. Tai turned his head to check. He heard a voice.

"If you're going to take him, you're going to have to take both of us on." Matt declared. He stood calmly by Tai, hands in his pockets. Tai looked at Matt smiling at his friend's arrival. Matt on the other hand stared Evan down. Evan tried to keep up with Matt's cold stare. But Evan broke and blinked. He looked at Tai, then at Matt. He folded his arms. Seconds passed before he uttered a word.

"Predictable Kamiya; needing friends to help you out. Don't think you've won, I'll get you. Just you watch." Evan pointed his finger and Tai and then slowly turned and walked away. When he had left the park, Tai let out a sigh of relief.

"I knew you show up Matt. You wouldn't let a friend down."

"Ofcourse I did. If he busted you up, whose big arrogant head would I have left to make fun of?" Matt smiled as Tai raised his eyebrow in response and smiled back.

"Yeah, I'm sure that's why you came. Heh, looks like underneath that entire lone wolf disguise, there's a genuine good friend. I'm glad to have you back Matt." Tai extended his hand to shake. Matt looked at Tai for second and responded by shaking his hand.

"Well I wouldn't be back if another good friend didn't help me out." Matt responded.

The two walked down the road, the golden sun shining on their backs. Tai had his hand on Matt's back.

"So I guess our whole rivalry thing is over?" Tai questioned. Matt looked up at the street lights, and then to the houses to his side. The lights were on again; the electricity was restored throughout the neighborhood. He then looked ahead of him.

"Well for now."

The two friends shared a chuckle as they walked down the street.

Matt turned to Tai, "So, what are we gonna do about this Evan kid?"