TK woke with a start upon hearing his phone ringing. Not moving from his laying position in bed he reached over to his nightstand and picked up his phone. Matt. Again. TK put the phone back down and rolled over to face away as if it would magically make his cell stop ringing. Of course, it didn't and the phone continued to ring several more times before going silent. A moment's peace, until it started ringing again. TK ignored it completely this time, knowing full well it would be his older brother again.
It was Sunday afternoon, and TK had been going through the same routine since seeing his brother Friday evening. Laying in bed, checking his phone whenever it rang, and ignoring it when he saw who it was who called.
He had already received several calls from his brother in the last couple days, many of them one after the other. As well as calls from Tai (although TK was sure it was just Matt borrowing Tai's cell - the two were almost always hanging out together), Sora, Kari, Davis, Yolei, Ken, and Cody. Naturally he would have just ignored his phone altogether, but he had been waiting for his mom to call. He had not heard from her since her first night of her trip and he had been feeling more and more upset each night that she didn't call.
He had practically stayed in bed all weekend, not eating and barely sleeping, just mulling things over in his head. Trying to figure out what was wrong with him, why the person he felt so close to, didn't make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside like he thought he was supposed to feel. He continued to feel guilty about the way things ended between the two friends. Even though his brother's words of encouragement had helped him, albeit slightly, he still felt badly for dumping Kari so suddenly, and even if she had apparently been okay on the matter, TK was sure she was still hurting as much as he was.
He turned over to once again look at his ringing phone. It was Kari this time. He thought about answering it, but decided it best to leave it for the time being. He half suspected it was his brother hijacking her phone hoping to trick him into answering anyway.
He knew he couldn't avoid his brother or his friends forever, Yolei would yell his ear off on Monday at school as soon as she saw him, and Matt was likely to come knocking on the door any minute now. TK didn't care, he just wanted to be alone for the time being. No matter how long or short that time was.
Kari continued to pace the floor of her and Tai's bedroom, holding her phone and patiently waiting for an answer from the other end.
"Still no answer?" Davis asked the young brunette girl.
"No, nothing, he still won't pick up," Kari responded, rather sullenly as she hung up.
"Why won't he answer?" Davis asked, "I thought we were going to go to the Digital World today together."
"I'll call him, he won't refuse me," Yolei chimed in angrily.
Kari reached her hand out to stop her, "Yolei, just leave it. Maybe TK just wants to be alone right now. Matt tells me he hasn't been answering anyone's calls this weekend, so I think it's best if we just let him be."
"Wow Kari, you sure are acting fine about all this," Cody added quietly, "are you sure you're okay?"
"I'm fine guys," Kari blushed as several pairs of eyes turned towards her, "I mean, yeah, I was feeling down at first, but I know now it's for the best, and hopefully TK will see that too."
"Well, I hope so," Davis said, leaning back in his chair, "it's not like TK to miss spending time with Patamon."
"Well, just because he's not coming, doesn't mean we can't go and enjoy ourselves," Yolei huffed, "Digiport Open!"
A flash of white light and the five teens were transported from Kari's bedroom to the Digital World.
"Still no answer?" Tai asked as he watched Matt continue to move around the apartment. "Y'know, if you keep pacing like that you'll fall through to the neighbours downstairs."
"Shut up!" the blonde snapped angrily.
"I told you before, maybe he just wants to be left alone."
"I said shut up!"
With extreme caution, Tai took the phone from his boyfriend's hands and set it down on the table, then pulled the boy over to the couch to sit next to him.
"Look, he's just trying to get over what happened between him and Kari. He needs some time alone, I'm positive he's fine," Tai said, staring into Matt's blue eyes, trying to calm him down.
"But when I saw him on Friday he could barely stop from crying."
"Then let him cry it out. He'll think things over this weekend, and then he'll be back to his bright and cheerful self again."
"You sure?" Matt asked worriedly.
"Matt you worry too much, your brother is 16 now, he doesn't need you there for him every second of the day anymore."
Matt bowed his head, feeling somewhat hurt. He knew TK was old enough to take care of himself now, but he still felt the need to be there for him like a big brother should.
Tai pulled Matt closer to him as the blonde laid his head on the brunette's shoulder. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes trying not to think about what could be going through his little brother's mind.
"Digiport Open!"
The hardwood floor of his bedroom disappeared beneath his feet and in a momentary flash of white light was replaced by lush green grass as TK stepped into an open field near a vast forest in the Digital World. He took in a deep breath as he surveyed his surroundings. This was the perfect place for him to clear his mind and relax after a week of constant heavy thinking. And it would be nice to spend some time with his best friend.
As if by some psychic connection through Digimon and partner, Patamon came flying towards TK from the nearby trees.
"TK!" the little winged Digimon cried happily as he flew circles around his partner's head. TK tried to catch Patamon to give him a hug but the little Digimon began to fly towards the trees, beckoning the blonde to follow.
"Patamon, where are we going?" he asked as he tried to keep up with the little flying ball of energy ahead of him.
"The others were worried about you, come on!"
TK halted in his tracks causing his winged friend to stop as well.
"What's wrong TK?" he asked, his big curious eyes as innocent as always.
TK had just realized that they had all planned on coming to the Digital World today, but with the chaos of everything that had happened over the last couple days it had completely slipped his mind.
He was about to answer Patamon's question when he heard a shout.
"Patamon! Where'd you go?" TK recognized Davis and Veemon's voices calling in unison. He wanted to grab hold of Patamon and run the other way but it was too late, the bouncing goggle-headed boy and his blue Digimon partner had broken through the edge of the woods in the clearing.
"TK?!" Davis stood there in shock. "Y-you're here," a mix of happiness and confusion crossed his face.
Soon all the others had come through the woods to join the two boys and their Digimon, each of them exclaiming their joy and mixed confusion when they saw TK. All TK could do was blush in embarrassment as he stared at the ground.
"TK?" came a quiet voice in front of him.
He didn't need to look up to know that it was Kari. He continued staring at his shoes, unable to make eye contact with the concerned girl.
"TK?" she repeated, but he continued looking at the ground, unable to muster the courage to look at her face for fear he might breakdown again.
Kari gripped TK's wrist tightly causing the boy to look up suddenly out of shock as she started dragging him away from the others.
"Come on, we need to talk," she spoke sternly and he obeyed her as she continued pulling him into the trees.
"Now come on TK, why are avoiding me? Avoiding everyone else? Matt's been worried sick about you… and so have I…," she shouted, becoming increasingly angry with each word.
"I'm sorry Kari, I didn't mean to worry you… it's just…," he trailed off as he could feel tears beginning to sting at his eyes.
"TK, don't cry," she moved closer and pulled him into a hug.
Unsure how to react, TK instinctively returned the hug. It felt warm. It felt safe. But still, he couldn't feel anything else towards her, he pushed her away suddenly and turned his back to her.
"TK, what's wrong? I know we broke up, but, I mean, you seem to be taking this so much harder than me. Matt told me how upset you were, but you need to understand, I'm okay, and, to be honest… I'm kind of relieved."
TK turned his head and saw tears staining Kari's cheeks. Once again, on instinct, TK took hold of her, embracing her in his arms.
"I'm sorry TK," she sobbed.
"Don't be sorry Kari, it's not your fault, it's mine. I should've talked with you first, I should've told you how I was feeling instead of just ending things the way I did. I feel horrible." Holding her face in his hands he looked into her eyes, "Can you forgive me Kari?"
A smile crossed her lips and she buried her face into his chest.
"Oh, TK… there's nothing to forgive." The two continued to hold each other tightly before, reluctantly letting go and stepping apart. Kari broke the following awkward silence.
"I know how you feel… how you felt. After that kiss… at the fireworks… I felt differently… I wasn't sure but I just ignored it and kept things going with you because I thought, maybe, we could find that spark. But… we didn't. I'll admit, it did hurt a little when you broke up with me, but, at the same time, I was kind of glad. Does… that make me a bad person?"
"No Kari of course not," he paused, thinking of the right thing to say next before simply saying, "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For the way I handled this."
"What do you mean TK?"
"Well, I should've talked to you first about all this, instead I just acted like a big jerk and dumped you without any warning."
"TK, you're not a jerk. If anyone here is a jerk it's me. I knew how upset you were and I should've tried to comfort you."
"No Kari, don't blame yourself. I probably wouldn't have wanted to talk anyway, I didn't even really want to talk to Matt, but, you know how persistent he can be."
"I know, Tai can be the same way."
"Those two are almost too alike," TK chuckled.
"They're almost like twins… or an old married couple."
The two laughed at the thought, then they were surrounded by silence once more.
"Kari?"
"Yeah TK?"
"I hope that… we can still be friends after this."
"Of course TK. That's what I was worried about the most… that this would ruin our friendship."
"I would never let anything ruin our friendship Kari," and he pulled her into a another hug. This one felt warmer and safer than the previous one. And a smile crossed the blonde's lips.
"Shush!" Yolei shouted at the boys, "they're coming back."
They watched as TK and Kari entered the clearing together, hand-in-hand, and broad smiles on both of their faces. Yolei squealed and clapped both hands together.
"So you two patched things up and you're back together?" she asked excitedly running up to them.
"No," Kari said, disappointment crossed Yolei's face as she looked the two up and down.
"But why?" she whined, "you two were so happy together."
"It might've seemed that way Yolei…" the blonde began.
"Buuuut?" Yolei interrupted, a grimace crossing her lips, the boy began to feel rather unsettled. Yolei could be rather dangerous when she was mad.
"But," Kari stepped in trying to save the blonde from a beating, "we realized we didn't really have those kinds of feelings for each other."
Yolei gave a heavy sigh rather irritated, she continued to stare at TK feeling that it was mostly his fault her favourite couple had broken up.
"But that doesn't mean we can't still be friends," TK said as he turned to face Kari, gripping her hand a little tighter as he smiled.
"You should be happy Yolei," Kari beamed, "now you and Ken are the only power couple out of us Digidestined."
"I guess…" she groaned.
"Gee, I feel so loved." Ken chimed in sarcastically behind her.
"Oh you know I love you honey," Yolei called back trying to sound as sincere as possible.
"Plus, now you can play matchmaker for Kari now," TK added. The blonde winced as Kari smacked him in the arm. He looked at her and realized the sheer terror written on the brunette's face and remembered how Yolei had played 'matchmaker' when Matt had broken up with Sora.
Yolei had practically taken control of the poor girl's life for an entire week, making every single decision for her including what she ate and how she dressed and setting her up on countless blind dates with guys that Yolei had dubbed 'cute', 'perfect', and 'better than that lowlife rock star wannabe'. Eventually Sora faked having the flu so Yolei would leave her alone.
"Sorry," TK mouthed at Kari as Yolei screamed and grabbed hold of the brunette.
"Don't worry Kari, I'll help you find a new boyfriend. One who's cuter and more handsome and sexier and way better than that filthy lowlife jerk you were dating before." "Uhh, Yolei, I'm right here," TK remarked, completely shocked at Yolei's both insulting and, rather, blunt words.
"Oh, uhh, sorry, I didn't mean it like that," she stuttered apologetically, "my mouth sometimes says things before my head can think over them first."
TK rolled his eyes at the violet-haired girl, "forgive Yolei," came Ken's voice behind him, "she can be rather thoughtless sometimes." TK chuckled slightly at Ken's comment.
The teens spent the remainder of the afternoon relaxing in the digital sunlight with their partners. Davis and Veemon played a friendly game of soccer with Ken and Wormmon. Cody and Armadillomon laid back in the shade trying their best to ignore Yolei who was busy explaining her future plans all the while Kari sat quietly, cringing at half of Yolei's 'suggestions'. TK sat slightly apart from the others, Patamon nestled in his arms keeping a safe watch of his partner trying to figure out what was clearly bothering him. He may have seemed like everything was back to normal between him and Kari and the others, but it was their special connection that allowed the little orange Digimon to know something was off with the fair-haired blonde.
I want to thank everyone who read and reviewed the first chapter, I didn't think my first fic would get this much attention.
I'm on my summer vacation now, so hopefully I can get chapters published sooner.
I'm already working on the next chapter so stay patient.
Thanks again to all of you,
TKViedarts