Sorry guys. I know it took me awhile to post this. Also - I don't own digimon or the characters.

CHAPTER 8 - Spring Break Part 1

Sora walked into her favorite café in her hometown and looked around. She quickly spotted her date for brunch and walked over to him. "Hey Joe." She sat down in the empty seat of their table for two. She was very excited to see him even though she had just seen him last night at Izzy and Clair's wedding.

"Good morning, Sora. How are you doing today?" He smiled at his new girlfriend.

"I'm going great, thanks. What about you?"

"I'm doing amazing now that I am on my first official date with you."

Sora smiled back at Joe. "It's so amazing that our two colleges are having spring break the same week. This works out perfect since we are both back in town at the same time."

"I know. I get a nice break from reading all those medical books and you get a break from whatever kind of hard work a fashion merchandising major does."

Sora started laughing. "Hey! Don't hate on my major. You're just jealous that you won't have a career designing gorgeous clothing for the people of Japan."

Joe chuckled. "You caught me red-handed, Sora."

"That I did, Joe. That I did."

"Let me get you some coffee."

"Sounds good."

Matt hit Tai on the face with a pillow. "Wake up, Tai."

Tai stirred and looked up at Matt who was standing over him. "Yama, what time is it?"

"It is eleven in the morning. I know we are on spring break, but you don't get to be lazy. I made breakfast for you and it is getting colder by the minute."

"You made me breakfast?"

"Yes, I did."

"You make an amazing housewife, Yama."

Matt smiled and shook his head. "Adorable comments don't allow you to go back to sleep, Tai. Get up."

"Ok, fine. Let me get dressed and I will be right in."

"Ok, sounds good." Matt walked back out into the main room of the apartment that him and his dad shared. His dad had to leave for work early so Matt and Tai had the apartment to themselves. Matt was walking back into the kitchen when he heard someone knock at the door. He walked over to it and opened it. He looked down to see TK standing there smiling.

"Hey bro, what's up? Yum, I smell something amazing. You've been cooking, haven't you?" TK ran into the apartment and headed for the kitchen.

"TK! That food is not for you. It's for Tai and myself."

TK looked at everything and glared at Matt. "There is plenty for three people."

"Well that doesn't mean that you are invited. I thought it would be nice to spend some time alone with my boyfriend."

"You two live together at college and he is living with you here. You spend enough time together. I never get to see you. Don't you want to keep our brotherly bond tight?

Matt sighed and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever, TK. I'll set the table for an extra spot."

"Thanks, Matt."

"No problem."

Tai walked out of Matt's bedroom after having getting dressed. "Oh, hey TK. I didn't know you were here."

Matt looked up from setting the table. "He just got here. Apparently he will be joining us for breakfast."

"Oh, that's cool."

TK smiled at his brother's boyfriend. "How are you, Tai?"

"I'm doing good."

"Have you pulled any more stripper-related stunts since the one at Izzy's bachelor party?"

Tai smiled embarrassingly. "No, I haven't." TK laughed and Tai joined him. The two of them sat down at the table on both sides of where Matt would sit. Matt served the two of them omelets, bacon, sausage, and biscuits. Tai looked at him impressed. "Someone went all out. I'm guessing that no Easy-Bake ovens were involved in the process?"

Matt lightly hit his boyfriend on the back of the head. "No, I made everything using actual kitchen equipment."

"Well, it looks amazing."

"Thank you Tai."

"I agree, it does look good."

"Thanks TK."

Matt served himself and sat down at the table to eat alongside his brother and boyfriend.

Izzy and Clair slummed back down into their seats in the airport. Izzy put his hand over his eyes. "I can't believe they delayed our flight by eight hours. They may as well have cancelled it at that rate. We aren't going to get to do anything in Hawaii today. It will be so late by the time we get there."

Clair put her arm around Izzy. "Look at the bright side. We will get to watch the sun rise tomorrow morning together in our tropical paradise. And besides, we will still get to have the first night of our honeymoon tonight."

Izzy took his hand off of his eyes and looked at his new wife. "That's true. I have to say, it was extremely difficult restraining myself last night in our hotel room. I want our first time to be in sunny Hawaii though and not some hotel next to the airport."

Clair smiled. "I know. I want it to be special too. It is both of our first times. It should be special and moderately-priced hotels next to airports just aren't sexy." Izzy started laughing. "Good, I'm glad to see a smile on your face again."

"Well, it's all thanks to you. I love you so much Clair."

"I love you too, Izzy." The couple leaned in closer to each other and started kissing. They tried their best to ignore the awkward glances from the other people in the airport terminal.

After breakfast, Matt finally convinced TK to leave. He missed his brother when he was away at school, but he knew he would see a lot of him over spring break. At the moment, he only wanted to talk with Tai. "Goodbye, TK."

TK rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. You better not be rushing me out of here so you can have sex. Don't you think it is a little early in the day for that?" Matt shut the apartment door before TK could continue. He walked back into the kitchen where Tai was finishing off all of the remaining food.

"Man, Yama, you sure can cook."

"Thanks, Tai." Matt sat next to his boyfriend at the table. He sighed and paused for a minute. "Tai?"

Tai looked up at Matt to see that his boyfriend wore a very serious facial expression. "Yes, Yama?"

"You need to speak to your father today."

Tai looked back down at his plate. "Oh, that."

"You promised me that you would."

"I know."

"Are you going to keep your promise?"

"I…I guess so."

"I know it's hard."

"No, you don't. Your parents were a little thrown when you told them but that faded so fast. They barely minded that you are gay. Your dad was telling me yesterday how he always thought you were gay. It isn't the same for me. Kari is the only one in my family who supports me."

"Your mom supports you."

"Not enough to convince my father to let me come home. She loves me so much but she doesn't want to step out of line to my father. He has this underlying control over her that I was oblivious to before. Their marriage has been rocky over the years and I think that my mom thinks that if she disobeys his orders, she might find herself in need of a place to stay as well."

Matt reached out and held Tai's hand. "Tai…"

"I know. I tried to shield you from all of my family's drama before, Yama. My dad wants our family to have a perfect appearance. He is doing an amazing job at it too. We do look like a normal family but there is so much going on that people don't know about. He probably makes up stories to his friends on what I have been up to in college. Little do they know that I haven't spoken to him in months. Kari is the only one I keep in contact with."

Matt looked at his boyfriend and saw tears starting to form in his eyes. "Tai, it's okay to cry."

"I hate crying Yama. Especially in front of you. I want you to think that I am strong."

"I do, Tai. You being able to cry in front of me will only bring us closer. It's okay." Tai nodded and let some of his tears roll down his face. "You know, Tai, I used to be scared to cry too."

"You cry all the time now."

Matt smirked at Tai's remark and continued. "That is because I am not afraid of my emotions anymore. When my parents got a divorce when I was a kid, I was a mess. Suddenly my mother and brother weren't living with me. It was just me and my dad who was always working. I was so alone and depressed. I would lock myself in the bathroom and cry with the water running to drown out the noise. I didn't want anyone to know that I was in pain. Everyone thought I handled things so well, but that was only because I was scared to cry in front of people. I kept all my darkness inside of myself. I didn't even tell you about the hurt I was feeling and you were my best friend."

"I could tell you were in pain. I tried to get your mind off of the divorce as best I could. That is why I was here everyday. I didn't want you to be lonely."

Matt stood up and gave Tai a hug. "Well thank you, then. Tai, you were an amazing friend growing up and you are an amazing boyfriend now. I love you so much and I will always be here for you. I know that facing your family is going to be difficult for you, but the longer you wait, the harder it will be. Do you want me to go with you?"

Tai smiled at the love that he could feel radiating from Matt. "No, I think that it is best that I do this alone. Thank you though, Yama. I love you too." He kissed Matt's cheek and Matt smiled and continued to stand with his arms around Tai.

A few hours later, Gwen and Mimi were shopping in the mall. Gwen took the subway into town and planned on spending the a couple days staying at Mimi's apartment. Mimi maintained her poise while carrying three shopping bags full of clothes that she bought within the first half-hour of shopping. "So can you believe that Sora is dating Joe now?"

Gwen looked over at Mimi. "I don't really know Joe that well. Is there something wrong with him?"

"No, he's just so…nerdy. Sora can do so much better."

"He seems very sweet though."

"Well, sure. Boys who can't get any girls are always sweet. You know, Joe had the biggest crush on me when we were growing up. He wrote to me every month when I was in New York. He even wrote to me when I was dating someone."

"Did you two ever date?"

Mimi stopped walking and looked at Gwen. "Are you serious?"

"I'll take that as a no." Mimi started walking alongside Gwen again. "I don't blame Joe though. You are a model you know."

Mimi smiled. "Former model."

"It doesn't mean your beauty is former."

"Thanks, Gwen. You are very kind."

"No problem, Mimi."

"I'm so happy that you are staying with me for a couple of days. Staying with my insanely happy parents gets annoying after awhile."

"Are they really that peppy?"

"Yes. I don't know what pills they are popping, but they have non-stop energy."

Gwen laughed. "Not everyone is taking pills. I'm happy to be here as well."

"Oh my God! A shoe sale! Hurry up, Gwen!" Mimi rushed into the shoe store they were walking past. Gwen sighed and followed her in.

Tai took the elevator up to the floor of his apartment and walked to his door. He stared at the door for a couple minutes and finally worked up the courage to knock. He was pleasantly surprised to see Kari answer the door. She smiled widely when she saw her brother and stepped outside of the apartment. "Tai!" She threw her hands around her brother and have him a tight hug.

"Geese, Kari. When did you get so strong?"

"I joined the cheerleading team this year."

"Oh yeah. I forgot. Are mom and dad home?"

"Yes, both of them are. I'm glad you actually showed up, Tai."

"Me too I guess. I don't know if me talking to them will do me much good though."

"Dad misses you. I can tell."

"That doesn't mean he will let me move back in."

"Maybe he will when he sees how happy mom is when you walk in."

"I doubt that."

"You'll never know until you try to make an effort. Come on." Kari pulled Tai's arm and led him into the apartment. She shut the door behind him and entered the living room with Tai still attached to her. "Mom? Dad? Guess who's here?" She let go of Tai's arm and pushed him forward into the living room where their parents were watching television. "It's Tai!"

Tai's mother smiled and ran over to her son. "Tai! I can't believe you are here." She gave him a hug and started crying. "I'm so glad you came over."

"Me too, mom." He hugged her back and felt some tears of his own roll down his face.

His mom released him from the hug. "Kari tells me that you are staying with Matt and his dad."

"That's right. I just got back for spring break two days ago. I've been busy with Izzy's wedding though."

"Yes, Kari told me that she saw you there. She said you looked very sharp in your tuxedo. You'll have to email me pictures."

"Of course." Tai appreciated that his mother was talking to him as if nothing was wrong. It helped break the ice of the metaphorically cold room. Tai looked past his mother to see that his father was still watching television. "Hey dad."

"Hey Tai." His father never looked up from the television.

"What are you watching?"

"Nothing. There's nothing good on."

"Well, maybe you could focus on your son that you haven't seen since January then."

Tai's father turned off the television with the remote and stood up. He looked at Tai. "Why are you here? We haven't heard from you in months."

"Maybe that's because you threw me out of this apartment after I was brave enough to be honest with you."

"Oh yeah, honest that you like other boys."

"There is nothing wrong with that dad. It doesn't change who I have always been. I am still the same boy you raised. I'm sorry that me being gay disrupts your family's perfect image but that's who I am."

"I stand by what I said before. You can't live here."

"Why not?"

"You know why."

"No, I don't. Tell me. Is it because I'm gay? Is it because I am not your ideal image of your son? Is it because you want everyone to think that our family is super-traditional? Is it because you are ashamed of me? What is it, dad?"

"I don't want my son to be some faggot."

Tai bit his tongue to stop himself from verbally lashing out at his father after he called him that. "You know dad, being gay isn't a choice. It is who I am and who I have always been. I was afraid to admit it before but not anymore. I'm sorry that I don't have some blonde cheerleader girlfriend like you think I should. I have a blonde musician boyfriend instead. And you know what – I love him more than I have ever loved anyone. I know that will cause all of your friends to talk and gossip but I don't care. I have never been so happy and open in my life."

Tai's father looked at the floor with an angry expression on his face. Kari walked over to her mother and put her hand on her shoulder. "Mom?"

Mrs. Yagami looked down at her daughter and then over to her husband. "Tai really does seem happy, you know. Happier than he has ever been. Him being gay isn't the end of the world. Maybe you should consider letting him move back in. Kari and I miss him so much and I know you miss him too."

Mr. Yagami looked at his wife with a furious expression. She looked down, knowing that she shouldn't have said that. "Tai is not living here, end of story."

Tai shook his head. "Fine, I won't. I'll go back to staying with Matt. At least I will be with someone who loves me. There is no way I could feel that love living with you." Tai held his head up and he angrily stormed out of his apartment. He slammed the door behind him to emphasize his mood. After he closed it he leaned against the door and started crying.

Mimi and Gwen sat on the floor of Mimi's bedroom exhausted from their shopping spree at the mall. Gwen looked around the room. "You sure love pink."

Mimi smiled. "I know. I might have gone a little overboard."

"A little?"

Mimi laughed. "Shut up. Well, maybe a lot."

The two girls laughed and they heard a knock on the door. Before Mimi got to tell the person to come in, the door opened. Sora walked in carrying two dresses. "Hey Mimi. Hey Gwen. Sorry to interrupt but I could really use your advice on which dress to wear on my date with Joe tonight."

Mimi rolled her eyes. "Didn't you go on a date with him earlier today?"

"Yes, but he is taking me to dinner at a nice restaurant tonight anyway."

"He must really like you."

"He does and I like him as well."

"Sora, it's Joe."

"So?"

"He is a glasses-wearing, inhaler-using hypochondriac that is possibly the most nerdy guy in Japan."

Sora glared at Mimi. "Mimi, he happens to be a sweet boy who treats me like a princess."

"You sound like you love him. You just started dating him yesterday."

"Well…we kind of have unofficially been a couple for months."

Gwen and Mimi looked shocked. "What?" Mimi looked at Gwen. "Did she tell you this?"

"No." Gwen turned to Sora. "Sora, I'm you're best friend. Why didn't you tell me this?"

"I'm sorry, Gwen. I just wanted to keep this to myself. We were only talking over email anyway. It wasn't like it was a big deal or anything." Gwen nodded like she understood. "Anyways – let's go back to the dresses." Sora walked over to Mimi's bed and laid the two dresses next to each other. Gwen and Mimi stood up and looked at them. One dress was a black cocktail dress and the other was a red cocktail dress with an asymmetrical top.

Gwen offered her opinion first. "I like the red one better. The black one is too mature for you. You want to look like you, not your mom."

Mimi nodded. "I agree. Go with the red. Not many red-heads should wear red dresses, but I think you will look amazing in it."

Sora smiled. "Thanks you guys. I have to go get ready now. I'll talk to you two tomorrow to tell you how it went." Sora took her dresses and said goodbye to Gwen and Mimi.

Once Sora left, Mimi laid down on her bed. She patted the area next to her as an indication to Gwen to join her. Gwen walked around to the other side of the bed and climbed onto it. She laid down next to Mimi. "Is this where I am sleeping tonight, or do you have an air mattress or cot?"

"You can share my bed if you'd like. It's a queen size so there is plenty of room."

"Thanks, Mimi."

"No problem."

"I really had fun today."

"Good. I'm glad to hear that."

"I'm happy that I'm not home, actually. My mom insisted on inviting my aunt and uncle to stay with us this week."

"Do you not like them?"

"It's not them, it's their son."

Mimi paused for a second and looked over at Gwen. "Wait…you mean…"

"Yes. Bryan."

Mimi made a disgusted face. "Ew."

"I know."

"It is not fair at all that you are related to that jackass."

"Tell me about it."

"Why is he with them? He doesn't still live with them."

"Who knows why? The point is that he's there. I just don't want to be around someone who could rape someone and think of it as nothing." Gwen shook her head. "Poor Veronica."

"I know. You can stay here all of spring break if you want to."

"Really, Mimi?"

"Of course! I don't want you to be around him. He is pure evil and I don't want any of it to rub off on you."

Gwen smiled. "Thanks. You know, Mimi, you are a very sweet girl."

"Thanks, Gwen."

"I was kind of scared to meet you after things that I heard about you. I was worried that you would be some insane coke-head."

"Well, I'm not that girl anymore."

"I'm glad."

"Me too."

"The new Mimi is so similar to me. I like her a lot better than extreme party girl Mimi. You love fashion and shopping and doing your hair and makeup. Sora is a bit of a tomboy sometimes. It's nice to have someone as feminine as me as a friend."

"I feel the same way. I've always felt drawn to you since I met you in January."

"Really?"

"Yes, I have."

"I felt drawn to you too. I wanted to ask you out on a date when you told me you were also bisexual, but then Rosemary came back into my life. She was my first love so it was hard to erase all the feelings I had for her after we broke up the first time. Before I knew it, I was sucked back into a relationship with her which ended the same way that it did the first time. I should have known she would cheat on me again. Sora warned me about it too."

"Well your heart can't follow Sora. Your heart can only follow itself. We all make relationship mistakes so don't feel bad about giving Rosemary a second chance. She said that she changed and you were a good enough person to believe her."

"I suppose you're right. I just was so desperate to be in love again."

"I know. You're such an amazing girl, Gwen. Rosemary is the biggest idiot on the planet for cheating on you. How can she do any better than you?"

Gwen smiled. "Thanks, Mimi."

"Any time." Mimi smiled back at Gwen. "So, you were going to ask me out a couple months ago?"

Gwen blushed some and laughed nervously. "Yes, I was."

"You know that I really only date guys. I have only been with one girl in my life."

"I know."

Mimi smiled. "I probably would have made an exception for you though." Gwen's eyes grew with surprise and excitement. She smiled wider at Mimi. Mimi laughed again. "I am going to go take a shower. Find something good on TV while I'm gone." Mimi winked and got off of her bed and headed into the bathroom. Gwen stared at the closed door in disbelief that Mimi might like her back.

Matt looked at his watch for the seventeenth time within the hour. He started tapping his fingers on the kitchen table. Matt's father looked up from his newspaper at his son. "Matt?"

"Yeah, dad?"

"You're tapping your fingers again and you have checked your watch more tonight than you ever have in your life."

"Sorry. I'm just a little nervous. It's dark outside now. Tai went to go see his family a little after noon and he hasn't been back yet. He hasn't been answering my calls and texts either."

"Maybe he patched things up with them and they are all bonding as a family."

"I guess that could be true."

"And maybe he turned his phone off or the battery died."

"Tai does forget to charge his cell phone constantly."

"You see? There is nothing to worry about."

Matt sighed. "I don't know. I think I'll call TK. Maybe Kari told him something about the situation."

"If you feel like it is necessary."

"I do." Matt got up and walked into his bedroom. He scrolled through the contact list on his phone until he saw his brother's name. He pressed the call button and sat on his bed.

"Hey Matt, what's up?"

"Hey TK. Listen, I haven't heard from Tai since he went over to his apartment. Do you know if he fixed things with his father?"

"Um…no, he didn't. He is still not allowed to live there."

"What? Why isn't he calling me back then?"

"I don't know. Kari said that he was only at the apartment for about ten minutes. He should have been back at your apartment hours ago."

"Then where is he?"

TK could hear the panic in his older brother's voice. "Matt, calm down. I'm sure he is safe. Maybe you should go look for him if you want to be sure."

"Yeah, maybe you're right."

"Have I mentioned at all how lovely you look in your red dress?"

Sora smiled. "Only about seven times. However, it doesn't get old. Thank you, Joe."

Joe stopped as the two of them arrived at one of Sora's restaurants. Instead of walking inside, Joe stood on the sidewalk with Sora and gazed into her eyes. "I mean it every time I say it. I never could have imagined that I would take someone as radiant as you on a date."

Sora looked up and smiled at her new boyfriend. "Well, I never thought I would ever find another gentleman. I guess we are both very lucky."

"I guess so." Joe leaned down and kissed Sora on the lips.

"Sora! Joe!" The couple turned around to see Matt walking towards them rapidly.

Sora saw his worried facial expression and became immediately concerned. "Matt, what is it?"

"It's Tai. Have either of you heard from him today?"

"I haven't. Have you, Joe?"

"No, Matt, I haven't spoken to Tai since the wedding yesterday."

Matt looked down at the sidewalk and Sora noticed a tear roll down his face. "Matt, tell me what is going on with Tai."

"It looks like you are on a date. I don't want to interrupt you two."

Joe put his hand on Matt's shoulder. "Matt, don't worry about it. Sora and I are your friends and we are friends with Tai as well. We want to help as much as you do."

Matt silently nodded. "Tai went to see his father today to see if he could move back in with them but apparently his father still won't let him come home. I just feel so guilty because I am the one who pressured Tai into coming out to his family. I didn't even know that his father refused to let him come home until TK told me over the phone. Kari told him and she said that Tai left their apartment hours ago but he never came back to my apartment. He isn't answering my calls and text messages either. I have no idea where he is and I am panicking. I have been to so many of his usual hang outs and friends' houses."

Sora quickly gave him a hug. "Matt, take a breath. You need to stay calm. You know that Tai is known to do stupid things when he is upset."

"I know. That is why I am worried. I don't want him to be off at some party and try to walk home drunk and get mugged or something."

"Whose party would he possibly go to? None of us are throwing one. Where else could Tai get his hands on alcohol?"

"A bar."

Sora nodded. "That is where I would check. I know Tai almost as good as you do and he has pulled stunts like this before. I don't think I need to remind you of when he got drunk last year at Bryan's party and almost had sex with Veronica."

Matt nodded. "You're right. Thank you so much you guys. Enjoy your date." Matt quickly ran off down the street.

Sora shook her head. "I hope he finds Tai."

"Me too, Sora. Me too."

Matt began to go into bar after bar looking for Tai. He knew that Tai had to be in one of them. He had no luck in the first three bars he tried. He walked into a fourth bar that was closer to Tai's apartment than the others were. Almost immediately, he saw the back of Tai's head. He hurried over to Tai who was drinking a beer. "Tai!"

Tai turned around. "Oh, hey Yama Llama."

Matt looked a little confused at that nickname and looked at the beer in Tai's hand. "Tai, how many beers have you had?"

Tai started counting with his fingers like a child. "Um…eight I think. I don't know. I'm too drunk to count." Tai started laughing hysterically.

Matt shook his head. "Tai, why don't you come back to the apartment with me and sober up?"

"Hell no, Yama. I'm having too much fun."

"Tai, you are in a bar alone. How much fun can that possibly be?"

"I'm not alone. My boyfriend is with me now." Tai leaned forward and kissed Matt on the lips.

Matt made an expression of disgust as Tai's mouth was pressed against his. "Tai, you smell awful. The odor of alcohol is way too prevalent in your breath. You need to stop drinking."

"Geese, Yama. You're not my dad. You can't just boss me around." Tai took another drink of his beer.

Matt sighed and sat down next to Tai. "I know things didn't go the way you planned with your father."

"You got that right."

"He will get over his homophobia in time, Tai. I know he will. His opinions about gay people aren't your fault. He needs to accept that you're gay and that there is nothing he can do about it."

Tai nodded. "I guess."

"Tai, why didn't you answer any of my calls or texts today? I could have prevented this drunken state you're in."

"Don't make fun of my drunken state, Yama. At least I can still talk coherently."

"Barely."

"And I haven't thrown up."

"Not yet, anyway. I'm sure you will later."

"Yama, what is going to happen to me? I don't even have a home. My dad doesn't want anything to do with me."

Matt put his arm around his boyfriend. "It will be alright, Tai. Everything will be fine."

Tai put down his bear bottle. "I think I'm ready to go now."

"Okay, I'll help you get back to my place." Matt helped Tai up and quickly noticed that Tai could barely walk straight. He tried to fight back tears knowing that Tai's father caused this to happen. He sighed again and led Tai back to his apartment and hoped that tomorrow would be better.

TO BE CONTINUED…