Author's Note: Sorry this took so long to be published. I just got finished with finals so I have been busy. I am on summer vacation now so hopefully I can finish this story in a week or so. I hope you all enjoy. - I don't own digimon or any of characters.

CHAPTER 9 - Spring Break Part 2

Matt watched his boyfriend sleep. Three days had passed since Matt found a drunken Tai in a local bar drinking away his feelings of abandonment. He shook his head at how homophobic and non-accepting Tai's father was being but not allowing Tai to stay in his own apartment. He loved having his boyfriend stay with him over spring break but he wished Tai at least had the option to go home. Matt got out of his bed and got dressed. He looked at his sleeping boyfriend again and then walked out into the living room. His father was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper and drinking coffee.

"Good morning, Matt. Did you sleep well?"

"Not really."

"Again?"

"I am so concerned about Tai and his father. I just wish there was something I can do. You should have seen him when I found him at that bar three days ago. He was just drowning his problems with alcohol and it broke my heart."

"I know it must have. Like I have said time and time again, Tai can stay here as long as he wants. Tai is practically a third son to me the way he was always over here growing up. Who knows, maybe he will be my son-in-law one day."

Matt blushed. "Dad!"

Matt's dad laughed. "I'm just saying – you have never been as happy as you were once you started dating Tai. You were such a moody child and teenager. At least you wrote some good songs out of it."

Matt glared at his father. "Very funny, dad. Seriously though, I don't know what to do about this."

"Maybe you should just stay out of it. I know you don't want to but this seems like a family problem and maybe you should let it stay within their family."

Matt looked down. "Maybe. I don't know yet." Matt heard a knock on the door and knew immediately who it was. He walked over to the door and let TK in.

"Hey Matt."

"Hey TK. Does mom no longer feed you?"

"She's been busy lately. Aren't you happy to see me though?"

"Of course I am. I haven't made breakfast though. You will have to wait."

"That's fine. I'll just talk to dad while you cook. Is Tai not awake yet?"

"No, he is still sleeping so try to keep your voice down some."

"You got it." TK and Matt entered the kitchen. Matt started preparing breakfast and TK sat and talked with their father.

Matt finished preparing breakfast by the time Tai was awake and dressed. "Good morning TK and Mr. Ishida and a special good morning to Yama." Tai gave his boyfriend a quick kiss on the cheek and sat down at the kitchen table. Matt served everyone as he had done everyday of spring break, and the four of them ate. After breakfast, Mr. Ishida left for work and Tai headed to the bathroom to take a shower. TK and Matt sat at the table and talked.

"And after all that begging, Kari still won't let me have sex with her."

Matt rolled his eyes. "TK, Kari is a very innocent girl. Don't be the jackass that makes her hate men because they only want sex."

"Would Kari date girls then? She would look hot kissing Yolei."

"TK! I hope I wasn't this bad when I was your age."

TK laughed. "I was only kidding." He looked at his watch. "I need to go. Kari and I are hanging out today."

Matt was going to say goodbye to him but paused instead. "You know what? I think I will walk you over there."

"Why?"

"I have my reasons."

"What about Tai?"

"I'll leave him a note saying I'll be right back." Matt got up and wrote a note to Tai and left with TK to head to the Yagami apartment. Matt filled TK in on his plan on the way there and TK expressed his concern. Matt was determined to make his opinion known to Mr. Yagami and he was going to do it in person. Upon arriving at the Yagami apartment, TK knocked on the door. Kari answered.

"Hey TK!" She gave him a hug and kissed his cheek. "Hello Matt. Did you walk TK over?"

"Hi, Kari. Yes, I did walk him. I actually wanted to have a word with your parents once you two left on your date. Are they home?"

"My dad is home. My mom is out grocery shopping at this disgusting organic food store down the street. She said it has been awhile since we have had tofu."

"Would you mind if I talked to him?"

"Is this about the Tai situation?"

"Yes, it is."

"Then you have my permission. I miss my brother living at home."

"Thank you, Kari. I also would like it if you didn't tell Tai about this."

"Sure, if that's what you want."

Kari informed her father that she was leaving with TK and left with him. She left the apartment door open for Matt who entered. He shut the door behind him and walked into the living room. Mr. Yagami was reading the newspaper at the kitchen table. "Hello, Mr. Yagami."

Mr. Yagami looked up shocked that someone was in the apartment. He was even more shocked to learn that it was Matt. "Matt? What are you doing here?"

"I came here to talk to you. I think you know what I want to talk about."

Mr. Yagami sighed. "Matt, I know you have relations with my son, but this is a family matter and I would appreciate it if you stayed out of it."

"Well, I'm not going to." Matt walked up to the table and sat down. "I'm going to talk about this whether you want to or not."

"So you came to my home to lecture me on what an awful father I am? Is that it?"

"No, I am here to tell you that your refusal to let your gay son stay in his own apartment caused him to go seek help at the bottom of a bottle! You are destroying him and you don't even care."

Mr. Yagami threw down his newspaper and glared at Matt. "I do care about Tai! He's my son. I care about him a lot more than you do."

Matt glared back at Mr. Yagami. "No, you don't. I'm the one who is letting Tai stay with me. I'm the one who took care of him when he was drunk. I'm the one who hugs him when he cries. I'm the one who makes sure that he is okay. I do everything and you do nothing but further destroy any chance the two of you have at ever having a relationship. You are going to lose Tai. He's eighteen and is of no legal obligation to do what you tell him. There is nothing holding him back from ending any contact the two of you have." Matt stood up and walked towards the door. He turned around. "Have a nice day, Mr. Yagami." Matt then turned back around and exited the apartment.

Gwen took a sip of her coffee and looked at Sora. The two of them met up to have brunch since Gwen decided to stay with Mimi all of spring break. "So, what did you want to talk about, Gwen?"

"Do you promise that this stays between us?"

"Of course. You are my best friend."

Gwen looked down at the table and back up at Sora. "I like Mimi."

Sora nodded. "You mean as more than just a friend of course?"

"Yes. I've been attracted to her since I first met her but now we are both single and I think I might want to make a move. A couple days ago after you came to Mimi's apartment to get our opinions on your wardrobe, I told Mimi that I wanted to ask her out when I first met her."

"What did she say to that?"

"She said that I should have."

Sora smiled. "Wow. Maybe she likes you back then."

"Maybe. Days have passed since then and the flirtation between us has stopped. We are acting like friends again and I'm not sure if she is interested or not. Also, I don't want to ruin our friendship."

"I understand. Dating someone that you are friends with is hard. Joe and I have known each other since childhood. However, you need to take that risk if you want to date them."

"I guess so."

"Where is Mimi anyway?"

"She is spending time with her parents. They also nag that they don't see her enough."

"I see. You need to see if she likes you Gwen."

"How?"

"Just ask her. I think we learned our lesson with that elaborate plan to see if Tai liked Matt. Scheming leads to disaster. Just ask her point blank."

"Thanks, Sora. I will. I just need to find the right time to do it."

Matt walked into his apartment and saw Tai watching television. "Hey Yama. I saw your note. Where did you have to run off to?"

"I went to rent a movie for tonight." Matt felt bad for lying to Tai but he thought it was best to not bring up Tai's family issues when Tai was starting to feel better. On the way back from the Yagami apartment, he had rented some horror movies that Tai loved to give himself a reason for leaving. "I wanted to walk TK home as well."

"He's fifteen, not five."

"I know but I wanted him to be safe."

"You're such a good brother. What movie did you get?"

"I got a couple movies. All of them are horror movies which I hate but I know that you like them."

"Don't worry, Yama. I'll hold your hand. It'll be cute."

Matt smiled and walked over to Tai. He sat down next to him and put his head on Tai's shoulder. "I know it will be." Matt felt his cell phone vibrate in his pocket. "It's one of my band mates. I'll go take the call in my bedroom." Tai watched Matt walk into his bedroom and then turned his attention back to the television. A couple minutes later, Matt came out of his bedroom looking upset.

"What's wrong?"

"The Teenage Wolves are opening for a band tomorrow night."

"Yama, that's great!" Tai ran over and gave his boyfriend a hug. "You said yourself that once you all went to college that the band's popularity went down slightly with less shows. If you guys open for a more-popular band, that will put you all back in the spotlight. Maybe you'll get a record deal."

"Tai, we are performing tomorrow night and I haven't even seen my band mates in months."

"You all still remember how to perform though."

Matt sighed. "I guess so."

"It will be fine, Yama."

"Thanks Tai." Matt gave Tai another hug and laid his head on Tai's shoulder again.

Matt tried to breathe calmly and slowly. His band was performing in just over an hour for the first time in half a year. He saw his band mates for the first time in months the previous night for a sudden band rehearsal. They stayed up late playing their most popular songs and practiced more today. Matt had barely seen Tai after the phone call about the performance and he didn't realize how codependent he had become to his boyfriend. Matt had managed to get Tai, and all of his friends, floor seats for the concert so he could definitely see Tai while he was on stage. Matt sat down and drank some water. He had never been nervous performing before. He realized that this is the first time he had someone in the audience that he wanted to impress.

Sora and Joe stood holding hands outside the concert hall. "I told you everyone would be late, Joe. We have been standing here alone for seven minutes."

Joe smiled. "Relax, Sora. The concert doesn't start for another hour. Not everyone can be as punctual as the two of us. Maybe it wasn't such a good idea for us all to meet up before going into the stadium though."

Just as Sora was rolling her eyes again, Gwen and Mimi showed up. Sora made a mental note that two were not holding hands. That either meant that Gwen had not made her feelings known or that things didn't go as she had hoped. Gwen greeted the new couple first so that Mimi wouldn't say anything bitchy about Sora dating Joe. "Hey guys! I haven't seen you two together as a couple until now and you look adorable. I'm so happy for you two."

Sora smiled. "Thanks, Gwen." She took her hand out of Joe's and gave her best friend a hug. She put her mouth next to Gwen's ear and whispered to her. "Did you tell her?"

"Not yet." Gwen pulled back and the four talked while they waited for everyone else to arrive.

"Oh my God! Mimi!" Mimi turned around to see Yolei running towards her dragging Cody behind by the hand. Mimi sighed and cursed under her breath. Yolei and Cody joined the group of four friends. "Mimi!" Yolei gave Mimi a hug and Mimi rolled her eyes.

"Hello Yolei. I haven't seen you since the wedding. How have you been?"

"I've been great, Mimi! Thanks for asking! What about you?"

"I can't complain."

"That's wonderful!"

"Have you taken any pills of some sort? You are very energetic."

Yolei laughed as if Mimi had said the wittiest joke ever spoken. "No, but I have had a lot of coffee. I needed some caffeine to be awake for the concert."

"I see."

Cody walked over and talked with Joe while everyone else watched Yolei talk with her idol. Davis and Ken showed up holding hands only moments later.

"Hey everybody! Is Tai not here yet?"

Sora answered for everyone. "No, Davis. He will be here soon. He wouldn't miss his boyfriend performing for the first time all year."

"I should hope not. If I was performing, I would want you in the first row, Ken." He gave his boyfriend a kiss on the cheek and everyone looked at how cute they were together. Ken's face turned red with all the attention on the two of them.

"Thanks, Davis. I would want you in the front row if I performed too."

"I was in the front row for your math competition that you won. I had absolutely no clue what was going on with all the calculus and algebra, but I was there to support you."

Ken smiled. "I know. You are an amazing boyfriend. I didn't want to say this for the first time in front of everyone but I need to tell you right now. Davis, I love you."

Davis smiled. "I love you too, Ken." The boys kissed on the lips and everyone clapped and cheered.

Yolei ran over to them. "You two are so adorable!" She wrapped her arms around the two of them and squeezed them tightly. "I love you both as well!" Mimi rolled her eyes again and sighed. Gwen elbowed her in the side gently to get her to be nicer. Everyone turned their attention to Davis and Ken to congratulate them on their love.

"Hey, excuse me? Is nobody even going to acknowledge that I am finally here?" Everyone turned around. Tai had finally arrived and he had brought TK and Kari with him.

Davis ran over to his idol. "I'm sorry, Tai. We must have been too caught up in the excitement."

"The excitement of what?"

"Ken and I just told each other that we love each other."

Tai happily gasped and hugged Davis tightly. "Davis, that's great! I'm so happy for you two!" TK and Kari added their congratulations to the happy couple. "Ok, not to break up the love-fest happening right now, but we need to find our seats. I don't want to miss a minute of Yama on stage." The group of friends entered the concert hall and took their seats and waited for The Teenage Wolves to make their return to the stage.

Matt heard the crowd screaming as The Teenage Wolves were announced. He knew that they were only the opening act but the pressure was overwhelming. The curtain pulled back and Matt stared into the crowd of the packed concert hall. The lights were blinding almost blinding him so he couldn't make out any faces. He was disappointed that he couldn't see Tai or any of his friends but he didn't let it bother him. Matt announced the band's first song and the band started performing. Matt was surprised at how natural everything still felt despite the time apart the group had endured.

After the concert, Matt and his band enjoyed themselves at the after-party. Matt had managed to get Tai, Sora, Mimi, Gwen, and Joe into it. He felt that the others were too young to be around people drinking and partying. The party had just started and already it was becoming slightly out-of-control. Joe looked like he was going to have a panic attack and Sora tried to comfort her socially-awkward boyfriend. Tai put his arm around Matt. "Is it going to disappoint all the girls who keep checking you out in here if I kiss you? They might be saddened to learn you're gay."

"Who cares?" Matt leaned forward and kissed Tai passionately on the lips. "I'll just tell them that I'm bisexual." Tai laughed and kissed Matt back.

"Guys, what if the police come and shut down this party? Things are already getting crazy."

Tai broke the kiss that he was enjoying with his boyfriend. "Joe, calm down. Everything is going to be fine. Haven't you been to a party before?"

"Only Izzy's bachelor party."

Tai rolled his eyes. "How you landed Sora, I will never know."

Sora punched Tai on the arm. "Shut up, Tai. Joe is very sweet, intelligent, sensitive, and caring. That is how he landed Sora."

"Why are you referring to yourself in third person?"

Sora punched Tai on the arm again and turned back to Joe. "Don't listen to them, Joe. I like that you are different from everyone else."

Joe smiled. "Thanks, Sora." He leaned down and gave his girlfriend a kiss.

Mimi leaned close to Tai. "I'm with you, Tai. I don't get it either." The two of them laughed. "I need a drink. I will be right back."

"Are you sure that is a good idea, Mimi?"

"I am just getting one drink. Just because I have had problems with drinking in the past doesn't mean I am an alcoholic, Tai. You're not really one to talk about drinking responsibly either."

"Okay. I'm sorry I mentioned it."

Mimi excused herself from the group to go get a drink. Gwen moved close to Sora. "I think I want to tell Mimi at this party."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm positive."

Joe looked confused. "Tell Mimi what?"

Gwen looked up at Joe. "I want to tell Mimi that I like her as more than just a friend."

Joe looked surprised but happy. "That's great, Gwen. I wish you the best of luck."

"Thank you, Joe."

"Did you just say that you like Mimi?"

Gwen turned to see that Matt was right next to her with Tai next to him.

"It is impolite to eavesdrop, Matt. I guess I can't be too mad though since you are the only reason I am at this party. Yes, I have a crush on Mimi."

Matt smiled. "Wow, you two are almost the same person, you know. I thought Sora and you were alike but you and Mimi would be perfect for each other."

"Thanks, Matt."

Tai moved closer to Gwen so he could be heard above the loud partiers. "I agree. You should go for it."

"I plan on it." Gwen had built up an excess of momentum so she left to go find Mimi. She headed in the direction she saw her crush go in and looked for a glimpse of Mimi's strawberry blonde hair. She wandered around the room for what felt like hours. She finally made her way into the corner of the large room where she was shocked at what she saw. Mimi was sitting on the lap of The Teenage Wolves' drummer and was making out with him. Gwen stood there staring at her continually kissing a boy that she must have just met. She thought that Mimi had felt the same way about her but now she didn't know what to think. Gwen turned around and headed back to find her friends. She wanted to leave the party immediately.

Mimi heard her cell phone timer go off. She stopped kissing Matt's drummer and looked at her phone. "There you go. We made out for exactly two minutes as was the dare. You are lucky that I happen to be a Truth or Dare addict. I could tell that you enjoyed it. Although, that could have been your drumstick I felt poking me." Mimi stood up and looked at the drummer whose face was turning red. She looked around at all the people surrounding them. "Whose turn is it now? I love this game so much."

The next morning, Veronica entered her therapist's office and sat down in the comfortable chair across from him. "So, Veronica, we have made record-breaking progress over the course of this week. It was tricky to schedule and appointment with you every day over your spring break but we have covered so much. You are more stable with handling your emotions surrounding the rape and the abortion. Obviously we are not finished with therapy, but I am so proud of the progress you have made thus far."

"Thank you. I really feel like I can deal with all of my emotions properly now. The addition of friends helped tremendously. Coming to therapy truly was the icing on the cake though."

"Well, today is our last session for now as you are returning to school. We can talk about handling future stress and grievances due to the pain you have endured this school year I suppose. Is there anything specific you want to discuss?"

Veronica looked down at her lap for a few seconds and then back at her therapist. "There is actually."

"Okay. What do you want to talk about?"

Veronica paused. She had been thinking about this for awhile and now she was ready to make it known. "I want to press legal charges against Bryan for the date rape."

TO BE CONTINUED…