Hey guys, I'm back. Two weeks and four days? I'm terribly sorry. My computer broke down on me T.T . I'm sorry to have had you guys waiting, and I hope you enjoy this :) The chapter after this, IS MY FAVORITE :) Thanks for your continuous support for me and my story -3

I've also updated my profile, so new things are on there now if you're interested in getting to know basics about little ol' me.

This chapter is the Monday after the video, and the basis for the future chapters. Then, next chapter the drama begins. Yes, begin, not continue ;)

EDITED: 7/18/13

Feelings, controlling oneself, the baby, the hangout plan, the boyfriend and the end

Definitely an important chapter for details, so stay tuned till the end!

Just So You Know

Chapter 6: The Elephant In the Room, the End & a Beginning

What kind of luck was this that seemed to follow Sora around?

Within the pool of roughly sixteen guys, why was it that she ended up with her best friend?

She stood by the desk of people, back towards her assigned partner, the situation hitting her at full impact as she refused to turn around and make eye contact, stubbornly continuing to stare down the notecards, 'Yamato Ishida' and 'Sora Takenouchi' written in the suddenly obnoxiously neat handwriting against the irritatingly bright florescent yellow and green.

What now?

"Alex?" A quiet boy sitting at his desk became startled when he heard his name being called, sitting up from writing in his notebook. His eyes met the girl's, and they were quiet for a moment, a smiling forming on her face. "You're my partner." The girl finished calling out her partner, picking up the two notecards, heading towards the boy. As she neared, Sora noticed a darkening red hue spreading over his cheeks.

Smiling to herself, she dropped her gaze, intending to reassess the situation that hand when accidently, she briefly made contact with a set of expectant and intrigued clear cerulean blue eyes, coming to terms with herself that though unfortunate, the dilemma could not avoided. She knew, as did everyone else that there was never negotiations with Mr. Parker, the man known throughout grades for his mantra 'Mind over Matter'. He was always up for criticism and attitude from his students, growing a thick hide no one had ever seen anyone break through. She recalled his words now, letting out a sigh of defeat.

Within a moment's notice, as the girls gathered around the table talked amongst themselves putting off joining their partners, Sora grabbed the partner tags and made a beeline for Matt's seat.

He looked surprised as she rotated the chair around to face him, smiling as casual a smile as she could muster, Mr. Parker's voice speaking to her inside her head.

'If you don't mind, it shouldn't matter' Just the handle the situation, as though there was never any video. It sounded simple, yet as difficult as anything.

"Looks like you're stuck with me and a baby this semester, rockstar." Taken aback by both her sudden appearance and immediate teasing, Matt's speaking functionality was left in the dust.

It was quiet between the two as Sora continued to mask her shaken emotions tied to the revelation of Matt and his feelings, silently wondering to herself if their friendship was going to become strained like this from that point on.

Just what was Matt thinking?

-Buffering-

Words.

What were they?

He continued to sink into the depths of Sora's eyes, fireworks lighting a twinkle in her eyes, a melodious laugh flowing from her lips to his ear, expression utterly breathtaking as she smiled, laughing to fill the awkward silence.

Matt really wanted to be able to directly ask her if she knew, knew of his romantic feelings for her. The rid her of her need to insincerely laugh, wishing that entity give him strength to last the next hour alone, in a dignity compromising situation. There was something off about her, he sensed the air between them become different from before, the childhood friend in front of him, for the first time, obviously uncomfortable just talking.

"I came back late last night, got to school late because I felt worn out"

"Ah, it's no wonder why Mimi and I didn't see you in the library this morning."

Conversation, when did it become such a task between best friends? As children they were insepratable, as teens, they held the pencil, hovering constantly back and forth between 'Yes, I feel' and 'No, we're friends', divided even with themselves confused with classifying their own thoughts.

-ThingsChange-

"Matt, Sora would the two of you come up?"

The two exchanged glances, leaving their seats.

"This" Mr. Parker reached down to his side, keys and id jingling as he carried a mechanical infant onto the table.

Not sure of what he had expected to get, Matt just stood, slightly output by the unrealistic looking baby's eyes. He was never one for nor against Chucky movies, but he was sure to avoid them for the duration of the assignment. He snuck a look at Sora, the girl too, seeming to be lost in the forever unclosing eyelids of their baby.

Their baby.

He coughed to himself, feeling heat reach to face, embarrassed for himself at the childish reaction, his sudden coughing drawing eyebrows from Sora and Mr. Parker. She looked at him, quietly asking if he was alright. He nodded furiously, clearing his throat for emphasis.

"Every number of hours, the baby will need a feeding, you'll know when," the parenting teacher chuckled lightly, retrieving a bottle from a bag at his side, "Like a normal baby, it will need to be feed through a bottle, specially designed with a sensor that triggers connection between the baby simulator and the bottle, and once it react as though you really fed it, and your points will be gauged in. Everything here- diapers, the bottles and these bracelets" he handed them each the accessory, the two teens confused as they put it on themselves, "Will be the communicating chip that recognizes you as the parents, wear them if you want credit."

Matt and Sora looked at the items, in sight awe at the function of it. "The 'batteries' for this thing is located inside the internal hardware, so there's no easy way out of this."

Izzy, was going to be extra helpful-

"Even if you managed disabled all the 'need' alerts, participation points won't be met."

At the end of the program, be prepared to be graded based on ability to react and knowing what it is that the baby needs." He looked at the two, disregarding the lack of reactions from the two, both good and bad. "Any questions?"

"This is for three weeks?"

"Yes."

"What then, do we do about school?" Sora began to fret, the thought of having to lug a baby around along with her book bag seeming like it could become an issue.

"Take them to your classes, so long as the teacher allows it." He glanced between the two, "If that's all the questions you have, remember that Aubrey carries a hefty price tag, be careful, this is worth 35% of your grade. As honors kids, don't let this simple project be the thing to ruin your records. You may leave."

"So, let's get this figured out, okay Matt?"

He let out a sigh, pulling his chair out to sit. The mechanical baby sat beside his arm, in a baby carriage.

"Sorry, I'm not sure how much time I really have outside of album promotions, and I've got a workload to do just to, if I quote, "Want to graduate in the upper half of the class." Sora empathically winced, aware that her friend had missed many days due to his work. He looked tired, now that she looked noticed the lack of live in his usually enthusiastic and mischievous eyes.

"I honestly agree with the counselor. I can just kiss top quarter goodbye."

Although he was often gone, and often missing out on the school experience due to his growing career, he had always made an effort to do as well as he could, humble as always with the knowledge that eventually he'd be without income from the music industry. He confided in Sora once that he hoped to go to college for a master's program one day.

She admired his drive, understanding that Matt was sincere in everything that he did, never one to falsify anything- even when it came to personal relationships. She'd seen this for herself when they were kids, as the teen often got into fights with Tai. She'd not once seen him approach a girl on courting terms though, and realized that she knew nothing of him when it came to his love life. She always too caught up in Tai and their relationship to really spend time with Matt and catch up the time lost to his frequent absences.

So much so, that she may have been ignorant to Matt's hurting all along.

"Don't worry though, afterschool I'll talk to Zack about my schedule and make time for the baby. It's going to be a while before I leave anywhere. I couldn't leave all the work to you.

He smiled at her, the fatigue showing in his face even as he tried on a determined expression for Sora.

"I'll take the baby for the night, you get yourself caught up on the work and get some shut eye, or else you'll age a few years too many for you to keep your fans."

He offered her a grateful smile for attempting to lift his spirits. "So, you doing anything this week?"

"Are you asking me out?" Sora teased, immediately scolding herself for the poor choice of words and her accidental reply. Inside, her heart was beating against her chest, and she felt her ribcage feeling as it would burst.

"Course' not." Matt had a nonchalant look on his face as he uncrossed his arms and leaned back against his chair. His face fell for a millisecond before he had answered her, the distraction of his busy schedule out prioritized by the thought of Sora and his feelings for her once again.

"No, I'm not doing anything really, I think." She didn't meet his eyes as she encouraged herself to speak properly, leaving behind the questionable thoughts of Matt's video behind, "I might have to babysit for my aunt sometime tomorrow and rest of the week I'm sure that I have no plans set aside yet." Sora told Matt.

"Great, I'll be sure to go over my schedule and clear tomorrow up, and make sure to update you in class. I might have something planned for the rest of the week, until Friday that is, but whatever it is I'll cancel." Matt thought aloud, curious as to how the next weeks would play out.

"Ok then how about we both take care of her Friday, none else, so there'll be no interruptions" He was surprised to hear that the two were planned to spend time together, Friday being the first in a long time since the two best friends spoke and hung out, "We've bound to have some stories to share."

Sora was nervous as she watched his reaction, wondering if he heard the implication on the word 'stories'. He beamed at her, and she was unable to tell if she caught onto her drift, but nonetheless unable to stop herself from feeling innocently excited still to connect again with her long-time friend.

"You are the biggest jerk of all time, Tai!"

Sora held her bag to her chest, still feeling the distinct pulsing of her heart beating rapidly, an expression of irritancy on her red tinted, embarrassed face. She glanced outside at the groups of teens awaiting their rides home, some laughing, some confused by the situation.

Twice in a day. Really, she was beginning to regret not taking the chance of studying and completing the early licensing program years ago. Don't worry her friends had said, a safe bunch of divers they were, they had said.

"Ah come'on Sora, I didn't mean it."

She could only look straight ahead to avoid his gaze, and the ones of the students around her. She was almost absolutely sure that at least a handful of them had seen her that morning.

Feeling a hand on hers, she felt the chink in resolve begin to spread, shattering her silent treatment when she accidently glanced at the brunette boy beside her as he smiled at her. His hand tightly, gently engulfing hers a confident smile on his face, the signature 'all-knowing' smile he'd had seen their younger days, letting her know he knew she had no way of not forgiving him.

"For the record, I was at least ten feet away from you"

She just sighed, "I almost got hit this morning."

"What!? What happened? Are you alright? You looked fine standing, though you were surprised just now"

A smile, knowing that he understood his wrongdoing. "Tai, I'm fine, I was just a little on the close call side when he came from the right. You just surprised me in the parking lot by honking so loud behind me."

"I didn't know, sorry."

"It's alright, Tai. I know you're still a kid underneath."

"What were you doing that you were so out of it this morning, and just earlier? You didn't even have earphones in when you walked a little too far from the grass."

Sora remembered, knowing that if she told Tai that he'd understand her clumsiness given her thought process, but he was her boyfriend. She was still confused about what to feel and think of things, to reveal anything about Matt just yet. The two were virtually brothers, as close TK was to Matt, but they weren't hesitant about making things physical.

"It's nothing. I was just thinking."

Tai's car continued it's way, their usual route to Sora's house, silent inside for minutes before Tai spoke again.

"Matt's into you, Sora."

Sora was left silent, not sure how to respond, too taken aback to reply.

"I think we should break up."

"W-what?"

"I saw the video, Sora. I'm sure by now you've seen it too, right?" He briefly looked over at her, face devoid of emotion but expectancy.

"Yes.."

She heard a sigh pierce her flooding brain of thoughts, "Over the past few weeks I've had time to myself." now, she looked at him, still quiet as he took his time continuing. "And I think that this relationship has it's flaw, which is fine, but I'm beginning to think that maybe our personalities don't match as well as I though they would."

He continued to occasionally look over at her, trying to see her reaction, despite driving making it difficult. He straightened up in his seat.

"What I mean is that ever since we've been in this relationship it hasn't felt right. You can't honestly say that it felt right that everyone questioned our relationship, even accusing us of joking. We've fought a lot, and honestly, I miss being with you in a way that both of us could be ourselves, and relaxed. I just feel like that's not what we are now. You know?"

"Tai, if it's Matt's video that has gotten you to feel insecure if -" the car rolled to a stop at the red light, a few minutes from Sora's stop. "If you're worried that I feel for Matt, I -" she didn't know why the words once again left her. She didn't want to risk losing Tai, on bad terms before she figured out her feelings, she didn't want anyone to hurt if she made a wrong decision.

"Can you look at me in the eyes and say that you feel completely in love with me? And that you don't feel even a bit for Matt?"

The air inside became stuffy.

Tai sighed. "It's alright Sora. I understand that you may be feeling confused, and I understand that you don't me to hurt, but have you considered Matt if we continue on like it's a perfect relationship? His chance is lost, Sora. " He approached the street Sora recognized as a neighbor to the one her apartment was at. He turned left, and again, to pull into the parking lot.

They sat there, not moving.

Finally, "I understand Tai. Thank you for understanding me too." Sora met his eyes, a small, reassuring smile that she was okay.

He returned it, reaching over to hug her.

"He really does care about you though" She felt his breath slightly graze her hair, their arms still around each other. "He deserves a chance."

"Wow, seriously, don't tell your boyfriend I said this, but you smell good."

The moment was lost, and Sora immediately pulled away, looking at the smiling brunette incredulously, the two suddenly laughing. "Ever the perv, Tai."

"That's why you loved me." Again, her expression to slowly fade, as Tai realized his choice of words.

"But there's definitely someone who'd love you right, still, if not so, he'll feel my wrath." Sora's smile came again, though a little strained.

Tai could only look at her, sympathetic to her mess of inner thoughts, laying a hand on her shoulder. "Sora, I'm fine really. We're still friends, right?"

She nodded, smiling a little wider at the outstretched pinky, accepting it with her own. Her worries were lessened. This was for the better, she knew so.

"Now go inside before Mimi gets worried."

"Thanks Tai." A genuine, glowing smile. "I love you."

"Love you too."

-ChildhoodBond-

"Bye, Sora!"

The red Toyota reversed, Tai's arm waved, extended from the rolled down window.

Inside her mind, things began to sinking in, and she thought over Tai's words.

Matt deserved a chance. They had drifted lately due to uncontrollable issues in time, but through distance, their bond would tighten, time and time again, each time stronger than the last.

"Wait."

She blinked, seeing the Toyota now on it's away turning out of the drive way.

"When did you get back from the conference!?"