I do not own digimon or am associated with anyone who does.
These don't feel so long until I actually look at the word count. Anyway. Hope you enjoy.
Walking slowly up the stairs T.K. slid the door to the computer lab open, as he suspected no one was there. He glanced at the open gate on the computer and then walked past it, sitting at the far end of the back row, next to the window. Pulling out his earbuds he started up some music and pulled out another textbook. T.K. slid off of his school uniform jacket and unbuttoned the top buttons on his white shirt, rolling up the sleeves.
After a few minutes he thought he'd seen something out of the corner of his eye, glancing around he tried to shake the feeling someone was in the room with him. Going back to his history book he began jotting down some notes, pausing every few words to tapped his pen to the music blasting in his ears.
Again he felt it, T.K. twisted around and slowly gazed over the room, the door still shut, the gate still waiting idly for the others to come back through. Shaking his head, he went back to his book.
A few minutes later he jerked at the slightest touch to his shoulder, turning he was surprised to see Yolie standing behind him. His expression probably mirroring the surprise on her face.
Exhaling deeply, he quickly took his earbuds out and smiled. "Sorry, you startled me."
Yolie's expression softened and she smiled back. "I tried saying something to you when I walked in, but you didn't respond." She laughed lightly. "I didn't mean to scare you."
"No, it's okay." He watched as she sat down at the desk next to him.
"I thought you'd be with the others." She noted lightly.
T.K. tapped his history book with the top of his pen and shrugged. "Homework."
She nodded with a soft smile. "Same. But I'm helping Ken after they get back so I decided to stop by and wait for him here."
T.K. glanced at the monitor for a minute then back at Yolie who was still staring at him. "I was thinking I'd be done with this by now." He lied. "But maybe I'll just head home."
Yolie frowned. "I heard from Cody that you got stuck in the digital world last night."
T.K. turned back to his history book. "It wasn't that big of a deal."
Yolie looked at him curiously. "So, how have things been since you got back?"
T.K. stared out the window for a minute before he turned back to Yolie. "Different. But not too bad I guess."
Yolie leaned back in her chair. "How's your mom doing?"
"Good." T.K. replied lightly. "Enjoying France and the new company she is working for."
Yolie nodded. "That's good then."
There was an awkward silence that fell between them as Yolie grabbed a few of her books from her book bag. Finally, T.K. took in a deep breath. "So, I've been meaning to talk to you."
Yolie stopped and gave T.K. a curious look. "Oh, have you? Just since you got back or since the three dozen emails I sent you last year?"
T.K. gave Yolie a guilty look. Her words silencing him. She was never one to really sugar coat anything and now that they were alone he wasn't particularly surprised by her response—not that, that made it any easier to hear.
She eyed him for a few minutes, glancing back to see the gate to the digital world was still idle. "I would say sorry. But I don't really feel like I'm the one who owes the apology here."
T.K. nodded, unable to look up from the floor. "I made mistakes. A lot of mistakes. Before and after I left." Yolie's expression lightened as she turned her chair to face him, giving him a look to continue. "I can't really go into a lot of details, but I stopped talking to you, to Cody, to really everyone shortly after I left. It wasn't that I didn't want to. I was just…" his voice quieted.
"T.K. I'm not mad at you." Yolie said, hearing the struggle in T.K.'s voice. "Or I should say was mad, but not anymore."
T.K. gave Yolie a skeptical look. "What?"
Yolie gave him a sympathetic grin. "It had something to do with Kari, right?"
T.K. looked at her with surprise. "She told you what happened?"
Yolie sighed. "Not really. But I know the jist of it. What I didn't know was she had completely stopped talking to you after you left. I only found that out recently, from Ken."
T.K. looked away from Yolie. "I didn't want to make things difficult for her."
"You told her how you felt, right?" Yolie asked, genuine concern on her face.
T.K. didn't want talk about this—but he had to. "Honestly I didn't want anyone to know what I'd done. And I was afraid things would change between all of you, if you all found out."
"You thought some of us would be mad at Kari for turning you down?"
T.K. shrugged. "Not that really. Just that if I came back to visit or if you all wanted to come and visit me, it would've meant she'd be left out or forced into an awkward situation. It would cause rifts. Either I would lose friends or she would. I didn't want…" T.K. took a deep breath leaning back in his chair. "I didn't want anyone to have to choose."
Yolie frowned. "You decided to choose for us."
T.K. ran his hand through his hair. "Basically."
"I was pretty pissed at you. For a long time." Yolie started. "But one day I was telling Kari about how mad I was at you for not responding to our messages and she almost begged me not to be upset. She then told me that something happened between the two of you and that was probably why you stopped talking to everyone. I kind of pieced stuff together from the way she said it."
T.K. rubbed the back of his neck and leaned forward. "I never wanted to hurt you guys."
"Too late for that." Yolie looked at him sadly.
T.K. nodded. "I know."
Yolie heard a familiar click on the computer, the digital gate lighting up. "T.K., listen. I don't like how you handled the situation—but I'm not mad. I think we're all glad to have you back, even Kari."
T.K. gave Yolie a half smile. "I wouldn't blame you at all, if you hated me."
Yolie's expression turned to surprise. "T.K. we'd never…"
Before Yolie could continue the group fell through the gate in a small pile on the floor. Moans and groans could be heard all around as they untangled themselves from each other and stood.
T.K. smiled at Yolie—a burden that'd been heavy on his shoulders was slightly lighter now, but the guilt was still there. "Thanks." He said quietly and turned to start packing his textbook back into his bag.
"There you guys are!" Davis yelled exhausted.
Yolie greeted everyone with a smile. "How'd it go today?"
Cody shrugged. "Nothing super exciting. A little run in with some vilemon in the eastern forest."
"Piece of cake!" Davis said cockily.
Ken spotted T.K. standing from the far side desk, grabbing his jacket and backpack. "T.K., hey, I, uh…" he looked at him with a guilty expression.
T.K. guessed that if Yolie heard about him getting stuck, so had Ken by now. "Hey."
"I didn't mean to—"
T.K. threw his arms in the air exasperatedly. "I thought we were friends! How could you do that to me?"
Ken almost didn't catch the sarcasm in his tone and started to apologize a second time, but quickly stopped at the smirk that grew on T.K.'s face. "Haha…" he gave T.K. an irritated glare.
Kari watched him carefully from behind everyone else, noting his mood had improved since they'd seen him at lunch time.
T.K. shrugged and walked up to Ken, patting him on the shoulder. "I think you owe me the coffee now."
Ken gave him nod. "Fine. Maybe tomorrow after—"
"Practice tomorrow. We'll grab it over the weekend."
Ken agreed. "Sure."
Davis stretched his arms in the air and rested his hands behind his head. "I don't know about you guys but I'm starved! Hey, let's go to that burger place around the corner."
Cody laughed. "You're always hungry."
Kari pulled her backpack over her shoulder. "Why not?"
Yolie looked to Ken. "We have time?"
Ken nodded. "I think so. You want to go?"
"I'm pretty hungry myself." She replied with a light smile.
Everyone's eyes suddenly fell on T.K. as he walked up to the group. "I could eat."
Ken's eyes widened. A convincing speech all ready for nothing. "Really?"
T.K. raised his eyebrow at Ken. "Unless someone objects." He glanced at the group. His gaze falling on Kari briefly. She didn't look upset by his decision and he really was hungry.
Ken raised his hands defensively, smiling weakly. "No, that's not what I meant."
Suddenly T.K.'s phone started ringing again. It was Matt. T.K. grimaced and hit the ignore button, shoving the phone back into his pocket. "I'm ready if you guys are."
#
The fast food place was fairly quiet as they sat in the far corner eating and talking. T.K. was remaining fairly quiet, only really talking when being spoken to. Davis was easily keeping conversations going all his own and he was enjoying listening to his friends talk.
"So I guess next time we go to the digital world you won't be there either?" Cody looked to T.K. questioningly.
T.K. nodded. "I may not play, but I still have to keep the bench warm." He was referring to his game on Friday.
Kari focused on her phone, trying to keep herself from staring at T.K.. She'd caught herself staring at him for minutes at a time without looking away and knew if he noticed it would probably making him uncomfortable and if he hadn't noticed and someone pointed it out, it'd be awkward. He had grown so much more handsome in the last year. She had always found his looks attractive of course, but he was growing into a young man now.
Looking up from her phone she found his gaze looking directly at her, their eyes meeting and locking. She smiled weakly at him, glancing away.
"So," T.K. began. "Are you still doing photography for the school paper, Kari?" he asked casually.
Kari looked back at him, her smile faded but then returned a little stronger. "Not as much. Last year one of the photography club members started doing a lot of stuff for the paper, so they only ask me when they aren't available."
T.K. looked at her curiously. "You lose interest?"
She had to think—she had actually, without realizing it at first, lost interest in a lot of things she had used to enjoy, after T.K. left. "No. Just been too busy I guess."
T.K. frowned. "Oh. That's too bad."
T.K.'s phone started ringing again, for the third time since they'd gotten there. T.K. took his phone and hit ignore again. This time he held the power button until his phone shut down.
Cody and Ken both saw it was Matt again, glancing at each other and then back at T.K.. Ken frowned. "Shouldn't you answer him? He's called you like four times in the last hour."
T.K. shook his head. "It's fine."
Ken's phone was the next to ring. "Uhm…" he showed T.K. the screen, seeing Matt's name.
"Don't answer or just tell him you don't know where I'm at." T.K. frowned, pursing his lips.
Ken looked uncomfortable. "You two fighting?"
"No." T.K. shrugged. "I just don't want to talk to him right now."
Ken looked to the ceiling and let out a deep breath before answering. "Hello?" T.K. could hear Matt's voice, but couldn't quite make out what he was saying. "Uhm, Sorry I don't know…Yeah if I see him I'll let him know…bye."
Ken hung up the phone and looked at T.K.. "He said he's been trying to get a hold of you since after lunch today and he needs to talk to you."
T.K. looked up out the large windows at the overcast sky, seeing the rain had let up. "Yeah. I know."
Davis leaned over the table. "Sounds like you're fighting."
T.K. shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. It's complicated."
Yolie pushed away from the table, grabbing her purse. "I'm going to go get a refill before we leave. Are you about ready Ken?"
Ken looked at the time. "Yeah. Sounds good." He glanced at T.K. "You need a ride home?"
T.K. shook his head. "Nah. I can walk."
Cody and Davis both started clearing the table, and everyone began saying their goodbyes.
#
T.K. ended up walking the same way Kari was, Davis and Cody quickly making off in different directions shortly after they'd left. It'd been ages since the two had walked home together. Glancing at her briefly he decided better of striking up a conversation. The last time they were alone he was the only one who really spoke.
After a few minutes Kari smiled, a giggle escaping her lips. "Do you remember that one day we walked back to my place with Davis and he kept trying to show off?" she pointed to a raised platform near the bus top ahead of them.
T.K. laughed a little, recalling the goggle headed boy balancing on the edge of the platform, only to end up with a bloody nose and a bruised ego. "Man, that was ages ago."
Kari's smile faded. "We had a lot of fun back then."
T.K. inhaled slowly, trying to keep his voice even. "We did."
Kari pursed her lips, which quivered lightly as she smiled again. "I'm glad we can still make good memories together."
T.K. stared at her for a few seconds, forgetting that he shouldn't do that anymore. "Me too."
She looked up at him, both their paces slowing as their eyes met again. "I…"
Suddenly the rain started to pour down on them. "Ah…dang it." T.K. grumbled, taking off his school jacket, placing it over Kari's head. "I'll walk you by your apartment."
Kari nodded, a thankful expression on her face. "Are you sure, you're going to get soaked." She pointed out as his white button up was already half soaked and sticking to his skin.
"Of course." T.K. made it sound like it was an obvious choice. He hesitated as she started speeding up her pace. "Unless you…" his voice quieted. He didn't want to leave her side, not yet. He was going to be a little selfish this time.
"Hmm?" she turned around and looked at him as he stared. "What did you say?" she watched water start to drip off the edges of his messy blond hair which was beginning to stick to the sides of his face.
"Nothing." He smiled and hurried after her.
#
T.K. was almost home and for the first time his thoughts weren't on the weird digimon or the guilt that was eating away at him—he was thinking about how nice it was to have a carefree afternoon with his friends. He was even able to talk to Kari and he didn't feel like he was making her uncomfortable. He knew that things could never go back to the way they were before, his feelings for Kari alone would ensure that, but he missed her and his friends.
Walking up to the door to his apartment T.K. rummaged through his pockets, looking for his keys—before he could find them he heard voices coming from inside, Matt was home and someone else was with him, not Sora. He quickly recognized the voice—Tai.
He found his key and slipped it into the door as quietly as possible, cracking the door open so he could hear what they were saying. He was hoping Tai being there would prolong his inevitable argument with Matt.
"—when I was visiting yesterday." Tai's voice came into clarity.
"Kari said that?" Matt asked, disbelief in his tone.
Tai let out a deep breath. "I haven't seen her this upset in a long time."
T.K. froze at their words.
Matt's voice quieted. "So that's what happened. T.K. only just told me this weekend that he told Kari how he felt before he left—I haven't had a chance to get into it with him."
"I wasn't sure if you knew anything about it, or T.K.'s side of the story. I didn't have a clue until yesterday."
Matt's tone spiked with irritation. "I wish he'd just talk to me."
Tai laughed. "Kari used to tell me everything and now I find out she's been keeping things from me for over a year. It's crazy. When did they stop needing us?"
Matt moaned. "I don't even know if T.K. ever did need me." His voice quieted again. "Honestly…"
T.K. couldn't hear what Matt said next.
Tai sighed. "I just wish I could do something to take the hurt away. You know?"
"I've probably only made things worse by forcing T.K. to go hang out with everyone. I had no clue it was that complicated."
T.K. was done. He didn't want to hear anymore. He shoved the door open noisily and walked in, kicking his shoes off.
"T.K.?" Matt called from the kitchen.
T.K.'s teeth clenched. He was trying to stomach what he'd just heard—he thought they were making progress, that they could be friends again, but he was only causing Kari pain.
"T.K.?" Matt walked into the hall to see T.K. sliding his backpack off his shoulder. "Where have you been?"
T.K. looked at Matt, contemplating being civil, it wasn't Matt's fault. None of it was. But he just walked past him, muttering softly. "I was in the school library doing my homework."
Matt watched T.K. as he walked to his room and shut the door. Tai walked out of the kitchen and looked to Matt. "Everything okay?"
"I don't think so. I may have messed up." He sighed. "I'll be right back."
T.K. tossed his backpack onto the floor next to his computer and quickly got out of his wet school uniform into some jeans and a blue t-shirt. Laying down on his bed he desperately wanted to sleep so his mind would just stop.
Matt knocked on his door lightly. "I'm coming in."
T.K. moaned and covered his face. "Go away."
Matt walked in and closed the door behind him. "Okay, first: it's not okay for you to ignore my calls. And Second: I was going to come and get you, you know."
T.K. pushed himself up and looked at Matt. "Just forget it, I'm home, all my homework is done, I've eaten and now I just want to sleep."
"T.K., I need you to talk to me." Matt looked at him sadly. "You're not yourself. And I just want to help if—"
"Not myself? How would you even know? I've been gone for over a year." T.K. snapped.
Matt opened his mouth to respond but stopped and looked to the ground.
T.K. sighed loudly, regretting his words. "Sorry. Listen, there's nothing to help with. If there was I'd tell you." T.K. spoke genuinely. "I'm tired and taking my bad mood out on you. You have your own things going on and I was just being immature."
Matt gave T.K. a solemn look. "If something is wrong, I want to be there to help you. I'm your brother."
"Matt, just stop, please." T.K. laid back down on his bed and rested his arm over his eyes. "I'm sorry, but could you just leave me alone?"
Matt pursed his lips and nodded. "Got it…" and turned walking out of his bedroom.
So, yeah, glad I split that into two chapters.
Hope you enjoyed!
Help support my writing by checking out my original self-published book series, by googling The Silent Ballad Series.