Itsumademo Ai (Forever Love)

Chapter 2 – The Love That Can’t Be?  Matt’s Angst

 

“Oh, uh, hey Tai.”  Matt said.

 

“Uh, hi,” was all Tai managed to squeak out.  He ran out of the restroom as fast as he could, covering his face.  He calmed down, and went back to class. 

 

Matt stood in the restroom for a minute contemplating what had just happened.  He sighed.  Matt had come to terms with his feelings for Tai while they were in the digital world.  He just couldn’t tell him.  He didn’t think Tai felt the same for him.  When they were in lunch, Tai always acted like he really didn’t want to talk to him.  Tai never called, or did anything to make Matt think otherwise.  So, he just hid his feelings like always.  “Oh, beautiful Tai.  Why can’t I get the nerve to tell you how I feel?  I need you, Tai.”  Matt could imagine holding Tai tightly in his arms.  He blushed as he thought about everything he would like to do with Tai.  I have to find some way to tell you how I feel, even if you don’t feel the same about me, Matt thought.  He couldn’t take much more of them not talking to each other.  He wanted to take care of Tai and protect him.  Ever since they got back from the digital world, Tai was all Matt thought about.  I’ve loved him all this time, since our eyes met for the first time.  I just wish I could tell him.  With that thought, Matt left the restroom.  While walking back to class, Matt had an idea.  I’ll pull him aside at lunch; I have to tell him today.  I can’t take one more day of not being with him.

 

~*~

 

The day dragged on and finally it was lunchtime.  Everyone got their meals and sat at their regular table.  The conversation at the table was the usual.  Izzy talked to Joe about computer stuff, Mimi talked to Sora about the latest fashion craze, and Matt and Tai were eating their food, sitting across from each other in awkward silence.  This is it, Matt thought, I’m gonna just get up and ask him to come with me for a minute.  Just as Matt was getting the nerve to ask Tai to come talk with him, Sora spoke.

 

“Hey Tai, did you read my letter?” Sora asked.

 

“Yea. I’ll be there.”  Tai replied.

 

“Great!”  Sora said, with a look of glee on her face.  She turned back around to Mimi and continued talking.  Joe and Izzy looked at Tai and Sora for a second then continued chatting, not really wondering about that little exchange.

 

Matt, however, heard this and saw the way Sora looked.  His plans were dashed to pieces.  He excused himself from the table and went out of the cafeteria.  “What was THAT about?  Do they have a date?  Oh God, what is going on?  Tai…”  Matt let a few tears slip down either cheek, then dried his eyes.  He had to be strong.  He went back in the cafeteria and sat down.  Tai looked at Matt, and thought he looked like he had been crying.

 

“Is everything alright, Matt?”

 

“Oh, yea.”  He lied.  “Hey do you and Sora have a date later or something?”  Half of him was curious, the other half terrified of the answer.

 

Sora, who was listening to Mimi babble on, had her back turned to Tai and Matt.  She heard Matt’s question and turned to look at Tai out of the corner of her eye, so she could see his reaction.  Neither Tai nor Matt noticed as she did this.

 

“Ah, well, I don’t know.”  Tai blushed.  “She wrote me a letter in homeroom, but it just said to meet her at her locker after school.”  He felt a rush of nausea sweep over him, and looked at Matt like he didn’t really want to go.  Sora frowned; her confidence lowered somewhat.  Matt felt that same rush of nausea come over him.  He wanted to cry, but he kept a strong face.

 

“Oh.” Matt said.  The bell to end lunch rang, and everyone got up.

 

Matt went to his locker and then headed to class.  As he walked to class, Matt thought about Tai’s answer.  He had said he was going to meet Sora at her locker after school.  What was that look he had given with that answer?  Did he not want to go?  What was Sora up to anyway?  He was angry at Sora for trying to take his man.  He thought of what he would like to do to that little—“Ow!”  Matt suddenly found himself on the floor.  He looked up and saw Sora across from him, also on the floor.  “Hey, why don’t you watch where you’re going?”

 

“I’m not the one with my head in the clouds, Matt.”  Sora retorted.  “What’s on your mind anyway?”  She said, getting up and gathering her books back up.

 

Oh nothing, just wishing you would disappear so I could have Tai for myself, Matt thought, angrily, as he got up and picked his bookbag up.  “Nothing.  So, what’s up with you and Tai this afternoon?”  Matt never really liked Sora since he had first met her.  She was alright, and had her moments, but mostly she was an annoying bit…oh she’s talking…what did she say? Eh, just nod, Matt…

 

“Well, I WAS going to surprise everyone, but I guess I can let you in on it.  You gotta promise me you won’t tell anyone. Ok?”  Matt nodded.  “Ok, well I want to take Tai to the park today and tell him that I love him.  Then, when he tells me he loves me, which I know he does, we are gonna ask the rest of you to come out tonight and celebrate.”  Sora beamed.

 

Fire flared up around Matt.  You bitch!  Why don’t you just go to hell right now?  I’m gonna kill you, Sora!  Tai is MINE!  Matt’s mind screamed.  He hated her so much right now.  He wished he could shoot fire from his eyes and just burn through her stomach.  He gathered his thoughts and spoke.  “How do you know Tai loves YOU?”  Easy, Matt, back off.  Maybe he’d put a little too much power behind that ‘you.’  Sora gave him a funny look.

 

“Why wouldn’t he love me?  We have been together as best friends for-like-ever.  Don’t be silly Matt.”  Sora said, frowning.  “Anyways, I have to get to class so I will see you tonight!”  Sora bounded down the hall as Matt watched with fire in his eyes.

 

~*~

 

The final bell rang and Tai’s stomach did flip-flops.  Well, this is it, he thought, and I still don’t know how to tell Sora…  As he walked down the hall towards Sora’s locker, he thought, maybe I am jumping to conclusions, maybe she doesn’t want to talk to me about…her crush on me…  Little did Tai realize that Matt was following him.  Tai arrived at Sora’s locker and moments later Sora showed up.  Matt ducked into an empty classroom that was close by and listened.

 

“Hey, Tai.  I’m glad you came.”  Sora smiled.  The hallways grew quiet as all the other students exited the building.  Matt could hear clearly now.

 

“Yea.  So, what’s up?”  Tai asked nervously.

 

“I want to talk to you about…something.”  Sora blushed.  “But not here, let’s go out to the park, I know a secluded place we can talk.”  She grabbed Tai’s nervous hand.  Tai jerked back at her touch.  “Is something wrong, Tai?  You haven’t been acting yourself lately.”

 

“Um, no, I just wasn’t expecting that.”  Tai swallowed hard.  The words just wouldn’t come.  He couldn’t tell her.  Sora slipped her hand back into Tai’s.

 

“Well, then shall we go?”  Sora now had a big stupid grin on her face, as Tai didn’t flinch this time.

 

In the classroom, Matt’s heart was racing.  “No, Tai, please.  I love you.  Don’t be in love with HER,” he whispered, almost in tears.  He crept out and followed them to the park.