-Thanks a bunch for the reviews!! ^_^; Eh, I got the whole 'mantis idea' from TV so I guess I wasn't paying that much attention to what I heard, sorry! Though I'm glad a lot of you are really liking this, some even relating to it! Well, sorry for the long wait.-

~* Mimi's POV

Slamming the doors open, I mumbled stuff to myself not caring where I was going but I stormed out of that auditorium as fast as I can just to get away from that. The nerve of that—arrgh! Be Yamato Ishida's girlfriend just to make Tai jealous? How superficial can someone get?! And why the hell—me and him! Ludicrous!!

"Hey—Mimi, stop!" I heard Matt call as he tried to catch up with me. I quickened my pace, trying very hard to avoid the temptation of throwing my books at the dirty bastard. "Mimi! C'mon, just wait up!" he kept saying.

I wasn't thinking straight and somehow my legs had brought me to that half-empty football field. I sighed as I looked back and still found Matt desperately running after me, that boy just doesn't give up, I couldn't help but feel sorry that I slapped him before I ran out so I stopped in my tracks and he finally caught up.

"For a guy who plays football and basketball you sure aren't in great shape to run," I remarked, sarcasm dripping down every word.

Matt finally caught his breath and glanced up at me, "I…Mimi, please…just hear what I have to say—"

"Have to say—I think I've heard enough," I retorted. "God, Matt, where do you come up with this stuff? I honestly can't believe you'd stoop that low just to get your ex-girlfriend back! And putting me somewhere in the middle, too!"

Matt grunted and ran his hand through his hair before exclaiming, "Like you wouldn't have given anything to be with Tai again…! Mimi, don't tell me that thought hasn't crossed your mind." I dropped my head and looked away to those people sitting around the stands, I don't know why but I just had to look away. Matt knew he got me, "Right. No words can describe the pain they've both put us and this will definitely put them in their place."

Hugging my books tighter, I shot him a glare, "And what place is that?" I asked. "God, how blind can someone be. If you know how much Tai loves Sora—how Sora loves Tai, you'll learn to accept it and let-her-go! Stop chasing a dream you can never keep up with!"

It had seemed that Matt had somewhat been affected by what I said. But I guess he had shook it off and gone to another perspective, "It's a great plan, Mimi! C'mon, a few people—including Sora—already thought there's something going on between us just because of this morning. Now all we have to do is let them think that, make a few appearances together and Sora and Tai will get so jealous that they'd be begging to get back together!" Matt exclaimed and threw his arms.

I crossed my arms and slightly smirked, "Genius plan, Ishida, now all you need is some dim-witted girl to put your plan in action. Small hint of advice—it's not me," I frowned and brushed past him not paying any heed to his calls.

~* Matt's POV

"Mimi! Why?! Give me one good reason why!" I called as I watched her marched her way back into the school building. "Arrgh—Damnit!" I yelled and threw my bag down to the grass. I got a few looks from the cheerleading squad but the hell with them—why won't she do it?! Maybe, I should just find someone else.

"But I need her," I muttered. "…And Tai won't really get jealous for another girl who isn't Mimi, and let's face it," I sighed and let out a hoarse chuckle, "there really isn't another girl who can compete with Mimi—no, what am I saying?" I nervously snatched my bag and hurriedly walked home.

~*Omniscient POV

"What do you mean you gave it to her?!" Tai yelled at the top of his lungs and squeezed Dale's neck collar tighter as he pushed him against the alley wall. Dale squirmed and cursed under his breath but Tai held onto him harder.

"I'm sorry, man! I-I didn't know I wasn't suppose to give it to her, she is your girl, Damnit!" he coughed out and winced down. "Geez, it's not like she's gonna fuckin' call the cops so chill out, already!" (Sorry for the constant swearing! xo)

"Yeah, you better be right about that, moron," Tai narrowed his eyes at Dale before letting go, Dale choked and grabbed his reddened neck to catch his breath. Dale slightly looked up at Tai and a rush of fear went into him, Tai's eyes were stained with anger and thirst of his needs, Dale only prayed that he wouldn't get as mad to Sora as he had to him. Tai threw him one last disapproving look before walking off. Damn, now I have to go confront Sora to get my money back, he thought to himself, this would've been so much easier if she already knew.

Mimi angrily stomped up her doorsteps and slammed the door open and shut behind her. She was fire in pink. With Matt's words still lounging around her mind she hardly noticed her parents' worried calls and questions until she felt a firm hand grab her arm which she quickly pushed back, only to be more surprised and mad to find her Dad giving her an anguished expression.

"Oh, Papa, I didn't mean to—" she looked away to find her Mother peering in with a concerned look. She turned back to her Dad, "I'm sorry, I—"

He held his hand up, "No, no, it's okay. I guess I shouldn't have disturbed your already angry mood, I was just worried on how you stomped in, well, I guess I should have been used to that considering that's how you always walk in," he cracked a small smile.

Why is he being so, calm about this, Mimi arched a brow and stepped back to see her Mother's smile, too, "What is wrong with you two," she exclaimed and hurriedly ran up the stairs, flustered, and into her room. Both her parents exchanged puzzled looks before going back to their responsibilities.

~*Mimi's POV

I threw my bag down onto my bed as I came crashing down along with it. Blowing a strand away from my face only for it to come down again to my cheek, I sighed and let the sunset seep in from my window and onto my disgruntled face. What is wrong with everyone today? I laid back and stared at the ceiling.

Arrgh, this is all so confusing! You know, there used to be a time when no one would even dare get on my case and it's like, everyone's in on something about me that I'm not being clued on…This is all so hectic—Tai, my parents, Matt Ishida's problems with Sora, me, school—arrgh, everything is all screwed up and revolving onto me now! Damnit, what happened to Mimi the unknown, here. The phone rang.

Tutoring, oh no…as if I hadn't gotten enough of Matt's idiotic and desperate ideas already…I cracked a tiny smile. Okay, he was being a bit cute, desperate but cute—"No!" I quickly sat up and smacked my head. "Oh, God, now I'm even saying he's cute! Since when did I ever use that word on a human being, and on someone like—ugh, now I'm getting screwed up!!" I groaned and smacked myself on the forehead with a book and fell back down.

"Mimi! There's someone on the phone for you," My Dad called from downstairs. Hn, "Honey, did you just hear that, I just said someone's asking for our daughter on the phone—since when does that happen?" I heard him ask my Mom, as if I wouldn't have heard. And I wish I hadn't. "Mimi! Phone! Oh I just love saying that."

Sighing in irritation I just picked up the phone, I wasn't about to deal with phone calls now, ever, "Look, whoever this is, I don't have time for you right now so I suggest you go back to how messed up your head was and not to call me again!" I said satisfied that I at least still have my power to frighten people.

"Now, is that the kind of attitude you'd treat your boyfriend, oh my heart aches," Matt's conniving voice spoke from the other side. Oh no…doesn't that boy give up?!

"Matt," I grumbled. "If you know what's good for you—no, this is all your fault! Now I got my parents caring about me, making everyone at school giving me odd looks, butting into something you don't even know about. What do you think gives you the right to do this?"

Matt chuckled, "Woah, calm down there. What in the world are you talking about, maybe you're just too stressed or something…I was just wondering whether you got my playbook by mistake."

I scrambled onto my bag and pulled out my books, I rolled my eyes as I picked up his playbook, "Oh," I harshly laughed sarcastically. "Smooth, Matt, real smooth. But if you really wanted the chance of me giving you my time again the thought of me tutoring you everyday should've already crossed your mind."

"I already thought about that, but I wasn't about to give up that easily for today so I had to do something to have a chance to convince you over the phone," he said humbly. "Now, I'm not as stupid as you take me for, Miss Tachikawa, so what do you say?"

That smart-ass. I grunted and was thinking of hanging up on him but I figured he'd keep calling and my parents will start getting on my case again, "You really think it's that easy to convince me, do you? Hasn't the thought of my still be pissed off at you and this afternoon—and this morning ever cross your mind? Or did you already have that planned out, too?"

"…No, no, it hasn't," he simply replied. "But that's why you're my tutor, see I'm learning stuff from you already!" That was it, the last draw.

"As pleasant as it has been talking to you my answer is still, fuck off and find yourself some dumb ditz to fill my shoes," I shouted and quickly hung up the phone. I could hear him saying something but I shut if out and slammed the phone back down. And just to make sure, I pulled the phone cord out, too, frowning as it dangled from my hand. "The nerve, they're all the same and nothing is ever going to change, and I'll make sure of that."

~*Sora's POV

Happily I ran to my mirror and made some last arrangements to my hair and see if I looked alright. Of course I did, I am Sora Takenouchi, after all. Stretching my red shirt a bit, I smiled at myself before skipping out of my room, excited to see Tai. Though I wonder why he wants to see me so last-minute like, I shrugged, maybe this is just the way he is and stuff. Oh well.

"I'm going out," I called to my Mom and grabbed my jacket, she called my name from the kitchen.

"It's late, dear, why didn't you tell me sooner that you were going out. Dinner's almost ready," she said and I noted the slight worrying on her face. What?

I opened the door, "I'm not hungry, and I have to meet Tai and I'm already late. Be back later," I said before running out as fast as I can so she can't get another word in to stop me.

He's later than I am. I sighed and glanced at my watch for the third time this minute, it still said ten past seven, I huddled my arms close to my chest, my Mom must be getting worried now and I'm getting a bit hungry. Tai, where are you, I said out loud.

"Right here," a voice came from behind me, I smiled and turned around to meet him but quickly backed away when I saw his face. What, I've never seen him like—"Is something wrong, Sora?"

"What happened to you," I asked and almost made a gesture towards him but the look on his face still scared me to do so. "Tai, why were you late?"

He wiped the side of his mouth and smiled, "Sorry, had to take care of something. I, I just wanted to see you, that's all…did you bring what I asked you?" I nodded and took the package that that Dale guy gave me earlier. My hand shaking from holding what I felt must be from something wrong, I watched in concern as Tai smiled maliciously and took it, not having a problem to show me that it was cash—cold, hard cash as he counted it. "Good, he got all of them."

"Tai, what's going on here, where—please tell me where that money came from," I stuttered but asked as valiantly as I could to show him that I'm not some weak child.

Tai looked at me, I felt scared, really scared that I was about to cry but I wasn't sure why. Or maybe I am…He smiled warmly like he always does and quickly enveloped me in his arms, not thinking I noticed him stuff the money in his jacket. But it didn't matter right now, he made me feel better.

"I'm sorry, hun, I didn't mean to frighten you," he said softly and let go of me, enough to see my face. I muttered that it was nothing and I was just hungry and he chuckled. "Is that all? Come on, I know the perfect place where we could get something," he said and grabbed my hand. I laughed.

~*Matt's POV

"Swish, nothing but net," I shook my head at my little brother and passed him the ball back. "Hey, watch this, Matt!" he said and did that odd stunt of his that always made him miss the net and hit the ground. I laughed as he laid there laughing, too.

"Nice, real nice, you have a future of basketball ahead of you," I joked and held my hand out to help him up. Takeru chuckled and grinned widely when we heard a familiar revving of a car, figures that my Dad would come home just when me and my brother were having fun. Takeru stood beside me and we watched as he pulled up beside my car in the garage.

"So, think he's in a bad or good mood tonight?" he asked, seeing the blank expression on my Dad's face as he got out and glanced at that car he gave me. "Hey, whose black car is that, I don't remember seeing it this morning. Is it Dad's?"

I shook my head, "Nah, it's mine."

Takeru's eyes widened, "Yours?! Since when did you get a car and how come I didn't get to ride in it first?" I shrugged and muttered something that I myself couldn't understand. Our conversation was interrupted as Dad walked over to us with a smile on his face. "He's in a bad mood."

"Aren't you boys playing outside too late at night," he said, hunching his briefcase and coat across his arm. I let out a tiny grunt and threw the ball into the net. "Funny, Yamato, I see you haven't been taking care of your gift very well, and you just got it this morning."

I think my Dad had already forgotten that whole thing about Sora, he does have a lot of things on his mind lately and I guess my life isn't going to be a part of that. I shrugged, "I got a few dirt on it, no big deal, I'll give it a clean later. How was work?"

Dad gave me an, 'Don't-you-think-I-don't-know-what-you're-doing' kind of look and walked inside the house muttering about dinner or something. Takeru stole the ball from me when I was idly dribbling around, "What was that about?"

"Don't know, don't care," I lied and we just tossed it back and forth. Takeru noticed my sudden change of heart.

"What is it, did you and him have some fight this morning?"

"It's nothing, it's something else. My mind's pretty messed up right now and I have a lot of things to think about," I replied. And I did have too many things to think about, I mean, I practically caused my parents a huge phone bill by spending the last hour and a half trying to call that girl and worrying about schoolwork and shit. Uhm, did I say that out loud?

Takeru stared me oddly, "Who are you talking to and what girl are you talking about?"

I frowned and stole the ball to kill time, "Nothing, just school stuff…and I just, miss having, Sora around," I said, my words dripping with bitterness at the mention of the name.

"Don't be ashamed to talk about her. She was a big part of your life."

As simple as he said it I completely missed that shot by a mile. I turned to looked at Takeru, why did he say that? "Funny. That was what Mimi said…," I whispered and argued to crack a smile or not, was it a good thing or not that I thought of her when he said that. Bah, now she's starting to get to me. Or was she already getting to me before…?

"Mimi, who's Mimi?" He asked and I just dropped the ball and walked off. I have too much on my mind and I can't even grasp one to think upon on, "Hey, Matt! Where, what'd I say? Matt!" he yelled and yelled but I just slammed the door the way my father did. I wish I hadn't.

"Yamato, could you come in here for a second," I heard him calling from his den. Ugh, the only times I've been in there I came out with a sore throat from yelling and a terrible mood to follow. I quickened my pace for he never liked to wait.

"Yeah, Dad?"

Ah, fuck. Of course Mr. Harridan had to send back a Notice of Concern to my Dad, arrgh. Here we go, the lectures start—now.

~*Mimi's POV

"I hear you're tutoring Matt Ishida now, honey," my Mom smiled to me as she laid the platter of food in front of me. I grinned weirdly in response.

"So what if I am?"

Papa cleared his throat to get in there, "'S nice that you're getting back with an old friend—"

"I am not and my friendship with him long ago was nothing," I spat and dug my knife into the slab of steak as hard as I can. "And since when do you two know what goes on in my life, or so-called life, that is," I commented, as if I haven't had enough of that already.

"I think it would be nice if you would start hanging around that boy again," I grumbled and tried my best to block that out. "Really, Mimi! It's like you're, reawakening! Finally you're getting your act together, that Tai has done nothing but bad things to you—"

Stop it, stop it now!! All I wanted to yell out but I quickly stood up to run to my room but Papa grabbed my arm, he was almost crying, and. I was afraid I was, too. My Mom ran up to me and hugged me, the very first time for so long now…and it felt good to cry onto her. But that was the last thing I wanted, to break down to my parents.

"Let go of me!" I said and pushed her away, I know I hurt her, so I ran out of the dining room, grabbed my coat and ran out of that house and to the only place where I've always found sanity in.  

~*Omniscient POV

"I'm trying as hard as I can, you don't know how hard I have it!" Matt yelled to his Dad.

"And you don't know how hard I have it raising you!" Mr. Ishida yelled back. Matt sat back down on his seat and looked out the window, it was starting to pour, hard, and he had the sudden urge to run out there just so he can get away from his father.

Matt sighed and knew he had to give up, "Don't make me quit basketball now, I'll keep on with tutoring and I can't promise anything but I'll do my best to bring my grades back up. But I'll only do that if you stop breathing down my back all the time, Dad, that's all I ask." He said and looked sternly at his Dad.

Mimi huddled her coat closer to her already dripping face as she ran under the huge slide to shade herself, "Gosh, is it raining!" she exclaimed, shivering from the cold when she noticed some the rain pattering down onto a certain figure. It was dark but she squinted her eyes to see.

~*Mimi's POV

"Tai?!" I exclaimed and quickly ran to him, what in the world was he doing out here—well, I guess I shouldn't be talking. We both always go here for sanity. I tried calling to him but he didn't seem to have heard me, he just stood there, doing nothing. And then he fell onto the cold ground.

"TAI!" I ran faster and slid to the ground beside him, he was knocked out cold. "Tai, Tai wake up! Tai, come on! Someone!! Someone, help me please!!" I yelled around the empty playground. Oh, God, the one time of today when I actually want some people around me there's no one to be found. "Gawd Damnit!"

"No, don't…call," I heard Tai's faint groan and swiftly put my coat around him, whispering his name and to stay awake. I panicked, what I am gonna do now? Tai's unconscious, my parents are dying of concern for me, it's pouring out, and I can't even take Tai anywhere because he doesn't want to!

I looked back at Tai, "Tell me what to do," Tai just winced before I tried helping him up, slinging his arm over my shoulder and slowly dragging him over to where I was before, still whispering for him to stay with me. Wow, what a rush, what a day this has turned out to be! I gently laid him down onto the ground when I saw something fall out of his pocket. I picked it up and frowned in disgust, as Tai regained some of his senses I quickly threw the bag in front of his face.

"Is this the reason why you were standing so mindlessly out there," I angrily said when he took it in silence. "Tai, I think I've kept quiet enough, this is bad for you and I honestly don't see why you're doing this—"

"Why don't you learn how to stay out of my business, Mimi," he said and sat up. "What ever happened to, 'This is it'?"

"And what happened to, we're always here for each other, huh?" I retorted and caught him at a corner. "Drugs will kill you, Tai, I know you've heard that a thousand times and don't need it from me but, if you love Sora as much as you say you do then don't do this to yourself. To both of you, I know you're smarter than that, Tai." Tai brushed his sleeves and squeezed the water from the bottom of his shirt, "Did you even hear what I said?"

He looked up at me as if he really hadn't, and that was even scarier, "Yeah, yeah, I know I heard you. I'll tell Sora when I'm ready, learn to stay out of it until I say so, got it?"

I was so worried that my voice started crackling, "Tai, that's not what I said. See, your mind and body's starting to deteriorate without you noticing, this has even been happening with you when we were together but I was always so scared to say anything."

"Then stay like that," he grumbled and stood up. The rain started to cease but there was still a light drizzle. "Look, I know how far I can go with these and it was just this one little time that I went farther than I could've taken it."

Somehow the idea of, Tai being more confused about himself more than me crossed my mind. I watched him stare out onto the rain and I stayed sitting so low from him, I think I know why he was doing this, now, but it seemed like such a ludicrous idea. Does it…?

"I gotta go, uhm, thanks…for helpin' me out, Meems," he said before hurriedly darting across the playground and onto the road where he disappeared. He shut me out just like that and turned down the help that could've taken him out of this shit.

I hugged myself closer for warmth. This was definitely the last thing I needed today, being stuck arguing over drugs that could kill my ex-boyfriend who just dumped me not even two days ago for a girl that is out of his league. I laughed a cold, stifled laugh, boy does that sound funny come to think of it. And adding on, the idea Matt has for me to pretend being with him just so we could ruin the love Sora and Tai have, I'm not sure whether to call that idea pathetic or interesting in a way that it might a start of something real.

"I feel so alone right now," I whispered and held my hand out to feel the water come down on it. I know Tai didn't mean to shut me out, it has to be the drugs that was talking, not Tai, yes…"Maybe, maybe it wouldn't hurt to just, go with Matt's wacky idea. It might actually help Tai in a way that he won't notice it, but Sora will have to be his princess for now," I sighed and sat my confusion on my elbow. "My only problem is that I'm way too stubborn to go to Matt, and all he wants out of this is to get revenge not Sora back."

I sighed and stood up as the sky began to clear up a bit. Oh, how I miss the days I was but the shadow of everyone else and the misery of everyone's day.

-Well, that was longer than I intended to write but ^^ things are sure getting somewhere now, aren't they? Please review!-