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Puzzle Pieces

[Prologue]

sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling right into place

*.*.*.*

Somehow, it always came back to this.

"I can't believe he cheated on me."

Time after time he would convince himself that he was over it – that he was over her – yet here he was, once again, trying to choke down the emotions that were threatening to crumble his resolve.

She hid her face in the crook of her elbow, attempting to wipe away the tears that were slowly trickling down her face. As he watched her, he imagined himself closing the gap between them on the couch and casually wrapping an arm around her for comfort.

That's what any friend would do, right?

Instead, he settled for staring at her from a distance. He was never good at this sort of thing.

"God, I'm such an idiot," she sniffled. "A pathetic idiot."

He took a deep breath to compose himself.

Come on, Taichi, he thought as he watched her grab a nearby tissue. The movement briefly exposed her blotched face and he sat mesmerized as lights danced off her thick, damp eyelashes until she retreated back into the security of her elbow. Snapping out of his daze, he chided himself. Say something useful.

"You're not an idiot, Sor. He's the idiot."

It took all he had not to shudder at his own words. Why wasn't he better at this?

She lowered her arm and turned her head to the side so he couldn't look her directly in the face. "You know, everyone said this would happen," she whispered, barely audible. "People told me I was being naive… that I was just seeing what I wanted to see." Her voice rose in anger. "That I'm blind to people's true feelings even when they're staring at me straight in the face."

The following silence hung heavy between them, threatening to engulf Taichi completely. Heat rose to his neck and he thanked his lucky stars her eyes were preoccupied elsewhere.

"And I can't believe they were right." she finished lamely, oblivious to Taichi's discomfort.

"Look…" he started. Fidgeting on his end of the couch, he raised a hand to his head. "That guy was..." he trailed, struggling to find the right word.

Taichi had a few choice words that he would have loved to use to describe her recent ex-boyfriend, but he knew she'd probably appreciate a more delicate approach. You can do this, he thought to himself determinedly. His gaze followed her as she timidly turned to face him, and when chocolate eyes met auburn, he lost his train of thought.

"… an asshole."

She let out a soft giggle, but it was short-lived and he watched her eyebrows knit back together in a small frown.

"Okay, well not the whole time," he backpedaled, "but you were too good for him anyway. This really is a blessing in disguise." He raised a leg on the couch and turned to face her directly, waiting for her to reply.

"Oh really?" she mused. "And how did you come to that fascinating conclusion?" She smirked slightly, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"Well, for one, Ryuki's a terrible soccer player. Also he has no sense of humor. And third… he's not even that good looking." She snorted. "I know, 'beauty's only skin deep, Taichi,'" he mocked in a shrill, high-pitched voice. She glared at him, traces of the smirk still on her face. Taichi only responded with a lopsided grin.

"Seriously, Sor," he paused, making sure his next words came out careful and deliberate. "I know it sucks right now, but I promise, you are way out of his league and someday you're gonna find the right guy that sweeps you off your feet and treats you like the queen that you are."

He replaced his grin with a softer smile and looked at her encouragingly. Her eyes rolled in response, but seconds later he saw her face soften as she muttered a small "thanks, Taichi."

Atta boy, he triumphed.

*.*.*.*