"Ow Mello! That hurt!"

"Ha-ha!"

"Mello!"

Mae came storming off the porch in a black and green plaid skirt and night-black tank-top; fish-net stockings and green and black stripped loose elbow gloves. Her long blonde hair in two pigtails held with green ribbon. Her pale skin was even brighter in contrast, and her eyes shown a deep color of green that swirled with blue. Her mother's rosary bounced of her chest as she ran over to the hurt boy.

"Are you okay Henry?" Her velvet voice rang like sweet bells in June.

"N-now I am, J-June." He stuttered as he looked in to her crystal gaze.

With a light peck on his forehead, she smiled like a flower blooming in the spring. "I'm glad." Turning her glare back at the blonde boy responsible for the injury, she stood up. "Mello, play nice." She threatened with a cold blue ice glare.

He flinched and looked away. The other boys faces glowed red with blush, as Mae headed back to the porch were he best friend sat. Once off the field, the game commenced like nothing had happened. Mae strolled up the simple steps and stood next to Lauren.

Lauren had hair of deep brown and eyes of cocoa. She sat on the porch, wearing denim jeans and a tight pink and black shirt. A black and pink striped jacket hung open over her shoulders as her hair was in a loose high ponytail. Her tanned skin was in compare with her clothes and her gaze rested on a boy sitting across the field; Matt.

"You, know, I bet he'll notice you looking at him sooner or later." Mae's voice seemed to hang in the breeze that danced through their hair.

"Yeah, and Mello will kiss me. Trust me, he always has his nose buried in those games of his. He'll never notice." Lauren replied, her tone dead and hollow.

Mae flinched and looked away as her eyes again swirled a deep forest green. Lauren slightly glanced at Mae, and huffed loudly. She smiled and stood back up, uncoiling a loose flamingo pink skirt over her jeans. Mae looked at her friend as she shoved her fish-net gloved hands roughly into her pockets. She began to walk back into the church like building that was called Whammy's House.

Mae followed as they walked into the main dinning room. Stained glass shimmered and gleamed in the sweet autumn sunrise. Browns, reds and oranges shown in the room as they began down a hall. Mae had to fast walk to keep up with Lauren.

"Wait, don't go so fast Kyliegh!" Mae's voice faded in the back of her mind.

Lauren abruptly stopped. Mae began to try and catch her lost breath. Lauren looked up, and through a dome like window; stained glass of orange and red. Lauren had always loved this spot, the sun always shown brighter and warmer in this stop. Mae rested a hand on Lauren's shoulder.

"Lauren," a hush whisper of bells rung in Mae's voice, "Come paint with me. We always have fun doing that."

Lauren brushed away Mae's hand and continued to their room. Mae ran down the halls after Lauren. Lauren began to turn down the halls and through the doors like an eel, and Mae almost broke out in a run just to follow. Lauren weaved into a room. A small sign hung on rainbow woven yarn, as the sign read "Kyliegh & June". Mae just stood in the door frame and looked at the person she thought she knew.

"Well, I'm going to go and paint. I have to finish Mello's birthday present, and you have to fix things with Matt, please, at least try." Mae's voice hung with a begging nature and a hint of plead.

"June, you know I can't do that. What happen…just cant be fixed with a simple sorry." Her voice began to increase making Mae cower back through the door, "You don't know how it felt! You don't have anyone that loves you!"

And with those final words, Lauren had stormed past Mae, and began to run again down the hall. Mae felt the cold tear slip down her cheek. She knew she didn't mean it, but it still hurt hearing someone tell her. She brought her gloved hand to her cheek and wiped the tear away. She then, began down the opposite hall, to the painting studio.

Hall after hall, room after room, Mae walked faster and faster as though trying to escape someone. When she reached the white room that seemed to sing to her, she smiled lively. The room had been practically given to her, since only she painted. Alone in that room, plastered on the wall was a window over looking the courtyard; the flowerbed was awakening from the night, the grass growing ever so brighter as the sun looked over the mountain peeks as the other children began to sing a melody of laughter and games. She spread out her arms and spun around, and danced swiftly and gracefully around the room as the sun gleamed on her face. A paint board was placed near the window, and a stool beside it. Her paints in tubes and her brushes danced in the water, clean and new, as the canvas was calling her once more; singing to her and bringing her to it, wanting to become beautiful.

She pulled a white and clean apron over her head and tied around her thin waist. Her hair, still in pigtails, was again pulled up into single locks of hair. Her eyes gleamed with the sun, a crystal sky blue that danced with the paint brush. The paint brush danced and outlined the day, the sun, and an eerie swirl of reds, yellows and oranges mixed in with the falling pinks and purples, as it spun around the sky in a pool of color. She began in a rhythm, glance out the window, and paint it. Over and over she repeated this cycle, and every time, she smiled and laughed.

"What's so funny?" a familiar voice rang in the room, bouncing off the shimmering walls as it made it's way to her ears.

"Oh nothing in particular, why are you asking?" Mae replied, not daring to break her rhythm.

"Oh, just wondering why there was laughter coming from in here, but I guess I didn't think you would be in here." His voice drew ever so closer to her, but she dare not move.

"I can't believe that you wouldn't consider that I, the only painter, would not be here." Mae stopped the brush, and only looked down, and was still. "But I guess we all make mistakes."

Mae turned towards the door, but nothing was there, and only the other children's voices flooded her mind. She sat on the stool, and held her face in her snow palms; whispering the voices away. She was scared, but didn't show it as she began to continue the painting.

Time seemed to fly away, and Mae couldn't seem to catch it. The autumn sun was setting, as the colors from the morning began to return, and a yawn only escaped her mouth. Though the colors dulled, and seemed to disappear, so did the children as they were brought inside from the night rain.

"June, haven't you painted everything by now?" the voice was almost mocking her as he chuckled.

"Haven't you hurt every boy by now Mello?" Mae mocked back.

"Ah, touché." Mello laughed as strolled over to her.

Mae placed the pallet on a side table that stood about 3 feet tall. A small jar of colored water lay next to the newly placed pallet; the colors swirled around as the war continued. She slowly sat up, and made her own graceful way to him. Once they had collided with each others self, she began to lightly push him away. He seemed confused and grabbed her wrist as his response.

"June, I need to tell you-"

"Shoo, you can't see your birthday present early. I won't allow it." She smiled. "Oh, here is part one though."

Mae slowly traced the beaded necklace around her throat, and slowly pulled it over her head. Gently she placed it around his, and smiled brightly. His tips of each finger lightly traced the cross, as the soft confusion filled his entry face.

"Why…I mean, it was your mothers and…"she lightly placed her two middle finger tips over his mouth to hush him.

"It's a gift. I want you to always wear it, and never take it off; in memory of me." Mae smiled sweetly, as she twirled back over to her work. "Now, shoo, I have much more work to accomplish the best birthday you'll ever have!"

Mello's gentle smile always made her heart sore like a bird. She waved a simple and gentle wave to Mello as he left the room.

Days flew like the birds and passed like the tide. Her brush strokes moved like a ballet and the routine was flawless; clearly practiced daily. The clouds swayed themselves over to the shelter where children seemed to laugh and grow even without parents. The sun was setting and the children were still laughing and playing. When ever she wanted to, she could blissfully look out the window, and there below, was Mello and the other boys and Lauren on the steps again.

Pulling the brush away from the canvas, she lightly, like it was porcelain, placed the wooden pallet on the side-table, and smiled at the portrait. She gently placed the now slotted apron on the rusted wire rack. Pulling the now filled and detailed painting off the hand like holder, that grasped it, and refused to let it fall. She placed the fragile painting under on arm, as she ran down the halls.

All was silent till Mae's feet crashed down steps and halls. Coming to a door with a sign reading "Mello & Matt's" room, Mae opened the door lightly, and hoped for the best. Sighing with pleasure, Mae was grateful that neither Matt nor Mello were to be seen. Mae smiled childishly, and ran over to the bed that hung another sign reading Mello. Mae delicately placed the portrait on the side table in between the beds.

She again left the room, making sure it was just how she had found it, neat, calm and quiet. She slowly closed the door, and clicked the door knob. She gracefully made her way to the entrance of the front yard, were the others played and laughed. As she swiftly passed Roger's office, a hand gripped hold of her wrist and spun her around. Roger stood, old and a sad expression was glazed over his face. He gently beckoned her into his office with that depressing face. Mae always hated faces of despair, and her brother had told her that her painting could make even a dead man smile. She was proud to call L her brother, as he was to call her his sister.

She blissfully and carelessly walked into the room, as that last leaf from the tree outside the window fell into the winds demands. Mae stood there, still and tired as Roger lightly sat in his chair and placed his face in his hands. Mae could get this horrible vibe from him, as though her world would collapse if he were to speak. Her smile from before had vanished and her hands simple dropped to her sides motionless.

"June, L has died."

Mae's life had just ended. Her world of which he had created and painted with colors of vibrant shades had gone dull. Her knees felt wobbly and her body swayed to the natural surprise. That carefree expression and the thought of laughing and joy escaped her. She was now in a world of death and the colors of life had left. She was now just an antique that no one wanted to buy or have.

She sank down to her knees, which caused Roger to stand from the chair. Her face was blank and her eyes a murky shade of green and blue, though they showed her emotions, even they could not depict what she was feeling. This loss was a punch harder then anything she had ever felt. Her life was meaningless to herself, to where the thought of death seemed like nothing.

Mae ignored the calling of Roger for Lauren to help escort Mae out. She was empty and broken. Lauren as if on queue, she wrapped her thin fingers around Mae's limp arm and began to pull her up. Lauren, being the top hockey player in the institution, was able to lift and drag Mae all the way down the halls and curiously worried faces of the other student residents. Lauren was able to make it up two flights of stairs as well.

Lauren stomped on the door, demanding entrance and laid Mae upon her black and purple sheeted bed. She laid there on her side for what seemed like days but was only seconds. She wanted to cry and scream and throw a fit, but all that happened was small and light tears escaped her fearful eyes as she curled up in a ball. Lauren sat on the floor, laying her back upon the side of Mae's bed side. She was being quiet as Mae let out her muffled cries and whines of sadness. She would sometimes glance at her broken down friend, as though expecting to see the hopeful expression that was usually plastered over her face, but instead saw the mournful teary eyes of this new person in Mae's bed.

As though to break this broken glass persons soul once more, Matt sprinted in as the door flew open. Lauren gave an annoyed look at him as Mae rolled over to face the window of glimmering color and glass. Matt was huffing and was being held up by a supporting hand on the door frame as he leaned over, gasping for breath. Lauren got up and silently walked over to the boy that had broken her as well.

"Get out." Was all Lauren was able to say in that half dead voice of hers.

"I'm sorry okay, but this isn't anything for you. Mae, Mello, he's leaving the institution." Matt was able to chock out before Lauren slapped him.

Gripping the side of his now reddened face, Lauren screamed, "Why would you even say-"

Mae shot up and almost leaped out of bed. She skidded past the two. She was tripping and having to regain balance many times, but this didn't stop her. Tears freely began to slide across her snowy face. Her hair was running behind her as she pasted the other children of Whammy's House. Her feet would dodge and topple over things and people. In one occasion she had tripped over one of the younger children's toys, as her face and body became parallel with the cold and hard wooden floors of the home. She would ignore the sorry from others and simple jump back to her pace of running.

She had finally made it to the once welcome and beautiful doorway. She threw her head from left to right looking for any sign of the blonde headed boy she had admired from the distance. She had finally noticed the rain that had begun to pour and the silent lightning and thunder that shook the house. The dark entry way was what now had her attention. She was always afraid of the dark and during the thunderstorms, she and Lauren would quietly and gently, not wanting to waken anyone, make their way to Mello and Matt's room, in which they would laugh and play all night till the girls had fallen asleep. This is how important he was to her, in this time, the climax point of autumn, and the entering of winter, thunderstorms were at maximum of their popularity.

She was terrified now, of losing the small family she had created with paints and colors was now decreasing and her life was now meaningless. The light of the lightning was glaring through the colorful windows that smiled to her with an increasingly devilish smile. She collapsed to the ground, in a pool of her own sadness and tears. Her life was over and she was just accepting there was no way to fix this gaping hole in her heart that was rotting her from the inside out.

"My life, over, in a simple death….death….death…" were the last things that seemed to escape her trembling lips