It was a boring night at the bar and hardly any people had come in.

Midterms were around the corner and everyone was probably studying, as you should be too, if not for this late side job.

You sighed and continued to make the glasses sparkle. The door opened and you were greeted by a bunch of rowdy boys.

"What would you guys like? Everyone started clamoring for drinks and stealing your attention that you couldn't even attend to the new stranger who had taken a seat at the bar.

"So what would you like tonight?" you asked the last rowdy person.

He smirked and grabbed your arm "How about some of you?"

you yanked your arm back "Sorry, not an option." but he was already drunk or something, he refused to take no for an answer

He tried again, grabbing your other wrist. "When I want something, I want something." he chuckled.

"Your not getting it this time, let go of me." He tightened his grip on your arm

You closed your eyes and braced the pain, but the pain only eased up.

You opened your eyes slowly and saw that the stranger at the other end of the bar had intervened.

You slowly pulled your own hand away.

"Are you okay?" the stranger asked.

You nodded and he turned back to the thug

"Get out of my sight."

You heard a crack, the sound of his wrist snapping, the thug screamed in pain, and he started running for the door followed by the rest of his gang.

The stranger took a seat in front of you, and examined you with his blue eyes, while you checked him out too.

He had blonde hair and bangs that almost hid his eyes. He wore a black leather vest with rosary beads. Although he was skinny, you could see that his arms were muscular.

He was clean, with no tattoos or piercing, but he had a bad boy vibe about him.

Whoever he was, he instantly caught your attention.

"Hope they didn't hurt you, what a bunch of assholes."

"Don't worry about it, you get used to it. I see guys like those every night." you passed him a drink

"How do you handle that every night?" he asked.

you shrugged "when I m lucky, nice guys like you will help me, but when I m not, then I just kick their asses."

He laughed "You?"

"I m not as defenseless as I look, I beat up my share of losers back in the day." he continued to laugh

As you reached up a high shelf for a special wine, you felt the strangers eyes on you. You felt a breeze around your midsection and turned around, pulling your shirt down.

"So I guess you saw that." referring to the tattoo of a cross on your lower back.

He smirked "Bar tending, fighting, tattoos? I guess that innocent face isn't so innocent after all."

You smirked and leaned over the bar "What can I say? I m a bad girl."

He leaned forward "I've never met anyone like you, what s your name?"

"Kaori Shirane. Bartender and student, nice to meet you." you stuck out your hand for a handshake.

"Just Mello." he shook your hand, you held onto his hand and stared into his blue eyes.

You guess, it was kind of a moment there, but then your manager interrupted. "Kaori, your shift just ended, you can go home now."

You snapped out of it and let go of Mello's hand.

"Guess I'm off now, but come back and see me sometime." he nodded, and you really hoped he meant it because you would have loved to spend some more time with Mello.

You got your stuff and were ready to go home, by now the buses had stop service and you would have to walk home.

You wrapped a scarf around your neck as you walked outside, as you breathed out, you saw your breath.

"What a cold night .

You turned, surprised to see Mello standing next to you. "Its late, how about I give you a ride home?"

You didn't hesitate and grabbed his arm, but little did you realize that his ride was a motorcycle.

Without asking, he draped his jacket over your shoulders and wrapped your scarf tighter around your neck. "Stay warm, and hang on tight."

He climbed on his bike and you straddled it behind him, wrapping your arms around his waist.

The roar of the engine and the comforting wind through your hair almost put you to sleep, but when you laid your cheek on Mello's arm, it was cold as ice.

"I'm sorry I took your jacket."

"Don't worry about it, it wouldn't be very gentlemen-like of me to leave a lady in the cold."

But still, you felt bad, you scooted closer behind Mello and wound your arms tighter around him, up his chest, and laid your cheek against his shoulder so even if a little, he could feel warmer.

Your apartment you rented wasn't far from where you worked and you got home faster then usual.

As you pulled up you noticed your land lady moving luggage outside.

She chucked the suitcases out of her hand and they landed on the sidewalk and opened on the streets, spilling out all your stuff.

"What are you doing?" your land lady paused before she went back in.

"you haven't paid your rent for six months now, I can't just keep letting this go on, its not fair for the other tenants."

"I know and I'm sorry but I'm so close to getting my degree! Just let me stay for a while until I can get my degree and a job and I'll pay you back with interest." you pleaded desperately

"Kaori, I already sold the apartment to another person, someone who can pay the rent every month."

"Please reconsider! I'm already trying the best I can with my job."

She looked sorry enough, but she sighed and patted you on the shoulder "Take care Kaori."

Then she went back into the apartments and locked the gate behind her.

You sat down on the cold street and started throwing things in your bags. When every item was packed away, you couldn't find the strength in your legs to bring you up, and if you did what was the point in getting up, you had nowhere to go.

There was a scratchy feeling in your throat, and a wet rim around your eyes, a gentle hand stroked you on the head for a while then they lifted your chin. "Its going to be alright."

you shook your head "I can't see how things can get better from here. I have no place to live and I don't make enough money to rent a place to stay for the night.

Mello smiled "Is that all there is to worry about? If you re looking for a place to stay, come crash with me for a while."

Before you even agreed, he began to pull you back towards the motorcycle and strapped your bags to the back.

You didn't object and rode in silence with him all the way across town to where he lived.

He set your luggage in the common room, while you looked around the dimly lit place

"Sorry its kind of messy and smells of smoke. I share this place with my partner Matt and he's a heavy smoker and-"

The door slammed and a tall red haired guy walked in, he had a cigarette between his teeth and goggles around his eyes.

"I was just talking about you, Matt." Mello said casually to him.

"Who is that?" he asked Mello

"A new roommate."

Matt walked up to you and he almost seemed pissed off

"So I'm supposing you'll be wanting my bedroom or something like that, right?" You were kind of taken back by his comment

You shrugged "Not really. I can take the couch, so you and Mello don't have to give up your rooms."

Matt's face looked confused, Mello laughed and punched Matt on the chest

"You are so damn stupid." and Matt punched him back jokingly as well.

Between the two of them, you couldn't tell who was better looking.

It was decided that you would stay in the living room, with arrangements comfortably made for you so that Matt and Mello could keep their rooms.