Neither one of us could pass by that photo without smiling fondly. We were sprawled out on the grass, laughing, Mello's hand curled around mine just so. Even after all the years and the changes, the day that photo was taken was still one of my favorites;
"Matt, turn your stupid game off or I'm going to break it in half!" I vaguely remember Mello shouting, though I was more absorbed in the pixelated battle going on beneath the screen of my game console. I didn't bother to look up, I only muttered some half-hearted apology in his direction. The next thing I knew, my hand was stinging and my console lay on the floor, beeping softly.
"Hey!" I exclaimed, jumping up from my bed. Mello was standing over me, a sneer plastered on his pale features.
"That's what you get! Now get up! I want to go outside! And it's my birthday, so you have to do that I want!" He demanded, folding his arms across his chest. I had always thought he looked cute when he scowled.
"Go by yourself," I shrugged dryly. To this, he grabbed my hand and dragged me out of our room. No one in the yard commented on our holding hands; Mello had taught them well not to tease either of us: the last person who did was found upside-down in a trash bin the next morning.
I had never minded holding his hand, I had been seriously crushing on him for a while, though I'd never let him know. There was just something about the way he was so determined, so protective, so… so Mello.
"Wait!" Mello stopped in his walk, causing me to bump into him, "I forgot my camera! Stay here." I complied, watching his back as he turned away.
And then it dawned on me. I still had that stash of chocolate I was planning to give to him on his birthday! Where did I put it? Hesitantly, I walked sauntered around the yard, before spotting the familiar wrapper peaking out from inside the hollow tree.
I had just enough time to get back to where Mello had left me, keeping the gift behind my back, before he returned without he bulky black camera swinging from his neck.
"Hey Mels," I couldn't help but grin, "I have something for you." He looked me up and down, expectant.
"What is it?" He demanded.
"Shut your eyes." He did so, and I waved the bar under his nose, and his eyes shot open and he tore the sweet away from my hands.
"What- how did you get this? This is… Damn, Matt," If it were possible, as he took a large chunk out of the chocolate, his grin grew wider. I could almost see a faint blush creep to his cheeks as we looked at me, "Now I have something for you." Damn, why was my heart pounding so much? His voice was softer than normal. Warmer, "It's your turn to close your eyes." I did just that, and not a second later I felt Mello's lips close over my own. As my brain registered what was going on, my heart began to speed up even more. Hesitantly, I kissed him back. All too soon, though, the kiss broke, and he poked me in the ribs. "Happy birthday to me."
I poked him in the stomach as well, which soon escalated into a tickle fight. Both of us were on our backs, laughing at the sky. The blonde raised his camera above us, while we continued to giggle.
Click, flash.
"Matt!" I heard Mello shout from the kitchen, putting down the photo frame and kissing my lover on the cheek as greeting.