I rushed around the grand stair case, taking the steps three at a time. Well right until I hit the bottom almost tumbling over L in the process.

"Anastasia?" he gasped, his usually tired looking eyes growing wide in surprise.

"Sorry." I murmured, pushing into a run the direction of the classes. His solid grip caught me before I had managed two steps.

"I understand you think you're going to be late to your next session. And because of your obvious care in punctuality," At this he rolled his eyes "I won't keep you here to long but we do need to talk."

"Oh, ok." Butterflies began to fill my stomach; I balled my hands into fists. What if I was being kicked out for underperforming? I almost groaned aloud.

"We have a new child" (I exhaled in relief) "He is about your age, very kind, very intelligent, but we've run into a problem, all the boys dorms seem to be full. You, of course, have a room of your own, so I was wondering if it wouldn't be too much of a problem if…"

"Oh of course not," I was lying through my teeth. "I really don't mind at all." I finished it politely with a cheesy smile.

"Very good. Oh and here." At this he placed a small sheet of paper in my hand, a late pass. "What session are we in?"

"Logic , I think"

"Right Watari won't mind, but make sure you give it to him anyway."

I nodded, and began to walk away, he descended up the staircase. I looked over my shoulder making sure I was out of his view, before turning two smooth cartwheels to a back handspring, and skipping into the class room.

"Anastasia." His eyes narrowed on me. "Your late, where already a quarter of the way through today's lesson."

"I'm sorry," my voice was almost a whisper "L stopped me in the hall, I have a late pass, if that's ok?"

"Oh yes." He muttered more or less to himself. "You can get the rest of the notes from Tane, if that's ok?" His eyes flickered to a skinny, nervous looking boy sitting alone at the very last desk.

The boy nodded though he kept his eyes down, and his hand continued to travel smoothly across one of the several note books on his desk.

I stepped through the sea of desks until I was beside him, and pulled up the chair from the desk next to it. I quietly pulled a notebook and pencil from the bag on my shoulder, and reached for the one of his notebooks. This one, in stark contrast to the poetry and figurative writing that cluttered the other pages, had a few neatly written notes, and a graph explaining logic techniques. I copied these down quickly then naturally spent the rest of the class bored out of my mind, let's just say logic isn't one of those things I want other people teaching me. Finally the bell rang, an annoying high pitched sound that I could only relate with the joy of a lesson ending.

Tane looked up, his brown curls bouncing with the movement. "Interesting lesson, huh?" the sarcasm was more than apparent in his voice but still a warm smile spread across his lips.

"Totally." I said my tone a mirror of his. "I think I'm going to head up stairs." I really didn't want to, dinner seemed like a priority but I felt like meeting this dorm mate was more important. They would let him there first before letting him tour the house; if I was fast I could meet him up there.

I quietly moved into a handstand. Tane looked at me, he tried to look sincere but I could tell he was suppressing laughter. "Well I'm going to get dinner, I think."

"Save me a seat." Maybe two, I considered adding but decided now wasn't the time.

"Well, see you"

"Yah, later." I stepped off my hands and began a dash towards my dorm.

Near stopped me before I had reached the staircase. "In a hurry?" His high pitched voice left the question ringing in the air.

"Actually," I considered "I might need you."

"Oh, I was actually going to see L…I think Matt and Mello are here I was wondering if you wanted to…"

"How is L…?" I considered for a second, before Near had disappeared from sight.

I climbed the stair case, losing the enthusiasm and bravery that I had built up during the lesson. I walked towards my door, my pace that of a death march, and my facial expression much the same. My heart was beating out of my chest as I turned the doorknob and entered the more than familiar room.

For some reason seeing L made me address I completely different thought process. "Near is looking for you, he said that Matt and Mello were here." I smile slightly.

"A time and place Anastasia." He muttered in a near whisper.

"Right." I let it go.

"This is Ralin." He gestured slightly to the boy beside him who seemed preoccupied with whatever was in his hands, a music box? "Apparently I'm needed," The glance L shot me was playful. "You can give him a tour now." L walked out of the room, leaving us in silence after the click of the shutting door.

"Ralin," I broke the silence. Sticking out my hand. "I'm Anastasia. It's nice to meet you."

He lifted light green eyes out from under a veil of messy black hair. "Anastasia, that's a pretty name…" He took my hand, and then lost in thought held it for much longer then necessary. Suddenly as if coming back to where he was, he dropped my hand and gazed off in the other direction.

"Well," I began, I little louder than necessary. "A tour." I smiled sweetly, making towards the door. He followed behind silently.

I showed him the orphanage with little more talk than naming the rooms.

"And this is L's office," I said leading him into the warmly lit room. Near lifted his head as I entered.

Then two figures in the corner of the room caught my attention. "Matt! Mello!" I was elated, as I crossed the room in two bounds. I wrapped my arm first around Mello and then Matt, who laughed as I did so and then after releasing my waist spoke with a delighted smile, "How's my girl friend?" He asked, though as he spoke his fingers intertwined with Mello's.

"I'm so sorry Matt," I filled my voice with as much clearly fake pain as I could manage. "But I just don't think that this relationship can work out much longer."

He shook his head, in false defeat. "What a shame?" And then his lips were on Mello's. Giving me time to glance at Near.

I caught him in a rare fit of giggles, a smile lit up all of his features, making his mere 14 years seeming so much younger then they had before. I felt a feeling of love spread through my chest.

I turned onto my hands and with two steps and a half pirouette I was beside him. "It was a good joke while it lasted, huh?" He nodded but his voice was still lost in laughter. I took this as an opportunity to say more, "You know you're adorable, right?" I whispered. His giggles began to subside.

"I am?" I asked innocently, lifting wide eyes to mine.

"Of course." I muttered. The side of Nears mouth lifted into a crooked smile. The suddenly the few marbles he had been clutching in his hand fell to the floor, as he quietly pulled me beside him on to the oversized office chair that he sat in.

He took one of the strands of hair that flooded onto my shoulders, as if in replacement of playing with his own. Suddenly I noticed Matt and Mello had stopped kissing and were now staring at us with overstated curiosity.

"Really?" Mello muttered, watching as both our cheeks grew bright pink.