"Okay, class, it's time for you to get your test scores back," the teacher said, passing back papers. Mello received his. 100% including the extra credit question.

"Yes!" he said, doing a fist pump.

"What'd you get?" his best friend, Matt asked him, peaking over his shoulder. "100%? Congrats!"

"I got 103%..." said a voice quietly. It was Near, the kid that always beat Mello.

"Well woopdy fucking doo for you. Aren't you special." Mello snapped back sarcastically.

"Now, Mello, there's no need for that language," said the teacher.

"Whatever," Mello said with a scowl. "Can I go to my room?"

"Go ahead. Class dismissed for today," she said, with a smile.

It was about 10 PM and Mello was sitting on his bed, eating his chocolate. He heard the beep of Matt's game that he was playing and Near playing with his toys. He took out his ipod, put it on, and fell asleep.

Mello woke with a start when he heard someone call out. "Hello?" He didn't get a reply. Instead he heard someone calling out again. It was coming from… Near's bed? "Near?" Mello called out.

"No… NO!" Near said, suddenly waking up.

"Are you okay, Near?" Mello asked softly.

Near looked at him with a wild expression "Mello?"

"Yes… Are you okay? I… I heard you call out…."

"I… it was a nightmare… I'm okay…" Near put his face in his hands and to Mello it looked like he was crying

Mello got out of bed and walked over to Near. He hesitated, unsure what to do. "You… um… do you need something?"

Near looked up, his face tear-streaked. "I…." he started, then stopped, bursting into another bout of tears.

Mello hesitated again and then hugged Near tensely. Near surprised him by burying his face into Mello's chest, still crying. "Shhh," Mello whispered to him, patting him on the back and petting his hair, unsure what to do. Near was always so… emotionless. It shocked him to see him like this. "It'll be okay…."

About ten minutes later, Near quieted down but he was still shaking. "Stay with me…." He whispered in a broken voice.

"I will. Don't worry…." Mentally, Mello was kicking himself. This person was his enemy. He shouldn't be here, comforting him after a nightmare. But he remembered all the times where he had woken up from a terrifying nightmare, crying and wishing someone, anyone, had been there for him. So he had no choice but to sit there and comfort the one person he hated.

He climbed into Nears bed and lied down beside him. Near curled up into a ball next to him, his head on Mello's chest as well as one arm. "Don't leave me…." Near said drifting off into a dreamless sleep.