A/N: Wow, two chapters a day. XD Anyway, review!

Bella: Aren't you going to announce the disclaimer?

Author: No. If you want me to, then click the back button of the chapter list—to the first chapter. Okay?

Bella: …Wow…

Author: Hmph.

--Happy Reading!

2

Perfection needs Practice. But in this case, it needs Absorbency

Bella had finished unpacking and was sitting by her bedroom window, peering through it while she listened to her MP3 player. Her head was propped against the cool glass, seeing that it was winter. The entire outside of the glass was partially frozen. Though, Bella didn't care. She loved the snow. It was like her adrenaline. Especially when she was running outside. Snow was pure, innocent, and beautiful. And she wished she could be more like it.

Bella had a pale complexion, probably from staying indoors too much or interacting with the snow often. She had a pretty, heart-shaped face. However, there was a flaw to it. Her lips—they were too full. They almost formed a heart.

Bella had chestnut brown hair that flowed in gentle waves to her mid-back. It was layered, so the bottom was thin.

She had always been slim and slender, though not very athletic. In fact, she had no hand-eye coordination. That was why she'd fail every PE exam in her old school.

Suddenly, there was a knock on her door.

"Bella," the familiar voice of L called. "It's time for dinner."

Bella looked at the clock. 'It was only 5:30,' she thought. Her reply was silence. She heard L shuffle away, since he was wearing baggy clothing.

Bella hopped off the bed. 'I should check out how I look first,' she thought. She crept out of her bedroom, not wanting anyone to think that she'd actually negotiate to the rules here. She silently tiptoed to the girl's bathroom in the hallway. She stood in front of a full-length mirror.

"Ugh," she groaned. Her hair was a mess. There were random strands sticking out here and there. Bella opened a medicine cabinet above the sink. She took out a small package containing a toothbrush, toothpaste, and a brush. She opened the bag and took out the brush. She ran the wires through her hair.

Bella's hair was back to its normalcy, not a single strand out of place. Well, maybe there was, but Bella didn't give a damn.

Suddenly, Bella heard an obnoxious giggle.

"…Oh, he's so weird! I mean all he does is play video games. God. Seriously, doesn't he have a life?" The unpleasant, girly voice neared the bathroom. Bella quickly hid herself in one of the stalls. She left the door somewhat open.

In the bathroom walked in two girls. One was tall—model like. She had long, raven black hair. She was a bit over tanned—a bit orangey. She had big, brown eyes and was skinny to the bone.

The other girl was different. She was short—standing about 5'3". She had waist-length honey blond hair and emerald green eyes. She was perfectly tanned.

"I mean I guess he's kind of cute and all, but seriously—video games? That's messed up." Bella heard the black-haired girl say.

"Yeah, but his friend Mello—" Oh, so that's who Mello really was. "—Is H-O-T, hot. Seriously."

"Huh, whatever." The black-haired girl snorted slightly, then began to examine her pores.

RING RING RING!!

"Skylar, hurry up! We're going to be late for English—in which Mello is in!" the blond said anxiously.

"I'm coming, I'm coming. Geez, calm down, Rayne."

The two girls left. Bella slowly crept out of the bathroom. Well, at least she tried to. She looked down and muttered:

"Aw, crap."

x x x

Bella ran. She ran as fast as gravity allowed her. She was late for English. Why? Because she spent the first ten minutes trying to scrape the gum off her Vans that attached to her left foot in the bathroom stall.

"Shit," she muttered as she whipped through the narrow hallways. "Shit, shit, shit." Bella had almost been kicked out of her old school all the way in Seattle because of her tardiness. Though Bella didn't really care about being late here, but if she did, she wouldn't have anywhere else to stay since she has no living relatives that she knows of.

"Room 101, Room 102—ah! Room 103!"

Bella stopped in front of Room 103—aka English. She put a small hand on the metal door knob. Turn. Push.

"…And I want everyone to be nice to her—Oh! Hi, there. You must be Bella." The English teacher was a lanky blond.

"Um….yeah. You must be Miss…."

"Miss Marshall," said the English teacher with an unfathomable sweet tone. Bella didn't like it. Being a newbie was bad enough, but having to be treated like on was bull crap; Bella was sick of it.

"Right."

"Now, Miss Bella—" Bella cringed at the "Miss" part, finding it completely unnecessary, "—Where would you like to sit?" asked Ms. Marshall. Bella looked at her incredulously.

"Um, anywhere vacant?"

"Hmmm," murmured Ms. Marshall. "How about next to Matt?"

Matt…

'What a coincident,' thought Bella sarcastically. 'I'm sitting next to my tour guide.'

"Matt, please raise your hand."

The so-called Matt didn't respond. The class was silent, and all you could hear was the faint noise of buttons being pressed.

"MATT!" exclaimed Ms. Marshall. Bella winced. "Are you listening to me? Or are you too preoccupied in your little video game?"

No response.

Click. Click. Click.

"Matt," a blond boy sitting on the right of Matt smacked his head. Matt snapped out of his total absorbency in his video game.

"Huh?" he said, dazed. "Mello, what was that for?"

"Good to see you're back, too, Matt." Ms. Marshall's tone was remorseful. "Now, put whatever it is you're playing away or I'll have Roger keep it for you until the end of the semester."

"Fine," Matt stuffed the handheld in the pocket of his pants. "By the way, it's called a DS."

"I don't care," came Ms. Marshall's response. Students snickered in the background. "Now, please. Do you mind if Isabella sits next to you?"

"It's Bella," Bella glared. Ms. Marshall ignored her.

Matt shrugged, his expression uncaring.

"Sure, whatever."

Bella made her way to the seat next to Matt, then plopped down with a sigh.

"This is hell," she muttered to herself, not caring if Matt or Mello or anyone else in the world heard. Bella spoke what was on her mind. And no one could change that.

"Tell me 'bout it," she heard Matt reply as he took out his red DS.

"Was I talking to you?" Bella asked, clearly annoyed.

"No," Matt said unaffected by her tone. "But I speak what I think."

Bella snorted slightly. "Hm."

"Shut the hell up," she heard Mello hiss. "I'm trying to concentrate."

"Why?" Matt asked.

"So I could beat Near."

'Near?' thought Bella. 'Who's Near?' She shook her head. 'They sure got strange names here.'

"Yeah," Matt said as if to hear her thoughts. "I seriously wonder why he chose the name Near."

"It's the same reason I chose the name Mello," Mello snapped.

"And what is that reason?" Matt asked, turning on his DS.

"It's—"

"WHO'S TALKING?!"

"…Damn you, Matt."

x x x

"Hey, wait up!"

Bella twirled around, irritation written all over her face as she saw Mello and Matt walking toward her.

"What?" she snapped. Mello bit a small portion of his chocolate off and munched loudly at it.

"You're Isabella?" he asked. Bella glared at him.

"Bella," she corrected. "It's Bella."

"Yeah, I don't give a crap." Mello rolled his teal eyes. "How old are you?"

"Thirteen, and what does it matter to you?" Bella crossed her pale arms over her chest.

"Hm. Well, in that case: Respect your elders." Mello smirked at Bella's slightly bewildered reaction.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, irritated to the point where she just wanted to rip his head off.

"You're thirteen, we—" Mello pointed at him and Matt, "—are fourteen. Do the math."

"What! You're not the boss of me!" Bella retorted childishly.

"Nice," she heard Matt mutter.

"Shut the fuck up, Game freak!" Bella shouted. She could've sworn she saw his left eye twitch ever-so slightly, but him playing his handheld console never wavered.

Not even a bit.

"Well?" Matt said. "Are we going to show her around or not?"

"Fine," Mello muttered. His eyes narrowed as he turned to Bella. "But we're only doing this because we were forced to."

'And I'm only doing this because I have no choice,' Bella thought solemnly as she tagged along with Matt and Mello to wherever they were taking her.

A/N: Oh, yeah. I pwn. Two chapters. I'm actually kind of proud of myself, lol.

Mello: Damn, it's just a chapter.

Author: Excusez-moi?! But, it's more than just a chapter to me! I feel somewhat successful. :3

Matt: That's nice.

Bella: Yeah, sure.

Author: D: ….Hey! Did you realize that your aliases all have three letters?

Bella: …

Matt: …

Mello: … I have five. –nibbles chocolate-

Author: -ignores Mello- mwahaha

Bella & Matt: … -sweat drop-

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