AN: Wow homecoming week was chaotic! Fun, but exhausting. By Sunday I was done haha, but Monday was just awful. First day away from the festivities always is. Good news is that I've been writing this during the school day when I have time, and so I bring you chapter two. Thank you everyone who reviewed or alerted, I really appreciate it, and I hope I won't disappoint.
Disclaimer: Has the 200 episode Matt and Mello series been made yet? Then I still don't own it.
/…/…/…/
Chapter 2: Keeping an eye out
Meeting Mello after school became a daily occurrence. I'd never imagined I'd find myself hanging out with a homeless boy. Despite the coolness between us, he was the closest thing to a friend I'd ever had.
Of course he might just meet with me because everyday I brought him something from lunch, but I'd like to think otherwise. He was just so skinny; I couldn't not bring him something. The black shirt hung loosely around his small frame, and his black jeans were dirty and stretched.
It also wasn't surprising I'd thought he was a girl, considering how long his hair was. It was stringy and filthy, but long and unmistakably blond, falling haphazardly to frame his face and cascade to his shoulders.
I was right though. Mello may look frail, but he certainly isn't. I haven't met a more toughened kid in my life.
We didn't talk much; didn't do much of anything really. His company was much better than my parents though; not that staying out late didn't have its consequences.
"Where have you been sneaking off to after school?" my dad demanded of me one day after I had returned.
"Nowhere…"
"Bullshit," he growled, gripping my shirt and tugging me towards him. "You using or something?" he asked, shoving up my sleeves to look at my arms.
"What?! No!"
His hands clamped down on my arms firmly and I yelped in pain. "Good. And you better not start! I don't need a druggie in my family!"
Pft. Because an alcoholic was so much better.
He let me go and shoved me away. I slunk into my bedroom and to my bed before he lost his temper and came after me.
I'm only thirteen…how am I going to handle this for five more years?
Mello was thirteen too, I found out the next day. "Fourteen in about three months."
I wondered if his birthdays were more depressing then mine. Probably better, since his parents weren't mourning his existence.
"What about you?" he asked.
"Thirteen…fourteen in February."
Mello said nothing, but I was used to that. He wasn't one to exert energy to say unneeded words just to have a response. Anyone else might have said 'cool,' just to fill the silence. We didn't need placeholders.
Noting the start of sunset, I stood and stretched. I always felt tired after my meetings with Mello, even if we never did much.
"What's that?"
Startled, my eyes traveled to the direction of his stare. The sleeve of my shirt had fallen down to display an angry purple bruise decorating my arm. Hurriedly, I dropped my arms and let the sleeves fall back into place. "Nothing, just where one of those guys grabbed me this morning."
He was studying me intently now. As stupid as it sounds, I don't want him to consider me weak. Sure he had stopped some kids our age from getting a hold of me but…I was ashamed that I was hurt by my parents. It's something I don't want people to know. "Well see you tomorrow."
His gaze didn't waver as I left the alley. He seems suspicious…but my excuse was solid. He has no reason to believe otherwise.
/…/…/…/
"If it wasn't for you we wouldn't be in this mess!"
"Me?! It's him we have to shell all this money out for!"
"Well if you had been more careful I wouldn't have had him!"
"If you'd had the abortion like I fucking told you to it wouldn't matter!"
I sat curled up in front of the living room window, doing my homework. In English we had been assigned a classic I haven't read that was mildly catching my attention. Unfortunately, the light bulb in my room had died a few months ago so I had no light in my room. As a result I had to listen to my parents fight about their gambling money. Or alcohol money. Either or, it made no difference.
Thinking of my parents made me think of Mello and how he became homeless. Had his parents been bad like mine? Worse? Had they abandoned him somewhere? Had they been killed? There were so many awful possibilities. It made me sad…to think of Mello suffering. I'd only met him three weeks ago and I already cared more about his well-being then I ever had for anyone else's. I wonder how many people he knows…does he steal food? I do that sometimes. It's not hard, so he might do that. Does he just sleep in the alley? Doesn't he worry about all the criminals around there?
But then again, it did seem like he could take care of himself.
In the past three weeks I haven't learned much about him. He's thirteen and his birthday is in December. He loves chocolate. He wears a rosary around his neck but keeps it under his shirt so it won't get stolen. He loves back, hates little kids, and doesn't trust the government. That's all I really know.
Not that he knows much about me. There's not much to say. I like video games, but my Gameboy got broken, I love striped shirts, I never take my goggles off (whether they're on my eyes, my head, or around my neck), I'm not very social, and I find school boring.
Something we have in common is that. He can actually tell me things I don't know; one day I brought my math textbook with me and he taught me the hardest math at the back of the book. It's nice to be able to have an intelligent conversation. He really seems to like learning though…something to keep in mind.
I see a flicker of movement outside, but before I can look closer my dad is clutching my shoulder and spinning me to face him. "Here" he growls, shoving a few singles into my hand. "I don't know why I have to keep giving you my hard earned money." He pulls me up harshly by the arm and pushes me towards the door. "Go and get something for breakfast for the next week."
Stuffing the money in my pocket, I exit quickly. Anything to get out of that house.
I get the chills suddenly, looking around warily before heading towards the corner market several blocks away. Despite my aversion to my house, I don't like walking out here at night. There are some real creeps out here.
Sure enough, halfway there I can feel the stare of two older men watching me as I go past. I make myself stand tall and look straight ahead. I heard it was supposed to be intimidating or something.
I can hear them following me, so I discreetly increase my pace. I can feel my breath increase slightly, heart pounding as their pace matches mine. I'm not too far away; as long as I can get closer to traffic I'll be fine. A block later the store is in sight. I'm almost jogging by the time I reach it, searching the streets behind me for the men and stepping inside when I glimpse them standing back in the shadows.
I have just enough money for two boxes of granola bars. I grab them and slip a Hershey bar in my pocket. I'm sure Mello will appreciate it.
The guys aren't around when I come back out. Nonetheless I keep my eyes open as I walk, listening hard for additional footsteps and staring carefully into shadowed corners. I'm relieved that I make it home okay. I glance around before making my way insider. Who thought I'd ever be glad to be home?
/…/…/…/
Mello wasn't there the next day.
I waited. Maybe he was just late. He never showed though, even when the sun had almost set. I went home worried. What could have happened to him? Or had he figured out my parents hurt me and didn't want to be near me? Needless to say I didn't sleep well that night.
I was hesitant about going back the next day. I didn't want to be let down; to know my only friend was in trouble or he had left me.
I did go back though, and he was there.
"Mello!"
His jaw was swollen and he had a painful looking black eye. I rushed over, stopping uncertainly in front of him. "What happened?"
He scowled. "Got in a fight with a couple of assholes. I won though." He smirked at that.
"Oh. So yesterday-"
"Looked worse," he interrupted. "Felt worse. Had to get into a bathroom to clean up."
I nodded. "So you're okay."
"It'll take more than a couple of creeps to take me out Matt," he told me, eyes serious. I shifted slightly under the gaze and looked away.
"I'd expect nothing less."
"Good. So did you bring me anything?" he asked. He wasn't one to ask me for his daily food, but maybe he could smell the chocolate on me. Freak.
"Yeah. Here." I handed over the chocolate and he took it happily. Munching on it, all was quiet for a few moments.
After finishing half the bar, he spoke. "You look after yourself when you're walking around here okay?"
Surprised, I looked at him and nodded. "You too."
"…I will if you will."
/…/…/…/
AN: I'm so proud of this chapter. So tell me what you thought of it! Feedback is much appreciated.