Did Near really call me last night? Am I really flying all the way to California to find my childhood bully? This is just peachy. The limo driver was mute the entire time. I held tightly to my bag and had my headphones in. I had to brace myself for the 6 hour flight I was going to endure. I felt the communication thing that Near had given me, vibrate. I took out my own headphones and put the one in my right ear.

"Amy, are you there?" I could hear Near's voice.

"Yes, but I'm kind of nervous." I stated.

"Don't be. When you arrive at the airport, get your ticket, if there is any problem contact me immediately and the SPK will take care of it. Once you get through security head straight for your gate. Stephen Gevanni, one of the guys that works for me, is already in the back right corner waiting for you. He is going to be flying with you. I told him to act like he was meeting an old friend, you must do the same so no one looks suspicious." Wow Near thought this out cleverly.

"Okay, sounds good. What am I to do after I meet Gevanni?" I asked looking out the window.

"He will escort you to the hotel, and he'll stay with you. When you're there he will give you all the information that you need to find Mello. Just be careful Amy. He is just as he was all those years ago, but grown up." Near said.

"I will be Near."

"Good. I'll be in touch later."

"Oh okay." I took out the ear piece and put my head phones back in. How am I supposed to find Mello? Just go everywhere and search for him? He'll probably make me look like a fool. I pulled out my notebook and continued to write the novel I had been writing. With words so sacred I touched his lips with mine. His hand squeezed mine talking with my body. I never imagined he'd belong to me. Time had turtle paced it's way forward as our delicate vermillion lines touched. The ethereal glow of the sun created a different kind of warmth. At least, I think it was the sun. For all I know the feeling inside my stomach could've been very intense that it spread throughout my body.

"Miss Price, we have arrived." The limo driver said. He hopped out of the car and I put my notebook and pen away. He grabbed my suitcase from the back and I got out. I fixed my jeans and hoodie.

"Thank you very much," I fished for a 20 in my wallet, "here this is for you." I said.

"Oh, no ma'am I couldn't take this, besides your friend already paid for this and the tip, it wouldn't be fair." He said.

"A-Are you sure?" I began to put the 20 back. He nodded.

"You have a safe and nice flight miss. Take care." I grabbed my suitcase and headed inside.

"Hey Amy!" I looked up from the ground and saw a man with a pair of blue jeans on, and a white collard shirt. He had black shaggy hair and a bright smile on his face. Don't tell me I have to pretend this guy is my old friend….he's really kind of cute.

"Stephen! Oh my gosh it's been ages, how are you?" I asked giving him a hug.

"I'm great! Here come sit with me." He said. We sat down and went on with the small talk for a little longer until he stopped it. "Near has requested that I follow you, he doesn't want anything bad to happen to you." What was I getting myself into? I thought. "He told you that, am I correct?" he smiled trying to make it look even more real than it actually was.

"Of course. He's always been like that." I said smiling.

"Here," he said handing me a little box, "he made this for you. I already took a peak when I went through security, and it's really sweet." He put the tiny box in my hands and I opened it. It was a necklace made out of beads. He wrote my name on it, my actual name. Oh Near…this is so sweet. I thought.

"Oh my, this is so cute." I said.

"Yeah, that Near is definitely something else. He mentioned that you two have been friends for a very long time." I agreed with his statement.

"Yeah. We grew up together basically. In Wammy's. Since he was L's successor he went and took the part and I went on and became an author and drawer. I haven't seen Mello in forever either. I doubt he'll recognize me, or even want to see me. He ripped up all my pictures I drew so long ago, and he never said sorry." I tapped my foot and looked around.

"I'm pretty sure Near wouldn't even recognize you now, eh?" he said. I giggled and nodded. "Tell me, what you looked like when you and Near were closer."

"Why?" I asked.

"Eh, just trying to make small talk. I'm going to be with you for sometime, so why not get to know you from the beginning?" he suggested. He had a point. I don't know how long I'd be here, or stuck with him.

"Fair enough. Well first of all my hair was up to my shoulders, it looked like Mello's hair, but dark brown. I wore boy clothes. Jeans and big shirts and tank tops during the warmer seasons. People teased me saying I'd turn out like Mello, and I'm happy that I didn't. If he's being "hunted" down then he couldn't have done something good." I stated. He chuckled.

"Yeah, nah you couldn't be like Mello. From what the SPK has seen or heard about him he is too crafty in a bad way. Near told me you could never hurt a fly." I smiled and tried to hide behind my hair. "Oh, am I embarrassing you? I'm sorry sweetie. I don't mean to do that." He said.

"No no! It's quite all right. I'm just happy. I haven't heard from Near in so long and to just randomly get contacted by him it's very rewarding. I was 100% sure he forgot about me." I trailed off and looked at my hands.

"And you knew Mello?" he asked. I nodded. "Do you miss him?"

"Well…uhm…yes and no. I don't miss him bullying me, trashing everything I did, ripping up my pictures, and pushing me in the mud. Now that we're old perhaps he's somewhat changed. I know he didn't like working with Near and that he'd always ice him out." I said putting my head on my hand and looking at Stephen. He nodded.

"Then what do you miss?" I knew I'd have to answer this question one day or another. Am I really prepared to answer this? I thought holding my breath.

"Flight 756R is ready to board. We are boarding our first class members, so if you have a first class ticket would you please come and we will get you on the plane." The stewardess said. Stephen stood up.

"Come on, let's get our seats." He said.

"We're in first class?" I asked. He nodded. "Oh cool." I said. I grabbed my tiny bag and followed him into line. "I must've been so preoccupied I didn't notice that, hahaha wow."

"Don't worry, it's okay." We stood in line and waited to get our tickets checked, and once they did we walked onto the plane. "Are you nervous?"

"W-What do you mean?" I was stunned he asked this.

"It seems that you're hiding something about Mello and your feelings towards him. I'm sensing you're nervous. It's also just me, and if you're not you can slap me in the face and call me a dick." He chuckled. I smiled and shook my head.

"I won't be calling a dick or slapping you. I won't lie there is something I'm not sharing, and I probably won't share it. I can't even share it with myself I'm that scared it's true." I stated taking my seat near the window. He put his seatbelt on and sighed.

"So there is no way I could ever know?" he asked becoming slightly nosey. I looked at him out of the corner of my eye.

"Since when have you gotten so nosey Stevie?' I asked chuckling. "Hmmm?" he smiled at me and flicked my nose. Jeez…how long do I have to keep this up, it's rather awkward…

"I was only asking Amy my word." This better be worth finding Mello and me being taken away from my work. Of course it's going to be worth it. Near wouldn't have asked for my help if it wasn't worth it. He must know something that I don't know, why else would he have me go find Mello?

"Sorry. I just I uhm…well…it's great to see you after a long time, you know?" I got the tiniest feeling someone as watching, and not watching like a regular pedestrian.

"Yeah I feel the same. I'm happy we made these plans." We smiled at each other and waited for the plane to take off. Once we were in the air and were able to talk where no one could hear, I asked him if he had seen anyone.

"You happen to notice a passenger following me?" I asked trying not to seem to concerned.

"Hmm? No, why did you?" he closed the magazine he was reading and became more alert.

"Well when we got on the airplane I felt an unsettling presence, and I saw someone who gave me 'that' look. I might just be getting paranoid." I said holding on to him and looking at him.

"Well don't be paranoid. If it happens when we arrive, just tell me. I can take care of it." He smiled. Stop psyching yourself out. R-E-L-A-X Amy. As long as you focus on Mello you'll be fine. That is unless Mello get's the best of you. Oh crap!