L's phone was ringing loudly. It was Friday, a few days later, and L was trying to ignore the loud noise.

He leaned over to check the caller ID and choked on his cake. He grabbed his phone. "Hello."

"Hey L, it's Light."

L managed to swallow the block of cake in his throat. "Yeah, I know."

"Are you eating something?"

"Yeah, cake. So what's up?"

"Uh, um, I was wondering if maybe you wanted to uh, see a movie?"

"What?"

"Well, there's that new Sherlock Holmes adaption out, and since you're head of the Detective Club I figured you'd probably like to see it. It'd be my treat!"

"Wow, that's- that's very kind of you, Light. Um…" L lifted his hand to chew on his thumbnail. "I… That sounds nice. Um…" He screwed his eyes shut. No, it didn't. Well, it did, but it also sounded kind of scary and a little painful. "I- when?"

He couldn't believe Light remembered the Young Detectives Club existed, let alone that L was the president.

"Either tonight or tomorrow. Do you want to catch dinner and a late show, or the matinee?"

"I can- I can go tonight."

"Really?! Cool! I'll pick you up at your house! Does… five forty five work for you?"

"Sure."

"See you then!" Light hung up, and L groaned, pushing his cake away before calling A.

"Hey," A answered.

"Hi. What's up?"

"Nothing, just doing school work." Of course they were. A had a six point GPA, and was working toward a higher one- ever since they'd discovered it was possible to get above a ten. They even took extra classes at school at the nearest college. "You?"

"Uh… Light just called me…"

"And?!"

"Well, um… we're seeing a movie."

"Woah! Okay, wait, are you getting dinner?"

"... Yes."

"So you're going on a date?"

"No!"

"Well, tell me where you eat and how you eat and- just call me afterwards."

"I might be home late."

"Just call me," A hung up. Of course, they'd probably still be up. A slept even less than L, mainly because of their constant work.

L called B next.

"A says it's a date," he began.

"Dude!" B hissed. "I'm at rehears- date?! Tell."

"We're seeing a movie, and having dinner. That's not a date, is it?"

"Depends on what you have for dinner, where you eat, what kind of movie, and where in the theater you sit."

"Huh?"

"Okay, listen closely, moth."

"Moth?" L frowned. Did he mean butterfly? Or caterpillar? Young caterpillar? Huh?

"If you sit in the middle, and you each have your own popcorn and candy and stuff, it's just two guys hanging out. Especially if he gets, like, Monster energy drink. But."

"But?"

"If you share popcorn, or if you sit in the back, then congrats! You went on a date with Light I'm-a-gay!"

"Stop calling him that!" L flushed. "Alright, back and one popcorn, date, middle and no popcorn, not a date."

"The popcorn thing isn't as important as where you sit. You could easily go middle-one popcorn or back-two popcorn."

"Alright, fine."

"Oh my god, I'm coming, Misa! Misa's a supershitty person, I'm glad her boyfriend's gay."

"Wait, Misa's there? Shouldn't Light be, too?"

"Nah, he ditches rehearsal a lot. Apparently to take you on dates. Can I tell Misa?! She'll be pissed!"

"No!"

"Unnnfff, fine. I'm coming! Oh, wait. Sorry Misa! My mom's in the hospital dying and I have to go! I'm coming over."

"What?!"

B hung up, and about seven minutes later, L's door opened. Of course. B never bothered with the doorbell.

"Okay!" he said, running in. His backpack was bulging. Mello came in after him.

L frowned at him. "I didn't invite either of you over."

"We know," Mello said.

B clapped his hands together. "I'm gonna go look in your fridge and then we're getting started."

A moment later, B emerged with an unsettlingly large slice of cake and a cup of iced tea. L reached for the cake.

"No. Save your appetite for your date. Okay!" B opened his backpack. "I raided the basement. Now, obviously, we have to be subtle. It can't look like you've changed clothes. So! I found this." B pulled out a white shirt.

"It's a shirt."

"I know that, stupid. It's a shirt that looks just like yours, except the sleeves are tighter and longer."

"So?"

"So?! So, dear L, it will highlight your nice arms, and you can pull the sleeves down over your arms, so you'll look supercute and Light will fall madly in love with you."

"I have nice arms? Nevermind! It isn't a date, for starters, and I don't want Light falling-"

"Just put on the shirt." B threw it at him, and L pulled his own shirt off.

"Maybe you should just go topless," Mello suggested, then cackled at the glare L gave him. L pulled on the shirt.

B squealed. "You look adorable! Okay. Now take it off, and shower."

"What?!"

"You heard me! I was hoping you'd shower in preparation for our arrival, but you've got to go get in the shower now and wash your hair. Also, your face. They're both kinda greasy, no offense."

"Fine!" L stormed upstairs and got in the shower. He washed his hair as quickly as possible, then did the same with his face, before drying off. He opened the bathroom door. "Ahh! B, what the hell?! I'm wearing a towel!"

"You have to dry your hair off. You can't go with wet hair. I knew this would happen!"

"I don't own a blow dryer!" B marched in, grabbed a towel off the wall, and started to dry L's hair off, quite roughly. "Ow! Hey!"

B tossed the towel away. "Good enough for now. Here, put these on." He threw a bundle of clothes at L. "Meet me and Mello downstairs."

L sighed and changed into the clothes. It was the shirt from earlier, and a pair of jeans that were a little tighter than L's. It was exactly like his outfit from earlier, but a smidge more form-fitting.

He headed downstairs and saw that B had emptied the rest of his backpack. He and Mello were going through what looked like a gallon of makeup.

L turned around to head back upstairs just as B looked up. He broke into a manic grin. L, on the other hand, broke into a run. B chased after him.

"You can't escape!"

"Watch me!" L shouted back, just as B pounced on him. "No!"

"Come!" B dragged him downstairs, L struggling fiercely. He hit and kicked at B, only to be slammed down onto the couch. "Mello, hold him!"

So this was why he brought Mello.

Mello sat down on L's ankles and held him in place. B crouched over him with some sort of torture device.

"Stay still! If you keep I'm gonna get mascara in your eye!"

L screamed. Mello grabbed him by the shoulders, and L had no choice but to stay still as B applied mascara, then dabbed makeup over his face. He kept smearing and brushing until L felt like he was wearing a mask. A thin mask, but a mask.

"Eyeliner, then we're done," B promised, pulling out a pencil. "Minimal."

"You're not doing stage makeup, are you?!"

"No! I'm not an idiot, L! Still!" B finished. "Okay, Mello, you can let him up."

Mello climbed off of L, and he sat up. That had been painful. B held a mirror up in front of L's face.

"... I look normal."

"But?"

"I just said I look normal!"

"No you don't! I covered up your shadows, defined your eyes, and I also put on concealer!"

"Something tells me you do this every morning."

"Wash it off after or you'll break out. Now I just have to brush your hair, and we're done!"

"No!"

Mello forced L down again, and held him in place as B brushed his hair. "There we go! I'm the master of subtlety, right Mello?"

"Sure." Mello shrugged, then held out his hand. "Pay up." B fished around in his backpack before handing Mello a large chocolate bar. L moaned and rolled his eyes.

"Now-"

The doorbell rang. B dove behind a chair.

"That's probably him! Quick! What shoes are you wearing?! Mello, hide!"

Mello sat down on the couch and opened up his chocolate. L sighed and headed for the door, granning his phone.

"I dunno, maybe moccasins?"

"No, that's- you're opening the- okay, just remember to keep your back straight, don't slouch, and-"

L slid on his moccasins and opened the door. Light was standing in front of him, and he smelled like strawberries. He'd clearly done his hair, and was wearing a dark blue jacket. As always, he looked way too hot.

"Hey," L said, anxiety sneaking into his voice.

"Hi," Light said breathlessly, then coughed. "Hi," he said again in a lower voice. "Um, are those your friends?"

L glanced back and nearly facepalmed. B and Mello had both just ducked below the windowsill, the tips of their heads visible, and had clearly been watching them. He sighed. "Yeah. Don't mind them, they're just idiots."

Light laughed. "Okay, then." He gestured to his car, parked right outside. "Shall we?"

"Okay."