On with the show!


~"~If I Catch You~"~


Opening Theme ~ "Keep Holding On" - Avril Lavigne


Chapter 4: Day of Hearts


"Let me tell you this: if you meet a loner, no matter what they tell you, it's not because they enjoy solitude. It's because they have tried to blend into the world before, and people continue to disappoint them."

- Jodi Picoult


It's been a week since I made up with Near, and about two hours since I found a new addiction.

Logical puzzles.

Oh my God, I didn't know there's something this awesome on the planet!

Right after Legend of Zelda of course.

Currently Near and I are, well we're just hanging out. I had printed off multiple sheets a few minutes ago, and am currently laying on the floor of the monitoring room with the impossibly clean boy as we solve the puzzles.

He seems to be going slow for some reason, maybe because he's waiting for me since we have the same puzzle. I stare hard at the paper, before looking over to Near with puppy dog eyes.

"Near...is Anya the Criminal?"

Near looks over to me, and answers very bluntly.

"No, she is the clown."

"But I thought that-"

Then he blasts in on why I am wrong and he is right, and I zone out until his speech pauses.

"...You're not listening, are you."

I giggle lightly and make a shooing motion with my hand.

"Oh Near! You're so funny! Of course I'm listening! I mean it's not like this is too hard for me or anything. Eheheh...hehheh..."

He gives me a blank look, so I literally roll myself over until I hit his side, bringing me onto my back as I look up to him. He looked down at me, I could feel his breath on my face, smells like dinner was good today...

"Don't give me that look little boy! I may not be very smart, but I'm street smart and pretty strong!" I tease, sticking my tongue out.

The room falls quiet, save for the hum of the monitors and multiple computers. Today is the day before Valentine's day, and each worker had somewhere to go with somebody special. I volunteered to stay with Near, Rester said he would come in in the evening so that I can go on my date with Rusty.

Of course I never told Near anything, I didn't want him to know I'm worried about leaving him alone.

"Complex."

Is all that came from Near's mouth. I raised a brow as he looked back at another sheet in front of him.

"This puzzle is very complex."

I rolled onto my stomach, and rested my chin on his shoulder. My cheek against his cheek, I had been in this situation with kids before, Near is no different to me.

"Let's see, oh! Jay is the princess! Ha, it says Jay and I'm AKA Jay. Ha princess my ass."

Near makes a noise that sounds close to the start of a laugh, but never finishes it as I roll my eyes towards him. The burn is gone from my cheek, but even so Near still feels rather cool compared to me.

We play with the logical puzzles until we run out, which doesn't take long when you are sitting with a genius, and then I offer to cook a snack for us. Thus prompting us to head up to my room and waddle into the kitchen.

I'm not up to date with all of my supplies, shopping day isn't for another two days, but I managed to whip up some quick cookies while Near busied himself with a deck of cards.

I just managed to place a plate of cookies in front of him along with a glass of milk, when my cellphone rang.

That's another thing that I'm rather happy about. Near and Rester both agree that I have been working fairly hard, so they allow me to use my phone as long as I'm in my room when using it.

I go over to the counter and pick it up.

"Hello?"

"Hey babe."

I blink for a moment, before smiling.

"Rusty! How's it going?"

I don't know why, but when I said Rusty's name, Near stiffened slightly. He continues to stack the cookies at odd angles after, making a house or something while I sit on the couch across from him.

"Meh, work sucks, but I guess you know how it is."

Rolling my eyes, I steal a cookie right out of Near's hand. He gives me a look to which I smile and stick my tongue out.

"Nah, I like work. It's actually really fun."

I can hear Rusty laughing his strange girlish laugh on the other end.

"Well you're the first to say that! Anyway, I was wondering if we could head to the movies two hours earlier."

My brows raise as I polish off my cookie, swallow, then reply.

"May I ask why? Keep in mind I'm working right until I leave to see you, it's not fair for me to leave with such short notice."

At that comment, Near looks at me, stands up, and walks around the room. He seems to be searching for something, but I just take it as an opportunity to snatch another cookie from his dough building.

"A friend of mine, Arven, you've met him before, anyway he had booked this really expensive booth at a restaurant, well his girlfriend and him are having some problems and they're taking a break. So since you can't cancel the reservations he asked if I would like to take you since he thought you were a very nice lady and a keeper."

Arven, yeah I remember him. He was the sweet boy who kept me company and helped me stay calm when Rusty went missing, and then I repaid him by helping him when his last girlfriend dumped him just because he wasn't as pretty as she wanted him to be. Arven was a sweet kid, four years my senior but a child at heart, shame to hear he wasn't doing good with the ladies lately.

"Yeah, Arven's a good kid, tell him I wish him the best? I haven't talked to him for almost a year now...But Rusty I can't just-"

Near must've found whatever he was looking for. Actually it turns out he was looking for paper and a pen. He scribbled something on the paper, then holds it up to show me.

You can leave early, it's fine.

I can't help but smile at him.

"Y'know what Rusty? I think I can leave early."

We set a time, before saying our goodbyes. I toss the phone onto the couch next to me, when I notice Near giving me an odd look.

"What now Near?"

He looks at me, then at the cookies, so I count them.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5...

Didn't we have like nine or ten?

Oh shit, did I eat them all?

I start to sweat, trying to figure out when I ate them.

"Uh...um... it's not what it looks like?"


"Alright Near! Rester should be hear in the next hour, so can you let him know that I've made a ton of snacks for you guys?"

"Of course Ms Belle."

I smile at him, but for some reason seeing him alone on the monitor room floor, I feel kind of anxious. To help myself calm down, I kneel the best I can in my heels and give him a soft kiss on his cheek. He falters for a moment, and looks up to me. I smile and ruffle his hair, God he's so much like a child, I'm still in denial that I'm barely his senior.

"If anything happens, call me, okay?"

He goes back to his playing, working with dominoes on the ground, so I whip out my phone.

"I mean it Near, heck is there any number I can use to call you here?"

"Ms Belle, it is not necessary to-"

"Mr Near, as your Caregiver it is necessary for me to make sure everything goes smoothly. So give me the number Mister!"

He reaches out a hand, so I give the cell to him as he punches in a couple of numbers. He then gives it back to me, and I look at the phone. The contact reads 'Ryuzaki', but before I could ask he explains.

"Keep in mind that if anything ever happens, and someone were to read 'L' or 'Near' on your phone, they would probably get the wrong impression."

I frown.

"You make it sound like I'm going to get kidnapped Near."

He goes silent for a moment.

"Just a precaution."

What came out of my mouth next,I just couldn't help it, it sort of slipped out before I thought about it's meaning.

"Would you care if I was kidnapped Near?"

He never once hesitates in his play, and suddenly I am curious.

"Would you look for me?"

He doesn't answer, and I start to get nervous. I try to right the situation, but for some reason I only feel worse.

"R-Right, I understand Near, don't worry. Being the great detective L, I get it, really! There's a lot more important things to do in this world." I slowly start to stop talking, but Near never corrects me.

I pretend to look at my watch, even though I'm not wearing one.

"Oh look at the time! Rusty's probably waiting." I force a smile and stand tall. "Make sure you remind Rester about the food! I wouldn't want it to go to waste!"

Then I rush out of there, into the elevator, and begin my descent to the streets below.


"This is such a beautiful restaurant Rusty!" I grin, looking around. Le Luci d'Amore is the name of the restaurant that Rusty brought me to, and although I normally hate fancy restaurants, this one is amazing.

The whole building is open much like a normal place, but this one has ponds filled with fish separating each table. Large dark oak support beams covered in nicely trimmed vines and white lilies give off the idea that you are in your own private room, the ponds go in a grid like pattern, with each table having eight by eight feet of space so we wouldn't chance falling in the water. Our table is rather large, rectangular, so we sit on the long ends so that we're closer.

I can't stop looking around, it feels like we were eating in a cafe on the side of the sea. I love the sea, and after looking at the menu, I realize I love this place too.

"Glad you like it." Rusty says, and I must admit he looks damn fine in a tux. He's got those sexy glasses the cover his icey blue eyes on, and his hair is still slightly wild, not like you can tame fire anyways.

I blush a little when he looks up and notices my staring, but I don't look away. I want him to stare at me too, I want him to say I look beautiful.

"Aren't you looking gorgeous tonight." He says smoothly, but for some reason I don't feel anything when he says it. I smile though, and play along.

"Well I bought this dress just for you."

I look down at the flowing violet, empire waist halter top, and the necklace my Mama gave me. Together I feel classy, though I'm not a huge fan of the silver heels, but I can manage for one night.

"It's beautiful, of course I doubt anybody else can wear it as good."

I don't like being showers with cheesy compliments, I mean I love compliments, but stuff like that? I force a smile and pretend to enjoy said speech.

The waitress comes and goes off with our orders, as I watch her go I realize it's been almost two hours since I left. I wonder if Rester got to Near yet...? I catch my had unconsciously reaching for my clutch. My head retreats back to my lap, and I stare into Rusty's beautiful orbs.

He reaches across the table and holds my hand, gaining my attention.

"So you never talk about work Jay, mind giving me a hint as to what it is?"

The way he's saying it, I know he's just curious, but I hold firm.

"Well, I'm babysitting this bratty kid, it's for a celebrity so I can't tell you much about it, but let's just say it is a lot of work." I say flatly, picturing said kid in my head.

Stupid Near...

Rusty laughs, but gives me a strange look.

"Aw c'mon Jay, what happened to loving little kids?"

I think about Near, about all the rude things he's done to me, and suddenly my anger just keeps on flaring.

"No, there's nothing to love about that stupid, childish, self absorbed, obnoxious, hard set boy!" I say, and only when Rusty pulls his hand away from mine do I realize I was squeezing the life out of his poor fingers.

"Whoa Jay! You're really getting worked up!"

I sigh, and reach for his hand to softly stroke my thumb over the back of it.

"I'm sorry Rusty, but this kid, I just can't understand him."

"Well, tell me why you can't."

This is what I love about Rusty, he doesn't have to say much to make me really think about my problems.

"Each time I try to get close to him, to be his friend, he pushes me away. Then when I thought we were getting along well, I realized he didn't actually see me as more than dirt on the ground. Just another face in the crowd."

Rusty pulls his chair around to my side of the table, and slowly he massages my shoulders.

"Maybe he's feeling the way you do?"

I lean into his touch.

"What do you mean?" I question, sighing when Rusty undoes a knot in my shoulders.

"Well, think about it, maybe he thinks you're just being nice to him because it's your job."

I thought about it, I really did, but for some reason it didn't fit. What could be Near's problem? Is he scared I'll hurt him like Rusty said, or is there a deeper meaning, a bigger picture I'm not seeing?

It's been two and a half hours now, I decide to phone Near and make sure everything's okay. Excusing myself, I go over to the front door and dial the number. The waiting room is vacant, so I figure talking at a normal voice is fine.

"Yes Ms Belle." Is all I get, before I hear the sounds of Near stacking something continue.

"N-" I pause, I'm still in a public place after all. "Ryuzaki, did Rester show up yet?"

"No he has not," Huh? Where did Rester run off to? "His daughter and wife are sick, so I told him taking care of them should be his first priority on his day off."

"N-Ryuzaki, did you want me to come back?" What am I saying? I'm on a date, on my day off! Why would I want to go back to work?

"No, please enjoy your date, I will be fine."

There's something about his tone, I don't like it. Like being alone is a good thing. Before I can voice this, he hangs up on me.

"Ah! Ryuzaki!"

With a grunt, I shut the phone, and stomp back to Rusty.

Great, the kid's ruining my evening.

The food was there, so thankfully Rusty doesn't talk much when we eat, so I get to keep myself to my thoughts.

Why is that little phone call worrying me so much? What about the tone he used? It was like...

He's subtly pushing me away.

Then it dawns on me.

Near, you aren't scared of me, are you? You aren't trying to push me away, you're not trying to get me angry, are you?

Near's never known family, his only friends are dead. He told me himself, he doesn't know what friends are like.

Near, are you afraid for me?

That I'll end up like everyone else, disappointing you and fading away.

Like another face in the crowd?

I stand up abruptly, surprising Rusty. Panic runs through me as I realize that leaving Near alone, keeping him in the dark, it's only making his outlook on the world that much bleaker.

"I'm so sorry Rusty, but I just realized something very important." The food's done, so I walk over to him and kiss him boldly. Before I can leave though, he grabs my wrist and smiles at me.

"Go get 'em, Jay."

I smile and kiss him again, before rushing to the door. Rusty's upset, I can tell, but he also understands me, which is what I love about him.

Rusty drove me here, but I quickly hop on a bus that leads towards where the SLE building stands, avoiding the heavy rainfall outside. I huddle my shawl around my shoulders, maybe running out on dinner was a bad thing. Doesn't matter now, I need to get to Near.

The bus stops suddenly, I look ahead and see a good mile of traffic.

SLE isn't very far, just a few blocks...

Ah fuck it.

I ask to be let off, which makes the driver give me a look before opening the door. It's absolutely freezing, but I take off my annoying heels and book it down the street. My dress begins to stick to my legs, my hair to my skull, but I just keep running. The down pour gets worse, but I trudge as fast as I can, I push on until I see the building an all it's glory.

Like a hazy shadow in the onslaught of rain.

I run inside, and hustle up into the monitoring room. Swinging the door open, I instantly call for the albino.

"Near!"

He's not here though, so where could he be?

I notice a few screens are on, one of them showing my room, so I walk up to it. In my room's camera, I can see him lying on my bed, fast asleep. I smile before running to the elevator and taking it to my floor.

When I open it, and walk in, I notice that there's a basket full of chocolates sitting on the kitchen counter. I walk up to it curiously, and find it to be all my favorites of Lindt chocolate.

'Anna' is all the tag says, but I don't recognize the writing. Then it comes to me.

Near.

I pull one of the small milk chocolate eggs from the basket, and go over to my bedroom. Near's sound asleep still, so I ruffle through my drawers for underwear and a bra, before going to the bathroom. It takes a few minutes for me to clear myself of the dress because I literally have to shed it like a snake.

I feel rather hot, yet cold at the same time, so I pull my undergarments on, before grabbing my black house coat and tying it around me. Ah, much better, still I feel a little bit dizzy though.

Opening the bathroom door, I walk over to the bed and lay down infront of Near. A smile stretches across my lips as I watch him, he looks so adorable when he sleeps.

"I told you not to worry." Comes his condescending voice. I don't answer right away, so he ventures an eye open, then the other. He looks surprised to see I'm still soaking wet, or maybe it's because I have a guilty look on my face. Either way, I unwrap the egg and push it to his lips. He opens his mouth, eyes never leaving mine.

Then I pull him closer to me, and cradle him in my arms. All those negative thoughts from earlier fizz away before my eyes as I hold him like my Mama held me all those years ago.

"I'm so sorry Near, it's my fault."

He doesn't answer me, instead his long slender arms reached around me, precariously, and hold me too. His face by my collar bone, my fingers twirling his hair like he likes to, his mimicking in my hair.

"It's not your fault, Anna."

We just laid there, for what seemed like hours, until his breath even out and slowed down.

Shortly after, I too fell asleep.


Ending Theme - "All Your Life" - The Band Perry


Hey guys!

Yeah, it's been a while, and I'm sorry. It's been a very rough 2012 for me, and everything was piling around me and trapping me. It started to get anxiety attacks and suddenly my best friend was my worst nightmare. It's over now, I've realized I trapped myself in my own mind so I'm trying to get back on track and get some of my stories finished!

Yeah, so I'm not sure if I told you guys, but this story is gunna be about ten chapters, hopefully I finish it before summer!

Fanart anybody? I seriously want to know what you guys think! I am dying here! Tell me anything! One thing you like, one thing you dislike, and one thing that could be improved would be fabulous! I am really wanting to become an authoress, partly because my imagination is too strong to be stuck at a desk job, and I really want to improve! Let me know what you guys think!

RATE AND REVIEW!

Cheers!

~Kiwi~chan~