The Challenger

Chapter Three: I like it loud!

Three days had passed since Shadow had arrived at the orphanage. Three days had also passed since the news of Shadow and Near being related got out into the open.

It had spread like wildfire of course and now the whole orphanage were whispering about it. Near only left his room to attend to the most important business like class etc.

Shadow seemed to be good at ignoring people so the gossip really had no effect on her. Although news about her fight with Mello had also broken out so most people were smart enough not to say anything directly to her or within a six-meter radius.

It was early morning and it was pretty cool today. Matt decided he would head out for a walk seeing as his play station was going to fry if it was used any longer.

He walked out into the chilly morning air. The orphanage was quiet as no one was out here. He looked around then he spotted something in the distance up a tree.

Was it a cat? Matt headed in it's direction only to realize it was far to large to be any animal. As he approached he realized what and who it was.

Shadow.

"She is a weird one," he muttered to himself. She sat up a tree which had been stripped bare of it's leaves due to the cooling temperature.

It would soon be winter. She had a pair of black track suit pants on and a black hoodie. In her ears were headphones attached to her ipod, which she held in her hand.

Her eyes were closed and she looked pretty relaxed. Matt knew he wouldn't make it up the tree, he wasn't a very skilled climber. He looked around for something to catch her attention.

He found a stick and threw it at a branch near her head. It must have startled her because her eyes shot open and in one quick movement she lost her hold on the tree and slid off the branch she was sitting on.

"Ahh!" she yelled as she slipped letting go of her ipod. It fell to the ground and it one last quick movement she grabbed a thinner branch underneath the one she had been on.

Once she had a good grip on it she swung herself up onto the large branch again, then began making her way down.

When her feet hit the ground she walked up to Matt and hit him across the side of the face. Hestumbled but didn't fall, she was pretty weak.

"What the hell!" he yelled "You idiot that's my freakin' ipod! If it's broken I am going to kill you!" she yelled. Matt glared at her "Bitch," he mumbled rubbing his now red check.

She was out of earshot as she had gone to check on her precious ipod. Once she was done examining it she turned to him.

"What were you trying to do kill me?" she asked not impressed. "No what! I was trying to get your attention," he answered back equally as annoyed.

"Go jump off a cliff then you'll get my attention," she replied turning to walk off. "What is with you!" yelled Matt who was tagging along.

"Three days ago you were nice, almost normal now you are a bitch, again". She turned to look at him "Thanks and you are the nicest guy in the world".

She frowned and continued walking all the way back to her room Matt tagged along arguing with her. Even when she opened her door he walked into her room and continued yelling at her.

"Get out of my room Matt!" she yelled clearly annoyed. "You are so arrogant and selfish and mentally unstable and emo and bitchy and…" Matt clearly hadn't herd her he was still annoyed about what had happened outside.

"Get out you imbecile!" she yelled. Matt paused then glared at her. "Not until you apologize," he said crossing his arms. "No now move," she warned.

"Matt sat on her bed waiting. "Fine then," she hissed slamming her door closed. She pulled something's out of her draws, opened the door and walked out of the room.

A few seconds later Matt heard a door slamming. It hit him just then that Shadow had gone into his room.

Oh no as if she would just go into his room. He got up and walked a few steps to the right going to his own room.

When he looked inside he saw no one then he heard a door slam but it was too late. She had tricked him. She was smart. Matt reminded himself that she was Near's sister.

The day went by quickly Matt returned back to his usual routine of playing games. He sat in his room on his bed, Mello on the other side studying.

They changed location continually Matt never really knowing where he was or how he got there. He just seemed to nod and follow Mello around.

They wound up in the library Matt looked up from his game and around. Last time he remembered he was sitting on his bed. His body must have been on autopilot again.

He looked for Mello and found him in the history section. Matt closed his Nitendo and walked over to Mello's side. "What ya doing?" he asked.

"Getting a book on Medieval Europe," replied Mello seemingly frustrated. "Why?" asked Matt, Mello turned to him and gave him a are-you-kidding look.

"Matt we have a history test on Monday". Matt's face went blank "Shoot! I knew I had forgotten something," he exclaimed.

Mello shook his head and turned back to the bookshelf. Matt decided Mello would find a good book Matt could borrow to study, he walked over the couch in the middle of the library.

He sat on it pulling his feet up so he took up the entire lounge. He looked around him again this time a figure in the corner catching his attention.

In a little section of the library Shadow stood flicking through the books. Matt jumped up and headed toward her.

He was still annoyed about earlier today but he wanted to know what she was doing in here. As Matt got closer to her she turned and headed toward the door.

"I guess she didn't find a book she liked," Matt thought to himself. At the same time he heard name being called and like a tame dog he walked toward the source.

"Matt!" yelled Mello, "Yes Mello," sighed Matt. "Matt which one sounds better History of Medieval Europe or Medieval European History".

Mello held out two books both very thick. Matt sighed again "They both sound the same!" Mello glared at him "Fine then which one should I get?" he asked.

Matt thought for a moment "Hmmm I say the thinner one," Matt answered. "Why?" asked Mello puzzled.

Matt's real reason was because last time he had picked the thicker one and it had hurt when Mello smacked him across the head with it.

"Because you will have less reading to do which means you will get more sleep before the test. You won't be up all night finishing it".

Mello thought about it then put the thicker book back he walked off toward the counter, where the librarian was.

Mello borrowed the book then the boys headed back to their room. They were nearing their door Mello clutching his book.

He would most probably get straight into reading once they got back. Problem. They turned the corner where their room was located and heard music.

Loud music.

From the room next door more Linkin Park was playing. This time it was one of their newer songs New Divide.

"Not Linkin Park again, what is with this girl!" yelled Mello. He walked over to her door and slammed his fist against it.

A few second later it opened a crack, the music immediately becoming louder. "Turn this crap down or I'll come in there and do it for you!" yelled Mello over the noise.

Shadow glared at him "What was that!?" she yelled. "Turn it off!" Mello repeated. "What!?" she said once again. This immediately annoyed Mello even more.

He shoved the door open and walked into her room. Matt had been in there before, twice. But once again she had changed it. There were now posters on the walls.

The bed was on the opposite said of the room (it rested against the wall which border Matt's and Mello's room before) and had black and purple sheets.

On the desk under the window was two speakers with a cord attacking her ipod to them. Her floor was covered in clothes and shoes. She had about four different pairs of the same shoe.

Converse All stars. One pair white, another black, another purple and the last pair hot pink. In a corner of the room were several piles of books.

She must have been studying too, hard to imagine anyone pulling that off with this much racket. Mello stormed over to the speakers and pulled the cord out of them.

"Hey!" yelled Shadow she reached to grab it but Mello pulled it out of her reach, taking advantage of his height over her. Alike Near she was short compared to Mello who was pretty tall.

She gave him a death glare. "Okay you have made your point I'll turn it down," she surrendered.

"No you'll have it completely turned off I'm sick of this crap. One you have no taste in music and two I have a history test tomorrow and I need to study.

Now I'll hang on to this for you until tomorrow okay?" he asked. She opened her mouth to protest but Mello slapped a hand across it.

He leaned forward and whispered in her ear "If you're a good girl I'll give it back to you early," he smiled an evil smile. He had her and he knew it.

Mello turned to leave but Shadow wasn't done yet. She jumped at him when his back was turned, they both fell to the ground with a loud thump! "Give me the cord!" yelled Shadow.

"No you won't it try and get it Goth girl," answered Mello desperately trying to keep the cord out of Shadow's reach. "Give it to me!" she yelled loudly smacking him over the head.

" No! I need to study and you're a distraction," Mello replied in an equally loud yell. They two rolled around trying to grab the cord.

"Matt take the cord!" yelled Mello. "No Matt give it to me!" yelled Shadow. Matt just stood there frozen he heard yelling coming from down the hall and guessed it was Roger or an adult who had heard the racket.

Eventually Mello got a grip on Shadow and pinned her against the floor. "Ah ha!" he yelled triumphantly "Who's the boss now?" a smirk covering his face.

He dangled the cord in front of Shadow's face. Roger and a teacher came rushing into the room "What's going on here?" he demanded.

Mello's and Shadow's eyes both widened in surprise. Mello (who was sitting on top of Shadow pinning her arms to the ground) stood up immediately and pointed a finger accusingly at her.

"It's her fault she had her music up to loud!" "What!" squeaked Shadow as she sat up rubbing her head. "My fault just cause you're a dingbat and can't keep up in class.

Not to mention you have some sort of grudge against my music". Mello death started her she returned his stare.

Roger sighed "So let me guess Mello was trying to study and Shadow's music was too loud so he came in here and turned it off which got the two fighting".

"It wasn't even that loud," argued Shadow. "Are you serious! I could hear it when I turned the corner. That's not loud that's defining!" Mello yelled back.

"Matt?" asked Roger "What happened". Everyone turned to face Matt, Matt gulped. "Great whatever I say someone is going to hate me," he thought to himself.

"Well Mello wanted to study but Shadow had her music up pretty loud, so he came in here to turn it down then stole her ipod cord, so she had a freak out and attacked him and they ended up rolling around on the floor fighting over it, and then Mello pinned Shadow and then you came and yeah".

Matt huffed he had forgotten to breath while saying all of that. "okay then problem easily solved," answered Roger he held his and out.

" The Ipod cord if you please Mello," demanded Roger. Mello handed it over then Roger gave put it in his pocket. "What! Not fair," yelled Shadow she crossed her arms across her chest.

"Shadow I am not sure how you are use to things. But around here they run smoothly and you will follow the rules as long as you are staying here".

"Believe me if I had a choice I would be out of this hell hole in an instance," she mumbled. "All musical devices are banned due to risk of interrupting other students study.

Also as they might be a distraction to your own study". "Wait a minuet!" yelled Shadow. "matt has a crapload of games wouldn't that distract him from his study's?" Roger smiled "True Matt shouldn't be allowed these devices but he is third highest ranked in the school.

I can assure you if it looks like his grades are slipping we restrict his access to games but seeing as that never happens there is no need".

Shadow huffed blowing a piece of white hair out of her eyes. "By the way Shadow that means I am going to need you're ipod too," said Roger.

"What! No way am I giving you my ipod," she replied. "Ipod now!" he ordered and she hesitantly handed it over.

"okay now that that issue is delt with get on with your study children good day," he said over his shoulder as he left the room.

Shadow was still frowning with her arms crossed against her chest. "Geeze Shadow," said Mello in his smartass tone.

"Don't frown like that you're going to ruin your pretty little face," he smirked as her frown deepened and turned it a death stare.

"Oh well cya later grumpy maybe you should have a nap," he laughed as he walked out of the room. Matt turned to her "You going to be okay without you're ipod?" asked Matt.

"Yeah I'll manage," she answered her mood much lighter now Mello had left the room. "You sure? I know how much you like your music and-" Shadow was digging through her cloths looking for something.
She threw a pair of jeans in Matt's direction and the landed on his head. He instantly pulled them off and threw them back on the ground.

"Here we go" she said pulling something out of the pocket of a pair of pants. "What is tha-" A Blue ipod appeared and she put the headphones in her ears turning it on.

"How many ipods do you have?" asked Matt. She shrugged "Can't remember you see I had so many songs I needed more then one to hold them all.

So my foster parents for that time went and bought me a second one.

Then I changed foster parents and they had a spare one, a kid which they had taken care of left behind. So they gave it to me.

Then there were the rich one's who bought me a ipod touch. I don't use that one too much cause it's my fav and was pretty expensive.

Not to mention a few others who gave me money so I bought a few more. They are like my chucks," she replied. "Sorry your what?" asked Matt confused.

"My chucks a.k.a my Converse All Stars I call them chucks. You know same shoe though I like them in different colors. I have a few different colored ones too".

Matt never really understood this girl she was so strange. He turned to leave the room but was stopped. Shadow's hand grabbed his shoulder and turned him around.

He was only inches from her face. Her pale blue eyes staring straight into his. Matt never really noticed them but now with them looking directly into his he noted that they were the most mesmerizing thing about her.

"By the way thanks for not taking my cord off Mello today," She smiled at him. He had never seen her smile before, well at least not a genuine smile.

Most of the time her smiles were smartass smiles or sarcastic smiles. "What do you mean? I didn't give it to you either".

"Well at least you didn't go against me I suppose that's good enough," she answered. "With a lil' more practice I'll soon have you properly trained".

Matt snapped out of her mesmerizing gaze and questioned, "properly trained?" "Well yeah I mean you still don't know which one is better me or Mello," she answered.

"She is just as bad as him," Matt thought. "Okay then," he answered annoyed. He turned around and headed out the door. "Nighty night Matt," Shadow called after him.

* * *

Yay double update! A little treat for you guys as I haven't updated in a while. Anyways so I hope you guy's liked this chappie. I had fun writing it :D. Anyways I can't believ Mello doesn't like Linkin Park!! They are heps awesome! And what about Shadows room ehy? Yes the converse or 'chucks' thing hehe. Sort of like what my chucks are like although I only have two different pairs white and black but I want some hot pink ones! Anyways so Mello and Shadow don't really like each other oops! They actually weren't meant to hate each other this much, my hand must have gotten carried away. So please review tell me what you think and keep my review monster happy (we don't want him going hungry now do we). Next chapter will have our history test lets see if all Mello's study's pays off, also will evolve near and we swill start un-jumbling the siblings past. Oh if any of you have noticed in chapter one when Mello and Near were in his room near actually told Mello a little info about him and Shadow. I didn't go back to that cause I won't to revile it further on in the story. So at the moment Mello (and roger of course!) is pretty much the only one in wammy's who knows more then the basics about near and shadow. Okay that's all I got to say thanks for your patience I am currently on holidays/ school break so I will have more updates for you. Byee now!