Now, before I fall anymore behind in my story, here we go!

I do not own Death Note. Not enough mayham. Gabby is mine thoguh. HA!

The next day, Gabby found herself at breakfast, staring at her cereal, a Physics book resting on her lap lazily. This was it, the first day of classes for the poor girl. Her stomach was doing flips, making her lose her appetite. She wished she could die where she was, leave the empty shell of her body on Earth while her spirit drifted somewhere else.

Unfortunately, she could only wish this. No one would kill her, not in this place... Would they? She shook her head. Mello and Matt wouldn't do it. She sighed, setting her head down next to her food.

Near just silently watched her, before asking, "What class do you have this morning?"

Gabby glanced at him, then at her book. "I have Physics," she breathed, brushing her hair from her face silently. The faintest smile touched Near's lips. "So do I. We can accompany each other to class."

The girl only smiled weakly at this. It sounded pretty good, to her at least. Near had become a really good friend, she guessed. He didn't bother her nonstop, he knew when to leave her alone, and he was nice to her.

At the conclusion of breakfast, Near and Gabby made their way to the Physics room, neither talking to the other. The silence had become a comforting friend to them. Neither really knew why, but maybe it was due to neither of them really having much experience talking to other people.

They entered the room, arriving earlier than anyone else. Near guided Gabby to a table in the back, where they both set down their books and themselves. The room seemed pretty boring, just tables, the teacher's desk, a blackboard, and equipment.

Gabby rested her head on the table, sighing deeply. Today was going to be a long day; at least, that's how she felt it would be. Her blood was pounding in her veins as she waited for other students to enter the room. She dreaded the thought of the teacher starting class. Hopefully, she would be ignored, and class would go on like it normally would. Near watched her without a word, before looking off in a different direction, twirling a curl of hair with his index finger.

A good five minutes passed before anyone else entered. Gabby glanced up to see a boy with black hair. Someone she hadn't seen. He sat at the table next to theirs, turning and looking at her with a friendly look in his eyes. "Hey, you're that new girl, aren't you," he asked. Gabby was barely looking at him when she decided to answer. "Yeah... How'd you know?"

He smiled a bit larger. "Everyone's been talking about a black-haired new girl who freaked at Mello. So far, you're the only new girl in about three months." He held out his hand to Gabby. "The name's Raven. It's nice to really meet you."

Gabby hesitated, not knowing what she should do. Slowly, she rose her hand to his, taking it firmly. "Nice to meet you... I'm Gypsy... Say, how did you know what happened?"

Raven looked at the door, a few others entering the room, taking seats up front. No one that would pay them any mind, at least, that's what Gabby assumed, because Raven turned to face her again. "No one could find him last night until, like, ten or so. My friend and I were going over homework when we heard Mello yelling at someone that'd bumped into him. We left his room to see what was up. The kid had already taken off, but Mello was still there, seething. We saw that the side of his face was red. My friend was dumb enough to ask him what happened. He growled at us and said, 'The new bitch got out of line. She's gonna get hers soon.'"

By this point, Gabby was staring down at the table, her heart once again clamped with fear. Mello was pissed at her. He wanted revenge. She was sure of it.

Speak of the devil, too, because the blonde-haired demon strolled into the room. His eyes caught Raven, Near, and Gabby herself, and he sent them all a dark look before seating himself at the table by the door. Class was getting ready to begin, so Gabby faded into her work. The teacher briefly introduced her, but that was it. Physics went by, followed in the same fashion with Human Behavior and Foreign Studies.

Lunch was after, and so far, Gabby was content with the day. She opted to getting a sandwich, then made her way to find Near when a hand grabbed her shoulder. She froze, her blood becoming icy. Only one person came to her mind, and the voice saying, "Come with me. Now." told her she was right. The girl was practically dragged out of the cafeteria, food having been dropped in the shock she felt. Out the doors, and she was now outside with Mello. Alone.

It wasn't Mello that was scaring her at this point. It was being alone. Though she'd rather not admit it, Gabby was becoming dependent on the company of others. Being alone with this psycho scared her to no end. She stepped backwards once, but he followed, so she chose not to try.

"You're really pushing your luck," he started in a smugish tone, as if that fact wasn't already apparent. Gabby looked away from him, only for Mello to yell, "Look at me when I'm speaking to you!" Automatically, she did, her mind trying to figure out a means of escape. Mello crossed his arms. "I don't like how you're making me look. Like I'm weak of something." His face became a sneer. "I think it's time to pay you back."

His words passed through Gabby's head without any thought. However, the look of Mello's face, that dark, malevolent sneer, made Gabby's mind warp him into a familiar figure. For a brief second, Gabby did not see Mello, but she did see her father. And that one, miniscule second made her fear overwhelm her. Without any thought in her head, Gabby suddenly bolted in the direction on the school's gates. Mello only stared after her for a moment before dashing right behind her.

Gabby turned her head, saw Mello after her, and shrieked, "Leave me alone!" She was faced with the consequences of not paying attention soon enough, because her foot caught a piece of pavement that was uneven with the rest, pavement near the exit of this hell. Gabby fell to the ground, the impact her head would've made being absorbed by her using her arms.

Mello was beside her in no time. "Hey. Get up," he started, unknowingly placing his hand on her shoulder. Immediately, Gabby shoved his hand away, the sobbing beginning. "No, we aren't playing this again," he yelled, grabbing her again. This time, Gabby did not shove him away. Instead, she covered her face, crying loudly. Through the babbling and bawling, Mello made out the words, "I thought you were dead, Daddy! I thought you were gone! Why do you have to haunt me?"

Mello gave her the oddest stare. Was the girl off her rocker? He loosened his grip on her shoulder before saying dryly, "I'm not your dad."

Gabby continued to sob, though, she peered out from between her fingers after summing up the courage to do so. It took her a few seconds, but she soon ceased her crying, staring in shock at Mello. He had half a mind to slap some sense into her, but something told him doing that would upset her more, would upset some demons she'd buried.

Before he could comprehend what was going on, Gabby was clinging to him. The sudden contact made Mello lurch backwards, sending them both to the ground. Gabby clung tightly to his body, her face buried in his chest. Her breathing was off, and she was twitching and flinching nonstop. This sudden change of heart confused Mello. To no end, he was lost.

"He wanted to kill me… He wanted me to die…" Gabby was speaking, her words dead, but so honest. "I… I thought you were him… I thought you were going to kill me…" Gabby drew closer to the boy who'd earlier been her greatest fear, now acting like he was her guardian. Mello strained to look down at the short Gabby, and his eyes met a torn sleeve, and even worse off skin. At first, he tried to sit up, as to look at what was there, but Gabby resisted, saying in a weak voice, "Don't leave… Please…"

He shook his head at the girl. "I'm trying to sit up. You do so too, you hopeless wreck." They both sat up in a single motion, Mello having the girl sit against him, her back against his front, his legs around her to ensure she felt a little sure he wouldn't run. His hands made their way to her torn sleeve, gripping it tightly. Expecting a response from Gabby made him wait, but she did nothing, protested in no way.

He pulled the sleeve up, and immediately felt sick to his stomach. Scars and wounds decorated the flesh. Bruises gave it color. Where had all these wounds come from? As Mello looked closer, he saw they ran under the sleeve to her upper arm. Was her entire being as messed up as her arm was?

While Mello had no disagreements to checking, he felt a sickening feeling enter his stomach. Why the hell did he care so much all of a sudden? Was it because he'd never seen anyone freak out like Gabby did? That may be it, but for now, he couldn't question his means for caring.

Right now, he had to investigate just what was up with the girl seated against him, and what made her tick.

Dooone. XD I get forgetful too easily. Hope you like it. Bye!