Near stared down at the die he was twirling in his fingers. He had limited himself to six chances, but he hadn't even needed one. He grasped the cube in his palm, hiding it from his eyes, which he then closed to shut out the outside world.
After a minute, Near opened his eyes again. Matt had given up so easily. Or something else happened? Near remembered the confident smirk the boy had worn when he had Mello so close by his side. Why would he give up? Had his feelings really changed?
Down the hall, a blonde haired boy was thinking the same thing. His heart ached harder, however, because he felt as if his life had suddenly changed so unsuspectingly.
Mello cursed himself for seeming so weak. So what if he had gotten dumped? But why did it feel like he was a lost kitten? He felt like he didn't have a place in the world because he had been given up on so quickly. To the orphan, being left behind was truly the worst feeling in the world.
Oh the drama of first love.
Across the hall from him, in a room that leaked out the different sounds of a video game, was the red head staring at his television screen. His eyes looked focused, but his distracted mind barely took in the images before him. However, his skilled thumbs pressed the all right buttons without flaw.
The gamer sat upright off his stomach as he heard voices from outside his room. He didn't pause his game fearing that would end the music and cause suspicion, only silently crept over to his door and stared out of the old-fashioned key hole.
Mello's voice seemed sad as he greeted his guest. "Hey, Near."
"Mello." Matt noticed Near's voice was still monotonous, but that didn't bother the gamer as much as it bothered his friend.
"I'm not in the mood for you right now. Can't you just go away?" Matt saw Mello's arm moving, but he couldn't see what he was doing. He was playing with his hair or rubbing his face, or some other sign that showed he wasn't in the mood for company.
The gamer couldn't help but be flattered that the blonde hadn't gotten over him yet. However, he prayed that the day would come soon. He really wanted to be Mello's friend again.
Near didn't respond, only pushed past Mello into his room and closed the door gently, leaving Matt to feel suddenly alone and hollow. He stood up slowly and pressed his back to the door. After a moment of brooding there, he dragged himself over to his bed again, which was pushed up against the wall and a window.
There, he looked out the window, his eyebrows pushed together in thought. He licked his lips absentmindedly then wiped the spit off with his fingers. A sigh blew lightly between his lips. The rain that fell down to the Earth did nothing to cheer him up.
--
In Mello's room, the two opposites sat as far away from each other as possible. Mello, who dressed like the black of night, sat on a wooden chair in the left hand corner. Near, who dressed like a pure white angel, sat directly diagonal from his opposite. Near could tell from Mello's subtle body language that he didn't want Near there, but the angel had come for a reason and wouldn't leave before he had fulfilled that purpose. To humor the quickly angered elder, he simply sat as far away from him as he could.
"If you have no reason to be here, you should just go," Mello muttered after a long period of waiting for Near to speak.
"I'm collecting my thoughts. Don't be so impatient."
Mello turned away from the boy to stare at the wall, pulling his legs up to his chest. He tugged absentmindedly at a strand of his long blonde hair, waiting for Near to speak. He pulled the strand out and began tugging at another.
"Love," Near began, not a single hint of emotion in his voice, "is something people feel in their hearts."
When it sounded as if Near wouldn't speak again, Mello said sarcastically, "no shit, Sherlock."
"I wasn't finished just yet. Stop pushing things along faster than they should go."
"Stop holding things back!" Mello let go.
"I suppose you're right."
Mello let out a surprised ngh sound. Near had never called Mello right. Of course, Near didn't have a superiority complex, and would probably tell him he was right when Near truly believed it. Minor victory. "Y-yeah, I'm ri-."
"I love you."
Mello sat up straight, hitting his head on the wall. He winced in pain but managed out a, "what?"
"You told me not to hold things back. I feel rather good getting that out now. I was quite worried about how I should tell you, but since you like things fast, then shouldn't I tell you bluntly?" Not once had his voice conveyed any form of emotion, but Mello didn't notice. Surprise had overwhelmed his senses.
Of course he knew Near loved him, but he never knew. It was hard to explain, because it was so stupid. He had never let the thought of Near being in love with him sink in. Mello had brushed it off; never actually accepting it as truth.
Although he had never registered it, there was no way he would allow Near the pleasure of knowing it surprised him, or ever let Near know that he felt this strange tingle in his stomach or got dizzy when he thought about it. And Near could never know Mello actually enjoyed the sensation.
"I know," Mello blurted out.
Near nodded, seeming to believe his obvious lie. "That's good." The angel looked down again at the carpet that lined Mello's messy floor. He did this not because he was hiding a blush, but because he was sure that Mello would be able to feel the tingle that ran through his stomach if Mello's eyes were to meet his own.
--
Listening on the other side of his best friend's door, Matt was sure he was getting colder. Why did he feel so cold? Was it because he was usually laying next to Mello about now every day, playing a video game? No, he knew that wasn't it. It was because his best friend was sharing his attention with someone else. And, of course, that that "someone else" was soon going to take up Mello's whole heart, kicking Matt right out of his spot as top dog.
--
Back in Mello's room, he was placing events in order in his head. He stood silently, his body as agile as a cat. For a moment, he wavered, but the pause lasted only a millisecond, as it was not really his nature to think twice.
He took a few delicate steps, subconsciously mimicking Near's timid elegance. Near watched him come closer, muscles tensed as he prepared for some form of violence. He noticed Mello walking strangely, his steps slower and lighter, and Near wondered if he was just doing his best to hold back his anger.
Mello kneeled in front of him, erasing all of Near's worries. Mello's big blue eyes were uncharacteristically soft. Near wondered if he should trust them, but he didn't have time to think before Mello grabbed his chin with a quick, cat-like move of his arm.
Nearl knew that Mello had no idea of the vice grip he had on his chin, so he suppressed a complaint. Suddenly, Mello's grip slackened as he got closer to the other boy's face.
"Mello?" Near uttered as he began to back away. Mello was getting too close for comfort, and he didn't know what to do.
Mello smirked, causing Near's elbow to give out. The younger boy fell to the floor, hitting his head and back. He ignored the pain, because it didn't hurt badly. He was lost in Mello's hungry blue eyes.
Near stared up at him, unafraid of the hunger in the eyes that bore into him. Then the blonde dipped down to Near. Mello's nose brushed Near's cheek before Mello kissed him.
Mello pulled away quickly, hiding his smile behind his hand. He was, however, unable to hide how red his face was. He got off the boy below him and sat at his feet. He extended his other hand to Near, who grabbed it and pulled himself up into a sitting position.
After an awkward silence, Near stood, unsure of what to do with himself. He looked at the door, but Mello's next words brought their eyes together again.
"You want to leave." What had meant to come out as a question came out a statement filled with hurt and a hint of anger.
"No, but I need you to think this over."
"Think what over?"
"This."
"This what?"
"Everything."
"What? Don't tell me you don't love me either."
Near stayed stone still as he stated quite surly, "you don't love me."
Mello stared, bewildered, at Near. "What?"
"You're confused."
"I'm not confused!"
"You have too much pride."
Mello opened him mouth to argue more, but his jaw clamped shut when Near pushed his index and middle fingers against Mello's lips. Mello's face turned a bright red at Near's strange action, but he said nothing.
"Think about it before you say something stupid. I'll be in my room."
Mello watched the boy in white leave and close the door behind him.
