I apologize in advance for the cheesiness. I just... Iamsogoddamntired.

Also... guys, GUYS, seriously, why has no one called me out on my severe lack of continuity in this story? I just re-read it, and apparently not only can I not decide who's partner Xanthe is, I also don't know the meaning of a week, or what time of year it is. -.- I will fix this soon.

"You want to what?"said Mello.

"I want to help you beat Near," Matt repeated eagerly. His face was open and earnest. The coffee sloshed over the side of the cup he was holding and several beads of the hot liquid trailed down his hand, leaving red streaks, but Matt didn't appear to notice. "It'll be easy. I can tutor you, and if that doesn't work, we can-"

"I don't need your fucking help," Mello said, his voice cold.

"But-," Matt began to protest but Mello cut him off.

"I don't need your help." When Matt opened his mouth again, Mello spoke even louder. "What did you think I'd just fall down on my knees, and worship the ground you walk on for this? Oh Matt," he used a sappy, shrill voice. "How could I ever do this without you? Thank you for taking pity on a poor, hopeless idiot like me."

"That's not what I meant-"

"Bullshit, that's not what you meant," Mello accused. "What, you thought you could just waltz in and help poor, dumb Mello?"

"No, I just-"

"Yeah, well fuck you, Matt." Mello stood angrily, staring icy daggers at Matt. "You can take your offer and shove it up your ass for all I care." He turned and began to head for the door, not caring where he was going to go. All he knew was that he wanted to get as far away from Matt as possible.

"No!" Matt's plea was so unexpectedly loud that Mello couldn't help himself- he paused and then pivoted around. In seconds, Matt had crossed the short distance between them. He grabbed Mello's forearm, desperately. His eyes were wild, searching, and his face was an unreadable mix of emotions. He had thrown his coffee down on the table, the cup had tipped, and the brown liquid was dripping rapidly down the side and pooling on the floor.

"No," he repeated, quieter this time. "Just- don't, okay? Don't leave." He glanced quickly around the small shop. Mello did the same. The man in the corner was sneaking furtive looks across the top of his laptop, his fingers no longer clacking away at the keyboard. The lone employee behind the counter wasn't even bothering to hide his interest in their conversation. "Let's get out of here," Matt whispered suddenly.

"I don't-," Mello began, but the words had barely left his mouth when Matt tugged violently on his arm. The redhead pulled him forward, and broke into a run. The iron grip on Mello's arm didn't cease, and he had no choice but to follow as Matt practically ran to the back door.

"Hey!" the employee shouted out. "You can't go out that way! It's not allowed! I'm gonna-," but whatever the employee was going to do, they didn't get to hear as the door thudded shut behind them. They emerged into a darkly lit alley. Skirting around a set of dumpsters and a few empty boxes, Matt quickly led them out of it, and behind the shopping strip proper. They walked quickly and without speaking, putting more distance between themselves and the coffee shop, until five minutes of walking later, Matt halted without warning, and released his vice-like grip on Mello's arm. He had stopped them in an empty lot on the edge of supermarket that was closed for the evening. One of the overhead lights was flickering, casting staccato shadows against the cracking pavement, which was shot through with little tufts of tenacious weeds and grass.

Mello immediately rounded on Matt, eyes sparking furiously. "What the fuck was that about? Why did you drag me out here?"

"Sorry," Matt shrugged, unapologetic. "Had to go out the back. Didn't want David to see us." Matt glanced at the night sky. The half-moon was still low but bright, and stars were beginning to appear against the velvet blue background. "I'd say it's almost time for curfew. He's probably out looking for us now." He winced. "I hope this doesn't get him in trouble."

"Who the hell is David?" Mello's mouth was set in a firm line, his jaw tight.

Matt raised one eyebrow at him, disbelieving. "David? You know… the driver?" Mello shrugged. "Jesus, Mello, the same four guys have worked as drivers at Wammy's for years. You could at least learn their names. You're not the only person in the goddamned universe, you know."

"I never said that."

"But you thought it."

"No, I didn't."

"Nullius culpae mihi conscius sum," Matt murmured, almost under his breath.

Mello gave a short, sharp laugh before he could stop himself. "Isn't that true for everybody though?"

Matt thought for a second, and then admitted ruefully, "Yeah, I guess it is."

"But seriously," Matt said, examining the stained asphalt before sitting down. The redhead sat cross-legged; he propped his arms behind himself and leaned back, staring up at the sky while talking. "Maybe you don't think you're the only person that matters, but you sure as hell don't acknowledge anyone else. And don't try to deny it," he said quickly when he saw Mello about to retort, "You know it's true."

Mello took a deep breath and dropped to the ground next to Matt. "Whatever," he muttered, poking at a few stray rocks with his finger. "Why the fuck should you care anyway?"

"Cause it's fucking irritating!" Matt said forcefully. Mello looked up in surprise. "You stomp around the damn house, obsessed with scores and rankings and Near, and never once do you pay attention to what's around you. You never even stop to think about the other people there. Sure, most of them might be annoying, or condescending douchebags, but you don't know that. I do, because I actually talk to them. I mean, Jesus Christ Mello, months of trying to get your attention, and I finally had to resort to Roger to pair us up on a project. That's just lame. I'd like to think I'm at least a little bit more noticeable than that."

"But why? I still don't get why wanted to be my partner so badly? What, are you just a glutton for punishment or something?" Mello asked, before remembering that he was still mad at Matt for his previous offer. He clamped his mouth shut quickly, setting his jaw and staring stonily at the ground. Matt apparently took no notice of this, however.

"I already told you," he answered, casting his eyes upwards again, perhaps searching out some barely-visible constellation. "You're interesting. Unpredictable. People are so boring. I don't like boring. I want a challenge."

"I'm not-"

"- a fucking challenge for you to figure out, Matt," Matt finished for him in a mocking voice. "Yeah, I know. But can you blame me for trying?"

Mello scowled and kept his eyes trained on the ground. "What's in it for you?"

"What?"

"You expect me to believe that you went to all the trouble to be my partner, that you want to help me beat Near, all because you're bored."

"Yeah," Matt met him in a straight-on stare. "I do. Why would I make that up? Look," he said exasperatedly, changing his tactic when Mello didn't react. "Is it so hard to just trust me, Mello? What have I done to make you think otherwise?" Mello pointed silently to the still-dark bruise marring his eye. Matt chuckled uncomfortably. "Okay, besides that, what have I done?"

There was a long pause and then, "Nothing," Mello admitted. "I just- if you wanted to be around me or some shit like that why wait til now? Why go to all the trouble of this stupid project?"

Matt tilted his head in thought. "Would you really wanna just randomly come up and talk to you? I mean, really," he said when Mello narrowed his eyes. "Admit it, you're kind of a jerk to… well, everyone."

"Then why do you want-," Mello began. Matt drowned out the rest of his sentence with a massive groan, flopping back on the ground and resting a forearm over his eyes.

"Jesus Christ, Mello, I feel like we're talking in circles. Do you ever get sick of being so stubborn? Just… trust me on this, okay? Let me be your friend. Forget I ever said anything about helping you beat Near. Just… let me be your friend."

Mello's answer was quiet. "…Okay."

Matt's familiar grin split his face, and Mello almost found himself thinking that he had missed it, when suddenly Matt's hand shot up and dragged him to the ground. "

"What the-" Mello began.

"Shhh," Matt prompted. "Just lay here and for once in your life, shut your mouth."

Mello bit the inside of his cheek to keep from retorting sarcastically. He gave up trying to fight Matt's grip and relaxed against the pavement; Matt's hand loosened but didn't leave his arm. The ground still retained some residual warmth from the day, and Mello could feel bits of rocks and concrete poking his back through his thin t-shirt. A few minutes passed, during which Mello was acutely aware of the sound of traffic from a nearby road, and a lone bird that chirped in the distance.

"Um…," he began, when the wait had become uncomfortable. "What the hell are we doing, Matt?"

"We are meditating," Matt replied. Mello glanced over at him. He was still laying on his back, eyes closed. "We're getting in touch with nature, or our inner selves… or whatever the hell you're supposed to get in touch with when you meditate."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

There was silence for a few more seconds and then, "This is really stupid, Matt."

Matt sighed heavily. "It really is, isn't it?" And then at the same time, both boys broke up laughing. The laughter felt as if it soothed away the tension of the past few hours. Mello closed his eyes too. Matt's hand was still warm on his arm.

"Hippie bullshit," he muttered, but with a slight smile.

Matt laughed again. "But it's nice though, isn't it?" he asked. "It's still nice to just lay down sometimes, and not think about anything."

"Yeah," Mello agreed. "I guess it is. But this doesn't change everything, you know that right? I still don't want your help beating Near."

"I know," Matt said.

"Good."

Mello fell silent, concentrating on the slight breeze ruffling his hair and the gentle touch of Matt's hand on his skin, and before he knew it, he was asleep.

Bahaha that was so cheesy pleasedon'tshootme

I love all of you dear readers. You make it worth the head-pounding-on-keyboard frustration. Reviews?