*Cough * So, uh…I just looked at the reviews and some of them were all, "Chapter 10 took FOREVER, don't take so long next time!" I, uh…failed. By a LOT. So here's chapter 11! For realz!

Also, I want to thank everyone for putting up with me and for 100 reviews! You have no idea how happy that made me! ^^ I now have the strength to continue! :3 *writes furiously *

Trouble on the Horizon

Mello drummed his fingers on his desk. It was Biology and Matt wasn't there. His neighbors sent glares to remind him that he was getting on their nerves, but he ignored them.

He had no idea why Matt had been out of class then or now. It bothered him. Even if he couldn't ask why, he still wanted to be able to see if he was okay. But he couldn't do anything about it now except to stay on his best behavior for Matt so he'd be allowed to talk to him by the end of the week.

Meanwhile, Matt had fallen asleep in the infirmary. Though his thoughts had been confusing, he hadn't slept the night before due to the thoughts swirling in his head and the thought that he couldn't talk to Mello.

Somehow, he was almost afraid of what he'd do without him. He had gotten so used to relying on Mello, he didn't know if he could do anything without him.

Mello, back in the classroom, finally raised his hand and asked to go to the office.

"Why do you need to go?"

"Because I need to call home, now can I go?" The teacher shook his head at Mello's tone.

"Go ahead. I'll write you a note first."

Mello grabbed the note when the teacher was done writing it and left.

He stalked down the hall, fully intending to get to the office when he noticed about five kids lurking in a hallway ahead of him. They noticed him and blocked his way.

"Where do you think you're going?" He snickered to his friends. With obviously dyed blond hair and a pierced ear, he was more than likely Nakatsu, a well known gang leader of a group called the Bandits. Mello just glared at him.

"To the fucking office, got a problem with that?"

"Well actually, yes. You see, we require about $20 for safe passage here."

"Is that why you're called the Bandits? All you know how to do is steal lunch money and shit?" Mello snickered at them when they glared. "Gee, I'll try really hard not to get scared."

"Well then you just lost your safe passage privilege, fucker." Nakatsu threw his fist at Mello, but Mello dodged. With his weight forward, all Nakatsu needed was a small push to send him sprawling on the ground. Which is exactly what Mello did.

As soon as Nakatsu hit the ground, the other four ran forward to attack him. He swung out of the way of the first guy, and pushed him down the way he'd pushed Nakatsu, knee-d the second guy in the stomach, and punched the third in the side of the head.

The last guy stopped seeing what happened to the others and backed away.

"Your gang ain't tough. Get out of my way." Mello walked past the last guy who moved three feet to the side to lean against the wall. Nakatsu by this time had stood up.

"Hey, Isamu! Get that little bastard!" Isamu, the boy who'd backed away shook his head.

"No way in hell. He just took out all of you in less than three minutes. I ain't doin' it." Mello smirked and walked away.

When he got to the office, he handed the note to the woman behind the desk.

"You need to call home?"

"Yeah, but I'm living with L-sensei. He has a break this period right?" The woman nodded. "May I go see him?"

"Yeah. But if I find out you didn't then you'll be in trouble."

"If I don't, I'm sure he'll figure out something worse. Thanks." Mello left and walked to L's room.

He knocked, hoping Light wasn't in there with him and waited until he heard L say "Come in."

Opening the door, he could see L perched on his chair, reading a book. Putting down the book, L gave Mello his full attention.

"What do you need?"

"Matt's not in class."

"And you're worried?"

"Of course I'm worried! He's my best friend!"

"Tell me Mello; what is it about Matt that you like so much?"

"What?" Mello was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, that you have trouble getting along with almost anyone and, based on Roger's reports, any friends you make last only a short time. Why is that?"

"Look, I just want to know where Matt is. Did he go home or do you know anything about it?"

"First, answer my question. I know where he is but I won't tell you where until you answer."

"What! Then tell me damn it!"

"Answer. I assure you, he is quite alright." Mello glared at L.

"Because he doesn't judge me and he's a nice guy." L raised an eyebrow. Mello growled a bit in anger and continued. "He's stuck up with me and he puts up with all my crap and he knows how to help me anytime, no matter what the problem is, okay? Now where is he?" L nodded.

"Good answer. He's in the infirmary because he looked pale and tired. I believe he is sleeping now, but I will allow you to visit him for 30 minutes. You two can decide how you will deal with this week during that time." Mello nodded and rushed out the room. "Please do not run in the halls Mello."

Matt woke up to the sound of the curtain around his bed being pulled aside and then pulled closed again. Then, before he had opened his eyes, he felt someone pull him into a hug.

"Mello? Mello, if L finds out, you'll get in more trouble!" Mello pulled away and saw a forlorn look on Matt's face. He almost leaned in to kiss him, but thought better of it. It was far harder to resist than he'd expected.

"I heard you were here and he gave me 30 minutes to talk to you. You know, to figure out how we'll get through this week." Matt hugged Mello.

"Just be good. I don't want this to go on longer than it has to." Mello nodded. "And I can see about leaving you notes places or get Aeron to pass them along." Mello grinned.

"That's a brilliant idea Matt! They don't have to figure it out. Aeron should be sneaky enough. And I promise I'll be good. I can't stand not being around you. And thanks for the chocolate." Matt smiled.

"You might have attacked someone if you didn't have it. So now what? I mean we have an idea of what to do. What do you want to talk about?"

Mello sat quietly a moment. He knew what he wanted to ask, but he also didn't know if the right time was now.

"Matt?"

"Yeah Mello?"

"What…What has Mikami done?" Matt jumped back. "So he did something, didn't he?"

"Look, it wasn't bad. He didn't hurt me, I promise!"

"Matt, just tell me what happened. I swear to you, I won't do anything to him without you." Matt nibbled on his bottom lip, an action Mello couldn't help but watch, before looking down and nodding.

"Okay, but if you lied, I won't talk to you for another week after this. Mikami…he…I mean…I don't know how to say what it was. It's kinda…embarrassing."

"Did he pull a prank?" Matt shook his head. "Did he…try something with you?"

"Well…I guess…" Mello seethed. Matt looked upset before he looked down again and finished. "He…k-kissed me…" Mello gripped the sheets of the bed tightly.

"He did what?" Mello's voice was barely a whisper. "That bastard will pay. Somehow. Even if I can't do it now, I'll do it. How dare he steal your first kiss!" Matt blushed.

"I didn't know that was what he was going to do! I'm sorry." Mello hugged him again.

"I'm not blaming you. You're about as dense about stuff like that as a ten year old. But I'll get him back for this sometime. Don't worry about it. You'll get your real first kiss sometime from someone you really like." Mello patted Matt's back, trying to comfort him.

"But…What if I never find someone? I mean, I hide from everyone."

"Well, there are a bunch of girls here that like you."

"Is it weird for boys to like each other? Because I never thought Mikami would do something like that because he's a boy." Mello, blushing slightly, shook his head.

"No. It's not weird. People just aren't used to it."

"But it was terrible when Mikami did it. I couldn't tell if it was because he's a boy or not."

"I have no idea. You have to figure that out on your own."

"I just wish it was easy to figure out."

"I wish you weren't forced to think about it."

Matt pulled away from Mello and buried his face in his hands. "What if I just try to kiss another guy?" Matt looked back up at Mello. Mello sat thinking a moment before the implication hit him.

"Wait, me?" Matt turned a bright red.

"Well, no. I know that's weird. Never mind. I just realized how awkward that would be. Just-Sorry…" Matt looked down.

Mello stared at him a moment before putting his finger under Matt's chin and forced him to look into his eyes. Matt tried to look down but finally looked at him. His hands were twisting the bottom of his shirt as Mello pulled closer to Matt.

Then they heard the infirmary door open and they jumped away from each other. Blushing madly, Mello waved and walked out from behind the curtain, leaving Matt to his thoughts.

Matt just pulled a pillow over his face.

Mello ran into Light.

Light raised his eyebrow at Mello's red face and smirked. "L said your 30 minutes is up. Did you have fun?" Mello glared at him and walked out with Light trailing behind.

I apologize for this being so short, but I felt like this was the best place to stop. I'll do my best to keep writing. Sorry for the MASSIVE delay. I'll try to finish this story before I stop writing again. Lol

Thank you everyone again for putting up with me and for 100 reviews! I never thought I'd see that many. :3

~Munnin