8: Near(again).

Matt skidded to a halt, Mello behind him as he stopped at the door, inches from entering the rec room and expression filled with fake panic.

"Woah, Near, did you not hear the announcement?"

Near's eyes narrowed promptly, catching on, but not calling Matt out on it as he responded.

"No, I did not, what is it?"

Mello stepped up to reply to this, his expression impeccably serious.

"Netti has a lice problem, so all the rooms on this floor have been fumigated, they did it during seventh period, you can't be in your room or the rec room for four more hours."

Near clearly didn't believe it, but played along anyways.

"Okay, then, what should I do until then, Mello?"

"I don't know, play with your puzzles?" The blond suggested, not without a snicker, and Near looked at him blankly, and then, Matt.

"Matt, my puzzles are in my room, care to lend me a game or too? And a few hours in your room with your Tv?"

Mello's expression was so disheartened by the idea, and he was about to speak up, obviously in protest, before Matt beat him to it with a wide grin directed at the blond.

"Yeah, sure, why not?"

Mello glared.

Matt: 6 Mello: 4

"Or I can tell Roger that you're playing tricks again, if it's too much of a problem, as Mello's ugly and disgruntled face tells me."

Mello's expression dropped, his eyebrows furrowing in incredulity as he stared menacingly at Near.

"Oh, snap, Mels."

-Minutes later, Matt and Mello sat in plastic chairs in a dim hallway, stripped to their underwear. Though Mello kept his pants because, commando. Their gazes were listlessly fixed to the wall as the occasional house resident passed them, either averting their gazes or giggling and pointing, much to the boys' torture.

Matt shifted to cover his bare thighs. "Well, Mello, you know what this means..."

Point Reduction for Self Sabotage: Matt: 5. Point for keeping pants on: Mello: 5

"...It's a tie."

Slightly lower, and to the side, a voice spoke up, expression deadpan. "The game could go on if I joined."

Mello bristled- so did Matt.

"Shut up, Near!" They yelled in unison.