I don't own Death Note or any of the quotes I use at the start of a drabble. Not being sued would make my day! ^_^

A/N: TYVM Tails-Coyote-Carnivore, CeruleanCypher, Nehan Shinzui34 and Rizera! Lin sure gets contacted a lot, doesn't she? -.-;

Payphone

-=-

"I guess it's safe to say you're never coming back." –Relient K

-=-

The payphone was ringing.

Linda glanced around in confusion. Nobody was standing by the phone. Nobody walking by seemed inclined to pick it up either; perhaps the fact that it was currently a glorious 20 degrees outside (not including wind chill) had something to do with this.

The lack of attention didn't seem to deter the payphone, naturally; it kept ringing in a very persistent manner.

Giving the area around her a final check, the artist sighed and strode over, picking up the bright yellow phone with a firm "Hello?"

"Lin?"

Linda's blonde eyebrows knitted together. "Matt?"

"Hey." She could almost hear the grin in the gamers' familiar voice.

"What on-how did you know I would be here?" she inquired in disbelief.

"Trust me, you don't want to know. Not to mention Mello would probably shoot me if I ran up his phone bills trying to explain it; stingy jerk.."

"Mel's there too?" The shock had worn off to the extent where she was beginning to get excited. After years of no contact, her old friends had finally seen fit to call. Maybe she could figure out where they were and drop in. She could decorate their faces with permanent marker as they slept, like the good old days.

"Yeah. He says…well, you and I both know he's too 'macho' to actually say anything, but he's greeting you in his mind."

"Right." A smile spread across her face. "So where are you guys? Are you-"

"Sorry, I'm not authorized to answer that."

She sighed. "Of course. Well, are you planning on stopping by anytime soon? Now that you've finally called, you won't be able to get rid of me you know.."

"Um…No, we won't be visiting anytime…soon."

Linda caught the pause and the close save. "Matt, what are you two up to?"

A muffled curse came from the other end. "Dammit, you're breaking up-just wanted to check in, make sure you haven't gotten hit by a bus or anything-"

The blonde tightened her grip on the phone. "Matt? Matt, if you hang up on me I swear by the Holy Mother of Cows I'll-"

"It was nice talking to you, Lin."

A dial tone filled her eardrums with unexpected harshness. Linda drew away and stared at the violently yellow phone in her hand.

Beyond annoyed, she dropped the thing and started walking back home.

"Yeah," she muttered. "Good to hear from you too."

-=Fin

A/N: I've wanted to write that one for a long time.