Second Chance
Like all young boys, Matt discovered on his own what it felt like to tell a secret that isn't yours. He soon discovered a sickly and sour feeling in his stomach, and found that no amount of Fury III for the game boy could cure it.
He hadn't meant to. It was all Paulie's fault - the little swedish girl with the big brown eyes. She was precious, they all said. And that was the thing - that sweet little voice that never knew when to let up. She'd coerced the truth out of him like a trapped animal; he'd figured Mello would have to understand. What kind of friend would he be if he didn't?
He didn't need Mello, anyway! What good was someone that irritable? And with such a bad secret in the first place...
Tasteless cracker crumbs drifted from the boy's mouth and finally he stopped pretending like he wasn't in tears. With the sleeve of his shirt he bitterly wiped the hot wetness (and the salty crumbs) off his cheeks, bit down on his lip and fell against the mattress, eyes shut tight. The short, erratic breaths: the only sign that he was awake. As the minutes ticked by, those breaths faded into rhythm again.
He felt the sheets being draped over him some half-hour later. One of the caretakers, no doubt, tucking in the napping child before running off to tend to some more urgent disaster - playground mishap, an ill quarrel, maybe a spill. Already thoroughly disgusted with himself, Matt did not bother with his dignity when he felt the warm breath, warm lips on his cheek.
Until he smelled the chocolate.
Foggy eyes snapped open. He caught a distinctly blond head jerking backwards, fixing into posture, until the figure stood posed with a soccer ball, staring down at him silently, even as Matt rubbed his eyes and slowly pushed himself up. He thought for a moment Mello was going to stick to his word and really not speak to him at all - then the ball was urged into his lap.
"Get up." Matt rose.
He expected a bitter comment in passing, a bit of verbal abuse, an "accidental" kick in the shin, at least. But there was nothing. Only sun and sweat and small, breathless smiles.
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A/N: Reviews equal love. Thanks, all! They make Lora very happy and very in the mood to keep writing. :D!