Upside Down
Here's the bit that's topsy turvy. From the very beginning, mellow Matt became notorious for three things: Talking senselessly to girls, dodging work and then avoiding conflict, and then of course, Mello.
The caretakers had noticed it right away, when the attraction first arose: they'd all witnessed enough puppy love to chuckle at the very words. But there was something odd about the way it happened; something that they couldn't quite place. Especially as the boys got older.
Maybe it was the way Matt watched Mello when it was just the two of them (caretakers were always about, picking up toys and messes and bits of conversation, like passive ghosts) and Matt was sure the girls were all some safe distance away. His eyes travelled the slim body, as if noting every detail, as if he were keen to detect the faintest tremor of movement. Maybe it was just troublesome... how Matt had fallen from his upside-down perch on the playground rail, almost breaking his neck in the process, and the first thing Mello had done was laugh the chocolate out of his mouth. That may have been years ago, but they're not sure it would happen differently if history were to repeat itself today.
Today, still, the caretakers notice the little things - and probably overlook a few, too: hushed whispers, meaningful glances caught from leagues away, laced fingers at the back of the room when the other children are napping the hours by. Near commented on this, once, and it had nearly become a full-out fist fight, Matt lounging calmly on the sidelines from behind orange lenses, as Mello pounced at the silver-headed boy with fire instantly kindled. Fortunately the caretakers had been quick enough to stop the outbreak from spreading like wildfire. Mello had a strange effect on people.
They'd noticed this from day one, that timid arrival on a rainy october day, clad in all stripes and buttons. And the first person they could get him to speak a word to was the stiff-shouldered boy with the reputation, sitting by himself in the time-out corner.
Sometimes interested parties came by the orphanage. The caretakers knew what was expected of the boys. Men asked if they could throw a football; the women wanted to know what they were interested in. Sometimes, it was hard to give a straight answer.