The sun shone through the open window for the first time in over a week. All the kids were really excited about it; running out the door as they were. But Near didn't want to go outside. He never did like going outside. So he put his puzzle down on the floor and knocked all the pieces out. There was nothing on it except an L in the top left hand corner. He really liked this puzzle, since it was pretty difficult. Near set to work, forgetting the other kids around, just hearing the sound of the puzzle pieces fitting together

Clack, clack, clack.

"Near!" someone was calling out to him after all. He didn't need to look up, he knew it was Linda. "Why don't you come outside for once?"

"No thank you" He answered steadily. He knew that two minutes later she would forget all about him. So what was the point?

"Forget him Linda" That was Jay. He was always so mean. Near felt a pang of hurt, but he kept his face carefully composed. Jay acted as if he couldn't hear him. But he could. And words did hurt, whatever any stupid rhyme might say. Near didn't play with the other kids, but he didn't want to be forgotten. There was nothing he could do about it though. He doubted anyone would care about him enough to come to him and talk, instead of walking away and leaving him. Forgetting him.

Ha, ha. He was wrong for once there.

He heard someone walking into the room, but he didn't look up. Who knows what they were in here for? Maybe someone forgot something. Or maybe it was a teacher. But it was one of the kids. She sat down right next to him. He was totally surprised...what a coincidence, after his last thoughts. But no...he shouldn't get his hopes up. She'd probably be going soon. Carefully, he tried hide the surprise from his face. It was kind of difficult. The girl smiled at him. He knew her name...it was Mile.

"Hi" she said shyly "Can I sit here?" Near quickly composed his face, not wanting to show her how shocked he was. He stared at her for a moment, not knowing what to say.

Snap out of it! Keep control. He told himself.

"Okay" he nodded, then quickly turned back to his puzzle, avoiding her gaze. The big, difficult blank puzzle. He liked the clacking, in time like a clock.

Clack, clack, clack.

He made himself keep it up as in time as he could, but he misplaced a piece. He thought for sure it was to his left, but when he looked, it wasn't there. He got mad at himself for slipping up, but as usual, he took care to keep it off his face. When he turned, Mile was holding out the correct piece.

"Thank you" He said, taking it from her hand. Then he resumed the time of the pieces, taking care not to break it this time. For a while, she just sat there watching him. He clacked together all the little pieces, and she watched him. What could possibly be so interesting about his puzzle to her? He thought about it for a while, before the curiosity got the better of him.

"Why are you here?" He asked. Not to be blunt or anything. He added to himself, cringing slightly at his choice of words.

"Huh? Oh, um..." She sounded like she was snapping out of a daydream; all befuddled as she stumbled over her words. "...Do you want me to leave?"

He looked up. The poor girl looked as if she had just offered to kill her own cat for him.

Curious thing too. She was turning red. Was it because he was looking at her too long?

"No." he said simply. Yes, keep it simple, Near. He told himself.

"Ah...wha?" she looked completely surprised. He might as well be honest with her then.

"I like your company" his own words embarrassed him, and he felt blood rush into his cheeks. Her mouth fell open a little in surprise, which amused him, but he didn't smile.

"I...I like your company too Near" she said "I guess that's why I'm here"

Go figure. Near thought, kind of happily. He gave her a smile like the one L tended to use. She smiled back at him. Her smile reminded him of one a kid would have when given an ice cream as a surprise. He went back to working on the puzzle. He slipped up a few more times, and each time, she handed him the puzzle piece he needed. He felt less...empty...when she was here. But she must be bored stupid.

"It was nice of you" he said suddenly. That seemed the right thing to say. Straightforward.

"Hmm?" he saw her move her head up out of the corner of his eye, but he didn't look up this time. He didn't want to get embarrassed again.

"I mean...sitting with me all afternoon. Aren't you bored?" Yes, straightforward.

"No" she answered simply. "Of course not"

What the heck does she mean by that...?

"Most people just leave after I say I won't come outside...If they bother to ask at all." Near was careful not to spill any bitterness into his voice. All the bitterness he felt inside.

"Oh...well this was one of the best afternoons I've ever had" she said.

Wait a second. Near felt an idea forming in his head. What if she...?

"Really?" he said, not showing his thoughts on his face or in his voice.

"Definitely top five" she said. Her cheeks began to change color again.

That settled it. Near knew it now.

She really...she...loves me, doesn't she?

"Thank you" he said, fighting to keep the emotion out of his voice now. He felt blood rush even faster into his cheeks again, and he quickly looked down.

Amazing. This is just amazing. Near always felt bitterness. It hurt him, but he fought not to show anyone. Then this girl came along...and the bitterness started to ease. Yes...this girl...he had never felt like this before. It was weird and irrational, but he didn't want to leave her. Ever.

I love her.

Near was shocked by his own thought. He couldn't help himself, and he looked up at Mile once again. She was looking out the window and smiling. Curiously, he threw a sidelong glance out the window. Mid and Mello were out there. Mello was holding Mid bridal style, but he didn't pay much attention to the part of this brain that said What the hell? He was thinking of something else...

"You have a pretty smile" he told her.

"I...What? Why?" she looked alarmed, and turned red again. Near felt weightlessness inside. It made him in the mood for laughing again...in the mood for a joke. He decided to take her questions literally.

"I said you have a pretty smile" he said "Because it looks...sweet." Oh, his little joke was ruined by his honesty. He didn't look down when he felt the blood rushing back into his cheeks yet again, though. He looked Mile straight in the eye, attempting to forget his embarrassment, so that he could show her...

"Oh...thanks" she said timidly. He still didn't look down, though. He needed to make sure she knew he loved her...he had to make sure he knew she loved him, too. They looked at each other for so long that Mile jumped when the front doors opened and all the kids started running inside.

"Oh...I guess it's time to leave again" Mile said. There was no mistaking the awful disappointment in her voice.

"You could...sit with me again tomorrow" Near said carefully, as if he were handling a little china doll.

"Really?" Mile's face brightened so fast that Near would have missed it had he blinked. He nodded in answer.

"See you tomorrow then" she said happily.

"See you tomorrow" Near replied blankly.

She got up, looking kind of shaky, and walked from the room. He watched her walk away before he moved himself.

Is it tomorrow yet? He allowed himself to smile at his childish little thought.

But how could he help it?