The Challenger

Chapter Nine: In the hallway

"Hurry up we are leaving in ten minuets!" Roger's voice rang down the halls of Wammy's. "Finally," grumbled Mello "I thought we were going to be stuck here all day".

Matt and Shadow followed him toward the entrance of Wammy's. "How long is the drive?" Shadow asked Matt. "The drive to the station should be around 10 minuets, then the train ride is about 40 minuets," answered Mat.

"40 minuets!" yelled Shadow she then spun around and started walking in the opposite direction. "Where are you going?" asked Matt confused.

"I left something behind," Shadow called back not turning around "I'll be there in a sec". Matt shook his head and kept walking. Shadow quickly ran into her room she dug through her bed sheets looking for her ipod.

"40 minuets in a train with Matt and Mello, great. Matt will have his head stuck in that stupid game thingy all the way and Mello most probably won't be in a very good mood. Damm it where is it!" Shadow ran out of here room slamming the door.

She ran into Mello and Matt's room and walked started rummaging through their stuff. Shadow noticed something pink lying next to Matt's bed.

She ran over to it and ripped it up from whatever it lay under. "Found you!" she yelled triumphantly holding her ipod in the air. She turned on her heel and headed out of the boys room.

"I suppose it's no surprise I was in there this morning," she muttered to herself. As she began nearing the corner she felt a sudden urge to hurry and get back to Matt and Mello.

Shadow began to run but just as she rounded the corner she ran head first into another person. Crash! Both of them went down. Hard.

Shadow sat on her bum feeling really stupid and embarrassed. "Sorry," she said still feeling stupid. She stood up and brushed herself off then walked over to the person she had knocked down.

She held her hand out to them. Near looked up at her from his spot on the ground. "It was my fault," he mumbled.

"Whatever," she said "hurry up and get up". Near stared at her eyes wide. "Well don't just sit there staring at me like I'm some kinda' monster," grumbled Shadow. She reached down and grabbed Near's shirt and then pulled him up.

"Come on Near," she said and began walking forward. "Why are you being so nice Shadow?" Near's quiet voice seemed unnaturally loud in the stillness of the hall. Shadow stopped and turned around facing him.

Her blue eyes looked into his almost black ones. "I remember when you're eyes use to look like mine," she mumbled. "They were never as pale," he muttered in reply.

Shadow closed her eyes. "Why are you being so nice all of a sudden. Normally you just ignor me or tell me you hate me".

He paused. "Ever since Roger brought the photo album…you changed". "Near," Shadow's voice was calm but somehow not calm.

Her hands were still curled up in fists. "Nate," she mumbled. Near's eyes opened at the sound of his name, his real name.

However he didn't protest of tell her not to call him by his real name, deep down Near wanted her to call him by his real name.

She hadn't called him Nate ever since they went their own ways. Ever since he became Near. "Nate," she repeated. "I," her voice quivered.

"I forgot what it was like to have a brother". Near's eyes looked into hers. He remembered when they were kids he loved her blue eyes, his mother loved her blue eyes.

"But those two Mello and Matt. They feel like my brothers.

They are always there for me and they always joke around with me. They are my best friends, Nate". Near nodded "I see," he mumbled

"They are like the family you never had. Matt and Mello you can do more things with them then you could ever do with me.

Matt would stop playing his games if you asked him to watch you dance, and Mello would stick up for you if another guy was picking on you". Near looked at his feet. "Not like me". Near closed his eyes and remembered.

He is sitting in a large white room next to long window. There are silk-like curtains draping down from the top of the window.

Near has a puzzle in front of him. He finishes putting the final pieces in place. "humph I did it again". He looks at the puzzle. "It's just no fun anymore".

Near raises one hand up to his forehead and pushes back his long white bangs. He needed to get them cut back soon. Near stands up and begins to walk toward a set on stairs. He makes his way up them and walks down a hallway.

He goes inside the door at the end of the hallway. His room and messy toys lay scattered on the floor. Towers made out of colorful building blocks also cover the floor.

Near walks over to a draw where his puzzles are kept, he looks inside for a new puzzle. Near pulls out one which I still wrapped in plastic.

As he turns to leave a girl appears in his doorway. Her hair is white like his and pulled back. "Nate," she calls running into the room she grabs his arm and looks up at him.

"Nate please come and watch me dance! I just mastered this step, please come and watch me," the little girl begs. "Sorry but I am busy," he says shaking her arm off. The girl stands in the middle of his room as he walks away.

"Please," her voice is shaking "you never have seen me dance please come and watch". A tear falls down her check. He stops and turns his head slightly. "Sorry".

Near shakes his head. Shadow walks forward "I got to go," she mumbles. "Cya Nate," she calls over her shoulder. "Bye," Near mumbles as she continues to walk away.

* * *

Okay here an update. Yes it is short but this ending seems to fit. As you can see now Near and Shadow are starting to get closer. Anyways the story is going to reach its climax soon (I hope). I'll attempt to update quickly, but I have been really sick recently and just haven't felt up to it so hopefully I will have another update up for you soon. Once again thank you everyone who reviewed, please keep them coming and the next chapter should be up.