A/N: ANOTHER TIME LAPSE! It's Sunday (in real life) at the moment, so… not very many updates until I get all my homework/makeup work done D8 sorry peeps! Sadly this chapters kind of a filler, but there are hints for later so READ IT 8D

Matt

"Get dressed faster, dammit!" Mello's voice yelled from outside the bathroom we shared. I scrambled to pull on the tight jeans. They fit perfectly once they were on, but I had stupidly put on the shoes first and so I was having trouble. At the moment we were going to go outside - ew, outdoors -which I didn't usually enjoy but if it was with Mello it would be fine. We were just going to sit under a particularly fun to climb tree and hang out for a while, so it wasn't like I was going to get exercise or anything.

Finally the pant leg came on over the shoe and I hurried out of the bathroom - Mello was still yelling at me to hurry up - mid putting my shirt on, accidentally bumping into him as I pulled the striped shirt on. Mello huffed an "about time" and hurried in himself, the bundle of clothes in his hands. I sighed, watching him hurry in with that irritated look on his face - he always took way longer than me in the bathroom, by the way, so this was totally unfair - but I didn't really mind when he acted this way - I was used to it and I was just glad that The Linda thing had been forgotten over the month since it, and it had been seemingly forgotten. Thankfully, Linda hadn't said anything, apparently getting to caught up with the Fall Ball drama (which was happening this weekend) to care about me anymore.

I was pretty damn thankful for that.

I turned on my game boy and leaned against the bedpost, leading Mario around on the tiny digital world. Mello was going to take a while in there, he always did, and I was almost on level 100 so I couldn't stop now.

Six levels and a Bowser battle later, Mello came out of the restroom. He was wearing what he always does - black. Tight black jeans, and a short sleeved black top. I fought a smile when I saw that he had the leather gloves I bought him on.

"Let's go," Mello said, sweeping his blonde hair over his shoulder and pointing to the door, eyeing the game boy with annoyance but he didn't say anything, since he knew I was listening to him even if I wasn't looking at him directly. I hopped up from where I was sitting, still playing the game as he led the way out the hall. This was how it was - he led and I followed, never really questioning where we were going and not really caring, either.

It was pretty early so most of the other kids weren't up yet, though I saw a few giggling girls over my shoulder as we were going down the stairs. It was nice - it was almost never this quiet at Wammys, since there was always something going on it seemed, and even nicer because I shared the quiet little walk with Mello. "You still want to go outside?" he asked, peeking over his shoulder as we walked to the bottom floor in the general direction of the exit. I looked up at him, blinking, then shrugged. "I don't really care," I said, like always, and paused the game, shoving it in my back pocket. Mello smiled and stretched, letting out a yawn and scanning the area of the main room. Usually there was hustle and bustle in this room, since it was where most kids went to hang out during free time, but now there were just a few people here and there, a group of girls giggling and chatting, one or two boys standing around, Near sitting in the corner fiddling with some puzzle. Still quiet.

"Well, it rained last night so it might be kind of wet," he informed me - I was a deep sleeper so I didn't notice the rain, I never did - nodding to the window. "But I still want to go."

I shrugged. "I don't care," I repeated, giving him a smile. He rolled his eyes, ruffling my hair - I still loved that, in case you were wondering - and turning to the door and heading out, not checking if I was following him. I was, though, I always did. I was a little surprised he even asked me if I wanted to go - usually he just headed out, forward march ahead.

The little outdoor area wasn't particularly private, and there were always a few people at the park benches and standing around. But right now there was just a few groups of children. I didn't recognize most of them - I saw a girl who's name I was pretty sure was Kelly, and Linda was sitting beside her. I'm pretty sure they were playing blackjack. I saw Chad, too, but I ignored him completely, not really giving two shits what he was doing. I didn't hate him for punching me - bullies are bullies, and they were always there - but I did hate him for spreading nasty rumors about Mello. That was, in my book, unforgivable.

Mello stopped at the tree, looking up at it meaningfully. Not many people ever climbed it but us, and if they did they didn't go very far up. Mello, however, was agile and a very flexible person, and climbed it like a cat, expert he could actually get down.

He glanced at me, smiling the tiniest bit. I caught his glare as he shot it at Chad from a distance - I guessed he was staring at us, but I disregarded it. "You go first," he said, nodding to the tree. I blinked - usually he went first - but didn't question it. I wasn't nearly as good at climbing as him, but I wasn't bad at it either, making my way gradually up the big oak tree and scraping my hands as I did, but it didn't matter. Though is isn't the best climber, I did love being up high and watching everything. Next to being high up In the tree was the pleasure of being high up in the tree WITH Mello. That was pretty great.

As I made my way to the secure fork branch I always used I looked down at Mello, who was lingering at the bottom and waving at me. I grinned and waved back, making sure to keep a good grip on the tree. I loved this tree, even though I wasn't an outdoors person I loved the smell, and wasn't against the environment in general or anything.

Mello grinned that mischief grin and hurried his way up the tree, obviously showing off as he danced up it breezily, having absolutely no trouble at all. I looked like a lumbering, uncoordinated fool compared to him. He was like a cat, a panther maybe with the black and all. I grinned at him - I could see that people were watching him from the corner of their eyes - it was pretty impressive. He made his way up at what must be record time and plopped beside me on the branch right beside mine, his smile almost making me fall over on the branch with joy. We were in public, too, which made me even happier - I was his friend, and that smile was directed at me and nobody else.

And then of course Chad had to ruin it.

I don't know what's wrong with that guy. He seems to think he's just all that or something, even though he obviously had waited until Mello was well up in the tree before approaching. He had a smug smile on his face, trying to look unimpressed and cool - he failed. He was not an attractive being, as I might have said before, and was on the bigger side. He wasn't fat, just not slender and feminine like Mello was, and his nose was large and his face scrunched together, black hair a short, choppy mess at his head. He might have been more attractive if he wasn't always making ugly faces at people.

"Hey, look, Matt and Mello are in a tree. How ironic," Chad snickered, and I saw Heather - who I hadn't spotted before, prancing up beside him like some kind of creepy little weasel. The joke was a stupid one - he was obviously referring to that stupid childhood k-I-s-s-I-n-g song (if only, right?) but obviously Mello didn't find it funny, and he stiffened beside me.

"What's next, marriage?" Heather snickered, nudging him. They were acting as if we couldn't hear them - we could- and it was making me pretty prissy, but not as pissed as Mello obviously was, his previously melting smile vanishing, replaced with a scowl. "Or the baby carriage?""Two dudes can't have children, idiot," Chad scoffed - as if heather didn't know that - and rolled his eyes. "Doesn't mean they haven't tried!" Heather laughed, and the two high five as if they were just so intelligent and clever. I stiffened now, too, hand closing around the edge of a thick branch beside me before I thought about it. The snickering was driving me over the edge - did they even understand what they were implying? - but not nearly as much as Mello's crestfallen, angry face did. It sent me right over the edge into crazy pissed- off vile.

"NASTYYYY!!" Chad laughed, his pudgy, ugly face breaking into a cruel smile. Mello squirmed beside me, obviously not comfortable with the conversation. As if, I thought. We were only 13 - going on 14 now - and anyway we weren't in that kind of relationship (dammit).

"What're ya doing up there, faggots?" Heather called, as if just realizing our presence, pointing to us with a smirk. The edge of the branch snapped in my hand, and I clutched it furiously in my hand. "Having fun?""We were…" Mello muttered under his breath, which only made me angrier since that meant he was having fun before, too. Heather obviously didn't hear though, because she grinned and waved, as if we didn't notice her.

And so I threw it. The stick, I mean.

Mello

I didn't know what to do. I was furious, anger boiling in me at the disgusting, mean jokes they were throwing at us. I wanted to scream at them that we weren't dating, that I wasn't no freakin flamer, and that I wasn't fucking Matt and I didn't even want to. Except that last part was a lie - I did want to. But that was beside the point.

I hated how they put it, too, as if the notion t hat we were in a relationship was so horrible. It sounded just like the children at my school. It sounded just like my mother.

"Two guys can't have children, stupid!" Chad was scoffing at her, rolling his eyes, as if Heather didn't already know. Refusing to wipe that stupid smirk off his face.

'Being gay is a sin, Mihael. Why do you think two men or two women can't have children? It's not natural.'

"That doesn't mean they don't try!"

The snickering didn't stop. I felt myself stiffening, only remembering my mothers voice. I could feel Matt beside me, and I could tell he was feeling anger too. I wondered if he realized why I was like this, why I couldn't stand it when they said things like this. I wished I could punch them, kick them, force them to shut up. But I was stuck up in this tree. I blanked out, no longer hearing what they were saying, no longer hearing the snickering.

"Don't you love sister, mommy? Why does it matter if sister loves Lauren?"

"I do love Krista, sweetheart," the voice was gentle, making me believe, making me want to believe her. I was so young. I had almost no choice but to believe anything she told me. She was my mother. She was the reason I was alive. "Of course, I love you, and Krista too. Love the sinner, Hate the sin, Mihael, never forget that."

"But mother," I had whispered, looking up at her aging but still beautiful face that I had always adored, even through all of the yelling and screaming I endured. "How can we love her if we can't bring her to heaven with us? Will we have to abandon her in hell? Will you leave her behind, mother? Would you leave me behind, too?"

The thought was so morbid. I was only seven years old then. My mother only stared at me, gaping, horrified by the way I had interpreted what she had said, that she was the one who put such thoughts into my innocent seven year old mind. Not comprehending how well I understood the situation. Not understanding how smart I was, not understanding that I could feel the hatred my mother felt, not understanding that I knew how she really felt. She hated Krista. I knew it. She hated her, and she would hate me too, if I kept painting my nails and playing with dolls. If I became gay… she would hate me too. Everyone would hate me. God would hate me.

I was afraid. So afraid of being disliked, abandoned….

"What're ya' doing' up there, faggots?" Heathers voice was calling me back to reality, away from the harsh memory that had invaded my mind. She was pointing to us. Her smile was a gross one, and I realized how ugly I thought she was. And I felt myself wondering if she had homophobic parents too.

But she couldn't. She was an orphan just like me. She could change.

But she wouldn't.

"Having fun?" she called again, smiling a fake-kindness kind of smile. As if she genuinely cared about weather or not we were having fun.

"We were…" I muttered under my breath, scowling at her. I felt Matt suddenly, realizing how stiff with anger he was. His face was twisted with fury, and I wondered for a split second if he had sensed my sadness.

And then there was a plunk, and a stick landed square in the middle of Heather's face.

I gasped in surprise, a laugh escaping my mouth before I could stop it. Matt's hand was behind my back, as if afraid I was going to fall, and I might have, I was laughing so hard. When had Matt gotten that stick? Heather's face twisted with fury and shock, her mouth hanging open. I laughed crazily, wickedly at the horror on her face, hand holding onto his shoulder for support. I felt Matt loosen at my laughter and start to laugh too - I hated that I was using my giggle - laugh in front of Chad and Heather, but I was beyond caring at this point, and I couldn't help it with Matt there with me.

Besides, the look on their faces was hilarious.

"Get lost, losers!" I yell, still holding back laughter. Matt was laughing too, holding his hand over his mouth. He looked like he couldn't believe he'd actually thrown it, but I believed it - that angry, stubborn look on his face before was so angry. Even thinking of that made me laugh eve harder.

"Crazy freaks!" Heather screeched, rubbing her face, which now had a stick-shaped red mark in the middle of it. Chad was gaping at us, and had put on his macho face, glowering at us. It was a pretty pathetic glower too, as if he was ready to run at any second.

"Don't throw things at girls!" he accused, pointing at us, "Apologize this instant, you creep!"

Matt looked at me, still grinning and holding back more laughter. I grinned too and snapped off my own piece of stick, chucking it in his general direction. I struck lucky and it plunked on the top of his head, and he jumped in shock, taking off in the other direction. Heather gaped at him as he ran, shocked at his sudden streak of cowardice, hen streaked after him. They looked absolutely humiliated.

"HIGHFIVE FOR BEING AWESOME!" I announced, holding up my hand, mimicking the cheer that Matt had used when I punched Chad in the jaw. Matt laughed and slapped his hand against mine, laughing slowly reducing to a chuckle.

When I had calmed my funny bone I sighed and leaned back against the tree. Unlike Matt I loved the outdoors, though I rarely went out. I was happy that the redhead was happy to go outdoors with me, despite his obvious disliking of it. He seemed to like the tree, though, and leaned back too. I noticed absently that he still had his arm around me from where he was trying to make sure I wouldn't fall, but I didn't mind. No, I didn't mind one bit.

I'm not sure how long we just sat there, chuckling to ourselves and watching the clouds. Matt kept pointing out random things, like how some clouds looked like Mario mushrooms (whatever that meant), and I would point out other things like how Kelly kept staring at us and how May's dress was cute. When I mentioned the cuteness of May's dress Matt made a strange expression, and I wondered what he thought of May, or if he was wondering what I cared about dresses. But he seemed to agree, and pointed out that Chad and Heather kept glowering in our direction. I smiled at this. It made me happy to know that they knew we beat them in the shame game.

After I while I started getting uncomfortable though - leaning against a tree isn't the most comfortable thing ever. I looked up at him, weighing the risks, but I poked him and decided to just ask. "You mind if I lean on you? My backs starting to hurt."Matt gave me a long, considering look, seeming to weigh what my reason was for this. My reason was because my back hurt, obviously, though I guess I wouldn't have asked anyone but Matt for the favor. He smiled though and shrugged. "Go ahead," he said, though the smile made me think maybe he was pleased. He was always so happy to lend me favors and do things for me. I liked that, like feeling that I had someone I could count on.

Shifting my weight to the side, Matt's hand still around my waist - I kept wondering why he didn't move it, but maybe he was just too spaced out to notice - and leaned against the crook of Matt's shoulder, relaxing. It really was much more comfortable this way.

I'm not sure how long we just sat like that, staring at the people below us. May and Kelly kept staring at us, though Kelly looked concerned and May just looked l ike she might melt in her shoes. Freakin weird, in my opinion, and I wondered what they were thinking. Chad and Heather had stopped shooting us glares and were now laughing and flirting with each other. I wasn't surprised - I knew Chad was after her, and Heather was just an all around slutbag. They would have looked cute together if they weren't huge assholes. There were two girls I barely recognized, though I'm pretty sure one was named Yuumi, if I remembered correctly, who were sitting really close together that Heather kept making her we-face at. I wondered if they were lesbians or if Heather was making assumptions again. I wondered if maybe one of them had the unrequited love that I had.

Was it unrequited? I looked up at Matt from the corner of my eye, but he was staring at the sky. He looked so content, a smile tugging on his lips. I wished he would take off his goggles, but I knew they had to stay on with others around. I didn't know why he was so picky about that, but if it meant I was the only one allowed to see his eyes I was okay with that. He looked so happy, but it didn't mean he returned any of my love. Maybe he did love me, but not in the same way I loved him. If he had any affection for me, it wasn't anything more than best friend love, and that didn't exactly lead to what I wanted.

I sighed and nuzzled into him without t hinking about it, relaxing. He d didn't seem to notice, still continently looking up at the sky. I kept observing the people below, wondering if they saw us and what they thought. I knew most of the people at Wammys weren't homophobes and all, since we were all pretty much open minded around here. I mean, it was practically common knowledge that L was gay, so it was kind of obvious that we shouldn't be against that, though Heather and Chad continued benig like hat. I knew straight guys were naturally repellant to gay guys, but that didn't mean they were homophobes or anything. I didn't really see what it mattered to me what people did with their time.

But I watched them anyway. Watched a little couple, a girl and a boy, having a picnic a little while away. Watched two guys romping around like the dudes they were, nothing like how Matt and I hung out. Actually, almost all of the guys I saw round here were being noisy and rough. The soccer field that was a small distance from here had guys playing on it, being obnoxious and loud. Matt and I acted like that, sometimes, though usually it was just play fighting that usually led to tickling and then Johnny Depp movies. We were still guys, of course. But somehow our relationship was different. Special. We didn't even have to say anything, we could just sit here, together in a tree, watching the sky or watching the groud or occasionally watching each other. It didn't matter.

Just in silent agreement to be together and do absolutely nothing.

After a while though I could tell Matt was getting restless, so I broke the silence. "What's so interesting up there in that sky?" I asked, smiling at him. He looked down at me, his orange tinted eyes looking at me with a semi-serious expression, though he was smiling.

"Nothing realy, just thinking." he replied, looking back at the sky. "You know… a lot of girls like you.""Whoa. Hold on now, back up there Matt. What the hell are you talking about?" I asked, poking his ribs. This had been far from the topic I was hoping to talk about.

Matt only shrugged, looking down at the girls below. "I dunno. Kelly keeps staring at you - that's her name right? - and a few other girls too. Guys, too, but.. You know."

I frown. The statement was a weird one, for me at least. "Why bring that up?" I asked. I mean, I had already known people liked me - that wasn't me being stuck up or egoistic or anything, I just got a whole fuckload of chocolate on valentines day. Mostly from girls, a couple of daring guys. I always took the chocolate, of course, but I always rejected any hope of requiting their affection. The only person I would return it to is Matt, and I hadn't gotten anything from him. Not that I had been expecting it. I hadn't gotten a anything form him either. But I was childish, I guess, and still had that dwindle of hope that he would get me something.

I suppose not.

Matt shrugged at the question, tightening his hold around my waist without probably realizing it. "I dunno. You just… never talk to me about girls. I mean, I don't really want to, but I feel like I wish I knew who you liked and stuff, since I always hear the other orphans talking about it with their friends… is that weird?" his eyes rolled to look at me, and he reminded me of a puppy.

I felt awkward under his expectant gaze. What was I suppose to tell him? 'Actually, I don't talk about girls because I'm a flaming homosexual and I'm actually in love with you'? Um, how about no. "It's not weird.. But you know, I don't know who YOU like, either." I reminded him, giving him a stern look. I almost regretted it though - what if he actually did like someone? I almost didn't want to know. Matt frowned, seeming to consider it, his gaze sweeping over the crowd of people.

"I don't really like anyone," he muttered, eyes moving to look away from me. I flinched, immediately knowing he was lying, and narrowed my eyes. He was hiding something from me. Was it normal for friends to pry? I didn't really know.

Trying to sound like a normal, teasing friend, I poked him in the ribs again, gi ving him a teasing smile. "Common, you can tell me. I'm not going to freak out unless it's, like, Near, or something. I swear."Matt smirked at me, obviously taking the teasing well - he always did - but there was conflict in his eyes for a moment before he grinned and rolled them. "Oh yes, I'm definitely madly in love with Near," he said sarcastically, poking my ribs. Me, being the ticklish one, started giggling before I could stop myself, and all seriousness was lost, Matt tickling me to my death with one hand and holding me from falling off the back of my branch with the other. I howled and giggled, trying to hold back from being too loud. Luckily I don't think anyone heard me and I struggled to fight his attack of tickles off, but I couldn't seem to shake him. "Come on, tell me who you like first," he insisted, tickling me even more. I laughed crazily, trying to resist.

"No! No, stop I don't like anyone, I swear! AAAAH!" I squealed, trying to stop myself from sounding like a total freakin girl as I giggled, but I knew I was failing by the grin on Matt's face. "Okay, I'll tell you who I like, just stop tickling me!"

Matt sm iled and released me from the tickling, looking at me seriously. "Okay then - who?"I stared at him as seriously as I could muster, and said firmly, "I am madly in love…. With myself!" I announced, and flipped my hair behind my shoulder and posing in the most ridiculously egoistic way possible. Had this been a comic, I probably would have sparkled. Matt burst into laughter, smacking his forehead with the hand that wasn't wrapped around my waist. I grinned, trying not to giggle again.

"No, seriously, who?" Matt insisted, poking my ribs again, threatening to tickle me once more. I rolled my eyes.

"I told you, nobody. Everyone but you is an idiot here," I replied firmly.

Matt rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "okay, lemme rephrase the question. If you had to pick someone to go to that ridiculous fall ball to, who'd you pick?"I frowned, considering the question for a moment, trying to keep a serious look on my face. Before I could stop to think about it, I poked his shoulder and announced, "You!"Matt stared at me, gauging if I was serious, and I gave him a teasing smile. He laughed, shaking his head. "Dammit, you not going along with the game like your suppose to.""Well it's no fun, you suck at making games," I informed him, "Much better at playing them."Matt rolled his eyes. "Okay well, I'd go with you too then, if it makes you happy." He teased, poking my ribs again. I held back a giggle of joy, and I wondered how happy that really did make me, even if it was really just a joke.

Matt

Actually, I meant it. When I said I would go with him, I mean.

It was all just a giant joke though, which was okay with me. I was just happy he was in my arms, in this tree, with me, having this conversation in the first place. Glad he said he didn't like anyone. Glad that I was the exception to the 'everyone's an idiot' rule.

Glad he didn't fall when I tickled him. Glad he let me keep my arm around his waist even though it was past due that I move it away.

We sat there for a long time, about two hours I think, just chattering and commenting on girls and guys and how stupid Chad and Heather were the the sky and the shapes of the clouds and the dance and L and idiotic Near and wondering what was wrong with his legs and about Roger and his PMSing and about Linda and her nonstop jabbering. It was nice, just being here with him. In the month that we had been friends sine The Linda Thing it had been sort of awkward, and whenever Linda passed or talked to me Mello would give her a suspicious, angry glance. I was always kind of afraid he was going to try and snap her in half or something - which he could probably do in a heartbeat had he wanted to - but he never did. It was still awkward though, and I tried to avoid Linda and pretty much everyone else in the orphanage as much as possible, though Mello would sometimes tell me the at it was okay to hang out with other people when he noticed me obviously avoiding people. I always told him that I understood, but really the only friend I needed or wanted was Mello.

I know. Wrapped around his finger.

I get it.

No need to rub it in.

After a few moments of me pondering this Mello nudged my arm, bringing me back to reality and looking at him again. He was giving me that look again, which told me he was about to start shooting out commands. I straightened up as he started speaking. "Alright, we need to go now, I'm getting itchy up in this tree. I'll go down first, come down after me, but if you fall on me I'll kick your ass," he said, as if informing me about what he saw on the news rather than what we were going to do to get out of the tree. I shrugged and nodded, trying to stop the bubbling laughter about the last part of his statement. He smirked and started shimmying his way down, carefully stepping from branch to branch. The going wasn't as fast as before, but I still liked watching him, that look of concentration frozen on his face. He always got that look when he was trying to do his very best.

When he reached the bottom I shot him a smile and started my way down, too, trying very, very carefully not to slip. I stumbled a little at first when I snagged my shirt on a branch, but nothing enough to make me actually fall and landed on my feet at the bottom. Mello doesn't stop to check if I'm following, simply hurrying on ahead, a certain spring in his step. He was obviously eager to get back and I didn't try to slow him down, hurrying after him.

When we got inside I whispered, "What's the hurry?"Mello paused and peeked around his shoulder, shooting me a quick, nondescript smile and whispered, "The Mentalist is on."All I could do is smile. I had my Mello, and he hadn't changed a bit.