Author's Note: Starting with this chapter, the time will be included as well as the date. This is because chapter 4 takes place on April 16 as well, at about 5 PM. I may go back to chapters 1 and 2 to include the times there too, for consistency's sake, but not immediately.

Anyways, here's chapter 3. Matt and Mello are actually, well...reunited in this chapter. Yay ^w^

Chapter 3

April 16, 2008; 8:05 A.M.

I've been living in LA for about a month now. I found a fairly cheap apartment and a job that pays me just enough to support myself. Not the best conditions, but I didn't come here to get rich. I came here to find Mello.

So far, that mission has gone unaccomplished. But I will not give up hope. Mail Jeevas is not a quitter. That's why I'm getting up again this morning for yet another crappy day of my crappy job that pays for my crappy apartment.

As I get ready to leave, I stick my head out the front door first to see what the weather's like. Not too bad--I think I can make it to work without freezing to death or bursting into flames. I lock the front door and begin my daily walk to the hellhole of a record store where I'll be doing inventory for the next seven hours. At least today's pay day…

Finally, I make it to the store, put my cigarette out, and begin my day of stocking CDs of bands I've never heard of. Why, oh why didn't I find a video game store instead?

{7 hours later}

Finally. I've got my paycheck, and I can go buy some more cigarettes…and I'm one step closer to a new Xbox--I had to sell my old one and all the games I had so I could afford a plane ticket. Desperate times called for desperate measures.

I make a quick pit stop at a convenience store on my way home, grab a carton of smokes, and head for the checkout. While in line, I notice a rough-looking man with a large box of chocolate bars. Seeing this reminds me of a certain blonde chocoholic…

"Wow, quite an amount of chocolate you've got there, sir," the girl says.

"Yeah, it's um…for my boss. Yeah," he says, somewhat nervously. This interests me as well. Could he perhaps mean a 'mafia' boss? He does look rather thuggish.

He takes his box and walks out, and I quickly make my purchase so I can follow him.

Let me just say something. If there's one thing I learned from the time Mello left Wammy's up until the time I left, it's how to tail someone. I mean, I had my own stalker for a while…maybe Jess did teach me something after all. Lucky for me, this guy's on a motorcycle, so it won't look quite as suspicious as me following him on foot. Unfortunately, he's got the advantage of speed.

After a few minutes of keeping a safe distance and decent speed behind the man, he turns into an alley, gets off the bike, and enters a large warehouse-like building. Just to be safe I make a trip across the street and around the opposite block before sneaking back into that alley.

All of a sudden I hear footsteps. My heart racing, I see a dumpster next to me. Realizing my predicament, I cringe. But again, desperate times, desperate measures…

"You're sure you were being followed?" a familiar, although somewhat rougher-sounding voice asks.

"Positive, boss," the man from earlier replies.

"And did you get a good look at him?"

"Well…I first noticed him at the convenience store. The guy stuck out like a sore thumb--he was wearing a black and white striped shirt, a big furry vest, and goggles. And he had red hair."

Crap. Crap, crap, CRAP!

"I see," the first one says. "Well, he's obviously not here now…maybe he just had a similar route. Go back inside and I'll guard out here for a while."

"Okay. Thanks, Mello."

I hear the older man go back inside, then the remaining one comes closer. Then comes a sudden pounding on the side of the dumpster, with what sounds like a gun.

"Matt, I know you're in there. Show yourself."

Do I dare? He does have a gun…

"Matt…I said come out here. NOW!"

With a shaking hand, I lift the dumpster lid and look out, seeing a surprised and angry Mello. He looks the same as he did four years ago, except…what in the world is he wearing?! Not that leather isn't sexy on him…

"What do you think you're doing here, you idiot?" he hisses.

"Glad to see you too, buddy," I reply.

"Shut up! I thought I made it clear to stay at Wammy's, Matt."

"I'm 18 now, or did you forget?" I ask.

"No, I didn't, for your information," Mello says. "At least stay in England. I was trying to protect you, stupid!"

"But, Mello, don't you see? I had to come find you! I couldn't be happy unless I was with you!" I tell him, "I sold my Xbox for money to get a ticket here and now I'm working at the freaking Record Hut to pay rent on an apartment with faulty heating, air conditioning, and plumbing…all so that maybe I'd see you again!"

He stares at me. "You…sold your Xbox?"

"Yes, Mels. I love you that much," I say, jumping out of the dumpster. Fortunately, it was mostly broken-down cardboard boxes in there.

"I'm touched, Matty," he says. "So, now that you're here…what are you gonna do?"

"This," is all I say in response, then pin him to the side of his building and crush my lips against his.