Chapter 3 – The Room Mate

It was 3:20am. Matt was sat at his desk rewriting an essay that was due in the next morning when the bedroom light was flicked on.

"Ok, listen," Matt's new roommate said in a slightly annoyed tone. "I've put up with you tapping away on that stupid computer for about 6 hours. There are two things I don't really function well without. One is chocolate, the other is sleep. In case you didn't notice, I didn't eat all that much chocolate today, therefore, me sleeping is your best chance of survival."

Matt looked sceptically at his new room mate before standing up. Although Mello was older, Matt was taller by a few inches.

"Look, Blondie," Matt said. "In case you didn't quite catch it earlier, I don't have room mates. I don't like people in my personal space and I sure as hell don't like transsexual guys telling me what I can and can't do in my bedroom. I don't like being told when to do my homework and I don't like sissy bitches like you trying to get me to do things your way. Just because you think 3am is a good time to go to sleep, doesn't mean everybody else in the orphanage does. I don't. I think 3am is a good time for me to do an English essay I've been putting off for two weeks. If you have a problem with that, go see Roger, maybe he'll move you."

Mello stared at Matt for a few seconds before turning and getting back into bed, this time burying his head under his pillow. Matt smirked before turning back to his essay. He knew it wasn't Mello's fault he had to share his room, but that didn't matter. Not to Matt.

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"I heard L's coming in today," Matt heard as he entered the dining area the next morning.

"He wants to talk to the top three, has anyone seen the leader board yet?"

"Please, we all know who's on top."

Matt sighed as he wandered to an empty table in the corner. He knew who was number one, what he didn't know was where he stood on the leader board. Not that it mattered; Wammy always spoke to him when he and L came to the orphanage.

"Who's L?" Mello asked as he walked past Matt.

"Are you serious?" Matt asked, looking up at his new room mate.

Mello looked down at the floor and nodded.

"L is the world's best detective. You aren't here so you can get the best education or because Roger feels sorry for you. You're here to be the best. You're here to be L."

"So who is the best?" Mello asked as he sat down opposite the redhead.

"That would be Near. He's the kid sat over there," Matt pointed to a small, white haired child on the other side of the room. "Near's been the top of Wammy's for almost two years. People with confidence complexes often try really hard to surpass him, only to fail miserably. That guy Ben over there, surrounded by pizza, he's usually second. He's been falling down in the ranks recently though. Last check he was fifth."

"So where do you rank?"

"About a week ago I was second, I haven't checked since. When I first came here about 4 years ago, I went in at tenth. I'm usually third."

"You don't seem to care that much."

"Good observational skills Blondie, I don't. I don't want to be L. The only way to become L is if L dies."

"Don't call me Blondie. My name is Mello," Mello said as he stood up and walked away from Matt.