Ohai! Hao gose it? This is chapter two of my very first fanfic! Woohoo!

I am SOOOOOOOOO sorry for not updating! My updating schedule revolves around when I have time! Which isn't all that much. And it's only gonna get worse over the summer. I have freaking travel camp every week all summer, so I will only be able to update on weekends once school ends.

Also, I'm sorry for such a short first chapter! It was just an introduction of sorts, not a full chapter, and besides it looked much longer written out on loose-leaf paper!

Disclaimer time!

Mello, will you do the honors?

Mello: WHY ME? I'M NOT EVEN IN THIS!

Do I need a reason? Just do what I say before I decide to hurt you.

Mello: You? Hurt ME? Ha!

-_- you do realize that before me there was no such thing as a serial killer.

Mello: xXxMusicIsMyDrugxXx (henceforth known as Froggy) does not own Death note or characters related to it. She does not own Coldplay either, nor their songs. She does own her OCs and, apparently, my mind.

Hehe… Mello's my mind slave now

This chapter is dedicated to Amanda, who introduced me first to Bleach, and then to Death Note, and enlightening me to the beauty of being an obsessive otaku.

Solitude POV

I was standing in front of the rectangular full-length mirror on the back of my closet door, looking at m reflection. I was getting dressed up for my birthday. My 16th birthday, as a matter of fact. This was the first time, since the day I was born, that my birthday fell on a Friday. Friday the 13th of June.

I was wearing a short corset-style dress. The skirt was a soft, silky material that shimmered black and, when the light hit it at the right angle, deep purple. The corset top was a simple black, laced lightly over a shimmery purple top. The whole dress was sleeveless. I was wearing black silk heels, not too high, or I'd fall. I have a bad history with high heels.

I had chandelier earrings, black coated silver with black stones and faux-diamonds, as well as two small diamond clips in my hair. I also wore my special charm bracelet, full of tokens of special events in my life. I had charms that people had given me for birthdays, Christmas, and other occasions, as well as beads and other such items that I had collected from places of significance. I always wore this bracelet. It was my most valuable item.

I shut off the lights in my room and stepped outside, shutting the door behind me. I walked down the carpeted hallway, my steps muffled despite my heels. I stopped at the top of the wide main staircase, gazing down at the entrance to the dining hall. It had been decorated lavishly in black and purple and silver, my colors of choice.

For the 16th birthday of any Wammy house resident, a huge party was thrown in their honor. They got to choose the decorations and food, and the whole orphanage was invited. Despite this, I wasn't as happy or excited as you might think. I knew that while my three best friends were waiting down there, so too were my social enemies. I knew they would just try to make this night miserable for me. But I mustn't think about that. A always said I was too morbid and depressive. It was true. I often found it hard to be positive. Nevertheless, I resolutely walked down the stairs and into the hall.

When I walked inside, I was immediately attacked- for want of a better word- by A and B. They pulled me into a hug, and shouted "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" At the top of their lungs. I grinned and hugged them back. L was standing a bit behind them, and when I extricated myself from their grip, he said quietly with his thumb in his mouth, "Happy birthday, S." I smiled again and went to hug him. He stood stiffly in my embrace, and I rolled my eyes. "It's called a hug, L. you're supposed to hug the person back." He awkwardly put his arms around me, and I sighed and said, "Good enough."

Now that I had stepped back, B and L both stared at me, mouths slightly open, looking me up and down. B raised an eyebrow at my dress, and I folded my arms over my chest protectively. "Pervert," I mumbled, and he smirked at me. A took that as a cue and grabbed my arm, saying, "I think these two need some time to themselves…" I laughed and followed him over to the snack table. I grabbed a cup of soda and he grabbed some chips.

"So," he said, "I see you've go B and L hanging on your every word." I turned red and sputtered a bit before saying, "All I see is B being perverted." A scoffed at me. "He's not being a pervert; he likes you. Even the 'mistress of oblivious' (That's what they called me for always staring into space and being oblivious to whatever's going on) should have noticed that by now." I opened my mouth to reply, but I felt a sharp tap on my shoulder. I turned to find myself facing Lydia, one of the other girls at Wammy's house.

Lydia made a point of looking me up and down, then said, "I see you won't even drop your stupid Goth clothes at you own party." She gestured at my dark dress and makeup. "Oh, and do you think we came to your party for you? Ha, that's a good one! We're only here 'cause we've got nothing better to do. Don't get it into your creepy head that we care." 'We' obviously referred to everyone besides A, B, L and myself.

I rolled my eyes and was about to retort when another person stopped me- this time it was B. "Leave her alone, bitch," He growled. "Why don't you go over there with your slutty friends and be a whore where no one can see you?" I choked on my soda, laughing. But then a bunch of Lydia's friends, and her boyfriend, came over. I could see things were about to escalate, and apparently so did B, because he suddenly said, "Come and dance." He pulled me onto the dance floor just as a slow song came on. He put his hands on my waist and I put mine around his neck- I don't really get why it's called slow dancing. I mean, it's not really even dancing. It's just kind of shuffling from foot to foot.

We danced for a little bit, then B took my hand and led me outside into the dark corridor. I gave him a questioning look, and he said, "I have to give you your present." He pulled a small black box out of his pocket and opened it. Inside was a small charm: a ruby carved in a teardrop shape. I sucked in my breath. "B… It's beautiful…" I breathed. He smiled and said, "It looks like a tiny drop of blood, doesn't it?"

I nodded and clipped the charm onto my bracelet, where it glittered in the half-light. I looked up at him and saw him watching me. He brushed a lock of hair out of my eyes. "Your eyes are really beautiful… I don't know why you keep the covered all the time."

And before I quite knew what was happening, he had his arms around my waist and he was kissing me. It was a blissful oblivion, being so close and finally realizing how we both felt. I had my arms around his neck, fingers playing with his dark hair, reveling in the moment.

As he pulled back, I knew we were both smiling. He whispered "Happy birthday" in my ear, then ran his hand through my hair. I laid my head on his chest and just drank in the moment. After a while, he said, "We should probably get back to the party, or L will come after us. He'd probably think I raped you or something."

I laughed; I couldn't help myself. Just like B to ruin a perfectly good romantic moment. But he was right. I wouldn't put it past L to think something like that. Actually, up until tonight, I wouldn't have put it past B to… what the hell? Why am I thinking that? I shook my head and said, "Yeah, you're right. Let's go. We're missing all the fun, and it is my party after all."

He grinned and slipped an arm around my waist. We walked back inside to find L- where else but at the snack table, eating a slice of cake. When he saw us his face registered relief, then shock, then anger, then annoyance and back to his normal expression so fast I didn't even know if I saw it. A, standing next to him, wolf-whistled and said to B, "Dude, how come you get the only girl here who'll talk to us?" B scowled, but I just laughed.

"Anyway," said A, "Happy birthday." He pulled out a wrapped box, which I opened to reveal… a collection of new Coldplay CDs (my favorite band). I squealed and thanked him excitedly. The CDs had all of my favorites, like Lovers In Japan, Viva La Vida, Clocks, The Scientist, and Violet Hill, as well as almost every other song.

A elbowed L and said, "Come on, give her yours!" L pulled out what looked like a large wooden case from behind a table. He opened it to reveal a new set of art supplies- dozens of colors of paints, colored pencils, oil and chalk pastels, and watercolors, as well as new brushes, various pencils, and charcoal. I gasped and pulled L into another hug. "L, you're the absolute best!"

He froze, still uncomfortable with physical contact. A rolled his eyes and said, "Dude, just hug her." L hugged me awkwardly again, the stepped back quickly, biting his thumb. B, looking irritated, brushed a strand of hair out of my eyes.

I heard a crash behind me and turned to see three younger kids- all about 7 years old or so- hanging out in a corner. One, with red hair, was playing a DS in a corner. Matt I think? The other two, Mello and Near, were apparently in a fight. Well, Mello was screaming, Near was just rebuilding the domino tower Mello had evidently just knocked down.

Mello was always bullying Near, whatever the reason. I felt bad for the poor kid. He never showed any outward signs of hurt, always sitting and twirling a strand of his white hair around his index finger, but I could tell it bothered him. I opened my mouth to intervene when L muttered, "Forget it; It's a lost cause. " I looked at him a moment then laughed; it was true.

I contented myself with throwing a stray grape at Mello; he spun around looking for the culprit. I gave him a look, and he mumbled something unintelligible and walked away. Near gave me a small smile; he had always liked me. He was also a bit of a loner here. I winked at him, then turned away.