Saturday, November 29

"What did I tell you, modern horror movies are awful," Mihael declared at they exited the movie theatre.

"You were the one who wanted to see that one!" Mail exclaimed. "I was perfectly fine with seeing a comedy or that kid's movie."

"I wanted to see how bad this was," Mihael shrugged.

"This is why you're paying for your ticket," Mail informed him.

"Really? I thought it was because you we too cheep to offer," Mihael teased.

"If we had seen the movie I wanted to see, then maybe I might have," Mail told him.

"No," Mihael smirked. "You still wouldn't."

"Yeah, probably," Mail admitted with a shrug. "But I was only ungrounded today, so it's not like I have any money."

"That's exactly why you should be paying," Mihael told him.

"Because I don't have any money?" Mail asked.

"No," Mihael laughed. "Because we're celebrating your ungroundedness."

"That's not a word," Mail informed his friend.

"If Shakespeare could make up words then so can I," Mihael declared.

"I'm not sure that you're on the same level as the world's most famous playwright," Mail muttered.

"Oh, I am," Mihael smirked. "You just don't know we well enough yet to realize it."

Mail nearly froze when he felt a subtle blush dawn his cheek (and not just because he realized that he was a walking oxymoron). He covered his expression by laughing and rolling his eyes. Mihael hopefully hadn't noticed.

"How about I'll pay for lunch then," Mail suggested, trying to keep the conversation going.

"Were you lying when you just said you don't have any money?" Mihael placed a hand on his hip in a manner that would have looked feminine on anyone else. Wether he was aware of it or not, Mihael had a way of making these sort of gestures attractive.

No, Mail mentally scolded himself. I'm not thinking that.

"I have money," Mail corrected himself. "A very, very small amount of money."

Mihael considered this for a moment.

"Sure, you can buy lunch," he decided in a chipper voice that Mail seldom hear from him.

"I just said I have a very, very small amount of money," Mail exclaimed.

"You're the one who offered," Mihael reminded him.

"Fine," Mail grudgingly agreed.

"I'm going to fail chemistry," Mail announced.

Having run out of not school related conversations, the two has found themselves discussing grades and complaining about their teachers.

"I mean, it's my fault," Mail elaborated. "I don't really study."

"We might be polar opposites," Mihael concluded. "If I have a test I'll study until my eyes bleed."

"I didn't pin you as a nerd," Mail couldn't help saying.

"I'm competitive," Mihael explained. "I took chem last year, if you need a tutor or any help studying."

Every single inappropriate and tutor related fantasy that Mail had ever (briefly) indulged in flashed through his mind.

"No, that's alright," he quickly stated, fearing that his thoughts could some how be read on his face.

What is wrong with me? He mentally asked himself.

"Suit yourself," Mihael shrugged. A second passed before a sly smile formed on the blonde's face. "But I'm a really good teacher."

Are you doing that on purpose? Mail almost asked out loud, but thankfully caught himself. He didn't know Mihael well enough to be able to tell if this was his personality or if he was actually flirting with him. Mail tried to convince himself that the former was true, after all he had told Mihael that he was practically dating someone. Well, once he actually found Mello they would be practically dating.

"What? Is there something on my face?" Mihael's voice broke through Mail's thoughts.

"No, sorry," he stammered. "I zoned out, didn't realize I was staring."

"Where you thinking about your internet boyfriend?" Mihael inquired, his gaze dropping to his nails.

"Yeah." This was partially true.

"You don't even know what he looks like, do you?" Mihael's voice was harsher than it had been before, but Mail wasn't sure what he had done to irritate him.

"I kind of know what he looks like," Mail voiced.

"Yeah, but you haven't seen his face before, have you?"

"No," Mail was beginning to feel annoyance rise in his chest. "But that doesn't really matter, does it?"

"Everyone says that looks don't matter, but no one actually means it," Mihael said dismissively.

"Why are you so on my case all or the sudden?" Mail demanded.

"I'm not."

"Yes you are," Mail stood up from his seat as he spoke. He pulled out a fist full or dollars, that seemed about the right amount to pay for the lunch they had just eaten, and dropped it on the table. "And I'm not in the mood to be judged right now."

"Mail, wait," he heard Mihael called after him as he walked out of the restaurant.

"I said I'm not in the mood," he muttered, not caring that his friend couldn't hear him.

Having nothing else to do once he arrived home, Mail found himself messaging Mello. He wasn't very surprised when Mello replied less than two minutes after his initial: hey!

Hi, what's up?

I finally got ungrounded!

The only reason why he hadn't told Mello this the minute after his freedom had been made known to him, was because Mihael had just texted him asking if he wanted to hang out. Usually when he was asked this by classmates, Mail would think up a believable excuse. This time, however, he had decided to take Mihael up on that offer, figuring that he liked talking to the guy and wanted to get out of the house anyway.

"Serves me right for breaking my habit," Mail muttered, thinking of how he had melodramatically stormed out during lunch. In hindsight, he probably could have handled that situation better.

Wait, so your friend is no longer reading what I'm saying over your shoulder?

Mail smirked as he read Mello's question.

Nope.

Hallelujah.

Don't be mean. She's not that prying. Mail felt the need to defend Linda, even if he did understand Mello's reaction.

Sorry. Don't tell her I said that.

I probably won't. Mail couldn't help saying. No promises.

Whatever. How was your day?

Fine.

Your first day of freedom is only 'fine'?

Talking to Mello was inimically improving Mail's mood.

I got into an argument with a friend. Kinda over reacted. Mail didn't mind admitting this to Mello, but he wasn't sure if he was ready to say as much to Mihael. He knew that him abruptly leaving the restaurant was ruder than what Mihael had said.

What were you arguing about?

Mail didn't blame Mello for asking, but he wasn't sure on how he wanted to answer. Of course he wasn't going to tell Mello that he was the topic of that conversation. Would it send the wrong message if he said that they had been arguing over a guy.

Something silly. Mail copped out.

It was at that moment that his phone buzzed with a text from Mihael.

"Are we on the same mental wave length?" Mail wondered out loud as he pulled the device out of his pocket.

I'm sorry I insulted your love life.

Mail hesitated before responding. Sarcasm was hard to read via text message, and Mail did not want to spend another conversation yelling at Mihael. Virtual or in person Mihael had a way of making Mail question his stance in an argument, although he did all that he could to hide this.

It's ok. He finally replied with.

Are we cool?

Mail didn't have to stop to think before responding with: Yeah.

Maybe he was still a little bit miffed at Mihael's comment, but he knew that Mihael had a right to be annoyed as well. At this point Mail preferred both of them dropping the matter than harboring a two sided grudge.

Sorry I stormed out on you.

That's fine.

Does that tutoring offer still stand? Mail chanced asking.

Of course. I might as well use my "nerdiness" for the greater good. BTW, you over paid earlier.

Oh. Mail considered this. Are you gonna give me my money back?

Nope.

Okay.

He couldn't help but laugh at this, as he tried to think up a witty response. Mail soon became so wrapped up in the conversation that he didn't notice that, since Mihael started texting him, he hadn't received a single message from Mello.

I meant to update yesterday but then school, NaNoWriMo, and rehearsals all came together to murder my spare time.

Bummer, I haven't really given L's ex much thought. This is mainly because I can't really see anyone in the show dating and cheating on him, and have been trying to stay from putting OCs in this fic. If I change my mind I might incorporate it, but I've also been trying to stop L and Light from stealing too much of the lime light (pun intended) since it's Mattie and Mel's story.

brightnight003, I'm not sure if Near is struggling with his sexuality in this fic or not. Usually I consider Near as asexual, but I think here he's to young to tell or really care. L and B have an odd relationship, and right now they're using Mello as a go-between instead of actually talking. That will probably change later, though.

Thanks also to alishawow01, Corliss Kat, Carottal, and Anonsass for reviewing!