(I don't own the characters or anime.)

Chapter 7

Matt and I were sitting in science class at the same lab table. The only reason we were together was because we had assigned seats and Matt couldn't convince the teacher to move him, but trust me, he tried. My best friend had scooted his chair as far away from me as the table space would allow and he wouldn't so much as acknowledge me. It had been this way since Matt walked in on Near raping me.

The door slowly opened, and I kept my eyes shut tight. I didn't want to see what would soon happen. Matt emerged, happy as ever, slamming the door behind him. He must have heard some sign of my struggle on the floor because he glanced up from his gameboy to the sight before him. He mistaked my desperate struggles and cries for help as intimate moans.

The redhead literally dropped his gameboy, causing me to open my eyes and instantly widen them in surprise. His goggles were around his neck so I had a clear view of his emerald eyes as they brimmed with tears. Those tears promptly brimmed over, sliding down the gamer's face, and dripping off his chin onto his black and white striped shirt.

It broke my heart to see him like this; feeling so sad and betrayed. I tried to call out to him, but it came out as a sort of groan. My friend took a step back, his eyes being filled with reinforcement tears. When I attempted to reach out to him, Near grabbed my wrist and pinned it to the floor. The disgusting albino's hand then traveled from up my shirt to the waistline of my pants. My blue eyes widened once again in terror, silent pleas echoing in my brain that he didn't reach down there.

Matt saw my wide eyes as shocked orbs of pleasure. He took two more steps backward before turning and darting out of the room.

It was then that I was finally able to shove Near off of me. Black holes stared at me as the boy crawled onto his bed. I fell back against mine, my own tears forming as I realized that the nightmare that had just played before my eyes had really just happened.

Matt didn't speak to me that night, nor has he so much as muttered anything to me since that horrible night.

The bell rang and I gathered up my books, quickly rushing out of the lab to catch up to Matt who was already nearly out the door.

"Matt!" I called, trying to apologize and explain for the fifty trillionth time.

The redhead kept walking. He didn't nod his head to acknowledge my presence. He didn't say a word.

"Matt!" I yelled again, sprinting up to his side. I grabbed his arm and forced him to face me.

The hurt in the boy's eyes was indescribable. The usually energetic green orbs were dull forest leaves that had been sitting in the shade for far too long. He just stared at me for a few seconds before saying in an equally injured voice, "Just leave me alone."

I dropped my hand, releasing him from my grip. Trudging back to my room I thought to myself "Great, so he noticed I exist. But now he freaking hates my guts!"

This cycle was repeated every day after science. I would run up to my old best friend, and that friend would tell me to stay away from him. He never looked any less hurt when he answered me. Every day I came closer and closer to tears. Once a few tears actually did escape my eyes after Matt had turned and walked away. I was at a loss for what to do. How was I supposed to apologize if he wouldn't even listen to me?

Living together did not help matters. The redhead stayed out of the room, probably at Linda's, every second of free time he had. The only time he returned to the dorm was at night when he had to get to sleep. Even then all he'd do was climb onto his bed, huddled against the wall, and go to sleep. He didn't leave me any opportunities to talk to him about what he saw.

Obviously Near was just playing dumb. I overheard Matt question the boy once when they both thought I was asleep.

"Near?" Matt had called out to the albino.

"Yes, Matt?" the said albino had answered.

"Why was Mello kissing you?" the redhead had to force the words out, and even so his voice almost cracked.

The pale child's voice was soft velvet when he answered, completely emotionless and not betraying the truth he knew, "I don't know, Matt. It took me by surprise as well."

I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from screaming at the devious piece of shit.

Matt nodded slowly, not too satisfied with the answer he was given. "So, you have no idea? You're sure?" the boy in stripes pressed.

"None whatsoever, Matt. But if you'd like, you could ask Mello. He is the criminal in the matter. He knows why he did what he did." That kid's monotone was starting to really get on my nerves. Why couldn't Matt realize how unnaturally calm and unemotional he was being? Why couldn't he see that he was hiding something?

"He would, wouldn't he?" Matt responded, "but I don't wanna talk to him. I never want to talk to that betraying bastard again."

Tears rolled down my cheeks at his words. I couldn't stop them and I didn't try to. I kept quiet, however, and eventually was able to cry myself to sleep.

Finally, a few weeks after Near's plot, I was able to get Matt alone in our room.

"Matt."

The redhead glanced up from his gameboy, the usual hurt already set in his eyes.

"Matt, please let me talk to you. Please let me explain!" I exclaimed in a pathetic pleading tone.

Matt's eyes averted back to his game, and he went back to thoroughly ignoring me.

I couldn't handle this anymore. I couldn't deal with my best and only friend being angry at me. I finally snapped, tears pouring down my face at an alarming rate. My head bowed, and blonde hair fell in my face. My cheeks were red from crying, but I honestly didn't care. I fell to my knees, causing my leather pants to squeak. I buried my head in my hands miserably.

Looking up, I met Matt's emerald gaze. He looked shocked, like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. I didn't blame him. I was a pretty pathetic sight, and I never cried in front of other people. But I did now. And I didn't care. I wanted Matt to see how miserable I was without him.

Still crying almost hysterically on the floor, I sobbed, "Matt! I didn't do anything! Near attacked me, I swear!" my sobs turned hysteric, "You have to believe me!"

The gamer stared down at me. He seemed to be struggling to find the truth. He wanted to believe me, but after what he saw, he wasn't sure he could. Seeing this, I added, "Matt, let me explain. Please!"

He bit his lip, but finally nodded hesitantly. I took a few deep breaths trying to calm myself enough to tell the story. I started by saying how Near and I were just working on a science project, nothing out of the ordinary. I then told my friend how Near had grabbed my hand and didn't let go. I described how Near had kissed me suddenly, and how I explained to the child how I was now with Matt. I took another deep breath there, stealing a glance at Matt who had remained surprisingly calm during my account of events.

I continued by giving a detailed description of Near's calculating then plotting face when we heard Matt coming down the hall. I told the redhead how the albino had then pounced me and pinned me to the ground, making out with me violently.

"And, well, you know the rest," I finished lamely.

"Near…..wouldn't…..do that," Matt replied in defiance, but his face told me he believed me.

"Matt, I swear it's true! He was jealous that I had picked you over him and he wanted to get revenge."

At that moment, the gamer began crying. I blinked in shock. He bounded off the bed and landed on top of me, giving me the biggest bear hug I had ever received. I blinked a few more times, almost not believing what was happening. Then I let out a long breath that I hadn't realized I'd been holding and smiled ever so slightly. I embraced Matt into a monstrous hug of my own, and my smile grew as I realized that we had really made up.

"Oh, Mello! I never wanna fight with you ever again!" the redhead sobbed into my chest.

"Me neither," was my quiet response.

Since that day, Matt and I had plotted countless revenge plans to use against Near. We never actually did any of them, but it was still fun to come up with them. I never forgave the child, and eventually we convinced Roger to remove him from our room.

The albino glared almost unnoticeably at us as he packed his bags. His bed had already been moved to its new location in a newly empty room. Served that bastard right to be alone. Soon he finished packing his small suitcases with all his toys and few clothes. He grabbed his raggedy rabbit stuffed animal off the ground and walked past us with his nose in the air.

"Psht," I snorted. I mean, he was trying to hold onto his pride? Puhh-leazz. He had none left. Matt and I had told the whole school the "revised version" of what happened, which included a non-homosexual account of the boy's plot. In the end, everyone believed us over him, and now practically the entire student body hated him. He had nothing, he had no one. He was all alone. He reminded me of a little lost sheep.

Near exited our dorm and left the majority of my life. I smiled so wide at the thought that my face might have cracked.

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This might be the shortest chapter yet. I'm sorry. They just keep getting shorter. Maybe they'll lengthen up again, I don't know. I don't decide the length of the chapters, I just stop when something really new happens.....if that makes sense. Anyway, thanks for reading and please review!

-Bloodmuffins