Okay, more people than I thought liked it. Which is good. Because I've already typed up to chapter 8 =w=

So, lucky ducks, I'll continue to post it.

I'd like to quickly give thanks to waraigoto for being the first to favourite this story and sareyva for being the first to review it. Thank both of you, and everyone else that came later, so much :3

Love you all

kyo

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"... You fought?" Near guessed, his dull eyes looking up while I grabbed everything that even remotely looked like it was mine and Matt frantically dabbed at his bleeding lip that had gotten worse.

"Shut the fuck up and go to sleep you little freak." I hissed.

"Just seems like you can never get along with anyone you're in a room with for more than 6 seconds." He smirked at me.

Matt waved his hand dismissively as the bleeding slowed again. "It's fine. It was a friendly fight." He offered.

"Friendly?" Near asked suspiciously.

"Yeah. You know, boys will be boys." He grinned lopsidedly, careful of the cut. I shoved an armful of stuff at him that he desperately tried to balance as I gathered my share of the load - mainly my chocolate haven.

Near started walking away as I pushed Matt to the door. "Forgetting all your stuff. No wonder you're 2nd." Near muttered has he slipped into his room.

"Why that-!" I bit.

"Shhh! C'mon, let it go, Mel. Can we just get back to the room already?" Matt begged.

I followed him out and quietly shut the door. "Did you just call me "Mel?"" I accused immediately.

He flinched. "S-sorry?" He offered. I ignored him as we acended the stairs, thinking about why the nickname didn't bother me as much as it used to. Probably because Near would call me Mel just to piss me off, but Matt used it so innocently. As soon as we reached the room I headed straight for my bedroom - which I hadn't even looked at, but I could guess it was the door without all the video-game themed posters on it. And guess what? I was right. Matt followed me with the armful of stuff.

"Mello, are you pissed at me?" He checked.

"Shut up and dump that stuff on the bed." I wasn't mad, but I've never had to say that before. So I didn't. He dropped everything on the bed.

"Fine. 'Night." He waved a little, walking out the door.

I hate to even think it, but maybe Near was right. Maybe I wasbad at getting along with... anyone I've ever met. Maybe I had already surpassed the sane point of "anti-social" into a grey area that I was going to regret later on in my life.... But later was later, and now is now. And now I need to do everything in my power to beat Near, even if it meant potentially putting my distant future on shaky ground. I'd do anything at this point. Anything to make sure I was the next L.

"Matt!" I yawned, stepping out of my room, half way through pulling my black shirt on. "Matt, wake up!" I pounded my fist against his door - almost punching Zelda in the face.

"Shut up." His low, quiet voice came from the living room instead, taking me by surprise. I blinked, peeking around the wall into the room. He was already seated on the couch and playing and old-looking Mario game on a... was that a Super Nintendo?

"Woah, you're an early bird?" I snickered. "I took you more for the sleep-till-noon kind."

"Couldn't sleep." He grumbled. "Believe me, if I could I would be." As soon as he beat the level he set the controller down to eat...

"Urg!" I gaged. "Is that ramen?! How can you eat ramen this early?"

"There's nothing here for breakfast." He explained.

"Then go to the cafeteria, you freak!"

He shrugged. "Hey, I can stomach it, so it doesn't matter." He shifted to his feet to pace passed me and throw away the empty instant ramen cup and wooden chopsticks in the garbage. "What were you yelling about?" He grumbled, running his fingers through his disgruntled red hair.

"Oh, get dressed and ready. We're going to class." I didn't let it escape my notice that, despite the fact that he had chosen to wear a striped tee shirt and boxers around the house, he was still wearing those goggles. I briefly wondered if he even slept with them on.

"No thanks." He waved his hand dismissively.

"Don't "no thanks" me!" I bit. "You're going to class even if I have to tie you up and drag you there."

"Oh, kinky." He smirked. I didn't hesitate to take a swing at him, which he ducked from. "Okay, okay, I'll go, Princess. You happy?"

"Hardly." I bit. "I'm going, then. I'm gonna catch breakfast." I dismissed, heading for the door.

"Hey, hey, wait up!" Matt called from his doorway, trying to pull on his skinny jeans, right before I could make my escape.

"What "wait?" You already ate breakfast." I huffed.

"Heh?" He paused. "...Don't ya wanna walk to class together?"

"Yeah, bye." I walked out the door, catching the small frown that met his lips for only a split-second.

I scarfed down a half way decent breakfast before rushing to class and making it just in time. As I sat down the kid next to me - Jeret, another one in Linda's little crew - decided that it was fine and dandy for him to kick up a conversation with me.

"Near said you already got into a fight with your new roommate." I started blankly at the chalkboard as he whispered. "Not like I can blame you. You're with the 3ird kid, right? Matt? I never liked him much, from the little I know about him. He's kinda freaky, I think. He's always wearing those goggles and he's never gotten in trouble for it or anything. Plus he's got such a high rank even though he hardly ever attends class." He threw a glance back. "Not here today, either."

I finally turned to him. "He's in this class?" My attention snapped back forward as the teacher cleared his throat loudly.

"Yeah, you didn't know?" Jeret asked in a quieter voice. "Well... he's hardly ever here and plus he sits in the far, back corner. And he rarely talks to people, I don't even think I've ever heard his voice, either. Has he talked to you? I wonder what his voice is like? Anyway, then there was his last roommate that totally disappeared." I let my eyes flicker to him. "Some say he got a job and left, but I dunno. None of the guy's friends would talk about him after, and Roger was so dodgy about the subject. It's completely suspicious. Matt sure seems like the quiet type, but some kids say they think he's a complete psycho path and that he killed his ex-roommate." He nodded a bit. I frowned.

"You shouldn't spread so much gossip." I warned frostily. "It'll come back to bite you in the ass."

He shrugged it off and let the subject drop. The second the teacher announced we could have a break I bolted for the door. "Mello?!" The teacher yelled. "Where do you think you're going?!"

"I'll be back!" I promised, before running for my room. I threw the door open and there Matt was. Sitting on the floor again, still playing that Mario game. But he was on the same level I could remember him defeating this morning, leading me to think that he full circled in beating the game and started from scrap.

"Oh... you knew we were in the same class?" He asked, eating a pocky and not looking up at me.

"No... well, I found out. But, what the hell Matt?! I told you to go to class!"

"Take a pill. It's not that big of a deal. I didn't think you'd care that much. This morning you left without me and didn't even bother making sure I really left, so I thought you weren't too concerned about it. Thought you saw it coming." He mumbled.

"I told you to go to fucking class and I damn well meant it!" I growled.

"Why? People know where to find me here." I was about to ask him what he meant, but he answered before the words could leave my mouth. "Roger came by because Near told everyone I looked like shit." He paused. "You know, you really didn't have to go at me that bad. I hardly even bruised you. Anyway, he came by to see if it was true, ask how I was, see if I wanted you to move out and stuff. So it's convenient when I'm here, and Roger's never once told me to go to class."

"Wait, ignoreing that you're obviously being spoiled, what was that last thing he came for?" I watched him carfully. "What... what did you tell him?"

He looked up at me. "Hm...? I told him "no," of course. Why would I want you to move out?" He asked it like he honestly couldn't comprehend why anyone would ever want to get rid of me. I blinked away a sudden urge to cry and swallowed it down.

"Oh... well, thanks." I offered, rubbing my neck.

He flinched. "Oh... I died." He dropped the controller, pouting.

"Good, then. Now that you have free time on your hands you might as well come to class." I grinned. His bottom lip puffed out.

"Un. I guess." He muttered, not even budging.

"Okay, come on, we're gonna be late." I grabbed his arm, pulling him to his feet and towing him out the door.

"If we're gonna be late anyway, why hurry?" He muttered. I ignored him and pulled him through the hall, taking the stairs two at a time. Images from outside the windows blurred passed us as we ran for the classroom. I slid to a stop, panting as Matt halted without breaking a sweat. There were collective gasps as everyone saw the damage I had inflicted on Matt's face. He immediately ducked his head and slunk towards the back as I plunked down in my seat.

"Wow, you sure did do a number on his face." Jeret chuckled, looking back at Matt. I turned to see that Matt's face was nearly as red as his hair and he was trying to hide himself behind his arms. "Did you threaten him to come to class or something?" Jeret asked.

"He lost the game." I shrugged.

He cocked his head. "Lost... what game?"

I didn't bother answering as the teacher started the next lesson.

I lost the game D: