Matt slept in till eleven.
The first day of a month of vacation after exams had arrived.
Only the staleness of Matt's own breath woke him. Light was flooding in from the uncurtained window and muffled sounds could be heard from the hallway.
"Mello?" Matt muttered without opening his eyes "What time is it?"
"Eleven ten."
"Your kidding." Matt groaned, rolling over. He peeked out from under his covers at the blonde who was lounging on his bed, munching on a chocolate bar and staring at the ceiling.
"I jest you not." Mello replied, liquefying the chocolate in his mouth. Matt rolled over and felt air below him.
"Oof." He grunted as he hit the floor, taking most of his blankets with him. Mello turned his head to look down at Matt who didn't move from the floor.
"Hi floor, make me a sandwich" Matt muttered to the ground and Mello rolled his eyes "Get up Matt."
Matt didn't rise but he did start to inch toward the bathroom like a caterpillar. He rolled out of his blankets before he reached the bathroom's tile flooring. He stood, scratching his head and looking disgruntled "Morning Mello."
"Morning."
"I'm hungry."
"I noticed. Matt, to my knowledge floors can't make sandwiches." Mello observed, sitting up.
Matt shrugged before he disappeared into the bathroom and came out a minute later looking just as ruffled.
"Fooood." Matt said, zombie style. He crossed the room and opened the door. Without his goggles Matt would have been blinded by the sudden light that met him. Some people, like Matt, had slept in and were slowly emerging from their rooms, hair messy and eyes blinking sleep away.
"Foood." many of them groaned as together the tassel haired children began to move toward the dining room. Clearly the cooks were use to this behavior because lunch was already being served. Matt bite into his sandwich which comprised of turkey, tomato, and cheese on bread.
Lily was no where to be seen. She had probably gotten up at what some people called a 'reasonable time.' Matt trapped his chips between his set of teeth and chewed them to mush. He drank some of his Pepsi, licking the sweet dew from his lips.
Everyone was excited and talking in loud voices. Matt heard that someone was planning a game of baseball and someone else wanted to do a large game of tag.
"Hey Matt!" A brunette, that Matt honestly couldn't remember the name of, called. A group of girls followed her as she approached the red-head.
"Hi," Matt turned in his seat to smile at the girls "What's up?"
"Well, we were wondering... well, us and a couple others wanted to have an orphanage wide game of capture the flag!" The girl giggled, a glow of excitement spilling onto her face.
Matt grinned "Sounds awesome! Can I join?"
"Yeah! That's what we came to ask! If you get a chance will you spread the news?" The brunette smiled. Matt nodded, a broad smile on his face. Then the girl's face suddenly grew nervous "Um, Matt."
"Yes?" Matt titled his head, smile faltering at her tone.
"Well," The girl twisted a strand of brown hair around her finger and looked at her shoes "Do you mind not telling Mello? It's just..."
Matt nodded slowly as the girl trailed off "I understand."
"Thanks Matt, the game is at three! Bye!" the girl gave him a small smile before she and her friends skipped off to another group of kids. Matt turned back to his lunch. He nibbled on his bread and drew out the red tomato from beneath.
He had forgotten that nobody but him liked Mello. He was the only one that even suspected Mello had a soft side.
He threw the rest of his sandwich into his black hole of a mouth and stood. He walked back to room thirteen. He waved to Lily as he passed her in the hall.
"See you at capture the flag later?" Matt called, walking backward. Lily grinned and waved "Yeah!"
Matt grinned and spun around and almost slammed into Near. The small albino shuffled around Matt and walked on. Matt glared at the back of the pale boy's head before he continued toward room thirteen.
Mello was no longer there so Matt changed in the main room hoping Mello wouldn't suddenly walk in. He cleaned his goggles and combed his clown like hair.
"Looking sharp." He muttered to himself as he looked in the bathroom mirror. He laughed to himself and started flexing and striking poses. Unfortunately he was in the middle of a girl screaming pose when Mello came in and glanced at him through the bathroom door which Matt had left open.
Mello raised an eyebrow "What are you doing?"
"Nothing!" Matt straightened up and tried to look cool about it all but he was grinning widely. Mello rolled his eyes and retracted his head. Matt had a small silent laughing fit and he left the bathroom once he had recovered from it.
"Finished?" Mello asked as he propped a book against his pillow and began to read.
"Quite." Matt replied glancing at the clock. Twelve thirty, way to early to go outside for the game. He started up his PlayStation and Mario Cart came on. He spent two hours on the bright levels destroying Peach, Mario, Yoshi, and the rest of the playable characters.
"YEAH THAT'S RIGHT! BACK OFF YOU PATHIC LITTLE-"
"Pixels." Mello interrupted as Matt began to shout at the TV for the hundredth time that day.
"NO THEY'RE MORE LIKE, LIKE, LIKE... like..."
"Pixels?"
"Shut up Mello."
Mello smirked and Matt scowled, saving his game and turning the PlayStation off. He checked the clock. Two thirty. Still a half an hour left. He flopped onto his bed and buzzed out a breath. He hummed softly, watching the clock. The minutes slowly ticked by. Matt was sure the clock was going backwards or something because the numbers barely changed.
"Hey, we got a new clock!" Matt suddenly realized. Mello stared at him "We've had it for more than three months!"
"Ha I never really noticed."
"I swear Matt one day I'm not even going to be surprised by such things."
Matt smiled. Mello narrowed his eyes "What?"
"That means were going to be together for a while! You practically said we're friends!"
"No where in that sentence was friendship mentioned." Mello turned the page of his book and rolled his eyes. But that didn't change Matt's grin "Whatever Mello. Whatever."
"Go away."
"No." Matt grinned and began to bounce up and down on his bed.
"WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! WEE! WEEEEEEEE! WEE!"
"Shut up."
"But this is fun!" Matt said, his bounces getting higher. Mello scowled but didn't response.
"You know Mello," Matt rolled in the air "You should smile once and a while!"
"Why is it I had to be cursed when an annoying ten-year old for a roommate?" Mello asked, holding his book as Matt's jumping shook the floor. He sighed and sat up. Matt slowed his bouncing and looked at Mello curiously.
The blonde stood "It's almost three."
Matt snapped his head around.
The clock read two fifty five.
No way!
Matt's mouth hung open and he jumped up.
"Well they say time flies when you having fun..."
"Good luck."
Matt stopped "What do you mean?"
"Capture the flag."
"How do you know about that?"
"People screaming about it in the hall."
"Well... thanks! Bye Mels!"
Matt was out the door before Mello opened his mouth to snap about the name. Matt ran down to the front doors were a small group have gathered. Sweaters and lights jackets were worn and boots for mud and puddles.
"Hey Matt!" Lily greeted, skipping over to him. She wore a light green jacket that looking pretty with her long blonde hair. She was smiling and she reached for his hand as the group moved out of the building. Matt took the offered hand and let Lily take the lead as they followed the group down the front stairs.
Mich immediately claimed leadership and without preamble called "Shrimp! Get up here! Your team captain for the other team!"
Percy and Fire pushed Matt to the front of the crowd and next to Mich who leered down at him. They slowly picked teams. The strongest were chosen first then the weaker. Matt called Lily over on his fourth pick and grinned as she joined his small group. Finally two even teams had formed. Only Near and Mello weren't present.
Mich shoved a blue flag at Matt and keep a red one for himself.
Classic. Red for the 'evil' team and blue for the 'good' guys.
The yard was divided and teams had ten minutes to name jailors, guards, runners, and place their flags. Jails were set up and Matt assigned two jail guards. He choose the bigger kids that had some speed for flag guarding. That left the small and speedy people for stealing the flag and saving prisoners.
Matt called to Mich that his team was ready and he got in position near the territory line.
Mich nodded and called for attention.
"Listen up maggots!" He called and the grounds fell quiet, listening.
"The rules are the fallowing!" He continued "If you are tagged while in the enemy's territory you report to said teams jail! You can only be rescued by a touch from an uncaptured teammate! You do not get a free walk to the line! We are playing to two! Clear the boundary mark with the enemy's flag to score. No throwing the flag! Other than that it's anything goes!"
Matt swallowed and tensed as Mich raised his hand and swiped it down "BEGIN!"
Matt shot forward and so did many other runners. The enemy was on Matt at once. Clearly Mich had intrusted them to target him.
"Hmm, that could work to our advantage." Matt muttered as he ran back onto safe territory with practically every member of Mich's team on his tail. They stopped at the boundary line and they reminded Matt of bulls.
Matt glanced around and saw that three of his runners had been caught but the others were still alive on safe territory.
"General!" One of the safe one called to Matt. They had started calling that when he had been appointed leader "We can't fine Lily sir!"
Matt glanced around and saw that Lily's green clad form was no where to be seen. Matt frowned but nodded "Keep an eye out for her. In the mean time try to rescue everyone. Mich is gunning for me so I can likely distract them."
"Your percentage of getting out unharmed is low." The boy frowned but snapped a salute and turned to run back to the other safe children. Non of Mich's teammates had set a foot on blue territory. Matt could see that Mich was guarding the flag and eying him gleefully.
"Cocky jerk." Matt hissed, glaring at the wall of flesh that Mich had formed around the flag. Matt glanced over at his remaining runners. They nodded to him and he took a deep breath.
Then he took off running through an open patch at the boundary line. The red team chased after him, laughing as they quickly started to gain on him. He cursed loudly as he ran. He could feel hands swiping at his back and he speed up. His muscles were soon screaming at him to stop and his breath was gone. He reached a small tree covered part of the grounds. He ran in and dodged between trees as his pursers yelled taunts at him.
He cursed as he stumbled over a tree limp and hit the ground rolling. He was back on his feet a moment to late as hands grabbed his jacket from behind. He almost cried when he realized it was Lily. She pulled him into a small spot in between two tree roots that she had been hiding in.
"Lily!" He gasped but she put a finger to her lips and they listened as several pairs of feet thundered by. When it was quieter she breathed a sigh of relief and sagged against the inside of the tree "I thought for sure they were going to get you!"
"Me too. What are you doing here Lily?" Matt clutched his chest, trying to regain some air.
"Sneaking up on Mich." Lily grinned. Matt smiled, still breathing deeply. He had been on the verge of throwing up, lucky he had pasted Lily when he did.
"I need to get back out there," Matt muttered after a moment, catching the last of his breath "The team will be wondering if I'm dead."
Lily nodded and together they slid out from the tree cave. Lily hugged him wordlessly before he slipped off through the tress the way he had come. He stayed out of view as much as possible as he reached the edge of the trees. He peeked out and saw the the jail was empty and all his runners were on safe territory.
Mich's team must have still been in the trees looking for him because they were no where to be seen. Matt gritted his teeth and charged forward. His team cheered as he sprinted toward them. No one chased him as he neared the line, heart pounding. He threw himself into safe territory as Mich's team emerged from the trees on enemy land.
"You okay General?" A blonde boy asked, kneeling down beside Matt. When Matt said threw himself he meant threw, he was on the ground grinning and breathing like a manic.
"Fine." He gasped.
"We thought you were a goner!" A black haired boy added with a laugh. Matt let out a breathless laugh and pushed himself up.
"I see everyone's safe." He checked.
"Only Lily is gone."
"Yeah, she is in enemy territory, don't worry she's fine." Matt turned to face enemy territory and felt smug to see that Mich was glaring at him.
"I must say boss I thought you were a push over when you were first appointed leader but what you did was pretty impressive." The black haired boy clapped Matt on the shoulder. Matt's cheeks flushed pink with graduated and he smiled "Thanks. But we still need the flag."
"To think this is only round one." Pavel muttered, eying Mich's team.
Matt nodded "For now we need to distract the guards so Lily can get the flag. It's likely those people will be caught so-"
"I'll go!" Pavel and West said at the same time.
"You guys sure?"
"Yes General!" Pavel grinned while West just shrugged and nodded.
"Alright, go on my signal."
Matt assigned others jobs such as just distracting the general enemy. Matt keep back two runners just in case reinforces were needed. He was staying behind.
"Listen," Matt spoke to the people going with Pavel and West "your guys mission is to make sure Pavel and West get to the guards even if it means throwing yourself between them and the enemy! Let's go!"
People spread out. Mich's team stilled hadn't made an move to attack Matt's team's flag.
"Go!" Matt yelled. He watched as Pavel and West ran forward, runners flanking them as Mich's team ran at them. Other runners tried to get the enemy's attention.
An idea struck Matt and he turned to one of the runners he had held back
"Go scan our territory! Make sure no red troops have crossed the boundary without our notice!"
"Yes sir!" The girl saluted and ran off toward the flag. The remaining runner was shifting from foot to foot. Without warning he sprinted forward across the line.
"Get back here!" Matt shouted after him but the runner ignored him. The runner ran right at Mich. Mich slammed the poor runner to the ground and threw him into the jail where the runner didn't get up. Matt cursed and watched as runner after runner fell to the enemy. Soon West was hit by an enemy hand and he went down. Only Pavel remained.
Matt charged. It worked just like the first time. Most of the enemy ran at him.
"Pavel run!" Matt bellowed and the small Russian charged at the flag guards which swatted at him. But the kid was to quick and soon the flag was the last thing on the guard's mind. Matt grinned when he saw Lily dart forward and scoop up the flag. But this was no time to celebrate. If Lily didn't get across in time Matt would be flattened.
Matt ran in zigzags. His red coat flapping in the wind as he ran.
"Crap!" He swore as a hand collided into his back and he fell to the ground. Then a whistle sounded and Matt's heart leap. People grumbled around him and the shadows that had been looming over him retreated. Matt stood and grinned as Lily ran toward him. The red flag dropped onto safe territory.
"Are you okay?" Lily threw herself into Matt's arms. He laughed and hugged her "I'm fine thanks to you. Nice scramble."
Matt released her and she stepped away, face crimson.
"Come on let's join the team."
The team was celebrating and dancing around their flag. If then won one more round then they would be victorious. Pavel had been lifted onto everyone's shoulder and he was beaming as everyone cheered under him.
"Nice work everyone!" Matt called and everyone fell quiet to let him speech. Matt smiled as he saw the respect and cheer in their eyes.
"One more win and victory will be ours!" His statement was met with hoots and cheers. He has to shout over the noise "So give it your all and let's show them red flags who's boss!"
He threw his fist into the air and many joined it.
Everyone took their station again and Matt grinned as he waited by the boundary line for Mich to start round two. It was obvious from Mich expression that his team was not going to be playing defensive like before. Matt called for some of the runners to stay just in case.
"If we win this we'll make history!" A girl near Matt exclaimed "No ones ever won on the second round against Mich!"
"Then it's time to make history." Matt grinned and watched as Mich raised his arm.
"Begin!"
The red team had learned from their mistake and only three team members ran at Matt as he entered red territory. Matt dodged the first two and had to duck in between the legs of the third to avoid his flailing arms. He ran toward the flag but was stopped when a hand caught the neck of his shirt and he was thrown into jail. Pavel was the only one that was already there. He was sporting a bruise on his left cheek but looked pleased.
"I bit one of them!" Pavel cheered and Matt looked to see that Percy was cursing as he looked at his bleeding hand.
"Nice, you get extra points because it's Percy."
Pavel grinned and Matt patted his shoulder "But we still need to get out."
"True, true." Pavel bobbed his head. Matt scanned his still standing ranks and noticed several people were eying him and Pavel. Already looking for an opening. Matt spotted Lily yelling some orders at a group of boys who were nodding and casting glances at him.
"Lily seems to be trying to get us out." Pavel spoke Matt's thoughts. Matt nodded and glanced at the jail guard who was scanning around checking for rescuers.
"Hey Pavel I've got an idea."
"What is it sir?"
Matt whispered into the blonde's ear and Pavel grinned.
"OH MY KIDNEY!" Pavel screamed right into the guard's ear making him jump a mile. The guard spun around as Pavel fell to the ground clutching his stomach, his face twisted in agony.
"Pavel?" Matt knelt next to the young Russian and gripped his shoulder "What's wrong?"
Pavel groaned and the jail guard stepped closer.
Pavel opened his mouth, and to Matt's impressed amazement, vomited all over the guard. The guard stumbled back as Pavel moaned and curled into a ball.
Then Lily was there, she quickly tagged both boys and all three were over the boundary within seconds.
"Wow Pavel! You deserve a Grammy or something for that preference! I mean really! You threw up and everything! Nice!" Matt yelled, clapping the grinning blonde on the back.
"I just did the only thing I could think of." Pavel beamed. Matt looked around and saw that a handful of Mich's team were in the jail and more were being caught as they spoke. Mich was beet red and scowling as Matt gave him a big smug smile. Matt raised his arm and pointed at Mich.
"CHARGE!" He screamed and ever single runner charged.
Matt hummed as he danced out of reach of a girl that lunged at him. Pavel locked his hands and rolled into a kneel as Matt approached him. Matt stepped onto his hands and Pavel launch him up. Matt flew over Mich's head, avoiding his reaching arm's by a inch. He grabbed the flag and ran for it. He was surrounded by runners as he sprinted toward the boundary. His runners took the hits aimed at him. Only West stayed up as Matt crossed the boundary and the whistle sounded.
Matt laughed and fell to his knees "That, was awesome."
He was hoisted up onto his team's shoulders and cheers thundered against his ear drums.
"That was surprisingly easy." Matt muttered to West who had also been lifted. West grinned "They were to angry to think."
"Mich didn't get much action." Matt laughed as he watched Mich spit onto the ground and give him a death glare.
...
Matt, Lily, Pavel, and West were heroes that night. Matt was pushed to give a speech and he did so. Bashing Mich and his team along the way. He grinned and congratulated every member of his team. He as the general of the first team to beat Mich within two rounds had made history. His team keep clapping him on the back and congratulating him till he started to feel a bit sick. People groaned as he said good night and walked through the empty halls to room thirteen.
Matt was still grinning when he opened the door.
The he froze.
Song's arms were wrapped around Mello.
Her lips dangerously close to the blonde's
Ahhh, sweet cliff hangers. I send thanks to the people who reviewed my last chapter: scrambled eggs at midnight and Kawaiikitty400.
And once more a thank you to insanepersonishappy who made my day with another amazing review!
Please R&R!