Left.
Right.
Left.
Right.
Le-
"Matt, leave it."
"But it's crooked!"
"It's fine." Mello sighed, letting his chocolate melt under his tongue "Not like anyone can see it."
Matt frowned.
Right.
Left.
"Matt."
Matt sighed and let go of the craved pumpkin "Fine."
Mello looked back down at his textbook "Good."
...Right.
"Matt, touch it again and I will crush it."
Matt flopped down on his bed with a huff "Your mean."
"Hmm..." Mello grunted uncaringly. Matt grinned "Remember Linda's coming over later."
"I would have remember if you had told me in the first place."
"...Hey Mello. Linda's coming over later."
"I gathered that much."
"Whatca reading?" Matt asked, rolling onto his back. The textbook Mello held in one hand was covered in a rough brown paper bag that had been morphed into a book cover. It had no label or any sign of ownership.
" Miss. Erifnob assigned me a report on a desert eagle." Mello showed Matt the book.
"Miss. Erifnob?" Matt asked, taking the book and flicking through it's thin pages.
"She's my weapon's instructor." Mello replied with a small smile. Matt smiled back and looked down at the page Mello had been reading. He read the first sentence where Mello had put a small posted note.
The Desert Eagle is heavier than most handguns due to the fact it has more recoil.
"Oh, so it's a hand gun?" Matt asked, looking at the image of a gun that was next to the caption which Matt assumed was the Desert Eagle.
"Yes." Mello nodded and took the book back "So when is Linda coming?"
"In an hour or so."
"And why is she coming?" Mello asked, scribbling down some notes onto his already text covered essay. Matt shrugged "She didn't say."
"Well then I'll be back in about an hour."
"Where ya going?"
"Library."
"See ya." Matt waved as the blonde swung his backpack into his back and tucked his book under his arm. The chocoholic disappeared out of the room.
…
"Um, Linda?"
"Just pretend I'm not even here."
"...Why are you here?" Matt asked the artist who was perched on a stool she had brought with her. Mello was back to writing his essay and Matt fingers were hovering over his laptop as he looked at Linda.
"Ignore me." Linda drew out the words slowly and loudly. Matt glanced over at his roommate who's eyes were glued to his book. He sighed and looked back at his laptop, trying to ignore the owl eyed artist sitting across the room.
"Cheap-o." Matt muttered as a a red clad player passed him in his game. He clicked madly on his mouse button, launching at least ten missals at the shieldless player.
"Matt." Mello called without looking up. Matt grunted without moving his eyes from his screen.
"What's your favorite color?" The blonde asked. Matt looked up and saw that Mello had moved on to language arts.
"My favorite color?"
"Yeah. I'm describing a minor character and I need a shirt color." Mello replied, his voice was muffled by his pencil's erasers as he chewed on it. Matt though for a moment "My favorite color..."
"Yes."
"...Orange." Matt grinned "I like orange."
"Huh." Mello scratched down a note on his paper and took a bite from his chocolate. Linda coughed lightly from her stool and crossed one leg over the other. Matt glanced at her as she took a drink of water from the bottle she had brought.
"Don't you have homework too Matt?" She asked once she had lowered the bottle.
"...Yes..."
"Shouldn't you be doing it?"
"I thought I was suppose to be ignoring you." Matt replied with a scowl. Despite his response he took out his math book and note book. Linda smirked and leaned against the wall behind her.
"What is this?" Matt whispered "Slant of the what? Subtract what from what? WHAT DOES THIS EVEN MEAN!"
"Calm down Matt I'm trying to contracted." Mello muttered. Matt smacked his heavy book against the wall. Mello glanced over at him as the gamer repeated the action several times.
The blonde rolled his eyes and looked back down at his paper "I'm not sure that room eleven will appreciate that."
Matt paused "Oh...right...oops..."
Mello chuckled and used a hand held sharpener to sharpen his dulled pencil.
"Do you think pink would represent a poodle well?" Matt asked.
"Poodle?"
"I have to make a bar graph."
"I thought you were doing slopes." Mello brushed a strand of hair behind his ear. Matt glared at his book "I moved on. Hmm... I could make it a black demon poodle who bites people's legs off..."
"A black poodle?" Mello raised an eyebrow. Matt nodded "Black's your favorite color right?"
"Right."
"Okay, and for the Labrador I'm thinking..."
"Orange." Mello suggested. Matt nodded with a smile "Orange, for Halloween."
"Maybe I should make the poodle orange and the Labrador black." Matt mused, looking at his graph thoughtfully. Mello blinked "Well you do seem more of a poodle than me. Can you imagine me with a fluffy tail and ears..."
Matt snorted and the forgotten Linda choked on her water.
"Oh my god Mello!" Matt laughed "That paints a very strange picture!"
"Just make the poodle orange." Mello grinned and turned to his work.
"Will do." Matt got his color pencils from a paper bag he had made his school bag.
Linda had a small smile on her face but didn't comment as both boys turned back to their work.
The room feel silent except for the scratching of pencil against paper and the occasional sound of rustling paper. Linda barely made a sound as she watched the two boys work, barely blinking. An hour past and Matt was beginning to get restless as he turned to his computer homework.
"Lunch time."
Matt jumped a mile when Linda suddenly spoke, eyes on her watch. The gamer slammed his book as a small grin crept on to his face "Good! I need a break."
Mello paused to look up at the red head as Matt jumped up. Linda also stood, her empty water bottle fell over as she tapped it lightly with her foot.
"See you later Mels." Matt waved before he followed Linda toward the much deserved food.
"Bye." Mello called before the door shut.
Other children were emerging from their room as well, taking breaks from their studding and homework doing. Pavel joined them, stretching his long arms as he walked "Ugh, I am so tired!"
"What have you been doing?" Matt asked the small Russian as they made their way to the dining hall.
"I was working on an assignment for Ms. Elfson." Pavel sniffed distastefully "God, I think I might drill through my own brain."
"Mrs. Elfson?" Matt asked, taking the seat next to Linda "Who's she?"
"My physics teacher. She's the wife of Mr. Elfson." Pavel scowled "I swear she hated me!"
"I thought Mr. Lee hated you." Matt objected.
"They both hate me!" Pavel claimed, spooning some broccoli onto his plate. Matt laughed "Wow Pavel. That sucks."
"I know." The Russian growled through a mouthful of green vegetable "I swear they would make an excellent evil couple if Mrs. wasn't married! I bet they secretly plot at night how they are planing on torturing me!"
"Yeah... I'm sure they do that." Matt munched on his bread stick "Just like you stay up all right planing on how to avoid them."
"How did you know?"
Matt snorted into his soda "You actually do that?"
"Of course. You would to if you had those two hawks after you." Pavel scowled down at his plate. Linda smiled and patted the young Russian on the head "Don't worry Pavel. One day you'll be free of them."
"When do you guys get to leave the orphanage?" Matt asked, wiping his mouth on his sleeve. Linda swallowed her orange soda before she answered "Students are allowed to leave at the age of fifteen."
"That's tough." Matt sighed "We only get to go beyond the gates for one week a year and I've got about five more years in this place."
"Well," Linda glanced around before she lowered her voice and leaned closer to Matt "Most people leave the at least once a month. Some every week."
"Hmm?" Matt blinked "What do you mean?"
"Well, Roger doesn't exactly get chains on the windows and doors." Pavel joined the little huddle "It's not that hard to sneak out."
"Sneak out?" Matt bit his lip "I never thought of that. Do you guys sneak out?"
Linda nodded "We do it less often then most but go every two months or so."
"Mind if I tag along some time?" Matt asked with a smile "I love the town and I don't want to wait for Christmas."
"Sure." Pavel grinned but Linda shook her head "Sorry Matt but we aren't going anytime soon."
"Why not?"
"Mich got caught sneaking out about a week before he turned fifteen. Roger wasn't happy." Linda sighed "He patrols at night now and he's even caught a couple other students."
Matt frowned and let out a disappointed huff of air "I guess I'll have to wait for Christmas."
"Sorry. But if we do decide to go earlier we'll let you know." Linda winked before she pulled back and returned to her lunch. Pavel smiled at Matt before he too retracted his head.
"So are you coming back to the room with me Linda?" Matt asked her as he returned to his meal like nothing had happened. The artist shook her head "Oh no. I've got everything I need."
"...that sounds suspicious."
"It should."
"What are you up to?" Matt asked, pointing his fork at her. She wiped a speck of potato off her cheek and smirked "You'll see."
"I will?"
"Yeah."
"Well..." Matt returned his fork to his plate "Good."
…
"Hey Mello!" Matt chirped, prancing into room thirteen and closing the door behind him "I brought you a brownie from the kitchen!"
The blonde looked up from his books and took the plate Matt offered him "Thanks"
"No problem." The gamer smiled and dropped down on to his bed "Is that your social studies stuff?"
"Yeah. I just finished." Mello closed his heavy social studies book with a snap and slipped it into his bag "I'm completely done."
"Well then let's go outside!" Matt rolled onto the floor and toward the closet "I know there's a ball in here somewhere!"
"Outside?" Mello asked, pushing himself up. Matt peeked back into the main room "Yeah... Found it!"
"No. Absolutely not."
"Oh come on Mels!"
"No, I refuse to play with that."
Matt pouted.
In his hands was a bright blue ball with white daises painted all over it. It had a dark spot where mud or whatever had stained. The ball was extremely bright and the sight of it had made Matt smile. But Mello's reaction wiped that smile away.
"Please Mels?" The gamer pleaded "Just one toss!"
"No."
"Why do most of our conversions end up like this? And please!"
"I don't know and no."
"I brought you a brownie!"
"I won't take bribes."
"Then give it back!" Matt reached for the brown square of deliciousness but Mello held it out of his reach "No."
"Mels!" Matt cried, flailing his arms and jumping put Mello used his free arm to keep the gamer away from the brownie. Mello carefully tilted the plate so the the brownie dropped into his mouth. He ran around the room as Matt chased him, chewing quickly. The blonde swallowed and turned to run backward. He opened his mouth to show Matt his brownieless tongue. Mello turned forward just in time to avoid stepping on Matt's Playstion.
The red head lept forward and grabbed Mello's shoulders as the blonde slowed to step over the device. Matt wrapped his legs around Mello's waist and held on as the blonde tried to throw him off.
"Ye ha!" Matt cried throwing one arm into the air "Ride em cowboy!"
"Get off!" Mello spun trying to dislodge the gamer. But Mello too was laughing, his hair whipping against his face and Matt's. He could feel himself loosing his balance what with the spinning and the extra weight.
There was a click right before Mello went down with Matt under him.
"Oof!" Matt grunted as Mello's weight crashed down on him. Mello scrambled up, his eyes on the door where a camera holding Linda stood, a grin plastered on her face. She was looking down at her camera, obviously pleaded with her picture.
Matt shot up and ran over to see a stilled picture of him on Mello's back looking like a crazy clown lunatic on top of a laughing and red faced Mello.
"That's one for the books." Linda smiled, wiping a fake tear from her cheek. Matt grabbed at the camera but Linda laughed and ran around the room with him right behind her. It was the brownie all over again. Matt had an alley this time however.
Mello plucked the camera out of Linda's hand as she ran past him.
She stumbled as she looked back and almost landed on Mello's backpack. Matt slowed to a stop beside Mello and together they looked at the picture one last time before Mello hit the delete button "Nice try Linda."
"Aww Mello!" Linda pouted "I loved that!"
"To bad." Mello handed the camera back to Linda.
"Well." Linda sighed "I guess you don't want to see it."
"Hmm?" Matt asked, glancing up from the blank camera. Linda smiled and inched toward the door "Nothing, nothing."
"Linda," Mello sighed "Your going to tell us anyway."
Linda let out a giggle and ran to the door, she picked up a rectangular shaped thing that had been leaning against the wall. She was shaking with excitement as she bounced back into the room"Yeah yeah Mello you know everything whatever! Ready?"
"What is it?" Matt asked "A painting?"
Linda let out a squeal and turned the canvas around.
Matt gasped and Mello's eyes widened.
"Wow Linda." Matt breathed.
It was a detailed sketch of the roommates.
It showed Mello laying on his stomach with a book propped open against his pillow and a chocolate bar raised to his lips. His head was twisted, his eyes looking down off the bed at Matt who was leaning against the blonde's bed. The gamer was showing Mello his notebook but whatever he was showing the drawn Mello wasn't facing the real Matt and Mello as their eyes roamed over every inch of the bold lined drawing. The white and black Mello had the softest of smiles on his face and the real Matt smiled at the sight of it. Linda really had out done herself. It was the perfect copy of Mello's smile. Although not as heart warming as the real smile but just as...sweet. Matt had a board grin on his face and looked ready to laugh. Very realistic. There was no color but the lines were dark giving it an almost life like appearance.
"Wow." Matt repeated "Linda, it's amazing. I mean, how did you draw this all in like...two hours?"
"Experience," Linda sang "Do you like it?"
"Oh course!" Matt cried, throwing his arms around her "It's amazing! Thank you so much!"
Linda patted his back "Chill Matt. It's nothing."
"What do you think Mello. Mello?" Matt turned to look a the blonde who was still staring at the picture. Mello didn't replied as Matt jumped back over to him "Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeello?"
"I like it." Mello whispered.
"What?"
"I love it Linda." Mello smiled over at the beaming artist "It's really something."
Linda's smile widened till almost all her teeth showed "Thanks Mello."
"I think it's time for a group hug." Matt opened his arms.
"No." Mello pushed the gamer away as Matt went to hug him. Linda laughed and hugged Matt again "Come on Mello!"
"No."
Linda and Matt both ran forward and hugged him. The blonde stiffened slightly but slowly relaxed into the hug. He didn't return it but it was a start. Matt laughed and took the picture from Mello and took a tack from a wall. His Zelda poster fell to the floor but Matt ignored it as he tacked the picture between his and Mello's bed.
"WHOOO!" Linda grabbed his arm as he stepped back.
"What?" Matt jumped looking alarmed. Mello raised his eyebrows and leaned against the wall.
"I need to sign it and it needs a name!" Linda ran forward and scrolled her name across the bottom. Matt blinked "A name?"
"As the artist I get to name it!" Linda sang.
"Name away."
"How about," Linda drew the pencil along a part of the picture she had left blank and stepped back "That."
Mello and Matt both stepped forward to read the messy letters:
Room Thirteen
Author's note: I'm sorry I didn't update this weekend! I know it's short and I'm really sorry! Been busy with homework and projects and school. Anyway I will try to get out another chapter this weekend and sorry for an you reviewers, love you all!
Please R&R!