"Umm…Excuse me, but…is there anything I need to do?"

Death looked up timidly at Amy, the only other girl at the hideout. Death was perched on a stool, watching the red haired girl in Ugg boots and a tasseled Beanie (therefore, it's probably not a Beanie anymore…) dry dishes.

Mello had introduced the two at breakfast that morning, telling Amy, his friend Matt's girlfriend, that Death was the new entertainer, so Amy wouldn't question why Death hung so close to Mello.

Death had, of course, met Matt as well and had spent the morning watching the two before Mello and Matt left for some errands, leaving the two girls in the kitchen in silence, Death quietly contemplating various and random subjects. One of the topics was, of course, about her new acquaintances.

How the seemingly anti-social Matt got outgoing, firecracker Amy was beyond Death- but she just let it be, finding it somewhat cute to watch them when the two were with each other.

Death did wonder why, though, Matt wasn't intimidated by his girlfriend like she herself was.

"Oh, Em! There's nothing you can do- you're a guest!" Amy replied, cocking an eyebrow as Death insisted, "But I want to help with something. It's not fair to let you do everything for me while I just sit here and watch. Besides, you lent me some clothes. I got to repay you somehow. It's only right. An eye for an eye!"

"Um, Em, you're using that quote in the wrong manner…just so you know. And anyways, you are helping me. I've needed someone to talk to for a while and well, even though Mello looks kinda like a chick and my Mattie is always ready to talk about anything, I just can't talk to them about my important personal girl stuff. But I can with you!"

Amy ran to Death and hugged her tight, causing Death to wonder if Amy was half boa constrictor as this was the 5th time that morning Death had been hugged, "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Even if you do look slightly like a girl vampire who's obsessed with being an emo/goth and who could be the poster girl for HotTopic, I'm so glad that you're here to stay!"

"Amy, if it wasn't for the fact that you have good intentions and the fact that there is no good nickname for "Death", I'd be drop kicking you right now for calling me 'Em' and an emo/gothic vampire HotTopic poster girl. Also, I'd like to point out that I just lost feeling to my neck and I may die soon if your grip is not loosened."

Death mumbled, wriggling out of Amy's grasp.

"O.K. I apologize, Death…That's, like, soooooooooo depressing, though, Em! Emily is such a cute name and it'd suit…"

"Amy, can you tell me honestly that you've met someone who is like a modern Wednesday Addams named Emily? And the name Emily suits them?"

"No…"

"Well, neither have I, and that is because I just described myself. The only way the name Emily would suit me is if I had a voice that instantly reminded you of bubblegum and lollipops, I had red curls, green eyes and freckles and I had at least one American Girl doll. Otherwise, the name Emily does not suit because, despite it meaning 'rival' at times, it is too feminine and gentle to be used properly in my case."

"But…."

"Amy…face it. The name Emily brings an overachieving Girl Scout with pigtails to mind who's as perky as heck. I am not perky."

"That's for damn sure."

This statement didn't come from Amy- rather, it came from Mello, who had just entered with Matt following, both carrying a bag in each hand. Mello walked past Death, motioning for her to follow them.

Mello lead his two companions up the stairs, stopping at the room next to his own. "This will be your room from now on." He declared coldly, Death wondering why the sudden change of attitude towards her. She stepped into her room and saw that a futon was already laid out as the boys put the bags down. "W-wait: h-how did you get my stuff?" Death asked, slightly annoyed and shocked at Mello's casual boldness as he rolled his eyes at her before tossing her cell phone at her, Death catching it by the small keychain attached to the antenna.

"I took the liberty of getting your address from your phone. Y'know, you don't need to…," He paused and changed his words to, " No, you shouldn't put all of your personal stuff in there. The wrong people can find it."

"So what?Beyond had me put my personal stuff in my phone when he got it for me-I can do whatever I think B would approve of when it comes to my safety." Death replied, getting ticked off, thinking about how Mello had just admitted to stealing her phone.

Mello crossed the room and knocked Death against the wall, growling into her ear, "Beyond is DEAD ,remember? You're on your own-deal with it."

Death's eyes widened as she shrank against the wall, trying to get away from Mello as her lip started trembling, biting it as she started to blink back tears.

"So?" She asked, voice threatening to break. "That doesn't matter…"

Mello backed away enough to let Death check her phone,watching her try to contain herself. He found an odd sense of satisfaction as he scanned her face and its expression. So far, he smirked, I'm the only one alive able to make her want to cry…But in all reality, Mello somewhat worried about this new found satisfaction in making Death react and show emotions. He could tell that she hated it; and yet, here he was, still harassing the daylights out of her.

Mello returned to the world of the living when Death gasped, half in disgust and half in disbelief, "You added yourself to my contacts? Without asking!"

(Death hoped that Mello couldn't sense her initial admiration of his blunt boldness that she was trying to hide.)

Mello snorted in reply. 'Well, what did you expect me to do? Wake you up again and say, 'Oh, I'm sorry to disturb you, strange-girl who's contaminating my bed with her sickness, but I need I need to take your phone to get your address so Matt and I can get your stuff from that rundown closet your landlord calls an apartment-which, by the way, I canceled the rent agreement- because you're going to be here for a while. By the way, I'll just put my phone number in your phone so I can't lose you.'" He said sardonically, face hardening. "Get real. I don't say shit like that."

"You just did."

"That doesn't count."

Death sighed as Mello demanded, "How the hell did you even pay your rent and all your other stuff?" He noted that she had a few CDs-Jpop and bubblegum pop, not to mention the current hits- and a few romantic comedies,too. A goth who loves romance and humor…now I've seen everything…He thought, smirking.

Death's face flushed as she mumbled, "I was a singer at my landlord's bar-he took my rent out of my tips." Mello did a double take. "Get real."

"I'm not lying! I got paid to sing karokee and also I sang on band nights, I was a backup singer and at times…I was a singer and a dancer when one of the other girls got sick." Death said softly, looking away, feeling ashamed.

Mello was still get over his shock of the discovery that he had a singer and a part-time exotic dancer on his hands. "You were a dancer…and you're still a virgin?"

"Heck yeah! I hated the lewd stuff-I was the only dancer who didn't strip,luckily. I would've died of embarrassment!" Death declared, sitting.

Mello blinked and then smirked."I have an idea…"

Death glanced up at him and growled, "I don't give lap dances."

"I wasn't going there."

"You were close…What's your idea?"

Mello smirked as he moved closer to her,close enough for Death to smell the hint of chocolate on Mello's hot breath. Her face was as red as a stop sign as Mello whispered, "You can be my entertainer…You can keep me amused and you can sing me to sleep…And maybe…even pleasure me…"

Death choked in surprise, going into a coughing fit as Mello sat back, simpering. Death glowered at Mello as she hissed, "You might as well have asked for a lap dance, pervert! I won't pleasure you- no way!"

Mello shrugged and got up, still smirking as he asked, "Why not, Emmy?", making sure that he nailed a seductive tone on its head.

Death held up her hand, fingers ready to count off the reasons.

"1-I am a virgin and I intend to keep it so.

2-I'm Catholic and I definitely intend to stay a virgin because of that.

3-I barely know you

4-I don't see a need to pleasure you.

And 5- I'm not an experienced, convienant hooker waiting at your beck and call; I have self respect-consider getting yourself some!

I'm o.k. with being the singing housemaid who'll occasionally buy you chocolate,but otherwise, the answer is NO!"

Mello smirked and held up his hands in a mock truce. "Fine- but I get to pick out your outfit."

Death had gotten up to start unpacking but now she was giving Mello an enraged glare. If looks could kill, Death could've put Kira and the death note to shame.

"Mello…If you even DARE to get me a skimpy maid outfit or any crap like that (although I wouldn't mind a long sleeved goth Lolita dress.), I swear to God and on BB's grave, I'll kill you."

"It's a risk I'll take!" Mello chuckled as he exited her room, laughing harder when he saw her middle finger raised.

Death crossed herself as Mello, still laughing, walked down the stairs, before she muttered, "God- grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to hide Mello's dead body after he pisses me off and I slaughter him. And Lord, forgive my swearing and help me survive in this hellhole Mello has made. And Lord, just what the heck did I do to deserve this? Amen."

She fingered her rosary and thought about the challenge she now faced- deciding whether to kill Mello by stuffing an explosive down his pants while he slept or to put arsenic in his chocolate.

Fear the power of a p. 14 year old goth!