HOME | DD

Description
Part One: Side A

It was almost a normal Saturday. Almost. I lied on my bed, my head hanging off the the side and my legs propped against the wall. I was occupied in my newest DS game with a cigarette carefully sitting in my mouth. The curtains were closed, so no sun rays beamed through. My light was off and the only brightness came from my DS. I loved Saturdays.

Until the door opened and a someone turned the light on. "Ack!" My cigarette fell to the floor, and I quickly maneuvered my hand to put it out. "Shit!" Thank god for leather gloves. Pausing my game, I turned to sit up on my bed. Roger stood in my doorway, a blond... girl, no, no it was a guy, beside him.

He had blond hair that grazed his shoulders and bangs that fell partly in his face. He was clad in black leather, a rosary-looking necklace around his neck. Draped over his shoulder was a black bag, most likely holding his belongings. He looked about ready to kill something. I pushed my goggles back over my eyes again, I had them sitting on my head before so I could see the game better, and tried to give off a sort of friendly aura. I'm not so sure it worked as he didn't show any interest whatsoever.

"Matt, this is Mello," the old man introduced. Mello nodded, walking into the room and sitting his backpack on the bed that sat on the opposite wall of mine. I stared at him as he began to pull some things out of the bag, sitting them on the bed's surface. When I looked back to the doorway, Roger was gone.

Lying back down on the bed, I un-paused my game. Engrossed in it, I didn't notice that Mello had began to stomp closer to me. Before I knew what was happening, my DS was ripped out of my hands and thrown across the room, where it hit the wall harshly and crashed to the ground. "That is the most annoying sound ever, just so you know," the evil-ass roommate from Hell, I quickly decided, commented.

Frantically, I got off the bed and ran to my DS, which was now sliced in half. I picked up the pieces and cradled them in my hands sadly. I fell to my knees subconsciously. With my head lowered, I said in a low tone, "W-what the fuck is your problem?"

I never recieved an answer. Instead, I just stayed on the floor for a few minutes. When I got up and went back to my bed, I sat down and pulled out my PSP from under my pillow, returning the DS in it's place. I turned the volume off and began again to get lost in a different game. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mello lay back on his bed and open a book. He took something else from his bag and unwrapped it, then biting into it. Chocolate.

After an hour of this, Mello's voice piped up, "So, is this all that goes on here?"

"You can watch my TV if you want. Or we could play a game or something," I suggested, deciding it would probably be better, and a lot safer, to be this guy's good side. I suddenly had an instinct to hold my PSP tighter, to protect it. I did so, looking over to where he was. My eyes had adjusted back to the light, so I pulled my goggles down across my neck.

Mello waited a bit before responding, "So basically, this place is always this boring."

"Pretty much."

I thought I saw him smirk, if just for a second, but when I did a double-take, his face was back to normal, a permanent scowl. Then, again interrupting my game play, Mello stood up and exclaimed, "The hell with this. I'm going to find something to do." I shrugged as a reply, and he stormed out of the room.

I stood up, saving and turning my game off. Going over to my plasma screen, a 'gift' from a friend a few years back, I sat down on the floor and put RE4 in the PS2. As it started up, I once again got up and turned the light off. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up for concentration.

--

"Um, what the hell?"

"Shit!" I screamed. I was just about to win again! No! You blond douche! How dare you walk in now!

Mello, ignoring my inner-monologue, turned the light back on and blinked. Why the fuck does that keep happening?! My hands went to cover my eyes as I hollered, being almost blinded again. Ignoring my cries of aggravation, Mello slammed the door and walked back to his bed, sitting down. I resisted the urge to turn on him and start a fight. Instead deciding to be the better person, I went back to my game.

I didn't hear anything from Mello except a cringling of paper and his frequent munches on the chocolate. Finally, when I had gotten back to where I was, I leaned up just slightly towards the TV.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped fiercely at the sound of Mello's voice beside my ear. He had gotten up and walked over without me noticing. I fell over, hitting the ground with a mighty thud, managing to pause my game in the process. Which surprised myself, by the way. I looked up at the one who had once again ruined my game. I sighed, thinking it better just to oblige and answer him. "I'm... playing my game."

He didn't seem affected by this at all as he stood with his hands on his knees, bent over to look at me. He lifted his head some, seeming to think of a snarky response, but was cut off when a knock sounded from the door. Mello stood straight and went to answer it. It was Roger, of course. Who else?

"Mello," Roger said, stepping into the room. "I have set up a way for you to get some things tomorrow at the mall. Clothes and necessities. Since... Well, since we would like to provide the best for you here."

"...okay," Mello said, not really caring.

"Right," Roger continued. He turned to me, trying his best, I could tell, to keep a smile on his wrinkled face. "Matt, since Mello is your roommate, you are welcome to join him tomorrow. A prefect will escort you in the morning." With that, Roger left grimly.

"How annoying," Mello rolled his eyes. He looked at me. "Are you really going?"

"Of course," I told him defensively. "After all, due to certain... circumstances, I seem to be in need of a new DS."

--

The next morning, Sunday, I woke up before Mello. I got up and went to take a shower immediately, thus my usual routine every morning. Without thinking about bringing clothes with me into the bathroom. Lovely, right?

When I was clean, a towel wrapped around my waist and my hair still dripping wet, I poked my head out the door to look in on Mello, who was still deeply asleep. Cautiously, I stepped out and went to my dresser, opening the top drawer and taking out a pair of black boxers and some socks. I opened the drawer under it and held up the usual striped shirt, this one was red and black. Jeans were next, and they didn't take much to decide on.

With another glance toward Mello, I dived back into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. Yawning, I began to dress. Once done, I went back out, finding Mello sitting up in bed, brushing his hair. I almost smirked at him, but remembered my position and held back. Going to my bed, I took my orange goggles and my leather gloves off the nightstand that sat to the left of my bed.

I sat down on my bed then, pulling on and lacing up my boots. Mello looked over to me, an unreadable expression on his face. He was already dressed as well, in a pair of black tight jeans and a black vest, no undershirt. He stood up as a there was a knock on the door. I felt under my pillow for my PSP as he answered the door.

It was an old woman with fake blonde hair and a tight smile on her lips. Her name was Ms. Gregory, as she informed Mello and me. She told us to get ready, in which Mello just had to put on socks and shoes, and then we left. As usual, when you are escorted somewhere in Wammy's, unless it's a big crowd, they let you ride in a limo. Only because it is very rare that we get to go into the city. They don't want us exposed like that, some say; too much of a risk.

Not that I really care. At least I got to go. We each have a bank account, filled with who knows how much money. I should find out one of these days. The only times people were allowed to go out shopping and such were when they had no more clothes, just arrive to get necessities, or when your roommate goes somewhere and you're invited. I wasn't really invited by Mello, but he didn't really object to me coming.

As Mello and I got in the back and sat down, Ms. Gregory got in the front and sat with the driver, probably not wanting to put up with us. I pulled my PSP out from my poket, where it stayed for some reason without falling out, and began to finish up my game again. Mello sat with his arms crossed behind his head, leaning back comfortably in his seat.

Once the limo stopped, thirty minutes later, I saved my game and turned it off, setting the PSP on my seat as we exited. Ms. Gregory led us into the large building. I had been to this mall a lot, actually. Unlike most of those at Wammy's, I was from around here. I lived most of my life in the city, in and out of trouble.

"Okay, so first we need to get you some clothes, Mello," Ms. Gregory told us. "Now, I have your card, and yours, too, Matt. So find what you can and you can get it. I'm going to let you two go off, if you can promise to stay together. And meet me back at two, got it? Any later and Roger will know."

I knew she was actually trying to do us a favor by letting us go off without her. Roger wouldn't really approve of it, but all she had to do was tell him that we were arguing and wouldn't stay under control. Which, by the way, is completely unfair. None the less, I nodded as Mello told her in a low voice, "Yeah, we will."

Nodding, Ms. Gregory gave us our cards and we were gone a minute later. I followed Mello for a bit. We went up the escalator and walked on the second floor, he kept looking at all the signs on the stores almost eagerly. Taking a big breath, I gulped up the courage to actually talk to him civilly. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere."

Fine, be that way, Mr. Grouchy-Pants. Holding back the urge to start pummeling him, I tried again, "What are you looking for, then?"

"I dunno. A good store, I guess," he said, not meeting my gaze as we kept advancing and passing store after store.

I sighed, "I know some..." When he didn't object, instead slowing his pace a bit, I began to lead. I took him to the opposite side of the mall, stopping in front of a Hot Topic. "How's this...?"

There was a small pause before Mello answered, "It's okay." He went inside, not minding me. I followed after him, trying to keep up. Once I caught up with him, he already had a handful of shirts. I quirked an eyebrow at him, but he, of course, ignored me and went on, looking at pants and jackets. I made my way to the accessories, picking up a new pair of long leather gloves. The last pair. I should get them, I told myself, since my old ones are wearing out.

I went to pay for them and then waited for Mello to hurry up. While was still picking up some things, I turned to talk to the guy behind the counter, who looked a little bored himself. No wonder, there were only two other costumers, besides Mello and me. "Hey." I tried to act friendly and bored at the same time.

"Yo," he answered, turning a page of a book that was in front of him. I glanced over to Mello, who was now going into the dressing room. "You and your friend from around here?"

"Uh," I looked back to the worker, trying to catch up to what he said. Yeah, sometimes I get like that; lost in my thoughts. "No."

"Where then?" he asked, not even sounding interested. I wasn't really sure what to say then. I couldn't really tell him, 'Oh, well, we're from this really advanced boarding school because we're supposedly geniuses and they're training us to become some great powerful detective people, like L.'

Well, I guess I could. But it might not go over too smoothly. However, my luck was just changed for the moment, by being interrupted, again, by my new blond roommate.

"Matt! Come here!" Obediently, I went to the dressing room, shrugging it off and giving a small wave to the cashier. I knocked on the painted black door once I approached. From the other side, I could hear Mello zipping something. Then the door opened, revealing Mello in a tight, tight pair of black leather jeans and a tight black leather vest. "Um, do you think you could get me an extra small vest? This one seems a little loose."

For some reason, completely unknown to me, I couldn't stop staring. Another yell from Mello snapped me out of it. I nodded numbly, closing the door again and going over to a rack with the vests on it. I looked gingerly for a XS one, finding only one. The zipper was broken, but I picked it up and took it back to Mello anyways. After I gave it to him, he examined it, mumbling to himself. "Hmm... the zipper's broke... Oh well, I can fix it."

I stood in the doorway like an idiot, not in my right state of mind. He looked at me with a set expression, then a quirked eyebrow. I didn't budge. Mello coughed, then told me, "Matt, really, unless you want to watch me strip, I suggest you get out!"

He yelled the last two syllables, making me snap back into reality. I tried to laugh before I left. I went back to the cashier, my cheeks thoroughly red.

I thought a saw a smirk on the guy's face, but as soon I thought it was there, it was gone. I ignored it and continued to wait tiredly for Mello to come out. Soon he did. He carried a lot of clothes out with some belts, gloves, and other things on top of the pile. The cashier's eyes widened, then went back to normal. He was probably pretty glad to sell this much in one day.

When we paid, holy shit, expensive!, we walked out with at last five or six huge bags in my hands. Yes, he made me carry them all. I can't even remember how it happened. It just suddenly came that I had two arm-fulls of bags. Mello's own hands were empty. Next, he led us to a Spencers. I have no idea what he got in there, but we came out with two bags.

After another stop for some chocolate, three bags, we were off to a Gamestop. He led the way, which actually surprised me some. Reluctantly, he took the nine bags that I was holding, along with the two he had, and let me go get my DS Lite. I chose a black one out. And I got four new games to go with it, along with a new guitar controller. I could teach Mello how to play. One more bag and a box. Lovely.

We ended up with thirteen bags altogether. We still weren't done. Shoes were needed. Of course. We went to the Converse shop and Mello picked out two pairs of identical black converse and a pair of black boots. I looked down at my shoes, seeing them as fine, although they were about a year old. They held together amazingly. So that made another bag.

I now had ten bags altogether, he had four. I know, I know. Poor Matt, you're saying. Oh well. It'd have to work. After walking around for a bit, I felt exhausted. "Music," Mello said, taking me into yet another store. He must have loaded up with thirty CDs and a stereo. Three more bags. I carried the stereo and he took the two bags of CDs.

By that time, it was two o'clock. Time to go. Mello acknowledged this and we were both off to meet Ms. Gregory at the entrance. Her grin dropped as we approached. She gave me a sympathetic look, asking if I needed help. I told her flat out no. We all three went back to the limo and got in.

As soon as we were situated inside, I dropped all the bags carefully on the floor. "Oh my gosh... How did you get so much?"

"Well, I am going to be living there now, might as well have everything I need," Mello answered. I nodded in understanding and agreement. "Damn, I'm hungry."

"We'll probably eat when we get back," I said, my voice monotone as I began to search for my Gamestop bag. Finding it, finally, I took out my new DS and felt the need to hug it. I smiled and turned it on, setting up everything. Name, time, date, color. Satisfied, I put one of the new games in, Mario Cart, and began to play, focusing on nothing else.

"You really have no life, do you?" Mello halted the silence as I passed the finish line, in first place, naturally. I looked up to him, not saying anything for a while, then went back to my game. He didn't know what he was talking about. Ignorant Mello. That's what he is. Ignorant. "I see. So I am correct..."

"This is my life," I informed him proudly. Of course. You see, Mello? You've no clue what you're talking about. Nothing. Yeah. I do have a life. It's just different than other people's.

"Uh-huh," he said slowly, nodding his head once, also slowly. As if he didn't believe me...! Or as if he thought I was an idiot. Just because video games are my life. It's what makes me special, you see. "Doesn't look like much of a life to me."

"Well, it's plenty for me," I snapped back, telling the truth. The rest of the ride was silent. Mello casually got out a chocolate bar and began to eat it. We arrived back at Wammy's soon after. I did the usual, saving and turning off my game. I closed the system and put it, along with my PSP, in the Gamestop bag. I took the bag in hand and the box that held my new guitar controller. And to think, I bought it for him.

Ms. Gregory helped Mello, which means she took all the bags that I was carrying, save for mine. The three of us went to my room. Ms. Gregory had long gone after she sat the things on the floor. I sat my bag and box on my bed and turned to leave. I was stopped by Mello's voice again. "Hey...?"

I pivoted my head to slightly look at him. Raising an eyebrow, I responded, "Yeah?"

"Where do we get something to eat?"

I sighed some, barely audible so he wouldn't hear. Lifting my hand in the air, I gestured for Mello to follow me. I took him down the long hallway, took a left, and then up the stairs, where the cafeteria was. We both got trays and filled them with the hot lunch served, vegetable lasagna. It could never just be normal lasagna, no. It had to be healthy. I picked up a bottle of water, while Mello got a bottle of chocolate milk, how predictable.

We walked in silent understanding to the back. Sitting at a table, it was from there dubbed: ours. We ate, not talking for a few minutes.

"So, what's in that huge box you got?" Mello asked me. I almost smiled. Only because it was really the first time someone took even a slight interest in anything of mine. Or of me.

"A guitar."

"But, wouldn't a guitar be, I dunno, bigger?" I wanted to laugh as hard as I could manage then. Oh, poor, ignorant Mello. You see, I told you.

"Well, it's for a game," I told him, restraing myself to act civilized. I loved this. "I bought it... for you..."

Oh shit. That was probably the worst thing I could have said right then. I quickly took my gaze down to my plate, ignoring eye contact.

"What...?"

Here goes nothing, I told myself. "Well, I only have one. So, I thought I'd buy another... so we can both, you know, play the game."

"Oh," he said quietly. There was a really awkward silence then. I mean, so awkward I think I felt my skin getting prickly awkward. So awkward, that it made me take my gaze up. Mello had his eyes down as well. I almost jumped when he I found his blue orbs looking into my green ones. I could barely hear him when he muttered, "Thanks."

That's where it all started, folks. That's when my life took a turn for the worst journey I could possibly imagine. It was then that I began to fall in love with Mello; Mihael Keehl.

Description
Part One: Side A

It was almost a normal Saturday. Almost. I lied on my bed, my head hanging off the the side and my legs propped against the wall. I was occupied in my newest DS game with a cigarette carefully sitting in my mouth. The curtains were closed, so no sun rays beamed through. My light was off and the only brightness came from my DS. I loved Saturdays.

Until the door opened and a someone turned the light on. "Ack!" My cigarette fell to the floor, and I quickly maneuvered my hand to put it out. "Shit!" Thank god for leather gloves. Pausing my game, I turned to sit up on my bed. Roger stood in my doorway, a blond... girl, no, no it was a guy, beside him.

He had blond hair that grazed his shoulders and bangs that fell partly in his face. He was clad in black leather, a rosary-looking necklace around his neck. Draped over his shoulder was a black bag, most likely holding his belongings. He looked about ready to kill something. I pushed my goggles back over my eyes again, I had them sitting on my head before so I could see the game better, and tried to give off a sort of friendly aura. I'm not so sure it worked as he didn't show any interest whatsoever.

"Matt, this is Mello," the old man introduced. Mello nodded, walking into the room and sitting his backpack on the bed that sat on the opposite wall of mine. I stared at him as he began to pull some things out of the bag, sitting them on the bed's surface. When I looked back to the doorway, Roger was gone.

Lying back down on the bed, I un-paused my game. Engrossed in it, I didn't notice that Mello had began to stomp closer to me. Before I knew what was happening, my DS was ripped out of my hands and thrown across the room, where it hit the wall harshly and crashed to the ground. "That is the most annoying sound ever, just so you know," the evil-ass roommate from Hell, I quickly decided, commented.

Frantically, I got off the bed and ran to my DS, which was now sliced in half. I picked up the pieces and cradled them in my hands sadly. I fell to my knees subconsciously. With my head lowered, I said in a low tone, "W-what the fuck is your problem?"

I never recieved an answer. Instead, I just stayed on the floor for a few minutes. When I got up and went back to my bed, I sat down and pulled out my PSP from under my pillow, returning the DS in it's place. I turned the volume off and began again to get lost in a different game. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mello lay back on his bed and open a book. He took something else from his bag and unwrapped it, then biting into it. Chocolate.

After an hour of this, Mello's voice piped up, "So, is this all that goes on here?"

"You can watch my TV if you want. Or we could play a game or something," I suggested, deciding it would probably be better, and a lot safer, to be this guy's good side. I suddenly had an instinct to hold my PSP tighter, to protect it. I did so, looking over to where he was. My eyes had adjusted back to the light, so I pulled my goggles down across my neck.

Mello waited a bit before responding, "So basically, this place is always this boring."

"Pretty much."

I thought I saw him smirk, if just for a second, but when I did a double-take, his face was back to normal, a permanent scowl. Then, again interrupting my game play, Mello stood up and exclaimed, "The hell with this. I'm going to find something to do." I shrugged as a reply, and he stormed out of the room.

I stood up, saving and turning my game off. Going over to my plasma screen, a 'gift' from a friend a few years back, I sat down on the floor and put RE4 in the PS2. As it started up, I once again got up and turned the light off. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up for concentration.

--

"Um, what the hell?"

"Shit!" I screamed. I was just about to win again! No! You blond douche! How dare you walk in now!

Mello, ignoring my inner-monologue, turned the light back on and blinked. Why the fuck does that keep happening?! My hands went to cover my eyes as I hollered, being almost blinded again. Ignoring my cries of aggravation, Mello slammed the door and walked back to his bed, sitting down. I resisted the urge to turn on him and start a fight. Instead deciding to be the better person, I went back to my game.

I didn't hear anything from Mello except a cringling of paper and his frequent munches on the chocolate. Finally, when I had gotten back to where I was, I leaned up just slightly towards the TV.

"What are you doing?"

I jumped fiercely at the sound of Mello's voice beside my ear. He had gotten up and walked over without me noticing. I fell over, hitting the ground with a mighty thud, managing to pause my game in the process. Which surprised myself, by the way. I looked up at the one who had once again ruined my game. I sighed, thinking it better just to oblige and answer him. "I'm... playing my game."

He didn't seem affected by this at all as he stood with his hands on his knees, bent over to look at me. He lifted his head some, seeming to think of a snarky response, but was cut off when a knock sounded from the door. Mello stood straight and went to answer it. It was Roger, of course. Who else?

"Mello," Roger said, stepping into the room. "I have set up a way for you to get some things tomorrow at the mall. Clothes and necessities. Since... Well, since we would like to provide the best for you here."

"...okay," Mello said, not really caring.

"Right," Roger continued. He turned to me, trying his best, I could tell, to keep a smile on his wrinkled face. "Matt, since Mello is your roommate, you are welcome to join him tomorrow. A prefect will escort you in the morning." With that, Roger left grimly.

"How annoying," Mello rolled his eyes. He looked at me. "Are you really going?"

"Of course," I told him defensively. "After all, due to certain... circumstances, I seem to be in need of a new DS."

--

The next morning, Sunday, I woke up before Mello. I got up and went to take a shower immediately, thus my usual routine every morning. Without thinking about bringing clothes with me into the bathroom. Lovely, right?

When I was clean, a towel wrapped around my waist and my hair still dripping wet, I poked my head out the door to look in on Mello, who was still deeply asleep. Cautiously, I stepped out and went to my dresser, opening the top drawer and taking out a pair of black boxers and some socks. I opened the drawer under it and held up the usual striped shirt, this one was red and black. Jeans were next, and they didn't take much to decide on.

With another glance toward Mello, I dived back into the bathroom, shutting and locking the door behind me. Yawning, I began to dress. Once done, I went back out, finding Mello sitting up in bed, brushing his hair. I almost smirked at him, but remembered my position and held back. Going to my bed, I took my orange goggles and my leather gloves off the nightstand that sat to the left of my bed.

I sat down on my bed then, pulling on and lacing up my boots. Mello looked over to me, an unreadable expression on his face. He was already dressed as well, in a pair of black tight jeans and a black vest, no undershirt. He stood up as a there was a knock on the door. I felt under my pillow for my PSP as he answered the door.

It was an old woman with fake blonde hair and a tight smile on her lips. Her name was Ms. Gregory, as she informed Mello and me. She told us to get ready, in which Mello just had to put on socks and shoes, and then we left. As usual, when you are escorted somewhere in Wammy's, unless it's a big crowd, they let you ride in a limo. Only because it is very rare that we get to go into the city. They don't want us exposed like that, some say; too much of a risk.

Not that I really care. At least I got to go. We each have a bank account, filled with who knows how much money. I should find out one of these days. The only times people were allowed to go out shopping and such were when they had no more clothes, just arrive to get necessities, or when your roommate goes somewhere and you're invited. I wasn't really invited by Mello, but he didn't really object to me coming.

As Mello and I got in the back and sat down, Ms. Gregory got in the front and sat with the driver, probably not wanting to put up with us. I pulled my PSP out from my poket, where it stayed for some reason without falling out, and began to finish up my game again. Mello sat with his arms crossed behind his head, leaning back comfortably in his seat.

Once the limo stopped, thirty minutes later, I saved my game and turned it off, setting the PSP on my seat as we exited. Ms. Gregory led us into the large building. I had been to this mall a lot, actually. Unlike most of those at Wammy's, I was from around here. I lived most of my life in the city, in and out of trouble.

"Okay, so first we need to get you some clothes, Mello," Ms. Gregory told us. "Now, I have your card, and yours, too, Matt. So find what you can and you can get it. I'm going to let you two go off, if you can promise to stay together. And meet me back at two, got it? Any later and Roger will know."

I knew she was actually trying to do us a favor by letting us go off without her. Roger wouldn't really approve of it, but all she had to do was tell him that we were arguing and wouldn't stay under control. Which, by the way, is completely unfair. None the less, I nodded as Mello told her in a low voice, "Yeah, we will."

Nodding, Ms. Gregory gave us our cards and we were gone a minute later. I followed Mello for a bit. We went up the escalator and walked on the second floor, he kept looking at all the signs on the stores almost eagerly. Taking a big breath, I gulped up the courage to actually talk to him civilly. "Where are we going?"

"Somewhere."

Fine, be that way, Mr. Grouchy-Pants. Holding back the urge to start pummeling him, I tried again, "What are you looking for, then?"

"I dunno. A good store, I guess," he said, not meeting my gaze as we kept advancing and passing store after store.

I sighed, "I know some..." When he didn't object, instead slowing his pace a bit, I began to lead. I took him to the opposite side of the mall, stopping in front of a Hot Topic. "How's this...?"

There was a small pause before Mello answered, "It's okay." He went inside, not minding me. I followed after him, trying to keep up. Once I caught up with him, he already had a handful of shirts. I quirked an eyebrow at him, but he, of course, ignored me and went on, looking at pants and jackets. I made my way to the accessories, picking up a new pair of long leather gloves. The last pair. I should get them, I told myself, since my old ones are wearing out.

I went to pay for them and then waited for Mello to hurry up. While was still picking up some things, I turned to talk to the guy behind the counter, who looked a little bored himself. No wonder, there were only two other costumers, besides Mello and me. "Hey." I tried to act friendly and bored at the same time.

"Yo," he answered, turning a page of a book that was in front of him. I glanced over to Mello, who was now going into the dressing room. "You and your friend from around here?"

"Uh," I looked back to the worker, trying to catch up to what he said. Yeah, sometimes I get like that; lost in my thoughts. "No."

"Where then?" he asked, not even sounding interested. I wasn't really sure what to say then. I couldn't really tell him, 'Oh, well, we're from this really advanced boarding school because we're supposedly geniuses and they're training us to become some great powerful detective people, like L.'

Well, I guess I could. But it might not go over too smoothly. However, my luck was just changed for the moment, by being interrupted, again, by my new blond roommate.

"Matt! Come here!" Obediently, I went to the dressing room, shrugging it off and giving a small wave to the cashier. I knocked on the painted black door once I approached. From the other side, I could hear Mello zipping something. Then the door opened, revealing Mello in a tight, tight pair of black leather jeans and a tight black leather vest. "Um, do you think you could get me an extra small vest? This one seems a little loose."

For some reason, completely unknown to me, I couldn't stop staring. Another yell from Mello snapped me out of it. I nodded numbly, closing the door again and going over to a rack with the vests on it. I looked gingerly for a XS one, finding only one. The zipper was broken, but I picked it up and took it back to Mello anyways. After I gave it to him, he examined it, mumbling to himself. "Hmm... the zipper's broke... Oh well, I can fix it."

I stood in the doorway like an idiot, not in my right state of mind. He looked at me with a set expression, then a quirked eyebrow. I didn't budge. Mello coughed, then told me, "Matt, really, unless you want to watch me strip, I suggest you get out!"

He yelled the last two syllables, making me snap back into reality. I tried to laugh before I left. I went back to the cashier, my cheeks thoroughly red.

I thought a saw a smirk on the guy's face, but as soon I thought it was there, it was gone. I ignored it and continued to wait tiredly for Mello to come out. Soon he did. He carried a lot of clothes out with some belts, gloves, and other things on top of the pile. The cashier's eyes widened, then went back to normal. He was probably pretty glad to sell this much in one day.

When we paid, holy shit, expensive!, we walked out with at last five or six huge bags in my hands. Yes, he made me carry them all. I can't even remember how it happened. It just suddenly came that I had two arm-fulls of bags. Mello's own hands were empty. Next, he led us to a Spencers. I have no idea what he got in there, but we came out with two bags.

After another stop for some chocolate, three bags, we were off to a Gamestop. He led the way, which actually surprised me some. Reluctantly, he took the nine bags that I was holding, along with the two he had, and let me go get my DS Lite. I chose a black one out. And I got four new games to go with it, along with a new guitar controller. I could teach Mello how to play. One more bag and a box. Lovely.

We ended up with thirteen bags altogether. We still weren't done. Shoes were needed. Of course. We went to the Converse shop and Mello picked out two pairs of identical black converse and a pair of black boots. I looked down at my shoes, seeing them as fine, although they were about a year old. They held together amazingly. So that made another bag.

I now had ten bags altogether, he had four. I know, I know. Poor Matt, you're saying. Oh well. It'd have to work. After walking around for a bit, I felt exhausted. "Music," Mello said, taking me into yet another store. He must have loaded up with thirty CDs and a stereo. Three more bags. I carried the stereo and he took the two bags of CDs.

By that time, it was two o'clock. Time to go. Mello acknowledged this and we were both off to meet Ms. Gregory at the entrance. Her grin dropped as we approached. She gave me a sympathetic look, asking if I needed help. I told her flat out no. We all three went back to the limo and got in.

As soon as we were situated inside, I dropped all the bags carefully on the floor. "Oh my gosh... How did you get so much?"

"Well, I am going to be living there now, might as well have everything I need," Mello answered. I nodded in understanding and agreement. "Damn, I'm hungry."

"We'll probably eat when we get back," I said, my voice monotone as I began to search for my Gamestop bag. Finding it, finally, I took out my new DS and felt the need to hug it. I smiled and turned it on, setting up everything. Name, time, date, color. Satisfied, I put one of the new games in, Mario Cart, and began to play, focusing on nothing else.

"You really have no life, do you?" Mello halted the silence as I passed the finish line, in first place, naturally. I looked up to him, not saying anything for a while, then went back to my game. He didn't know what he was talking about. Ignorant Mello. That's what he is. Ignorant. "I see. So I am correct..."

"This is my life," I informed him proudly. Of course. You see, Mello? You've no clue what you're talking about. Nothing. Yeah. I do have a life. It's just different than other people's.

"Uh-huh," he said slowly, nodding his head once, also slowly. As if he didn't believe me...! Or as if he thought I was an idiot. Just because video games are my life. It's what makes me special, you see. "Doesn't look like much of a life to me."

"Well, it's plenty for me," I snapped back, telling the truth. The rest of the ride was silent. Mello casually got out a chocolate bar and began to eat it. We arrived back at Wammy's soon after. I did the usual, saving and turning off my game. I closed the system and put it, along with my PSP, in the Gamestop bag. I took the bag in hand and the box that held my new guitar controller. And to think, I bought it for him.

Ms. Gregory helped Mello, which means she took all the bags that I was carrying, save for mine. The three of us went to my room. Ms. Gregory had long gone after she sat the things on the floor. I sat my bag and box on my bed and turned to leave. I was stopped by Mello's voice again. "Hey...?"

I pivoted my head to slightly look at him. Raising an eyebrow, I responded, "Yeah?"

"Where do we get something to eat?"

I sighed some, barely audible so he wouldn't hear. Lifting my hand in the air, I gestured for Mello to follow me. I took him down the long hallway, took a left, and then up the stairs, where the cafeteria was. We both got trays and filled them with the hot lunch served, vegetable lasagna. It could never just be normal lasagna, no. It had to be healthy. I picked up a bottle of water, while Mello got a bottle of chocolate milk, how predictable.

We walked in silent understanding to the back. Sitting at a table, it was from there dubbed: ours. We ate, not talking for a few minutes.

"So, what's in that huge box you got?" Mello asked me. I almost smiled. Only because it was really the first time someone took even a slight interest in anything of mine. Or of me.

"A guitar."

"But, wouldn't a guitar be, I dunno, bigger?" I wanted to laugh as hard as I could manage then. Oh, poor, ignorant Mello. You see, I told you.

"Well, it's for a game," I told him, restraing myself to act civilized. I loved this. "I bought it... for you..."

Oh shit. That was probably the worst thing I could have said right then. I quickly took my gaze down to my plate, ignoring eye contact.

"What...?"

Here goes nothing, I told myself. "Well, I only have one. So, I thought I'd buy another... so we can both, you know, play the game."

"Oh," he said quietly. There was a really awkward silence then. I mean, so awkward I think I felt my skin getting prickly awkward. So awkward, that it made me take my gaze up. Mello had his eyes down as well. I almost jumped when he I found his blue orbs looking into my green ones. I could barely hear him when he muttered, "Thanks."

That's where it all started, folks. That's when my life took a turn for the worst journey I could possibly imagine. It was then that I began to fall in love with Mello; Mihael Keehl.