A/N: My sincerest apologies for taking far longer with updates than I'd promised. (Promised several times, I know.) After re-reading the story so that I could continue, I've decided that a small sort of change is going to be made. My writing seems to have been all over the place, mostly because I chose to write in a style I'm not totally used to, I think. From now on we'll be seeing a little more into Matt, Mello, Near, and each of their sides of this story.

As always, thank you, Readers, for your continued patience. -hearts-

-Mello-

Chapter 7: Clearing

The test was taking him longer than usual. And he knew he should have been done already, should have handed it in so the teacher wouldn't be giving him those funny looks, but truthfully... he could give a shit what the teacher thought. It wasn't her grade anyway, so she could just mind her business. The essay question had kicked up his thoughts again about what he'd be facing in less than eight hours. Mello.

He'd come to the conclusion that what he was feeling about the whole thing was "nervous". He had no idea what sort of situation would arise the moment they were both in the room for the first time. He wasn't really afraid of getting hurt. That much he was sure Mello wouldn't do. He was capable of it, certainly, but he didn't seem violently aggravated with him. More like... annoyed. Although he hadn't done a thing to Mello, of course, so he was pretty sure his annoyance was invalid-

"20 minutes remaining for the test." Near sighed as the teacher called out the reminder. Lord of the Fireflies was a fucking terrible book. He hurried to write out a small essay, handing in the test and taking his seat again before the teacher could give him another funny look... which she did, anyway. He ignored her looks, settling into his chair with one foot up on the seat to get comfortable as he took to staring out the window with a finger twirling in his hair.

He wouldn't be so bothered about the rooming situation if he knew something about Mello personally. But he didn't know anything! He knew that the boy was a natural blond, taller than himself, liked to go outside, wore black, had teal eyes... He knew all the general things that everyone else knew. It wasn't enough. He was walking into a pre-set situation with an absolute stranger. In one of his classes, this would be considered dangerous and would require precaution. He was trying to take precautions, but there was only so much he could do... which, of course, would be true in many situations he could likely face, so he supposed this would be good practice...

The bell rang for class 2 and he hurried from his seat. The rooming situation so far was a gigantic pain in the ass, and it hadn't even begun yet.

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Matt frowned as he leaned back in his seat, chewing at the eraser of his pencil. Even though it was one of his Focus classes, the teacher had been going rather easy on him. His glare might have had something to do with it, he was sure. He hadn't even said anything about Matt and Linda "passing notes", though he knew the guy had to have noticed. It was probably because Linda was his favorite. Linda was everyone's favorite. She was almost like a well-behaved female Mello. ...Well, not really. He only said that because they both had charming social personalities.

Well. Linda did, anyway.

He couldn't help the mental chuckle to himself at the thought despite the pile of aggravation welling up in his mind, some of which Linda was attempting to help with. He gave a soft sigh and glanced down at his IM screen.

L2: Matt, it's Mello. lol I'm pretty sure he'll be in your room by tonight whether or not they tell him he can. And whether or not he's already killed Near by then has yet to be seen. My bets are on Near being shoved into a pillowcase.

He gave her a quick glance when the teacher's back was turned. "Pillowcase?" He mouthed, and she gave a silent giggle, shrugging with a grin. He shook his head, the small smile disappearing from their expressions as the teacher turned to them again. She was good at making him feel better. It wasn't exactly what he'd wanted to talk to her about, but he was still debating on that...

L2: What else is bothering you? Your emotions are showing. You should probably work on that. It happens a lot when it concerns Mello, fyi, so you REALLY should work on it. Especially if he ever takes First.

A grimace twitched at his face before he could stop it. Fucking... and she was right. He tried his best to keep his face expressionless, even though he was angry with himself for not being able to.

M2: You suck. XP But thanks. Yeah, I think I've been having a hard time with the Apathetic Face thing lately. This whole thing with Mel going to Near's room is just really pissing me off.

L2: I can see that. But so can other people, and that's the problem.

M2: I don't really give a fuck if other people know I'm pissed right now. Fuck the face thing, I don't fucking like any of this!

L2: But why? That is the problem, Matt. If you don't mind showing you're pissed, that's fine. But when people ask why, can you tell them?

M2: I'll ignore them.

L2: You do anyway.

M2: So I'm failing to see the problem here. Nobody bothers me, anyway,

L2: Yes, but some people here do actually care about others. You really think all of those sweet little younger-years are going to let you alone when they might be able to cheer you up by being cute? Like the little kid who asked you if you liked his new hat? Or the girl whose doll you helped fix? So they'll ask you what's wrong, and you'll ignore them? I know you won't. So when they ask you what's wrong, could you tell them? If not, you should probably get to work on that face.

Matt blinked, his surprise showing a little. He sat perfectly still in his seat, his expression immediately changing to show nothing at all as the teacher turned to them once more. Linda was right, of course. He kind of had a soft spot for the younger-years.

L2: I'm asking for a reason, Matt. And think about this. The last few days I've heard from you things like, "Near keeps fucking watching Mello and it's pissing me off." or "What if Mello doesn't come back?" "Do you think they might actually get along?" I can understand you being paranoid about losing your best friend, Matt... but then you also say things like, "Do you think Mello would like it if..." "Should I do _ for Mello today?" "I'm thinking of doing _ for Mello's birthday, what do you think?" Are you thinking about this?

Woah. What the hell with the topic change? Ohh, he was working SO hard on that face... and he wasn't sure it was working. It almost hurt, and he felt like he might even be shaking. What the hell was Linda getting at? No... he was pretty sure he could see what Linda was getting at. But she couldn't come to a conclusion like that so quickly. He wasn't even sure himself if what she were implying were true, and he didn't want to hear it before he was sure himself.

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If somebody didn't stop, someone was going to get hurt. He could see it now, and he didn't really give a fuck if it happened or not. His only concern was that it was causing a distraction to him, and his lesson was getting screwed because of it. He gave a loud, aggravated sigh. This was exactly why they weren't allowed to date within their Focuses. Technically, they weren't allowed to date anyone in a study closely related to their Focus either, so that was a double no-no on this pair of idiots.

Girls, too. Both of them, that is. Worst kind of couple to be in a fight, probably. They had made it a dramatic point to sit apart from eachother that day, but they were obviously passing IM notes and glaring at eachother every few minutes... along with the obvious display of aggravation and obscene gestures here and there. Seriously?!

Mello rolled his eyes, turning to see if anyone else were as irritated as him. Plenty of people were, but none worth talking to.

L2: Hey Mel, you clear?

Oh, hello. Someone worth talking to. Linda was in a Focus class, so she must be really bored or already know what's going on if she were IMing him instead.

M: I'm clear. What's up?

L2: I'm concerned about your husband.

... Excuse her?! He wished she would stop making queer references to he and Matt being queer.

M: Would you knock that off?! What's wrong with Matt?

L2: It's even better for me every time you acknowledge who I'm talking about. Your temper is in no way ever going to make me stop, just so you are aware. I ttly ship you two. OTP. Omg. -hearts-

M: Would you fucking knock it off? Seriously, between you and Matt and your fucking geek-speech it's a wonder I still have a normal working vocabulary. What do you want?

He frowned a little, ripping a sheet of paper from a notebook and writing "shut ur fucking pie-holes you banshees" with his left hand before crumpling it and tossing it at one of the girl's heads after the teacher had turned around. The girl immediately spun to see where it had come from but no one else had been paying attention (or they didn't care,) and he was already checking his screen again.

L2: Seriously this time, Mello... I think Matt's in love with you.