A/N: okay- this was just something for me to do as a break from my other stories. And again- this is my first full out yaoi so be kind...

-Why did I have to do that? Why did I have to go and do such a stupid thing? Damn I'm such an idiot. I should have known better. He should have known better.-

Chapter One

It was already December and Christmas was just around the corner. The whole orphanage was decorated with festive ornaments as fresh snow coated the courtyard. I saw Matt from the window of the library; throwing snow balls at that bimbo of a girl, Linda.

Damn...that sure looks like fun.

''Mello? - are you listening?''

My train of thought was suddenly distracted; my focus was drawn back...back to Near. Roger had forced us to work on a stupid biology report, just us. No one else. Alone in the library whilst everyone was happily frolicking in the sense of Christmas.

I hate it. I hated him. My Christmas holiday was being stolen from me.

''what does it matter if I did or didn't hear you'' I growled as I hung my arm over the back of my chair ''you'd probably get a better mark than me anyway...might as well do the stupid thing yourself!''

Even though I admit we are working untastefully together and probably we'd get the same conjoint mark...I still believe that he'd somehow earn extra credit, no scratch that. I'm positive that he will.

''Mello I was just asking a simple question there was no need to bark at me like that'' Near remarked, curling a strand. I frowned snatching the book that we were studying off. Scanning over the pages loathingly.

I can talk to him any way I like!- who does he think he is?, I thought peeking my eyes over the book. PHFF Why the hell did he even agree to do this stupid project with me huh?- He god damn well known's that I hate him and that will never change ...grrr

''did you find anything useful?'' the white haired boy quietly asked blandly staring at a piece of paper that had some notes jotted down.

I grumbled lightly at Near's coyness. I threw the book down with a loud smack and stared at him with a deep frown plastered on my face. Oh how I so just wanted to punch the living daylights out of him but...that's not how L would have done it. I need to keep my emotions under lock, that's the key to ever succeed.

''no'' I grumbled through my teeth, biting at my bottom lip a little, resisting to blurt out any of my colourful words at him; and that became tricky.

Near lifted his head slightly, I could see his eyes barely beneath his thick bangs, sheepishly staring back. I cringed softly to myself, seeing his dull and colourless eye peeking up at me; it made me feel sick in the stomach. But the real gut curling thing was that I was the only one who'd ever meet his gaze, I'm sure Near has never look at L or Roger before or even move a little to the tone of there voice, only me. Quite sickening really.

Near opened his mouth to say something but quickly withdrew his words, looking dismally down, tediously picking at a lock of his hair like a freak.

''wha?- what is it. You where about to say something '' I noticed pulling a knuckle up under my cheek, resting my elbow on the table. Might as well listen to him since there was nothing else better to do.

''I was just thinking that perhaps we should find a sample''

''what? - find a sample of frickn' mistletoe.''

''yes''

''can't we just grab some of that fake stuff hanging freely over there'' I grumbled lazily pointing over to the door where a bunch of cheap plastic mistletoe was hanging. Near smirked lightly, but still keeping his distant but placid disposition.

''no. It'll be more logical if we supply a real sample for the biology report''

''*phft* whatever''

Really and sincerely I just wanted to ditch this right here and now and go outside in the snow and throw snow balls around with Matt and hopefully make Linda cry like any normal teen would do, but the problem here is Near.

The one thing that annoys me above everything else he does is that once he's assigned something and if he takes an interest in it, he'll stick to it like super glue; and this report was one of them.

''well, pardon me but where the hell are we going to find mistletoe that isn't made of synthetic fibres?''

'' I do recall that there is a small potted tree in the science lab that started to showed signs of mistletoe growth''

'' man, you have an answer for everything don't you'' I sarcastically groaned.

''I try to''