a/n: Okay…it's been forever. I'm getting back into this story now, which is good for both of us. Happy Holdiays!

Disclaimer: I still don't own Death Note…

Chapter 7

**Three Days Later**

Matt's P.O.V

I rested on my bed and looked up at the popcorn ceiling. It felt good to be back in my room, and I didn't realize how much I missed it until I saw it again for the first time in weeks. My bed had been neatly made and my video game systems were returned to their spot under the TV in the front of the room. There were chocolate bar wrappers thrown around the wooden floor but they were picked up by Roger before I could even finish bending down to get them myself. I was told to lay down and relax so I would have some energy when I returned to my classes tomorrow, and then I was left alone in my room. Mello wouldn't be in for another two hours because he was still in class. I could hardly wait for him to get in so he could see that I was back. I was so excited.

I smiled and relaxed, picking my PSP up from off of the bedside table. I played for a little while, but after about thirty minutes I began to feel drowsy. I tried to fight off the impending sleep, but it was only a few minutes before my eyes slowly drifted closed.

OOO

Mello's P.O.V

I opened the door to my room violently, letting it hit the wall behind it as it flew open. The sound the collision made reverberated through the dark room like thunder on a rainy night. At that exact moment I heard a yelp and a crash in the bedroom, like someone falling to the floor. I quickly entered the room and turned on the lights, nearly dropping the books when I saw Matt sitting on the floor rubbing his head.

"Matt?" I asked loudly, looking at the redhead on the floor.

"Hiya, Mels," he responded, rubbing his head as if it had just been hit. I put my books down on the bed and offered to help him up.

"What were you doing on the floor?" I asked when he was on his feet.

"I fell," he replied, "hit my head pretty good too." He sat down on the bed and looked up at me, a half smile on his face. I laughed a little, covering my mouth when Matt pouted.

"Did I scare you?" I asked, trying hard not to laugh again. Matt nodded and blushed slightly.

"I thought it was thunder," he mentioned softly. Thunder. My mind went back to the night before Matt was admitted to the infirmary, back to the fear that he admitted to feeling and the love that filled the air when we held each other that night.

"You're still afraid of thunder storms?" I asked him with a sigh.

"Well yeah… what'd you expect? You thought it would change in one night?" Matt huffed and turned away from me, his face filled with an emotion that I couldn't quite place. I sighed and sat down beside him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders.

"No, I guess I couldn't expect that." I laid my head on his shoulder from behind and breathed in his scent. It was different than his usual smell. He always smelled like tobacco and sweat, now it was just soap. I breathed in deeply before I spoke again. "Matt," I called his name softly, brushing my fingers against his warm neck.

"Yes, Mello." His voice was soft and calm and he moved my hand up to his cheek, pressing it there softly.

"I have a question for you." I've had this question since I'd seen him last, in the infirmary. I pulled back slowly and he turned to face me.

"What is it?" I looked down, avoiding his gaze. I couldn't ask the question if I saw his eyes, I would become too nervous.

"How do you feel about me?" I looked at him through my bangs, he looked confused. "I mean, do you only see me as a friend?" I looked up at him then, when my eyes met his I felt like he could see into my soul and I could see into his. There was something there that I never noticed before, something strong. Love?

"If that's how you want me to see you," was his only reply. I shook my head slowly.

"I don't want it to be about what I want," I said, "I want to know how you feel."

"I…" He paused for several minutes, frustrating me.

"You what?" I asked, irritation in my voice.

"I love you, Mels," he said softly. His eyes expressed the truthfulness of the three words that made my heart leap.

"You mean it?" I asked softly, I smiled timidly at him and he nodded.

"Of course I do."

My smile widened and I threw my arms around his neck. "I love you too!" I exclaimed. He laughed and laid back, pulling me on top of him. I buried my face into his shirt and breathed in the scent of soap again. I looked up at him and he smiled down at me. "Can you do me a favor?"

"Sure. What?"

"Smoke." He looked at me, confusion in his eyes, but then he laughed.

"I don't think that would be a favor for you" he commented before pulling a cigarette out of his pocket and putting it in his mouth. I stretched my arm out and opened the drawer beside us, pulling out the lighter. "Thank you," he said when I lit the cigarette that hung from his mouth. He smiled as he smoked and I breathed in the nicotine scented air with a sigh. This was Matt, and Matt was back.

a/n: Okay, probably about 2 more chapters. Does that make you happy? I'm going to start working on the next one tomorrow morning. REVIEW!