Chapter 1:

This is boring. I hate christmass.

I mean, what good comes out of buying presents for others?

Sure, getting presents yourself is always good, I won't lie here. Whenever L buys something for me, I feel all elated like some stupid kindergarden girl...but come on.

Me? Buy a present? No...Damn you Roger, no!

This is all his fault. The fact that I'm standing in frond of these overly decorated shelves that make my stomach turn 360 degrees, is all Roger's fault.

What kind of stupid idea was that?

'Do not spend your allowance this month' He said, as he called each and every one of us in the common room. 'You will need this money for a small christmass

project I have prepared for you'.

And me, being the dupe I am, got all excited once I heard the word 'project'. If only I had known...

So I didn't spend my money. I managed to hold myself back from bying cigarettes for the past three weeks. I didn't drink in bars with Matt either. He ended up

going alone anyway. I doubt Matt gives a crap about these projects, heh.

This is our favourite pastime, how could I have just thrown it away for something so...stupid? Sheesh...

So the day of the ordeal arrived.

Roger came into the common room again, carrying a big white carton box. He said we would have a draw first.

Each of us was to go and pick a random wrapped paper from inside the box, and not open it up until he said so. So Roger-like...remembering it makes my blood

boil even more!

So I went and took my paper, feeling all happy and up for a challenge. Hey, at least it looked like fun then.

Until his explanation began.

'I hope you have saved your money like I asked.' he said and cleared his voice. Old dupe. 'Each of you is holding onto a paper. In the paper, there is a name.

You will have to buy a suitable present for your assigned person, the one written inside your papers, that is. Then, your target will give you a score.

It will not be me whom you will have to pass your assignment too, this time. It is your target, and your score will come from there.'

That was when my fighting spirit collapsed. So I had to guy some stupid present, for some stupid girl (or boy, I could care less) and get my grade from there?

Seriously, I think Roger's brain is becomming more disfunctional as the years go by.

'Your deadline is the 24th.' He said, and walked out of the room to answer the impatient phone that kept piercing right through my ears. What an ugly sound.

So that was when I opened my paper. That was when my problems began. That was when I read that goddamned name.

How could this happen to me?

Me? Buy a present for Near?

As soon as his name reached my mind, I glared at him as if I wanted to break every single bone in his little girly-looking body.

And he was looking back at me, holding his paper in frond of him, reading the name a few good times.

Great, just what I needed.

I ran to him through the room and snatched the paper away.

'Mello, what's wrong?' He asked me, his voice bearing no particurlar colors. It was empty, like usual. He didn't seem affected at all that my name was written

on his paper.

"What kind of sick joke is this?" I yelled and pushed him to the wall. He must've hit his back then, cuz it sure sounded like it.

"I don't understand what you mean, Mello." He replied right away. It just made me angrier! He never knows when to shut up, does he? I grabbed him

by the wrist and practically pulled him to Roger's office. I ignored the fact that his door was closed, I just opened it and rushed in.

I also ignored the fact that he was still talking on the phone. Darn oldfart, I felt like smucking your face god knows how much, right then!

I took his phone away and hang up, glaring at him, gritting my teeth from embarassement. Just the thought of having to exchange presents with the little

white furball made me feel like digging a grave for myself right then.

"what is the meaning of this?" I yelled out and shoved the papers in frond of his eyes, swinging them, just to make sure he noticed.

"what are you talking about, Mello?" Roger asked, looking clearly angry for what I had done.

I could care less who he was talking to! He made me save up my money like an idiot for this? Hell no, I wouldn't take that!

And as expeted, I got no concrete answer.

He said stuff like "oh, so you got paired up together" and "work hard", then he shood us away and went back to his phone calls.

I wonder how expensive his bills are. Sometimes I imagine shoving those bills in his mouth. It does give me a level of satisfaction.

...And that's about it.

Somehow, I ended up agreeing to the stupid game. And somehow, right now I'm standing in frond of shelves and shelves with stupid christmass contents, with the saleswoman

standing right beside me. This situation is freaking me out.

I've only have five days left to decide on the twerp's present. Crap.

"Sir, have you decided on anything? Do you need some help?" The saleswoman asked me, with that trademark sweet 'let-me-take-care-of-you' voice they all have.

She's hot alright. When she doesn't talk, that is.

"No, thanks." I reply as simply as I can, trying hard to not scare her away. Having to cope with an angry saleswoman is the least I need right now.

I am scanning the shelves with my eyes. Nothing comes to my attention. It's all pointless.

Unfortunately enough, I'll actually have to think this through, to find something the furrball would actually appreciate enough to give me a good mark.

What does he appreciate, other than his stupid toys...?

Wait-that's it. I'll buy him some sort of stupid toy, a puzzle, or something. He loves that stuff, this much I can tell.

I look at the saleswoman and clear my throat. "...T-Toys."

She raises and eyebrow and tilts her head. "Yes?"

God, why are women so stupid? What doesn't she understand?

"Where are your toys?" I am startng to lose my temper here...

The woman jumps up a little, but she still manages to hold that ugly, barbie-frozen smile on her face. "Unfortunately, we do not have toys here sir. Could I lead you to the perfumes though?"

Ok, that's it, I'm glad I don't have a gun or something with me. She'd be dead by now.

I walk to the exit fast and rush out, leaving the annoying barbie-wannabe smiling to herself.

...This is going to be a long week...