Would the owner of D. Gray-man really be writing fanfiction? Really?

Personal disclaimer: any and all opinions on music are not meant to offend.

"I used to be love drunk,
But now I'm hungover,
Love you forever,
Forever is over!"

"Shut up!" my guardian yells, throwing a hammer that I narrowly miss at my head. "Sing some oldies already, not your crappy pop music!"

"It's not pop!" I scream over the blasting music. "It's alternate rock!" God forbid I listen to pop! Well, Avril Lavigne can be pretty good, but, other than her, there are few pop songs I would be caught dead listening to and fewer I'd be caught alive. Just to piss Cross off more, I resume where the song is.

"There's just one thing would make me say-

Holy crap! My bedroom door bangs open, making me jump high enough to hit my head off the ceiling. My crazy, red head, tone-deaf guardian by law stands with the barrel of his gun aimed for my head. I doubt it's loaded right now, but it's still scary to have a gun pointed at you. "One more note," he warns, "and I will pump you full of lead." His eye that isn't covered by the creepy mask on his face narrows behind his glasses. I nod quickly, not exhaling until my door closes behind him.

Bored now that I can't sing or play the small electric keyboard in the corner of my room (he said one more note, after all), I flop on the midnight blue comforter on my bed. The springs creak familiarly under me. Ol' Reliable has been through five moves and is still going strong. At least there's one constant thing that's mine.

I groan and roll over so my face is in the cool wall. I lightly bang my head off it as I remember why I was singing in the first place: I have school tomorrow. To be more specific, my eighth school in my fifteen years of life in a dinky town about and hour from Pittsburgh.

Hell, to put it simply.

For some reason Cross will not disclose to me- probably having to do with whores, money, and/or debt/tax collectors- we have moved from Chicago to here: a one story house with two bed rooms, a kitchen, a living room, and a garage. Notice the lack of bathroom in that description? Good. There's an outhouse and some trees out back. We put the toilet paper on a shelf near the back door. Fun, right? Can't wait for winter.

"Teenage Dream" starts playing, making my ears bleed internally and a cat die somewhere. Reluctantly, I roll out of bed so I can remove my charging ipod, named Crown Clown due to the awesome picture of a clown with a crown etched on it, and plug it into the small but working stereo.

I click shuffle and "Fighting" by Yellowcard blares from the old speakers I found in someone's garbage that we passed on the way here. So wasteful.

What to do now? Everything's basically unpacked except for one more box. Might as well finish up.

I sing softy along as I open the last box labeled 'books' sitting on my floor.

"Do you want to die," Cross yells, "because when I said I'd pump you full of lead, I firmly intended to leave you alive long enough for lead poisoning to take affect!" Damn inhuman hearing. There's a new slur is in his voice. There goes the food budget; better go hid the tax money before he gets that too. The books are going to have to wait.

+…+

"You just couldn't wait to finish me off," I choke out to Cross as I try and get the horrible taste of his food off my dying taste buds. "Was poison really necessary?" My chair scraps on he old tiles as I quickly move to the sink. I spit into the sink, grimacing as the horrible taste continues to burn. Water! I need water!

"Shut the hell up." His apathetic voice irks me. "That had to be one of the gayest spits I have ever had the misfortune to hear."

Well, screw you too. I clench my jaw, and instead respond, "I'm half gay, what do you want from me?" I grab the cold handle on the sink and turn it on full blast, gulping down the water as fast as I can. That's much better.

I can hear Cross finish the soup that probably has fish eyes mixed in. "About one hundred bucks would be awesome." He moves over to the sink I'm still bent over and drops the hard bowl close enough to my face to surprise me. Ulp! The water went down the wrong pipe! I come up coughing and shut the water off. "And by 'would be' I meant 'give me the money now.'" He is just so subtle and concerned.

I make sure to keep my expression neutral as I grab the money in back pocket of my jeans- the safest place in the whole house to keep money- and I turn over the amount Cross wanted. "Here, go die in a gutter."

"But then who would take care of your sorry ass?" Cross responds, eyes on his money as he flips though the bills. I have to force myself not to laugh at the irony. I could probably buy France with the amount of money he spends and I need him to take care of me? Stupider words have never been muttered. Well, except for 'Justin Bieber is an awesome singer.'

"Don't blow up the house while I'm gone, idiot." He turns his back on me and walks away without even a 'thanks' or 'goodbye.' The front door slams, the sound of an engine starting up a few minutes later. Silence falls, but I can't relax. With Cross blowing that much money in one night so soon after moving, I definitely need to gamble soon.

Quick as I can, gather all the dirty dishes and load them in the dishwasher. I then run to my room to retrieve my 'kit' for gambling just in case I come across a lively location to gamble. I plan on tonight being more of a recon then a betting night, but you never some extra wouldn't be bad. Depending on how hard homework is I might not be able to gamble as much as I had before.

Talk about a school with one braincell between everyone.

Making sure to lock the beat up front door behind me and my jacket and gloves are securely on, I take a deep breath before walking out onto the unfamiliar road. At least I know the general direction of town and can't get that lost. A scenic route at this time wouldn't be that welcome.

Town isn't that far away, about fifteen minutes tops if I'm jogging and cutting through yards if the road is completely out of the way, but it is huge. Well, it's bigger than I expected, which isn't much. Toy, book, clothe, and- more importantly- music and food stores all line up in a straight line on the sides of the road. A few apartments, as well as some clubs, are also scattered in the line. I pass a few shops that sell alcohol as well.

Note to self: set fire to those stores. It should be a pretty impressive firework show with all the alcohol in there. Thank god there's a pharmacy and small hospital here as well. We've only needed serious medical attention twice since I've been with Cross, but it's reassuring it know it's there.

I stop outside a building obviously used for gambling, light smoke drifting from the windows. The weeping grown men with only their underwear on outside is a telltale sign. It's an old and beat-up place, out of the way from the main part of town most people probably stick to. In other words, the perfect place for some quick cash.

An alleyway separating this building and the bar next door serve as my cover to change. My white hair and scar make me too easy to remember, no matter how hammered a person is, so I have my handy kit.

I grab a pony tail holder and some clips to pull back my hair and keep my fringe back before pulling out a brown wig close to my original color before it turned white. Cover up is carefully applied over my scar. I'm especially sure to avoid putting it in my wig. It's kind of a dead give away.

Dusk has fallen, making the task harder than it needs to be, but I manage. My shirt, a black tee with the out line of a white top hat in the center, is tucked into my beginning to get too small jeans and is covered with a plaid, untucked button up to give me a more inexperienced look. I could so be in the CIA with all this undercover stuff I have to do to keep from being killed by collectors.

The bell above me rings as I walk in. Smoke immediately crawls in my nose along with the stench of beer, but doesn't affect me too much. This is one of the few times I'm glad to live with Cross. Multiple tables are set up with a game going at each one. Most look to be poker games, but a few are Texas Hold 'Em. Groans, along with shouts of victory, reach my ears every few minutes. I make a beeline for the table closest to the door that has a poker game going.

Four guys are playing with a thick crowd around them. I don't fight through the crowd, just gradually move forward as each hand passes. When I do get to the front, I don't sit down in an open chair. Instead, I hover around like a puppy eager for someone, anyone, to throw him a bone.

"Kid, do you know how to play?"

Hook.

I make my eyes widen in what should be a shocked expression, then look around as if some other teenager would be in a building that could advertise bad decisions in life. "Me?" I ask, pointing to myself and trying not to laugh. I probably look like an idiot. A man with a teal colored hat nods impatiently. I slowly lower myself to the chair.

Line.

"Do you know how to play?" His voice is raspy, like he swallowed a pail of nails. I make sure to pause before answering.

"A little."

Teal Hat's mouth moves to a smile closer to a smirk than an actual grin. He thinks I'm easy money. "Tell you what," he starts, pulling the half gone cigarette from his chapped lips, "play a round for free to get the hang of it." I nod, trying not to let an evil grin make an appearance on my face. Yet.

A hand later, I lose as expected. My luck is horrible,. The man tries to act sympathetic around his smile, but it just doesn't work. "Bad luck," he supplies, flipping through the cash he just won. "Want to try again?

"Okay…"

And sinker.

+15 minutes later+

"He can't be human!" A man that used to have a teal hat screams as he runs out of the building. Every eye turns to me. I stifle down the feeling of fear at so many eyes, shuffle the cards in a way that only few can do, and adjust my new hat on my head. I let my evil smile free, meeting a few pairs of eyes. "Anyone else?" I ask innocently.

I have never seen a building clear out so fast.

Shrugging, I pocket the money, securing my food budget for the next week or two. With no one willing to verse me, I might as well leave. The chair slides silently on the ground as I get up. People give me the familiar evil eye as I leave. Ah, memories.

The fresh air outside is a nice change from the dense smoke screen I was in, but it's gotten even darker out. Only a few streetlights lend me light, and seeing as I can get lost in a mall, this will not be easy. Good thing I always have Crown Clown with me.

+1 hour later+

Ah! I passed that same building two songs ago! Why is the town's lay out so confusing? I already took my wig and button up off, but the make up probably still covers my scar. I did the best I could to get it off, but I can't see that well in the dark. Ugh, my face feels crusty already.

"Hey!" I stop walking. "HEY!" There it is again. I pop the left ear bud out and turn around.

A boy with red hair held up by a bandana is coming towards me, a pile of papers in his hand. He has a jacket, a tee with a hammer pattern covering his shirt, and shorts on. Walking contradiction much? It's October! "You've been passed here a couple times," he tells me. Genius, I didn't notice. "Need a ride somewhere?"

Get in a car with a stranger? "Shouldn't you offer me candy if you're kidnapping me?"

He laughs. "So my eye candy isn't good enough?" Now that we're closer together, I can see he only has one shining green- not emerald like some love-sick girl would say- eye. An eye patch covers the other. I feel my curiosity peek. I wonder what happened there.

Some of the papers he's holding flutter out of his hand as the wind blows. "Shit," he mumbles. I bend down to help him and notice 'Help Wanted." Curious, I stand up and move to the nearest streetlight to read it.

The poster has a keyboard (the music kind) and crazy flashes of lighting bolts. It's chaotic with all the details on it, but catches your eye.

HELP WANTED

Can you play keyboard? Contact ZoNE if interested.

Hot females are preferred, but anyone with a normal attention span will do.

(724-***-****)

The lettering is done in a crazy way as well. The y on keyboard has piano keys coming out of it, and the o in ZoNE has what seems to be a cross in it. The line above the phone number is scribbled on like it wasn't originally part of the design. I bet the money I just won that this red head put that on there.

"You interested?" I jump and spin around, only to clonk heads with the guy. He holds out his hand for the poster and I give it over. "Do you play?"

Play what? …Oh! "Yes. Guitar and clarinet also." I swear the stranger looks like I just gave him a winning lottery ticket. Or porn. He seems like a porn kind of guy.

"Awesome!" He grabs my hand and shakes it. "Come on new member, I'll give you a ride home while we-"

I rip my hand from his grasp, ants running on my skin. It was the disfigured one. Not that he can see it, but I'm really touché about my arm. No one touches it. Ever. Besides, I never said I'd join. It just wouldn't work with my stage fright. Not that I'm going to tell a complete stranger that. "I don't even know your name," I reason.

"Lavi Deak." Wow, not even an ounce of hesitation of telling a stranger his name. "I'm the guitarist and vocalist of ZoNE."

He waits expectantly for my name, looking start into my eyes. It's a little disconcerting, like he'll know if I lie. "I'm Allen Walker." Personal bank for Marian Cross. I hold my hand out for him to shake.

Lavi snaps his fingers, ignoring the gesture. "You're the new kid! Going to Gray High tomorrow, right?" How did- "I was in the office for some prank I was framed for," he answers as if reading my mind, "and saw a file sitting on the principal's desk. I just happened to knock it to the ground and read the pages I picked up." By the smirk in his face, I strongly doubt he was framed or knocked my file down by accident.

"Okay…well…excuse me then." I walk in the opposite direction of this Lavi guy. He seems strange. Not someone I want to mix with.

A hand grasps my shoulder. "But what about the band~!" he whines. "Don't you want to know where practice-"

I hold up my hand to silence him. Guess it's time for bluntness. "I never said I was joining your band. Please let it go." Shrugging him off my shoulder, I start walking again. Sure, I have no idea where the hell I am or going, but its better than building this guy's hopes up.

"See ya later, Allen~!" His voice echoes on the buildings as I turn Crown Clown back on. He sounds so sure of himself.

+20 minutes later+

This town is endless! I passed this building already! Wait, this is where...

Lavi is waiting for me. "Back again, new member?" Damn my horrible sense of direction. It will get me killed someday. "My offer of a ride still stands," he bribes.

I sigh. Stay out here where a hobo can rob me or go with the hyper red head? "Where's your car?" Once again, the child like smile springs to his face. He starts walking of into the night...where it's hard to see what's happening. When Lavi sees I'm not following, he makes a gesture that obviously means 'come on.' I eye him. Hmm...I could take him in a fight. Shivering, I start towards him.

Lavi's car is old and beat up, but has character. A long scratch on my side of the door has been accented with colors instead of covered up. It contracts well with the faded blue paint covering…whatever kind of car this is. I don't know cars and am not going to learn anytime soon. The handle is firm when I open the door (so it's not as bad as it looks) and climb inside. I give him the directions to a street near my house that I'm positive I can find my way home from.

I'm not letting him know where I live. Think about it. Lavi showing up every day to get me for practice. From the sounds of it I'll have to avoid him at school. Why add another location?

To my surprise, his car is really tidy on the inside. There are no magazines or porn, but the scent of books does float in the air The warm air that hits me in the face as the old car turns on isn't unwelcome, but the sound that blasts from the speakers is.

"Stop asking me questions
I'd hate to see you cry
Mama, we're all gonna die"

My Chemical Romance. Wasn't expecting that. There are worse things that could've come on, like Miley Cyrus. I would've thrown myself out of the car had "Party in the USA" come on

Lavi starts singing along, not bothering to turn down the volume. What the heck? Is he trying to make me deaf? At least it's almost over.

His voice... is deeper than mine, but carries the notes very well. It makes perfect sense that he would sing in his band. It does have a kind of charisma about it that makes you want to listen. Girls won't even have to see his face to want to marry this guy. He's perfect material to get signed.

Too bad I can't perform.

"So raise your glass high
For tomorrow we die
And return from the ashes you call!"

As the song finishes, I notice Lavi unplug his ipod from the AUV and pop in a CD instead, catching my interest. "What's that? Fall Out Boy? Yellowcard? Paramore?"

Lavi looks at me with approval almost leaking from his eye. "All awesome choices, but no. Glad we got a member with good taste in music for once." I watch him fiddle with the buttons on the built-in CD player for a few seconds. The clock under it reads 9:50.

This silence is awkward. What to talk about.

"So is the position in your band recent or what? Who'd you have in the past?" I'm not interested, just making conversation.

Who am I kidding? That voice! I want to play with that voice so bad!

"Let's see…there was Toma, who was a pretty good drummer but had to move away. Mei-Ling, who was epic with an acoustic, but ran away with the circus to tell fortunes." Lavi is still fiddling with the CD player as we talk, trying to get it on the right track as he talks to me.

"Mimi," he continues, slamming the player when it spits the CD back out, "who flirted with every guy that came with in a mile. Couldn't do much and quit when our drummer chewed her out." He chuckles. "Lastly, Lala. Her voice was just wow." I give him a look. 'Wow' doesn't tell me much. "She could even rival Amy Lee. Her grandpa, Guzol, died, and she was so depressed she stopped singing." He sighs heavy. "I miss her the most.

"Those are the main people important enough to have a place in my giant mess of a mind," Lavi concludes, throwing the CD he had when he finds out it's apparently the wrong one. "Most others where scared away by our sour puss of a drummer before a month." His eye meets mine, and an easy smile comes to his face. "You should be fine. You look like you take crap from no one. Can't wait till you start.

A sigh escapes me. Time for my last resort. Confession time. "Lavi, I can't join your band." Oh, great. Now he looks like a kicked puppy. "It's not that I don't want to," I quickly explain, "I just have a horrible case of stage fright." I know I'll let them down when I get on a stage and pass out from shallow breathing.

Music is awesome, and one of the reasons I hadn't given up the clarinet. Marching band is one of the few places you could put other instruments together and make a song. It's magic, learning your part then hearing it with another. Nothing compares. Being in an actual band... that's on top of my Christmas list, just under 'Cross pays own debts' and 'debts go away.' It's above 'get a girl/boyfriend' though.

Some may say my priorities are messed up. After living with Cross for a few years, I'm just glad 'Cross murdered with crowbar in the kitchen' isn't in my top twenty.

"Are we talking 'weak knee' stage fright," Lavi starts, ticking off the kinds of stage fright on his hand as he stops at a stop sign, "'vomit' stage fright, 'everyone can read my mind' stage fright-"

"'Passing out backstage when a fan catches your eye as you peek out from behind the curtain' stage fright," I answer. That's just toning it down. "Wait, 'everyone can read my mind' stage fright?" Never heard of that one before.

"When you stand in front of a crowd and start listening to your thoughts. They seem loud to you, so you wonder if others can hear it," he explains, and then let's put a cry of victory when he finds the right track. He silences me when he starts the CD player. There's some static as first, then talking.

"Ready Yu-chan?" Lavi's voice, high and teasing, comes out of the speakers.

"Shut up!" an angry voice yells in response. Some shuffling and a yelp of pain, probably from the red head himself.

"Come on guys!" A pretty female voice comes out now, too. Now a bang.

"Wha-" I start. Lavi waves his hand to cut me off. "Just wait, it's coming."

More shuffling, then silence. I cast an eye at the driving Lavi, but he's focused on the road. His hands are clenching the wheel in what looks to be anticipation."One, two, three, four!"

A tap off sounds. A drumbeat accompanied by an electric guitar sounds with a bass slowly gaining in the background. "Boom!" the drums sound before the guitars come in again. The rhythm comes back, but is suddenly cut off to play another one a few seconds in. It sounds...strange. Incomplete.

"You keep calling it a crash and burn, Lavi's voice fills the car.
"Just wait your turn you might have time to speak
There barely was a lesson learned
Cause in return no favors back to me"

I notice my back has become straighter like it does every time I'm interested in something, and my head is leaning forward in an attempt to hear better. Lavi turns it up without looking.

I'm sure it tasted oh so sweet
But it was never good enough for me
I bit the tongue behind my teeth
It was never good enough for me!"

The rythm cuts off for a moment before coming back full steam for the chorus.

"You said you always keep your word
Show me what you're after
I thought you promised me the world
Tell me what you're after
Go on and take it way to far
Cause here we are waiting once again
You said you always keep your word
Show me what you're after
Just a little faster"

"That's the chorus!" Lavi yells over the music. Really? Couldn't tell. I nod my head before tuning back to the song. As the next verse starts, I notice that it seems to be missing something the whole time, not just at the beginning, like a space has been left for someone to fill.

"Just a little faster," Lavi's voice slurs beautifully, taking the attention I have on the instruments as they decrease in speed and fixing in on him. Man I love that voice.

"Hold your breath now the bad blood's wearing thin.
From the pain that settles in when we learn too much to soon."
The drums kick it up from just the steady pulse of the pedal and add more flare as Lavi repeats.

Hold your breath now the bad blood's wearing thin
From the pain that settles in when we learn too much"

"(Too soon)" a deeper voice echoes, sounding a bit off as it conflicts with lead singer's voice. It's not bad- they can get away with it- but should be higher. Not female, but higher.

The chorus repeats, all the energy from the first time present. Lavi's voice shows no sign of tiring or loosing volume. Impressive.

It was never good enough for me
Show me what you're after
Just a little faster"

The drum finishes off the song well with the abrut stop right after the last words are sung. There's cheering, but that's cut off sharply as the recording is stopped. The driver and I sit in silence, the night passing by swiftly. Wasn't it a short walk to town? I must've been more lost then I thought.

"So…how was it?" Lavi's voice is flat, braced for insult. I frown mentally. Serious really doesn't suit him well. The somber expression on his face is as out of place as it would be on Cross. "That bad, huh?" Damn, I waited to long to say something! "I know we aren't the best-"

I start applauding to get him to shut up. It's all I got as I try to find the words. "What do you mean? That was epic! It sounded like you needed another instrument in there, but wow! Your voice and the drums...just wow!" I finish lamely. 'Wow' can't even begin to sum up the music they created. "Who wrote it?"

I can see Lavi flush in the dim lighting from around us as he answers, "Me. I wrote a part for another guitar, specifically rhythm guitar, and I've been looking for someone for a month. You could tell it was missing."

"Yeah," I answer truthfully. "And the echo voice needed to be higher but still a male voice." Lavi nods thoughtfully, like he's actually committing my feedback to memory.

"Anything else?" he asks. When I shake my head, he smiles and asks, "Ready to join?"

Can't he get it through his head I'm not joining? "I told you-"

"Yeah, yeah. You have stage fright." He stops the car and stares me down. "How come you were fine gambling in public?"

I'm not looking in a mirror, but I'm positive a shocked expression is on my face. Is he a stalker? Oh man! I inch towards the door. "How-"

"Your eyes." Lavi supplies as if it answers everything. "Not many people have gray eyes. Plus, I saw you walk out of the building where the guy ran screaming, 'He can't be human!' when I was hanging my posters near by. I followed you and saw you take of the wig." He shrugs, like he stalks people every day. "So, tell me the real reason."

I sigh. "It's different in front of those people. They aren't judging me, I am extremely confident in my gambling ability..." An evil chuckle escapes me, and I think I feel the flames of hell lap at my back for a moment. "And I'm just so used to it that it doesn't bother me anymore," I finish, letting the flame of hell sink back to Satan.

"But if you got used to it-"

I shake my head. "It took me over a year. A long year."

Lavi sighs heavily. "Too bad. You're in. And I will cure you of your fear." He unlocks the my door, which I didn't even know was locked, and tells me, "You don't have to hide where you live." With a jolt, I realize he's sitting in the tiny driveway of my new house. Man, is he a stalker or what?

"You'll met everyone tomorrow," he continues, either ignoring or not noticing my discomfort. "Y- er, Kanda, the drummer, is a junior, and Lenalee, Bass, is a sophomore like me." Lenalee…the name seems familiar.

Lavi backs out of the driveway as soon as I slam my door and backs up so he can look at me through the window of his car. "I'm not a stalker, by the way."

I snort. "Could've fooled me." One more smile, this time with a hint of wickedness, and he pulls into the driveway of the house beside me. The car's ignition stops, and my neighbor climbs out and waves. "See you tomorrow, new member!"

"I'm not joining," I say. It's not loud enough for him hear. I'm exhausted and don't have the heart to fight the useless battle. Maybe the rest of ZoNE will understand and convince him.

The house is empty when I walk in. Thank god! It means Cross probably took tonight's slut in some hotel room and I won't have to hear it through the paper thin walls. Seriously, the fact I still have a sex drive, no matter how small, is a miracle.

I can read the time on he clock above the couch. It's already 10:30! I was out longer than I thought. A groan escapes me. I have school tomorrow. Joy.

I do my usual routine of brushing my teeth, washing my face (no one likes pimples), and striping down to my boxers. Since it's getting cold out, I'll have to actually put on PJ pants, which will take up room in the wash. I climb under my comforter and snuggle into my pillow.

Only when I'm on the edge of sleep do I realize there's no way it should've taken Lavi that long to drive me home. I got in his car around 9:50 if his clock was right. He had to of driven around the block a couple of times for me to have sung with him, talked, listened to his band, and then talked again.

Maybe there's more to him than a hyper happy red head…

+The next morning+

"Bloody hell!" I yell as my vision unblurs long enough for me to read the clock. I forgot to set my alarm last night! My mind was too preoccupied with the band idea and Lavi.

I met him yesterday and he's already causing me trouble. Great.

Having only slept in my underwear last night, I'm able to strip down quickly to take a quick shower. The shower itself is small and tucked into a corner, so I take a flashlight with me. Shampoo runs in my eye as I try to wash my hair and body at the same time, and then I slip on the tiles in the kitchen when I try to hurry and grab some clothes.

Today is off to a great start.

I pull on clean boxers- at least I think they're clean- and some jeans that still fit me as I brush my teeth. I set my toothbrush down on the dresser near by and pull my favorite t-shirt over my head: a piano with a human shaped shadow behind it on a white shirt. It's covered up somewhat when I put a black jacket on, but the worn fabric is reassuring. I grab my gloves, book bag, Crown Clown, and my clarinet case and am out the door, making sure to lock it behind me.

And that is how Allen Walker gets ready in less than twenty minutes with minor bruising. Hold your applause.

My house is located a few lawns down from a four way pass, so the bus picks everyone up where the roads meet. I can see the yellow vehicle coming in between the houses and up my pace to a sprint. I don't know if I can make it! The driver must catch sight of me, because the bus waits for me.

"Sorry!" I puff out as I stumble onto the bus. "Forgot-gasp-my alarm-gasp!" I can feel my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

The driver, a man with fair hair and a soft face, smiles at me. "Don't worry about it. You should thank the young man in the back," he adds, pointing to the back on the bus. "He saw you coming."

"Thanks." I scan the back for my savior, but don't need to look long.

"Allen!" a familiar voice calls out as the owner stands up. Resisting the urge to facepalm, I slowly make my way towards the mostly empty back of the bus where a Lavi way too happy for the morning is waiting for me.I can feel everyone looking at me from their seats.

Don't run, just walk faster. Running will make more people look.

Instead of sitting next to Lavi like he signals to, I sit behind him. He turns around and gives me the wounded puppy look.

"Nothing personal, I'm just tired and your wake," I explain. I am not a morning person. "Plus, I was busy thinking about a certain red head and the band he's making me join, so I forgot to set my alarm."

Lavi grins at me. "I have that effect on people." He flips his hair dramatically with his hand. "So your gay?"

"Half gay." More like three-fourths, but whatever. I tend to lean more towards guys, but girls are good, too.

"A half rounds to a whole," Lavi responds mischievously.

I cock an eyebrow. "What if I say I'm half straight?"

He shrugs. "Math is for losers. I, myself, am so gay I'm straight." He points to my clarinet case. "Is that your clarinet?"

No, it's a bomb. I hold back the smart-ass comment. No use making someone hate me before I even get to school. I settle for a nod coupled with a smile and hope he turns around. No such luck.

"Oh yeah, can I see your schedule? Maybe we have something together!" Have I mentioned I'm not a morning person? He is way too hyper. Maybe he chugged some coffee before he got on.

I pull out the small binder I always keep with me (it has all of Cross' debts, my shopping lists, and to do's) and hand him my prison sentence- I mean, schedule. The last school I went to had double periods, so I'm relieved to find out I only have to suffer science for 45 minutes instead of 90. My strange neighbor starts making noises as he reads my schedule. There are equal amounts of groaning and little yes's under his breath. I don't know which I'm more scared of.

"I play trumpet, and Lenalee plays flute. You'll get to meet her first period. Our drummer has band during a different period, so you won't meet him till…" he scans the paper again, "lunch." A smile. "Try not to tick him off if you get there before Lenalee or me. We lose more friends that way."

The bus suddenly stops making Lavi jerk forward a little. "Sorry!" the bus driver's yell comes from the front. "I forgot we had this stop!"

"Do it again!" Lavi yells, eyes gleaming. Maybe I was wrong about there being more to him. He starts bouncing up and down in his seat chanting, "Do it again!"

No, I was wrong. He has the mental capability of a five year old on sugar with a flamethrower.

When nothing happens, Lavi sighs and turns back around to face me. The look in his eye...what is it? He looks happy and awake, but his eyes look dog-tired. The smile he had as he jumped...it looked forced. What exactly is he? A five-year-old or not?

Lavi consults my schedule again before continuing. "Anyway, you'll be in Pre-Physical Science with me, by yourself in Geometry, and Lenalee and I will see you again in Honors English." I nod when Lavi looks pauses to look up at me. "Lunch is the only class we all have together, then you'll be alone again in Science Strategies."

"The most pointless class in the world," I mumble under my nods his head in agreement before continuing.

"Lenalee will then be with you in Honors Civics and Computers, and I'll see you in last in swimming." He smiles at me, gets higher on his knees so I can see him better, and gestures suggestively at his body. "Don't fall for me when you see my rock hard abs." He wiggles his eyebrows. "Only ladies get to touch, but I'll let you watch for free." Like I'd want to.

The bus stops suddenly again. Another 'sorry' echoes from the front of the bus. This time, Lavi, who is still on his knees, flips over the back of his seat, causing him to do a face plant into my lap. Of course his momentum doesn't stop there. He keeps flipping over so his butt slams into my face, making the back of my head collide on the back of my seat and my cheeks heat up slightly. You would too if some random person's butt was in your face. Lavi slips down a little more, letting me breath fesh air. His legs are spread on either side of my head, and his face is almost under the seat.

Instead of quickly moving like a normal person would after popping someone's personal bubble, he crosses his arms and smiles- no, beams at me from my position between his legs. "So~, how's it goin'?"

Screw being polite to this guy. "Get the hell off!" I yell, grasping his right leg and flinging it to the other side of my head. It causes his whole body to roll off of me and into the isle.

He laughs. "No need to scream." I don't scream. Screaming is for girls and implies my voice rising to high levels. I am a man, so I yell.

Lavi jumps up and dusts off his ass. "So, is my butt soft?"

Must...resist...facepalm..."Do you have any boundaries at all?"

"Not around my band mates!"

This is getting old fast. "I'm not in your band!"

"Yet," Lavi finishes for me. "I already have a plan to get you out of your supposed shell." Why is he smirking with enough evil to rival my own? Oh god what have I gotten into?

"Love Drunk" by Boys Like Girls, "Mama" by My Chemical Romance, and "A Little Faster" by There for Tomorrow was used. I own neither and am not in either band (surprise!).

People who will not read this again: Please review anyway. Tell me why is stunk so I can improve. "It sucked" doesn't help.

People who will read this again: Thanks and please review. Tell me to improve. I sound like a broken record, but I don't care.