Choices

AN: K, this was supposed to be part of last chapter, but I found that it got waaaaaay too long. And You may like long chapters, but it makes it such a b***h to edit.

But I think you’ll be happy with it….. :)

Suggested Listening: It's Not Me It's You by Skillet; Everything You Want by Vertical Horizon

Chapter Eleven: Shock

Matt blinked his eyes sluggishly a few times before his mind fully woke. He stifled a yawn as he looked across the room at a still sleeping Mello. It was early, earlier than he usually woke. But not too early that Rodger wouldn't be in his office.

He quickly dressed and left the room. The probability that Mello's gift was there was small, but Matt knew it would constantly bother him until he checked on it. He hoped it wouldn't be late and arrive tomorrow, that would kind of defeat the purpose of getting him something...

He knocked once, at which he could hear all movements stop inside, before a weary voice told him to enter. Rodger took one look at him and sighed. He seemed neither surprised nor irritated to see him, which was a first.

Matt would call that an improvement, though Rodger had probably expected to see him sometime that morning before breakfast. Matt stood, quietly, as Rodger took a long sip of his coffee.

“It's not here yet, though it should be sometime after noon.”

It wasn't exactly what he'd wanted to hear, but at least that meant it 'should' be on time. Matt inclined his head slightly and closed the door behind him as he left. Coffee sounded good, but Matt didn't want to take another cup from the kitchen.

They may not have noticed, or at least not made a fuss, about one missing cup. But if cups kept disappearing it could cause problems. Especially if he ever wanted to sneak coffee again. Maybe he should just ask Rodger for his own coffee maker?

Mello had just started to wake as Matt opened the door and he barely had time to close it and sit on his bed before Mello groaned and sat up. Matt would never admit it, but at that moment Mello looked incredibly sexy with his hair ruffled and shirt hanging loosely from one shoulder, completely sleep mused.

Mello yawned loudly before his eyes zeroed in on Matt. “Why the hell are you up so early?” Matt shrugged in response and Mello let it go as he wasn't quite awake enough to argue.

Matt forced his eyes elsewhere as Mello crawled from the bed and lazily began to get ready. He kept his attention rooted firmly at his boots until he heard the crinkle of a wrapper; a sure sign that Mello was fully clothed and ready to leave.

“So.” Mello stated. Matt looked up and blinked at the questioning gaze of the blonde. Had he missed something? Mello signed heavily and walked over to him from the bathroom doorway.

“Any reason that you have been acting strange the past few days? Spacing out, getting up early, among other things...” Mello trailed off at the end and Matt knew he had been thinking of the other morning.

Mello leaned foreword; chocolate dangled from his lips and his eyes narrowed. “Just what are you hiding? It not like you, for the most part.” Matt cringed slightly at Mello's subtle jab at his constant lying.

It wasn't like he liked lying to him...

“I told you last night, I've just been thinking.” which technically wasn't lying since he had been thinking a lot. Though Mello probably wouldn't appreciate the fact that he had been the main subject most of the time.

Mello stared at him for a while longer before he threw his hands up in irritation. “Fine.” Matt sincerely hoped that Mello would leave it alone after this. Part of it Mello would be finding out later on at any rate, the other part... never if Matt had any say in it.

Mello stalked out of the room and without any prompting Matt followed. Matt knew that by the time they sat down at breakfast, Mello would be over it.

The blonde's demeanor changed though, once they stepped into eyesight of the other children. The entire dining hall seemed to notice their arrival and Matt wondered if it had to do with the fact that it was Mello's birthday; though not a soul said anything to him about it.

If Rodger knew, and hadn't found it odd that Matt knew, then surely it was common knowledge. So why did everyone act like it wasn't?

Matt took it upon himself to watch the blonde carefully throughout the day, and noticed that Mello seemed almost downcast. Mello halfheartedly did his class work, and answered questions without his usual determination.

Matt had an idea why, though he wasn't a hundred percent certain even as lunch came around.

Mello picked absently at the assortment of foods until half the plate was full; he didn't even seem to realize he'd waited for Matt to finish his own selections. They headed for their table when Linda, a rather annoying gossip, bumped into Mello accidently.

Mello glared while Linda huffed slightly while he adjusted the hold on his plate. “Geeze, I'm sorry. Anyway...” Linda said though she seemed to debate on saying something more, however quickly decided not to as she walked off seconds later. He watched as Mello's shoulder slumped slightly and heard the soft sigh before Mello continued on to the table.

Everyone knew it was the blonde's birthday, and yet not one of them had said anything about it yet.

There was obviously a story behind the entire thing, a reason for everyone to ignore such a day. Mello had seemed hesitant to tell Matt the night before; was it possible that he believed Matt wouldn't care?

Matt instantly dismissed the thought, Mello couldn't be that insecure...

Mello had only eaten half his lunch, and was on to his second chocolate bar already. Chocolate was Mello's chosen addiction, as well as something that soothed him, and something he tended to eat more of when he got stressed.

Matt had already seen Mello eat nearly ten bars so far, and it wasn't even dinner.

“Mello? Something wrong?” he questioned. It was one of the few times he'd spoken in public, though almost no one heard him other than his table mates. Mello's eyes drifted to him though his thoughts seemed to be else where.

“I'm just tired.” he replied a few minutes later. Matt rolled his eyes as he knew that wasn't true. It seemed that Mello really was bothered by everyone's silence. Even Near hadn't mentioned it, though Mello might have decked him if he had.

Near was his 'rival'. According to Mello at any rate. Matt had no idea what Near thought.

Lunch finished and Mello walked off to their next class, though he usually stopped by the room beforehand. Matt ran his fingers through his hair. Knowing Mello was hazardous to ones health. The blonde's mood changed so frequently, and the smallest things set him off or upset him.

Though his reaction was understandable this time.

If Matt actually cared what most people thought he would probably be inclined to be a little down when everyone ignored his birthday. Though no one knew his actual birthday except Mello, so....

Matt's mind was mainly focused on the amount of time they had left before afternoon classes got out. He hoped that the jacket would be there by then. He guessed he could have spent his time making a card or something but he didn’t think Mello would really care for a card.

And what exactly could he put on a card beside 'Happy Birthday Mello'. He certainly wasn’t going to adorn the inside of it with something like 'always thinking of you, best wishes on your special day' or other overused and sappy lines like that. He could imagine Mello's face should he give him that kind of card...

Though it would be amusing Matt would rather not get hit with another textbook anytime soon.

Classes seemed to drag by at an agonizingly slow pace. The teachers droned on about subjects that either didn't interest him at all or couldn't hold his currently frayed attention span.

When the final class was ended for the day Matt sighed in relief and stood from the hard seat. He and Mello usually met back up in their room so Matt knew where he would find the blonde once he had everything.

First however, Matt needed a smoke. Badly.

He dodged the other slowly walking bodies in the hallway and was outside in record time. All that friendship business had gotten him worked up an anxious. Perhaps he would be able to persuade Mello to let him smoke in the room with the window open?

Matt snorted at that. Who was he kidding?

The weather outside was bad and it seemed likely to snow at any time. Matt wrinkled his nose a little at the thought. He didn’t hate the cold wet stuff per say. He would just prefer to smoke in peace rather than have thousands of tiny flakes swirling and dancing around him and making a general nuisance out of themselves.

And he wasn't fond of the cold that came with them.

Matt put out the remainder of the cigarette and carelessly flicked it into the bushes. If it did snow, all his discarded smokes would be covered up. That was possibly the only good thing about the white stuff.

“Excuse us!” a few children yelled as they ran passed Matt and down the steps. Matt shook his head. How anyone could want to be outside now...

He caught the doors before they closed and shuffled inside, his posture slouched with his hands stuffed into his pockets. Damn gloves didn't keep his fingers warm at all. He ignored all others that passed him on his way to Rodger's office, he recognized their faces from the surveillance but didn't know them.

Matt looked up and was rather surprised to see's the large office door shut, and once he tried the knob, locked. Rodger, it seemed, was out. Didn't it figure?

Matt leaned against the wall haphazardly and played idly with his lighter. There really was no way to tell how long Rodger had been gone for, or how long he would continue to be gone for. He could only hope the man would be back soon.

Matt smiled slightly to himself. Had he been told four months ago he'd be waiting outside Rodger's office because of a gift for Mello he probably would have laughed. Things had changed a great deal since then.

He just couldn't be sure if it was all for the better.

Matt looked up, a while later, at the sound of footsteps. Rodger had a stack of papers cradled in one hand and a set of keys that dangled in the other. “I don't suppose I need to ask why you are waiting.” Rodger stated it more as a fact as opposed a question.

Matt waited patiently as the door was unlocked and left open for him to walk through. He watched lazily as Rodger deposited the papers onto his desk and went to a small table to the left, right around where one of the cameras was placed, and picked up a rectangular box.

“Close the door on your way out.” Rodger said as he handed over the box. Matt didn't reply but did as he was asked. Now that he had the box, he looked over the outside for and labels that would give away its contents.

He hadn't thought to ask for it to be wrapped, though he supposed that he should of as he didn't have anything of the sort lying around. And with Mello in the room at this time, as Matt assumed it was far closer to dinner than it had been before, he wouldn't have been able to sneak it in.

Thankfully, the box was completely white with not even a hint of lettering. At least Mello wouldn't be able to immediately tell what it was. Perhaps Rodger had thought ahead and made arrangements for a plain box? Matt didn't really care either way, since he wasn't going to ask anytime soon.

The second he opened the door, in a rather clumsy manor, he felt Mello's eyes on him. And after a glance at the clock he understood why. He was rather late. He'd been waiting for Rodger a lot long than he'd thought.

Mello eyed the box suspiciously and nibbled slowly on the end of his chocolate, with a book open in his lap.

“So what's that? I assume that is why you disappeared?” Mello's voice held a nice amount of irritation as well as something Matt couldn't decipher. Matt smiled slightly and held out the box. Mello looked confused but took hold of the box gently and stared at Matt in silent question.

“Happy birthday Mello.”

Mello looked stunned; his eyes wide in silent awe.

“This was why you've been so distracted. You got me something... for my birthday.” Mello's voice was soft, amazed, and almost apologetic. It made Matt uneasy since that wasn't the exact truth, though close enough.

“Thank you.” Mello stood and Matt sucked in a breath as Mello pulled him into a quick hug; the blonde's slim arms wrapped around his neck and soft hair brushed against his ear.

Matt wanted nothing more than to keep Mello within his grip but let go the moment the blonde began to pull away. Mello backed away after that, and opened the box rather awkwardly. Matt felt like someone had set fire to his face it was so warm.

He honestly had not expected that reaction from Mello...

Mello's small, awkward, smile became a huge grin as he held up his gift. “How the hell did you know I wanted a new jacket?!”

“I do listen to you even when you are yelling and stomping around the room. You made quite a fuss when you found that hole in your other jacket.” Matt stated blandly with a roll of his eyes.

Mello immediately turned back to the jacket and tugged it on. His fingertips brushed gently against the new material before looking back at Matt. “So, how do I look?”

Matt, forgoing any form of common sense, said the first thing that came to mind. “Sexy.” there was a few seconds of awkward silence as Mello blinked repeatedly with an unreadable expression. Matt was only slightly less than mortified.

“Well I hope I don't look anything less.” Mello said finally. Matt slowly released the breath he'd been holding and cursed himself for being so damn stupid. He couldn't go around and actually tell Mello those things!

Matt felt like smacking his head against the wall though wouldn't dare do that with Mello hardly six feet from him. He needed to learn to keep his mouth shut; he'd never had a problem before...

“We'll, since I’m apparently sexy, lets go show me off at dinner than.” Mello stated proudly while motioning to the jacket. What the hell was Mello going on about...?

“You do realize that we are inside, right? And that you're going to get very warm, very quick in that.” Matt told him while he fiddled with a cigarette. Mello nodded.

“Rodger never turns the damn heat on anyway. I'll be fine. Besides, if I pass out I'm sure you'd help.” Mello stated with a raised eyebrow. How was it that everything seemed to come back to him now, ever since his stupid comment?

“Yeah, I’ll throw some water on you. Should fix everything.” Matt stated blandly, despite the upwards quark to his lips.

“For the record, I’ll kill you if you do that.” Mello said with a smile, his head tilted to the side. Matt found it less intimidating that he probably should; considering he didn't think Mello was joking in the least.

Matt shrugged. He'd die happy he guessed?

“Hey Mello?” Matt asked suddenly.

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever get other gifts for your birthday?” Matt wasn't even sure why he thought of it, but he really wanted to know. It was stupid to think he was the only one, but with the way everyone was acting he couldn't be sure.

Mello looked surprised at the question though Matt knew it wasn't a bad thing to ask with the grin that spread across the blonde's face. “Yeah, L always sends me one. Though for whatever reason he always sends it a week late.”

“What does he send?” Matt was curious; what would someone who had all the money he could ever want, send to a successor? Mello laughed and shook his head.

“Chocolate, what else? Though it's a miracle it ever makes it in the mail since L has a huge sweet tooth, or so I've heard.”

Well, Matt supposed, one never could go wrong with chocolate. But Matt thought he did slightly better, because he got something Mello hadn't been expecting.

“Stop thinking so much and let’s go.” Mello sighed and grabbed Matt's arm. Matt was given no choice but to follow Mello to the dining hall least he be dragged. Mello let go once they were outside and strode in like he owned the place.

Mello's mood had done a complete turn around, and Matt couldn't help but feel a little happy that he was part of the reason for it. Mello's different mood seemed to confuse everyone as much as the shiny new jacket he wore. Though the latter was probably more to the fact that he was wearing it inside.

Mello's grin didn’t fade even the slightest despite having spotted Near already seated.

Matt watched, rather amused, as Mello ate his dinner, careful not to drop anything on the jacket.

“You know, if you had just left it back in the room, you could eat normally.” Matt received an exasperated groan.

“Just shut up and finish your own food.” Mello growled out despite being unable to rid himself of his grin. Matt gave him a mock salute and went back to eating. Though he was sorely tempted to flick something at the blonde.

However should it happen to land on the jacket, Matt knew he would die a horrible death. He probably should have just gotten Mello chocolate.

He could always do that next year and see what Mello thought of it. There was no guarantee however, that he would be there the next year. He pushed the remainder of his food away, as it turned sour in his mouth at the last thought.

Just how long did he have there?

Not too long later Mello rose from his seat, like those around him, and walked off, though he did pause briefly for a moment. “Matt.” Mello called over his shoulder. Matt didn't need for the blonde to say anymore for him to know he was being asked, or more like told, to follow.

He didn't mind too much, it wasn't like he was in the middle of a conversation.

As Matt got up to follow Mello he could have sworn he heard Near say a soft 'thank you'. But when he looked over, the albino had already walked away.

Matt couldn't say for certain if he'd imagined it or not, but it had sounded far too real. Matt already had enough things to think about, so he pushed those thoughts away. He had to catch up to Mello at any rate.

The blonde had gotten all the way to their room by the time Matt caught him.

At this point, after the completely stressful events of the day, Matt was ready to relax. Though he knew he still had some work to do. He took a change of clothes and entered the bathroom as Mello messed about with his chocolate stash. Matt took a deep breath and released it slowly.

Despite everything, the day had gone well in the end.

As matt walked out of the bathroom, he watched as Mello took the jacket off and draped it gently over the back of the computer chair. He shook his head at the blonde. It was only a jacket; it wasn't anything all that great.

And he hardly believed it was the best gift he'd ever gotten. But whatever made him happy, he supposed.

Matt decided to go onto the laptop, and get things over and done with. He took out headphones and plugged them in while the laptop booted up. He planned on watching any flagged material from the last day or so.

“Matt?”

He looked up at the sound of Mello's voice, one ear bud already in.

“How did you know it was my birthday?” Mello sounded completely curious, with not even an ounce of suspicion. Mello was starting to trust him too much despite all the lies he told him.

“People tend to talk when they think you aren't listening.” was the first thing that came out of Matt's mouth. He honestly had no idea where that came from, despite it being true. The look on Mello's face told him to elaborate.

“When I was in the library the other day I had my headphones on but was creating my playlist, I wasn't the only one there.” Mello seemed to accept the answer, and Matt couldn't tell if he'd been believed or not.

“I'm glad you heard them....” Mello said quietly.

Matt had just placed the second ear bud in but still heard him; and he doubted Mello had been talking about the gift. Mello had opened one of his novels and was now engrossed in it. If the blonde was reading than it meant he'd finished all of his studying and extra work earlier.

Matt shrugged, as long as Mello wasn't overworking himself he didn't care what Mello chose to do.

Around three hours later, as Matt had lost track of time, he was startled to see an incoming transmission. The call program worked both ways but unless it was super important Matt was the only one allowed to call since it could get him in big trouble if he were caught.

He glanced up, all thoughts on excuses he could use to leave the room this late. But after he saw Mello asleep, book dangling from his fingertips, he knew it wouldn't be needed. As quietly as he could manage, he left the room and practically jogged to the library.

Though he was careful not to make too much noise least he get caught out of his room. That was not a scenario he wanted to happen.

He settled down in a corner on the first floor, headphones on, and answered the call.

“You answered quicker than I expected you to.” Light said in an almost bored tone. Matt shrugged, though he instantly felt on edge. This was not a social call after all.

“I have something very important to tell you, now listen carefully.” Light's bored expression transformed into a grin that Matt would liken to the Cheshire Cat. Matt pressed record on the computer to make sure he got everything, whatever it was, he wouldn't want to miss it.

Matt's eyes widened as Light began to explain just what had him so happy. For Matt, it was a nightmare.

-End Shock-

AN: Buwhahaha! I had to have one cliffhanger in this! Any guesses as to what Light wants? Heheheh. Other than the cliffy, how was the chapter? I gave fluffy-ish stuff....

And onto other new, I have two new oneshots out, one of them is 'Taste' which is the sequel to my other oneshot 'Bitter'