Approximately fourteen steps up the driveway, five steps to reach the porch, two steps to make it to that giant maple wood door of the Wammys mansion. That was all it would take to get to the dinner party from the sharp red car I was currently seated in.
So why was it so hard for me to get my legs to move as the car pulled up? I couldn't seem to guide my arms to unbuckle the seatbelt, nor even tear my eyes from the window. This was it. The come out…
"This is it, huh?" Matt chuckled, letting out an impressed wolf whistle to distract me from my thoughts. I manage to rip my eyes away from the magnificent mansion to rest my eyes on the redhead beside me. The goofy grin on his face helps me relax a bit.
"Yup…" I replied, trying to sound as casual as possible. Stop being such a coward, Mello! It's just your lunch mates - they won't judge you! You have nothing to be afraid of, idiot! I scold myself inwardly, flashing Matt a smile. "Huge, huh?"
"Yeah, L's a lucky bastard," the redhead responded, still sounded slightly awed as he leaned over my shoulder to get a better look at the monstrous house. It was the truth, of course - it was quite the looker. It was enormous, owned by none other than Quillish Wammy, the owner of (surprise surprise) Wammy's House Schools. He was apparently loaded. I sure as hell wasn't going to be the one to inform Matt that he only lived there because his parents died and Wammy had taken him in, though - it would only make him feel bad, and it wasn't my story to tell.
"Guess so," I murmured, tearing my eyes away from him and letting them settle back through the window. Fourteen steps up the driveway five to reach the porch, two steps to make it in the door. Approximately 21 steps, if I took my usual catwalk-steps. Maybe if I walked a bit slower, though, it would be…
Stop stalling.
"See you after dinner, then," I announce, unbuckling and sliding out of the car. The air outside is warm and welcoming feeling, giving me a small boost of encouragement. I turn to shoot him a smile. "I'll text you when I need a ride."
"Got it," Matt replied breezily, giving me an positive thumbs up. "Be sure to text me if you spend the night."
"Mm-Kay."
It wasn't entirely impossible - I'd had one or two slumber parties with L, both of which had ended with some sort of disaster (B and A having sex in Wammy's office was the more recent of the two, which happened simutaioniously with L and I battling it out over a piece of chocolate cake, Near trying to hack the system so that we could give a raise, Misa trying to get Light to kiss her, and Light running around in a drunken mess singing something by Christina Aguilera. Good times…) but were always fun.
"See yah."
And with that casual little goodbye Matt was gone, leaving me alone approximately twenty one steps away from the maple wood door of the mansion, where the party would ensure. Taking a deep breath I summon the more stubborn, wild part of me back out from behind the nervous part, straightening myself out. If anyone had been watching, they'd probably have stared.
Just to contradict the more worrisome, paranoid part of me I take extra-big strides in my steps towards the door, making the trip take eighteen steps instead of twenty-one. The door is huge, obnoxiously so. As if Wammy expected a herd of elephants to come charging into his house instead of a cluster of normal-sized children. (Okay, normal and then Near, but he's smaller, not bigger, so that hardly counts). The maple wood was beautiful though, smooth but old looking, set on vaguely rusted hinges, giving off the same sort of welcoming, wise warmth that the man who owned it did.
Flipping my hair over my un-sleeved shoulder I reach forward, pounding my fist on the door. There's a sound outside the door that sounds like a scream - Misa? - and then a couple of shouts, and then one more clearly above the rest that I can make out. "It's unlocked, come on in!"
