I dreamt of a devil that knew her

11

Their romance began on the first day of December. On winter.
Burning bright and intense like a fire. Radiating warmth in the dark, cold, snowy days.
Lingering stares that spoke thousands of words.

Near played close to the chimney to keep warm. He wondered if he would ever experience something like that. He wondered if the stares Mello gave him when he wasn't looking counted as passion.
No. Mello's stares were full of hate, anger, and jealousy. Nothing more. Nothing less.
Near wondered if Mello would ever experience something similar. If Mello's love and desire would be as strong as his hate, anger, and jealousy.
Near wondered if Matt would ever experience love. He thought yes. Matt deserved love. Near has seen the way Matt looks at Linda sometimes. But Linda always seemed to be looking at Mello. Like Near. Like everyone else when Mello spoke. Probably because Mello talked really loud.

It all started with B sitting next to A during recess time.
Then spending days together during lunch. Only that B wouldn't sit weird on the chair or eat jam like his life depended on it. He wouldn't even eat jam or act weird at all.

B would continue to draw various portraits of Alternative. Near would often hear Matt joke about it with Mello. Like if sexual preference was funny.
This made Near realize that B was right. There was a reason why Matt, Mello and himself were not first generation to succeed L. Matt and Mello didn't seem to mature and thought sexual preference was funny while Near had nothing better to do than to play alone with his toys and observe others when he was bored.

Then A and B started having conferences together with L. Near would see Roger call them during lunch so they could have a video conference with L.
The two probably wouldn't eat anything during lunch on the days they had video conference with L.
A because he was probably too nervous to eat, and B....well that was a mystery Near would have to figure out.

"B is going to gobble up that strawberry jam during his restroom break. I've seen him devouring jam in the boy's restroom before," Near heard a kid who was sitting in Mello's table say. Mello along with his large group of friends began laughing.

Near realized he's never seen that kid before. Probably because his whole life consisted of himself, grades, A, B, L, professors, Roger, Linda, Matt and Mello.

"I've heard weird stuff at night," Linda joined the conversation as Near ate his food. Lunch time was almost over and Near had spent it listening to the next table's conversation instead of eating.

"Alternative's room is next to mine. I used to hear her ballet music playing but now it's too quiet. Quiet enough that throughout the night I hear something heavy being dragged across the hall multiple times. However, I am too scared to open my door to see what is making that noise."

Near's bedroom was in the same hall. That night Near stayed up past his bed time. As his eyes were about to close due to mental exhaustion he heard dragging noises. He couldn't explain it.

Near slowly got up and peeked outside his door through the key hole.
Despite the hallway being pitch black, Near could see a black figure. Someone walking back and forth on the hall. No. Not walking. Someone slowly crawling on their stomach and then walking around on all fours. Stopping multiple times in front of Alternative's room.

Near got scared and went back to his bed to lay down. He covered himself completely with his bed covers wishing he hadn't seen what was making that noise in the hallway.