Matt woke up on the couch the next morning stiff. ‘No wonder.’ He thought as he dropped his lower half off the sofa. He’d fallen asleep playing one of his many game systems. He had trouble sleeping lately. So he would take refuge in his alter world when dreams haunted his mind preventing his once sound slumber.
“Near what are you doing out here?” He yawned pacing toward the television.
The hunched figure looked at him with mild interest. “I was thinking.” He said “Is it alright if I think in the outer parts of the home sometimes?”
Matt smiled and ruffled the snowy white hair. Near smirked when the older boy left continuing his card castle.
“So.” Near snapped up he hadn’t noticed the red heads return with a bowl of cereal. Matt sat back down on the couch crossing his gangly form into some pretzel type shape.
“Has Mel said anything about our move?” Matt said taking a huge spoonful of cereal and shoving it in his mouth.
“Not to me.” Three cards left in his hand. But he didn’t move to place them anywhere. He seemed to stare at them comparing the pure white of the cards blank surfaces to his own skin. His face contorted with heavy thought.
“Hey.” Matt waved his hand in front of Near’s face. “Penny for your thoughts?” Matt shook the small boy’s shoulders. “Near! What are you thinking of?”
“It’s nothing really, Matt.” Near said so quietly Matt had to lean over more to hear his soft whisper. Matt sighed and sat back on the couch. A pit drop would have been welcome in the impending silence.
“Matt.” Near said suddenly turning to the teen. “What’s your story?”
“My story?” Matt repeated blinking and leaning back on the couch. “I don’t know if I want to.” He took a few more bites. “It’s not the kind of story that’s easy to tell. Ya’ know?”
“I know it’s sudden but my recent notion counts on it.” Near said looking at the floor.
“Why?” Matt leaned forward again. He lifted Near’s head till they sat face to face. “Why is my pathetic history of any importance?”
“If it is satisfactory, I will say.” Near said a determined look plastered across his youthful face.
Matt sat back. “Fine.” He said, “Get ready. Cause once I start I won’t stop.”
He lit a cigarette while Near shuffled up on the couch beside him. After a long intake he started his sad tale.
“I was born somewhere in the toe of the boot of Italy. Don’t ask where. Even I don’t know.” He glanced and continued. “My dad was a notorious drunk, having worked at a winery.” He took another puff giving Near a chance to ask a question.
“Who do you take after?”
“Mostly my dad. Except I’ve got mom’s red hair.” Matt replied “I only knew them till I was five. Any other time I get to see them is in a photograph.”
Another long drag. Near knew this was killing the poor gamer, but he needed to know this so badly.
“Anyway.” He continued. “They use to fight all the time. And one day he came home so stoned and boozed up…” Matt’s voice trailed off and he looked at the floor. “He somehow ended up killing mom and nearly getting me.” Matt brought a shaking hand up and inhaled the rest of the stick.
“How did you escape?” Near pressed.
“Luck I guess. He killed himself after he thought we were dead.” Matt lit another stick. “They said he went crazy having snapped out of his state.” A small smirk tinted his lips. “I was discovered as alive and brought to Great Brittan for treatment. There I was discovered by Mr. Whammy and L as they visited one of the boys who had been ill.”
“How?” Black glass eyes were fully on the yellow/green goggles.
“I was screaming in pain, duh.” Matt chuckled “I had just gotten there. And L’s curiosity got the better of him so he looked in my room.” He rubbed his black gloves together. “When I saw him I hopped off the bed and begged him to get me out of there.” He shook his head “I was surprised when he tolled me to get back in bed and be good.” Now he was laughing “He was only eleven after all. So, I might have freaked him out.” He removed his goggles “When I did it he called Whammy in and asked for an I.Q. test. When I was well enough they brought me to the home.” Matt looked at Near with satisfaction written on his face. “The end.”
Near sat twirling his curls for a while. Watching the teens chest rise and fall with his hitched breathing. One question was all he had left. But, he hesitated to ask it. 'Damn my self if I don't know though.' Taking a deep breath he tugged on Matt's sleeve. Matt turned with a small smile."Yes? May I help you?"
Now Near felt terrible for what he would say. But, he opened his mouth and out it came. “Do you have scars?”
His face fell a little. “Why do you think I’ve never willingly gone shirtless like Mello?” The red head looked a way with a deep breath. He adjusted his goggles and started on another cigarette.
