Chapter One
BA-THUMP BUPPA BA-THUMP BUPPA BA-THUMP
Heh, hey it’s my heartbeat, nice and loud and strong.
Can you hear it too?
It must mean I’m alive.
The only question is, how much longer will my heart beat?
Did either of us really know?
SHANE
The noises of rotten flesh slapping the tiled ground echoed in the tiny apartment, zombies groans mixing together to create a brutal harmony.
“WOULD YOU TURN THAT FRIGGING THING DOWN?! SERIOUSLY CASS?!” I screamed over the sudden round of gunfire, trying to glare down my younger brother while simultaneously searching for a spot of carpet in our minefield we call a living room.
Cass glared back at me over the top of his controller, a free hand reaching out to turn the volume down just the slightest of notches.
I threw my hands up in the air and scooted across the floor like mission impossible until I reached the power plug-ins on the wall. Then I proceeded to yank out the cord to Cass’s X-box.
“SHANE!!!!! YOU IDIOT I HADN’T SAVED ANYTHING YET!!!!!!!” Cass wailed, throwing one of our broken old controllers at me.
I ducked and dove for him, grabbing his ankles and pulling us into a pile on the floor.
Something with a plastic case dug into my back.
“Come on, dinner time.” I growled playfully.
“You suck.”
“Love you too, Cass.”
A high pitched squeal echoed behind us as a three year old body crashed to the ground after tripping over a toppled over laundry basket.
I bolted up, crawling over to my younger sister. “Ryza? You okay?”
She giggled, looking up at me with the same hazely gold colored eyes I have.
I sighed a puff of relief. “Come on Munchkin, it’s time for food. And Cass, I do not plug in that x-box.” I turned to look under my arm at him, caught red handed with a plug in cord in his hand.
“Awww no fair you got frigging eyes in the back of your head!” He whined.
I chuckled standing up and adjusting the crookedness of my clothing before picking up Ryza and balancing her on my hip.
“What’s for dinner?” Cass asked, trailing behind me as I made my way to the apartment’s kitchen.
“Fried chicken and potatoes, your favorite.”
Cass pumped his fist in the air. “Yes!” He whispered triumphantly, plopping down in one of the wooden chair surrounding the table.
By the time I had set Ryza down in the chair next to him he already had his plate piled high with food.
I had cut up bits of chicken for Ryza when the phone rang.
I scrambled to go pick it up, heaving a sigh as I walked down the hallway so the kids wouldn’t hear the conversation.
I leaned back against the wall, the metal photo frame of our family photo digging into my back.
“Shane? It’s Mrs. Peters. Sorry I couldn’t come by to see how you were doing today. My husband is in the hospital and you know how much trouble it is for an old lady like me.”
I laughed half heartedly. “I understand Mrs. Peters; give my regards to your husband.”
“Will do honey. Such a brave young girl you are.”
“Thank you.” I clicked the end button and slid down the wall, staring at all of the photos that lined the hall wall opposite me.
They were all so dusty; I had forgotten how clean mother had kept our home back then.
Cass and Ryza were way too young to remember, but I do.
A drop slide onto my wrist holding the phone and I looked down at it.
I hadn’t realized I was crying.
I sniffled and wiped my face with the back of my hand.
“God I hate Kira so much.” I muttered soft enough so the kids couldn’t hear me from the kitchen.
MATT
Mello snored on the couch.
Actually no let me rephrase that- Mello snored on the couch so loud I swear the paint on the walls was going to peel off.
I threw a TV remote at him, hitting him in the face and causing him to burst to life in a string of curses and swears.
“MATT YOU SUCK!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs, face red in anger, the mark of a TV remote standing out bright red against his skin.
I clicked the button on my controller, turning up the volume louder as I sped through fantasy lands at a volume to cover up Mello’s whining.
I bent down, bringing my chin towards my knees to avoid the TV remote that came flying my way and crashed into the apartment wall.
“I’m not paying for that.” I muttered.
“GET OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A CHANGE!!!” Mello screeched.
“I could say the same thing to you.” The screen beeped in technicolors.
“MATT!!!”
I pressed pause and looked over at him with a look of boredom and annoyance. “What?”
Mello ground his teeth together.
“Damnit you’re cranky when you wake up.”
I ducked to avoid the DVD player’s remote.
SHANE
“Christmas is coming up soon guys! What do you all want?” I bit into my chicken.
“A PONY!!!” Ryza yelled, slamming her fists onto the table.
“Uh- huh. Anything smaller and cheaper?”
“Call of duty!!” Cass said in-between bites of food.
“N’kay.” I chewed. “Ryza?”
She screwed up her nose in thought staring at the ceiling. “I want sissy not be lalone amymore.”
I smiled. “I’m not alone goofball, I got you two after all.”
Cass gave me a glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, snorting.
I looked at him quickly before standing up and dropping my plate in the sink. “Hurry up and finish eating you two, then head off to bed. You guys got school tomorrow.”
Ryza groaned.
Cass stood up and carried his plate to the sink. “Ya know, once upon a time you had school too.”
“Yeah well once upon a time we had living parents.”
Cass sighed staring at my back as I loaded scrubbed the dishes.
“Come on Ryza, let’s go to sleep and leave Shane to herself for a little while.” The noise of a chair’s legs scraping across the tiles echoed in the silent kitchen.
“Be happy sissy! Everyfing will be awwight.” Ryza’s sleepy voice called out.
I smiled slightly. “Yup, everything will be all right.” I called back.
Ryza giggled.
I drained the sink turning off the lights in the kitchen and walking to Ryza’s room first.
She was already konked out and snoring softly. I brushed her curly black hair off her forehead and kissed her temple. “Good night.”
Then I went to Cass’ room. It was no surprise to find him still awake with a player’s manual in his lap and the reading light turned on.
He reminds me so much of dad. Our parents would be proud.
I shut off his light ignoring his complaints and flopped into my own bed in my room, staring at the ceiling.
I made a mental note of what I have to do tomorrow- starting with heading over to the shops to go get the Christmas presents.
MATT
I hit the ground hard, pain sweeping through my body and I groaned.
It was too damn early.
“Get up, I need you to go out and get me some more chocolate.”
“Fat ass.”
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?”
“Yup still cranky when you just get up.” I opened my eyes looking at Mello’s angry red face.
Mello ground his teeth together and then in the matter of seconds, calmed down and waltzed to the kitchen.
Probably to find some chocolate or something.
“Now what am I supposed to do all day?” I muttered to myself. “Sleeping in was my plan. Damnit. Stupid Mello.”
Then an idea occurred to me- it was about Christmas time, the video games should be on sale.
I tugged on jeans and threw on a T-shirt. “Mello! I’m going out!” I yelled as I grabbed the keys to the car.
“Bring me chocolate!”
“Will do.” I laughed closing the door behind me and running down the stairs out of the apartment.
SHANE
I sighed, breath exhaling in puffy white clouds of water vapor, the cold seeping into my bones.
I shivered, starting to jog towards the brightly colored Christmas lights that decorated the store front.
Did anyone else hate Christmas as much as me?
If it wasn’t for Cass and Ryza I’d be fine with never having another Christmas again. It reminded me too much of when we were little and I’ve spent too much time closing those wounds to let them spill out again.
I pressed in towards the video game aisle, deciding to stamp Cass’ present off the list first considering Ryza never really did give me a straight answer.
“FALALALALAAAAAAA LALALALAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!” The carolers screeched on the loudspeakers.
I winced; maybe somebody could learn to give them voice lessons.
Not everyone is made to be a singer ya know, I don’t care what Disney channel says.
I squeezed past the people crowded in the aisle until I reached the half empty aisle reserved for video games with muttered apologies.
My eyes scanned the colorful plastic covers behind the glass before reaching out a hand to grab the handle to the case.
A warm hand met mine, fingers closing over it.
I jolted my hand back, about ready to mutter an apology before our eyes connected for the first time.
I fought the mad blush that rose to me cheeks and smiled.
He was cute, rusty red hair stunning green brown eyes that were hidden behind goofy goggles.
Our eyes never left and I waved my hands in the direction of the case. “You were here first, please go ahead.” I smiled warmly, finding it strange that for the first time in a while, it wasn’t forced.
He shook his head, making a big hand gesture towards the case. “Ladies first.” His voice sent shivers down my spine and we finally broke eye contact as I stepped forward towards the case, plucking the strange game Cass asked for.
I stepped back, standing there for a moment as he stared at me like I was some sort of phenomenon, then I realized, I’m a girl in a video game aisle.
It’s not usually that common unless you’re three years old and looking for my little pony the DS version.
I waved the case. “For my brother. I’d like to play but, unfortunately I’m no good.”
He chuckled, his lips breaking out into a smirk. “Well then,” His voice was smooth and so obviously oblivious to the fact that he was trying to make a come-on one-liner. “I should show you sometime.”
Even though it was cheesy and lame I felt a slight blush rise to my cheeks and I couldn’t help but smiling and laughing slightly. “Well, Mr., that’s very kind of you, but don’t you think people start with names first? Shane.” I reached out with the hand not holding the video game for him to shake.
Sparks tingled up my arm as his hand grabbed mine, his eyes dancing with emotion. “Matt.” He said.
MATT
Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid! Could I get anymore idiotic?!
Here I just met the perfect girl I’ve ever seen in my life and all I can say is some cheesy come on lines and then my name. Yay for tongue tiedness.
I didn’t want her to go so soon yet, I wanted to talk to her; I wanted to get to know her.
I wanted this to be easy.
And somehow she just made it easy.
“You checking out?” She asked.
I nodded, stupefied by those hazel burst green eyes.
She smiled, and my knees almost turned to rubber, about ready to crash me to the ground.
“Let’s go then, I am too.”
I smiled back falling into step beside her, this awesome feeling running through my body, buzzing with two words over and over again. She’s right she’s right she’s right bing bing bing.
“Do you play a lot of video games?” She asked, nodding to the one in my hand I hadn’t realized I’d grabbed.
I shrugged. “You could say so; my roommate says I’m addicted.”
“Roommate?”
“Yeah, he’s kind of been a friend of mine ever since we were little; we both grew up in the orphanage so….” Did I just say that? Shit Mello's going to blow a gasket over this!
My body buzzed with anxiety, but she just smiled sadly. “Orphanage? So you must have had a hard life too.”
“You could say that.” I relaxed slightly. “What about you?”
She chuckled, her eyes looking sad as she flicked the bangs of her curly golden hair into her face, hiding. “I guess you could say life has been rough. Ever since my parents died and the kids and Omigosh I’m so sorry I really don’t know why I’m saying all this to a total stranger!” She looked up quickly, a filmy wetness coating her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be so….so….. I’m sorry!”
A single tear slid from her eye and I reached over with my thumb unconsciously and wiped it away.
Then the mantra of stupid stupid stupid stupid replayed in my head, but this time I ignored it.
There was something about this girl, something I just couldn’t place my finger on.
“Well you know what, let’s not be strangers then.” Finally, something intelligent.
Her eyes twinkled and she sniffled slightly, a smile forcing its way to her features. “I’d like that. A lot.”
I payed for the game and hers, using a borrowed pen to sign my name on the receipt. She reached over, her breath tickling my skin and causing me to involuntarily shiver. She took the pen, pressing the tip to the receipt and in a neat scrawled script she wrote her name and number, a smile on her lips.
“Call me sometime, k?” And with that she took the game and walked outside of the store, golden red hair swinging in a curly ponytail as she disappeared into the crowd.
“She your girlfriend?” The cashier boy smirked. “She’s pretty.”
I smirked, still staring off into space at where she walked away. “No, not yet.”
“Yet?”
I looked at the cashier with a twinkle in my eyes, laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yay! Chapter one complete!
Hope to come out with chapter two soon. I know there’s a lot of confusion but don’t worry everything will be sorted out in the next chapter, keep watching for more ^.^
*Based off of a previous oneshot located at this link: http://quizilla.teennick.com/stories/17884654/the-beautiful-girl-matt-death-note-oneshot *
Heh, hey it’s my heartbeat, nice and loud and strong.
Can you hear it too?
It must mean I’m alive.
The only question is, how much longer will my heart beat?
Did either of us really know?
SHANE
The noises of rotten flesh slapping the tiled ground echoed in the tiny apartment, zombies groans mixing together to create a brutal harmony.
“WOULD YOU TURN THAT FRIGGING THING DOWN?! SERIOUSLY CASS?!” I screamed over the sudden round of gunfire, trying to glare down my younger brother while simultaneously searching for a spot of carpet in our minefield we call a living room.
Cass glared back at me over the top of his controller, a free hand reaching out to turn the volume down just the slightest of notches.
I threw my hands up in the air and scooted across the floor like mission impossible until I reached the power plug-ins on the wall. Then I proceeded to yank out the cord to Cass’s X-box.
“SHANE!!!!! YOU IDIOT I HADN’T SAVED ANYTHING YET!!!!!!!” Cass wailed, throwing one of our broken old controllers at me.
I ducked and dove for him, grabbing his ankles and pulling us into a pile on the floor.
Something with a plastic case dug into my back.
“Come on, dinner time.” I growled playfully.
“You suck.”
“Love you too, Cass.”
A high pitched squeal echoed behind us as a three year old body crashed to the ground after tripping over a toppled over laundry basket.
I bolted up, crawling over to my younger sister. “Ryza? You okay?”
She giggled, looking up at me with the same hazely gold colored eyes I have.
I sighed a puff of relief. “Come on Munchkin, it’s time for food. And Cass, I do not plug in that x-box.” I turned to look under my arm at him, caught red handed with a plug in cord in his hand.
“Awww no fair you got frigging eyes in the back of your head!” He whined.
I chuckled standing up and adjusting the crookedness of my clothing before picking up Ryza and balancing her on my hip.
“What’s for dinner?” Cass asked, trailing behind me as I made my way to the apartment’s kitchen.
“Fried chicken and potatoes, your favorite.”
Cass pumped his fist in the air. “Yes!” He whispered triumphantly, plopping down in one of the wooden chair surrounding the table.
By the time I had set Ryza down in the chair next to him he already had his plate piled high with food.
I had cut up bits of chicken for Ryza when the phone rang.
I scrambled to go pick it up, heaving a sigh as I walked down the hallway so the kids wouldn’t hear the conversation.
I leaned back against the wall, the metal photo frame of our family photo digging into my back.
“Shane? It’s Mrs. Peters. Sorry I couldn’t come by to see how you were doing today. My husband is in the hospital and you know how much trouble it is for an old lady like me.”
I laughed half heartedly. “I understand Mrs. Peters; give my regards to your husband.”
“Will do honey. Such a brave young girl you are.”
“Thank you.” I clicked the end button and slid down the wall, staring at all of the photos that lined the hall wall opposite me.
They were all so dusty; I had forgotten how clean mother had kept our home back then.
Cass and Ryza were way too young to remember, but I do.
A drop slide onto my wrist holding the phone and I looked down at it.
I hadn’t realized I was crying.
I sniffled and wiped my face with the back of my hand.
“God I hate Kira so much.” I muttered soft enough so the kids couldn’t hear me from the kitchen.
MATT
Mello snored on the couch.
Actually no let me rephrase that- Mello snored on the couch so loud I swear the paint on the walls was going to peel off.
I threw a TV remote at him, hitting him in the face and causing him to burst to life in a string of curses and swears.
“MATT YOU SUCK!!” He screamed at the top of his lungs, face red in anger, the mark of a TV remote standing out bright red against his skin.
I clicked the button on my controller, turning up the volume louder as I sped through fantasy lands at a volume to cover up Mello’s whining.
I bent down, bringing my chin towards my knees to avoid the TV remote that came flying my way and crashed into the apartment wall.
“I’m not paying for that.” I muttered.
“GET OUT OF THE HOUSE FOR A CHANGE!!!” Mello screeched.
“I could say the same thing to you.” The screen beeped in technicolors.
“MATT!!!”
I pressed pause and looked over at him with a look of boredom and annoyance. “What?”
Mello ground his teeth together.
“Damnit you’re cranky when you wake up.”
I ducked to avoid the DVD player’s remote.
SHANE
“Christmas is coming up soon guys! What do you all want?” I bit into my chicken.
“A PONY!!!” Ryza yelled, slamming her fists onto the table.
“Uh- huh. Anything smaller and cheaper?”
“Call of duty!!” Cass said in-between bites of food.
“N’kay.” I chewed. “Ryza?”
She screwed up her nose in thought staring at the ceiling. “I want sissy not be lalone amymore.”
I smiled. “I’m not alone goofball, I got you two after all.”
Cass gave me a glanced at me out of the corner of his eyes, snorting.
I looked at him quickly before standing up and dropping my plate in the sink. “Hurry up and finish eating you two, then head off to bed. You guys got school tomorrow.”
Ryza groaned.
Cass stood up and carried his plate to the sink. “Ya know, once upon a time you had school too.”
“Yeah well once upon a time we had living parents.”
Cass sighed staring at my back as I loaded scrubbed the dishes.
“Come on Ryza, let’s go to sleep and leave Shane to herself for a little while.” The noise of a chair’s legs scraping across the tiles echoed in the silent kitchen.
“Be happy sissy! Everyfing will be awwight.” Ryza’s sleepy voice called out.
I smiled slightly. “Yup, everything will be all right.” I called back.
Ryza giggled.
I drained the sink turning off the lights in the kitchen and walking to Ryza’s room first.
She was already konked out and snoring softly. I brushed her curly black hair off her forehead and kissed her temple. “Good night.”
Then I went to Cass’ room. It was no surprise to find him still awake with a player’s manual in his lap and the reading light turned on.
He reminds me so much of dad. Our parents would be proud.
I shut off his light ignoring his complaints and flopped into my own bed in my room, staring at the ceiling.
I made a mental note of what I have to do tomorrow- starting with heading over to the shops to go get the Christmas presents.
MATT
I hit the ground hard, pain sweeping through my body and I groaned.
It was too damn early.
“Get up, I need you to go out and get me some more chocolate.”
“Fat ass.”
“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?”
“Yup still cranky when you just get up.” I opened my eyes looking at Mello’s angry red face.
Mello ground his teeth together and then in the matter of seconds, calmed down and waltzed to the kitchen.
Probably to find some chocolate or something.
“Now what am I supposed to do all day?” I muttered to myself. “Sleeping in was my plan. Damnit. Stupid Mello.”
Then an idea occurred to me- it was about Christmas time, the video games should be on sale.
I tugged on jeans and threw on a T-shirt. “Mello! I’m going out!” I yelled as I grabbed the keys to the car.
“Bring me chocolate!”
“Will do.” I laughed closing the door behind me and running down the stairs out of the apartment.
SHANE
I sighed, breath exhaling in puffy white clouds of water vapor, the cold seeping into my bones.
I shivered, starting to jog towards the brightly colored Christmas lights that decorated the store front.
Did anyone else hate Christmas as much as me?
If it wasn’t for Cass and Ryza I’d be fine with never having another Christmas again. It reminded me too much of when we were little and I’ve spent too much time closing those wounds to let them spill out again.
I pressed in towards the video game aisle, deciding to stamp Cass’ present off the list first considering Ryza never really did give me a straight answer.
“FALALALALAAAAAAA LALALALAAAAAAAHHHH!!!!” The carolers screeched on the loudspeakers.
I winced; maybe somebody could learn to give them voice lessons.
Not everyone is made to be a singer ya know, I don’t care what Disney channel says.
I squeezed past the people crowded in the aisle until I reached the half empty aisle reserved for video games with muttered apologies.
My eyes scanned the colorful plastic covers behind the glass before reaching out a hand to grab the handle to the case.
A warm hand met mine, fingers closing over it.
I jolted my hand back, about ready to mutter an apology before our eyes connected for the first time.
I fought the mad blush that rose to me cheeks and smiled.
He was cute, rusty red hair stunning green brown eyes that were hidden behind goofy goggles.
Our eyes never left and I waved my hands in the direction of the case. “You were here first, please go ahead.” I smiled warmly, finding it strange that for the first time in a while, it wasn’t forced.
He shook his head, making a big hand gesture towards the case. “Ladies first.” His voice sent shivers down my spine and we finally broke eye contact as I stepped forward towards the case, plucking the strange game Cass asked for.
I stepped back, standing there for a moment as he stared at me like I was some sort of phenomenon, then I realized, I’m a girl in a video game aisle.
It’s not usually that common unless you’re three years old and looking for my little pony the DS version.
I waved the case. “For my brother. I’d like to play but, unfortunately I’m no good.”
He chuckled, his lips breaking out into a smirk. “Well then,” His voice was smooth and so obviously oblivious to the fact that he was trying to make a come-on one-liner. “I should show you sometime.”
Even though it was cheesy and lame I felt a slight blush rise to my cheeks and I couldn’t help but smiling and laughing slightly. “Well, Mr., that’s very kind of you, but don’t you think people start with names first? Shane.” I reached out with the hand not holding the video game for him to shake.
Sparks tingled up my arm as his hand grabbed mine, his eyes dancing with emotion. “Matt.” He said.
MATT
Stupid stupid stupid stupid stupid! Could I get anymore idiotic?!
Here I just met the perfect girl I’ve ever seen in my life and all I can say is some cheesy come on lines and then my name. Yay for tongue tiedness.
I didn’t want her to go so soon yet, I wanted to talk to her; I wanted to get to know her.
I wanted this to be easy.
And somehow she just made it easy.
“You checking out?” She asked.
I nodded, stupefied by those hazel burst green eyes.
She smiled, and my knees almost turned to rubber, about ready to crash me to the ground.
“Let’s go then, I am too.”
I smiled back falling into step beside her, this awesome feeling running through my body, buzzing with two words over and over again. She’s right she’s right she’s right bing bing bing.
“Do you play a lot of video games?” She asked, nodding to the one in my hand I hadn’t realized I’d grabbed.
I shrugged. “You could say so; my roommate says I’m addicted.”
“Roommate?”
“Yeah, he’s kind of been a friend of mine ever since we were little; we both grew up in the orphanage so….” Did I just say that? Shit Mello's going to blow a gasket over this!
My body buzzed with anxiety, but she just smiled sadly. “Orphanage? So you must have had a hard life too.”
“You could say that.” I relaxed slightly. “What about you?”
She chuckled, her eyes looking sad as she flicked the bangs of her curly golden hair into her face, hiding. “I guess you could say life has been rough. Ever since my parents died and the kids and Omigosh I’m so sorry I really don’t know why I’m saying all this to a total stranger!” She looked up quickly, a filmy wetness coating her eyes. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean to be so….so….. I’m sorry!”
A single tear slid from her eye and I reached over with my thumb unconsciously and wiped it away.
Then the mantra of stupid stupid stupid stupid replayed in my head, but this time I ignored it.
There was something about this girl, something I just couldn’t place my finger on.
“Well you know what, let’s not be strangers then.” Finally, something intelligent.
Her eyes twinkled and she sniffled slightly, a smile forcing its way to her features. “I’d like that. A lot.”
I payed for the game and hers, using a borrowed pen to sign my name on the receipt. She reached over, her breath tickling my skin and causing me to involuntarily shiver. She took the pen, pressing the tip to the receipt and in a neat scrawled script she wrote her name and number, a smile on her lips.
“Call me sometime, k?” And with that she took the game and walked outside of the store, golden red hair swinging in a curly ponytail as she disappeared into the crowd.
“She your girlfriend?” The cashier boy smirked. “She’s pretty.”
I smirked, still staring off into space at where she walked away. “No, not yet.”
“Yet?”
I looked at the cashier with a twinkle in my eyes, laughing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Yay! Chapter one complete!
Hope to come out with chapter two soon. I know there’s a lot of confusion but don’t worry everything will be sorted out in the next chapter, keep watching for more ^.^
*Based off of a previous oneshot located at this link: http://quizilla.teennick.com/stories/17884654/the-beautiful-girl-matt-death-note-oneshot *