Matty and the therapist

“Mello, I’m not sure about this…” Matt whispered, tugging on his friend’s sleeve.  

“Oh, don’t be such a chicken. I just need to do this one thing.” Mello said, and brushed his friend’s hand away gently.  

“But I’ve heard really creepy rumors about this house. I heard that the guy keeps a chainsaw by the door and kills anyone who sets foot on the doorstep.” Matt said, his hands grabbing Mello’s skinny shoulders from behind and hiding behind the blonde.  

“Look, if you’re so scared, you can wait on the sidewalk. This is his house right now, and I’ll show you that all those rumors are just that. Completely untrue rumors.”

The house seemed fairly normal; it was painted blue and white, and had a brick porch with two frosted glass doors. There were a few lights on, but only the kind of light you turn on so that people think you’re home and don’t try to break in.  

“Maybe nobody’s home…” Matt said, leaning forward on Mello, hands still on his shoulders.  

“Oh, be a man”. Mello scoffed. “It wouldn’t hurt to just check.”

“Fine, I’ll stay here, and if you get your head chopped off, I’ll call for help.” Matt said, letting go of the other boy and crossing his arms over his chest.

“Whatever you say, you goddamn drama queen.” Mello said, rolling his green eyes and walking up the driveway. He stepped up to the doorstep and matt cringed and looked away. He looked back to see Mello staring back at him wearing an ‘I-told-you-so’ face, to which he responded with a ‘keep-that-face-up-and-i-won’t-call-the-ambulance-when-you-get-your-head-chopped-off’ face. You know the one.

Mello gave a ‘you’re such a pussy’ smile and shook his head, his long, blonde hair swished around his smooth face. He turned around and rang the doorbell. He stood there for a moment, and a man opened the door. Matt couldn’t quite make out his face, though. The two talked for a moment more, and Mello was motioned inside. There was a pause and Matt thought for a moment that his friend would be all right.

And he couldn’t have been more wrong.

Suddenly, there was a cry, the unmistakable roar of a chainsaw, and the frosted glass on the door received a brand new coat of blood.  

Matt let out a cry and, without thinking, ran across the lawn to the doorstep. As soon as he did, the door opened and the man smiled maliciously back at Matt, his chainsaw still on, and splattering blood all over him. Matt stared up at him for a moment, unable to believe his eyes…

~*~

“AAAAAH!” Matt cried, falling off his bed and onto the linoleum floor. He landed and struggled under the blankets that had fallen over with him. When he had escaped, he glanced around the old, worn, orphanage bedroom. The walls were faded, and the paint was beginning to peel. The floor was freezing his butt. And his roommate was sleeping soundly in the bed across from his.

He looked down and checked for blood. When nothing was on his fingers, he got to his feet and padded over to Mello’s bed. By now, he had done this so many times, he didn’t even bother to wake his friend up. He simply climbed into the bed and wrapped his arms around Mello’s mid-section. After a while of reviewing his nightmare, his fingers wandered up to the blonde’s neck, just in case it was cut at least a little bit, or something.

Matt’s touch tickled Mello’s sensitive neck and he twitched awake. He rolled over quickly to face Matt and would have glared daggers at him, but it’s very hard to glare at someone whose face is two inches from yours.

“Hi…uhm…it happened again.” Matt mumbled nervously.

“What the hell, Matt? You don’t even wake me up anymore?”

“I thought you’d be mad…”

“Well, I certainly want to have a frickin’ tea party with you right now.”

“I’m sorry.”

Mello sighed. “Whatever. Just go back to sleep.”

Matt sighed and closed his eyes, then tried his best to fall asleep.

~*~

The next day, Mello had trouble staying awake. He almost fell asleep at breakfast, in class, and at recess. Matt, however, followed him around all day, twitching at the sight of anything sharp coming anywhere near his friend. He even grabbed a pencil out of the other boy’s hand while he was falling asleep over his work.

“What the hell is your problem?” Mello asked finally, somewhat more irritable than usual due his lack of sleep.

“I’m just trying to protect you.” He whimpered,

“We’re in a special orphanage surrounded by 10-foot steel gates. What can happen to me here?” Mello yawned.

“You’d be surprised…” Matt said morbidly, eyeing an incredibly dangerous paperclip. Mello yawned once again and looked back to his work. “You seem awfully tired. Why? I’m the one who had the nightmare.”

“Yeah, well, you woke me up in the middle of the night again and slept in my bed again. Did you know you snore sometimes?” Mello said.

“oh, I didn’t know that…” Matt said “I’m sorry, I didn’t know…” he looked down and bit his lip.

Mello sighed, unable to stand his only friend looking sad. “Whatever, I don’t really care, as long as you don’t drool.”

“This one was different, though.” Matt said, looking up. “I saw—AUGHHH!!” Matt screamed when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He whirled around and Mello looked up.

Linda retracted her arm like Matt had burst into flames. “What’s wrong? I was just saying hello.” She said, offended.

Mello stood up and pulled Linda aside. “Matt’s been having a bunch of nightmares lately, and this one really looks like it shook him up.”

“I see…” Linda responded. “Should I tell Mr. Ruvie?”

Mello rolled his eyes. “There’s no need to bring roger into this.” He said.

“I’m going to tell Mr. Ruvie and maybe he’ll arrange for Matt to talk to someone about It.” she said, and then added “You really shouldn’t call adults by their first names, Mello.”

“He was about to tell me about it, and you shouldn’t be sticking your big fat nose into other peoples’ business.” Mello snapped back.

“Well, I’m sorry about caring about other people.” She said and walked out of the room, her light brown braids swinging indignantly.

“Oh yeah, well so am I!!!” Mello yelled after her.