Near was the first to arrived to physics class, and he sat down on his usual seat.

Soon the crowd of students began entering the classroom. Talking loudly, whispering, laughing and the class clowns screaming. Everyone was eager for the class to end so they could go to lunch.

"Settle down," the physics professor told the kids as they took their seat.

"Sorry Dr. Dantzker. You know Mello can't control his emotions," Matt joked and Mello pushed him causing Matt to stumble and fall down.

Linda laughed and hugged the two boys who were her best friends. Near sometimes wished he sat in the other side of the room with them.

But maybe Mello and Matt had sat in the opposite side of the room to avoid Near. That kind of bothered the young boy.

Near saw Alternative walk inside and whispered something to Professor Dantzker.

The Professor nodded and then Near saw A sit somewhere else in the opposite of the room.

Away from Near. Away from her usual sitting spot.

Near felt himself frown and pout. He didn't like change. He didn't like A sitting away from him. He didn't like change.
His view has always been A, the professor, the board, and Mello who sat on the opposite side of the classroom.
Near hated change.

Backup walked into the class late as usual. He then stopped in his tracks as his eyes landed on his seat and the seat before his.

A wasn't there. B stood there visibly confused.

Near watched as B scanned the room and then his eyes landed on A who was scribbling some notes on her notebook. Probably getting ahead to be prepared for the lecture and exam.

Backup then walked towards A and sat on the desk behind her.

"Hey I was sitting there," a boy said to B.

Backup's eyes landed on the boy's backpack that was on top of the desk.

B then grabbed the boy's backpack and tossed it to the floor causing everyone to turn to look at him.

"What is going on?" Professor Dantzker asked looking at the area where the commotion was happening.

"Backup is sitting in my seat and threw my backpack across the room," the boy explained.

"B please go to your assigned seat," the Professor told him.

"I have to sit behind Alternative. A is my partner," B said.

"No B. Please go back to your seat," the Professor told him again.

Backup then got up and walked out of the classroom despite the professor calling after him.

During lunch, Near overheard Mello's large group of friends befriending Backup.
The older boys liked how Backup didn't listen to authority.

Mello and Matt then quietly exit their loud group of friends and stood a few feet from Near whispering.

"Let's go to Roger's office and look at B's file," Mello said.

"No Mello. I have art class in 20 minutes," Matt told him.

"I have P.E....I thought you hated art," Mello said.

"I love art. You're the one that hates art," Matt said.

"Oh okay I guess I got confused. It'll be quick. I promise you won't be late to your dumb art class," Mello murmured. Then Mello's eyes landed on Near who was sitting down on the floor playing.

"What are you doing here Near?!", Mello asked angrily.

"I have been here the whole time, Mello," Near replied calmly, not looking up at the two older boys.

"Wow I didn't even see you. You're like a ninja," Matt said with a smile.

No one ever noticed Near. He was completely ignored outside class.

"You better not tell Roger that we will break into his office and look at Backup's file. Or else," Mello threatened Near.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't tell on you", Near said and Mello flinched at that.

"You should come with us," Matt offered.

The three boys started walking towards Roger's office while the other kids remain in lunch eating and playing.

Mello took out a Bobby pin he had taken form Linda and began to force the keyhole of Roger's office door like a criminal.

"Mello.....I think he leaves the door unlocked," Matt said and Mello stopped what he was doing and tried the door handle.

Open. Had been since the beginning.

"I was the one who unlocked it with my skills!" Mello said.

"Your criminal skills," Matt mumbled and the two boys walked inside Roger's office.

Near mentally smirked at the fact that Mello was impulsive and went straight to action. He kind of liked that about him.

The two older boys began to check the drawers and desks for any papers while Near awkwardly stood there unsure of what to do.

"I found it!" Mello said running next to his friend. Matt.

"I found Alternative's file," Matt said blushing.

"Check when her birthday is," Mello whispered.

Near walked towards the two older boys and watched as they opened A's file.

"Name unknown. DOB unknown. Crime none. Height, weight..... gender.....Male," Matt mumbled Alternative's file information out loud.

Mello quickly took A's file away from Matt and quickly looked over it.

Both boys began screaming causing Near to jump due to the noise.

"How is that possible????!!" Matt screamed.

"So Alternative is a  boy?????" Mello asked panicking.

Both boys looked at each other and accusingly pointed fingers at each other.

"You got A's folder!" Mello accused.

"You're the one who wanted to see A's date of birth! Probably to write a secret love/happy birthday letter!!" Matt accused the blond back.

Near couldn't believe what he was hearing. Alternative a boy like himself? Well A never claimed to be a girl. Near has never seen A in the girl's restroom or the boys restroom. And just because someone has long hair doesn't make them a girl .

Guess this was the fault of his natural instinct which was to assume the unknown.
Near eyes travelled back to Mello who was fighting with Matt. The two friends accusing each of being gay.
Mello was smart but Near couldn't believe how immature, close-minded, and how insecure about his sexuality Mello was sometimes.
Being homosexual did not make him less man than what he already was.
Anyone who was confident with their sexuality would know that.

"Matt, Mello....lunch ends in 10 minutes," Near told them as he looked at Roger's Victorian grandfather clock.

Mello quickly open Backup's filed.
Near mentally prepared himself for whatever might be in that file.

"Name....Beyond Birthday. DOB, height, weight. Crime.....physically hurting others and himself with intent of doing it again," Mello stopped reading out loud.

The room grew silent. There was a criminal among them.

Backup's file