Disclaimer: I don't own Matt. I did make up the girl, though, and she's mine. ^^

A/N: Hehe, this story goes right in between a few of my one-shots, as far as chronology is considered. So you may want to consider reading those too. :)

"So, Matto, isn't it?" she was cute, Matt had to admit. She had short black hair that came just to her chin. Her eyes were blue and she had rich, vanilla mocha skin. She was slender, making her baggy cargo-pants and hooded sweatshirt look even stranger on her than they would on any other girl.

"Yeah, just Matt's fine." he said cautiously. He coughed, clearing his throat of smoke momentarily. "You need someone to show you around?"

She smiled a cute, tiny smile. "No, that's OK. I think I can find everything."

Matt nodded, leaning back against the dining hall's back wall. Lunch had just ended and she'd hung back to talk to him. If she didn't want a tour from a hot boy, what did she want?

"Can you keep a secret?" she whispered.

"I think I can, yeah." Matt said, grinning inwardly. This was going to be good.

She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one else was in the hall, then turned back to look at Matt, who was about a head taller than she. "I have something I need help hiding."

Matt raised an eyebrow. "Hiding?"

"Yes." she leaned closer. "Something. . .alive."

Matt grinned, nearly dropping the cigarette in his mouth. "Alive? Like a slave?"

She shook her head, looking disgusted. "No, you idiot."

"What then?" Matt stood up straight, waiting impatiently.

"I'll show you. Come with me." She took his hand in hers, leading him briskly from the hall and out into the entry room. From there she brought him up the stairs and to the entrance into the girl's section of the dorms, where she halted. "Wait here." she said quietly.

"Hey, I go in there all the time." Matt smirked. "It's fine, as long as I don't get caught."

She shook her head. "Why am I not surprised?" she muttered before leaving him waiting in the doorway.

Matt waited, tapping his hand against the door frame and occasionally removing and replacing the cigarette in his mouth.

Finally, after about ten minutes, she returned. Under her hoodie was a bulge. She was holding it up with both hands. Then, carefully, she removed it.

A small ball of grey fluff, which was yowling, proclaiming its resentment at having been shoved in the stuffy sweatshirt. It was a kitten.

Matt took a step back. "A cat?" he asked, uncertain. "Where'd you even find the fleabag!?"

She scowled at him, tossing her hair and holding the kitten close to her chest. "He saved my life." she said tartly.

Matt reached out and allowed the still-growling fluff ball to sniff the tips of his fingers. It made a hacking sound and pinned its ears down against its furry head. "I don't like cats much." Matt admitted. "But I can help you hide him, if that's what you really want."

"Yes." she sounded thrilled that Matt had agreed.

"In return, of course, for a small fee."

She looked at him as though he'd just sprouted a pig's nose. "A fee? You selfish, arrogant-"

"Hey, you ask for me to risk my reputation as a 'good boy', on that scrap of meat and you're gonna get a price slapped on the deal. Got it?" Matt explained stubbornly through one corner of his mouth, holding the cigarette firmly between his lips.

"What price?" she asked reluctantly.

Matt smiled a little. This was going well. "First of all, what's your name?"

"Kaeda."

"There, that wasn't so bad."

"What's the rest?" Kaeda demanded.

Matt reached out to pet the kitten's head. He lashed his tail as if daring Matt to touch him again. Matt's hand retreated. "The 'rest' is that you have to go on at least one date with me."

"No way!"

"Then I'm going to report that animal." Matt stepped out into the hallway.

Kaeda stormed after him immediately. "You said you'd keep the secret!" she accused.

"No, Kaeda," Matt said, giving her a winning smile, "I said I could keep it."

He could feel her scowling at his back as he walked away.

Four, three, two, one. . .

"OK, fine."

Matt smiled. Mm, this was going to be a wonderful relationship.

-waves kittens in face- Review? :o This one WILL be updated!