"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" My friends screamed as I opened the door. I fell backwards, accidentally losing my grip on the five pizzas I had brought back. One went flying over the railing, never to be eaten. My friend, Michelangelo, rushed over to help pick up the fallen pizzas. He grinned at me.
I met the turtles when we were really young. We can't quite remember how we met, but my version is that I stumbled upon them after I fell down a manhole. Sometimes everyone agrees my version is the most accurate, since I've got more proof. I grew up with the turtles.
Leo's the one who taught me how to slow dance when I complained about not knowing how.
Raph's the one who taught me not to drink, smoke, or be too sexy.
Donnie's the one who taught me how electronic things function.
And Mikey's the one who encouraged me to pursue a college degree for electronic gaming.
"I'm sorry." I apologized to Mikey, as Leo helped me up.
"Don't worry about it. I've got more in the kitchen." He said, I laughed.
"Should've known."
"The college girl is back!" Raph exclaimed as I hugged him.
"You're just jealous." I laughed as I moved to Donatello.
"You don't know how lonely it's been without you to come over." Don said.
"And wow, it's your 21st birthday and you still look like you're 16." Leo complimented. I grinned, then looked at Mikey.
"You're awfully quiet." I pointed out.
"I'm waiting for you guys to stop talking so I can eat my pizza!" He exclaimed. I laughed.
"I'm all for that!" I said, then ran to the kitchen.
After eating, we were all sitting around in my living room, exchanging stories. The only thing missing was Mikey. I wondered where he was.
"So who's the lucky guy?" Raphael asked.
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"You have to have a boyfriend."
"I don't."
"So you're trying to tell me that you look that hot, yet you don't have a guy?"
"I never wanted a boyfriend, so therefore, I've never had one." I finished the conversation by tugging on the back of Raph's bandana. Just then Cowabunga Carl came bounding down the stairs.
"Oh my god!" I groaned, tilting my head and closing my eyes.
"Cowabunga Carl here for Charlotte's 21st birthday!" He announced, then took off his Cowabunga head and sat down.
(BTW-Raph & I are on a couch, Leo & Mikey are on the couch opposite me and poor Donnie's in an armchair by himself).
"Uh Char, we noticed the For Rent sign outside your apartment." Leo said.
"Yeah I'm moving out." I said.
"But where will you live?" Don asked, leaning forward.
"Well I was kinda hoping I could live with you." I asked warily.
"Yeah! It'll be like old times when we used to have sleepovers!" Mikey exclaimed.
"Yeah Mikey, just like old times." I echoed. Raph scoffed.
"Yeah, when you slept in Mikey's room." He added.
"What did you two do when you slept there?" Leo asked.
"Do we even want to know?" Don asked. Mikey was turning redder with every word.
"We just talked!" I defended.
"Uh-huh" Raph.
"Yeah." Leo.
"I'm sure." Don.
"We did! If I slept with Raph, he'd keep me up all night with his snoring. If I slept with Don he'd keep me up all night with his calculation. Leo'd make me go to sleep early. Mikey was the only one I could stay up all night just talking to." I shrugged. The others shrunk back into their seats, knowing they're defeated. I smiled at Mikey, who exhaled and grinned graciously.
I dusted my hands off. We'd just finished moving my stuff into my new room.
"Thanks guys." I thanked them as they all filed out of my room. I followed them. Mikey went straight for his video game. I followed him. Time to teach him a thing or two.
"Hey Mikes, turn left down that road there." I instructed him as he drove around in a cute little Volkswagen Bug.
"What?" He asked, confused.
"Just do it." And he did. Suddenly, a different screen flashed on. It showed a picture of a blue TR-6 Triumph (1972).
"You unlocked the best car in the game! Charlotte, how'd you—"
I cut him off by holding up my hand. "Degree in electronic gaming, remember?" I asked him. He nodded. I sat down next to him and helped him with his other games.
~Dinner~
We all persuaded Don not to make dinner, so Leo did. It went well, that is, until Raph opened his mouth.
"Hey Charlotte, if you were to hook up with one of us, any one of us (Author's Note: like there were so many), who do you think it'd be?" Raph asked curiously. I raised my eyebrows as I took a sip of my water.
"I'd say Mikey." Don answered for me. Then my water went down the wrong way. I started coughing. Raph smiled and leaned back, crossing his arms. I didn't dare look at Michelangelo. I took a sip of my water and turned on Don.
"Why do you say that?" I asked nonchalantly. Don seemed surprised by my reaction, so Leo answered for him.
"You both love pizza and video games. You're always together, and—"
"And I'm sure you'd both love to snog each other." Raph interjected. I opened my mouth to make a snide comment about Mona Lisa, but then a green blur jumped from the table and tackled Raph. I jumped up and saw a very pissed Michelangelo beating the shit out of Raphael. Don and Leo were too stunned to do anything. So I ran over and pinned Michelangelo to the wall by pushing his shoulders.
"What are you doing?!" I shouted at him. His eyes were a bit cloudy, but a breathtaking shade of blue. He brusquely slapped me off. I landed on the hard floor and felt my mouth. Blood. I grabbed the edge of the table and pulled myself into a sitting position. By now, Don and Leo had broken up the fight. Leo was holding back Mikey and Don was holding back Raph. Leo was yelling at Mikey.
"Do you realize the damage you've done? You've disrupted our dinner, hurt Raphael AND Charlotte!"
Of course, all eyes turned to me. I had one hand clasped over my mouth as I ran to the bathroom. I spit several times into the sink and rinsed my mouth out with water. Then I emerged from the bathroom. I found very worried looking turtles sitting all around the table.
"I'm alright you guys. Just a little blood. Nothing bad." I reassured them, leaning on the wall.
"I just wanted to say I was sorry." Mikey said, looking down. I smiled.
"It's ok, Mikes. Raph?" I asked, crossing my arms. Raphael sulked in his chair.
"I'm sorry." He growled.
"There, now we're all good." I said cheerfully. Leo glanced at the clock, then stood up.
"It's 10:30. We should get some sleep." He ordered. We all nodded and went to our rooms.
I showered, then changed into a black camisole and soft black baggy pants. I was brushing my hair when I heard the unmistakable sound of thunder. I winced slightly, then noticed a frazzled-looking Michelangelo. He looked frightened to death, and he was clutching his bedding.
"Yes Mikey?" I asked, a bit unnerved.
"Can I sleep with you?" He asked hurriedly.
"Did you lose your teddy bear again?" I sighed. Maroon color decorated his cheeks.
"No it's just—" He was interrupted by another rumble of thunder. He jumped and cowered under his bedding.
"Aww" I said, feeling sorry for him. "Here. You can set up your bed next to mine." I instructed. He nodded and hurriedly set it up. I snuggled under my covers, rolled onto my side and watched him. When he finally got settled, he grinned at me. I turned out the lights.
"Thanks Char." He said.
"No problem." I replied, rolling onto my back.
"Hey Charlotte," Mikey started. I sat upright. He never used my full name, so it had to be serious.
"What?"
"Do you want to tell the guys?"
"Tell them what?"
"About the last time we did this."
"Slept together in the same room?"
"Yeah"
"NO." I shouted. I didn't care how much teasing I'd receive if the others ran in and saw this layout. They were not going to know. Mikey knew my stubbornness, so he chose to back off.
"You do know that there was no emotion in that night, right?" I asked him, lying down again.
"Is there emotion now?" He asked.
"Mikey…"
"I wanna know!"
"I don't like where this is going. Goodnight." I replied, rolling over and shutting my eyes tight.
Michelangelo POV
Damn, Charlotte was a hard puzzle to crack. Apparently she got over her fear of storms while she was in Romania. Where the hell is that country anyway? Of course I faked my fear, just so I could sleep in the same room as her. Usually, one storm and she'd pour out all her secrets to me. Then she felt bad, and I'd cheer her up with one of my lame jokes. She was the only one who found them funny. My brothers just don't understand how deep Charlotte is, how there are all these points of views down in her, but if she releases them, then she'd be hated/mocked by the entire world. Plus, she was the only one who understood me. She was the one that always had a pizza and a hug for me when I screwed up. Which during our teen years, happened a few more times than normal. So sue me for liking Charlotte's smell and pizza.
There's no denying it anymore, I loved Charlotte Osmond. And it scared me.