Author's Note: Song lyrics belong to Sam Hunt, the song title is "House Party". I thought up this idea driving home with country music blasting and decided to go with it. Also, I've started to include the year these shorts happened on the chapter titles. I hope placing the approximate year in the chapter titles will give everyone a gage of where each story falls. This one is from before the previous chapters, placed approximately in April's senior year of high school. Enjoy.
Choices and Chances:
House Party (Fall 2013)
November 28th 2013 was just your average Friday night for most of New York. It was a week after Thanksgiving and still several weeks before Christmas. April O'Neil sighed as she sat through her final class of the day, gazing out the window instead of paying avid attention to the lecture being given. The senior knew when she went home tonight she would be alone, her father was on a retreat at a therapy clinic and wouldn't be back until Monday. Kirby needed the information they were going over for himself as any patients, it was a seminar about PTSD, and she was glad he attended. . . But between her break up with Casey about a month ago and her father's trip she found herself alone on her 18th birthday. She fished her phone out and once she was sure the teacher was not looking her way, messed her favorite turtle.
You're on the couch,
Blowing up my phone
You don't wanna come out,
But you don't wanna to be alone,
It don't take but two to have a little soiree
'Hey Donnie. What are you doing right now?' She checked to make sure neither the ringer nor vibration cell were on. April didn't want a different lecture from her teacher.
'Just working on a project, nothing special. Aren't you in class?' Donnie's answer came in quickly and she smiled. Of course he was working on something.
'Yeah, but I'm a bit bored. I can't even focus on what the teacher has been saying.'
'Do you want to come over? We could find something fun to do. We always have fun.' His message brought a small smile to her lips but she resisted the urge to accept that offer.
'No thanks, I don't feel like being around a lot of people today. I love your brothers but they can be a bit rowdy.'
'Only a bit?' She had to cough to cover that laugh that wanted to escape at Donnie's last message. She could just see his purple mask quirking up above one gentle mahogany eye with a skeptical look.
'They're incredibly rowdy.' She amended as the bell rang. She packed her text book and supplies away before looking at the screen again.
'Far more accurate. They are planning all kinds of surprises for you tomorrow, fair warning.'
'Surprises?'
'Yes, we've been planning for months.' The message was followed by a second soon after. 'Would it bother you if I came by tonight? I have a present for you birthday girl.'
'You all remember?'
'Of course we do, you know we consider you family. Could easily have the party they want to throw tonight, if you change your mind.'
If you're in the mood,
Sit tight right where you are, babe
'Cause I'll be at your door in ten minutes
Whatever you got on, girl, stay in it
You ain't gotta leave the house to have a good time
I'mma bring the good time home to you
'I'd love a party, but not the whole family. Is that strange? I guess I'm just in a funk.'
'It's fine, everyone has moments. I can leave you alone, if you want.'
'No, come by. I'm going to the library but I should be home in an hour. If you beat me there just let yourself in. I'd love to see my best friend on my birthday.'
'See you soon, April.'
We'll have a house party,
We don't need nobody,
Turn your TV off,
Break that boom-box out,
We'll wake up all the neighbors,
'Til the whole block hates us,
And the cops show up and try to shut us down,
April O'Neil trudged up the stairs to the apartment she shared with her father. She was feeling drained but she knew it was just her own funk getting to her. She had received a few text messages from the other Hamato brothers wishing her a happy birthday and that had helped somewhat. After all, her turtle friends really were the brothers she'd never had. She smirked lightly at that thought, amending that three of the boys were the brothers she'd never had. Her key slipped into the lock on the apartment door but she paused, there was music coming from inside.
If you're gonna be a homebody,
We're gonna have a house party,
If you wanna be a homebody,
We're gonna have a house party,
Throw a neon t-shirt, over the lamp shade,
I'll take the furniture,
Slide it out of the way,
"Donnie must be here." She commented to herself, pushing the door open and peeking curiously around it. Her tall friend was just coming from the kitchen with a bowl of chips and some salsa. The living room was decorated with purple and yellow streamers, and a laser printer banner reading "Happy Birthday April!" The music was coming from the stereo next to her TV and she smelled food she knew came from Murakami's.
"Oh, hey April." Donnie smiled as he noticed her and she finally came in. She closed the front door, dropped her school bag and grinned at the mutant turtle.
"What's all this?" She asked, waving a hand toward the festive decorations, snacks and music.
"This, Miss O'Neil, is a private birthday party." He held out a hand and nodded toward the kitchen table. "And that is your favorite items from Murakami's, so I hope you're hungry."
"Just us?"
"Yes, guys are going on patrol later."
Shaking the floor,
Rattling the roof,
We'll go to town right there in your living room,
Let's have a house party,
We don't need nobody,
Turn your TV off,
Break that boom box out,
After eating dinner, the two retired to the couch and killed the music. They watched April's favorite movie, quoting lines to each other and laughing. As the night wore on April felt her spirits lighten and she couldn't help but be thankful Donatello went to so much trouble for her. After the movie he convinced her to let him push all the furniture to the side so they could dance. April laughed as he turned the stereo up loud enough to make the base thud and the walls seem to shake. They danced to whatever came on, no longer worried about the world outside.
Most of the songs were fast paced, heavy on the base and perfect for a teenage party. April smirked and held a finger up, leaving Donnie waiting in the middle of the living room floor after they'd danced for around an hour. She fiddled with the stereo and Donnie watched, wondering what she was looking for. The radio cut off and a slow dance song came on, still very loud but much slower this time. April turned to face him, smoothly stalking up to him and reaching up to rest her arms over his shoulders.
We'll wake up all the neighbors,
'Til the whole block hates us,
And the cops show up and try to shut us down,
If you're gonna be a homebody,
We're gonna have a house party,
If you wanna be a homebody,
We're gonna have a house party,
"I felt like a change of pace, dance with me Don?" She watched him gulp and nod mutely. His hands came to rest on her hips and they danced to the beat of a romantic song. April let her head fall to rest against his plastron and sighed happily. She still needed a little time before she could handle telling Don why she'd ended things with Casey. In fact she had no intent of ever stating it that way, she cared too much about both of them to make it into a game of who was better than who. This was nice however, this one night was just the two of them and his arms had just slipped around her to hold her closer.
She wondered, maybe tonight would be fine. After all the trouble Donnie had gone through, maybe this was a good moment. She could spill her heart, tell him how she felt. She knew he would never hurt her, hell she knew he loved her as far more than a friend. Donatello had always been there for her, and they'd each shown their feelings at different times but never lined up. Maybe tonight was the night, maybe this was the right moment to have this talk. She looked up, and met his deep caring eyes.
"Don I. . ." And then there was a pounding on the door which caused them both to jump. They stopped dancing, turning their eyes from each other to the door as the pounding came again.
"NYPD! Open up!" Yelled an aggravated sounding voice. Donnie slipped from her arms and moved swiftly to the fire escape.
"I'll be close." He mouthed silently before merging into the shadows outside the window. Her stealth had improved but the boys still made her look amateur. She sighed, not tonight it seemed, and walked to the door, opening it carefully.
So I'll be at your door in ten minutes,
Whatever you got on, baby stay in it,
You ain't gotta leave the house to have a good time,
I'mma bring the good time home to you,
We'll have a house party,
We don't need nobody,
Turn your TV off,
Break that boom-box out,
"Officers." She kind of half shouted over the music as she saw two legitimate police officers standing in the hall. She gave them a nervous smile as she fully opened the door. "Can I help you?"
"Shut the music off!" One half shouted and she jumped to do so. She stepped over to the stereo, hit the power button and turned back to notice both officers now standing just inside.
"Um, I'm sorry if it was a little loud." April told them with the best winning smile she could manage.
"A little? Miss we received five complaint calls about your little block party." The younger of the two officers crossed his arms and looked about. "Is there an adult here?"
"I just turned 18." She provided and watched him look skeptical. She fished out her ID card and handed it to him.
"Where is everyone else?" His partner asked, walking about and doing a quick visual search of the apartment. "Have you been drinking?"
"It's just me, my best friend was here but he left earlier." She responded, watching as he crossed to the open window and stuck his head out to check the fire escape. "I haven't been drinking, I was just celebrating."
"By yourself?" The younger cop eyed her in a way that spoke volumes but his partner finished looking around and returned.
"Keep the music down, it's nearly 2AM young lady." The older cop stated as he guided his partner toward the door. "Consider this a warning."
"Yes, sir. Thank you." April told him as the two left. She watched them head off to the stairs.
"What kind of 18 year old has a party by herself, no alcohol and blasting slow dance music?" She heard the younger one ask as they disappeared into the staircase.
We'll wake up all the neighbors,
'Til the whole block hates us,
And the cops show up and try to shut us down,
If you're gonna be a homebody,
We're gonna have a house party,
If you wanna be a homebody,
We're gonna have a house party!
"I'm sorry." Donnie's voice reached her ears as she shut the door. She turned to find a very contrite turtle sitting on the windowsill once she'd closed the door. Their eyes met and she tried to look serious.
"Don, they think I was slow dancing, alone, on my birthday, with the stereo almost to max volume and not drunk." April started to giggle and shortly after so did Donatello. He grinned and shook his head.
"Oh Miss O'Neil you are clearly a young cat lady." He joked and they both laughed so hard it hurt. April collapsed onto the couch as she slowly calmed to giggles again. Donnie came over, eyeing her smile for a moment before leaning close to kiss her forehead.
"I should head home, I'll see you tomorrow?"
"You will." She confirmed, her smile bright.
"Happy birthday April." And with that he slipped back out the window into the cool night air. She fell asleep on the couch that night, a smile still on her lips as she dreamed of dancing with her tall ninja.