Sadly, I wasn't the mastermind behind the TMNT characters.. However, I hope you enjoy the tortures I put them through in this story.. Please enjoy! Songs don't belong to me either.
"I'm sorry Rye, I really am."
"Whatever Mikey, maybe we just need some space."
The happy-go-lucky couple was having their third big disagreement of the week and it was only Thursday.
"That's not what I meant. Please, we can get over this." Mikey was trying to reason with the stubborn girl.
"But I do. I think we should just be friends for a little while." She was heartbroken but knew it had to be done.
"C'mon Rye, I know we will be able to get over this." Mikey was pleading now.
"I know we can, but it will be easier if we don't have the pressures of being a couple." She honestly hated saying it, but she knew Mikey wouldn't be able to say it himself. "I hope we do get over it and are back together in no time." She wrapped her arms around him one last time.
"We will." They rocked back and forth. "I know it."
After the moment, they let go of each other and Riley left. April had left a few minutes before their breakup and Koda had planned on staying the night. With nothing there for her any more, she decided to go home.
"See ya tomorrow?" Michelangelo asked, walking her to the door.
She shrugged. "Dunno. I might just stay home and catch up on some school work."
"Okay." He nodded. "See ya around then."
"See ya." She nodded once and left the lair. With one final look back, she turned around as a tear rolled down her face.
-
She never did go the day after, or even the following week. In fact Riley only went to the lair three times in two months. The thought of being alone was hard, but seeing the pain on Mikey's face when they caught each other's eyes was the worst feeling ever.
After the first couple months, she never joined Koda and April while they went to the lair. The only time she saw the guys was if they came to visit. These visits were few and far between and Mikey never came with his brothers. Some nights, four shadows could be seen on a distant rooftop and Riley would wonder if it was the brothers or her imagination.
Two years after Riley and Mikey's last encounter and the boys had their 19th birthday. The sun was setting while the 20-year-old sat on her bed with notes scattered everywhere.
"Don't you plan on getting ready Rye?" Koda asked, using the mirror to help with her makeup.
"For what?" The studying teen asked.
"Think about it for a second." Koda had finally had enough with her sister. "The guys had their 19th mutation day last week so April and I decided to put a mini party together. "
"Why didn't you guys tell me about it?" Riley sat up a little straighter, clearly hurt.
"Duh." Koda twisted her mascara lid back on and turned around to face her twin. "You haven't talked to the guys in over a year. Then, every time I try talking about them, you zone out and ignore me. I thought I'd have a better chance of making you come if I asked you last minute so you wouldn't make any plans and skip out."
"Well, I don't even have anything to wear." Riley went back to the papers laid out all over. "Tell them I wish them a Happy Mutation Day."
"Nuh-uh, you're coming with. You even have a gift for them thanks to me." Koda pulled her sister up off the bed and handed her a small wrapped box. "Get ready, we're leaving in ten."
Somehow Riley was able to get ready in time and the twins were off. Koda sped up and took the lead when Riley just about took a wrong turn halfway through the sewers.
"It really has been a long time since I've been down here." Riley mentioned. She wasn't adjusted to the darkened dampness and smell anymore and it was starting to show.
"Yeah, there's so much you have to catch up on." Koda stopped in front of the lair's entrance.
"I just hope they still see me as a friend." Riley sighed.
"They will! Don't worry about it." Her sister reassured her. "You forget how awesome they are."
The room they walked into was the last thing Riley expected. She remembered them to be neat and organised all the time. Now the lair was starting to look like it belonged to a house full of boys although she could tell they tried to make it look reasonably clean for the party.
What really surprised her was the appearance of the turtles themselves. It looked like they took a beating in one of their recent battles. Donnie, who was sitting with April snug against his left, had a makeshift cast on his right calf. The drawings on it seemed off until she realised they were Donn's shorthand notes from the lab.
Leo was also in a cast but it hugged his right arm. It didn't have notes and silly little drawings all over but was left blank and sat in a sling. Something seemed really off about the leader until Riley realised the sling prevented him from having his swords. Leo without his weapons was like a turtle without a shell. Unnatural.
Raph wasn't in a cast but his plastron scar was larger in size and his shell had plenty of new dings and dents. She was also aware he now looked just as tall as Leo, who also looked a little taller. They were still growing in height and muscle and it was clearly noticeable.
What really set her off was the sight of Mikey. He had a cut running over his shoulder and down his arm that was going to leave a scar a few shades lighter on his skin forever. Donnie or Splinter had sewn it up, but the sight alone was harsh. It was clear they were no longer the same height but he was a lot taller now. No matter how she tried grabbing his attention he wouldn't look her in the eyes.
She had to fight hard to keep tears from falling. She had told him they would work it out and that never happened. He did try to get her to talk but she would ignore him. Now she was being ignored and it wasn't a nice feeling at all.
He friends, the family she chose to be a part of, was all gone now. She simply picked it all up and tossed it out the window without a second thought.
Koda laughed while calling out. "Lookie who I dragged down here!" Leo walked over and wrapped his good arm around her.
"How were you able to manage that?" Raph asked. "We thought she fell off the face of the planet."
Riley lifted her arms. "Well, here I am. The real question is what happened to you guys?"
"You didn't tell her?" Donnie asked April.
"I know we did. She was probably in her little La La Land again." April defended herself.
"It's nothing big anyways. Why does it matter?" Mikey spoke for the first time since they arrived.
The tone in his voice alone broke her heart, not harsh but matter-of-factly. It also sounded like a trickle of hate was laced through the words.
With all the anger she could muster she replied. "It doesn't matter, I was just trying to be nice."
"Why start now?" Mikey mumbled to himself.
When the whiskey doesn't work
When the tears don't drown the hurt
When a beer won't chill the pain
When the sun wont stop the rain
Leo gave his youngest brother 'the look' while Koda gave her sister the same. The couple then looked at each other apologetically.
Meanwhile, Riley had had enough and just wanted to get out of there. "Sorry guys, but I can't do this. I truly hope you all get better soon. Bye." Without another word she was gone.
"Is it bad Im not going after her?" Koda asked with a bit of worry.
"Gosh no. She just needs some time by herself." April reassured.
Leo saw the worry on her face. "If you need to, you can go too." It pained him to say it but didn't want to hold her back.
Koda shook her head. "No. April is right, she's the only one who can help herself now."
The group was able to enjoy the night and they were even able to have a good laugh. That was, after Mikey went to his room after the cake. None of them felt particularly good about it, but it kept their minds off of the sinking feeling. This wasn't good for either of their families but there was nothing they could do if Riley or Mikey didn't want to cooperate.
It was well past midnight when Koda arrived home. Seeing the TV on she went to tell her sister that she had come home for the night. When she got to the living room she saw that it was Milo watching and not Riley.
"Milo? What are you still doing up?" She questioned. "And where's Rye?"
"I'm watching TV, and how should I know she was out with you I thought." Milo said, not looking away from the screen.
"No, she came home shortly after we left." Koda said to herself since her little brother lost all interest now. "That's what I though anyways. Oh dear."
Well, where is this going to lead now? Ahahah!
Song of the chapter!
When the Whiskey doesn't work.
-Phoenix Stone Band