You know that saying, 'be careful what you wish for?' Well, I should've been mindful of it when I wished for my news reporter on an aunt to get that big break that she deserved. Though in my defence, I never expected that 'break' to come with 4 amazing new friends.
But I think I should start at the beginning. That's always the best place to start, isn't it?
Two weeks ago…
Beep! Beep!
15 year old groaned, sleepily reached over to her alarm and slapped it off. She laid in bed for a moment before she got up, yawning as she did so. "Morning little buddy", Alexis greeted Spike, her pet red eared slider. She laughed as the terrapin perked its head up and look at her expectantly. "All right I'll get you something", the teen said. She went to the kitchen and got some left over pizza crust. Spike chomped the dry food happily. He closed his eyes in contentment after the auburn haired girl started to gently stroke his head when she'd gotten him out of his tank. She popped him back into his tank and grabbed some clean clothes from her drawers. Alexis then spent about 10 minutes in the shower before she got changed into her clothes.
"Morning Auntie", Alexis said after she emerged the bathroom and saw her aunt in the kitchen/dining room.
"Good morning Lexi", April said pouring out some cereal for them both "How did the studying go last night?" she asked. While they ate, April told her niece about the latest story she was working on, the Foot Clan and their ties to the string of thefts that had been happening recently.
"See you later", Alexis said kissing her aunt of the cheek before she stopped by her room to grab her bag, say goodbye to Spike and then head off to school.
~school~
"You think this new story April is working on could be her big break?" Charlotte asked after Alexis told her about it. April had told her about a theft of an electronics warehouse which she believed was done by the Foot Clan who'd been responsible for a string of thefts recently. Alexis hoped that her Aunt was right but she knew April's boss required more evidence which April was lacking.
"I really hope so. She needs one", Alexis said.
"Move out of the way!" a boy and a girl shouted as they whizzed passed on their skates.
"Watch it!" the young wannabe artist shouted after them as the boy nearly sent her flying.
"That's Cody and Angel Jones for you", Charlotte said shaking her head.
"You know them?" Alexis asked.
"Unfortunately. The Jones twins are in my brother's class. According to Jack, Cody is the class joker. Never takes school seriously. The only thing he's interested in is hockey", Charlotte explained.
"What about Angel?" Alexis asked walking down the corridor with her friend.
"She's a little better than her brother", Charlotte replied. They reached their maths class and settled down at neighbouring desks. The rest of morning passed by with no issues. It was only when it came to lunch that the trouble started.
"You wanna eat outside or in the cafeteria?" Charlotte asked
"Outside as it's a nice day" Alexis replied "If that's ok with you?"
"Sure. I'm gonna get some food" Charlotte said "I'll meet you under the usual tree".
"Ok see you in a bit", Alexis said walking out to the tree the two teens generally sit under when the weather was good. While waiting for her friend Alexis got out her sketch book. She was part way through sketching an image of Spike when two shadows cast over the page making her look up. It was Brad and Sam. Sam snatched the sketch pad from her hands. "Hey!" she protested, standing up "give it back!"
"You want this back? You're going to have to make us Tilley ", Brad replied. Sam tossed him the book. They played catch over her head while Alexis tried to grab it.
"Come on Tilley you can do better than that", Brad taunted. The book was smacked out of his hand by a hockey stick.
"Jones", Brad growled turning to him.
"Back off Jones this doesn't concern you", Sam put in.
"It does when you start bullying people. Now get beat it", Cody said holding his hockey stick tightly in his hand.
"You gonna have to make us Cody", Brad replied.
"With pleasure". The three boys moved closer to one another.
"No!" Alexis exclaimed pushing her way through and planting herself in the middle.
"Looks likes somebody's found their courage", Brad commented.
"You gonna let a girl take all the hits?" Sam mocked
"No", Cody said trying to step around Alexis. She blocked his way "move", he said to her.
"No. you can't start a fight here. Mr Eastman is watching", she said pointing to where the art teacher stood not too far away looking straight at them.
"Maybe next time Jones", Sam said.
"See you in class Tilley ", Brad added and they sauntered off.
"You didn't have to do that. I could've taken them", Cody said cross that he'd lost the chance to fight those bullies.
"They would have pounded you to the ground! I was just trying to stop the fight before it got started", Alexis explained.
"Look sweetheart. I don't need you to look out for me besides you should be thanking me. If I didn't come along and stopped them they would've kept going", Cody told her.
"Sweetheart? I'm not your sweetheart", Alexis said offended by his nickname. There's no way on earth she was his 'sweetheart'.
"Ok fine but I'm still waiting for that thank you", Cody said looking pointedly at Alexis.
"You're not getting a thank you. You weren't exactly grateful when I prevented the fight. Maybe you should thank me first", Alexis retorted.
"You-I oh forget it!" Cody said and stormed off. He stalked past Charlotte grumbling.
"Boys", Alexis muttered picking up her sketch pad from the ground and brushed of the grass and dirt.
"What was Cody doing here?" she asked
"Sam and Brad was throwing my sketch book about and he stepped in. They nearly had a fight but I managed to stop it. He wasn't very grateful for me doing that in fact he all but demanded that I thank him!"
"Like I said. That's Cody Jones for you. At least you won't have to talk to him again", Charlotte said.
~...~
Thankfully the rest of the day passed without any incident. "I'll see you tomorrow", Charlotte said as they walked down the stone steps.
"Actually you won't. Teacher training day. Remember?" Alexis reminded her.
"Oh of course!" Charlotte said face palming "Can't believe I forgot that. Well I'll see you the day after then".
"Yeah see you", Alexis said and her friend walked over to the bus. Alexis wandered over to where her bike was locked up. She was strapping on her helmet and was about to cycle off when Cody stepped out in front of her. "I don't want to talk to you", Alexis said.
Cody put his hands on the bike handles to stop it from moving. "Let go of my bike", Alexis said.
"Listen…"
"Let go of my bike!" Alexis repeated again giving the handles a tug.
"Alexis I want to tell you something", Cody said.
"How do you know my name?" Alexis asked.
"Jack mentioned that you where his sister's friend. Anyway I wanted to say that I'm sorry for the way I acted earlier", Cody said apologetically.
"Ok is that all? If it is then can you let go of the bars?" Alexis asked wanting him the let go so she could go home.
"No. the reason I was there when the two idiots were teasing you was that I wanted to ask you something. My grades in math aren't great", Cody confessed.
"No big surprise there", Alexis said recalling what Charlotte said to her that morning. Cody pretended not to hear her.
"As I was saying my math grades aren't great and my teacher said in order for me to continue playing hockey I need to get my grades up" Cody explained "He told me that I needed a tutor and assigned me to you".
"He what?!" Alexis cried in disbelief. She barely knew the guy and she couldn't stand him. Now she had to tutor him? There is no way that is happening! No way!
"You signed up to be a tutor and so you're tutoring me!" Cody replied grinning
"No", Alexis said firmly.
"No?" Cody asked confused.
"No. I won't tutor you. Get your sister to do it", Alexis said yanking the bike so suddenly that Cody let go. As he watched her ride off, Angel came up to him.
"So is she gonna tutor you?" she asked.
"Nope", Cody said disappointed. He hadn't expected Alexis to flat out refuse like that.
"Should've asked nicely little brother", Angel said.
"I did and we're the same age Angel", Cody reminded her.
"But girls mature faster than boys", she pointed out.
"Auntie I'm home!" Alexis called as she entered their home "April! You here?" she called again. There was no answer from her Aunt. Alexis dropped on her bag in her room and checked on Spike. "Hey there little dude, you hungry?" she asked picking him up. She took him to the kitchen and set him down in a pasta dish so that he wouldn't accidently fall the table. Alexis got out his shredded Lettuce and place several pieces in the bowl with him. She then got out her sketch book to finish her sketch she'd started at lunch that day.
"Alexis I'm home!" she heard April call some time later.
"I'm in the kitchen", Alexis called back.
"You making Spike Soup?" April asked seeing the turtle in the dish.
"I'd never eat Spike! I didn't want him falling off the table so I put him in a dish", Alexis replied.
"How was school?" April asked sitting down on a stool.
"Meh it was ok. Just a normal day", Alexis replied.
~park~
The auburn haired girl settled down with her back against a tree, sketch book resting on her knees. She tapped her pencil the fresh page, thinking about what she could draw. In all honesty she should be finishing the sketch of Spike but after what happened today at lunch, she didn't want to. A smile appeared on her face when she thought of something to draw. She pressed her pencil lightly to the page and started creating the image unaware that from the shadows of a nearby building, she was being watched.
The person…more specifically the giant turtle, was none other than Raphael. He knew he shouldn't be here due to the possibility of getting caught but he didn't care. There was just something about her… he didn't know what but it just drew him in, made him want to be near her. It also left him feeling a tad bit protective over her.
Alexis paused in her drawing when her phone went off. "Hey auntie", she greeted "ok, I'll head back. Be there soon". She popped her phone into her pocket and stuffed her art supplies into her shoulder bag. She slung it over her shoulder and headed out of the park. While Alexis walked along the pavement, Raphael followed over the roof tops. He watched her enter the building that contained her apartment before heading back to the Lair.
AN: I realise that this is the nth time I've posted this story. But thanks to rewatching the film, I have had some motivation to see this story through.