"It's April!"

"We can't let her see us like this!"

Looking at the stricken faces of his sons, Master Splinter sighed. "I will go out there to speak to Ms. O'Neil," he said. He walked to the door and stuck his head outside. He saw her wandering around the den, looking confused, and he slipped out, letting the door crack behind him. There were sounds of a slight tussle, and he knew his sons were trying to eavesdrop from the other side.

April noticed him come out of the dojo, and her face relaxed. She bounded over to him and bowed. "Hey, Master Splinter. I just came down to hang out for my last free day."

"Last free day?" he repeated, raising an eyebrow.

April waved her hand dismissively and giggled. "Oh, I was just being dramatic. Tomorrow is the first day of school. I'm just ready to kinda get into a routine again, see my friends. That sorta thing." He nodded, and she looked over his shoulder, towards the dojo. "Where are the guys? I couldn't find them anywhere."

Splinter's ears twitched. "Ah, they are... out."

April noticed his nervousness, and she narrowed her eyes a little. "Are they sick?"

Splinter's tail twitched. "No, not sick."

April nodded, looking a little confused. "Well, that's good I guess. Are they hurt then? How's Donnie? I even checked his lab."

Behind the door, Donnie blushed and turned to his brothers, grinning widely. "She asked how I was doing! Me!" Raph rolled his eyes and smacked him on the back of the head.

"Shh!" Leo hissed, holding a finger to his mouth. "She'll hear us!"

April cocked her ear to the side. "What was that?"

Splinter heard the turtles' interaction and closed his eyes, wondering why he hadn't had four quiet, able-to-listen girls instead. "I must've left the kettle on," he said smoothly, putting a hand on her shoulder to try and herd her away to the kitchen. "Come, I will make you a cup."

"Thanks, but-" she ducked under his arm and brushed past him, pushing the door to the dojo open with all her strength. Four very surprised boys went stumbling back. As they landed in a pile, April began cracking up. Her giggles turned into a gasp as they started sitting up, rubbing their heads and glaring at her.

"Who are you?" she asked, hands on her hips. Four very surprised teenage boys stared back at a very shocked, very annoyed teenage girl. "What have you all done to my friends?" She could feel Master Splinter come and stand behind her, and she puffed out her chest, knowing they were about to get it.

"Aww, Sensei," the blonde one whined. "I thought you said you weren't going to let her in! I was going to do my hair first."

"Shut up, shell-fer-brains," another one said, pushing him in the shoulder. "You don't even know what to do with hair!"

The third one rolled his eyes, and the fourth looked at her, beaming with a huge gap-toothed grin.

"Hi, April!" he said. "Excellent weather we're having, isn't it?" She took in his smile, the familiar red-brown eyes, and her eyes grew wide.

"Donnie?!"


R&R!