Chapter 7 – He's Like, My Brother

Vickie didn't come home until 2:30 this morning. I waited up for her, wanting to be sure that she was in a much better mood than the one she stormed out in. She was. She couldn't stop smiling and the way she got ready for bed was as if she were living in a dream state, blinded by all the sorrow she had ever come to face. I tucked her in, wished her a good night and retreated to my own bedroom down the hall. I had a feeling she would remain this way until Monday.

I was absolutely right Saturday morning; Vickie had to drag herself out of bed on Monday, lagging behind as I urged her to get a move on. Despite being ninja's, we were only young adults and I, instilled that we continued school. Vickie was younger than me by two years, she was seventeen going on eighteen and I was eighteen going on nineteen. We ended up catching the bus to school which was a miracle in itself; I could tell Vickie was losing the daydream effect after we parted ways to go to our own classes.

We met up again at lunch in the courtyard just like every other day. Despite the snow and the cold that hung in the air, Vickie and I decided best to eat outdoors, I had a lot on my mind and I knew fresh air would be a savior. Vickie sat on top of the picnic table, nibbling away at her sandwich she managed to make before we left this morning. I noticed she kept her gaze to the rooftops, watching intently.

"Vickie?"

"Yes?"

"What happened Friday night?" I asked, turning around on the bench to face my little sister.

She kept her gaze exactly where it was, answering me back simply, "I found him."

I was ready to drill more questions at her until I heard a low yet close whistle. We both looked around; there was no one out here but the two of us. I was still searching for the source until I noticed Vickie smiling, leaping off the picnic table.

There were a number of picnic tables scattered around the courtyard, somewhere close to a collection of old oak trees. I could make out the red and orange bandanas from the heavy covering of snow on almost everything, trees and earth. Instantly, the night I met Raph came flooding back to me. I caught up to Vickie who already had Mikey pulled into a tight hug. Raph was leaning against a tree trunk, looking in the opposite direction of the three of us, his thoughts elsewhere.

"You must be Mikey," I introduced myself, sticking out my hand towards him.

He let go of Vickie, shaking my hand with his, "The one and only, are you like-"

"I'm her sister, Elmira," I finished off for him.

It was then, right when I said my name did Raph turn around. He stared at me; eyes squinted as if in need of saying what was on his mind. I feared that he would bring up the night in Central Park but instead, he got back up and walked away from the three of us, disappearing past the cluster of trees.

"Sorry about him, Raph is like the classic hothead, he just storms off. I can't really say anything because he's my bro but I do ya know? Just to tease him," Mikey chuckled, excusing his brother for his rudeness.

So Raph wasn't a lone ninja as I had thought. His rogue attitude and determination definitely made him seem that way. Realizing that he had others, Mikey who was his brother…it set the stone as to why Raph was so protective about his home that night down in the sewers.

Red had Orange just as I have the Yellow to my White.