Chapter 7
Alright, Donatello thought as he slid one more book onto a shelf, that should do it…! He stepped back and looked around him. It had only taken a few hours to clean up his room and make it presentable, but it had really taken some work to get it fancied-up. He had placed candles in old-fashioned glass lamps to set the mood, found a small table to place in the middle of the room, with a small bonsai tree sitting in the center.
He heard a sound from the living room. That must be her…, he thought, turning to face his doorway. He straightened himself up for a moment, and then realized he wasn't quite done yet. "Ah! Oh man, I gotta finish really fast! Ugh!" He dashed from one corner of the room to another, randomly picking up objects that could be considered out of place. Just as he picked up the last bit of 'that-don't-go-there,' a voice rang through the room, "Hey Donny!"
Donatello whirled around, dropping a few things in surprise. "Oh! Uh-uh-um, Hi, June! I was uh… well, you see, I was um…." he said nervously, his cheeks turning a darker shade of green.
"Here, let me help you," June said, walking over to Donatello. She knelt down and picked up some random doo-dads and a few pieces of paper when Donatello knelt down across from her, still laden with other bits and pieces. "June, you really don't have to help," Donatello said gallantly. "Oh, it's no problem," she answered with a smile, "besides, you look pretty weighed down." "Uh… yeah…" he answered a little sheepishly. June just smiled. It was just too cute the way he tried to be all noble and dream-boy-ish. "Well," she said, standing up and offering her his hand, "Let's throw these away, shall we?"
"Yes, let's," she replied.
"Sorry about that, June," Donatello said as they re-entered his room. "That was kind of embarrassing and all; being caught with trash in my arms."
"Oh, it's no big deal," June said reassuringly, "My room's a bit messy at times, too, so really, there's no reason for you to worry about it!"
Donatello smiled a little and nodded. "Yeah, I guess your right…"
"So Donny," June said, sitting one of the chairs that Donatello had set out, "what's the plan for this evening?"
"Well, to be honest," Donatello said, making his way over to a table on the opposite side of the room, "I thought we just chill out and talk while using THIS!" he said, lifting a box for June to see. "Hey! A cappuccino machine! How cool!!" Donatello smiled broadly. "Glad you approve! Now, which would you prefer first; caramel mocha or English toffee?"
June and Donatello sat for hours, just drinking cappuccino and discussing anything and everything, from books to movies, to the newest trends and so forth.
"I, honestly don't understand the whole 'pants-past-the-butt-showing-off-the-boxers' style that guys think is so cool these days!" June said, digging deeper into their current topic, "to me, it doesn't say 'I'm-a-playa-and-I'm-so-cool,' it's more of a 'I'm-too-lazy-to-pull-up-my-pants,' you know?"
"Well, to be honest, I've never had to really had to worry about wearing pants, let alone the current trends and all that," Donatello laughed.
"True, but I mean, an intellectual guy like you must have some stand point on it…" June said, a tad flirtatiously. She paused for a moment, a strange look overcoming her face. It was as if she had shocked herself by saying it. Donatello, who was too busy blushing to notice, continued, "Well, since you put it that way, I guess it is pretty stupid, huh?"
June gave her head a quick shake to clear her thoughts and then continued as nothing had happened. "It so is! And you know what really gets on my nerves with that style? The guys who wear their pants past their butts and then put belts on. I mean, common!"
"Heh, yeah…" Donatello said trailing off a bit.
June looked at him, a little worried. "Donny? You okay? For like, the last few minutes it's like your head is elsewhere- what's up?"
Donatello looked into his cup of half-empty cappuccino. "Uh.. Well… Could I ask you a question, June…? A few actually, to be honest; but could I ask you…?"
June tilted her head slightly and smiled. "Of course, Donny! Ask away!"
He said quiet for a moment, and then asked, "June, how did your dates go with my brothers…?" This question surprised June a bit; it took her a while to get her answer together. "Well, I thought they went well, in all actuality-"
"You can be honest with me, June," Donatello said warmly, "this is all just between you and me."
June looked at Donatello again with a bit of surprise. He was being so nice about all of this, and she felt like she could really open up to him and her secrets would be safe. "Well… I really don't know what to say to something so… so… blunt!"
"Well, what did you think of your date with Leo?"
June paused, remembering what had happened, and what she should say. "Well, it was really nice, actually. But… I dunno… it was kind of boring…"
"Really?" Donatello said, a little surprised, "I thought you would have found it interesting."
"Well, not to be rude or anything, but I've lived in Japan for a good portion of my life- it was nothing really new, ya know?"
"You do have a point… Well, then this won't come as much of a shock to you-"
"What won't come as much of a shock?" June said, taken a little off-guard at the mention of something not being much of a shocker.
"Well, Leo has decided your not the girl for him."
June's eyes grew, and her jaw dropped slightly. "Wha-what? What's that supposed to mean…?!"
"Well, he and I were talking about your date the other day, actually, and he mentioned how you ran off for a while during the date."
June's blood ran cold for a moment. "I… I had to go to the bathroom! Aunt April had given me a bite of her gyro and it didn't agree with me!" Real smooth, June… she thought to herself, go ahead and blame Greek food…
"Well, whatever the reason, he sort of lost patience, though he didn't show it- Leo doesn't really like waiting, surprisingly enough. It's one of those few traits that actually link him to his other brothers." June smiled sheepishly when she heard this. "And another thing," Donatello continued, "is he's more attracted to Asian girls, believe it or not," he said sarcastically. "I mean, he has this big thing for Ayumi Hamasaki, so don't feel too bad about it."
"Surprisingly enough, I don't feel bad about it at all," said June, sounding slightly relieved. "I mean, I always saw him as sort of too… straight-forward, you know?"
"Well, he is our strong and solemn leader," Donatello added.
June laughed, "Yeah, your right."
"And what about Mikey?"
"Well, we really did have a lot of fun, but in the end we decided we would be much happier as friends."
"Really?" Donatello asked interestedly, "So that's why you two were so buddy-buddy-like after the date…"
"Yeah. He decided that having a girlfriend would be fun and all, but not as fun as having a girl friend."
"Did he now…" Donatello said, going back to his thoughts. "Well, I guess me and Mikey have the same train of thought going."
"Donny…?" June asked, "you only see me as a friend, too?"
"I'm sorry, June.. It's just… no offense or anything, but as far as 'love' goes with me, I'm more in love with that computer you gave me. Ooooh… sweet, sweet technology…" He said.
June, despite the fact that she had just learned that she had been turned down by three of the four brothers, felt a sort of release, as well as a growing happiness that she herself couldn't quite explain.
"Look, I'm really sorry, June…" Donatello continued once June went silent, "I mean, it must be hard now that three of us have turned you down, but-"
Just as he said that, June jumped up and hugged him. "Donny! I'm so glad you don't see me as girlfriend material!"
"Y-you are…?" Donatello asked, a little taken aback.
"Yes! I was hoping we could just be friends, too!"
"Really?" Donatello asked, brightening up a little.
"Yes! And, I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but could I leave this a bit early? There's something I need to take care of…"
"Um… I guess so…" Donatello said sounding a little crestfallen. Then, his head snapped up and looked at June. "Hey, June?! You wouldn't happen to have the time, would you?"
June pulled out her trusty cell phone and looked at the screen. "Sure do- it's 4:49. Why? Somewhere you need to be?"
Donatello jumped to his feet. "Sure do! I have a guild meeting in World of Warcraft in a few minutes! Sorry to be cutting this short and all," Donatello said absentmindedly, rushing past her, "but this is really important- I could totally become a high level mage soon! We should do this again sometime- bye!"
June stood and looked out the doorway where Donatello had just hustled out of. "Wow… that guy really does love his computer…" She then made her way out of Donatello's room and made her way toward a room that was nearby, blaring what sounded like angry rock music. As she got closer, she recognized the music, and smiled to herself. I had a feeling you wouldn't be far off… June thought to herself with a smile. She poked her head around the doorway and looked inside.
There, pounding away on a punching bag was Raphael. He was beating away to the sounds of a Hinder beat- one on the CD June had made him. With every hit he made, he seemed to be letting out some sort of emotion. Just as he was about to throw another blow, June's voice spoke above the rock and roll. "Hey," she said, coming into full view. Raphael froze, amazed to see her in his doorway.
No way… Raphael thought, she found my room…!
"I thought this would be your room," June said, as if she had just read his mind. "The music was a dead give away."
"Oh yeah?" Raphael said snidely, "Well, doesn't that make you just the little Sherlock Holms…"
June decided not to give the remark any acknowledgement and continued. "You'll never believe what just happened," she said, a little breathlessly.
"What?" Raphael said, trying to block her out by taking up his punching again.
"Your brothers all just turned me down!" she replied, smiling.
Raphael froze again, his head snapping to the side to look at her with wide eyes. No way! He thought, All three of them…?! That must mean…
"What? They couldn't stand your perkiness either?" he said rudely.
"No," she answered, beginning to feel a little upset. "They just all thought I would make a better friend."
Raphael couldn't peel his eyes away from her. He noticed that his last remark had scratch her happy-go-lucky surface, but he still saw that she was okay with all that had just happened with her brothers. In fact, she seemed happy about it. "So… that means it's my turn for a date…?" he said, quietly.
"Yes," June replied just as quietly.
It's almost like she wants to go out with me… What is her deal?! There is no way she likes me! Not after the way I treat her, and all that.. No way…
"Well, sorry chick, but I'm not interested in any date."
June's eyes grew a little, and she felt a small burning sensation in her throat. "You… you don't…?"
"No way- I got better things to do with my time."
"Oh, like what? Hide in your room all day listening to the CD I made you on the stereo I gave you and punch your little moody heart out, and then have the nerve to put me down like I'm some sort of verbal punching bag?! Who do you think you are?!" June shouted at him, tears welling up in her eyes.
Raphael's eyes grew larger as well. Shock and surprise were written all over his face. His mouth tried to form words, but nothing was able to come out. However, June hadn't finished her retaliation yet.
"Who do you think you are?! I come here all the way from California trying to be nice to you and actually gain some friends, and here you are; High and Mighty Raphael- too good to come off of his high horse and join the rest of us down here on Earth!"
Raphael then looked a little concerned. "Gain some friends…? What do you mean gain some friends…?"
June laughed bitterly, blinking back some more tears. "What do you think I mean…? My dad is a big business man, so it's only fitting that he drags me and my mom around like his match luggage. Do you know how many school's I've been in since I started school? 35! I have had no chance to make any friends. And here I am, too scared to tell my Aunt that I'm not the social butterfly and boy-slayer she believes I am, and way too chicken to tell you guys the truth. Don't you get it?! I am a total liar! I have no spine whatsoever!"
"June…" Raphael said quietly. He began to feel ashamed- really ashamed for how he had been acting to her. I'm such a low life… he thought.
"Yeah! That's right! I'm a wuss! You can go ahead and use that as new June-Bashing material if you want!"
"June… I'm sorry…" Raphael said sincerely. "I don't want to bash you anymore…"
"Oh, right," June said, her voice breaking. "Look, you don't have to go and apologize because I'm making you feel bad or whatever. I just came in here to tell you I was looking forward to our date, but you know, whatever."
She was looking forward to it?! Then that means-! "June, I'm sorry…!"
"Whatever," she said, turning and walking away. She slowly made her way down the hallway and to the main room. Her tears were flowing freely now, and she didn't care. The other turtles weren't around, so she didn't have to worry about hiding anything anymore. She paused momentarily and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed her Aunt's cell number and waited for her to pick up.
"Hello?" April's voice answered.
June cleared her throat and replied, "Aunt April? It's June. Hey, where are you now?"
"I'm actually about to head over to the Wok Express for lunch. Why?"
"Are you close enough to the guys' house to pick me up? Donny had something to do, so we're done."
"Oh yeah, no problem, I'll be there in two minutes. Bye!"
June just hung up. She put her cell phone back in her pocket and slowly made her way to the ladder that lead to the outside world. She waited for exactly one minute, and then she started to make her way up. She took hold of the side of the ladder and ascended the first two steps. As she was about to move up, she felt a hand around her wrist. She looked down, startled, to see Raphael standing beneath her, looking up at her with sad, worried eyes.
"June," he said, his own voice sounding upset, "I am so sorry for the way I have treated you. I would really like to make it up to you. How about a date, this Saturday at 3 P.M.?"
"Raph…" June said quietly, tears starting to well again.
"Please… I really want to make it up to you."
June smiled through her tears. "Sure… I'll give you another shot…"
