Chapter Ten.

"Come on Alex! You have to come with us!" April was shouting at me through the kitchen doorway. It had been a week since my run-in with Anzo, my bruises are fading away and some of my minor cuts are healing over. What I'm worried about is my stomach.

"April, you know I can't go." The giant gash that traced across my belly-button hadn't even began to show signs of healing. Don says it's because the wound was so deep, and he was right the cut was incredibly deep. Leonardo says it's a miracle that I'm alive.

"C'mon, it'll be fun! You could meet so many new people!" April was always persistent when she wanted something. In this case she wanted me to attend her high school's annual winter ball with her and Casey. I've been to a few school dances before, they're nothing but boring. I was never a social butterfly, if anything I'm an outcast in public. Why would I want to go to a high school ball full of people I don't know and mingle. It just wasn't my thing.

"I'm not even healed yet, my stitches will rip if I even attempt to put on a dress." I laughed that one off. Me? In a dress? No thank you.

"Alex, I will drag you there if it's the last thing I do. You're going."

"Apr-" I started to protest but was cut off.

"You are going and that is final!" She was shouting at me, her glare was serious and I was honestly scared for a moment. Then her face relaxed and she started laughing. "I'll go pick out some dresses for you okay?" She said smiling at me.

Since my mind was already made up for me I just nodded my head. Maybe this could be good for me, I hadn't been around a lot of actual humans in a while.

I walked into the dojo where the boys were training. I was obviously forced to be excluded from the everyday training because of my wounds but that couldn't stop me from still going. I usually sat in front of the tree where master Splinter stood and studied the moves of the lethal ninjas. I liked watching Leo the best. He was so concentrated when he fought, and the way he worked with his katanas was amazing. Leo was undoubtedly the most well trained out of the brothers but he was beaten when it came to strongest.

Raphael worked out almost everyday of his life. He had weights in his room that he usually used when I was not present. I would walk by some days and hear the clanging of metal or the grunts he made while lifting and force myself to keep walking. If I distracted him or barged in at the wrong time he could easily lose his temper. Mikey barged in while he was working out one day and the next second he came running out of the room followed by a flying dumbbell.

Occasionally I would knock on the door and let myself in when I was in dire need of something, it was my room too. He'd just nod his head at me and I'd grab whatever I needed and got out.

Finally Raph let Leo back up from the ground and flexed his muscles showing them off to Leo. Little did he know I was watching him too. His arms were so big and muscular. When he flexed I felt my breath catch. I bit my lip, looking up at him through my dark eyelashes. He was attractive, for a mutant turtle. Part of me longed for his touch, but another art of me told me it was wrong, that he could never love me, and I could never love him. We were two different things, brought into this amazing, lively world...only to have to hide from it.

When he turned to talk to sensei he caught my eye, when he saw me he quickly averted his eyes and his face showed small signs of blush. I instantly turned my gaze to the floor and kept it there until I was sure he was no longer in the room.

"Alex, my daughter. What seems to be troubling you?"

Splinters voices broke the silence. The guys must've left already.

"Sensei..." I looked up at him, He was looking down at me with curious eyes.

"You were looking at my son with a great amount of lust today."

I didn't think for a moment that Splinter would've seen how I was looking at Raph. I blushed turning dark red.

"Alex, tell me what is bothering you."

I looked at him, my face getting hotter. "Master Splinter, I've never felt this way before. I don't know what it means."

He just smiled. "Some people will come into your life that you know you could never replace if they left, that Alex, is love."

I tuned my gaze back to the floor. "What do I do Sensei...?"

"Do whatever it is that will make you happy. For at the end of the day that is all that truly matters...is it not?" he said putting his fingertips under my chin to raise my eyes to meet him. I just looked at him. Maybe he was right.

"I think you should meditate on it Alex. Although, I think you're heart already has everything figured out. It is your brain that needs some encouraging." He smiled at me and walked to his room. "Goodnight" he said shutting the door.

"Goodnight." I said in almost a whisper.

I woke up the next morning to persistent knocking on my door. I groaned and rolled over on to my stomach, this was a mistake. Instant pain shot through me like an electric bolt. I slowly rolled back over and tried to sit up.

"Come in."

April barged in the door with her arms full of dresses.

"Today's the big day Alex!" She said beaming. "I brought you some of my old dresses, I assumed they'd fit you, you look about my size."

She proceeded to lay out the dresses one by one on Raph's bed, he was already gone, he woke up early for training. Since my accident I've been sleeping in until almost one, Don said it's totally normal from all the blood I lost. It's feels good to sleep in. It's not like I could really do anything productive anyways with all my cuts and fractures.

"April, the ball doesn't start until 8." I said yawning. It was 1:30, that's a new record for me.

"I know, I know, but I wanted to give you some time to pick out a dress. I'll bring back some heels later you can try on."

I just sighed. I wasn't exactly excited for the ball but I was happy I finally had permission to leave the lair. Only under one condition though, that April or Casey be with me at all times, and I'm not to wander off alone. Master Splinter was very clear. Also the boys wouldn't be too far away on patrol so if I was in big trouble I could call one of their t-phones.

"I hope you can find one you like." She said referring to her dresses.

"I'll find something, don't worry" I said reassuring her. April was the only real friend I had ever had. I've never appreciated anyone more than her, she's done so much for me. "April..." I said as she turned to leave.

"Yeah Alex?.."

"Thank you so much."

"Anytime. I'll be back around three with the shoes okay?"

"And I'll be right here." I said jokingly. I really never left my room besides dinner, lunch and occasionally to watch the guys train.

When April left I shut the door and walked over to Raph's bed where the dresses were laid out. There were about five of them. I decided I better try them on now and make sure they fit.

I ran my hands over the different fabric of the dresses. April only brought me loose, flowing dresses, she knew I couldn't wear the tight fitted ones because of my stitches.

I picked up the dress closest to me. It was yellow and ended right above my knee cap. I held it up in front of me in the mirror. I didn't like the way it looked don my skin, yellow just wasn't my color. I did this with all of the dresses and settled for two dresses. One was royal blue, the other was a beautiful red. I tried the blue one of first. It went well with my chocolate hair. It was loose enough that it didn't really irritate my stitches, and it ended about six inches above my knee cap. I loved it, but sometime in my head drew me toward the red dress.

the red dress was short also, the hem stopped about the same length off of my knee as the blue dress. I didn't look in the mirror until after I put the dress on. When I looked up I was stunned at what I saw looking back at me. I looked daring and bold. The brilliant red of the dress made me look even more pale, but was almost as if my skin was glowing. The green of my hazel eyes was more prominent than it had ever been. For the first time I actually looked beautiful.

Within the next hour April showed up with the shoes and when I told her what dress I was going to wear she almost had an anxiety attack.

"Alex you're going to look so gorgeous! I can't wait!" She said laying the shoes out on the floor.

It took me a while, but, I ended up picking a pair of black pumps.

For the remaining hours leading up to the ball April kept me locked away in my room, doing my hair and make-up. She insisted that I straightened my hair, she was obsessed with how long it was. I sat there for a good hour letting her fiddle around with my hair. The heat radiating off of the flat iron felt good against my neck.

After she was done I looked at myself in the mirror. My hair fell past my waist now, the iron made it glossy and soft. I had never pampered myself like this before and it felt good to finally get to do girl things.

For another hour I curled Aprils hair. I never saw Aprils hair out of her ponytail before now. It was shoulder length, with layers. It took me a while to get used to the curler, but I did a pretty good job.

Then we moved on to make-up. She did hers first, not trusting me with the eyeliner due to my lack of experience with it. I only ever wore mascara. She showed me how to put on the eyeliner and curle my lashes. I tried doing the liner myself but messed it up so many times. April finally caved in and did my make-up for me. When she backed away from my face she looked proud of her work.

"Okay go look in the mirror and tell me what you think." She said urging me to go look.

When I saw my face I didn't register it as myself at first. I looked different, not a bad different but a good one.

"April...I look pretty for once." I said giggling.

She giggled back.

I hadn't realized how much time we had spent getting ready together. It was already almost time to go. We changed into our dresses and I helped April lace into hers. Her dress was a beautiful lavender color with a corset back. It was as short as mine but it flared out a little at the bottom. I put on my pumps and walked over to the mirror one last time.

"Are you coming?" I heard her voice call from the doorway.

"I'll catch up."

I stood there staring at myself in the mirror. I was no longer a teenager, but an adult. At least that's what I looked like. It as amazing how much five inch heels could do for you. I reached out and touched my reflection on the mirror. I was excited and torn at the same time. I just wished my family could be here to see their little girl.

I took one last look in the mirror and took a deep breath as I strolled out the door.

My heels clicked on the cement of the lair as I walked to the living room to find April and Casey.

I saw April first, talking to Donnie. Beside them was Mikey and Leo talking to Casey, who was wearing a tux. I raised my eyebrows at that. Casey Jones? How did April get him to even agree on going to this ball? I lingered in the shadow of the concealed hallway for a bit before walking out to show myself.

I finally got up the courage to walk out. My heals gave away my presence before I could announce myself. April turned around to face me.

"Alex!" She said smiling.

Her outburst alerted the group of Casey, Leo and Mikey. They all turned around to face me, they're eyes looked me up and down. They were speechless, standing there like normal teenage boys. Even Casey kept his eyes on me. When he realized he was staring he looked away quickly.

"Alex...you look so. So-"

"Gorgeous? Stunning? Beautiful?" April interrupted Leo before he could finish what he was trying to say.

He looked away, his cheeks turning red. I looked around the room there were two people missing. Raph and Splinter.

I walked over to the group of three. "Where's Raph?" I asked

"Talking to Sensei" Mikey replied.

"Talking about what?" I said pushing the conversation on.

"Dunno" Mikey said.

I just signed. When I turned around to leave the group I caught a glimpse of red out of the corner of my eye.

I turned to face the missing brother. He was already staring at me. Eyes wide open, he looked me up and down like the others did but his eyes took their time, lingering in certain places. Was he checking me out? I asked myself. I felt my body heating up.

I strolled over to him being careful not to break my ankle in my heels.

"Hey Raph." I said looking at him smiling.

"H-hey, Alex" he said scratching the back of his neck. "You look...Beautiful." the words escaped his mouth before he could think about what he was saying. He looked down at the ground blushing hard.

"Thanks." I said, my cheeks burning.

"Alex! We're going now!" April called from across the room.

"Okay!" I shouted back to her. I turned back to Raph. "I gotta go."

Before I could take two steps my arm was grabbed and I spun back around.

"Raph?"

"Alex, be careful out there tonight. Stay close to April and Casey. If anything happens call us." He said quickly.

"Don't worry. I'll be back here by one." I smiled reassuring him.

He let go of my arm and followed his brothers into the dojo to gear up. I almost forgot they'd be going out tonight too. I turned back to look at Raph. I caught a glimpse of him disappearing into the dojo as I left through the tunnels.

I smiled. I was leaving the lair for the first time in weeks, but I guess old habits never truly die, I had strapped on my nodachi right after April left me alone in me room, but she didn't have to know that.

I caught up to Casey and April and fell in step bedside them.

A/N: Alex is finally leaving the lair! Will she be able to stay hidden and safe? Also I chose to have Alex debate over wearing a blue or red dress to hint towards what her feelings are trying to tell her *Cough cough* Red & Blue = Raph and Leo. She hasn't listened to what her heart is telling her yet though. Sorry it took so long to update I hope you like it, although it's kind of bland/ not a lot going on. Reviews appreciated!(:

Thanks for reading!