The Peculiar Girl

There is no illness quite like loneliness and there is no cure quite like love – Jessica Katoff

Matt McCohen AKA At your own risk sort of just happened to Molly the way accidents happen to good people. It was the end of the middle school and she was incredibly nervous about going to a new school without her big brother, Derek gone.

He was going to join the army soon and go oversea. She fucking hated the idea and told him how it look like he was giving into capitalistic believes, but she was mostly just worried than actually angry. With him she at least had someone around. Without him it would just be her and her Nana and she loved her dearly, but sometimes she needed people close to her own age.

Anyway, middle school ended and she was working in the local kid's centre for kids with special needs. Many kids were deaf so her sing language skills came very much in handy.

It was refreshing to spent time with people who were just like her and didn't find the fact that she couldn't talk and had to sign everything all that weird. People never understand how important or essential is to communicate with others. Despite her disadvantage Molly loved to talk, too bad not many people could understand her.

Right at the start of the summer a couple of kids from the Catholic Church started to come to help out from one of their church programs. It wasn't uncommon actually. Churches were very helpful when it came to different programs or events.

'Hi, you're Molly, right?' asked one of the church boys on his first day, 'Uh, Joe send me over. He said that you will help me find the equipment room?'

Molly nodded a bit awkwardly and pushed her beanie a bit backwards not sure if it was because she was a bit shy to be around people who were...well normal...or because the fact that he was a cute boy with a very nice smile.

She led him to the room and pointed at it.

He didn't seem to mind one bit that she wasn't speaking and continued to smile before he signed thank you.

'I'm a bit rusty, but Joe said you can hear me so that helps,' he said and Molly smiled a bit glad he wasn't shouting at her like people tend to when she signed something and they assume she was deaf. Why the hell did they think shouting would help was beyond her.

Molly signed you're welcome. She stood silently in front of him for a moment not sure what to do now so she just smiled awkwardly telling herself she was an idiot and walking away.

'Hey, uh, I'm Matt, by the way,' he called after her. She spun around and looked at him, he was still smiling at her with this sweet smile on his face.

Molly smiled back at him and signed nice to meet you.

'N-nice to meet you too,' he said and she returned to her work with this large smile on her face and her heart beating like a drum.

That was the first time she ever fell in love and like most first loves beautiful, unbelievably intense and heartbreaking.

When he looked at her across from his table, his eyes kept on her for a couple of moments before he winked at her. Unfortunately, the first love was still ongoing.

She fixed her beanie a bit looked down at her phone while Fat Corina told them about her upcoming match and how she was planning to crush the other school's puny boys. (She liked to go all Hulk on them so)

Her phone suddenly showed her another text message. She felt her stomach make a flip as she was expecting it to be from Matt asking for another secret time together, but instead it was from Mi.

She smiled to herself as she read.

Dude, did you see the new promo for Flash? That looks sick!

She quickly texted back.

No spoilers, dork. Some of us are still in school!

Some of you guys are super lame.

Dork.

Takes one to know one.

Her smile caught the attention of one of her friends, Owen who leaned over her shoulder, 'New love interest?'

She rolled her eyes at him. True was not even her closest friends knew about Matt. When she started high school and saw Matt was dating Kim, she felt so utterly ashamed and heartbroken she just...she just lied and told everyone about a Church boy she used to go out with Bill. She felt utterly humiliated that she thought things could be different.

She put the phone down.

A friend from Fortnite. He's pretty cool.

'Cool like an average teen? Or cool like a weirdo who wants you to send nudes?' asked Owen and she chuckled before she raised one finger.

'Whatever you say, dear.'

Still Molly's new friendship was a little getting on the fact that she was a tiny bit behind her school work. Not her NYV of course not. She would be rather caught dead then to be behind on that. Anyway, she was falling behind some of her school work like calculus and biology.

She never liked biology. In middle school her teacher tended to ask her questions even though she knew she couldn't answer and then always made an annoying sound when she remembered. Like it was her fault or something that she was mute? What a bitch!

Anyway, she posted a new video just a couple of hours ago. She was pretty hyped but promised herself she wouldn't check for comments and stuff until later. It would be her zen time.

Just as she was walking down the hallway, she heard the familiar sounds of the fight from the video she spent editing the better part of last night.

She looked to the side and spotted Jay McClaud with her head on her phone checking the video. Sure, plenty of people in her school were into the video, so she wasn't surprised people like the ice queen blonde Jay McClaud who was too good for everyone or perfect Kim Sawyer or even Bitch Nicole Diaz were all into her site.

Still Jay looked weird. She watched as the blonde stood frozen by her locker her eyes fixed on the phone almost as if she was not breathing.

For some reason Molly found herself coming closer.

It was then that the blonde looked up and their eyes met. Unsure why Molly nodded at her phone. It seemed easier than to try and signed her anything.

Jay looked down at her phone, 'Uh, I just like the...vigilantes?'

Molly raised her brows as high as possible because Jay McClaud shuttering or hesitated was not something you saw very often.

'I like the new hair,' said the blonde.

Molly smiled and signed it ends well before she went to walk away.

She knew Jay from Freshman English. She knew she was prettiest girl in school and the most reserved. She almost never spoke with anyone unless spoken too, and almost no guy was worth of her attention. Still people loved her.

She remembered how Jay was once blankly staring in front of her probably not even realizing she was looking directly at someone and the guys in the basketball team were all over the gym fighting over who was the lucky guy she was staring at. Pathetic.

Molly wondered if Jay was really all that. A stone cold hearted bitch who didn't care about anyone just passing the halls knowing she was all that.

'AWESOME!' shouted Mikey early in the morning/midday as he was eating cereals and watching the new video the NYV posted of them. Fucking amazing.

'LEO, BRO, COME CHECK THIS OUT!' he called.

'MIKEY! SHUT THE FUCK UP!'

'LANGUAGE RAPHAEL!' called their father, 'MICHELANGELO, I AM WATCHING MY SHOW!'

'SORRY SENSEI,' called Mikey before he was about to shout Leo's name again just as the turtle rushed to the kitchen annoyed.

'Mikey, is it really something so important to wake up the whole house?!' asked Leo annoyed as he walked into their kitchen looking weirdly grumpy.

'Sure is, come see, come see,' he came half way to him as he showed him his phone watching as he and Leo were in blurry quality fighting with the purple dragon punks, 'Isn't it awesome. We're so cool, bro.'

Mikey was excided while Leo didn't look so impressed.

'Okay, well, it is hard to tell what we are so it's fine...I guess.'

'Leo, this isn't fine. This is awesome. Look at us. We rock!' said Mikey watching the video over and over again.

He loved the website New York Vigilantes. It was a website which came out a couple of months ago during the summer. People all over New York were submitting their stories, pictures and videos and the editor of the website posted them. He was really into since the editor made them look like real heroes, which they were but appreciation was always welcome.

He liked that the website allowed him and his brothers to be able to see what happened after their rescue or encounters with the Purple Dragon gang or the Foot. He liked to know what happened to the little men they saved and left for them to walk home.

He couldn't help, but wonder if the editor was also someone they rescue. Sure, it had to be since who would go out of their way like this to write about them and make them the heroes. Either way whoever he was Donnie assumed must have known they were turtles.

'There is never any clear shot of us or footage and on more than one occasion I noticed that a post was removed where someone mentioned the words like green turtle like or anthropomorphic.'

When they all gave him a confused he rolled his eyes and said, 'Non-human.'

'Oh!'

'Right!'

'Make sense.'

Donnie seriously must have felt like he was surrounded by idiots some times. Master Splinter constant forgetting how to handle the remote didn't help.

Anyway, back to NYV. Mikey was in love with that website.

He was tempted. Oh shell, was he tempted to write to the editor, or to comment, or just to...communicate in some way. But since they had a rule about never revealing their identity he had to hold back. When he didn't actually write anything, he got these doubts thinking what would he even write.

Hey, it's me, one of the vigilantes. Right cause that would go well.

People would assume he is lying and roast him or the editor would just remove his comment.

No, this was okay. The website was a bright light in his hidden heroism letting him know people were grateful and the world was a better place thanks to them. In its own way it was enough for him. He would like to think he was passed the need to be thanked and well noticed for his achievement. He used to pull some pretty stupid things when he was trying to get attention. Things which almost ended in them being caught.

Mikey shook his head returning to the video not wanting to think about that incident anymore.

He heard Leo sighed suddenly and Mikey looked over at him, 'You okay there, bro?'

He gave him a tight smile, 'All good.'

Mikey shot him a look. He could sense something was up with his big brother. He was acting really weird lately. Like he was stressed and yet happy at the same time.

Very strange.

He didn't think his brothers were stereotypes.

But there wasn't much his brothers could do that would surprise him. For example if Donnie just went to watch Tv or play video games all day, or if Raph would be all zen of stuff Mikey would be freaked out for sure thinking they had gone insane.

Leo was...Leo was always the leader. He was basically the type you knew had it all figure out. He was always into training and ninjitsu mythology, old folklore legends, and just...boring stuff. He wondered if it was burden of the first born to never be a troublemaker. It often felt like Leo had them in care. Like take care of your brothers, Leonardo.

And boy was that an ungrateful job. He once had to take care of Master Splinter when he was sick. They took turns who would stay with him while the others patrolled and when it was his turn he felt like he was the adult and...okay, never mind not important. What was important was that Leo was acting like something was bothering him.

'You look a bit stress?'

It wasn't that Donnie was always working or something or doing research or that Raph was working out and hotheaded dynamite ready to explode. But Leo...he was always Mr. I got this now he looked like he was losing his shell over something.

Mikey waited for his reply, but Leo just shook his head, 'I'm good, thanks for the concern.'

His phone vibrated, and he noticed Leo freezing for a moment before he looked at it.

'New message?' Mikey asked jokingly.

Leo looked tensed as he said, 'No-uh, my battery is dead.'

He hurried out of the kitchen before Mikey could say another word.

Weird. He should definitely look that up.

He watched the video two more times before he decided to share it with Master Splinter, who told him he wasn't practicing his kicks properly to Raph who got upset that he missed the fight.

Once he finally came to Donnie his brother was completely focused on his news project.

'What'cha up to?'

Donnie then unlashed a couple of foreign words on Mikey which proved that he would have no idea what his brother way doing anyway.

'Okay, anyway, check out the new video of me and L-'

'I already saw it,' said Donnie without taking his eyes from the device he was working on with a screwdriver.

'Okay? When?' asked Mikey feeling a bit down that he wouldn't be the 1st to show him.

'I check all the videos posted on the site just in case there would have been a good shot of us,' said Donnie before he looked at him, 'Didn't you know?'

'No, but that's good to know. Uh, anyway, listen, don't you ever get the feeling that something is off with Leo?' asked Mikey slowly. He wasn't sure if talking about Leo behind his back wasn't like breaking the brother code or something.

'Like what?' asked Donnie still not bothering to stop working.

'Like I don't know he's all smiling one minute and then he's all like moody and deep in thoughts kind of like...whoa,' Mikey chuckled, 'Like he's in love, you know, like they show you in romcoms and shit. Oh Edward. Oh Bella. Oh Jack. Oh Rose. Oh Mr. Spock- '

'Please don't start with your Spoke/Kirk fanboying,' said Donnie a bit annoyed.

Mikey raised his hand, 'All I am saying if the show started in today's word. They would for sure be a couple, but since it was the 60s they couldn't exactly show manly love on screen.'

'Mikey~'

'Right, back to big bro Leo, what do you think is up with him?' asked the youngest turtle.

Donnie shrugged his shoulders, 'Who knows? Maybe he's just thinking about things. He hasn't played the guitar for a while. He might just need a new hobby,' said the other brother, but Mikey wasn't buying it.

'I still thinks it's something more serious like he's sick or gay or-'

'What's up with you and homosexuality lately, Mikey?'

'Hey, it's a factor. I mean look there's four of us so there is a big chance one of us swings for the other team. Sausage team.'

Donnie made a disgusting face, 'With the way we all drooled over April the first time she came. Doubt that.'

'Oh right, how is she? How's D.C?'

'She sounded excited. She should call at the end of the week if you want to talk to her,' said Donnie and smiled a bit but it didn't reach his eyes.

'Sounds great. Did she say what's new with her?'

'Not much. She mostly talked about her work. Her story is looking good. She said she can't wait to come back to NY though,' he returned to his work fully.

Mikey nodded wondering if Donnie would talk about the guy April casually mentioned on her last skype call. He wasn't lying about them drooling over her. The chick was their first human contact ever. Well, the first time it went well and they actually got a friend from the whole encounter. They were four teenage male and she was a hot woman so damn right they were all crushing on her a bit. Still, they all quickly fell out of it as they came terms of her being like their big sister than a love interest, well, most of them. He and the others did notice that Donnie was acting a bit different when April was offered a job in D.C, but since their bother or friend didn't say anything they weren't sure what was going on there. Now it looked like it was nothing just some strange feeling in the back of their minds, but maybe before that it actually was something else.

'Okay, so give me a heads up the next time she calls. I'll go kill time before training,' said Mikey and went to his room just as he was passing Raph's he heard he started to play the drums and rolled his eyes.

Who's great idea was it to give drums to a hothead like him again? Oh right, mine.

His phone beeped with a new message and he smirked before he opened gmail.

FurryMachine344: You can't honestly claim you like Weird Al. Like not mockingly like him, but actually like him? What's wrong with you? Did you're parents forced you to sleep in the closet and listen to him on repeat?

Mikey stopped in track and chuckled at the raw accusation. Man, this guy was epic. Since exchanging their dummy emails. They had been chatting and sending emails for weeks now. It was awesome because apart from the guy being a pro at Fortnite, their teams was slowly becoming the number 1 team by the way, this guy was amazingly burning the hell out of him and Mikey enjoyed it. It was always cool to speak with people about this kind of shit. His brothers were great, but sometimes he just needed to talk to someone else. April was cool too, but she wasn't so much into TV, movies, comics and games the way this dude was.

Says the dude who likes Sinatra. How old are you man? Sixty?

A hundred and four. So what are you up to today? Got a few hours for Fortnite later?

Definitely. I will have to go train a bit with my bros though, but then I am all in.

Train? What are you training?

This caused Mikey to pause. It was always hard to lie to people when they straight out ask you something. Like he knew no one would ask him if he was a giant green turtle who lived in the sewer, but when they asked things...simple things, it felt hard to lie. He knew he had to because it would be a problem in the future if he let something slip but still.

Just some light workout with my brothers.

Oh, cool. I tried to workout a couple of times, but ultimately I'm too lazy for it. So I just pull allnighters to get rid of the extra energy.

Hey, playing games is workout too. I once sprained my wrist while playing Call of duty for almost ten hours.

I would totally put playing games on the Olympic list. Like When Der and I were playing guitar hero we definitely lost a couple of pounds.

Who's Der?

Older brother. He's in the army now.

Sounds cool. Is it just the two of you?

...

For a very long time there was no answer just three dots telling him that his online pal writing something before the answer came.

Yes.

Mikey was confused at this. Why would it take so long to answer? He felt something odd. Like some sort of sadness inside him for some reason.

He quickly typed.

Sorry if I upset you, bro.

No, it's cool. Uh, yeah, it's just me and Der and well our Nana.

Mikey cursed at himself before he quickly typed.

Again, sorry, I didn't want to upset you.

It's okay. I mean. I'm use to it by now. What about you? Siblings, parents?

Mikey knew he couldn't actually tell him the truth, but because of the whole conversation, he felt it would be weird if he didn't say anything. Plus, he didn't want to lie for some reason.

Before he could stop himself he quickly typed.

There's four of us and our dad so we are pretty much tripping over each other at times.

Aha, so a full house then.

Totally.

They chatted for a couple of hours before Donnie came to tell him it was time to train. He quickly log out and went with his brothers jumping on Donnie's back in the process.

'Mikey, get off,' yelped the turtle almost falling with him, but he quickly found his balance.

Leo shook his head while Raph looked amuse.

Mikey got down and winked at his brother, 'Come on, Donnie. A true ninja is always prepared for everything.'

Before he knew it he got hit by a frisbee into the ankle and collapsed on his back earning a chuckle and laughter from his brothers.

He looked up and found Master Splinter giving him an unimpressed look, 'Indeed Michelangelo, a true ninja is always prepared and never underestimates the situation.'

Mikey grinned at their father before Donnie lent him a hand to help him up. He didn't need it, but he still smiled at him and went to take his position down by their training area.

Molly was eating her breakfast in the kitchen when her Nana asked, 'What has gotten you so happy in the morning?'

She looked up from her phone. She hadn't even realized she was smiling until now. Since she exchanged her contact with 1BigHero1 they had been chatting almost nonstop about movies, TV shows, games and music. It was so refreshing to have another person apart from Owen, Amanda and Corina to discuss these things and others.

Right now, they had been talking about the newest Blizzard's Epic Fall and the hero in the red shirt who called out their new Diablo for phones an out of season april's joke. Both of them had been trolling the shit out of Blizzard and the guy since early morning.

Molly shrugged her shoulders before she signed her.

Nana made an interested face, 'A new friend? Boy or girl?'

Molly shrugged her shoulders again.

I don't know. I only know his game name from Fortnite.

'Aha, so it's even more interesting. I hope you are careful. With these online things it is never easy to tell who are you talking to,' said her Nana as she placed a coffee mug on her table.

Molly rolled her eyes but nodded. It was true. Her online friend might just as easily be a pedo or some freak, but for now he was just some cool guy who liked the same shit she did, so she was fine with it.

'Don't be late for school. Just because the car is working now, doesn't mean you won't get stuck somewhere.' Warned her Nana and Molly quickly got up kissing her cheek before she rushed to the door.

She grabbed her backpack which was starting to rip on the side and went outside. She would fix it later today.

Another message popped on her phone and she quickly replied.

Hey, we should call each other something. Sometimes I want to like address you but writing Big Hero feels weird.

...

For a very long time there were only three dots and Molly had to wonder if maybe BigHero wasn't a girl too and didn't want to tell her name in case she thought Molly was a pedo.

Okay, do you want to exchange names?

She thought about it. Telling him or her his name kind of didn't sound like a good idea. For now, she was sure he thought she was a boy which was fine by her. Plus the whole pedo possibility. The hesitation in her/his reply also made her feel like she was pushing him into something he wasn't okay with. They had been chatting only for a couple of weeks after all.

How about first letters? Call me Mo.

Mo? Okay, cool. Nice to meet you, Mo. I'm Mi.

She raised her brows not buying it.

So you're telling me I said Mo and you're Mi? Kind of a weird coincidence don't you think?

Definitely, I'm totally expecting you to try and get my nudes now.

She got to the car laughing.

Yeah, for sure, send me the cute ones in your pink tongs. Gotta go. I'm driving.

Drive safe.

She easily drove to school without the car stopping or an accident which she was grateful for. She really loved her chevy. She parked right next to a pretty nice looking silver Porsche. Honestly, she would repark, but it was always hard to find a good parking spot so she prayed it wasn't Nicole or Jill or Carrie's car.

When she got out she momentary froze as she noticed Kim texting something on her phone standing next to the car.

The cheerleader must have felt her gaze because she looked up at her and smiled. She put the phone away and signed while saying, 'Good Morning.'

Of course, Kim knew sign language. She was little Miss perfect. She knew everything. She was good at everything. It was wonder she didn't have a statue or picture right at the entrance of the school.

Molly nodded and signed back before she went to school. Luckily Kim stayed by her car.

From the corner of her eyes the girl with pinkish hair noticed a familiar car pulling to the parking lot.

Matt

She rushed inside finding Corina and Owen by his locker and joined them. Guilt was a funny thing. You felt bad, but if you did something enough times and convicted yourself it was okay, the guilt was only a dull pain. She wondered if this was how people who lost a limb felt. Like there is something there, even when it is not.

It was hard to explain what she felt whenever she saw Kim Sawyer.

When she first came to school and found out Kim and Matt were dating. She figured it would be just that. Her little romance, her first love, crashing with reality that a guy like Matt would never be with a girl like her. He was golden boy who's family put all their hopes into him while Molly was a mute orphan who lived with her Nana and older brother. Some people who used to go to her middle school too, knew her dad got killed while selling drugs and her mom was just...gone. Girls like her didn't go out with guys like Matt. Their little encounter was just a summer fling not an actual love story.

Then he waited for her outside of kid's centre and begged her to give me ten minutes to explain.

Looking back Molly often wondered what would have happened if she just told him to go to hell? Would she live with a better conscious? Would she maybe find someone better for her? Someone who didn't have a girlfriend? Someone real and honest and...it didn't matter in the end.

Molly gave him those damn ten minutes, and Matt explained to her that his parents were old folks who couldn't have kids. He explained how they adopted him and how they basically put all their hopes into him. They were very religious and they always wanted Matt to be a good obeyed boy. He went on and on about how being with her was the first time he actually did something for himself instead of for them.

She liked to think it was true.

His parents were good friends with Sawyers and since Kim was single, they pressured the two into dating. He explained how he and Kim figured it would be easier to just give in then to fight their parents and how basically neither of them was in love.

'I love you, Molly,' he said taking her hand, 'I know this is...crazy like beyond insane, but I have to date Kim for my folks and hers. I don't want to. She's not...she not you.'

Every single word he said spoke to her heart making it impossible to say no.

'We...we can still met. We can still at least hang out, right?' he asked carefully, but Molly already had something else in mind.

She stepped on her toes and kissed Matt for the first time since his work in the kids' centre ended. The kiss was urgent and demanding showing just how much she missed him.

He pulled her closer kissing her back for a couple of moments until he broke the kiss and hugged her, 'We could...we could make it work. We could...like it could be our secret. We would meet up and just be us.'

She hugged him back nodding against him.

So they started to date again in secret while he and Kim dated in public which caused Molly to feel guilty. Even if Kim was only pretending to be in love with Matt it felt...it was cheating. She and Matt were cheating on Kim behind her back. She would feel better if Kim was doing the same with some other guy, but she had a feeling Kim really was all that honest and great and good which made it even worse because how the hell do you hate someone like that?

'Yo peculiar!' shouted some guy, 'Love the shorts.'

She looked down at her green shorts. What the hell was wrong with them?

When she looked back up she flipped the asshole and started to walk away.

Fuck that asshole.

Another message.

Hey Mo. Is Mo for Montgomery. If yes, do you have a Smithers?

It took her a moment to catch on before she smirked and texted back.

Mikey just finished another game with his team when Leo knocked on his door, 'Mikey, do you have a minute? I have something to tell you guys.'

He blinked, 'Yeah, sure, bro. I'll be out in a sec.'

He quickly typed to his friends he would be back soon and went outside.

Raph and Master Splinter were already on the couch while Don was finally coming from his workshop.

He noticed his gameboy on the ground and picked it up. He hadn't played for a while with it so he turned it on and started to play while walking to the couch.

Honestly, he wasn't playing much attention to what Leo was telling them until Donnie elbowed him.

He shot him a look just as Raph said, 'Say that again.'

Leo sighed, 'There is a girl and I'm...friends with her.'

'Wait, you're meeting with her? On purpose?' asked Raph standing up looking murderous again.

Mikey put the gameboy away slowly trying to process what was happening. There was a girl?

'Yes.'

'What? I?' Raph turned to Master Splinter and now so did Mikey, but he could see their Master looked completely calm. He knew about this then.

'What is this? Are you insane? Who is she and why the hell would you continue to meet with her? We have rules!'

'Oh my God, I can't believe it,' said Mikey finally catching on, 'I was right? Leo is in love? He has a girlfriend. Oh my God. I WAS RIGHT!' he rambled not noticing how Raph and Leo were full on shouting at each other and then literally shoving each other.

'Break it up with your girlfriend, Leo or so help me God-'

'Shove it, Raphael, this has nothing to do with you.'

'SO WHAT? Now all of us can go and get a girl or what? What makes you so special that you can tell our secret...'

'I didn't tell her anything. It was an accident because you ran off like usual into a fight and I ended up without a backup. I fell into someone's house. Thank God Jay got me out. I didn't tell her anything she just helped me. No screaming no nothing.'

'So what you followed her and started to hook up!'

'Raphael, please,' said the Master his tone leaving no more room for argument.

Raph looked at their Master angry as hell.

Mikey and Donnie stood up as if they were all feeling Raph's rage. Now, some fun facts about Raph. He was an asshole and a hothead. Mikey couldn't even count the times he had exploded and went all berserker on them causing problems. But he never ever got angry at their Master. He attacked all of them at least five times. Mikey about five times a week, but never their Master. Even a hothead like Raph knew he was their father and loved and respected him. However, looking at him now, how freaking upset he was Mikey had a very bad feeling that he would do something he would regret forever.

No one moved for a moment as Raph suddenly shook his head, 'You know what? Fuck it. Of course you get some special treatment. We can't say jack to anyone or reveal ourselves, but fearless here gets to have a cute girlfriend. Friggin' fantastic.'

Raph pushed his way past Mikey who frowned at him before he walked away out of the tunnels and out of the lair.

Leo sighed trying to calm down visibly still shaken. Yup, Raph had definitely that effect on people.

Their older brother looked at them. Now, he was probably waiting for the two of them to say their mind, but Mikey honestly had no issue here. So Leo found himself a chick apparently a good one since she helped him get out of the house, he mentioned before. Leo was basically a nomad, no way in hell would Mikey ever think he would score a girl, but if he thought she was good enough to know about them and risk their secret. She had to be.

He was the first one to walk toward Leo, who was still looking like he was in front of an acceptance committee.

He put his hand on his shoulder, 'Hey, man. It's cool,' he grinned at his older brother who looked relieved, 'So...can we meet her? Like family dinner? Or is it not that serious yet to meet the folks?'

Leo actually chuckled at that and Mikey grinned even wider knowing he calmed his brother nerves.

Donnie gave him a small smile, 'As long as you're happy...and she's not a treat.'

'She's not,' assured him Leo.

His Master walked up to him as well, 'It is good to be honest my son. Raphael will calm down eventually and return.'

Mikey nodded. Sure, Raph was well complicated turtle, but once he would get the hang of the situation he would deal with it. In the mean time Mikey took his phone and said, 'Name please. I want to see how hot this chick of your really is.'

'Michelangelo,' said Master Spliter disapproving, but he raised his brows at Leo in a seductive manner and his brothers laughed.

He didn't manage to get info about the girl from Leo, so of course he did a little bit of spying. Not too much, just to see where she lives and what she looked like.

He tried it about three times before he finally managed to find it, and still it was mostly because he knew Leo was going to a certain destination. His big bro was a pro at covering his tracks and tailing. It took him about two hours before he finally realize he was purposely leading him to a different part of town completely.

He tried to look at it as a strategy game and based on all the locations Leo had gone he managed to determinate where he would definitely end up even if he was going taking different ways.

Man, Leo was suspicious and untrusting as hell.

Mikey decided to check the girl when he was one hundred percent sure Leo wasn't there. Donnie was unknown to him his partner in crime. Mikey lied to Leo claiming he lost a bet and went to fill his end of the bet when really he was going to the girl's place.

He got to the roof of the opposite building next to the one the girl lived in.

Her window was closed but the blinds were open and the light was on. It was the only room which still had light on at this hour.

He didn't see much just someone with blonde hair sitting on what must have been the bed looking down. What was she doing up so late?

Getting closer was totally not an option, if she saw him and told Leo he would be dead for sure.

With a sigh he decided to leave, but just as he was getting from his hiding spot, he spotted his brother jumping at the fire escape from the roof of Jay's building.

He froze in place almost certain his brother saw him and would now come to yell at him when in reality the window opened and the girl looked out of it.

Mikey let out a relieved sigh and looked closely.

She was pretty.

He couldn't see much. It was still too far, but she was pretty and smiling while talking with Leo who just stood there with his arms crossed.

She then started to climb out of the window and his brother immediately offered his hand to help her.

She was wearing a long white sweater and a blanket as she sat down on the stairs of the fire escape.

Mikey watched as Leo got closer and the moment his brother touched Jay's hair, he knew he was definitely not supposed to be there.

He felt this weird feeling as his stomach as he was disrupting a tender moment for the two, and he felt upset with himself. As quietly as he could using all his ninja techniques he got to the opposite side of the roof and left.

Oh man, I wish my brothers were oversea sometimes.

Molly looked up from her calculus to read the message and smirked.

What are you getting the submarine?

Yeah, like I want to go out, but I sort of can't kind of way.

Why not?

I'm not allowed yet.

You go grounded? What did you do?

Was loud during TV show time. Never mind. Anyway, my brothers are at it again, and I just want them to shut the hell up.

Molly chuckled.

Well, I can't say I know the feeling. Usually when teens or kids were at it in my house it meant me and Der which kind of doesn't go with your outside role in your brothers' fighting.

It sucks. I just wish they would knock it off. It's not even Leo as much as Raph. Leo just walks from the room, which I totally get. I would walk out too. Fighting with Raph is like adding oil to the flame. He gets his kicks out of it.

Gross! Then you should totally not interfere and let him cool out.

For sure. What are you up to anyway?

What are Leo and Raph fighting about anyway?

A girl...but not in a romantic way. Leo got himself a girlfriend and Raph is just being a jealous asshole. Not that he likes here, he more like would want one too. I guess all of us would.

Molly bit her lip thinking about what he said.

Of course, people don't want to be lonely. They want someone to share their life with I guess.

Yup. I mean family is cool and friends are great...but..okay, don't like take this the wrong way, but I spied a bit on Leo tonight. It wasn't right. I know I shouldn't have, but I wanted to see this girl which got to monk brother. Anyway, as I was there I had this urge to leave. Seeing them there just standing and talking was...like invading their privacy. I was far away and yet I could feel something was there between them. Something which was not between anyone I know. Something...it just made it hard for me to watch without feeling guilty for being...I don't know.

Molly touched reached out to tuck at her beanie the way she always did when she was nervous, but she realize she didn't have it on.

Jealous.

I guess. I'm a terrible brother. Me and Raph, both.

I don't think you're terrible anything, Mi. I just think You're human. We want to be happy, and even if we love someone, it's hard to see them happy when we are not.

Her mind drifted to Kim and Matt, she knew their relationship was not real, but they could be free and together in public in a way she could never be. It made her feel jealous too.

Still, you love Leo so you want him to be happy and you would never hurt him...that's all that matters.

When Leo came home that day he came into his room with a smile on his face, 'Had fun tonight hiding behind the water tank?'

He made a grimace and looked away from his computer, 'Sure, it's always fun to hide with the spiders.'

Leo didn't say anything just stood in the doorway.

Mikey sighed, 'Okay, sorry, I was just curious, but I left and I won't come there again. I promise.'

Leo nodded before he walked inside, 'You know if you really want to meet her so bad, you can come with me next time.'

Mikey looked at the computer and the text from Mo.

'It wasn't about that. I mean sure I can meet her. If you think she's cool, well she has to be even if your taste of everything from music and movies and other things is sucky.'

Leo rolled his eyes.

'But…I guess I just wanted to see how it's like to actually be in contact with someone who isn't us or April or just…someone who like likes you.'

Leo's face softened and he walked inside. He had to move a couple of things from his bed before he finally sat down on the very corner of it.

'When I first met her, it was when we were chasing those idiots with gas mask on. Raph left me hanging for a moment and I ended up crashing into this house. I guess I was super lucky because someone was having a party there so the music was so loud they probably didn't even hear a giant turtle crashing in.'

'Oh Leo, you party crasher you,' joked Mikey and sat down next to him.

Leo shook his head, 'Anyway, Jay was like the only person there or the only one who saw me because the moment I spotted her, I froze. I was in someone's house and someone saw me. I was sure she would scream any moment and I would like be chased by a bunch of people with fire like in Frankenstein. But Jay…Jay just rushed toward me. Literally helped me from the ground and pushed me into the kitchen. How she managed to do that to a sjdfn pound giant turtle is beyond me.'

'Sounds like she's pretty brave and quick thinker.'

Leo nodded, 'She locked the kitchen door and just watched me. I was anxious to get out, but with her there, I just felt like I couldn't move. She just asked if we met before.'

Mikey blinked confused, 'Seriously?'

'Yup, like you know cause we meet pretty blondes every day or something.'

His bother chuckled for a moment before he calmed down, 'So what she invited you out for a date or something?'

'No, she helped me out of the house. I haven't seen her for a while and then she appeared on the street after some creep was harassing her. I went to make sure she was okay, and she just opened the window and started to talk to me,' he looked at him, 'She said she could tell I was there and I believed her, but she also said that if I didn't came back the next night she would go follow me.'

'Dude that's blackmail.'

'Sure is. I don't think she would actually go through with it, but I was worried she would get in trouble if she went to look for me. Still, in the end all of that were just excuses. The real reason was always that I wanted to see her.'

'So you started hung out?' asked Mikey.

'Yes, we talked a lot and we're letting each other in slowly,' he spoke with a different tone, softer.

Mikey blinked, 'Letting in?'

Leo frowned before he rolled his eyes looking flushed, 'Not like that.'

He shoved him a bit and Mikey grinned.

'Letting in emotionally, into the darkness corners. Stuff you don't just tell people until you're sure they can handle hearing it and you are ready to share.'

'What stuff?' asked Mikey confused.

'Like how we were starving that one winter,' said Leo quietly and Mikey looked away as he remembered now. It was easy to forget about things like that when now they were doing okay. Come to think of it there were a lot of things, bad things to share if Leo wanted.

'Oh.'

'Yeah.'

'She's…she's worthy? I mean if she's good for sharing?'

Leo smiled a bit, 'I think so. I know she's like the light. Well, it's hard and pretty sappy to explain, but when I'm with her I feel like I have been living in the shadows all my life and she's just like this pure light which shows me things I couldn't see because of the shadows.'

Mikey's mind tried to process what Leo was telling him. It was…it was lonely if you let yourself think about it too much. They were four mutant boys and as far as they knew there were no other mutants female or male to well be with. It wasn't like they could find someone like regular Joes and date them. What Leo found…who Leo found was really amazing. He found someone who was looking at him and yet not seeing him as someone who was different but just as himself. He wondered if maybe all of them could find people like that.

He looked at him, 'Yeah, bro, totally sappy.'

Leo elbowed him lightly and Mikey chuckled, 'Hey, want to watch a movie or something?'

'Sure, what kind?'

Mikey pulled out one, 'I was thinking Get Out. It has good reviews and stuff.'

'Sure.'

'Go get Donnie and food I will get Raphie and drinks,' said Mikey excited and rushed out of the room.

'Yo Raph, movie?' asked Mikey as he opened the door to his brother's room. He was on the ground sitting crossed legged.

Whoa, was Raph meditating?

That was a new one. Raph was the last person he would expect to meditate without being forced by Master Splinter.

'You okay?'

Raph stood up nodding looking visibly more calm than he did before, 'Just nothing cheesy, alright?'

After the movie, which was pretty sick but in a good way, Donnie and him left their other brothers some room to talk. It looked like their hotheaded brother was ready to make amends like he always did.

She wasn't sure why exactly she did it, but she found herself sending the blonde a new article to her website. It was...it was hard to explain. Molly would like to think she was above the craving for her attention Jay could awoke in people, but maybe she was just a silly mortal like the rest.

Or maybe she just wondered if just like with her there wasn't more to Jay after all. The blonde was never intentionally bad or mean to her like Nicole and Jill. She never made fun of her she was just...ignorant?

Thank you

Well, at least the blonde had manners.

Molly was almost ready to just log out when she got another message.

What are you up to tonight?

Playing Fortnite with some friends. You?

Not sure yet. Probably go over some stuff and chill.

Disappointing. And I here I thought pretty girls were cool.

Happy to disappoint. Why did you send me the article?

You seemed pretty interested in it.

How did you ended up on the site?

Someone left it in a comment under a video on youtube. I wanted to check it out. What do you think?

It's very intense...what do you think about them? The vigilantes I mean.

Not much, just that there someone who is doing the right thing for once.

Ditto

Molly stopped writing and actually started to think about it. Was she and Jay playing a getting to know each other game? Like sure maybe she wouldn't mind talking with someone about the NYV but to be friends with Jay.

They exchanged a couple of messages which confused Molly even more before Matt send her a message that he would stop by later. It was her nana's dance class again.

Still Jay's next text shook Molly completely.

Maybe we can talk about it more during lunch tomorrow. See ya.

Like actually talk about during lunch? Where everyone could see them?

That felt weird. Like honestly weird.

Molly bit her lip before she quickly went off trying to think about it. She could just hang out with Jay McClaud? Was that even legal? They were from different worlds. Colossally different.

When Matt came she forgot about Jay for a couple of hours until it was once again time for him to kiss her goodbye and go.

He stroked her cheek, 'You seem kind of lost in thoughts. Thinking about Derek?'

She smiled at how worried he looked and shook her head before signing.

Just something going through my mind. Hey are you and Jay McClaud friends? Like I know her and Kim hang out sometimes but you know.

Matt shook his head chuckling, 'One does not become friends with Jay McClaud. She's like...she's like a fine painting. You can look from afar and admire but when you get too close it is impossible to understand what is going on, you know?'

Molly nodded. It was kind of like she felt about Jay too, but was there really all there was.

Isn't it sad though? Like people want to be close to her, but not really her friends?

'Well, I guess it's the curse of the pretty girl. People always see you as something rather than someone. Isn't Kim little Ms. Perfect who could never disappoint? Or Nicole the girl who parties too much and ends up passed out on a couch. Or me the ever handsome asshole jock?'

Molly rolled her eyes before she kissed him.

Not a total asshole. Just like twelve percent.

'Why only twelve?' he asked not catching the Marvel reference.

Nothing, she smiled.

She watched him go feeling once again the sadness and emptiness inside. She went to her computer and check her messages.

You were right. All hail the great Mo. Get out was awesome.

Molly smiled a bit before she replied.

Told ya. What did you like best?

She spent almost another hour discussing the movie and other familiar movies with Mi. Before she knew it the weird sadness was gone and she was okay again.

Hey, maybe we could watch something together next time.

There was a pause.

Together?

Well, not like together together, but I will watch it and you will watch it at the same time and we chat about it directly. What'cha thing? Too lame?

No, Mo, that's sounds awesome. What movie are we going to watch? I heard Hereditary is pretty scary. Did you see it?

Nope, but is sounds perfect, Mi. How about tomorrow?

Excellent.

She grinned at the responds. She finally brought herself to go to sleep after that already knowing she would be tired in the morning, but hell she was so excited. She was already thinking about other movies and tv shows they could even watch not even noticing a new text message from At your own risk.

A.N: Thank you all for the support and love :) Oh, hope you like Molly. I am planning 2 more chapters with her before I move to Kim. Hope it does not suck to much or gets too complicated to understand. English is obvious not my 1st language.

Thank you all