Chapter 10 – The Other Half

With Master Splinter' acceptance to my sister and I, we had become frequent guests in their home. Raphael was still distant towards me in front of his brothers; he would acknowledge me from afar but never in person. Vickie however was getting along with Mikey much quicker than any other boy she had been with before we met the turtles. They would spend hours playing video games, eating and watching movies, never once were they found in a sour mood.

Leo had invited us over for dinner one night as Mikey had taught himself to cook a new recipe which he was dying for us to try out. We were greeted by Leo and Donnie who warned us about Mikey's cooking and Raph's occurring state of moping about, we were particularly welcomed as always and it seemed that we've been taken in as family.

We all sat around the table, waiting for Mikey's meal to be served. The seven of us talked, mostly about the recent raise of crime and the latest news topside. Vickie and Donnie had gotten into an overwhelming debate about hair straighteners and Leo and I, a rather serious conversation about ancient Japanese weapons and fighting techniques. As we were both deep in conversation, Splinter had gotten up from the table, leaving the kitchen and returning with one more guest, April. We had all got up to greet her, Mikey even taking a leave to give her a hug before returning back to the stove. I moved over, letting April sit next to Leo, and I sat next to Splinter.

Mikey appeared from the kitchen, carrying a large covered tray. We all waited for him to reveal dinner, Vickie especially excited to try Mikey's new home cooked dish.

He lifted up the cover, smiling widely, "Voila!"

We all took time to figure out exactly what he had cooked up, mostly because whatever it was presented was burnt over to a crisp.

Vickie stood up to hug him, congratulating him for his new, highly edible meal. Of course, we all did the same – feeling sorry for ourselves, knowing we'd have to try it. Raph just moaned and left the table. I noticed, after being given a plate of the burnt dinner, that Mikey was too wrapped up in Vickie's reaction to see that of Raph's.

After dinner, the eight of us met around the couch, TV on in the background and all of us in conversation once again.

I had made a comment that got me and April talking separately to one another; I thought it was important to get to know her simply for the fact that she was the only human who had an alliance to Splinter and the turtles.

"So Elmira, you and Vickie are in high school?" April asked, shifting herself to look at me.

I nodded, "Well, it's my last year, her second last year."

She smiled, "You're pretty young and…do you think Vickie can handle Mikey? I mean, he's a year older than her."

I laughed, "She's dated guys before te same age as Mikey, none of them as nice as him though. She's fine."

April stared at e for a while before continuing, "I see you haven't claimed one of the brothers as your own…why now? Afraid of what others may think?"

I was shocked, unsure that I heard April correctly. Why did she need to stick her nose in my sister and I's business? Was it that se had a crush on one of the brothers? Digging to see which ones were available?

"April I…I don't think I can speak on behalf of an y of them, I don't think it's a public matter of conversation," I whispered, moving in closer, hoping no one else was catching our back-and-forth conversation.

She simply rolled her eyes, "Oh please, you're just insecure because your sister could pick up, a mutant no less, before you!"

I didn't know what to say or, if there was anything to say. I had never been rude or disrespectful to April – I never tried to pry into her private matters. Was what she was saying true? That I was too insecure and high strung that I couldn't get Raph to notice me fully?

I got up from the couch, walking over Mikey and Vickie who were sprawled out on the floor, reading through his comics. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Raph was watching me, staring as I rushed past him and his brothers. I heard Leo call my name but I had already stepped out of the lair, needing to clear my head topside – the rooftops.

I sat there for two hours, feet dangling over the edge to the city below. I had kept myself from crying but the nagging voice of April wouldn't leave my mind. Why would she stop to that? Was she worried Vickie and I would take over her given place wit h the turtles? Was there history Vickie and I didn't know between them? There was no telling what April was up to but from one human to another, I knew she was envious over my sister and I.

I stayed up on the roof until I realized that the brothers, Sensei and my sister would become overly worried about me. I went back down into the sewers, my heart in my throat as I feared the amount of questions I would have to face as to why I left without reason. Did they do this to Raph whenever he left, or had his brothers stopped caring about his personal needs to cool down? I realized they all turned their heads to look at me enter the lair, with the exception of April but, none of them asked. Relaxing a bit more, I decided to sit next to Donnie, leaving the space on the couch next to April empty. I noticed, sensed how Raph kept his gaze on me, most likely questioning my abrupt leave, was he wondering if I left for the same reasons he always did? That he was the only one to come to realize that despite his tought exterior, everyone could figure out internal self.

Donnie gave me a reassuring look and I could tell, he knew something was seriously wrong.

"Vickie, Mikey…why don't you two go check out the arcade system I hooked up in my lab, it's about ready, go test it out," Donnie spoke, glancing over at Leo and Splinter to given them a silent need for dismissal.

My sister and Mikey basically ran over to the lab, Leo excused himself along with Splinter to take part in their evening mediation. April on the other hand, said her goodbyes before leaving for the night as she made sure to turn around and give me one last dirty look. Raph just yawned, stretched and made his way to him room.

Donnie instantly put his arm around me, "What happened back there Elmira?"

I sighed, leaning against Donnie's arm, "do you think Mikey is good enough for Vickie?"

Donnie looked down at me smiling, "Seems as if Mikey's finally found his female half. They're perfect for each other."

I remained silent until I formulated what I needed to say, "I think April believes we'll replace her…two female human beings welcomed to your family…I think she feels outnumbered."

"Maybe so Elmira but…I can assure you, you and Vickie are here to stay. Everyone loves you two and if April feels like she doesn't need us anymore than it's on her own accord. Don't worry, I'm sure that Vickie is fine with Mikey and…maybe you'll even come to be close like that with someone too."

I relaxed further against Donnie, I valued his kind and gentle nature, and feeling connected to him in a way that siblings would. He let me rest against him, contemplating silently with himself about if any of his brothers – or himself – could ultimately become my other half.