Chapter 10

Moanful Meat

"I get why the weapons have to be wood, but that doesn't mean I have to like it," Alex grumbled uncharacteristically. She grabbed her drink off of the table, taking a long sip of her Pepsi.

Kerry and Alex were out having dinner on Sunday. Neither of them had to work, and had spent the day hanging out, doing homework and watching movies. They escaped the house to get away from Marcus, who kept making comments about Kerry. Kerry didn't really care, but Alex sure as hell did!

"I know, it sets the balance off!" Kerry said equally displeased. "Even something as simple as a tanto feels really off in my hands when it's competition regulated."

The two girls were talking about their ninjutsu competition weapons. During competitions, they were put against another opponent with a wooden weapon of their choosing. They fought and whoever won the bout, getting the most points, would move on to the next fight, and so on and so forth.

"It's disgusting," Alex stated. "My black katon katana is my specialty. Not that I can't use anything else, it's just, you know. It's my weapon!"

"Do you know how awkward my claws are?" Kerry scoffed. "That's way worse than your sword. I mean, I look so stupid!" she grumbled. "But like you said, it's my weapon. It's like, like my thing!"

"Anything wooden, besides a staff, isn't as powerful as what it's supposed to be!" Alex said.

"I know, you remember last time. I tried to take down that guy from Foot," Kerry said. "And he just laughed me off when my claws hit him! I didn't even leave a bruise on the guy."

"I guess that's kind of the point, though," Alex said.

"Uh, yeah but not when the guy is like twice your size," Kerry grumbled a bit. She had almost been seriously hurt in that fight if she didn't pull a win by using her shortness to her advantage.

"Yeah, but it's the Foot Institute," Alex said. "They never fight fair. It just goes to show how much better we are than them when we come out on top."

"Tell that to my concussion," she groaned a bit as she took a drink. "Bashed me good. And the guy you went up against was trying to break your leg most of the time!"

Alex nodded her head, remembering the moment. "The ass," she stated simply. "Oh, yeah. Speaking of an ass, I forgot to tell you that Raph's not so bad."

"Told you!" Kerry scoffed. "But how did you know? You seemed dead set on him being the bad guy earlier."

"He picked me up on Friday and we talked," Alex said. "By the way, did you know Don knows how to ride a motorcycle? He got grounded for driving it without a license."

Kerry choked a bit on her drink, eyes going wide and cheeks going wide. "H-He did what?" She asked in shock.

"He got grounded for driving without a license," Alex repeated with a laugh. "I know! I couldn't believe it when Raph told me!"

"B-But he's...so..so good!" Kerry said unable to think of anything else. "I could never imagine him doing something so, so bad," she said.

Alex laughed. "Raph said he can get a little carried away sometimes." She then cracked up. "Get it. Carried away. Kerry. Kerried away!"

Kerry looked at her before slowly bringing her hand up to her face in a face palm. "Why am I friends with you?"

"Hey!" Alex whined.

"I ask my brothers that all the time," a familiar voice said from behind Alex.

The two girl's looked to see Raph, Mikey, Don and Leo walk in. Raph has been the one to make the comment to catch their attention.

"Oh!" Kerry said standing. "Hey boys!" she said and Mikey skipped over to give her a hug, to which she returned with a laugh. Her cheeks were a bit red, scared they had heard what Alex had said about Don being, Kerried away.

"Hey," Alex greeted. "What's up with you guys? We don't usually see you out and about."

"We're just eating," Leo scoffed good heartedly. "We don't stay home all the time. We normally go out to eat on Sundays."

"Cool," Alex said. "Do you guys want to join us? We haven't ordered our food yet and the booth's big enough."

"Yes! I need time with my girls!" Mikey grinned a bit at them.

"You're girls?" Alex asked, scooting over into the middle of the booth, Kerry doing the same.

"Yeah!" Mikey grinned and tossed his arms over their shoulders as they got out of the booth. "You're my best girls!"

"They're your only girls, Chucklehead," Raph scoffed a bit. Everyone scuffled around a bit, displacing Mikey from his spot between his girls. Leo and Raph sat at the ends of the rounded booth table. Next to Leo, Mikey sat with Kerry on his other side. Alex had been able to maneuver around so Don ended up next to the older girl, much to her joy. She would get them together even if it killed her, on the slight downside that left her next to Raph.

"H-Hi, Kerry," Don greeted. "H-How are you?"

"I'm good," Kerry said, peeking at him from the corner of her eyes. "I'm fine! I'm just right as rain I am!" Kerry said then realized her hick was showing again and wanted to face desk. She hid her head in her menu and Alex was just able to make out her mouthing, "God, this is embarrassing."

Oh, she's going to get me for this, all right, Alex thought, smirk in place as she looked at the two. It's so worth it! She shifted her gaze to the menu in her hand.

"Nice, Hick," Raph chuckled a bit as he heard her grumble under her breath.

Alex elbowed the redhead in the ribs, making him grunt. She leaned over and whispered. "Shut up and leave them alone. Can't you see they're happy? You want Donatello to be happy, right?"

"But she's a hick! Is that a lie? No!" He muttered back.

"She's not a hick, you dick," Alex shot at him.

"She's from the south. So she's a hick. It's a common term," Raph rolled his eyes a bit as he looked over the menu. Kerry was just about dying of embarrassment behind her menu.

She knew he didn't mean anything by it, But Alex knew how much Kerry hated being called that. "She doesn't like it when people call her that, Raph," she told him,not looking away from her menu. "Kind of like me with Butch. So, please?"

"Fine fine, but I want to hear it from her too," Raph said. "That h-...girl needs to say when she doesn't like somethin'. Like you."

Alex bumped him lightly with her shoulder, getting him to glance up. She looked at him from the corner of her eyes with a small smile on her face. "Thanks," she whispered.

"How is rain right?" Mikey asked suddenly a confused look on his face before anyone could stop him he poked Kerry, wanting an answer from the horses mouth.

"U-Uh, I actually don't know. It's just a saying," Kerry said lowering her menu. "I've heard it all my life."

"Right as rain is a common saying," Don jumped in quickly. "A lot of people use it across the US," he said shooting his hotheaded brother a glance. "It's like that because rain is natural and there's nothing more 'right' than natural. So she's saying she's alright," Don said. Was this his weird way of defending Kerry?

"See, and brainiac told me he thinks her accent is cute," Raph murmured to Alex with a slight smirk.

"They're cute together," Alex said. "They deserve to find people that make them happy."

"Hey, don't get all chick-flick on me, Firecracker," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, come on," Alex said, nudging him again. "You want Don to be happy. I want Don and Kerry to be happy. They're happy together. It's simple math and logic."

"That's Don's territory, not mine," Raph said and bopped the top of her head gently with his menu.

"Hey," she said with a giggle, smacking him in the arm with her menu. Raph smirked and hit her back.

"Hey!" Kerry said and leaned across Don to hit Raph's hand, causing the brown haired boy to blush darkly from the close proximity.

"What was that for?" Raph asked, glaring at the black haired girl.

"No one hits my Lexi!" Kerry grumbled at him as a waitress came by and got the boys drink orders.

"What's everybody's getting?" Leo asked, still studying the menu.

"Bacon cheeseburger," Alex answered. "They have the best melt in your mouth burgers I've ever had!"

"You're a burger person?" Raph asked. "You look more like a salad girl from how small you are."

"We need protein!" Kerry scoffed. "I for one want cheese fries with ranch."

"Ew, what?" Mikey asked. "That's nasty!"

"Is not! Fries and ranch are awesome. Way better than Ketchup," Kerry argued.

"Have to agree there, ketchup is nasty," Leo murmured.

"You guys are nasty!" Mikey said.

"I only like ketchup with some things," Alex said. "Like with french fries and chicken nuggets." She turned to Raph and said, "And I like salad ever once in a while, but I'm totally a burger person."

"Well, same here. I was planning on the bacon cheese burger myself." Raph nodded.

"Oh, you'll love it," Alex gushed. "Trust me. They put so much bacon on it that it's hard to eat it all inside the burger. It's fantastic."

"Thier avocado burger is also really great." Kerry suggested to the boys. "I actually work here part time during the week. It's one of our most popular items."

"Hm, I'll try it then." Don smiled a bit.

"Wow, you work here?" Mikey asked. "That's awesome!"

"I've never had avocado before," Alex thought out loud.

"It's good. I really like it myself," Leo said. "Though I'm looking at the grilled chicken sandwich."

"Dude, enough with the healthy stuff," Mikey grumbled. "I'm going with the Chipotle Burger."

"Mikey, that is really hot," Kerry said and Mikey smirked and slung an arm around her.

"I know, but contain yourself in front of my bros," he joked.

"I meant the burger!"

Alex choked on her soda. Don gently patted her on the back to help. "Thanks," Alex said. It was then that the waitress came to get their food orders. When that was squared away, Kerry pinched Mikey's hand to get him to pull away.

"Hey, Don?" Alex asked.

"Yes, Alex?" Don answered.

"What's it like riding a motorcycle?" she asked, smirk firmly in place. "I've always wanted to ride on one."

Kerry was the one to start coughing this time, shooting her friend a look as she cheeks flushed dark red. If anyone rode with Don on his bike it'd be her. Don his self went red in the face, looking down as he bit his lip.

"I-I, ummm."

"You do too, right Kerry?" Alex asked, gently nudging her with her foot under the table.

"U-Uh, yeah. I love bikes." Kerry smiled though she kicked Alex back with her own steel toed boot back.

Alex lurched forward, groaned escaping her as she bent down and rubbed in her shin. "Fuck, Kerry! That hurt!"

"I don't know what your talkin' bout darlin,'" Kerry said turning on that overly sweet southern bell voice on. "I didn't do anythin'. And watch your language at the diner table. "

Alex glared, rubbing the large bump on her leg. "Fuckin' steel toed boots," she grumbled.

Raph laughed next to her. "Didn't know you had it in you, Firecracker! You swear like a sailor!"

"I do not," she protested.

"She's right, that's me." Kerry chuckled a bit, better now that she wasn't on the spot.

"I told you," Alex said.

"S-So," Kerry said. "You built the bike?" Kerry asked softly to Donatello.

"Uh, yeah," Don said. "I had to test drive it before I gave it to Raph. It's his bike."

"Why didn't he test drive it then?" Kerry laughed softly and Don smiled a bit.

"He didn't know about it at the time," Don said. "It's a birthday present that he found out about."

"Sorry about the surprise, Bro," Raph said. "But honestly it's the best thing ever man," he said the brightest smile the girls had ever seen on his face.

"When's your birthday?" Alex asked the boy next to her.

"We celebrate all of our birthdays on Halloween," Mikey told them. "We're all adopted and and they're kind of all over the place, so we just do it all at once. On the day Master Splinter took us in."

"That's so cool!" Alex exclaimed. "A Halloween birthday! That sounds like so much fun!"

"Happy early birthday, guys!" Kerry smiled brightly. "That is so cool!"

"When's your birthday, Kerry?" Don asked the girl next to him shyly, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Oh, I still have a ways to go. I turn 18 in July." She smiled.

"You're seventeen?" Mikey asked. "Cool, an older woman!"

Kerry blushed. "Oh quiet!" she muttered a bit embarrassed. "You make me sound like a cougar!"

"You're more of a foxy momma," Alex teased, quickly taking her feet off the ground and away from Kerry. Kerry scowled and tossed her straw wrappers at her.

"I have to agree," Mikey laughed. "Give me your number and I'll save that as your contact," he play flirted a bit, wiggling his eyebrows. Don scowled a bit, he knew his brother didn't mean that, but it put him on edge a bit.

"I just realized none of us have each other's numbers," Alex said. "We should all exchange."

"Oh right!" Kerry said pulling out her phone, on instinct she gave it to Don first, to punch his number in.

One by one they all exchanged numbers, putting in various names for the contacts, pictures and funny ring tones for their tell when calling. Once that was done, the food came out. The door was handed over, and Alex was one of the first to dig in, extremely excited to have her favorite food to eat.

Alex took a slow bite, eyes closed. She put her hand over her mouth as she chewed and sat back, a pleasurable moan escaping the female redhead. She opened her eyes back up and put her hand back down when she was done chewing and had swallowed, noticing her friends all staring at her.

Don was next to her, frozen as he heard the noise come from her throat. Mikey was staring at her, mouth wide open as if he had no idea what just happened. Leo had a dark look in his eyes as he tried to focus on his food. Raphael was staring at the girl, mouth hanging open, burger in his hand, having just about to take a bite. His face was red, green eyes staring into green eyes as half of the bacon and cheese in his burger fell out and onto the plate.

Kerry broke the silence as she burst out into fits of laughter, unable to hold it in any longer.

"Son of a gun!" she cackled a bit, trying to breathe.

Alex's face darkened in embarrassment. "W-What?" Alex asked.

"Honey. I don't roll that way but it sounded even sexy to me," Kerry cackled, coughing breathing became painful.

"Kerry!" Alex scolded, throwing her straw wrapper back at her. She ducked her head, going back to her food, completely mortified with what happened. "S-Shut up."

"What?" Kerry asked. "I'm not the only one to think so."

It was Alex's turn to choke again. She coughed, clearing her throat, hand covering her mouth. Her face was extremely red. Oh, this can't be happening! she thought. Please don't have them say anything. Please don't let them say anything.

"U-uh, birthday!" Don said suddenly. "When is your birthday?!"

"M-My b-birthday?" Alex asked, thinking that topic was even worse than the whole moaning situation. "Oh, you don't want to know that!" Alex said, trying to tell them the opposite of what they wanted.

"Actually, I do," Kerry said. "I told you mine, you tell me yours?"

"But I don't like my birthday," Alex whined.

"You don't like your birthday?!" Mikey yelled. "What is wrong with you, woman."

"A lot of things," Alex said. "Like my strong dislike for pink, clowns and my birthday."

Raph chuckled next to her. "You don't like clowns?"

"No!" Alex said with a shiver. "They creep me out!"

"Like you should be talking, Raph," Mikey said. "You hate cockroaches."

"You don't like cockroaches?" Alex asked, a smirk on her lips.

"Really? Those itty bitty things?" Kerry asked with a smile.

"Like you should be talking, Kerry," Alex said, referring to Kerry's fear of maggots. "I'm not even going to mention your fear. You'd get up and go wash your hands just hearing it!"

"Don't say the M word!" Kerry screeched suddenly, hands clamped over her heart. Raph swore and leaned away from her.

"You're a fucking banshee!"

"What is it?" Mikey asked.

"No, we shall not speak of it," Alex said. "I'll tell you later when she's not around. That way she doesn't have to get up and scrub her hands raw."

"Is it really that bad?" Leo asked, raising an eyebrow watching Kerry as she sang to her self, hands over her ears. Don was trying to calm her down but she was having none of it.

"Leo, hon, trust me on this one," Alex insisted, finishing off her burger.

"Is it Mikey?" Raph asked with a chuckled. "Mikey's an M word."

"Hey!" Mikey pouted a bit.

"Mikey's too cute to be scary," Alex said. "He's more of the type to get you to love him to death."

"Hush now baby," Kerry cooed to Mikey stroking his blonde curls. "Don't let the big mean neanderthal bug you."

"Hick," Raph shot back.

"Dick," Kerry said without thinking about it as she comforted the baby brother, much to Don's annoyance.

"See, the ladies love me," Mikey said with a triumphant smile.

"Yes we do," Alex said. "You're our favorite."

"Yes!"

"What!?" Don asked.

"Oh, come on!" Raph complained.

"Seriously?" Leo added.

"What?" Kerry asked. "He's the baby. We have to love him the most."

"It's an unspoken rule of the girl code," Alex joked.

"Fine, to make up for this utter heartbreak," Leo said feining pain in his chest. "Tell us your birthday."

"What? No!" Alex protested.

"Come on, Alex!" Mikey pressed. "It's just your birthday!"

"What's the problem with your birthday anyway?" Raph asked.

"I-I don't like it when people fuss over me," she stated. "It's just a day. Like any other. I survive every day. What's so special about that one date?"

"It's a day where we can celebrate knowing you. Without you I have no idea where I'd be," Kerry murmured looking down at the table sadly. Mikey pulled her closer and they hunched together, discussing something seriously before they looked up.

"Alex," Kerry stated before her lip jutted out and her green eyes filled with tears. "Please?" she asked in a whimper.

"Yeah, Alex," Mikey said and had an even more pitiful look on his face, emphasized by his angel looks.

"Think of it more for us than for you," Raph said. "You like making people happy? Tell us what it is."

Oh, he has a point there, Alex thought. But why does he have to have a point? It's not fair! I don't like my birthday! Alex sighed, shoulders slumped. I was two weeks short of getting away without them knowing! Uh! "October 17," Alex stated.

"That's right before ours!" Mikey said excitedly.

Alex groaned into her drink, annoyed that they got it out of her. Mean friends, she thought.

"Alexandra" Kerry snapped. "How could you not tell me! There is so much to be done," she murmured. "Now I have to plan for two surprises!"

"Two?" Leo asked.

"Yes something for you guys as well!" Kerry nodded causing the boys to look at her in shock. "What? I have to do this! It's my duty as a friend!"

"No!" Alex yelled. "You will do no such thing!"

"Woman, I do what I want!" Kerry said throwing her hands in the air.

"Kerry, I'm begging you here. I don't like birthdays. I never have. I don't want anything done."

"It won't be anything big," Kerry said. "But you and the guys are going to get something!"

"It's bad enough Freddy always makes me go out to dinner on my birthday! Even my family doesn't do that!" Alex complained.

"B-But," Kerry's eyes went puppy dog mode again. "I don't get to celebrate birthdays often."

Gah she's pulling that card again! No! So not fair! "Kerry, please. For my birthday present, don't do anything! That's all I want."

"What if I do something for all of you at once? You know, do a group thing?" Kerry asked, looking around the table.

"Right! That's brilliant, Kerry! Then it won't just be you," Don said. "You don't have to think of it as your party. Think of it as ours!"

Kerry blushed when Don called her idea brilliant. "Thanks Donnie." she smiled a bit, unable to resist touching his hand briefly. "And it will be fun to do something in a group!

"Like go bowling!" Mikey said. "I've never been bowling before."

"Really?" Alex asked. "You've never gone bowling?"

"See!" Kerry said. "We must take them bowling!" She grinned in triumph.

Alex was more distracted about the fact that they had never been bowling than the fact that it was supposed to be for their birthdays now. "Oh, you guys would love bowling! It's so much fun!"

"Uh, yeah," Don smiled. "Yeah, let's all go bowling then!" he said looking to his brothers.

"Heck yes!" Mikey said.

"I'm all for it if Master Splinter is," Leo smiled.

"I'm game. Probably going to kick all of your asses." Raph smirked.

"Oh, you're on, Raphie," Alex said. "You're going down. I bowl a 220!"

"It's a date!" Kerry said in conclusion.

"Oh, it's on like Donkey Kong!" Alex exclaimed. It was then that she noticed that time. "Oh, crap!" she exclaimed. "I have to go. I'm supposed to talk to my brother tonight."

"Don't your brothers live at home?" Kerry asked.

"Yeah, but Elliot's studying in Japan," Alex said, paying for her bill. "So I've gotta go before it gets too late to talk."

Without waiting for Raph to get out of the booth, Alex moved over him, brushing up against him, making him blush and look away in embarrassment. "Night guys!" she called out to them.

"Bitch, you ditching me again?!" Kerry yelled out after her.

"Yup!" she yelled. "I'll see you at school tomorrow! You guys too! I'll see you during tutoring!"

With that, Alex left completely forgetting her agreement about not going out alone. She was fine though. It was only a couple blocks from her house. Alex called her brother on her way home, telling him all about how excited she was to go bowling for her and her friends birthday, which was a first.