Chapter 14
It was perhaps the most uncomfortable dinner I had ever been at. Mickey and Rue sat on one corner of the table, cautiously looking from face to face to try and read everyone's reaction to the surprise that Mickey had been keeping a girl in his room. We were all used to Mickey hiding cats and the occasional dog in his room till someone found out and made him get rid of it but this? Hiding away a girl? This was just crazy.
"So...where do you...uh...come from, Rue?" Leo asked, spoonful of soup hovering over his lips. He still hadn't taken a single bite since dinner had started.
"Mike's closet. Nice place. Ya probably wouldn't like it though..." Leo raised an eye ridge.
"Uh, she means London." Mickey put in, giving Rue a shove in the ribs. She laughed playfully.
"Why do you call Michelangelo, Mike?" Donny inquired. Rue shrugged her shoulders and shoved another spoonful of soup into her mouth.
"I like it."
"Why were ya in my lil' bro's closet?" Raph asked, finally pointing out the one thing we were all thinking.
"Ran away from home. Was needin' a place ta stay. Met cha bro at some skating park an' totally showed 'im up. We met a few more times at tha park for he up and told me who, or what, he actually was and offered me a place ta stay."
On the other side of the table sat Raphael and Krystal. She had one hand in his and was close enough to him to basically be on his lap. After the little exchange with our new housing partner Krystal leaned over and whispered something into his ear that made him grin all the way to his amber eyes. He whispered something back to her before kissing her ear, earning him a glare from Leo.
"What?" Raph said, seeing the glare. "I can't show 'fection ta the girl I'm datin', but tha two lovebirds over there can be all lovey dovey as they want?!" He gestured towards Sammy and Donny who sat to my right. Donny had his arm around Sammy, who sat cuddled into his chest. That is, till Raphael mentioned it. Then she sat up slightly and Donny moved his hand away, both blushing. I think I saw tears start to form in Sammy's eyes. The poor girl. She really didn't like getting involved in any sort of confrontation.
"You need to watch your temper." Leo snapped. I had never seen his blue eyes turn gray that fast before.
"I think you need to watch yer mouth." Raphael spat back. It was times like these that I wished Splinter hadn't had taken up April on her offer to go to the farm for a "chill week" about a month or so ago. He wouldn't be back for another week and there was no way any of this could get any better without him.
"Leo's right Raph. Relax. And Leo, stay off his case. Just...eat." Donny spoke up. I'm not sure if everyone listened to him, at least for the next few minutes, out of logic or because Donny never spoke up like that before. It surprised us all.
But before too long the peaceful silence was broken by Raph mumbling under his breath. "It's not like anyone else here loves me..."
I stood to my feet, shoving the table and making all the bowls shake. "No one loves you? Is that what you think? Well why don't you try being in my shoes for once in the whole damn time I've known you. Everything's always about you and why you're so miserable and how horribly off you are. Do you ever stop to think about anyone else ever, Raph? Hm? How about how I feel about you siting over there, right in front of me, kissing my cousin? How about seeing everyone here hook up and the guy that I loved isn't mine and won't be mine. Ever. Because he's too pigheaded. What about..."
"Excuse me? Ya think fer a moment-"
"Shut the hell up and for once just listen. Just listen to what I have to say, for once. Ok? If you would look past your filter of misery, of how horrible everything is for you, you'd see something good when it's looking you in the freaking face. Don't you dare say no one loves you. Don't you dare." By this time I had walked up and met Raphael halfway past the table. We now stood, so close I could feel his breathe on me, hot and steamy. The smell of beer was strong on his breathe, and the worst part was, it still didn't bother me. Through it all. It still didn't bother me one little bit. "Don't...Don't you dare say that ever again, ok?" My voice was now broken and tears where trailing down both my cheeks and his. "Because Raphael-"
"Don't say it. Please." He interrupted. "Don't."
"...I love you." I whispered, so quietly I wasn't sure if he really heard me, or just knew what was coming. I didn't give him a chance to reply. In the next few seconds I left the room and made my way towards the piano, leaving him standing there in the background.
"She's beautiful in her simple little way
She don't have too much to say when she gets mad
She understands she don't let go of anything
Even when the pain gets really bad
Guess I should've been more like that"
I tasted the salty drops running down my cheeks, felt my fingers quiver and shake with adrenaline from the exchange at the dinner table. But that didn't matter. I sang on, knowing it'd feel better afterwards. It always did.
"You had it all for a pretty little while
And some how you made me smile when I was sad
You took a chance on a bruised and beaten heart
Then you realized you wanted what you had
I guess I should've been more like that
I should have held on to my pride
I should have never let you lie
I guess you got what you deserved
I guess I should've been more like her"
I heard someone enter the room and immediately tagged it as Leo, just from hearing the way he closed the door and sat behind me. I guess I had picked up a few things from hanging out with the guys anyway. I pretended not to notice and sang on.
"Forgiving you, she's stronger than I am
You don't look much like a man from where I'm at
It's plain to see desperation showed it's truth
You love her and she loves you with all she has
I guess I should've been more like that
I should have held on to my pride
I should have never let you lie
I guess you got what you deserved
I guess I should've been more like her
She's beautiful in her simple, little way."
Silence settled after the last note was sung. My shoulder's quaked as my wall finally came crumbling down. Leo tried to hug me from behind but I pushed him away.
"I'm moving to Manhattan." I said, controlling myself enough to speak. "My boss told me today I had the option to opt out but the pay there is much better. I'm getting the job transfer. I'm a detective now. Just like I always wanted to be."
Leo's shock spoke a thousand words. I got up from my seat and hugged him for everything it was worth, squeezing him like I never had before. He squeezed back. "I'll miss you guys." I said in his ear. He simply just nodded his head. I pulled away and gave him a weak smile. "I'm going to go get stuff packed. Can you tell the guys for me? I'm not a fan of goodbyes."
Leo simply nodded once more. I brushed myself off and walked past the oldest who stood there inshock, made my way past the dinner table and out of the lair, for possibly the last time ever.
Author's note; Wow...that got a bit intense there...I like writing those scenes way to much. :3 Oh but it's not the end. Not yet. You have one more chapter! Please R&R!