Author's note: Another short chapter, kinda like filler but still important. If anyone has any suggestions for the story feel free to pm me, as always rate and review. Oh, and I know the story goes pretty fast, I'm really working on trying not to rush through it but I've got a long way to go. Hopefully I'll become a better writer in time. That's it for now, enjoy the chapter!
Donatello watched Mikey and Jude play video games together anxiously. He still hadn't heard from April and it was nearing two weeks since they accidently mutated her father. Jude has been a good friend to the purple banded ninja turtle but his heart ached for the red-headed sixteen year old.
He turned around and went back to his lab, working on the ooze tracker helped distract him.
Leonardo was training with Raphael in the dojo. Raphael teased him relentlessly about being in a relationship.
"Do you guys have pet names?" He nudged Leo with his sais. The leader pushed him away and raised his sword. Raph blocked with his sais and flipped him over his shoulder. Leo rolled out of the fall and kicked Raph's feet out from under him. Raphael got back up and teased him again.
"Does she have you whipped yet?" He chuckled.
Leonardo growled, "Focus Raphael."
"Chill Leo I'm just busting your shell." Raph grinned as they circled each other. "I'm happy for you."
He clapped his older brother on the shell and they rested for a moment.
"So is it weird to kiss her without a tongue?" Raphael asked.
Leonardo blushed and stuttered, "Probably not…we-we haven't kissed like that yet."
"You guys have been dating for a month and you haven't frenched?" He stuck out his tongue at Leo. Leonardo pushed him back and shook his head.
Raphael cackled and grinned, he loved to make Leo uncomfortable. Then a thought occurred to him.
"So, has she ever explained exactly what happened when her tongue was cut out? Like why she was attacked?"
Leonardo shook his head, "We respect each other's secrets."
"But you're dating now, you should know about who you're dating." Raph inquired.
He shrugged and said, "I'm sure she'll tell me when she's ready."
"If you say so man."
April spent the night in Jude's apartment on one condition, no turtle talk. Jude responded sarcastically saying she wouldn't say a word. Mabel was happy to see April again and the three girls watched horror movies until Mabel had to leave for work.
"So who are you staying with?" Jude signed.
April replied, "My Aunt is letting me stay with her, she keeps getting concerned though. I haven't told her the part about him getting mutated into a giant bat."
"Well you're always welcome here." Jude nodded while signing.
"Thanks Jude."
They chatted about school, movies, books; Jude really wanted to bring up the boys and tell her how much Donnie was hurting but figured it wasn't a good time. April was hurting too; she could see it in her eyes. They played cards until both girls were too tired to keep going, falling asleep in the living room.
Jude woke up the next morning, seeing April stretching out.
"Good morning, want to do yoga?"
She shrugged and joined her, copying her stance. After yoga and breakfast, Jude offered to take April to the GYM she worked out at. April agreed, she was behind on her ninja training and was getting a bit rusty. Jude lent April some workout clothes and they headed to the GYM.
When they arrived April exclaimed, "I've been here before! I took a women's self-defense class here with my Aunt."
The memory of the really good red-head flashed through Jude's eyes. She signed, "That was you! I remember that day! Coach said you were lying about being trained before."
"Well I couldn't exactly explain I was being trained by a-." She froze then shook her head, not wanting to think about the mutants in her life.
They walked in and Coach Jim greeted the two.
"Well if it isn't Jude, haven't seen you around in a few days." He grumbled.
"You miss me?" She grinned.
He waved her away and said, "Who's this?"
"Hi, I'm April, a friend of Jude's."
Coach Jim widened his eyes and looked to Jude, "You have friends now? What else a boyfriend?"
Jude's face became red and Jim nearly choked on his saliva, "No shit!"
April laughed, "Is that surprising for Jude?"
"Well, I've known her for nearly four years and she's never brought someone in before. Not really a people person." Jim explained.
Jude signed, "Don't talk about me like I'm not here."
Coach Jim waved her off again and said, "Go warm up then do twenty minutes on the bag, this boy better not distract you from training."
Coach Jim brought April over to the side for some coffee.
Handing her a cup he grunted, "I'm glad she has friends now. She's a good girl."
April nodded in agreement, they chatted for some time and April explained that their friend's father taught martial arts and they had been training with him. Coach Jim feigned insult, saying he would be replaced but smiled through it.
"If anything ever happens and you two need anything let me know. That girl is like family, 'specially cause she doesn't have much left." He said.
April inquired, "I wondered about that, what happened to her parents?"
"She never told you? Well, there's a reason for that. She'll tell you in time…it's not my story to tell."
They sat silently for a moment watching the fearsome girl attack a punching bag.
"I will say though, it's a sensitive topic… if she doesn't want to talk don't make her. She's a force to be reckoned with when she's angry." He grinned.
April laughed, "Yeah I've seen it."