Afterglow

Third Wheel

Rated: T

Chapter Summary: April seems to never catch a break when Casey Jones gets involved.

I fought with myself. I didn't want to submit this but it was either submit this or take another week off from writing a new chapter for this series. My mojo has gone completely to my other stories as of late... Anyhoo, I hope y'all like this even if it's just mindless filler. Bleck.

All she wanted a friend - was that really too much to ask?

April adored her boyfriend and his fellow mutant turtle brothers along with his rat father; she really did - even considered the small group as her own family. Friends were another issue entirely, while the redhead cherished the companionship she shared with Casey Jones, the only other human other than her father to know of the turtle's existence (which made him a perfect conduit to vent her frustrations that keeping everything about the turtles in her life secret while also having to deal with the human world she resided in), that's not even including all the shit they dealt with on a daily basis just being associated with the group of ninjas - it just didn't leave much if any room to form new relationships outside of their tiny group.

It was a small world indeed - having to hide this information and hoarding this secret relationship - it made meeting new people and making friends difficult, but as April began a new semester at college, she was hopeful that was all about to change. It was a welcome sight that when the spring semester began, there were so many fresh faces she hadn't seen. One in particular really was a new girl she'd met in her advanced animal biology and world history classes; even being assigned to do multiple projects together.

April believed her fate of no girl friends was about to change.

This new girl, Charlotte, was funny, smart, down to earth, and had the sweetest southern charm that reminded April so much of her late grandmother, complete with her deep southern accent and bouncy, blonde curly hair. It turned out to be a relationship April had been missing since Irma turned out to be a hideous pink alien with tentacle arms - a female friend - a female friend to vent to and talk about girl stuff for a change.

Long considering herself a tomboy, with her preference to playing sports and getting mud on her clothes than gossiping about the latest fashion and make-up tips, but it wasn't until she began talking to Charlotte that she'd realized she hadn't seriously talked to another girl in such a long time - instead, been surrounded by too much testosterone and her boyfriend was the main source of it all. It wasn't until they began being friends outside of the classroom when April realized just how much she needed it.

For the first blissful month of classes, April and this new girl instantly clicked - just talking - getting to know one another during, between, and even after class for long study sessions. April began nursing this new relationship, getting to know as much about this new girl as possible, also, while being very careful with hoarding her own information about her strange life outside of college.

Charlotte was, as April expected, from down south, Georgia to be exact; had moved to New York to pursue a veterinary career and to be closer to her mother. This friendship turned out to be great for both of them - April to find a much needed friend outside of her tight-knit testosterone fueled mutant family and the residual betrayal left when Irma turned out to be a fraud; also, for Charlotte just to gain some ground in a new city from her small town roots and someone to count on for study sessions and assignments.

It was a new experience for both of them.

Little did April know it was only about to crash down around her.

The school cafeteria had been a bit of an escape for April lately. Getting away from the crowded classrooms and finding much needed caffeine all in one place - so this is where her and Charlotte tended to hang out before and after classes - just shooting the breeze or finishing homework sometimes til the campus closed.

Things were going great - classes were over for the day and homework was still stagnant in their bags, but the two didn't seem to care too much; rather enjoying a small reprieve to drink overpriced lattes and talking about whatever filled the silence; whether it be Mr. Arnette's awful toupee or Ms. Hamilton's propensity for wearing mini skirts and flirting with anything that had a penis. It was stupid and cliche like an atrocious chick flick but April couldn't remember the last time she'd laughed so hard that wasn't based around Mikey's cooking mishaps or Casey's awful propensity toward watching movies with way too much bathroom humor - damn that Jones for corrupting her beloved boyfriend's selection for movies...

Of course, there was a rupture in this perfect world when the voice of the person she'd just been silently cursing suddenly rang from just behind her.

"O'Neil! What's up? There ya are, girl, I've been looking for you everywhere... Oh. Hey..." Casey stammered, just noticing the pretty curvy blonde with huge brown eyes sitting by the redhead.

April's eyes widened, whipping around to see the one, and thankfully only, Casey Jones standing behind her.

"Casey! What are you doing here?!" April couldn't help but scream, not ignoring the blush that came over Charlotte's face at his sudden presence.

"Raph called me. You left your book at the house and he thought you might need it so he asked me to bring it to ya. Here." the vigilante chuckled, handing April her biology book she had forgotten that morning but was too late in the day to even need it and now she'd have to now lug around another 20 pound book in her backpack.

"Raph? I thought your dad's name was Kirby." Charlotte asked, her easy charm not including her to be left out of any conversation - and of course she'd notice the discrepancy when she told the blonde she just lived with her dad.

"Raphael's not her dad, he's April's boy-toy." Casey chuckled.

April's face instantly burned as she blurted out in correction, "He's my boyfriend, not my boy-toy, Casey!"

"Meh. Tomato, tamato." he replied with a shrug.

Did Casey really have to use that term? Sure, he was telling the truth but she wanted to leave out any consternation out of Charlotte's curiosity toward her other friends - especially her mutant turtle boyfriend. Because there was only so many questions you could ask before it would get extremely obvious that he wasn't human -

You have a boyfriend! That's nice, what's his name? Raphael.

Raphael? That's a nice name. Care to tell me what he looks like? Sure! Handsome, muscular, green eyes, and a great smile.

Aw! Cute! What about hair color? He's...well, he's kinda...bald.

Oh! Um...Hmm. what about his skin tone? He's a little...um...green...ish?

Yeah, it would be a grand four hypothetical questions before things got uncomfortable real fast... April was not prepared to talk to her about them - not yet and perhaps even ever and here was Casey fucking Jones bringing him up within thirty seconds of being here.

"Oh, really? Y'all never said that you had yourself had a boyfriend, April." Charlotte asked in her adorable southern drawl, which made Casey nearly swoon where he stood - you could practically see the hearts in his eyes.

"Heh. Yeah, oops. I guess I kinda forgot to mention him." April tried covering with way too flushed cheeks complete with a nervous smile and shaking hands.

"How could ya, Red? You've been with him for almost two years." Casey chuckled, sidling up a chair to sit between the two girls - one a bit flustered by the sudden attention and the other seething and reaching for the hidden tessen in her jacket pocket.

"Oh, really? Two years is quite a long time to be with someone. Sounds pretty serious." Charlotte continued, an easy smile lighting up her face to showcase those pearly whites.

"Yeah, they're totally in love. Um, Hey, I don't think we've been properly introduced - I'm Casey, by the way. Casey Jones." the vigilante replied, a big gaped tooth smile showcased to the beautiful blonde as he stuck a hand out.

"My name's Charlotte Washington. It's a pleasure to meet you, Casey." she said, reaching to grasp his hand and didn't hide the squeak when he brought her dainty hand to his lips to give the top of it a quick kiss.

"Pleasures all mine." the boy replied with a wink as April didn't bother to hide her disdain with a roll of her eyes and a languid sigh.

"Casey!" April said louder than intended, sending him threatening messages with the daggers in her eyes. "We were talking here. Thanks for bringing my book, but there was some homework we need to get done asap. ...By the way, what are you doing here!? You don't even go to college."

"Chill, Red. I'm working part time here helping out at the campus gym with their hockey team - I'm assistant coach with an old instructor of mine. Thought I had a perfect excuse to come see ya after work. But if ol' Jones is really getting on your nerves that much, I'll just get out of your hair. Later, Red. Nice to meet you, Charlotte..." Casey said quickly, meaning to slip out of the chair when Charlotte grabbed his arm.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind if you stayed. Come on, April, he's not botherin' anybody. We can still do our homework and get to know each other better at the same time." Charlotte was quick to defend, smiling unabashedly at the roguish human as April was left basically a gaping fish.

"Aww, well aren't you just the best, Charlotte? Hey, I think I'll go grab a juice or something, really quick - that workout I just finished got me really parched..." April rolling her eyes as Casey did what was supposed to be flexing, but his minuscule muscles could hardly disturb his shirt sleeves. "Hey,would you like a muffin or something, Lotte? My treat." Casey asked, gesturing to the small cafe cart with his head, the nickname rolling off his tongue like honey.

"Oh, really? Wow, you're just too kind. A chocolate chip muffin would be delightful."

"Coming right up." he replied with a wink, slipping from his chair and sauntering over to the counter all while Charlotte watched him leave - probably checking out his ass, but April didn't even care to know at this point. After all, she was having a hard enough time keeping her food down as she watched it all play out before her; about to change the subject back to something more school-oriented to get the bad taste out of her mouth, but Charlotte beat her to the punch.

"Oh my gosh, he's awfully handsome, April! Why have you been hiding him from me?"

"Pardon? I'd prefer calling it protecting." April asked with a forced laugh, wishing the subject would change to absolutely anything else at this point.

"Protecting?" she tsked, "He seems perfectly harmless and he's cute as a bug - we don't have many of those 'bad boy' types back home - I think I may have grown a shine for him."

"..." April really didn't know how to respond to that - sure, once upon a time, she might have agreed, but after having a much more handsome and muscular boyfriend for two years and Casey being more like that annoying older cousin who'd put a snowball down your back in winter, she'd began to see him in a less flattering light. April was full on to warn her about bad boy types but she'd be the biggest freaking hypocrite on earth considered she'd been going steady with one for nearly two years now and it was the best decision of her life.

"So...Is he seeing anybody?" Charlotte asked suddenly, bring April out of her internal musing.

"Wait - what?"

"I dunno. He seems really sweet and you know him pretty good, right?"

"Well, yeah, about four years now." April replied, wishing suddenly, she'd keep her mouth shut.

"So, is he?"

"Am I what? That is, if y'all are talking about me." Casey suddenly spoke from behind them, dramatically presenting the baked good to the curvy blonde girl.

"Oh, it's nothing! Thank you, Casey." she replied thickly, twirling a lock of her curly hair on her finger and April was prompt to notice her reddening cheeks and sparkle in her eyes.

Suddenly, her nausea began to return.

"It's no trouble. So, what are you guys working on?" Casey asked, purposely bumping April with his shoulder, forcing her to scoot her chair farther so he could sidle right next to Charlotte - a little too close for April's liking.

"Just some boring anatomy homework. It's not important...so...you work on over at the gym? I've been wanting to start going more - for obvious reasons." Charlotte chuckled nervously, gesturing to her slightly wider hips and softening stomach.

"Nonsense. You don't need to. You look perfect just the way you are." Casey replied with an exaggerated wink for good measure much to April's dismay and Charlotte's giddiness. "In my opinion, it's in here that matters anyway." Casey continued, thumping his hand on his chest.

If any of them noticed April making a gagging face, neither commented.

"My, my, my, aren't you just sweet as sugar. Your girlfriend is one lucky woman."

"Heh. Sadly, ol' Jones doesn't have a girlfriend." referring himself in the third-person nearly made April's roll to the back of her skull.

"Oh, really? What a shame... Maybe we could change that..." Charlotte drawled, smiling sweetly at him before giving him a not so subtle wink.

.God...April muttered internally.

It happened within less than ten minutes.

Ten minutes for April to lose control over the situation and she found herself excluded in this growing conversation until she was basically ignored altogether. She found herself staring into the half-empty mug of cold coffee, her reflection in it easily discerned by her furrowed brow and pursed lips of disdain. It was hard to ignore her new best friend giggling at pretty much everything Casey had to say as well as the constant flirting and nauseatingly sweet lines she'd heard from him on many occasion before.

Taking a quick glance at her phone, she realized the two of them had been talking for over an hour and it was already dark outside. April felt her anger growing and just began noisily putting back all of her stuff into her bookbag, which didn't have the desired effect as she was still being completely ignored. The redhead took off with a huff, leaving the two of them talking and flirting in the cafe like a couple of love-blinded preteens on their first date.

It was a full two weeks later when April was just getting sick of it all.

Classes that used to be fun with her new friend were now filled with nothing but conversations of Casey and just how freaking cute and sweet he was. The two already been out on three dates and April muscled through the classes with a tight jaw and mostly just a bunch of nodding to not make Charlotte fill bad about gushing over the hockey-masked vigilante for hours on end.

At first, she muscled through it, after all, Casey's so called "charm" and these nauseatingly cute stories she told of him would wear out soon...right...?

...she couldn't have been more wrong...

"She was my friend first, Casey!" April screamed into the phone one night when she just couldn't take anymore of the bullshit. She knew she sounded like a petulant child that didn't get their way, but she couldn't find it in her to care anymore. In just the span of three weeks, Charolette's blubbering of Casey grew far too much til April found herself purposely avoiding the blonde girl who's she'd grown so close to. She hated having to do so, but hearing "Casey this" and "Casey that" was getting on her last damn nerve.

"Easy, Red. What's gotten into you?" Casey asked with a chuckle, probably finding all of this hysterical.

"You saw I finally had a girl friend and the first thing you do when you see her is ask her out!?" April screeched, completely ignoring the way Raphael was looking at her from where he was sitting on the couch.

"April, what's the big deal? I asked her out and she said yes. I'm glad I did because we get along great, so what do you want me to do? Break it off because my friend says I should?"

"Yes!"

"...Seriously? Red, you're acting a little immature about this whole thing." Casey prompted with just made the anger that was surging through April's veins implode.

"I'M IMMATURE!? Who was the one - " April screamed, about to go on a tirade when Casey suddenly interrupted.

"I didn't say anything when you stole my best friend."

Instantly, any fight she had in her left. "...What?"

"When you and Raph started dating, I not only lost my opportunity to be with you, which I'm totally over by the way, don't take that the wrong way because I never plan to be on the pointy end of his sai's again. The thing is - when y'all started dating, I lost Raphael too. Yet, I never complained even though you took my thug-pounding buddy from me." Casey replied with a chuckle, but April picked up on the sadness lacing it.

"Casey..."

"Red, listen. I didn't mean to mess up whatever you guys had - I swear, the second she smiled at me, there was just...this spark I haven't felt in a long time. Seriously, Red, she's great! We have a lot in common - same music, same movies, even same food choices! She even thinks I'm funny and Charlotte is just the sweetest girl I've ever met. You never acted this way with other girls I've dated before April, so why does this bother you so much? I mean, you guys are together all the time during class without me there, what's the big deal?"

"That doesn't matter, Casey! I-It's just - whenever we're together, you're all she talks about! It's driving me crazy! You might as well be there with us as much as she goes on and on about you! It's like I'm not even there!"

"Heh, well, if it's any consultation, whenever I'm with Raph, you're all he talks about too."

"And another thing - I...w-what?"

"Yeah, whenever we do get together outside the group, whether it's just to hang on the roof or get a slice, he talks about you all the time. How pretty you are - your cute little quirks - How happy you make him - he even gets this dopey, stupid look on his face when he does. It's fucking annoying sometimes, but it's kinda sweet even though it makes me wanna puke."

Raph's eyes bugged out when April turned and looked at him with a big smile and teary eyes. "Really? Wow... I didn't know that."

"Hmm...well, you do now...So...we good, Ape?"

"Yeah...we're good. I'll learn to live with it, I guess. It isn't too bad, I suppose." April shrugged, not bothering to suppress the smile tickling her lips.

"Good cause I ain't givin' her up."

"I should have never asked you to. I-I'm sorry, Casey. I'm really sorry, I shouldn't of even said a word, you know how I get, I..."

"Hey, no hard feelings, kay? I've been in those shoes and let me tell ya, being a third wheel ain't easy."

"...Thanks, Case."

"Yer welcome. You have yourself a good night, Red."

"You too. Bye."

"See ya on the flip side." he said before the line went dead.

April pulled the phone away from her ear and placed it on the table, turning her face toward Raphael who was still startled silent. Without giving him a chance to blink, she'd crossed the room and crushed him into a hug, laughing softly as she burrowed her face into this throat. For someone who wasn't expecting it at all, he recovered quickly, wrapping his arms around her middle, returning the sudden embrace.

"So...everything good?" the terrapin asked, nose sinking into her loose hair and taking a deep breath of the scent of strawberry shampoo still clinging to it.

"Everything's good...no. Great." April replied, pulling back in order to look at him.

As tempted as she was to mention what Casey probably told her in confidence, she kept her mouth shut, instead, curling into her boyfriend's lap instead. Listening to the steady heartbeat underneath her ear, she smiled in sheer disbelief that she'd never been happier to be a third wheel before in her life.

Sorry if it's total crap. I tried lol.