"Hey, have you guys heard anything about that science lab thing lately?" Parker asks, taking a bite of his burger.

"I'm surprised that none of us have been hit yet," Kylan adds, taken a sip of his shake. "We must have some kind of force field around us."

"We're the chosen ones..." Parker whispers. I laugh, and share a glance with my best friend. These boys have no clue how much we know.

"I've heard they almost found a cure," I inform casually, popping a fry into my mouth. "But that's only a rumor: I don't know for sure."

"Wow..." Parker mumbles, raising his eyebrows. "If that's true, then science is getting better and better. I really hope they hurry though."

I bite my lip and nod quietly. Parker doesn't know how much we have been trying to hurry. He has no idea how personal this whole thing has gotten for me.

"So what are you gonna do for your birthday?" Kylan asks.

I groan. "Does everyone know about that?" I throw my hands into the air. "It's not that big of a deal!"

"You're turning eighteen," Parker laughs. "It's a big deal. It's a sign of growth; a symbol of adulthood. A segway into being the person you want to be."

I snort. "I'm the same person I've been the last few years. No growth or symbols of adulthood here. I mean, look at me: I'm at in-n-out with my best friend, my best friend's brother and one of my brother's best friends. What's wrong with me? You people are like my only friends."

I get up to dump the remains into the nearest trash can. While walking back to the table, I catch a glimpse of something outside: a mask. And if you look close enough, you can see a suspicious orange ninja turtle hiding in the bushes.

"I gotta go get something out of the car," I mumble. "I'll be back." They nod and I rush outside. As soon as I get out, I march over to the dark figure lingering near the window next to our booth, still unaware of where I have gone.

"Can I help you, Michelangelo?" I ask, crossing my arms. He jumps at the sound of my voice and spins around.

"Lexi!" he cries, rubbing the back of his neck. "Um...I can explain."

I'm about to scold him, when he pulls me back behind the bush with him.

"What are you doing?"

"You look like you're talking to a bush," he points out.

"What are you doing spying on me?" I demand, shaking my head. "First I can't even go home without knowing you'll mystically show up in my apartment, and now I can't even go out to eat without being followed by a not-so-nonchalant turtle hiding in a bush at In-n-out!"

I feel infuriated that he'd do this. I understand that they're worried and everything, but it would be nice to have a life of my own. A life where I'm not followed constantly by teenage mutant ninja turtles.

"I know what it looks like," Mikey starts, shaking his head. "But hear me out...I'm not here to protect you." He pauses and then shakes his head again. "Okay, that sounds terrible. What I mean is that that wasn't my main idea for being here. I mean, don't get me wrong, if you were in danger, then I'd totally-"

"Mikey, get to the point."

"What I'm trying to say is that your birthday is in less than a week and I'm still the only one who doesn't know what to get you." He looks upset, and I feel ashamed for lashing out. "I still don't know what to get, so I thought maybe I could catch you doing something you like to do, and turn that into a gift. So far, I know you practically live at In-n-out. I mean, it's not like I can hear what you guys are talking about or anything. I can't even hear Raph yelling at me while I'm playing video games!"

I chuckle wearily. "That's because you always have the video games at full volume."

"Yeah, well Raph's voice is like twice the amount of full volume," he says. "Look, I'm really, really sorry. I just felt bad because my brothers seem to know you so well." The more he speaks, the more I regret jumping to conclusions and getting angry. I really need to quit doing that.

"It's okay, Mikey. I'm sorry. I was being overdramatic." I sigh. "But my friends are kind of waiting for me." I put a hand on his shoulder and smile at him. "You'll figure it out. Remember, you don't even have to get me anything at all."

He rolls his eyes, but smiles a bit. "Not a chance."

Mallory comes home with me, as the plan was for her to spend the night at my apartment tonight. When we get home, we find Benj and Jonah playing video games, and Mom making dinner with Rose.

"I love how we have dinner at like ten-thirty at night, like normal people," I say.

Mallory laughs. "This is why I love your family!" She slings an arm around Benjamin. "Hug me, brother!" Benj leans away from Mallory, focusing on his video game.

"No," I disagree. "You love them because you don't have to live with them."

Mom looks up at the two of us. "Dinner won't be ready for a while." She folds what look like enchiladas. Rose is putting together a salad and I can smell the rich scent of chocolate goodness somewhere deep inside the oven.

"Watch us be eating enchiladas at midnight," Mallory says, and we laugh while we walk to my room.

When I collapse on my bed, she grins at me. "So have you said anything to Leo yet?"

"I say lot's of things to Leo."

She whacks me and grabs my shoulders. "You know what I mean!" she cries, letting go.

"No," I laugh. "I haven't told him that I like him. If you haven't noticed, I work as an undercover agent and he and I are just friends right now."

"Um, if you haven't noticed," Mallory mocks, "he's a mutant turtle! He's probably dying to get some of your attention. Anyway, what does it matter what you guys are? If you tell him, the least he'll do is say 'okay' and continue with your conversation. No biggie."

"No, the least he'll do is end our conversation awkwardly and then scurry off into the shadows." Mallory laughs at my response. "And the most, he'll either completely avoid me at all costs, or turn every eye contact we make into an awkward atmospheric gaze."

"He will not," Mallory says. "You're such a Debbie Downer."

We eat dinner at midnight, as predicted. Benj teases us, Jonah makes dumb jokes that nobody except Mallory laughs at (one of them has her on the floor, coughing up caesar salad). Mom is home, and not working at the Headquarters, and Rose is watching Mallory choking, slightly concerned and slightly amused.

I wish I could stay here forever.

A/N: I know that the turtles weren't in this chapter a lot (just our little spy, Mikey), so I'm sorry if you were looking forward to seeing them(': I feel like at this point I hope you can put up with/like my OCs enough to sit through a chapter with mostly just them. It's for character development, I swear (and also I just really love my OCs like they're my own children). Big things happening in upcoming chapters...I'm VERY excited(: