Out of Her Shell

by Allie Kuma

She's a lonely teenage girl who escapes life through art. He's a mutant teenage turtle who feels like he's seen as a joke. When their paths cross, they realize they might just be what the other one needs. [2012 Series]

26. A Step Forward

Chapter 26: A Step Foward

The turtles, Noelle, Casey and April, hurriedly located the nearest manhole cover and entered it before the police arrived to inspect the bizarre scene. Intense sirens faded away into nothingness as the group moved rapidly through the corridors, with April on Donnie's back and Noelle on Mikey's. The youngest sibling had taken off his bright orange jacket and given it to Noelle to cover herself in when he offered her his back. She'd been through a lot the past day, and he knew she was probably pretty fatigued from all the events that had happened. Leo wanted to get everybody back to the lair quickly, and it just seemed to be faster for the girls to ride on the brothers' backs. Casey slid on his roller skates and did his best to keep up with the terrapins as they cantered through the dim halls and towards the hideout.

Noelle and Mikey, of course, couldn't seem to stop smiling, which just drove Casey nuts. He was still in full disbelief over the mini make-out session he'd been witness to back on the surface, wishing he could just scrub the scene from his memory. He was glad that they'd rescued Noelle, and that Noelle and Mikey had had their little hug and found each other, but could they seriously have not waited until they all arrived back in the sewers before they sucked face? It would've been gross to see any of the turtles do it, but Mikey? Who knew when the last time that guy even showered! He only hoped that Noelle knew what she was getting into.

The trip didn't take too long. In less than ten minutes, the group arrived back at the lair. Noelle had tried to stay alert, but the running motion had made her eyelids heavy until she was fighting to stay awake. By the time everybody walked into the den to greet Splinter, the blonde was in a deep sleep.

"Well done," Splinter complimented when he noticed the exhausted girl on his youngest son's back. "I am glad to see she is safe. Was there any sign of her mother?"

Leo sighed and shook his head. "No, Sensei. We found a file with her mother's information on it, but unfortunately it looks like she is in Dimension X, and we're going to have figure out how to get there."

Donnie crouched down so April could slide off his shell before he stood up and rubbed his chin in deep thought. "I'm sure there is a way, I just need to do some research and calculate how we can safely enter, preferably without drawing too much attention. I'll go see what I can come up with."

"Maybe you should do that later," April kindly suggested as her friend turned towards his lab. "We've been up all night; I think sleeping first would be a better option."

"April is right," Splinter agreed. "You have all worked very hard. Now is the time to rest."

Donnie stared at his father thoughtfully before his shoulders sagged and he nodded. He was used to working long hours on a project and not getting a lot of sleep, but right now his body protested greatly against the idea of doing any sort of lab work. He covered a yawn and stretched his arms up, changing his course from the lab over to the stairs that led up to his and his brothers' rooms.

"Thank you father." Leo bowed his head and trailed after Donnie. " I will try not to sleep too long so I can do my training later."

"Take as much time as you need," Splinter reassured. Sometimes his oldest son was just so dedicated to his training that he ended up pushing himself too far, and Splinter had to remind him to rest his body. Out of all his sons, Donatello and Leonardo were the ones who usually needed to be told relax before they reached their limits.

Casey lowered his hockey mask back down and skated back towards the turnstiles. "Whatever. I'll head home and let you guys have your nappy time. Casey Jones doesn't need sleep!"

"Whatever you say, Jones," Raph replied with a shrug. "Don't blame me if you fall on your face or something because you're trying to stay awake."

"Yeah, sure thing, man." The hockey played waved and skated out of the lair, not making it too far down the tunnels before a yelp was heard. Raph rolled his eyes with a scoff and went up to his room as well, all the while muttering "I told you so".

Mikey leaned forward a little bit and nudged Noelle back up his shell, as her arms around his neck had gone limp from her falling asleep and she'd started to slide down. Splinter quietly walked over to the side of his youngest son and studied Noelle's sleeping face. "She was not hurt, was she?"

"No, Sensei," April quietly answered. She smiled at the adoring look Mikey gave Noelle, which Splinter must have noticed as well because he raised a brow but said nothing.

"She's asleep like a little cute baby," Mikey stated with a grin. "Guess I'll go put her to bed."

Splinter rubbed his beard. "Indeed. April, stay and rest if you need to. I will go back to meditating." He placed a claw on the redhead's shoulder. "I am glad you have all returned safely." The two of them exchanged smiles before he nodded once at Mikey and headed back to the dojo, leaving his son and the two human girls by themselves.

"I'll see ya later, April." Mikey gave a little wave to the freckled girl and then promenaded over to Noelle's bedroom. He used one hand to push the door open before he entered and silently walked over to her bed. The amount of relief he felt at laying her down gently on the mattress and knowing she was safe was almost indescribable. He stared over at the backward easel and recalled how worried he'd been about her merely hours ago, how his heart and stomach had felt sick with fear. Now, he was tucking her into bed after he kissed her, and everything was okay.

His cheeks burned brightly as he recalled just how wonderful kissing her had felt. When he was little, and maybe even up until right before he'd met Noelle, he'd never cared about the idea of putting his lips against somebody else's. As far as he was concerned, the idea seemed a little gross, but now he understood why people did it. The only way he could describe it was that it was just super awesome, and he was glad he'd done it. Now the both of them were happy, but he couldn't help wondering if that meant he was her boyfriend or not. He supposed he'd just have to ask her later after she woke up.

He pulled his coat away from her and tucked the comforter up to below her chin, her face one of contentment and peace now that she was safe. Mikey reached over and gently lay his hand over hers with a warm smile on his face. His smile fell though when he remembered that they still hadn't found Noelle's mom, and that it was something that she still unfortunately had to deal with. He couldn't imagine the toll it took on her, but he would do his best to keep fighting until Noelle and her mom were reunited again. It was the least he could do after failing to save Noelle from being kidnapped, a guilt that he would always be forced to live with.

He squeezed her hand and stood up, placing a kiss on her forehead just like he had when she was sick. To say he was happy was a severe understatement, as it felt like there were fireworks going off in his head and his heart pounded really fast. He'd never felt so much joy or excitement before, not even when he was reading the climactic reveal in "Invasion of the Alienoids", or watching the reveal that Princess was Captain Dash Coolstar's long lost sister in Super Robo Mecha Force Five!. He wanted to dance and sing and eat a boatload of pizza all at the same time, and he'd totally do it with a big grin on his face.

He quietly left Noelle's room and practically skipped down the hallway, only to bump into April, who had left the girl's bathroom to change into her pajamas and was currently on her to way to sleep on the couch. She smiled at Mikey and held out her hand to high-five.

"Nice going Mike! I knew Noelle liked you back!"

Mikey laughed in delight and slapped his palm against April's. "Dude, this feels super awesome! Did you see that she kissed me back?! Dr Lovestein has got the moves!"

April giggled and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. You did great. "Keep calm Romeo." She lifted an elbow up and rested it on his shoulder. "So what's your next move?"

The terrapin stared at her in confusion. "Uh...what?"

"You know, the next move? You can't just kiss her and not do anything else. That's not how dating works. I mean, you should've known that when you asked her out." She raised a brow when she saw him staring blankly at her. "You did ask her to be your girlfriend, right?"

Mikey tucked his hands behind his shell. "No? I mean, there really wasn't time to because stuff happened and I was just glad she didn't really get hurt."

"Well..."April removed her elbow and nodded. "...I guess that makes sense. Just do it tomorrow, okay? You don't want her to think you aren't serious about her."

"How should I ask her out though?" He anxiously tapped his fingers together in the shape of a tent. "What if she changes her mind about me and thinks I'm a freak?"

April reached out and patted his arm. "You seriously think she would act like that towards you? I mean, do you really, really think that?"

Mikey thought about it and shook his head. He knew she would never be so mean to him, and she'd proved that earlier by kissing him back in front of his family. He knew there was no reason for him to worry, but he still felt nervous. He'd never had a girlfriend before, and he really wanted to stay with her for a long time without messing things up. If there was one thing he was good at it, it was screwing things up, and he definitely didn't want to do that. "No; I just don't want to make mistakes and make her sad or mad, ya know?"

"Mistakes are part of a relationship," April replied. "It's about learning and growing together. You guys will be fine." She raised a hand up to cover her mouth as a yawn escaped. "Guess that's my cue to go to bed. I'll see ya tomorrow."

"Oh, yeah. Okay. Thanks April. Good night." He walked up the stairs and entered his room. He took off his mask and laid down on the bed, his eyes just staring up at the ceiling until they became adjusted to the darkness of his room. He closed his eyes, waiting for sleep to come quickly to him like it usually did, but for some reason he didn't feel comfortable. Instead of his usual dreams than involved sweets and bizarre creatures, he saw Noelle looking down at him with tears in her eyes as the building she stood in exploded. He remembered how his heart had shattered when he thought she was gone forever, the dread that he would never be able to live again because he'd lost her; it was his fault she'd been taken, and it was his fault she hadn't survived the bomb in the building.

His eyes flew open as a sick ball of worry and guilt twisted itself in his gut, forcing him to sit up as sweat gathered on his forehead. He took deep breaths and laid back down, this time on his side. He closed his eyes once more, but the same images plagued his mind, serving as a painful reminder of what had almost happened. He rolled over, but he still felt uneasy. She was looking into his eyes with a deep sadness, her lower lip trembling as tears rolled down her face.

And then, she exploded into nothingness.

"Ahh!" Mikey cried out, gasping for breath as he sat upright and covered his heart, feeling the muscle pounding feverishly beneath his plastron. He swallowed and licked his dry lips, unsure if he was going to be sick or not. He knew then and there that he would not be able to fall asleep that night, not until he was sure Noelle was safe. He tied his mask back on, gathered up his blankets and pillow and crept out of his room and down the stairs. The TV was on but at a low volume as April slumbered peacefully on the couch. He didn't know if Splinter was heavily meditating or not, so he tiptoed quietly down the hallway until he reached Noelle's room.

[Contact-I Believe Her]

Mikey laid down a blanket before he settled himself on top of it, wrapped himself up in another blanket and rested his head on the pillow. He faced Noelle's door, stretched his arm out, and traced the wood with his fingers. "I'll keep you safe," he whispered. Now, he could at least make sure that Noelle slept safely without being taken away again. Exhaustion finally caught up to him as he just stared at her door. His eyes closed."I'll keep you safe..."

[][][]

Noelle awakened, feeling both refreshed and sore. Her arms and knees ached from her rough landing earlier that morning, but she was grateful that the damage wasn't worse. She glanced at the alarm clock, her eyes widening when she saw it was half past one in the afternoon. She groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes, her movement halting when she heard light snoring on the other side of her door. She pushed the comforter off her and noiselessly walked over to the door, where she took a deep shaky breath and pulled the door back.

She almost cried out in surprise when she saw Mikey laying on the ground below her, his arms and legs spread out with his face turned towards the ceiling as he snored, still in deep sleep. Noelle looked at him in confusion, wondering why he was there and not in his own comfortable bed. She stepped over him and kneeled down next to his head, her eyes looking straight at his mouth. Her cheeks grew hot as she remembered the kisses, still unable to believe it had happened. Mikey liked her just as much as she liked him, and it was an absolutely indescribable feeling. She tenderly looked at him, smiling brightly as she subconsciously reach out and rubbed his cheek.

When his eyes opened and he jerked up, she fell onto her behind and covered her mouth to prevent the shout of surprise that had climbed up her throat. Mikey yawned and tiredly looked over at her, his eyes suddenly widening as a grin spread on his face. "Hey! You're awake!"

Still stunned, Noelle just nodded.

"That's awesome. Good thing I was here to protect you!"

Noelle's heart sped up, her cheeks flushing. "You slept out here to keep me safe?"

"Well...yeah." Mikey suddenly looked ashamed as he stared down at his hands. "It's my fault the Kraang took you."

Noelle wasn't used to seeing Mikey look sad, so to see him appearing so crestfallen hurt her heart. "It isn't your fault. We were outnumbered, and I didn't have my weapon with me like I should've. I'm glad we went to the park and had fun. I don't regret it. Besides, you saved me. I'm okay."

Mikey said nothing for a moment before he reached over and pulled her into his arms. She blushed as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her chin resting on his shoulder. This felt so much different than their first hug. "I was very sad and scared. I'm glad you're here. I don't know if I could have eaten pizza again if you really died."

Tears gathered in Noelle's eyes, her insides aching at the pain she had caused him. "I'm so sorry Mikey," she sniffled as he rubbed her back soothingly. "I didn't mean to make you worry so much. I'll never leave you." She couldn't promise that she wouldn't ever do something that might harm her again because she had no idea what the future held, but she wouldn't treat her safety as recklessly if she could help it.

[+]

He enthusiastically patted her and pulled away with a grin. "Hey, it's all over! We're here and things are cool. We kicked the Kraang's butt! Man, you were so cool! I was scared, but what you did is totally what a hero would've done! Pretty sweet, yo!"

Noelle laughed and wiped her tears away. "Thanks Mikey. You always know how to cheer me up."

Mikey stood up and pulled Noelle to her feet. "Anytime, yo! Now, let's go eat! I'm starving!"

Although the offer was tempting and her stomach growled, Noelle also realized that she was still dirty from the events that had transpired much earlier that day, and the idea of a shower and fresh clothes sounded quite welcoming. "I will join you in a little bit. I'm going to clean up first. See you soon?"

"Sure thing! I'll see ya!" Mikey high-three'd her and practically skipped off with his blanket and pillow clutched in his hands as he hummed contently.

Noelle sighed with a smile and shook her head before she proceeded to grab clean clothes and take a hot shower, the warm water washing the ashy grime off her body. Satisfied with the feeling of cleanliness, she put on a pair of navy blue jeans and an orange shirt, pulled her hair back into it's usual style, and made her way to the kitchen, where she could hear laughter and conversation. When she entered the kitchen, the noise died down, and everybody stared at her. She still didn't like having a lot of attention, but it was nice that her adopted family was smiling at her. It made her feel grateful for having them in her life.

"Good morning, my child. Did you rest well?" Splinter kindly asked before he took a sip of his steaming tea. He gestured to the empty spot next to Mikey, where a fresh cup of coffee awaited her. She gratefully beamed at Donnie who returned the smile as she took her seat and nodded her head.

"Yes Sensei. Thank you." She bit her lip as her stomach twisted in guilt. Everybody at the table, along with Casey, had risked their safety to find and rescue her. On top of that, they were also doing everything they could to find her mom as well, which was so much more than she could have ever hoped for. She couldn't just not say anything and assume they knew how grateful she was; they deserved to at least hear it from her. So, taking a deep breath, she cleared her throat and instantly stood back up, letting her friends know that she had something to say.

"Go-good morning. Um, I just wanted to say thank you to everybody. You all fought to bring me home and I am so grateful to each of you for that. You didn't have to, but you did. And I know that I made some of you worry when I stayed behind to destroy the files..." her eyes met Mikey's bright blue ones, to once again display her apology to him, and she was relieved when she saw him smile at her, "...and I am so, so sorry for doing so. It's just that you all have done so much for me, and I wanted to return the flavor."

"You really scared us," April admitted gently. "We were all really worried, especially Mikey." The redhead wanted to cry every time she imagined the freckled terrapin kneeling on the ground in defeat as he sobbed like somebody who had lost everything. She didn't want to make Noelle feel bad, only to remind the blonde that she was very loved and that her actions greatly affected others. She didn't want to see Mikey cry like that ever again.

"That's alright, because she made it up to him," Donnie teased as he playfully nudged Noelle in the side. The blonde blushed and quickly sat back down, her eyes glued to her lap while Mikey looked around in confusion at the giggling and laughter that took place. He stared at Master Splinter, who thoughtfully looked back at his youngest son and seemed to contemplate what was going on.

"We're just glad you're okay," Leo stated. "You were very brave, but let one of us do the staying behind next time, okay?"

"Yeah, we'd hate to let Mikey lose his girlfri-ow!" Raph growled out as he glared at April, who innocently smiled at him as she withdrew her leg back over to her side beneath the table.

Breakfast carried on as usual, with Donnie and Noelle drinking their coffee as Splinter sipped his tea and Mikey handed out plates for the breakfast of eggs and pancakes that he had prepared. Occasionally, Noelle and Mikey's eyes would meet and they would bashfully smile at each other before glancing away, a gesture that Splinter noticed but did not say anything about. He merely observed them throughout breakfast until it was time to clean up. Noelle and Mikey went to go wash dishes but were stopped by April, who claimed that her and Donnie would take care of them. Surprised at being volunteered to do the work without knowledge beforehand, but glad that he would spend time with April, the lanky turtle complied with the red head's orders and set about clearing the kitchen with her.

"Hurry up and ask her out," April whispered to Mikey as she carefully stacked up the dirty plates and bobbed her head towards the blonde, who was exiting the kitchen. "Don't wait."

Mikey swallowed nervously but knew that April was right. It was time to make it official. Without a word, Mikey grabbed Noelle's hand and began pulling her towards the tunnels, just as he'd previously done before whenever he needed to talk to her or show her something. Noelle's cheeks turned pink as Mikey took her hand and led her out of the lair, but she held on tightly and merely walked beside him, wondering what was going on. It could have been the fact that they'd shared their first kiss not even twelve hours ago, for her legs seemed to shake as she strode forward next to him. She was both nervous and excited, and a part of her was honestly worried that maybe Mikey regretted kissing her. Even after the times when he'd called her pretty and hugged her and made the painting with her, he could be having doubts and was only holding her hand to soften the blow of apologizing for getting her hopes up. Noelle knew she was being silly, but there was something really difficult about accepting the fact that somebody as wonderful and awesome as Mikey liked her for her.

They walked in silence, their hearts pounding in their chests with each step taken. It was awkward, walking hand-in-hand and feeling nerve-wrecked, both unaware that each of them felt the same amount of worry. Mikey had never considered the possibility of asking a girl out before, mainly because he lived in a sewer and he thought people might view them as freaks, or so he'd been told by his brothers his whole life. It was something he'd been made to believe, but now that the moment of actually asking a girl to be his girlfriend, especially one as beautiful and wonderful as Noelle, was about to happen, he kind of felt like a nervous mess. He'd been able to act normally around her as best friends, so why couldn't he as her boyfriend? The word brought a smile to his face, but didn't really help calm his nerves, especially since they were getting closer to the location he had in mind.

They turned a few corners, walking throughout the sewers for five muted minutes until they finally reached a clearing where clean water flowed across a corridor like a stream. Moss covered the ground, and scattered flowers beautifully bloomed across the floor and along walls. Noelle hadn't expected to see such a serene place in the sewers, but then again, she'd never expected to come across talking turtles either.

Mikey watched her face light up as she took in the scenery before she finally looked at him. She could tell he had something to say, so she pushed her anxiety down and patiently waited for him to speak, their hands still joined together. Mikey squeezed her fingers and pulled his hands away, making her miss the warmth she'd felt from his palms.

"So, uh, I like it here. It's nice. Sensei showed me and my bros this place a while ago, and, I dunno...it just seemed like the best place to take you right now."

She wanted to ask him what for, but she simply nodded and smiled. "It it really pretty here." She watched as he took a deep breath and looked her dead in the eyes, the most serious he'd ever appeared, and she couldn't help the flight of butterflies that circled inside her stomach.

"Noelle, you're my best friend. A lot of stuff has happened to us, but I'm glad we went through it together. Ever since we met, you've treated me like I'm a cool person, not as a freak like other people do."

When he warned her about his appearance she was expecting to see a deformed person, not a turtle possessing human qualities. She was definitely startled, but as she ogled at his freckled face she saw a friendly smile and a pair of gentle azure eyes peeking out from within the eye holes of an orange mask. They were kind eyes, and she knew that he didn't mean her any harm.

He crouched down in front of her, and held out his three-fingered hand for her to take.

"Let me help you up!" he cheerfully offered.

[RomeoXJuliet-Yakusoku]

They stood apart, eyes intently focusing on each other. Mikey reached up, undid his mask, and pulled it off, revealing his maskless face to her. Noelle had seen him without his mask on when she used the clay to give him a human appearance, but she didn't study his eyes then the way she was now. He looked different, and yet the same beautiful eyes beamed back at her. "So I want you to see the real me, as I ask you something that's kinda important. I don't think you'll laugh, but if you do, try not to do it around me, okay?"

Noelle swallowed as he reached forward and took her hand back in his. "I really like you, and I mean like like you. I think we could be really sweet together, and I was wondering if maybe, if you want to, you could be my girl?" He exhaled nervously and searched her eyes anxiously for some sort of answer."

You're a good, uh...you're a good friend." Her eyes shifted nervously to the side as she began taking a step backward. "Goodbye?"

The freckled ninja didn't want to scare her off, but he needed to give her confidence, so he stepped forward and expeditiously enveloped her in a tight hug before he pulled away. She gaped at him in disbelief as he patted her shoulder like she was a little kid. "See ya!" he grinned before he took off after his older brother.

She stood stunned and alone, watching as he reached the rooftop and waved at her before vanishing. Her eyes lit up, and she shyly returned the gesture before he disappeared. It was the best feeling to finally find friendship, and although she lectured herself for not returning his embrace in time she had a feeling that he knew it made her happy.

Noelle's heart hammered in her chest at Mikey's offer, her cheeks stained pink. They'd started off as strangers, and now things had come to this.

When they reached the center of the floor, Mikey spun on his heel and bowed to her while fighting to keep a serious expression on his face. Noelle returned his gesture with a curtsy, secretly thrilled that everything seemed to be playing out like a fairy tale. She was by no mean a princess, nor he a prince, but perhaps she could pretend they were living in a story book for just one night.

Mikey's hand held onto her waist while the other gently clutched her hand, and when Noelle inspected his face she saw excitement glowing in his bright blue eyes. Her face heated at their close proximity, but she felt that the warmth came more out of happiness than love. She was so glad that she was able to have her first couple dance with her best friend, and judging by the way he was grinning he felt the same way.

She swallowed the knot in her throat and hesitantly took a step forward. This time, it was her turn to show him how much he meant to her.

"Noelle?" The normally silly teen had a serious tone to his voice that captured her attention. "You know you're part of our family right? We all really like you: me, Sensei, Donnie, Leo, Ice Cream Kitty, and even Raph think you're awesome. If you ever do leave the city, you can't go without us, okay? Well, at least me."

Noelle had never seen him look at her so lovingly before. It made her heart soar and her breath caught in her throat.

A flash of light across the sky caught their attention. Noelle's eyes lit up in excitement and she clapped her hands together in a moment of childish delight. "A shooting star! Mikey, you have to make a wish!" She instantly squeezed her eyes shut as she thought what she desired for most.

The terrapin jovially did as she said. He'd heard about shooting stars before but had never actually seen one. He closed his eyes like her, but he already knew what he wanted. He'd actually known it for quite a while.

"I wish Noelle would never change."

"I would never laugh at your feelings. You saw me when I was invisible," she began, attempting to keep the nerves out of her voice. "When I'm in your arms, I feel safe, and I honestly don't ever want to leave them. I don't ever want to leave you."

"Mikey...I'm so scared," she whimpered. He encircled his arms around her and pulled her against him with one hand cradling the back of her head gently. "Our p-painting is-it's gone. I tri-tried to save it but it fell."

"We can make another one. You're more important." He firmly held her as she sagged against him and broke down into heavy sobs. His eyes also watered as he listened to the heartbreaking sound of her crying, but he remained silent since she was in far worse pain than he was. He needed to be her strength right now. He carefully picked her up bridal style and lowered them both to the ground until they were sitting against the side of his bed. He rubbed her back soothingly as she buried her face into his neck and let out all the anxiety and heartbreak that had built up inside of her for so long.

"I'm here, I'm here," he reassured her, and pressed his cheek against the top of her head.

"Mikey, you've been there for me through everything. You always take care of me and are there to hug me when I am sad. You've shown me kindness and love the way nobody else has." She reached a hand out and cupped his cheek, his eyes widening. "You're so beautiful, inside and out."

Still speechless, Mikey stepped forward and lowered his head so Noelle could wrap the scarf around his neck and place the hat onto his head. It was when he looked her right in the eyes that all his emotions came at bay. He began to laugh like a child, his eyes closed as he tilted his head back and allowed more of the snow to fall on his face and even his tongue. He twisted around and surprised the blonde by picking her up and twirling her around, both of them laughing and so lost in the joy of the moment that the near proximity didn't catch them off guard. Noelle pressed her forehead against his, cheeks pink from the cold and laughter.

When the spinning stopped and he set her down, his hand grabbed hers as he continued watching the amazing display before him. Noelle felt her face flush when she gazed up and watched Mikey, her fingers clasped around his tightly in a state of blissful serenity.

[+]

[The Princess Diaries- The Kiss]

Mikey didn't know what to say. He'd never been called beautiful before, and didn't think guys could be referred to as beautiful, but if Noelle thought he was, then she must be right. He reached up and placed one of his hands over her own, his cheek nuzzling against her palm like he was Ice Cream Kitty.

"You're beautiful too, Noelle."

Suddenly, he was lifting her up, so high that her fingers extended up and reached for the clouds, her side pressed against his temple as he firmly held her. She closed her eyes, her arms spreading out like she was about to fly. She felt so free, and Mikey was the one who was making her feel this way.

The spinning slowed down as Mikey nonchalantly lowered her, her eyes opening and looking down into Mikey's pupils as their faces drew closer together until their noses were only inches apart. Both of them just stared transfixed at each other without breaking contact, even when the spinning stopped and she was planted firmly back on the ice. She stood in his arms, their breaths coming out in little grey puffs, and she was unsure if she could even pull away from him. He made her feel safe and happy, and suddenly she knew that when they got back she was going to show him that picture because she really really liked him.

Before she could stop herself, Noelle stepped forward, both of them closing their eyes as her lips pressed gently against his. She felt like her face was on fire, but everything in the moment felt right. She wanted to scream because she just felt so happy, her thumb caressing his cheek as his other hand snaked around her waist and pulled her closer. Mikey tilted his head a little, their lips parting for a second before meeting again. For a moment, it was just the two of them, the stream, and the flowers, in a state of perfect harmony. Neither one of them wanted to break free, for everything felt so perfect. Noelle could feel herself sagging in his arms a little bit as she moved her head to a different angle and shifted her lips against his. Mikey hoped with every bit of his being that it wasn't a dream, that he, a mutant turtle, was actually kissing the most beautiful girl he'd ever seen.

They both eventually pulled away, their faces a bright pink color. Noelle thought she would melt to the floor, she was so happy. "Does that answer your question?" she whispered.

Mikey blinked. "Wait, what was my question?"

She giggled. "You asked if I'd be your girl, remember?"

A grin spread across his face, "Oh yeah! So will you?"

As their hands lowered, Noelle squeezed his and nodded as she prettily blushed. "I'll always be your girl."

"Booyakasha!" Mikey laughed and encircled his arms around her waist, picked her up off the ground and spun her around as she chuckled and threw her arms around his neck. "I've got a girlfriend! This is totally awesome!"

Noelle had never felt so happy before. She pressed her face against his neck, wishing with all her might that many more moments like this would happen with him. She thanked whoever was listening that she'd finally found her true friend, and that after all her years of silently wishing for somebody special to enter her life, her wish had really come true.

[+]