The Peculiar Girl
Everything is within your power, and your power is within you – Janice Trachtman
Molly didn't think she ever experienced weirder holidays. It was the first time Derek wasn't around. His skype call was nice, but not as nice as the real thing. She almost wished he wouldn't call her since it just reminded her of how much his absence made her feel even shitter given all that was going on. Everything just sucked so damn much. Everything from Matt and Kim to Mi.
She thought she did a pretty good job of faking it in front of Derek though. With Nana in the room, she put on a smile and signed away trying to act as normal as possible. Casual and breezy. She totally nailed it in her mind since Derek didn't look alarmed or asked too many annoying questions. She almost believed she got out of it completely.
She was surprised by the second call from Derek a couple of days afterward, but maybe she shouldn't have been.
'Hey, lil sis,' he spoke looking over his shoulder and rolling his eyes as one of his buddies was showing her his abs and arms in the back.
She grimaced at the guy before he left, and she signed, 'What's up?'
'Nothing, just that last time you seemed a bit distracted and weird,' he shrugged his shoulder.
Molly felt her stomach sank so she didn't do a great job in being breezy and casual apparently.
Well, shit.
'I'm alright,' she sighed, but Derek didn't look too convinced at all. So maybe he was the one who could fake it better in this family. At least when it came to the too of them.
'Are you sure?'
Molly nodded. How could she tell her big brother she was with a guy who only used her for sex while she knew he had a girlfriend, and who beat her up? Derek would go berserker, and on his soonest visit would try to find Matt and beat him up. Her brother was always looking out for her, even when she had to deal with bitches in school or creeps on the street Derek was the older brother who made sure his baby sister was safe and no one would hurt her. He only joined the army to get himself through medical school if not for that he would have been here with her and Nana keeping them safe. He was the good guy to the bone. Molly couldn't do it to Der.
She put on her most convincing face and nodded before she signed, 'I just had an argument with one of my friends.'
Derek made a face, 'Yeah, that can suck. What happened?'
She shrugged her shoulders. She wasn't sure how to explain it really. It had been days since Mi's apology text and so far she hadn't responded. She knew she should. Mi made the first move and apologized even if, in retrospect, Molly understood he only cared and wanted her to be alright and wanted to help her any way he could cause he was just a nice and awesome person. She was close to responding to him yesterday, but she realized she couldn't. Mi went out of his way and tried to find a way for them to stay friends even if they had different opinions. Which was big of him, but she couldn't do the same. Same reason with Der. If she told Mi about what really happened with Matt he would get pissed and maybe even try to avenge her? Maybe she only knew him for a couple of months, but that much she knew. And she couldn't tell him the other thing about knowing who he was because-well because she would probably never talk to him again. With the adding days and after her second talk with Nicole that scared her even more than Matt. She already lost too many people. She didn't want to add Mi to the list.
'Just teenage bullshit I guess. He already apologized, and I'm not even mad or anything just…I don't want to talk to him yet,' she signed away trying not to be specific or give away too much.
Derek frowned, 'What did he do?'
She shook her head and rolled her eyes, 'It's nothing serious. I messed up in an online game and got super pissed, and he told me to calm down. Things heated, and then we got into a fight. It was my fault more than his. I was being a total bitch, and he apologized and wished me a Merry Christmas.'
Derek brushed his chin the call freezing for a moment before he continued, 'So you don't want to talk to him anymore? You don't want to be friends with him?'
Molly never signed anything as quickly as she did the NO!
Derek chuckled, 'Then what's the problem?'
Molly sighed. It used to be easy to talk to Derek. Growing up. It was just the two of them. Dad wasn't around much and mom was always sad and stuff so it was just the two of them. Other brothers would be annoyed to drag their little mute sister with them everywhere, but not her brother. Der taught her all about video games, and how to hang around guys who liked them. They shared their comics books collection together and saved up money to expend it. They were dorks, but when they were together Molly felt like she was a part of the most awesome group ever, and the others who didn't like things she and Der did were the weird ones. Der was popular. Molly figured it was different for boys since them playing video and computer games seemed more normal than girls. Der was good at sports and was always invited to parties in school. His friends knew Molly and they often greeted her even now. She liked his friends far more than the kids in her middle or even high school. But even with all that it never seemed to occur to Derek that he should not want to be around her or act all mighty and like she wasn't worthy of his time or whatever. He always made her feel welcome and like he wanted her around.
She sighed, 'I know him.'
She might as well let some of her issues fall on Derek now. She couldn't tell him about Matt. She just couldn't ruin his image of her like that. All through growing up, he warned her to make a good choice and to be a good person. She could be herself weird and original. He always seemed happy about her new hair color and whatever weird conspiration theory she came up with next, but he wanted her to be a good person which was the last thing Molly felt herself being lately. So no, she couldn't tell him about Matt and Kim. But she could try to let him understand the deal with Mikey…well at least what she could admit.
'We met online while playing Fortnite. We're pals, but you know the kind who share memes and talk about TV shows and stuff, not the real stuff. But then we did talk a bit about real stuff, and I figured out who he is.'
'Who he was? Like in real life? How?' asked Derek confused and Molly fixed her beanie before she admitted, 'From the website. Vigilantes of New York? He sent me a story, I didn't submit and he, uh then wrote me the same story. Since I never posted it, he had no way of knowing about it unless it was his story,' she lied a bit. She couldn't reveal Mikey's secret to Der even though she knew she could trust him more than anyone. It wasn't even her secret to tell. Mikey didn't even tell her. She just figured it out. She just stole it. It had been bothering her more and more lately. Everything with Matt and Kim and now this. Molly felt like she wanted to clean at least a bit of her guilt and messes. And since she didn't have the guts to go see Kim, who was still in a coma, and was batshit scared talking to Matt, finding a way to deal with Mikey seemed like the best thing to do.
She hoped.
'Whoa, talk about small world,' said Derek, and Molly smiled bitterly at the irony.
Yeah, pretty damn small.
Derek knew about the website. She decided to write to him about it not long ago before Christmas, and he seemed genuinely excited claiming he had a feeling it was her, to which she called bull. No way he knew, but it felt good to let it off her chest and know he liked the idea and supported it.
'Well, you should tell him you know it's him. I mean, it's obviously bothering you if you avoid talking to him just to feel less guilty and like your hiding something from him,' said Derek and swing a bit in the chair while some of his army friends passed in the background.
Molly knew he was right. How could she not? But it was hard. She knew what would happen if she did. Mikey would stop talking to her. She just knew it. No way, he would take lightly that she was lying to him for months now knowing his identity even more that she was the creator of the website dedicated to him and his brothers. She wished she never found out about him. As much as it excited her when she did, it only complicated everything in the long run.
'He will think I somehow tricked him. That I knew about the story and just lead him on or something.'
Derek grimaced, 'Why would he think that? You didn't do it, right?'
She wasn't sure. She didn't mean to cause Mi harm or get him hurt or expose him. She would never do that. Even if it meant to shut the website down to protect him or if he asked her to she would. He…he was her friends which were why this was so complicated. Even if she had Mikey and his family's best intentions in heart, it seemed like an awful coincidence she befriended him online and was not only the someone he saved, run the site about him, but knew his secret without him knowing. Molly would definitely think it was a set up of some sort if it happened to her. She was paranoid like that and given that Mikey was a secret vigilante and a large turtle she figured he would think so as well.
'So are you sure he's just a friend?' asked Derek suddenly and when she looked at him she saw that annoying smirk on his face which meant he was being Mr. Knowitall.
She rolled her eyes not even commenting that. Why did people have this need to always ask about some of your friends if they were just a friend? She honestly didn't get it. Mi was her friend. Good friend maybe even best friend. Sure, she thought he was awesome and might have this tiny crush on his superhero persona, but he was still Mikey, her friend, and who could apparently burp the alphabet. And he was a large turtle…well, very muscley turtle if she remembered correctly from their meeting and the posts, and yeah it was attractive in a way. The whole heroism was definitely attractive, and-STOP!
She grimaced at her own thoughts hoping she didn't blush or anything. How did her mind got from Mi was her friend to he was attractive so fast was beyond her and definitely said a lot about what a shitty person she really was.
But back to the point, Mi was her friend which was why she couldn't just tell him and lose him. It was easier to ignore his apology for now and know they were still friends rather than know he was gone. But it still sucked not to be able to talk to him. It really really sucked. And if it sucked now when she was pissed at him, how much more would it sucked when she didn't have that emotion to keep her content? She would lose him and just have that lost. The same lost she had when dad died, and mom left, with Matt's lost-or the Matt she thought he was and who she loved, she at least now had fear, with Mikey there would be just lost. She hated that. Maybe even more than guilt.
'He's a really important friend. And I don't want to lose him. I just can't lose him.'
'I get that, but if you really don't want to lose him. The best thing you can do is be honest then,' said Derek as if it was as simple as that, 'One day maybe he will be so important you will want to share you run the website, and then what? If he gets it great, then he's just as awesome as you think he is, if not, then screw him. You will find a cooler friend.'
Molly smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. She doubted she would find anyone as cool or awesome as Mikey, and she wasn't just referring to the secret vigilante turtle part of him.
Der sighed, 'I know it might seem like a generic response anyone from Sunday school or after school special would give you, but that's life Mo. People make mistakes and sometimes those mistakes have consequences that hurt us and change the course of our lives and the people in it. That's life, but the good thing is tomorrow is a new day and anything that happened even better things.'
Molly watched him for a moment before she sighed 'That sounded like something from a Hallmark movie.'
'Shut up, and talk to him. We boys are pretty sensitive about this stuff too you know. Especially when it comes to awesome girls like you,' he winked at her, and she grinned before she signed again.
'Just a friend.'
After patrolling Mikey met up with Raph on their way home. They took down some armed robbers and when it came close to the early hours called it a night well morning.
It was good they had a little competition about who could get to the sewer sooner. Mikey let Raph win. He looked like he needed it. He wasn't giving anything to Mikey's jokes, no growls, or attempted punches. It was weird.
Also, Mikey liked the distraction from constantly checking his phone and thinking about why Mo still hadn't answered him. He messed up sure, but still… he apologized. Shouldn't she consider it? He hoped she would consider it.
Instead of dealing with his own BS, he decided to bug Raph about his once they got to the tunnels, 'Hey, you cool with Jay around now, right?'
Raph looked a bit surprised by the question. Mikey thought they were good, but he didn't get a chance to talk to his bro about it since Jay came and went for Christmas.
'Yeah, she ain't so bad,' said Raph and shrugged his shoulders.
'Yeah, I like her,' admitted Mikey thinking about their brother's girl. Jay was actually pretty great, 'She's funny but really nice even if she has this resting bitch face sometimes,' he said and jumped a bit splashing the sewer water at Raph's feet.
'Knock it off!' roared Raph and Mikey grinned.
A moment of silence passed between them and since Mikey had a new tick his hand immediately went for his phone that didn't have a message.
He looked at Raph again, 'You wonder if other girls could be like her? Like totally acceptable of us? Of our extremely handsome faces and bodies?' he asked and showed his muscles on the arms trying to lighten up his own mood and caused Raph to roll his eyes.
'You saying Leo and Jay did the dirty? Cause if ya are I don't want to talk about it,' said Raph looking disgusted.
Mikey felt the same, 'I'm pretty sure Leo is a too modest monk for that kind of frisky behavior,' he said and put his hands behind his head, 'And Jay looks like a good chick.'
'Just cause a girl puts out, she isn't automatically a slut, bro,' said Raph surprising Mikey. He would never think that of Mo. It was her business if she had sex with someone. She didn't own anything to anyone. Mikey hoped she knew he didn't think that of her.
'Yeah, I know that, Mo's...,' he paused for a moment before he shook his head, 'It's nothing.'
'She did the deed? She still has that boyfriend of hers?' asked Raph and Mikey regretted mentioning it.
He felt himself getting down again and wanting to check his phone, 'No. Not really.'
Raph frowned confused, 'Then what's the problem then?'
His brother sighed, 'It's messy and complicated. Well, not really but sort off? She had this dude, but they weren't really dating and now she wants to stop seeing him more or less but acts all weird about it. I mean she told me things. Really shitty things he did, and some she did and said she wanted to get him out of her life, but now she's all weird and I don't know.'
Raph didn't say anything so Mikey found himself filling the void of silence with more words, 'I spoke to Jay about it? You know the teenage girl's point of view and all. And she thinks that maybe Mo isn't really done with the guy. That maybe she just now feels embarrassed and ashamed to talk to me about it. Or maybe now she really is ashamed that she told me all that and thinks I look down upon her. I thought about it and it made sense. Both things, but right after she was done with the asshole, things were good, only after the subway incident they started to feel weird.'
Raph nodded looking like he agreed with what he said, 'No offense, but Jay's first idea sounds more likely to me. But we can't know for sure. The only one who does is Mo. So if you're losing your marvels over it, ask her. What else can you do?'
'I don't want to pressure her. She feels upset whenever I ask her something about it all,' confessed Mikey and Raph looked like he was thinking about something as well before he
chuckled humorously thinking about it, 'Funny, last year we barely accepted we had April in our lives, how we deal with teenage girls.'
Mikey smirked, 'Yeah, me with Mo, Donnie with coma girl, Leo with Jay. The only turtle missing is you, bro. But guess that makes sense since you're so ugly.'
Raph swung his palm at the back of his head, but Mikey jumped dodging it which caused them to play tag until they were inside their home when Mikey rose his hands.
'Ultimate tag champion!'
Raph hit him over the back of the head when he wasn't paying attention, 'Not even close.'
They continued to walk up toward their rooms before he paused, 'For the record, you're a good friend Mikey.'
He smirked at that goofily, but it was nice of Raph to say something like that to him.
'Well, my number of friends is pretty small so I should be good to the ones I have.'
'Yeah,' agreed Raph and left leaving Mikey to check his phone one more time. He just hoped Mo would see he was a good friend as well.
Mikey was looking at his phone with an intensity hypnotizing it to get a reply from Mo. Maybe she was busy with her Nana? Mikey shouldn't feel jealous or annoyed she hadn't texted. She had her own life. Her own thing. Like Jay said he couldn't push her, judge her, or expect her to give away something she wasn't ready for her.
Mikey just wanted her to talk to him so damn badly. It was her fault. Why did she have to be such an awesome chick? She was cool…she was different. Different from his brothers, father, April even Jay. She was someone he felt he had a lot more in common when it came to movies, games, TV shows, and comics. The stuff he liked. But also she was a friend, a bro. And he really wanted them to stay that way. So if she wasn't too busy maybe she could text him and let him know she still wanted to be friends and a bro, so he wouldn't be acting like a needy girlfriend. Honestly, he knew girls were complicated, but come on Mo shouldn't be. She was well…his friend, and yeah a cute girl, but his friend, she shouldn't be a complicated teenage girl who wouldn't reply to him that they were cool and talk about how soul-crushing it was to wait for the new promos and episodes while they were on winter break. She just…she should be uncomplicated and his bro.
When Jay came to the lair, he was almost glad because maybe she would bring some entertainment so he wouldn't end up eyeing his phone so much. Everything else had already failed him. He drifted off during games, during TV shows, during movies, during sparing…
'Uuuu, more presents!' shouted Mikey as he spotted the large boxes she and the blonde were carrying.
'Unfortunately not,' she replied and tossed the box on their table in the kitchen while Mikey eyed them.
'What's that?' asked Raph coming inside with Donnie before Jay opened one and pulled the content out revealing something which looked like clothing.
'You're moving here? What's with the clothes?' asked Mikey as he eyed the very small t-shirt.
Jay sighed looking frustrated, 'Given the alternative, I freaking wish.'
She then pulled out a skirt with matching color and Donnie blinked, 'Your cheerleading uniform?'
Jay nodded and started to undo her coat, 'Yup, well, more or less Kim's uniforms. She ordered the fabric and personally sewed them because Kim is a sweetheart and control freak apparently.'
Leo set the other box and Raph pulled one out grimacing, 'Isn't this girl supposed to be Christian or something? Does she take this to church?'
The uniform t-shirt he picked up was clearly cut with scissors making it even more revealing than the others.
Damn.
Mikey wondered if his brothers also pictured cute teenage girls like Jay in these outfits now before he looked at Leo who glared at him crossing his arms. Maybe he should picture random teenage girls from now on.
Jay rolled her eyes and snatched it from Raph's hands and frowned, 'Yes is, and they were meant to look all the same nice and well classy enough not to have us ban from national television, but unfortunately the other cheerleaders are kind of slutty so…'
Donnie pulled another one and shook his head, 'Won't this make your bra stick out-'
'I'm pretty sure her bra which will be the only thing hanging with that one,' commented Raph and smirked.
Jay rolled her eyes before she started to put them in two different piles of clothing, 'Kim finished them…before the accident, and since now she's not around to be in charge and the other girls don't need to fake it. They got a bit wild. These uniforms are for after Christmas starting games, and since I don't trust Carmen more than a bag of snakes, I decided to take them and fix them myself.'
'Like a cheerleader co-captain,' mumbled Leo, and Jay shot him a look which made Mikey chuckle with how Leo looked away and acted he didn't say anything in the first place. If Leo ever pissed Jay enough for a fight Mikey would definitely want to be the first one over with popcorn.
Jay looked at the uniforms, 'Anyway, Leo said I could borrow a sewing machine.'
Mikey grabbed one of the uniforms and put it over his head, 'Look at me, I'm a perky and enthusiastic cheerleader. Give me an M, give me an I-'
Donnie grabbed it from his face, 'So you know how to use a sewing machine?'
'No, but how hard can it be?' asked the blonde continuing to separate the uniforms into piles while the four brothers started to share looks. Mikey knew this was the moment they should probably tell Jay it wouldn't be a good idea, but she was clearly in denial doing her work. They didn't want to hurt her feelings or offend her because she was still a stranger and Leo's girlfriend, so they couldn't be too harsh not to mention no one wanted to do it.
Mikey raised his brows at Donnie. It was his sewing machine after all. Donnie shook his head and shot Raph a look because he was better at being a jackass. Raph pointed at Leo because and made a kissing gesture because it was his girlfriend. Leo looked back at Mikey waving his hand showing Mikey was the youngest and then at his chest like he meant Jay liked him the most which made Mikey grin before he remembered what they were gesturing each other about and he shook his head. All of the brothers started to silently tell each other who should do it-
'Kidding,' she said and shot them all a smirk which earned them groans and Mikey a laugh. Jay could be pretty good if she wanted to be.
'One of Nicole's maid taught me and her when were kids on a sleepover,' she explained.
'Nicole can sew?' asked Raph much to everyone's surprise.
He suddenly went a bit pale and crossed his arms, 'I just…you said she's…'
Mikey was confused about why he looked so weird when Donnie suddenly cut it, 'It's just you mentioned Nicole is from Upper East Side, and Raph is a fan of the Gossip Girl series so he doesn't understand how someone like her would know how to sew.'
Mikey looked at Donnie seriously confused and then at Raph before he burst out of a laugher, 'Gossip girl, bro, you could have said so. I'm sure we can have a Beverly Hills marathon next? A new generation?'
'Zip it, Mikey, the fact that you even know about the shows makes you a bigger nerd,' shot back Raph, but the damage was done as Mikey started to laugh even harder.
Raph growled at him and then glared at Donnie, 'Thanks a lot, Don.'
The other turtle looked at him and smirked, 'You're welcome. It's probably the lack of sleep anyway.'
They shared a weird look together and Mikey for a moment thought this was about something else before they returned to the topic in hand.
'So why are you doing this exactly? I mean the uniforms aren't so bad?' he asked taking another piece that looked more like underwear.
He grinned, 'Sweet.'
Jay explained the girl drama in school. Mikey tuned out a bit. He had enough drama with Mo, to listen to apparently high school cheerleading hierarchy that Jay was involuntarily a part of. He was much more interested in pulling the uniforms and then shooting them at Raph before he got banished by Leo from the kitchen.
Rude.
Anyway, he checked his phone and groaned. No Mo. What the hell? He apologized. Wasn't that enough? What did he do wrong with an apology?
He could ask Jay, but maybe she had too much on her plate already.
Maybe he could text her again, but that seemed like he was pushing it too much.
With nothing better to do, he sighed and decided to just go take a nap maybe it would help him.
From Jay M.: I'm downstairs so unless you want me to catch pneumonia you should come.
Molly reread the message a couple of times before snuck to her window and saw the blonde standing by the fire hydrant in her gray jacket.
She was confused why was the blonde here. They texted a bit and Molly mentioned she was bored, but she didn't expect the girl to actually show up. What the hell?
Just then as she thought she would sneak back and text her she was busy or not home, when Jay waved at her.
She dug back inside, but she was sure it was too late.
Sighing she replied she would be there soon and got dressed.
Seeing Jay McClaud outside of school was a bit bizarre. She was just so…Jay. It was hard to explain, but by the time Molly walked down the stairs from the front entrance to her building to Jay at least four strangers passing by checked Jay out.
'Hey, come on,' she nodded her head down the sidewalk, 'Let's grab a bite.'
Molly nodded, not sure what to think about this. Jay was cool. She could admit that she first thought of her as some stuck-up ice queen who was better than anyone else including jocks and cheerleaders and rich girls. The more she got to spent time with her and interact she figured out Jay was nice and funny and with a very strict moral compass. She liked Jay and her no bullshit attitude. The blonde just didn't care what people thought or if they wanted something from her or except just because she was pretty. Molly could respect that. She even looked up to that and thought that was something they had in common since she also didn't care what those assholes in school thought of her and her hair. Jay made a point of remembering all Molly's friends names including Mi's and the nicknames on Fortnite at least those Molly told her, so yeah, Jay was really great. Still, she was surprised she showed up. They talked and texted a lot, they had lunch together, but she wasn't expecting the beauty to just ask her out to get some food.
'So how's Christmas so far?' she asked and Molly grimaced.
Christmas sucked
Jay chuckled, 'Yeah, I guess the glitter and all that fades away when you pass the age of eleven.'
Molly nodded. Jay was good to talk to, and she was getting really good at ASL. Molly briefly wondered how good did Mi get before she chased the thought away. She didn't want to think about him right now. Right now she really wanted just spent time with Jay and not think about Matt or Mikey or anything related to the two main problems in her life right now.
It wasn't half bad. It was nice to talk to Jay. She listened well…watched as she signed her new conspiration theories and as they talked about holidays and school and just teenage things. It didn't feel as bizarre or heavy as with Nicole, and she definitely didn't think about how she was hiding something the way she sometimes caught herself feeling with Mi. She just felt good. Even when they briefly talked about Kim it was just the basic or about the squad so Molly didn't feel the same guilt she did every time she fell into the rabbit hole thinking about the redhead.
On their way back, they went a different path, and Molly shook her.
Bullshit, Carmen wanted to be cheer-captain since freshman, but knew she couldn't beat Kim in votes so of course, she decided to suck up to her instead. She's a bitch. She's worse in some ways than Jill and Nicole because they at least throw everything they have at you in the face, Carmen just lurks in the shadows and backstabs. It's far worse and pathetic.
Jay nodded at that before she paused and Molly blinked confused.
The blond looked to the side. The sun was setting down soon, and it created a halo-like look for Jay's wild curls. Molly wondered if Jay sometimes felt like she was the sun herself. Just above everyone and anything people could say about her or to her. Just shining brightly as others rotated around her. She didn't mean it in a bad way, just in a way that some people were just like that almost out of a person's reach, and yet close.
She remembered sitting behind Jay in algebra last year and the sun shining on her hair like that again. She watched her for a long time before she finally looked away and realized the whole back of the class was watching her hair in the sun. Molly wondered than why was Jay so cold to everyone always keeping her distance, but now when she thought about it, she wondered if Jay didn't call would people try to get to close, to close to the sun, what would they do to Jay if that happened. What would happen to them?
'Kim's here,' said the blond girl, and Molly froze for a moment.
'You asked about her a few times, so I figured maybe you would want to come to visit her with me?' asked Jay and shrugged her shoulders. There was a small smile on her lips. Maybe it wasn't supposed to feel pressure, but it did.
Molly's brown eyes finally shifted to the building Jay was referring about. Kim was there. She was right there inside laying in a coma. The girl who she probably hurt more than she ever did anyone in her life was right there a few feet away from her.
She didn't ask Jay or any of her friends what hospital Kim was in. She couldn't risk actually going nuts and going to visit her. She was in a coma, and Molly couldn't speak, what good would it do either of them if she showed up? Would it make her feel more guilty? Would it make her feel less guilty?
'We don't have to,' said Jay suddenly maybe Molly was unresponsive for too long, 'It was just a thought.'
Molly nodded. She had a choice. She could tell Jay she wasn't up for it. It wasn't like the girl would force her, why would she? Not everyone wanted to see people in comas. And yet…
'We can go,' she signed and nodded before she could change her mind. She wanted to go if only for herself.
They walked to the building. People seemed to know Jay by now greeting her, smiling or nodding at her. Molly wondered how many times did the blond show up here. Did she feel guilty too? She was the one who held Kim in the subway. Maybe she thought she could help her more…or maybe underneath the cold façade and the sun halo hair which grown people to her like flies Jay was a really good person.
Once they were on the third floor, they met up with Mrs. Sawyer. Molly felt unsettling seeing how the woman looked so much like Kim and wondered if she felt like this with someone who looked like Kim how would she feel about actually seeing her. Maybe this was a terrible idea and she should have left when the woman greeted them.
'Oh, hello, Jay, Molly, I'm so happy to see you.'
She was surprised. She only met with Mrs. Sawyer once when she went to Kim's house for the medieval dress. She was surprised she still remembered her and her name.
'It's so nice of you to stop by,' she said. Up closely, she looked tired. Her smile didn't reach her eyes, but Molly could tell she meant what she said. She looked like a nice person and not just someone would be faking it.
They chatted a bit. It wasn't as bad after that. It reminded her of the time in their house. Everyone was friendly.
'You can go see, Kimie. I have to fill out some forms,' she said after the polite conversation was over. Before she left she put a hand over Molly's shoulder and squeezed it a bit, 'She would be really happy you came. She likes you a lot, you know. I can tell.'
If she punched her into the stomach it would have hurt less.
Jay opened the door to the room, and Molly braced herself for the worse. She couldn't scream which was good because she was sure she would any moment now.
The room was like most hospital rooms in Molly's opinion. It was a single, but Molly couldn't imagine coma patients having roommates.
Kim was laying on a bed with a few devices hooked to her body and a breathing machine. Some machines were letting out little beeping sounds that filled the room.
She didn't have any bruises just a cut on her cheek which was under a bandage probably healing already. Kim didn't do a lot of makeup, but she took good care of herself. It probably came with the whole image of a perfect girl, her hair was always washed, fresh looking and in a ponytail not a single hair was out of place, she always looked like she woke up well-rested, had her cup of coffee and morning run, fresh and ready to take on the day. Molly couldn't remember ever seeing her tired or anything other than good, prepared, decent. Her clothes were always clean and spotless. And even though she was a cheerleader she never looked sweaty she always looked just so…perfect.
The Kim laying in the bed was wearing a hospital gown. She was in a coma with a cut over her cheek and her hair in a messy bum probably if they needed to access her neck or something. It didn't look clean and shiny. They probably didn't wash her hair since she came apart from getting the dirt and whatever she got from the subway out. This Kim didn't look like the perfect girl Molly knew so well.
She didn't realize she started to cry until she felt Jay's hand on her shoulder, the same one Kim's mom squeezed and then pulling her into a hug. It was too much. She knew it would be, but even then she couldn't be prepared for this. She was a horrible person. She was the worse, and Kim was in a coma and just…like this.
Molly felt Jay's arms around her as she pulled her closer to her. With the high difference, Molly could bury her head against her shoulder and actually feel her warmth. Molly than realized that Jay's hair was actually her tell. Deep down, the blond was warm and sunny and she could give that to people close to her, she might have looked all cold and reserved but she wasn't, and her hair was a tale which would always cause people to want to be close to her.
'Hey, it's fine. She'll be fine,' said Jay and brushed her back, 'Do you want to leave?'
Molly shook her head. It was tempting to stay in Jay's embrace and just feel like this. Like someone cared and could hold her, but she couldn't stay like that. She didn't deserve it.
She took a step back and Jay let her offering her an apologizing look, 'Sorry, I shouldn't have brought you here. It's not for everyone. I just thought it would help you to see her, that she was still…here.'
Molly nodded and took a deep breath before looking at Kim again. She might have looked different than the Kim she knew, but she was still Kim, and the machines and color in her face and healing cut spoke loud and clear she was alive.
She walked closer to the bed. She almost looked like a sleeping beauty.
Jay took a step behind her, 'She's stable now, but she had a close call yesterday. They don't know what happened. She was better and then suddenly she stopped breathing. I-I don't know if that's something people want to hear.'
Molly signed, 'It's okay. I'm glad she's alright now at least.'
'Yeah.'
Kim didn't move or let out a sound and for a brief moment, Molly wondered what would happen if she reached out and touched her hand just to feel her and know she was really there.
Then just as she thought of that idea her eyes looked at her hand and then back to her eyes before they locked at the space on her arm just above her elbow.
She didn't notice the piece of purple fabric before but now that she did she couldn't look away from it.
It was a bit dirty with dried blood, but even with that Molly noticed the small two holes on it and recognize it.
It was a purple bandana, that probably belonged to one of Mi's brothers.
She licked her lips and shifted her eyes to Jay, but the blonde's eyes were on Kim's face.
Molly's heart speeded up as she tried to figure out why did Kim have Mi's brother bandana on her. She never got the full story of what happened in the subway from Jay. Just that she was on her way from her boyfriend and Kim was on the train when the whole subway station collapsed.
Molly's mind went to overdrive. So the turtles were there when the subway collapsed or they got Kim out? Great, so while she was with Matt not only was Kim probably almost dying but so was Mi and his brothers?
She turned to Jay and mimicked her best fake smile which she hoped would work better on the girl than it did on Derek, 'The bandana almost looks like the one the vigilantes of NY wear.'
Jay blinked at that and looked at the piece of fabric before she looked back at Molly and slightly nodded, 'Yeah, it does look a bit like it.'
Damn, she was good.
Molly had no idea if she knew something and was covering it up or really thought it was a coincidence.
'Why does she have it?'
Jay shrugged her shoulders, 'Kim's a fan too. I wanted her to have something for motivation. '
Molly watched her for a moment before she sighed again, 'Oh, how did you get it?'
Jay grimaced, 'I found a piece of fabric at home and made two holes like those in the video. It wasn't that hard. I know it's stupid, but the thought counts.'
She was seriously good.
Maybe Molly just wanted to believe Jay would know something, but why? Would she talk about it, about them with her? Hardly.
She turned back to Kim and looked at the bandana, 'Yeah, it counts. You're a good person, Jay.'
The blonde shrugged her shoulders, 'It depends.'
Molly gave her a confused look as she started to walk to Kim's other side, 'I've been thinking about it lately. I used to think being a good person is a moral matter black and white. It depends on good or bad choices and the things we do. Maybe it's not just about that,' she looked back at Molly, 'Maybe you can make bad choices and still be a good person if you learn from it and next time make a good one even if you still end up messing up. Trying to do good is better than nothing.'
The pink-haired girl watched her carefully wondering if Jay had a secret meaning behind her speech.
She looked back at Kim and carefully touched her hand.
I'm sorry for everything, Kim.
Just as she finished the thought, she felt a small spark of electricity run from Kim's hand to hers.
Weird.
'Movie time!' shouted Mikey jumping up and down next to Donnie as he finally crawled out of his workshop. He had to wonder if his brother didn't finally reach his limit since he slept almost all day literally. This was new, and honestly, Mikey had to admit he looked a bit better, rested even. He wondered what happened.
Donnie yawned, 'Yeah, movie time.'
Mikey put his arm over his shoulder, 'Bro, what? Late night polishing the turtle?'
Donnie groaned looking annoyed, 'Gross, Mikey. Don't ever say that. Especially when Jay's around. Scratch that just don't ever say that again.'
His younger brother grinned but looked around if the blond wouldn't magically appear from around the corner. She had been spending a lot of time here lately since apparently, she was on offs with her mom. 'It's a joke. Lighten up.'
Donnie shook his head. They paused on their way looking down to the living room couch which was empty. Master Splinter was most likely in his room meditating or doing something else wise and elderly.
'Leo?' suggested Mikey and the two walked toward their oldest brother's room, 'Any news on the missing guns?'
Donnie sighed, 'Not much. I plan to do surveillance on the police station soon though. I have an idea of how to see the whole process in person.'
'Cool, so it's a spy movie, Mr. Bond,' grinned Mikey and opened the door to Leo's room without knocking. He didn't get why his brothers had the need to close the door. Alright, now that Jaybird-hey, that was a good nickname for next time she came, anyway, now that she was around it would be better to close doors if they were doing business, but if not who cared right-?
Oh
He paused and felt Donnie lightly leaned against him as he must have only a second later to see what Mikey saw.
While Mikey's room had the bed in the center and everything else was sort of around it, Leo's was pressed against the wall revealing a path to his kingdom of tidiness. Seriously how could Leo's room be so tidy? Was he a part girl or cleaning lady?
It wasn't the tidiness that surprised Mikey this time though.
It was the bed, well, Leo and Jay on the bed.
Leo was still asleep which made sense since he and Raph had to chase some biker dude on foot. He was laying calmly on his side and back with Jay cuddling against him her hand over his chest and some book on his stomach most likely something she was reading before she dozed off too. She was fully clothed except for the coat and boots which were over one of Leo's chairs and with Leo's katanas away it looked very domestic for them to be like this.
Mikey felt weird, like an intruder. He felt the same weird way, he did when he stalked Jay and Leo on the rooftop the first time he saw the girl. It was…weird and uncomfortable a bit like he was in on a moment which wasn't meant to be seen by him even if both Leo and Jay weren't really doing anything just sleeping and being well nice, warm, coupley. Just…it must have been nice to have someone like that. To feel someone else's skin, no doubt softer, and just know that person cared and wanted to be touched and be with you.
Mikey's mind drifted to Mo involuntarily before he shut it down. Mo was a bro, yeah, pretty bro, but still, a bro and he doubted he would get a chance in the nearby future to like hug her or whatever to get to feel her soft skin, so no point in thinking about it.
He didn't know how long they stood in that doorway to Leo's room, but after a moment, Mikey felt Donnie's hand on his shoulder pulling him away.
They closed the door, and without a word, Donnie started to walk Mikey to the direction of Raph's room.
Mikey scratched the back of his head not sure what to say. Maybe he shouldn't say anything. Both knew Leo and Jay were dating so they were just being cute together. No biggie. Jay was here a lot so this was normal, well new normal. Having a girl around a lot normal. Who was dating their brother normal-
'Must be nice,' he found his mouth commenting before he could stop himself. He really should talk about it. They really shouldn't talk about it.
Donnie continued to walk not saying anything which caused Mikey to blink and walk a bit faster to match his steps and see his face. He looked expressionless. Odd. Mikey thought the extra hours of sleep did his brother some good, but clearly not as much as he would need.
'Something's wrong?' he asked trying to catch something in his brother's face to be off, but Donnie just shrugged his shoulders, 'Sure… nice.'
Mikey frowned clearly not getting it, 'You don't think it's nice that Leo has someone?'
Donnie looked at him and then sighed, 'It's nice.'
He didn't buy his brother's reply, 'Bro, what's wrong?'
Donnie shook his head, 'It's nothing. It's nice. You're right.'
For the first time since maybe forever, Mikey didn't really feel all that good about being right with the way Donnie said it. Instead, he crossed his arms and watched him giving him what Mikey would like to call his intense look. The others said it was mostly annoying and creepy though. Oh well, whatever worked to get what he wanted.
Donnie groaned, 'It's nothing. They're cute. Let's go get Raph-'
'Donnie~!'
'I don't think it's for everyone,' sighed Donnie in resignation and went to knock on Raph's door before Mikey stopped his hand before it reached it.
He blinked, 'What do you mean?'
Donnie shook his head, 'Just…Leo and Jay clearly have something a connection?'
'Well, they can read each other's' mind so duh,' replied Mikey.
Donnie shook his head and turned around to face him, 'I mean,' he hopelessly opened and closed his hands in a gesture, 'Yeah, not just that. They aren't just together. They fit together, you know? They're good together. It's-I don't think it's something which happens to everyone. That you fall in love for the first time and that person is the one.'
Mikey blinked, 'Well, yeah…' he thought about Molly and her ex-boyfriend for a moment, 'I mean, sure, it's not like it's a fixed thing but there's a chance, right?'
'Not when you're a giant turtle,' grimaced Donnie, and Mikey frowned, 'So what you're upset Leo got the girl on his first go?'
Donnie shook his head, 'No. I'm happy for him. And I like Jay just fine, I was just thinking about it. That's all. I don't think people should put that much into it.'
'Hm?'
'Into love and finding love. It doesn't have to work out even more unlikely on the first try,' Donnie shrugged his shoulders, and Mikey crossed his arms, 'Alright. So what people shouldn't try?'
Donnie knocked on Raph's door. Honestly, sometimes Mikey feared Donnie was speaking in a language he didn't understand, 'Maybe. Maybe it's not worth it. It's not everything to find someone to be with and that someone doesn't have to always be the first person you meet. Maybe…people shouldn't focus so much on love and relationships. Maybe they should focus more on themselves and their lives.'
Mikey watched Donnie for a moment before he said, 'I really don't get you sometimes.'
Donnie grinned, 'Likewise.'
When Raph didn't answer Mikey simply opened the door and they found their brother on the bed smiling at his phone.
What the hell was going on today with turtles in their rooms?
He had earphones on so he didn't hear them come in or knock, but there he was, the angry hothead Raphael, on his bed smiling at his phone. Not smirking or grimacing or anything like that, but genuinely smiling.
'What the hell?' mumbled Mikey under his breath, and Donnie sighed, 'Raph?'
Nothing.
Mikey grinned at Donnie and looked around finding a baseball ball on the ground, 'Hey, think fast turtlehead.'
He threw the ball which of course ended in Raph's hand still smiling and looking at his phone when he spoke, 'You're lucky, I'm in a good mood.'
Mikey grimaced and looked at Donnie, 'Did you let him kick your ass again?'
His other brother shook his head and walked away with somewhat of an annoyed expression and Mikey looked back at Raph confused. His older brother pulled down the earphones and set them aside on his bed, 'Is he still pissed at you about the missing girl or what?'
He shook his head. Donnie was actually very nice about that since their fight and gave him new reports almost every other day. Still, no sign of her though, and Donnie said that by now some of her bruises might have healed. Mikey wasn't sure what to think about it anymore, but he still hoped the girl was alright wherever she was.
They followed Donnie outside and watched the movie just the three of them. Mikey was surprised Raph's good mood carried on since he didn't even complain Leo was still with Jay in his room.
He asked him if he roasted someone on the internet or found another video of fail compilation, but the just shrugged his shoulders and continued to watch the movie. Of course, Mikey couldn't let his brother's good mood last that long. Seeing Raph content and happy was…weird, bizarre. Also, it served as a distraction from Donnie's weird speech about love and the relationship that Mikey didn't know what to make out of anyway.
So he jumped a bit closer to Raph playing all innocent when the movie hit a boring segment, licked his finger, and with the skills of a ninja and gave him a wet willy.
'FUCK! MIKEY!' shouted his brother and went to punch him before Mikey jumped behind the couch laughing at his brother's angry expression.
'You're so dead!' he snapped before he charged at Mikey while Donnie paused the movie and waited for them to finish apparently.
Mikey made Raph chase him a bit around destroying furniture. By the time they finished Leo and Jay were already on the couch talking to Donnie. His and Raph spar must have woken them up.
'So slept well lovebirds?' teased Mikey earning a punch into the shoulder from Raph who managed to sneak up on him before jumping on the couch.
Leo rolled his eyes and Jay pressed her cheek against his shoulder looking like she would rather still be in bed. He didn't understand what was Donnie's deal. Mikey thought it was cute. A bit too sappy for Leo and nauseating if he thought too much about it happening to his brother, but you know also cute.
He sat under the couch like the gentleman that he was earning a pat on the head from Jay who he winked at for good measures. It was nice. Even just knowing one of your brother's got lucky in the girlfriend-relationship-soulmate department was nice.
Still, even with all of that keeping him occupied from Mo, he couldn't help but check his phone again and let out a thrilled squeal when he noticed the new message.
Hey, I'm sorry too, sorry I didn't write sooner.
'YES! THANK YOU TURTLE SANTA AND BABY TURTLE JESUS! I KNEW I COULD COUNT ON YOU!' he shouted earning a groan from Leo, wave from Donnie for blocking the screen and a punch from Raph.
He turned around and pointed at them, 'Screw you losers! The second coolest person in the world texted me back! SO LONG SUCKERS' he shouted while rushing to his room. Finally, she texted back. Finally. They were going to play games, and make references and talk about movies and interesting things. Gosh, he missed her so much.
Molly came home from the hospital a bit later than she expected. When Jay walked her to her building, she didn't immediately go in. Molly decided to talk around a bit ending up in the same comics store as before. She thought about that night and how she was rescued. She thought about Mi's smirk and wink at her.
He was so…amazing. That was what she thought back then and it was still what she thought now. Mi and his brothers protected the city. They took it upon themselves to get the city in order and protect it. They were vigilantes, but they were heroes. They helped and saved a bunch of people and got very little credit for it most of what came from her website. People didn't know who they were. They didn't know what they were. They didn't know they were four teenagers or not that different from them the people they saved. Mi liked video games, comic books, TV shows, and movies just like Mo. He liked to write with her or play for hours always keeping the conversation funny and going. He had problems with having four brothers who occasionally got on his nerves or made him annoyed, but he still cared for them. He wrote about his training even if not too detailed and Mo could tell he was proud of what he achieved. He was a good guy, and to her, he was a good friend. She was the complicated one who kept finding excuses and reasons to be a shitty friend and person. He said she was being human just like he told him when he was jealous of his brother having a girlfriend, but maybe she didn't want to be human if it meant being this bad. Maybe she would rather be a turtle.
A really large turtle who could kick ass and didn't have to feel shitty about his choices.
Once home she sat down and opened her and Mi's last message.
Hey, I'm sorry too, sorry I didn't write sooner.
It's cool. I'm glad you did. So we're good, right?
Molly took a deep breath and nodded to herself.
We're always good, Mi.
He sent her a grinning face before she started to write.
Listen, do you know that website about the Vigilantes of New York? It posts photos and articles about these guys who run around the streets and help out people.
There was a momentary pause and Molly felt her heart sink a bit the longer it took Mi to finally answer.
Yeah, I went over it once or twice before. Pretty dope. It's cool what those guys do for the city. I mean helping people and taking care of the bad guys. Pretty sweet.
Right, it is. They're great. All four of them.
Another pause.
Four? I didn't notice they mention how many of them it is. It could be more like six or nine or an army? Maybe they just you know work in shifts? Like a club or something?
She smiled sadly at his attempt to cover his own tracks. She would almost let him have it. It was a good enough assumption and if Mo didn't know the truth, she would even believe it.
She started to type.
Nope, it's just four. I spent a lot of time reading the submissions and checking the videos and pictures people sent.
Another pause this time it was longer. She wondered if he was alone in the room. If maybe he didn't call one of his brothers to know what to really write. It made her heart sink even lower and her throat to hurt like she was supposed to throw up soon.
I really hate this.
Mo, are you telling me what I think you're telling me?
I'm the creator of the website, yeah.
Whoa, that's…whoa. Sorry, I'm just so shocked. You never mentioned it before.
For good reason, thought Molly bitterly before she typed again.
I don't like to toss it around people would then try to sell me their ideas, have questions, etc. I like to keep myself away from all that. In the dark. I doubt a modern Lois Lane would be able to uncover so many cases as she did if people knew she was there to find the filth, you know?
Make sense.
He was hesitating. She knew he was. Now he was probably thinking about it all. Everything he told her. Everything she told him. What it all meant and how was it that she, his Mo, was someone who was writing about him like that.
They're pretty awesome, huh? The vigilantes.
She smiled again. Of course, his ego wanted to know what she thought about them.
The smile was still filled with worry, but she continued to write and delete and then write again.
The one with the orange mask is okay.
She could only imagine what Mi thought about it now. Probably feeling a bit better.
Oh really? So what else do you think about him, the one with the orange mask? You must have seen tons of pictures? He's pretty amazing, hot, charming?
She rolled her eyes thinking Way, to be subtle about it, Mi.
Molly was tempted to write: pretty lame.
But instead, she wrote.
He was awesome just like before.
Before?
She took a deep breath. This was it. This was what she wanted and needed to do. Jay was right. She needed closure and to deal with things. She couldn't let them on ice for now what good would they bring in the future? She wanted to come clean to Kim, but since she was still in the coma, this was the best next thing. Derek told her if Mi was just as awesome as she told him he was, he would forgive her. She wouldn't deserve it, but she hoped deep down in her human heart it would be true.
With that in mind, Molly started to write.
I met them once. Well mostly him, the one with the orange mask. I was walking from school since my Chevi gave up on me again and these assholes pull me into the alley. I'm mute so I couldn't scream. It used to be the scariest thing that ever happened to me…I thought they would seriously hurt me or kill me and no one would know. One of them had this mustache like Poirot and afterward, I seriously thought would I have been killed by a guy who thinks that mustache is cool or something?
They tried to take my bag and then my necklace and I froze. I just froze and I couldn't give it to them, but then these guys showed up and kick ass. Like really kick ass. It was awesome and almost unreal that they were real and there. I posted things and wrote about them for months and there they were like…I don't even know how to explain how relieved and shocked I was to see them. When they were done with those assholes, one of them was nice enough to get me back my bag. The one with the orange mask. He looked at me and gave me my bag and was really…nice kind of funny.
He looked like he was assumed and later I thought damn he must be the type which makes it fun to be around.
There was a very long pause in which Molly tried to imagine every single answer Mi could respond it, but nothing seemed to fit for the situation. When finally he did respond Molly realized she left out the most important thing she should have said about the story.
What did you do?
I signed him thank you.
She tapped the keyboard again waiting for his reply. Everything inside her was tense and was screaming for him to do something.
Instead, the asshole logged out.
She was left speechless staring at the screen for several moments unsure of whether to write him back or something, but he didn't come back. She felt like he slapped her or something as she fully realized that she just messed up their friendship completely. It was a mistake. She shouldn't have told him. She should have kept it a secret, and…she sighed. No, it was the right thing to do, she should have told him the first time she figured it out. She would be in less of a mess than she was now.
Molly logged out as well and went to sit on her bed for a moment before she started to cry just from all that stress and events of the past few weeks coming to an end. She just needed to get it all out again.
She didn't hear from Mi the next day and didn't see him online the times she was. It felt like payback for ignoring his apology after Christmas. She missed him. She missed him so much.
She thought about writing someone else like Amanda, Corina, Owen, Jay or even Nicole, and the angry kid from their Fortnite group, but shot each of them down once she opened their chat windows. She didn't know what to say, and honestly, knowing that Mi never wanted to talk to her again made her feel like never talking to anyone ever again too even more than usual.
Alright, that wasn't totally true. She talked to nana and their neighbor on her way from the building and she would definitely need to talk to her boss in a few minutes, so that plan couldn't work. Not to mention, Mikey never said he never wanted to talk to her again, he just logged out and didn't come back. Not like she texted him anything afterward. Maybe she should have.
But what?
Sorry I kept the fact that I know who you are from you for months.
Maybe that wouldn't be a bad start. She really needed to find some balls to talk to him. This was stupid. Before she at least had the option of talking to him when she was buying herself time by avoiding talking to him. Now, he was the one who would decide when or if they would ever talk again, and she selfishly hated it.
She got into the kids' center about twenty minutes later telling herself she was definitely taking the bus back home and going to fix her car on Monday. Walking and thinking about things was fun, but she had no intention of making a thing out of it. Her boss called her to come to get her paycheck today since the center was closed due to holidays for another week, and thank God she did cause she really needed the money for her car. Maybe she really should just get rid of it, but it was her car. Her baby. It had character and more damage than a ninety-year-old veteran, but it was still her car.
Getting the check was quick and before she knew it she was out of the building. Once out Molly felt her blood run cold when she caught the sight of the silver car and black plate number she knew all too well.
Fuck!
She pushed her beanie lower and tried to continue to walk casually. What the hell was he doing here? How did he know she would be here today?
It occurred to her that last year when the kids' center was closed, she mentioned to him that she still had to go get her paycheck between the holidays.
The car finally caught up with her at its slow pace and she heard his voice, 'Come on, Molly, let's talk.'
She felt sick at the sound of his voice. It was the first time she heard it since it happened, and honestly, Molly almost wished she was deaf at that moment just to never have to hear it again.
'Molly, please, we're not kids anymore,' he continued to say and follow her on her way from the parking lot. She had to take the back entrance because only her boss was in the main office today.
Shit.
'Molly, if you don't stop, I will continue to follow you through the whole street like this,' he told her, and she closed her eyes. Nicole told her she needed to get back her power, well, she sure as hell wouldn't get it from running away.
It was daylight, but she couldn't scream.
It was the middle of the day, but they were in a parking lot pretty far from people actually seeing them if something happened.
Molly watched enough horror and crime tv shows to know she was not that stupid.
But she still stopped crossed her arms and waited for him to stop by her.
He looked different today. Worried and tired with circles under his eyes like he hadn't slept very well for a while. She never saw him like this even when he stressed about his parents, school, or the game.
'Thank you,' he said once he stopped the car. It sounded sincere. But it also sounded sincere when he kissed her and told her he never wanted to hurt her because she was upset about him fake dating Kim. Yet he punched her. Twice. It proved his sincerity didn't have to be real. Nothing good about him had to be real.
She kept her arms crossed looking at him waiting for him to talk. Just then she told herself she wouldn't engage.
'Can you come into the car?' he asked, but she shook her head instantly the only answer she planned to give away to him.
He nodded, 'Alright. Look, you probably read my messages so this will be pretty repetitive,' he said and offered her a small smile she in no way wanted to return or found anything but painful now, 'But I'm sorry. I…I don't know. It…everything was a blur. We were making out and then you out of nowhere punched me. I panicked. Remember how I told you sometimes in the game we just elbow someone or shove each other, we don't mean to it is just instinct. When you punched me, I just blacked out and the fear kicked in, and I just wanted to defend myself. I'm sorry-it's…I can't even say how sorry I am, and if I could take it I would.'
Molly listened to him occasionally looking away to the street just to see if there still were some people. He sounded tired and worried. He sounded like the Matt she knew. The Matt she fell in love with and wanted to be with even if it was in secret. All in the past tense now. He sounded like he was sorry, but he still did it, and it didn't explain why he took pictures of her or left her on the ground. Did Jesus tell him to apologize? What about Kim? What the hell was that even? Instinct? Give her a break.
Matt pulled out something from his dashboard and Molly blinked uncrossing her arms, 'You must have lost it here that one time…we went out.'
He handed her over the window her necklace. The one her mom gave her before things got bad with dad and she ditched her and Derek for a new family. Molly knew he meant she must have lost it the last time they went out. Since their secret relationship, they almost exclusively spent time in Molly's room. It was safer that way since Molly never had visitors, not even her close three friends and her nana had a schedule with her dancing classes they could use to be together. However, rarely, maybe five times in total, Matt suggested they go out. Molly was scared and skittish all the time worrying someone would see them even if he drove them to the country-side or the woods or some remote locations with no one around where they talked and hooked up. She remembered she accused him later that he just wanted to have sex in semi-public.
She reached her hand feeling her palms go sweaty inside her gloves as Matt handed the little necklace to her.
'It's nice,' he said and smiled almost softly and boyishly the way which made her always think how handsome he was only to now make her stomach turn like it wanted Molly to let out the remains of her breakfast, 'It looks good on you. You should be more careful about it.'
That was when Molly realized this wasn't sincere at all. It was a cover or a game or a part of a plan she didn't know. The last time she and Matt went out was during the summer, but she knew for a fact she still had the necklace on her in autumn when she first met Mikey and the other NY vigilantes. This she was sure of.
She tried to recall the last time she had the necklace after that but couldn't. Did Matt take it before she gained consciousness after he hit her? Where did he find it? She kept it by her nightstand or hanging over her lamp? She couldn't remember, but she knew for sure it was not lost in his car.
'Aren't you going to thank me?' he asked his voice small and nice, and everything Molly Jones started to hate at that very moment.
She pushed the necklace into her pocket feeling like she might cry or try and punch him again before she smirked wondering if she could pull off Jay's silent coldness or Nicole's hot anger when she lifted her free hand and gave him the middle finger.
His smile dropped, and Molly saw him exactly for who he as just then. The boy who punched her pulled down her pants, took pictures of her, and kept her as a secret fuck while he dated someone else. She was really stupid to fall for all that, wasn't she?
She started to talk to the exit of the parking lot feeling a small victory inside her proud of herself for the first time since well forever. She thought about the time Mikey said she was a good person who made human mistakes. It made her smile now. She was close to actually believing it.
Close to the exit of the parking lot, Molly heard Matt's car running fast behind her. She didn't turn around, but as she felt the hair on the back of her neck stood up from survival fear, she jumped to the side just as Matt floored it out of there to the street earning a few honks and some elderly woman complaining that he could run someone over.
Molly reached out and nervously tugged her beanie wondering if that someone was supposed to be her.
Personally, Molly knew she was an insomniac. She had a tendency to stay up late or go to sleep and wake up in odd hours. Derek used to say he didn't understand why she hated sleeping, but that wasn't the case. She liked sleeping. She thought sleeping was like a free trial of dying every night and coming back to life. She liked sleeping. Which sane person didn't? She just liked sleeping in her own time. Like now she woke up close to 2 A.M and was ready to work on Vigilantes of New York or something else. She knew Mikey was probably out and even if he wasn't it was obvious he hated her now or didn't trust her or-texted her.
Molly sat up on her bed in an instant looking at the last text message. She had several. From Jay, Corina, Amanda, Nicole? Wtf? And then from Mi.
Hey, are you up? I'm on the rooftop.
She blinked, and then she immediately rushed out of the door grabbing some sneakers from the hallway not even caring she didn't have a warm coat or jacket on her already bolting up the stairs before she could even clearly think about how the hell did Mi know where she lived.
Mikey started to think it was a stupid idea. She was probably asleep. He would wait another ten minutes and then go. What…what did he even expect? It was what 2 – 3 in the morning? And he didn't even let her know upfront. He just…he didn't know what he was thinking. They went on patrol as usual, and well, he knew from Donnie where she lived at least the address so he just figured he might as well see if she wanted to meet him in person. When she wrote to him she knew who he was and was the one responsible for the website, he just logged out. He wasn't sure how else to deal with it at that moment, but the more he thought about it the more he realized what was there to deal with. Mo was his friend. She told him stuff about her, and yeah she figured stuff about him, but she knew so for a while apparently and didn't try to use it to her advantage or to hurt him. She didn't write about it on the VNY site. She didn't try to get info from him about his location or anything. She was cool about it. Maybe she was waiting for him to tell her? But she didn't pressure him into it not even when she told him she just told him herself. Anyway, he hated it when she didn't text him and knew it was a dick move to do the same to her so he decided he wanted to talk to her. For real. Face to face and just…sort it out.
Now when he was standing on the roof in the middle of the night, he was starting to think it was a stupid idea, however. Then he heard the rushed footsteps and slowly walked backwards into the shadows of the rooftop. The pigeons in cages that were also on the roof finally decided he wasn't a treat and stopped making out panicked noises.
Could it be her?
The footsteps stopped, and Mikey heard a sound of rusty metal being moved. Whoever it was, was trying to open the old door to the rooftop and failing since it was also two minutes and the door remained closed.
He chuckled as he heard someone finally kicked them open and watched as a petite girl in what looked like pajama pants and a hoodie walked from behind it.
He opened his mouth to say something but stopped as he realized…this was Molly. It was idiotic really. Mikey knew that it would be Molly who would show up, he texted her and well he wanted her to come to the roof. He was tempted to roll his eyes or laugh at himself later, but seeing her walk to the rooftop in the middle of the night holding onto her phone and just actually and really being there a few feet away from him was shocking and very surreal.
Mikey was starstruck in place. She was just there. Really there. He saw her out in the open, and it was strange. Not bad strange, just strange. Mikey never met anyone he talked on the internet before. He never met anyone who knew who he was upfront either. Not like Mo at least.
Seeing her looking around trying to find him, he remembered all their conversation, and his first idea was to make a pun or joke or call her babe like before, but none of that seemed to fit. She wasn't just some girl. She was Molly. His friend, his closest outside his family friend, who he texted and played and laughed with for literal months. The girl he returned the bag to was a stranger, but this was his friend Mo.
He should call out to her not to startle her.
Mikey made a step closer and accidentally knocking into some wooden box in his tranz. Whoa, he really sucked sometimes.
Molly turned around startled and the phone fell out of her hand.
He grimaced and brushed the back of his head.
So much for not startling her.
'Hey, sorry, I wasn't planning to scare you, Mo,' he said and carefully walked out of the shadows revealing himself, 'I was actually planning to call something like: The Aquaman movie sucked and you would sign who said that or some other DC geek would if he heard me…,' his voice went quiet by the end and Mikey realized Molly didn't sign anything. She didn't do anything just stood there and watched him with this almost sad expression on her face.
Did he mess up? Maybe she didn't want to meet with him or she was disappointed. Kind of like don't meet your hero kids. Before he saved her, and they didn't know each other so it was okay to act any way they wanted, but now they told each other a lot about each other and along with knowing who he was it could make it awkward for them to be around each other. Not to mention, he was a large turtle so not the most aesthetically pleasing to look at in real life.
Oh, shell!
He really hoped that wasn't the case.
Mikey was never at a loss of words, but right now he didn't know what to tell her or how to break the ice. He didn't want to make it even weirder. He wanted to talk to her. He wondered how before he suddenly raised his hand pressed it again forehead and signed one of the only words he could without needing more fingers.
Hi.
Then before he could say anything else, Molly started to run. She literally ran up to him those few feet which separated them and jumped at him.
Mikey was a ninja so it was seriously no problem to catch the petite girl as she threw her arms around his neck like a monkey. He carefully put his hand on her back keeping her in place as he felt her breath against his skin.
She smelled nice.
She hadn't showered for a few days so he could smell the sweat on her and that her clothes were used, but oddly it was a nice smell, not clean like Jay's, but very nice in Mikey's opinion.
When he felt the hug was a bit too long for friends, he tried to pat her back and set her down when he felt something wet running down his neck and chest.
He had a funny thought that she was drooling on him before he felt her shoulders and then whole body shake a bit.
Mikey carefully sat her down put continued to hold her close as he realized she was crying. He didn't understand why, but he figured what was the best thing to do right now. Just hold her close.
He moved her a bit more against the crock of his neck and freed his other hand that wasn't on her back to lift her feet into the air. She didn't let out a sound or looked up at him to see what he was doing as he in a very damsel in distressed kind of way picked her up and sat down with her on the ground letting her cry it out.
'It's cool, I promise I won't tell anyone that you're a softy,' he said and felt her shake her head against his neck and shoulder. It tickled. Her hair wasn't this long in the pictures.
'Yeah, it's probably because The Avengers didn't big LGBT character reveal was just one of the guys from Marvel in the opening scene. It made me want to cry too,' he said and continued to brush her back thinking about what else he could say, 'Oh, or was it about not understanding Interstellar?'
He didn't hear her, but she made a jumpy move. The shaking stopped.
'Personally, I think the fact that we didn't get to see a Bellarke kiss in season six like the biggest tragedy. I have been shipping them since episode one and now the actors are married. Also when you screwed the mission last week that was tragic as hell. Seriously lost my faint in humanity-'
The last one earned him a punch into the shoulder which made him chuckle.
He looked down at the girl in his arms who carefully leaned away from his neck to look up at him. It was hard to make out things in the dark, but Mikey was trained since he could walk to see more in the dark than ordinary people. Molly's eyes were red, but she didn't look as sad as someone who was just crying would look.
She then sighed and signed him something which was luckily one of the few words Mikey already learned by now.
Sorry
He didn't know if she meant the crying or knowing who he was or their fight before Christmas again, but Mikey smiled.
'Don't worry about it. We're good.'
She nodded and hugged him again not as desperately as before though but still firmly. He hugged her back still keeping her seated in his lap. It was a nice hug now, not so needy and sad. Mikey closed his eyes and continued to hold her like that. He was right. She smelled really nice.