CHAPTER FIVE

Naomi was pleasantly surprised with her dinner-ravioli. It was delicious, ever better than her own cooking! Mike seemed pleased when she asked for seconds.
" It's just really good," she admitted, " Much better than mine. There must some kind of herb in this. What is it?"
" A chef never reveals his secrets," Mike grinned as he took some more salad.
" I might be coming around for dinner more often then," Naomi said, " Sometimes I get sick of cooking for myself all the time."
" So you live on your own do you?" Leo filled his glass with coke and passed the jug onto Raph.
" yup," Naomi fell silent, realizing she was talking about herself, which was one thing she was determined not to do.
" Do you have a boyfriend?" Mike blurted out.
" Mike!" Don admonished him, even though he'd been dying to know, " That's a personal question."
" It's okay Don-no, I don't have one. I'm single," Naomi hesitated, " Do you have a girlfriend?" she retorted and the turtles laughed. Then she noticed the rat was missing.
" Where's Splinter?"
" He usually joins us for dinner, but he's meditating at the moment," Leo told her.
Naomi looked at each of the turtles. They were so different from each other…and acted so much like humans it was incredible. She realized now why they had to keep their existence a secret ( most of the time that is), they'd be treated as guinea pigs by scientists for the rest of the lives.
To me, they ARE humans, she thought, except they have shells on their backs, green skin and tails.
After dinner, Leo asked Naomi if she'd like to play a game of chess. Raph groaned at his suggested, " Chess! That's so boring,"
" I have a better idea," Mike disappeared for a minute and returned with the game Twister, " How 'bout it guys? Lets flip a coin to see who spins the dial first."
Raph groaned again, " Twister is equally lame,"
Leo glared at him, " If you don't want to play, you don't have to Raph. Stop complaining-remember we have company."
Mike set the game up on the floor, " Of course he has to play. The more people, the better it is."
Don got an image of being tangled up with Naomi and his face burned, " I'll spin," he volunteered.
" I thought we were going to flip a coin," Raph objected.
While they argued over who was going first, Naomi quietly sneaked away and headed for Splinter's room. He was sitting in his armchair reading.
" Hi Splinter," she greeted him. She hadn't seen him since she arrived.
The rat looked up, " Hello young one," he replied, " How was dinner?"
Naomi stepped into the room, " It was fine. Mike is a great cook. Did you teach him?"
Splinter smiled and shook his head, " No, its one of his natural talents," he said and patted the cushion next to him, " Join me my child."
" Thanks…but I'm playing Twister with them. I just wanted to say hi."
" Tell them I'll watch soon," Splinter said and she nodded. She went back to rejoin the turtles to find Mike on his all fours underneath Leo and laughing hysterically.
" Right hand left," Don called and Leo groaned.
" Impossible! I'll need a longer arm,"
" You can do it Leo, you guys are ninjas…aren't ninjas meant to be flexible?" Naomi encouraged him, chuckling.
" Its your turn next Naomi," Mike gave her a wicked grin as Leo placed his left hand over Mike's head, nearly whacking him in the process. Mike finally lost his balance and toppled over, Leo falling onto him.
" That's me done," Mike took the dial from Don.
" Mikey, I think you've put on some weight," Leo massaged his shoulder, " You weigh a ton,"
" I have not," Mike shot back but knew Leo was kidding.
Mike spun the dial, " Naomi, right hand red," he said.

* * *

While the turtles were playing Twister with Naomi, a dark figure scurried down the street towards Naomi's apartment, with a can of kerosene. He went up the elevator and stopped before her door and jimmied it open with a screwdriver. He barged in and began sloshing the kerosene all over the apartment. Then he took a match and lit it.
Its shame you weren't here, Id kill two birds with one stone, he thought as he threw the match onto the floor and ran out, slamming the door behind him.
The apartment burst into flames and from the street, the figure could see deadly flames leaping out of her window and he smiled.