A Christmas To Remember
Chapter 19: A New Arrival
Tailor was already showered and dressed and waiting for her dad's arrival. She had put on a pair of black jeans and a white, long sleeved top that had a red 'adidas' logo in the middle of it. She kept the sleeves rolled up like she normally did and had put some trainers on. Last night on the phone she had told her dad about meeting Elliot at 9:00 and her dad said he would come at 8:50 so he could see her before she went. It was now 8:45 and she was perched on a stool with April and Casey sitting on the sofa opposite her.
"Stop looking so nervous, Tailor", April said softly.
Casey nodded in agreement and kept his arm around April's shoulder. Why did he have to remind her of Elliot? That is just what Elliot always did to her.
"I'm not nervous", Tailor answered. "It's just that . . . when I rang dad last night to tell him about meeting Elliot he said that he'd be bringing a young woman that he met just after I left India . . . you know that April".
"She sounded perfectly nice when I spoke to her on the phone", April said with a nod. "Maybe you'll like her".
"I hate her already", Tailor mumbled.
Her dad had told her that he was bringing a woman named 'Lydia'. Even the name put her off. Lydia? It didn't sound as nice as her mum's.
"You'll really like her", her dad had said in his soft voice.
"Maybe", Tailor had replied.
Now she sat there. Not nervous exactly but a bit shaky. She wasn't used to her dad bringing a new woman in their lives. He had dates in the past, but Tailor had always choose them for him, and she got along with them well, but they always moved or had to go away for work. Now he had picked one, but Tailor had seen movies where they were step-moms from hell. Well, Tailor didn't need a step-mom; she wanted her real mother back.
She needed to tell Elliot about this. That's why she had her trainers on so she was ready to go see him. Then after she had vowed to visit the guys. Of course her dad didn't know about them. He'd be a bit freaked if he found out she went into the undergrounds of New York.
Dead when the clock struck 8:50, the buzzer went. Tailor leaped off the stool and limped over to the door. Her foot was healing nicely now and she could walk on it without hardly any limping involved. She opened the door and smiled.
"Hey Papa", she said sweetly.
"Hey Tailor, sweetheart", said the strapping young man in the doorway. Tailor noticed that her dad looked more handsome then ever and he was tanned more. His eyes glowed at her and so did his brown / gold hair.
"Come give me a hug", her dad said.
Tailor let go of the door and wrapped her arms around her dad's neck. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She took in the smell of his body spray and smiled. He always had his own scent. Her mum's was adidas perfume, that's why Tailor wore it so much.
"I miss you dad", she said, pressed into his shirt.
"I miss you too, Tailor", her dad took in the smell of his daughter's long, beautiful hair, which was plaited back. Grape conditioner.
"Hey Tony", April said warmly. She had come up behind Tailor and had put a hand on her niece's shoulder. April smiled at her brother, handsome as always, she thought proudly.
"Hi April", Tony let go off his daughter and put his arms around his sister's neck. "You look great", he said into her curly hair. He let go of her and looked at her. She did look great. With her soft curls and black jeans complete with a beige long sleeve top. She also had a special glow in her eyes.
Tony looked past her to Casey on the sofa.
"S'up dude", Casey said politely, raising his hand.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, April?" Tony asked, knowing there was more to Casey than he thought.
April smiled and glanced back at Casey. "Just a friend", she said with a small glint in her eye.
"I bet", Tony said smiling.
Tailor walked over and sat down next to Casey. "I think he's cute", she said innocently to her father.
"Ah ha, bit old for you missy", her father said.
Casey smiled and gave a stern look to Tailor. Tailor shrugged innocently and leaned over. "You're not my father", she whispered in Casey's ear.
Tony and April were in a small conversation when Tailor got up and walked over to the door. She grabbed her black jacket off the coat rack and put it on. "I better go", she said. "I gotta meet Elliot". She gave April a peck on her cheek and headed out the door.
"Wait sweetie", Tony said, holding his daughter back. "First, I want you to meet Lydia".
Tailor nodded, keeping calm. "Sure".
"Ok", her father smiled, revealing his dimples and waved his arm out of the door. Footsteps could be heard and Tailor held her breath.
If she's like one of those women from 'Parent Trap', Tailor thought, with a perfectly styled hair and red, rosy lipstick and a posh voice and designer dresses, I'll hate her.
The footsteps stopped and Tailor looked into the doorway getting her first sight of Lydia. If 'Parent Trap' was a bad case, then this was worse. Lydia had short, layered hair that looked as hard as a rock with hairspray and glowed a gold colour. She was wearing a black dress complete with high, black sandals. Her face was beautiful, no lying there, with dimples and bright brown eyes. Her lips were rosy red with lipstick and she had long eyelashes. Her long legs took a stride towards her and Tailor took a step back.
Even Casey had his mouth open in shock. Even he wouldn't fall for her. She was the kind of woman that cared about one thing. Looks.
April closed her open mouth and held out her hand. "Lovely to meet you, Lydia. Tony has told me so much about you".
"Really", Lydia said in a high, posh accent and taking April's hand in hers. April took a small glance at her long, red painted nails. "He has told me nothing about you".
Good, April thought.
"And this must be Tailor!" Lydia let go of April's hand and bent down to Tailor level, which wasn't very far considering she was only a little bit taller, then her. "Wonderful to meet you"
"Wish I could say the same", Tailor mumbled to herself. Her mum was beautiful by nature. She was beautiful by money and make-up.
"You are a beautiful young girl!" Lydia said in a high voice.
Tailor gave her best, put-on smile. Her dad raised his eyebrows at her because he knew when his daughter was going to be sarcastic or say something inappropriate.
"You are a beautiful young lady!" Tailor said in a similar voice to Lydia's, nearly making Casey laugh.
"Why thank you", Lydia said, flattered.
Uh oh, Tony thought, my daughter's going in for the kill.
Tailor's smile dropped. "I get my looks from my mother though", she added bitterly. "Not a beauty store". Tailor gave a satisfied nod to her dad and walked straight out of the apartment, closing the door behind her.
I'm going to have a word with her; was Tony's last thought.
//
'La Fromage' was buzzing with its usual people. Kids from Elliot's school sat on high chairs that went around the room and chatted away furiously. Other kids that Elliot didn't know were sat on the tables in the middle of the room. Some boys and some girls. Elliot had sat himself near the bar. 'La Fromage' was mainly a place for 15 and 16 year olds to hang out. He and Tailor had discovered when they had just turned 15. It wasn't built that long ago, but with more kids going off to school they needed a place to hang around at weekends and in the holidays.
Elliot looked around. It wasn't like Tailor to be late but he knew she probably had good reason. It was 9:10, so 10 minutes didn't matter to him. He wasn't doing anything afterwards. He wanted to spend some quality time with his best friend.
"Yo Elliot, what would ya like?" asked Jamie behind the bar. They had made the place look quite grown-up to include a bar.
"Nothing, Jamie, thanks".
"Aww, c'mon", Jamie said, running a hand through his black hair. "On da house! You look bummed".
"Just a coke please", Elliot said.
"So what's wrong?" Jamie asked him while taking the cap off a bottle off coke. "You're never normally bummed".
"Tailor's leaving", Elliot said, hands on the counter.
"Bummer", Jamie said. "That long, blonde hair one?"
Elliot nodded in reply.
"She's cute, she going back to India, huh?" Jamie had been working in 'La Fromage' since his dad opened it, so he knew most of the gossip. But most people talked about how cool Tailor was. That she was just popular by nature without doing anything.
"Yeah", Elliot said. "She's meeting me here".
"I'll miss her", Jamie said sympathetically. "She's cool. We often say 'hi' if I ever see her. Last time I did was in the summer holidays".
"Yeah, she's friends with anyone, she'd never say anything bad", Elliot said with admiration for his friend.
"Here", Jamie handed the bottle of coke to his friend and wiped his hands on a cloth that was attached to his trouser belt.
"Thanks", Elliot took it gratefully and smiled.
"The Queen arrives", Jamie said after 5 minutes. "Damnit. Obviously, as always, heads turn, I bet that gets annoying for her".
Elliot turned around and saw that Jamie was right. As soon as Tailor came in, even wearing her daily clothes, nearly every head turned. Boys turned their heads as if they've seen a glimpse of heaven and girls turn their heads in jealousy. Jamie smiled at Elliot and he smiled back. It wasn't exactly fair on Tailor and probably only Jamie, Garth, Emma and him knew that. But Tailor dealt with it.
Elliot watched his friend stop and give a fed-up stare at everyone. She put her hands on her hips and sighed.
"As you were!!" She said loudly. Everyone quickly turned their heads back to chatting but their topics changed to talking about Tailor, either about how beautiful she is or how envious people were.
Tailor just nodded and walked over to Elliot. She sat on a stool and smiled at him. "Hi", she said softly.
Elliot knew something was different.
"Yo Tailor! Long time no see, want a drink?"
Tailor smiled and hugged Jamie over the bar, getting jealous glances from a few girls and the same from a few boys. Jamie stuck his tongue out at most of them and Tailor giggled.
"Hi Jamie! Coke please". She let go of him and put her arms on the counter, tapping slightly.
"How's ya foot?" Elliot asked her.
"Perfect, can walk without limping now".
"So what's wrong?"
Tailor sighed and accepted her coke off Jamie. He said a quick 'bye' to them and went to serve at the other end of the bar. Tailor gave a smile to Jamie and turned her attention back to Elliot.
"My dad's back", she said quietly.
"That's a problem?" Elliot said, confused.
"No", Tailor said. "It's the bimbo he's brought back with him! Stupid. I hate her Elliot, I really do. Do you remember 'Parent Trap'? Well, she's worse! Much, much worse!"
Elliot's eyes widened. "Worse?"
"Yeah", Tailor said putting a hand to her forehead and sipping her coke. "I've never seen someone as bad as her. All looks. She don't care a hell about my dad, she's nothing like my mother. All she cares about is money".
"What's her name?" Elliot asked.
"Do I have to say it?"
"If you want me to help you? Yes, you do".
"Lydia. Eww, hate her, hate her, hate her", Tailor pushed her drink aside and rested her hands on the counter, fiddling with her fingers.
"How can you hate her if you've only just met her?"
"It's just a feeling that you know, Elliot, I can just tell, like when I'm upset or something, you can just tell, can't you?"
"Suppose so, but -."
"No buts. I know she's trouble". Tailor rested her head in her hands.
"So what are you going to do?" Elliot said, looking at his friend.
"What can I do? Dad has made his decision. Who I am to interfere with that? I'm his daughter. I can't decide for him. If he wants her . . . then that's his choice . . . I'm not going to be cruel and take that from him".
"You're so kind, you know that Tailor".
"Yeah right, if I'm so kind then why did I say to Lydia that I get my beautiful looks by nature and she gets them in a beauty store? Dad won't be happy about that", her voice sounded muffled because her head was pressed against her hands.
"Did she say you was beautiful?" Elliot asked her.
"Yeah . . . That's why I said that remark . . . but she was commenting on me to make a good impression on my dad, like it was true".
Elliot was about to say something against that when a boy strolled over to them and put his arm around Tailor.
"Hey babe", he slurred. "Want a drink?"
"Got one babe", Tailor slurred back. "Thanks anyway, bye!" She gave him a shove and he walked off, mouthing words under his breath.
"See?" Elliot said when he was gone. "You ARE beautiful, otherwise he wouldn't have came up to ya".
"Jerk", Tailor mumbled.
Elliot sighed and grabbed her hands. "Maybe you ought to just TRY and be nice to this Lydia, it couldn't hurt to get to know her".
"I guess you're right, two days couldn't hurt", she squeezed Elliot's hands. "As long as you come and see me tomorrow, that's when we leave. WE. Including Lydia I'm guessing".
//
"Hey Raph!!" Tailor walked down into the sewer tunnel and saw that Raph was already in there. "Going somewhere?" She asked.
"No", Raph answered. "Just taking a break from a daily routine. Mikey's getting on my nerves as well"
"Yeah . . . what doing?" Tailor asked leaning against a wall.
Raph leaned on the wall opposite her. "Just being Mikey", he said.
Tailor smiled at him.
"Aren't you supposed to be with April?" Raph asked her. "Your dad's coming isn't he? I thought you was supposed to meet him".
"I stomped out", she said rather sadly. "Dad brought LYDIA back with him"; she said her name in a baby voice. "I don't like her, she's like the bimbo off 'Parent Trap', but I spoke to Elliot and he said I should try and be nice to her".
"Might as well get to know her", Raph agreed.
"You're just like Elliot!" Tailor moaned. "No one knows what she's really like. Even Casey was shocked because of her!"
"Probably just gawping at her looks", Raph said, folding his arms.
"No . . . it was shock. Looks aren't everything! Damn looks! Hate it!"
"You've got no complaining", Raph said.
Tailor sighed. "I have. I know dad says I look just like mum and that she was beautiful. But you don't have to put up with it! Eyes watching you wherever you go. Pointing. Jealousy. I walked in that place where I was meeting Elliot and people think I don't notice heads turn? I had to shout 'as you were' to get them to turn back".
Raph let out a chuckle. "You said that?"
Tailor shrugged. "Had to".
"Ya know, people would kill just to have your looks", Raph said, he blushed a little but he wasn't bothered.
"I know . . . But they'd get sick of it". Tailor lowered her head. She was sick of it. Only Elliot, Jamie, Garth, Emma, April, Casey, Splinter and the guys knew how much it bothered her.
"Hey, you ok?" Raph walked over and stood next to her.
Tailor sniffed. "I'm sick of it all", she said in a quiet voice. "I also don't want to leave".
Raph stared at her, wide eyed. "You don't want to leave here? But what about India?"
"Who cares?! This is where my real friends are. Elliot - ESPECIALLY Elliot. Garth. Emma. Jamie. April. Casey. Splinter. Mikey. Leo. Donnie. YOU".
"I wouldn't consider myself a real friend", Raph said.
"I would!" Tailor objected. "I don't want to leave".
She surprised Raph when he saw two big tears drops fall from her cheeks and onto the floor. Tailor quickly wiped her eyes and looked at Raph.
"I love my dad, Raph. I'd do anything for him. That includes being nice to Lydia. But it's hard. If only you'd see her, anyone would be able tell she was all money and no love. Even April could tell. I could tell . . . what am I going to do?"
A few more tears escaped her eyes and fell onto the floor. Raph felt a pang of sadness touch him. Did she really go through this much? It was amazing how strong she was and now she was standing in front of him, weak and upset.
Raph gently put an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, don't cry, you're supposed to be the strong one here. You'll get through this".
Tailor smiled. "Thanks".
Raph slowly put his other arm around her and pulled her into a hug. He knew she needed comforting right now but maybe Splinter would be better at this.
Tailor, touched by his comforting, leaned her head on his plastron. "Thanks", she repeated, her hands resting on his arms.
"No problem", Raph answered, taking in the scent of her hair. It was amazing, for the first time Raph had seen Tailor cry.
He let her go and kept his hands on her shoulders. "Better?" He asked, giving her a small smile.
Tailor sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Thanks".
"That all you can say?" He joked.
Tailor smiled and shook her head. "No, I'll be fine, I better go".
Raph walked over with her to the manhole. Tailor stared up at it and heard nothing, meaning to her that the coast was clear. She turned to Raph and gave him a hug. "Thanks, I'll see ya tomorrow, I'm spending all day with my dad and Lydia, I suppose, so April and me are coming here tomorrow . . . with Casey of course".
"Sure".
"Bye Raph", she kissed his cheek and climbed up the ladder and out of the manhole. She leaned back over it and looked down. "It was already open and I'm too weak to close it", she said with a smile. "See ya!"
Raph smiled and watched her go. He climbed up and watched Tailor round the corner. When he saw her safely limp around the corner he closed the manhole.
He'd miss Tailor, Raph thought while walking back home, no doubt about that. It wasn't fair that she would have to leave against her own will.
//
(Phew! This one wiped me out! Enjoy! More to come! Thanks for the reviews! Love ya all!)
Chapter 19: A New Arrival
Tailor was already showered and dressed and waiting for her dad's arrival. She had put on a pair of black jeans and a white, long sleeved top that had a red 'adidas' logo in the middle of it. She kept the sleeves rolled up like she normally did and had put some trainers on. Last night on the phone she had told her dad about meeting Elliot at 9:00 and her dad said he would come at 8:50 so he could see her before she went. It was now 8:45 and she was perched on a stool with April and Casey sitting on the sofa opposite her.
"Stop looking so nervous, Tailor", April said softly.
Casey nodded in agreement and kept his arm around April's shoulder. Why did he have to remind her of Elliot? That is just what Elliot always did to her.
"I'm not nervous", Tailor answered. "It's just that . . . when I rang dad last night to tell him about meeting Elliot he said that he'd be bringing a young woman that he met just after I left India . . . you know that April".
"She sounded perfectly nice when I spoke to her on the phone", April said with a nod. "Maybe you'll like her".
"I hate her already", Tailor mumbled.
Her dad had told her that he was bringing a woman named 'Lydia'. Even the name put her off. Lydia? It didn't sound as nice as her mum's.
"You'll really like her", her dad had said in his soft voice.
"Maybe", Tailor had replied.
Now she sat there. Not nervous exactly but a bit shaky. She wasn't used to her dad bringing a new woman in their lives. He had dates in the past, but Tailor had always choose them for him, and she got along with them well, but they always moved or had to go away for work. Now he had picked one, but Tailor had seen movies where they were step-moms from hell. Well, Tailor didn't need a step-mom; she wanted her real mother back.
She needed to tell Elliot about this. That's why she had her trainers on so she was ready to go see him. Then after she had vowed to visit the guys. Of course her dad didn't know about them. He'd be a bit freaked if he found out she went into the undergrounds of New York.
Dead when the clock struck 8:50, the buzzer went. Tailor leaped off the stool and limped over to the door. Her foot was healing nicely now and she could walk on it without hardly any limping involved. She opened the door and smiled.
"Hey Papa", she said sweetly.
"Hey Tailor, sweetheart", said the strapping young man in the doorway. Tailor noticed that her dad looked more handsome then ever and he was tanned more. His eyes glowed at her and so did his brown / gold hair.
"Come give me a hug", her dad said.
Tailor let go of the door and wrapped her arms around her dad's neck. He was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a white t-shirt. She took in the smell of his body spray and smiled. He always had his own scent. Her mum's was adidas perfume, that's why Tailor wore it so much.
"I miss you dad", she said, pressed into his shirt.
"I miss you too, Tailor", her dad took in the smell of his daughter's long, beautiful hair, which was plaited back. Grape conditioner.
"Hey Tony", April said warmly. She had come up behind Tailor and had put a hand on her niece's shoulder. April smiled at her brother, handsome as always, she thought proudly.
"Hi April", Tony let go off his daughter and put his arms around his sister's neck. "You look great", he said into her curly hair. He let go of her and looked at her. She did look great. With her soft curls and black jeans complete with a beige long sleeve top. She also had a special glow in her eyes.
Tony looked past her to Casey on the sofa.
"S'up dude", Casey said politely, raising his hand.
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend, April?" Tony asked, knowing there was more to Casey than he thought.
April smiled and glanced back at Casey. "Just a friend", she said with a small glint in her eye.
"I bet", Tony said smiling.
Tailor walked over and sat down next to Casey. "I think he's cute", she said innocently to her father.
"Ah ha, bit old for you missy", her father said.
Casey smiled and gave a stern look to Tailor. Tailor shrugged innocently and leaned over. "You're not my father", she whispered in Casey's ear.
Tony and April were in a small conversation when Tailor got up and walked over to the door. She grabbed her black jacket off the coat rack and put it on. "I better go", she said. "I gotta meet Elliot". She gave April a peck on her cheek and headed out the door.
"Wait sweetie", Tony said, holding his daughter back. "First, I want you to meet Lydia".
Tailor nodded, keeping calm. "Sure".
"Ok", her father smiled, revealing his dimples and waved his arm out of the door. Footsteps could be heard and Tailor held her breath.
If she's like one of those women from 'Parent Trap', Tailor thought, with a perfectly styled hair and red, rosy lipstick and a posh voice and designer dresses, I'll hate her.
The footsteps stopped and Tailor looked into the doorway getting her first sight of Lydia. If 'Parent Trap' was a bad case, then this was worse. Lydia had short, layered hair that looked as hard as a rock with hairspray and glowed a gold colour. She was wearing a black dress complete with high, black sandals. Her face was beautiful, no lying there, with dimples and bright brown eyes. Her lips were rosy red with lipstick and she had long eyelashes. Her long legs took a stride towards her and Tailor took a step back.
Even Casey had his mouth open in shock. Even he wouldn't fall for her. She was the kind of woman that cared about one thing. Looks.
April closed her open mouth and held out her hand. "Lovely to meet you, Lydia. Tony has told me so much about you".
"Really", Lydia said in a high, posh accent and taking April's hand in hers. April took a small glance at her long, red painted nails. "He has told me nothing about you".
Good, April thought.
"And this must be Tailor!" Lydia let go of April's hand and bent down to Tailor level, which wasn't very far considering she was only a little bit taller, then her. "Wonderful to meet you"
"Wish I could say the same", Tailor mumbled to herself. Her mum was beautiful by nature. She was beautiful by money and make-up.
"You are a beautiful young girl!" Lydia said in a high voice.
Tailor gave her best, put-on smile. Her dad raised his eyebrows at her because he knew when his daughter was going to be sarcastic or say something inappropriate.
"You are a beautiful young lady!" Tailor said in a similar voice to Lydia's, nearly making Casey laugh.
"Why thank you", Lydia said, flattered.
Uh oh, Tony thought, my daughter's going in for the kill.
Tailor's smile dropped. "I get my looks from my mother though", she added bitterly. "Not a beauty store". Tailor gave a satisfied nod to her dad and walked straight out of the apartment, closing the door behind her.
I'm going to have a word with her; was Tony's last thought.
//
'La Fromage' was buzzing with its usual people. Kids from Elliot's school sat on high chairs that went around the room and chatted away furiously. Other kids that Elliot didn't know were sat on the tables in the middle of the room. Some boys and some girls. Elliot had sat himself near the bar. 'La Fromage' was mainly a place for 15 and 16 year olds to hang out. He and Tailor had discovered when they had just turned 15. It wasn't built that long ago, but with more kids going off to school they needed a place to hang around at weekends and in the holidays.
Elliot looked around. It wasn't like Tailor to be late but he knew she probably had good reason. It was 9:10, so 10 minutes didn't matter to him. He wasn't doing anything afterwards. He wanted to spend some quality time with his best friend.
"Yo Elliot, what would ya like?" asked Jamie behind the bar. They had made the place look quite grown-up to include a bar.
"Nothing, Jamie, thanks".
"Aww, c'mon", Jamie said, running a hand through his black hair. "On da house! You look bummed".
"Just a coke please", Elliot said.
"So what's wrong?" Jamie asked him while taking the cap off a bottle off coke. "You're never normally bummed".
"Tailor's leaving", Elliot said, hands on the counter.
"Bummer", Jamie said. "That long, blonde hair one?"
Elliot nodded in reply.
"She's cute, she going back to India, huh?" Jamie had been working in 'La Fromage' since his dad opened it, so he knew most of the gossip. But most people talked about how cool Tailor was. That she was just popular by nature without doing anything.
"Yeah", Elliot said. "She's meeting me here".
"I'll miss her", Jamie said sympathetically. "She's cool. We often say 'hi' if I ever see her. Last time I did was in the summer holidays".
"Yeah, she's friends with anyone, she'd never say anything bad", Elliot said with admiration for his friend.
"Here", Jamie handed the bottle of coke to his friend and wiped his hands on a cloth that was attached to his trouser belt.
"Thanks", Elliot took it gratefully and smiled.
"The Queen arrives", Jamie said after 5 minutes. "Damnit. Obviously, as always, heads turn, I bet that gets annoying for her".
Elliot turned around and saw that Jamie was right. As soon as Tailor came in, even wearing her daily clothes, nearly every head turned. Boys turned their heads as if they've seen a glimpse of heaven and girls turn their heads in jealousy. Jamie smiled at Elliot and he smiled back. It wasn't exactly fair on Tailor and probably only Jamie, Garth, Emma and him knew that. But Tailor dealt with it.
Elliot watched his friend stop and give a fed-up stare at everyone. She put her hands on her hips and sighed.
"As you were!!" She said loudly. Everyone quickly turned their heads back to chatting but their topics changed to talking about Tailor, either about how beautiful she is or how envious people were.
Tailor just nodded and walked over to Elliot. She sat on a stool and smiled at him. "Hi", she said softly.
Elliot knew something was different.
"Yo Tailor! Long time no see, want a drink?"
Tailor smiled and hugged Jamie over the bar, getting jealous glances from a few girls and the same from a few boys. Jamie stuck his tongue out at most of them and Tailor giggled.
"Hi Jamie! Coke please". She let go of him and put her arms on the counter, tapping slightly.
"How's ya foot?" Elliot asked her.
"Perfect, can walk without limping now".
"So what's wrong?"
Tailor sighed and accepted her coke off Jamie. He said a quick 'bye' to them and went to serve at the other end of the bar. Tailor gave a smile to Jamie and turned her attention back to Elliot.
"My dad's back", she said quietly.
"That's a problem?" Elliot said, confused.
"No", Tailor said. "It's the bimbo he's brought back with him! Stupid. I hate her Elliot, I really do. Do you remember 'Parent Trap'? Well, she's worse! Much, much worse!"
Elliot's eyes widened. "Worse?"
"Yeah", Tailor said putting a hand to her forehead and sipping her coke. "I've never seen someone as bad as her. All looks. She don't care a hell about my dad, she's nothing like my mother. All she cares about is money".
"What's her name?" Elliot asked.
"Do I have to say it?"
"If you want me to help you? Yes, you do".
"Lydia. Eww, hate her, hate her, hate her", Tailor pushed her drink aside and rested her hands on the counter, fiddling with her fingers.
"How can you hate her if you've only just met her?"
"It's just a feeling that you know, Elliot, I can just tell, like when I'm upset or something, you can just tell, can't you?"
"Suppose so, but -."
"No buts. I know she's trouble". Tailor rested her head in her hands.
"So what are you going to do?" Elliot said, looking at his friend.
"What can I do? Dad has made his decision. Who I am to interfere with that? I'm his daughter. I can't decide for him. If he wants her . . . then that's his choice . . . I'm not going to be cruel and take that from him".
"You're so kind, you know that Tailor".
"Yeah right, if I'm so kind then why did I say to Lydia that I get my beautiful looks by nature and she gets them in a beauty store? Dad won't be happy about that", her voice sounded muffled because her head was pressed against her hands.
"Did she say you was beautiful?" Elliot asked her.
"Yeah . . . That's why I said that remark . . . but she was commenting on me to make a good impression on my dad, like it was true".
Elliot was about to say something against that when a boy strolled over to them and put his arm around Tailor.
"Hey babe", he slurred. "Want a drink?"
"Got one babe", Tailor slurred back. "Thanks anyway, bye!" She gave him a shove and he walked off, mouthing words under his breath.
"See?" Elliot said when he was gone. "You ARE beautiful, otherwise he wouldn't have came up to ya".
"Jerk", Tailor mumbled.
Elliot sighed and grabbed her hands. "Maybe you ought to just TRY and be nice to this Lydia, it couldn't hurt to get to know her".
"I guess you're right, two days couldn't hurt", she squeezed Elliot's hands. "As long as you come and see me tomorrow, that's when we leave. WE. Including Lydia I'm guessing".
//
"Hey Raph!!" Tailor walked down into the sewer tunnel and saw that Raph was already in there. "Going somewhere?" She asked.
"No", Raph answered. "Just taking a break from a daily routine. Mikey's getting on my nerves as well"
"Yeah . . . what doing?" Tailor asked leaning against a wall.
Raph leaned on the wall opposite her. "Just being Mikey", he said.
Tailor smiled at him.
"Aren't you supposed to be with April?" Raph asked her. "Your dad's coming isn't he? I thought you was supposed to meet him".
"I stomped out", she said rather sadly. "Dad brought LYDIA back with him"; she said her name in a baby voice. "I don't like her, she's like the bimbo off 'Parent Trap', but I spoke to Elliot and he said I should try and be nice to her".
"Might as well get to know her", Raph agreed.
"You're just like Elliot!" Tailor moaned. "No one knows what she's really like. Even Casey was shocked because of her!"
"Probably just gawping at her looks", Raph said, folding his arms.
"No . . . it was shock. Looks aren't everything! Damn looks! Hate it!"
"You've got no complaining", Raph said.
Tailor sighed. "I have. I know dad says I look just like mum and that she was beautiful. But you don't have to put up with it! Eyes watching you wherever you go. Pointing. Jealousy. I walked in that place where I was meeting Elliot and people think I don't notice heads turn? I had to shout 'as you were' to get them to turn back".
Raph let out a chuckle. "You said that?"
Tailor shrugged. "Had to".
"Ya know, people would kill just to have your looks", Raph said, he blushed a little but he wasn't bothered.
"I know . . . But they'd get sick of it". Tailor lowered her head. She was sick of it. Only Elliot, Jamie, Garth, Emma, April, Casey, Splinter and the guys knew how much it bothered her.
"Hey, you ok?" Raph walked over and stood next to her.
Tailor sniffed. "I'm sick of it all", she said in a quiet voice. "I also don't want to leave".
Raph stared at her, wide eyed. "You don't want to leave here? But what about India?"
"Who cares?! This is where my real friends are. Elliot - ESPECIALLY Elliot. Garth. Emma. Jamie. April. Casey. Splinter. Mikey. Leo. Donnie. YOU".
"I wouldn't consider myself a real friend", Raph said.
"I would!" Tailor objected. "I don't want to leave".
She surprised Raph when he saw two big tears drops fall from her cheeks and onto the floor. Tailor quickly wiped her eyes and looked at Raph.
"I love my dad, Raph. I'd do anything for him. That includes being nice to Lydia. But it's hard. If only you'd see her, anyone would be able tell she was all money and no love. Even April could tell. I could tell . . . what am I going to do?"
A few more tears escaped her eyes and fell onto the floor. Raph felt a pang of sadness touch him. Did she really go through this much? It was amazing how strong she was and now she was standing in front of him, weak and upset.
Raph gently put an arm around her shoulder. "Hey, don't cry, you're supposed to be the strong one here. You'll get through this".
Tailor smiled. "Thanks".
Raph slowly put his other arm around her and pulled her into a hug. He knew she needed comforting right now but maybe Splinter would be better at this.
Tailor, touched by his comforting, leaned her head on his plastron. "Thanks", she repeated, her hands resting on his arms.
"No problem", Raph answered, taking in the scent of her hair. It was amazing, for the first time Raph had seen Tailor cry.
He let her go and kept his hands on her shoulders. "Better?" He asked, giving her a small smile.
Tailor sniffed and wiped her eyes. "Thanks".
"That all you can say?" He joked.
Tailor smiled and shook her head. "No, I'll be fine, I better go".
Raph walked over with her to the manhole. Tailor stared up at it and heard nothing, meaning to her that the coast was clear. She turned to Raph and gave him a hug. "Thanks, I'll see ya tomorrow, I'm spending all day with my dad and Lydia, I suppose, so April and me are coming here tomorrow . . . with Casey of course".
"Sure".
"Bye Raph", she kissed his cheek and climbed up the ladder and out of the manhole. She leaned back over it and looked down. "It was already open and I'm too weak to close it", she said with a smile. "See ya!"
Raph smiled and watched her go. He climbed up and watched Tailor round the corner. When he saw her safely limp around the corner he closed the manhole.
He'd miss Tailor, Raph thought while walking back home, no doubt about that. It wasn't fair that she would have to leave against her own will.
//
(Phew! This one wiped me out! Enjoy! More to come! Thanks for the reviews! Love ya all!)