Radical Transformation
The following day couldn't have been better for an autumn period. The sun was shining and the whether wasn't cold but wasn't stifling hot. Just right for most people. At the minute, 'people' in the O'Neil apartment weren't up to take notice. But using the word 'people' doesn't sum up everyone in the place. Splinter was the first to rise and take note of the lovely morning.
He opened his door, and looked into the brightly lit room used as the main room and the kitchen. Even though the blinds were pulled, the sun was bright enough to shine through, and between the gaps.
Splinter did what he does every morning now: Makes himself a cup of tea to start the morning off, and waits for the waking of his sons. One of which was asleep on the couch, smiling about something in his sleep. Splinter smiled at him, and took his place in his armchair, where he sat peacefully, enjoying the morning light and the silence, wishing his sons could have had this long before now.
Upstairs, Leo was the first to rise out of the three identical teenagers in the little room. He opened his eyes, squinting against the light that was shining through the small window. He felt crushed, and turned to see why: both Donnie and Raph (on either side of him) had their backs to him, sleeping on their sides, pressed right against him, crushing him in-between them. Smiling, he slipped out and stretched.
Donnie groaned and rolled over onto his back, his head flopped to the side and he continued to sleep. Raph murmured something slurred, and slept on.
Leo got changed, and was just looking for his bandanna when he realised it was still around his forehead. Shrugging, he made his way downstairs.
The first thing he noticed was Splinter sat perfectly still, eyes closed in his armchair. Next, without moving his eyes, Leo took in Mikey, on the couch, laying on his stomach with his arm dangling to the floor and his injured leg stretched out on the opposite chair arm to the one his cheek was pressed against, giving him a lopsided look. His face showed a small smile that kept twitching ever so slightly.
"Morning Leonardo," Splinter said, opening his eyes and looking at his son.
Leo smiled. "Morning Master Splinter." He bowed respectfully, and sat on the edge of the couch next to Mikey.
"There is tea in the pot," Splinter announced, sipping his own.
"Oh, right," Leo nodded once. He got up and made his drink, and as he was carrying it back to the couch, Donnie appeared on the stairs, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Whassa time?" He asked, stretching. He looked for himself at the clock on the wall, and shrugged. He was up early for a non-school day. He stepped heavily off the last step, and made his way to the couch where he flopped down, nearly sitting on Mikey. He muttered an ' Oh, sorry Mike' and tightened his purple bandanna around his forehead; strands of his messy hair fell over it.
Splinter smiled at his son, and watched as Leo came through with Donnie's tea. Leo would always seem like the big brother, as he always looked after the other three, and his Master.
"Thanks Leo," Donnie said, accepting the mug. "Oh well, Movies today, back to school tomorrow. It's amazing what humans have to do in school to get good grades, and eventually get the job they want."
Leo nodded and sat down next to his brother with his own tea. He was wondering why Splinter hadn't called them for practising or meditation yet. Then he hit himself on the head mentally for forgetting that their dojo was down in the sewers and they were up here. And Splinter wouldn't have them sparring in April's apartment. As for the meditation . . . did Splinter perhaps think, since they were now humans, they couldn't really meditate properly? Maybe he thought they had to get used to their forms much better, get to know their new inner power before they expand it to meditation. Leo felt accustomed to his new body, and the things he could and could not do. There wasn't much difference when he came to think about it. But was that because he was getting too used to being human? Yes, turtle and human form look so much different, they should fell different. Leo hoped his Master would call them all into a meditation session soon. HE meditates without a calling from his Master, but as Leader and caring brother, he wanted Donnie, Raph and Mikey to do also.
Leo, lost in his thoughts, didn't realise another brother was up until he sat down next to him on the couch, rubbing his face with his hands and loosening his red bandanna. He pulled it straight and sighed.
"So . . . what were we gunna do today?" Raph asked, looking at Leo and Donnie to his side.
"See a movie, remember Raph?" Donnie said, massaging his forehead.
"What movie?" Leo said, asking his brothers.
"I heard Men In Black 2 is on."
All three brothers looked over their shoulders to Mikey, who was sitting up.
"Cool, we could see what time it's on," Donnie said, smiling and looking at Leo, who nodded.
Soft thudding on the stairs announced April joining them, and she greeted them for the morning. Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey all shifted on the couch so there was space for her to sit, but she walked over to the kitchen and sat on one of the stools. They guys shifted back again. Splinter smiled. His sons could be polite when they wanted.
"Decided on a movie yet, guys?" She asked, making her tea from her stool.
"Yeah, Men In Black 2," Mikey said before anyone else could.
"Oh, the first one was very good, so the second should be," April said, sipping her tea and nodding.
Mikey grinned. "You saw the first one? Man it was wicked!"
He started to sing Will Smith's song 'Men In Black'. His brothers groaned and all smothered him in pillows, but he continued until the end. He wasn't that bad a singer, but they all knew that he could sound down right awful at times when he went totally wild. Donnie was the best singer out the lot, Leo was a little quiet when it came to it, but given the chance, and he could sound just as good as his brother in purple. No one had ever heard Raph sing so they didn't know if he was good or bad.
"Nice Mikey," April laughed. "If you took it more seriously, you'd be as good as Don."
"Phugh, I already am!" Mikey grinned, as Donnie went red slightly. The only reason everyone knew he was good at singing was because they had crept up on him two years ago (and from then on) while he was in his room, on the computer or taking a shower. And one Christmas when he had been really brave and sung for the little party they had in front of his brothers, Splinter, April and Casey.
"Yeah right, Mikey could kill cows if he tried, no wait, he doesn't have ter try," Raph smiled wickedly.
"You're jealous," Mikey said simply.
"Have you EVER tried to, at least attempt, to sing, Raph?" April asked him, smiling.
Raph looked disgusted. "No! 'S a Dorky thing."
"Ha, he's goin' red," Mikey grinned at him, pointing.
Leo thought it was time to change the subject before Mikey found himself with a snapped finger.
"What will you be doing today, Ape?" He asked, downing the rest of his tea.
She shrugged. "I'm not in at the office today, maybe go visit Casey . . . haven't seen him in a while."
"Yeah, WE haven't seen him in a while, but you . . ." Mikey smiled along with Raph. "You see him every day, eh? Down at the office all the time in the week . . . not THAT many stories floating around there."
April was smiling, but she opened her mouth to defend herself.
"No Mikey," Raph said, grinning. "There is, loads of stories, tons . . . they're just all base on Casey!"
"You guys are totally . . . horrible!" April said, while Raph and Mikey high fived each other. "My work at the office is about the recent reports that come up around town, about break-ins, robberies -"
"All done by Casey!" Raph and Mikey said together, now enjoying this April torture.
"-And teenagers disturbing the peace," she finished, looking meaningful at them.
"Us, nah, we're little angels," Mikey smiled sweetly.
"Well, from what I've heard from a certain teacher at school, there's a new kind of 'angel' around. Ones that choke their teachers on erasers."
Raph's smiled faded a little. "He deserved it."
"Well, actually I don't like him either, but you four have now got a noticeable reputation in that place. I asked another teacher about you, and she said you seemed like the most popular kids in that school."
"Well, I know how that grew," Leo said, glancing at his brothers, who were looking anywhere but him, April and Splinter.
()()()()
A few hours later the city was much louder, and the air was warmer now the sun had baked it. The guys chose this time to walk down to the shops and let Donnie have a look in that shop he had been annoying them about, then buy some grub for the movie. First they had to see what time it was going to be on before they brought anything.
April had provided them with the money again, and had given it to Leo to look after again. They all wore their coloured T- shirts, with their blue and black jeans, along with their coloured bandannas, and in Raph's case, Casey's baseball cap. Mikey had a backpack on his back for the food and was now limping only slightly. He knew no one was allowed to take their own food in, but had to buy it there.
It only took fifteen minutes to get to and find this shop of Donnie's, but it took a lot longer to finally drag him away when they realised they had already spent a full hour waiting for him.
"Oh - but - I just wanted to look at the uses of -" Donnie tried to argue back as Leo and Raph dragged him out backwards, clutching his arms. Mikey, who had already brought himself a bag of potato chips, walked behind in (in front of Donnie, he was backwards), eating his food and grinning.
Once they were well away from the shop, they released their 'prisoner' and walked towards the cinema. They DID know where that was because they had been to it so many times before. They checked the screen holding the times and the movie names, and realised that their movie, Men In Black 2, was on in sixteen minutes.
"Let's grab the food quick," Mikey said, throwing his empty potato chip bag away. "I'm hungry!"
They walked to the shops, just around the corner and entered the food store. Mikey went to the sweets, and came back a few seconds later with his arms full.
"Mikey, you're gunna be sick, put half of that back," Leo said. "Besides, we're not spending all of April's money on sweets."
Mikey made a sour face and went back. He returned carrying a few things, though still big and sweety. Donnie, knowing they were going to need one, picked up a basket and as soon as he had, Mikey had dumped the sweets in it, and was rushing off to get more potato chips.
"Man, anyone would think he doesn't eat the way he scoffs it down," Donnie sighed to Raph, who nodded.
Leo went to see what was taking Mikey so long getting the food. He rounded the corner and heard his brother talking. Great, Leo thought, his brother talks a mile a minute, and they'll never get to this movie. Mikey'll probably ask his friend to join them.
But as his brother came into view, Leo saw it WAS one of his - their - friends, but not one Leo thought of.
"Hey, Leo," Prida smiled at him from behind Mikey, who turned around.
"Oh, hey," Leo said back. "Nice place to meet, in a food store," he joked. Her examined her closely. She was much cleaner now, of course. She was wearing blue pedal pushers with trainers, and a light purple handkerchief-sleeve top. Leo could see a small, thin line on her leg, which was a souvenir from the bookcase that fell on her yesterday. Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and around her neck, as always, was that pendant of a twisted silver fireball.
"I was just here because I was board," Prida shrugged. "Mai's at work, and so's Korey. I was on my own so I thought I'd come rent a movie or something."
"We're going to see a movie," Mikey said, looking at Leo then back at her. "Men In Black 2, looks good, eh?"
He gave Leo a look, and Leo knew what he was asking.
"Cool, haven't seen that one yet," Prida said, taking a bag of potato chips down off the shelf.
"Well, you can do," Leo said, glancing at Mikey, who smiled. "You can come with us, if ya want."
Prida looked at him, then smiled. "That'd be great, thanks. You don't mind?"
"Nah!" Mikey said, now bringing her to walk with him, heading back to the check out counter where Donnie and Raph were waiting.
"Hey, Prida," Donnie looked up from staring at the floor. His face split into a smiled. Raph looked up too.
"Hey guys," Prida smiled, dumping her food down on the counter.
"Hey dudes, s'ok if Prida joins us for the movie, innit?" Mikey asked, putting his own stuff in the basket Donnie was still holding.
"Sure," Donnie said. Raph nodded.
"Thanks, It's just that no one was at home so I had nothing to do except rent some boring movie." Prida said, now paying the man who had put her food in a bag. Donnie put the basket on the counter next.
"Are you okay? I mean from yesterday?" Donnie asked politely.
Prida smiled. "Sure, I'm great - and alive, heh. We were thankful Simmons didn't go and tell the press our names, otherwise we'd have been swarmed, and I hate it."
The others nodded, and fell silent as their food was checked out. They paid the man, stuffed the food in Mikey's backpack, and walked out.
"Time, Mike," Leo said, looking at him as he checked his watch.
"We have four minutes to get tickets and grab some seats," he said, and they sped up a bit.
When they got into the cinema, they cued up in the short line for the tickets. Mikey insisted that he ask for them, and grabbed the money out of Leo's back jeans pocket.
"Five tickets, please," he asked the lady behind the glass window, holding up his hands and showing his two fingers and thumb on one hand, and his first two fingers on the other. The lady gave them the tickets, and they turned, out from the line. Mikey spilt the tickets up for each of them, ignoring Prida saying she'll pay him back.
Prida frowned for a second, thinking something odd. She turned to Mikey, as they were walking towards the food counters.
"Mikey, how did you show five on you fingers?" She asked.
Mikey frowned and held up what he had showed to the lady without thinking. He looked at them, frowning, then saw what Prida meant. He quickly dropped them, and shrugged.
"You could have just held out all five fingers on one hand," Prida smiled. "Forget you HAD five fingers?"
Mikey laughed, but couldn't quite conceal the nervousness in his laugh. His brothers looked at him, showing the same face that quite simply said 'we should watch it'.
Mikey walked up to the food counter and asked for a large popcorn. His brothers and Prida walked up behind him.
"Mikey, we don't need any more food," Leo said in a low voice so the man who was filling up the box couldn't hear.
"Hey, I can't live on just potato chips and sweets, I have to have something else!"
His brothers groaned, and Prida smiled.
Once Mikey had got and paid for his popcorn, they walked over to the woman who looks at the tickets. They each showed her them, and walked down the blue-carpeted corridor to screen six, where Men In Black two would be playing.
The auditorium was dark, and the screen was the only big light source. There were little lights running along the edge of the steps so people didn't trip, and the guys and Prida followed them up to their row, and then sat at the end because no one else was on their row. The whole room wasn't that full; there was a couple to their left, three rows down; a group of kids, younger than them across the room, three more couples, another group of kids, older, about eighteen/nineteen, a few people in front of them slightly to their right. But not everyone seemed to have come in on time.
As the brothers and Prida sat down, Leo at the end ("Arh, good, I can rest my foot now," Mikey said), some more people entered the room with kids, who were making one hell of a racket, and just happened to sit directly in front of Donnie and Prida, two rows forward.
"Great, kids from hell," Donnie muttered to Prida, smiling.
"Hey, remember, we were all one once," Mikey joked. "Of course we were more from hell than most people - ow!" He rubbed his arm where Raph had elbowed him.
To their relief, Prida just laughed, and they were thankful for at that minute the screen darkened slightly and the movie began.
Only fifteen minutes into the movie and they guys and Prida were already laughing. The movie was great, and Mikey nearly choked on his popcorn twice, but one of those times was because Donnie got hit on the head by someone passing on the row behind them, muttering a gruff 'sorry'. Donnie rubbed his head, smiling embarrassedly.
But only a few minutes after the people who had moved and hit Donnie, a couple moved just next to the other couple on the left in front of them, on the end of the row. And the only one recognised one of them was Raph, who glanced at them, then quickly turned his eyes back to them, knocking Mikey on the arm and pointing. Mikey frowned.
"It's Reily!" Raph hissed, Donnie (sat next to Mikey) looked around too. All three sniggered as they saw who Reily was with. It was some tartish woman, face (though they couldn't quite see) was heavily dressed in make-up, and she was wearing flashy garments. She was sat right in front of Leo while Reily was sat right in front of Prida.
Leo and Prida noticed what they were sniggering at, and laughed quietly as well.
Reily jerked his head over his shoulder irritated by their laughs, but he didn't see their faces, only gave them a grunt and muttered 'shut it, teenagers'. He then put his arm around his 'companion'.
This was too much for Raph and Mikey and they were making funny noises trying to restrain themselves from laughing.
Trying to talk, Raph leaned over to Mikey, and, meaning to whisper but instead burst out loudly said:
"I'm gunna be sick!"
Reily, now clearly annoyed, turned around fully in his chair with a hard glare on his face.
"Do you mind?! You selfish, irritating youths!"
It was then he realised who he was talking to, and looked along them all slowly, a sneer now growing on his face.
"Well, well, if it isn't the four identical weirdos," he said. Then he glanced at Prida. "Miss Valantine, sharing four now are we. Now, now, Jo Tooks isn't going to be happy about that, perhaps I should slip him a little note about how you're two - or - four-timing him -"
"Shut up Reily!" She snapped, then blinking at her own bravery.
"Don't you tell me to shut up, young lady!" He said.
"We're out of school boundaries so you can't tell us what to do," Leo spoke up, glaring at the horrible, snotty faced teacher.
"Right, true Leo, but I'll remember this tomorrow." He gave Raph a stare, and he and his girlfriend (sick!) moved far away from them.
"Great, he doesn't have to tell me I have detention tomorrow, I already know." Raph growled. He sat their, angrily, then his face changed and he said, "But that was just sick, man!"
Mikey grinned and they both started to make jokes about what Reily and friend get up to in cinemas, or what they would have gotten up to if they hadn't been there. It turned sick and too funny, that Leo, Donnie and Prida all told them to stop before they throw up. Raph and Mikey sat back grinning, and they all continued to watch the movie.
But only twenty minutes after they had stopped talking, in which time Mikey had finished not only his popcorn but two packets of potato chips and a packets of M and Ms; some kids their own age chose seats right behind Prida and Donnie, and it was when Prida's chair was kicked and she was nearly thrown out her seat that everyone turned around to see Ci Ci Harrington and her gang of tarts grinning back at the evilly.
"Hey Prida," Ci Ci said, not nice, but more contemptuously.
Prida said nothing, but turned back around, eyes narrowed in irritation and anger. Ci Ci had to spoil everything, didn't she? Just a day out with her friends and Ci Ci the dog was there to ruin it.
"My God, Prida, you're out with all four today?" That horrible, tormenting voice said in false surprise. "What did you have to do, hypnotise them?"
Her friends were joining in now. Discussing it loud enough for Prida to hear. The guys were frowning, but they couldn't exactly tell her to shove it. No, this was Prida's problem, and if they defended her then Ci Ci would give her so much hell at school in the classes she had with her. She knew Raph knew this, and she looked at him, to see his fists balled but his eyes on the screen.
"Yeah, must be her eyes, those freaky purple eyes, hypnotises people into what she wants -" The group were giggling pathetically now, so stupidly Prida wanted to turn around and -
"Runs in the family, freakish inheritances. Her sister, well, just a weird one, but Prida . . . whoa, man is she weird. I mean, she could be a witch, the only explanation for this scene in front . . .
All four bros were about to turn around, but Prida whispered to them, "Don't, just ignore them."
They tried to concentrate on the movie, but the voices behind them seemed to raise above the noise, no matter how loud the explosions on the screen were.
" . . . yeah, I heard she uses them on all the good looking guys in the school, I mean, she has Jo Tooks drooling over her, and yet she turns him away, I mean, that's just plain stupid, getting the guy you want and turning him down. Cruel, but I guess she inherited it from the parents, her mom probably. Along with the other bad genes like her purple eyes. No one liked her parents when they were alive, mine practically threw a party -"
Burning rage like nothing she had felt before snapped itself loose inside Prida, and she turned, with a growl, kneeled in her seat and delivered a good, solid punch to Ci Ci's face, whose shocked gasp was cut short and was knocked back, and fell off the chair. Her friends shrieked and dashed back as Prida, now blind with rage was climbing over her chair to Ci Ci, dazed on the floor.
The fours bros had gotten over their shocked surprise, and Leo and Donnie were now standing up to restrain their enraged friend, who was growling much like Raph would at this point.
Ci Ci's friends were staring at Prida with looks that suggested Prida was some rabid animal. They cautiously moved towards Ci Ci, avoiding Prida, and picked up their friend, who's nose was bleeding. Then they ran off very quickly.
Leo and Donnie slowly pulled away from Prida, who dropped into her chair, eyes burning with tears of rage and sadness. She stared at the dark floor.
Leo and Donnie looked at each other, Mikey crunched his food slowly. Then all three turned to Raph, who looked at them.
"What?" He asked, palms raised.
"You didn't . . ." Leo said. " . . . teach her . . . tell her to . . ."
"No! I din't . . . I don't go tellin' people . . . to hit . . . punch people . . ." Raph said, frowning about it and sitting back down in his seat, eyes returning to the screen, but when his brothers had looked away and were directing their attention to Prida, Raph checked to make sure she was okay. His eyes looked from the screen to his friend and he sighed. Ci Ci had to be taught a lesson. But he was glad Prida had punched her. His brothers may not think that was right, but he sure as well did!
Prida, wiping her eyes quickly and sniffing looked up at the screen.
"I'm okay, I'm - sorry about that, she kinda went to far. I snapped . . ."
"Hey, we're okay, we see it often," Leo said, glancing at Raph, whose eyes were fixed on the screen. "Are you okay now?"
"Yeah . . . I'm good, sorry guys," She started to sound herself again. Prida sat up in her chair, and managed a smile. They smiled back at her.
Leo knew what it was like to try and ignore someone. He had tried with Raph, and had once got up and punched his brother, but he was little, and after the punishment he had received from Splinter, he had never done it again. But he had managed to miss bits of Ci Ci's torment and didn't hear everything she said. He knew his brothers could shut it out as well, so they obviously didn't hear what was said, or they wouldn't be so surprised at what Prida did.
She cheered up for the rest of the movie, and the guys were thankful she wasn't a sulky person, but could get over things quickly. Like Mikey. She laughed a faire few times, and by the end of the movie, felt glad it was a film she could laugh at and be cheered up by.
They all walked out the movie smiling and talking about some of the antics used by Will Smith. Mikey was imitating him, and making everyone laugh.
It was still light outside, but was darker than it should be. This was because of the dark rain cloud threatening to burst above the city, and no sooner was this typed than the rain started to fall. Slowly at first, but a few seconds later it was chucking it down so hard, they were soaked to the bone before they went back and reached the shelter of the cinema.
They all turned to each other, faces matted with hair, and wet through.
"Okay, so, who votes we run?" Mikey said, smiling, flicking his head so that his hair flew back and slapped wetly onto the back of his head. His orange bandanna was a darker orange now, and the tails stuck to his back.
"Well, my house is about two and a half miles away," Prida said, sighing. "Mai won't be off work till late, so if you don't see me till tomorrow, I'd have probably drowned." She grinned jokingly.
All bros looked at each other. They were all thinking the same thing. That they should look after her until her sister arrives home, and then take her back, but they couldn't take her back to April's apartment for two reasons. One, she couldn't see Splinter, other wise she would most likely have a heart attack and faint - like they all do. And two, she would know where April lives, and, in Leo's fear, might try to visit on unexpected times, which they didn't want because that would mean shutting Splinter up and the old rat didn't need to be moved every where. But, they all had one idea in their head, and they promised themselves it would just be a one off, for her . . .
()()()()
"Guys, I can't see a thing," Prida said, arms out in case she walked into anything, which she knew she wouldn't because the guys were guiding her. The reason she couldn't see anything was because she had Mikey's bandanna over her eyes (the eyeholes under the fold of material so she couldn't see through them).
"It's okay, we can," Mikey said, feeling slightly bare on his forehead even though it was being pounded on by the fast rain that was still pouring.
They had told Prida that she could come home with them until her sister arrived back home. But as soon as they had gotten within two blocks of April's apartment, they had stopped her, taken Mikey's bandanna off and told her to wear it. She had frowned, but then they said wear it over her eyes, and she frowned even more, asking why. The reason they came up with, was that April didn't really want people to know where she lived, using Leo's little lie that she was attacked a few days ago, and was nervous about youths knowing where she lived. She would understand since it was a friend, but they still said she was a little edgy. Prida had agreed, smiling, and they blindfolded her, Mikey taking her hands and leading her, with Leo and Donnie at her sides and Raph behind her. She found it funny, but to their relief, didn't seem to bothered about it.
They rounded a corner, one that took them in view of April's apartment building. Donnie said he was just going to make sure April was in, and jogged ahead, in truth he was going to explain to Splinter and make sure he was well hidden before Prida arrived.
"Okay, so, who was that that went?" Prida asked, her head held slightly high, as do most people who are blindfolded. Just an automatic thing when you can't see what you're doing.
"That was Donnie," Leo smiled. This whole thing was quite funny, and so far they had only passed one person on the streets who, by the look on his face, thought so too.
"So we're nearly there?" Prida asked, her mouth open, smiling.
"Yeah, just mind the great big, dog that likes to snap at hands on your way in," Raph said, smiling.
"Very funny, Raph," Prida grinned. "You are kidding, right?"
Raph laughed while Leo assured her that he was joking. Mikey, still holding Prida's hands, laughed too.
They guided her through the building, receiving looks from a few passing people, all muttered 'teenagers'. They lead her to the stairs, telling her she was coming to steps. Hopefully, to cover April's track to her apartment even better, Prida wouldn't remember how many lots of steps she had to go up. But Leo knew from Maths that she was smart.
"Are we nearly there?" Prida asked again after a few staircases. "We've been up five sets already."
So much for that plan, Leo thought. "Nearly," he said.
After one more, they turned down the corridor and walked to April's door. Leo opened it an inch, looked through the gap, saw the coast was clear, and pushed it open further.
"Okay," Leo said as Mikey lead Prida in. "Welcome to April O'Neil's home." He smiled as he shut the door, and Raph gently took the bandanna off from around her eyes. He threw it to Mikey, who replaced it over his own head.
Prida looked around the place. "Wow, cool . . . neater than mine . . . nice pad . . ."
Donnie appeared on the spiralling staircase, smiling as he saw Prida was checking the place out.
"Hey, would it be okay if I left a message on Mai's answer machine, in case she gets in and worries about me? Then she can call back and I can leave then." Prida asked.
"Sure," they said.
Prida took off her shoes, and walked over to the phone while Leo went to make drinks, Donnie and Raph seated themselves on the couch and Mikey went to get towels for them to dry off with.
"Hey, it's your fave lil' sister here," Prida said, smiling to the guys who where looking. "I'm at a friend's house, well, some friends' house, they invited me, just up till you get back and call this number, which'll be on that thingy box that shows the numbers called. Then I can come home. Saw a movie, it was great, see ya," she hung up.
"You can sit down, ya know," Leo said smiling, carrying a mug of hot chocolate for the guest.
"Oh, thanks, Leo," she said gratefully. She loved hot chocolate when she had just been out in the cold or rain; she always came back inside to a mug of the stuff.
Raph budged up on the couch, making room, but immediately wished he hadn't because Donnie grinned at him in a way Raph didn't like. But Prida took the friendly gesture and sat down next to him in the space he had made.
"Will April mind me being here?" She asked, realising for the first time (surprised she didn't see before now) that she was the only girl in here.
"Nah, she likes meeting our friends," Mikey said without thinking. He saw the look Leo just gave him and added, "well, female friends . . . which isn't that many so . . . she doesn't see many people, friends . . ." he shut up, and took the mug Leo had just given him.
Prida laughed, and slurped her drink. She didn't feel as uncomfortable as she thought she would, in the apartment with four guys. Just as she was taking another sip from her drink, she noticed something behind the stairs, through the gaps. It was one of their school bags, Mikey's, hint the big 'M' written on it. But poking out of the bag was a handle. At the end of the handle was something shiny, long and thin, with three prongs.
Prida looked back at the TV that Leo had just turned on. Prida had seen those weapons before. But only once, so they couldn't be common around New York. She had seen them in a picture, about something she was greatly interested in. In a clipping she had ripped from a newspaper that was right now stuck to her wall, that she looked at every day, remembering it when she went to sleep at night . . . the weapons had been fastened in a belt . . . attached to someone - or something - in a . . . costume . . .
"Hey Prida, you okay?" Mikey asked.
Prida blinked herself back, and found them all looking at her.
"Yeah, I'm okay . . . just thinking . . . about Ci Ci," she quickly thought up.
"Hey, don't let her get to ya," Raph said, smiling and holding his index finger up to her.
She smiled. "Nah, I won't. She's just a tart, nothing more nothing less."
"That's the spirit," Donnie smiled at her.
Prida remained at April's apartment for another three hours, and during that time April came home for a short while with Casey, who grinned at the guys when he saw Prida was with them. He announced that he was taking April to lunch, and that they would be back a few hours later. April politely started a small conversation with Prida, apologising she was such a bad host. They left, and the guys and Prida continued to watch their movie. Every few minutes one of them would glance to the ceiling, thinking about poor Splinter shut up there. But it wasn't much longer. After the three hours, Prida's sister rang, and said she would pick Prida up. Since Prida couldn't give directions, she told her sister to meet her at the food store down this street they both knew not far from the street she last saw before she was blindfolded.
"We can take ya," Leo said, motioning himself and his brothers.
"No, you don't have to," Prida said. "You already let me stay here, I don't wanna be a bother."
"Nah, besides, we have to blindfold ya again," Mikey smiled. Prida smiled back.
They all put their soaking shoes back on, and did the same routine as before to Prida with Mikey's blindfold, which was now dry.
Going down the stairs was a lot harder than coming up. Prida slipped twice, and took it slowly. Finally they got to the bottom, and hurried it slightly. It was now dark, and the rain made visibility worse. But they made it up to the 'safe street' and took Mikey's bandanna off Prida. She looked around, blinked and smiled.
"Thanks you guys, but you don't blindfold every girl who comes to your apartment." She laughed, and so did they.
Bright lights flickered on in a car parked across the street, opposite them. They couldn't see much because of the darkness and the rain, but they heard a car door slam, and the wet slaps of feet walking towards them.
"Prida!" It was Mai.
"Hey, Mai," Prida smiled. She loved saying that. (it rhymes, in case that wasn't clear)
"Oh, thanks for looking after her till I got back," Mai was saying to the guys.
"No problem, but we'll send the bill for the vase she broke, the plate, the glass, the antique -" Mikey said grinning.
Prida hit him playfully, and he laughed.
"See ya tomorrow," she said, and was steered out of the rain to her sister's car. The guys waved, and watched it drive off. Then they turned and started to walk back.
"Great, school, and Reily's gunna be hell," Raph grumbled, hands in his jeans pocket.
"Well, if he is," Mikey started. "Maybe he'll create another fire and we can go home again!"
They all groaned at him, and disappeared into the night's rain, heading home, and preparing for school the next day.
Sorry the ending was rushed, it IS late though! (looks at watch) it is exactly 12:00! So, SFAM, and thanks for the reviews, lol, I've been called Ziptango, thanks Mily, lol, nah, I'm not taking that as an insult, as Ziptango has a very good story going, so I'll take it as a compliment, lol. Hey, ya know what was freaky? When I was doing the bit where they were watching MIB2, I had my music on and that song just happened to come on, lol. But it was the first film song, so . . . (sigh) more coming, my fingers are nothing but stubs becoz I'be been pounding at this keyboard for way to long, lol. Thanks y'all! More a-coming, and as I said before, all this IS leading somewhere, but I'm nat saying anything . . . it'll spoil it . . . hehe, (evil laugh), so, g'night friendly reviews and authors!
The following day couldn't have been better for an autumn period. The sun was shining and the whether wasn't cold but wasn't stifling hot. Just right for most people. At the minute, 'people' in the O'Neil apartment weren't up to take notice. But using the word 'people' doesn't sum up everyone in the place. Splinter was the first to rise and take note of the lovely morning.
He opened his door, and looked into the brightly lit room used as the main room and the kitchen. Even though the blinds were pulled, the sun was bright enough to shine through, and between the gaps.
Splinter did what he does every morning now: Makes himself a cup of tea to start the morning off, and waits for the waking of his sons. One of which was asleep on the couch, smiling about something in his sleep. Splinter smiled at him, and took his place in his armchair, where he sat peacefully, enjoying the morning light and the silence, wishing his sons could have had this long before now.
Upstairs, Leo was the first to rise out of the three identical teenagers in the little room. He opened his eyes, squinting against the light that was shining through the small window. He felt crushed, and turned to see why: both Donnie and Raph (on either side of him) had their backs to him, sleeping on their sides, pressed right against him, crushing him in-between them. Smiling, he slipped out and stretched.
Donnie groaned and rolled over onto his back, his head flopped to the side and he continued to sleep. Raph murmured something slurred, and slept on.
Leo got changed, and was just looking for his bandanna when he realised it was still around his forehead. Shrugging, he made his way downstairs.
The first thing he noticed was Splinter sat perfectly still, eyes closed in his armchair. Next, without moving his eyes, Leo took in Mikey, on the couch, laying on his stomach with his arm dangling to the floor and his injured leg stretched out on the opposite chair arm to the one his cheek was pressed against, giving him a lopsided look. His face showed a small smile that kept twitching ever so slightly.
"Morning Leonardo," Splinter said, opening his eyes and looking at his son.
Leo smiled. "Morning Master Splinter." He bowed respectfully, and sat on the edge of the couch next to Mikey.
"There is tea in the pot," Splinter announced, sipping his own.
"Oh, right," Leo nodded once. He got up and made his drink, and as he was carrying it back to the couch, Donnie appeared on the stairs, rubbing his eyes and yawning.
"Whassa time?" He asked, stretching. He looked for himself at the clock on the wall, and shrugged. He was up early for a non-school day. He stepped heavily off the last step, and made his way to the couch where he flopped down, nearly sitting on Mikey. He muttered an ' Oh, sorry Mike' and tightened his purple bandanna around his forehead; strands of his messy hair fell over it.
Splinter smiled at his son, and watched as Leo came through with Donnie's tea. Leo would always seem like the big brother, as he always looked after the other three, and his Master.
"Thanks Leo," Donnie said, accepting the mug. "Oh well, Movies today, back to school tomorrow. It's amazing what humans have to do in school to get good grades, and eventually get the job they want."
Leo nodded and sat down next to his brother with his own tea. He was wondering why Splinter hadn't called them for practising or meditation yet. Then he hit himself on the head mentally for forgetting that their dojo was down in the sewers and they were up here. And Splinter wouldn't have them sparring in April's apartment. As for the meditation . . . did Splinter perhaps think, since they were now humans, they couldn't really meditate properly? Maybe he thought they had to get used to their forms much better, get to know their new inner power before they expand it to meditation. Leo felt accustomed to his new body, and the things he could and could not do. There wasn't much difference when he came to think about it. But was that because he was getting too used to being human? Yes, turtle and human form look so much different, they should fell different. Leo hoped his Master would call them all into a meditation session soon. HE meditates without a calling from his Master, but as Leader and caring brother, he wanted Donnie, Raph and Mikey to do also.
Leo, lost in his thoughts, didn't realise another brother was up until he sat down next to him on the couch, rubbing his face with his hands and loosening his red bandanna. He pulled it straight and sighed.
"So . . . what were we gunna do today?" Raph asked, looking at Leo and Donnie to his side.
"See a movie, remember Raph?" Donnie said, massaging his forehead.
"What movie?" Leo said, asking his brothers.
"I heard Men In Black 2 is on."
All three brothers looked over their shoulders to Mikey, who was sitting up.
"Cool, we could see what time it's on," Donnie said, smiling and looking at Leo, who nodded.
Soft thudding on the stairs announced April joining them, and she greeted them for the morning. Leo, Donnie, Raph and Mikey all shifted on the couch so there was space for her to sit, but she walked over to the kitchen and sat on one of the stools. They guys shifted back again. Splinter smiled. His sons could be polite when they wanted.
"Decided on a movie yet, guys?" She asked, making her tea from her stool.
"Yeah, Men In Black 2," Mikey said before anyone else could.
"Oh, the first one was very good, so the second should be," April said, sipping her tea and nodding.
Mikey grinned. "You saw the first one? Man it was wicked!"
He started to sing Will Smith's song 'Men In Black'. His brothers groaned and all smothered him in pillows, but he continued until the end. He wasn't that bad a singer, but they all knew that he could sound down right awful at times when he went totally wild. Donnie was the best singer out the lot, Leo was a little quiet when it came to it, but given the chance, and he could sound just as good as his brother in purple. No one had ever heard Raph sing so they didn't know if he was good or bad.
"Nice Mikey," April laughed. "If you took it more seriously, you'd be as good as Don."
"Phugh, I already am!" Mikey grinned, as Donnie went red slightly. The only reason everyone knew he was good at singing was because they had crept up on him two years ago (and from then on) while he was in his room, on the computer or taking a shower. And one Christmas when he had been really brave and sung for the little party they had in front of his brothers, Splinter, April and Casey.
"Yeah right, Mikey could kill cows if he tried, no wait, he doesn't have ter try," Raph smiled wickedly.
"You're jealous," Mikey said simply.
"Have you EVER tried to, at least attempt, to sing, Raph?" April asked him, smiling.
Raph looked disgusted. "No! 'S a Dorky thing."
"Ha, he's goin' red," Mikey grinned at him, pointing.
Leo thought it was time to change the subject before Mikey found himself with a snapped finger.
"What will you be doing today, Ape?" He asked, downing the rest of his tea.
She shrugged. "I'm not in at the office today, maybe go visit Casey . . . haven't seen him in a while."
"Yeah, WE haven't seen him in a while, but you . . ." Mikey smiled along with Raph. "You see him every day, eh? Down at the office all the time in the week . . . not THAT many stories floating around there."
April was smiling, but she opened her mouth to defend herself.
"No Mikey," Raph said, grinning. "There is, loads of stories, tons . . . they're just all base on Casey!"
"You guys are totally . . . horrible!" April said, while Raph and Mikey high fived each other. "My work at the office is about the recent reports that come up around town, about break-ins, robberies -"
"All done by Casey!" Raph and Mikey said together, now enjoying this April torture.
"-And teenagers disturbing the peace," she finished, looking meaningful at them.
"Us, nah, we're little angels," Mikey smiled sweetly.
"Well, from what I've heard from a certain teacher at school, there's a new kind of 'angel' around. Ones that choke their teachers on erasers."
Raph's smiled faded a little. "He deserved it."
"Well, actually I don't like him either, but you four have now got a noticeable reputation in that place. I asked another teacher about you, and she said you seemed like the most popular kids in that school."
"Well, I know how that grew," Leo said, glancing at his brothers, who were looking anywhere but him, April and Splinter.
()()()()
A few hours later the city was much louder, and the air was warmer now the sun had baked it. The guys chose this time to walk down to the shops and let Donnie have a look in that shop he had been annoying them about, then buy some grub for the movie. First they had to see what time it was going to be on before they brought anything.
April had provided them with the money again, and had given it to Leo to look after again. They all wore their coloured T- shirts, with their blue and black jeans, along with their coloured bandannas, and in Raph's case, Casey's baseball cap. Mikey had a backpack on his back for the food and was now limping only slightly. He knew no one was allowed to take their own food in, but had to buy it there.
It only took fifteen minutes to get to and find this shop of Donnie's, but it took a lot longer to finally drag him away when they realised they had already spent a full hour waiting for him.
"Oh - but - I just wanted to look at the uses of -" Donnie tried to argue back as Leo and Raph dragged him out backwards, clutching his arms. Mikey, who had already brought himself a bag of potato chips, walked behind in (in front of Donnie, he was backwards), eating his food and grinning.
Once they were well away from the shop, they released their 'prisoner' and walked towards the cinema. They DID know where that was because they had been to it so many times before. They checked the screen holding the times and the movie names, and realised that their movie, Men In Black 2, was on in sixteen minutes.
"Let's grab the food quick," Mikey said, throwing his empty potato chip bag away. "I'm hungry!"
They walked to the shops, just around the corner and entered the food store. Mikey went to the sweets, and came back a few seconds later with his arms full.
"Mikey, you're gunna be sick, put half of that back," Leo said. "Besides, we're not spending all of April's money on sweets."
Mikey made a sour face and went back. He returned carrying a few things, though still big and sweety. Donnie, knowing they were going to need one, picked up a basket and as soon as he had, Mikey had dumped the sweets in it, and was rushing off to get more potato chips.
"Man, anyone would think he doesn't eat the way he scoffs it down," Donnie sighed to Raph, who nodded.
Leo went to see what was taking Mikey so long getting the food. He rounded the corner and heard his brother talking. Great, Leo thought, his brother talks a mile a minute, and they'll never get to this movie. Mikey'll probably ask his friend to join them.
But as his brother came into view, Leo saw it WAS one of his - their - friends, but not one Leo thought of.
"Hey, Leo," Prida smiled at him from behind Mikey, who turned around.
"Oh, hey," Leo said back. "Nice place to meet, in a food store," he joked. Her examined her closely. She was much cleaner now, of course. She was wearing blue pedal pushers with trainers, and a light purple handkerchief-sleeve top. Leo could see a small, thin line on her leg, which was a souvenir from the bookcase that fell on her yesterday. Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, and around her neck, as always, was that pendant of a twisted silver fireball.
"I was just here because I was board," Prida shrugged. "Mai's at work, and so's Korey. I was on my own so I thought I'd come rent a movie or something."
"We're going to see a movie," Mikey said, looking at Leo then back at her. "Men In Black 2, looks good, eh?"
He gave Leo a look, and Leo knew what he was asking.
"Cool, haven't seen that one yet," Prida said, taking a bag of potato chips down off the shelf.
"Well, you can do," Leo said, glancing at Mikey, who smiled. "You can come with us, if ya want."
Prida looked at him, then smiled. "That'd be great, thanks. You don't mind?"
"Nah!" Mikey said, now bringing her to walk with him, heading back to the check out counter where Donnie and Raph were waiting.
"Hey, Prida," Donnie looked up from staring at the floor. His face split into a smiled. Raph looked up too.
"Hey guys," Prida smiled, dumping her food down on the counter.
"Hey dudes, s'ok if Prida joins us for the movie, innit?" Mikey asked, putting his own stuff in the basket Donnie was still holding.
"Sure," Donnie said. Raph nodded.
"Thanks, It's just that no one was at home so I had nothing to do except rent some boring movie." Prida said, now paying the man who had put her food in a bag. Donnie put the basket on the counter next.
"Are you okay? I mean from yesterday?" Donnie asked politely.
Prida smiled. "Sure, I'm great - and alive, heh. We were thankful Simmons didn't go and tell the press our names, otherwise we'd have been swarmed, and I hate it."
The others nodded, and fell silent as their food was checked out. They paid the man, stuffed the food in Mikey's backpack, and walked out.
"Time, Mike," Leo said, looking at him as he checked his watch.
"We have four minutes to get tickets and grab some seats," he said, and they sped up a bit.
When they got into the cinema, they cued up in the short line for the tickets. Mikey insisted that he ask for them, and grabbed the money out of Leo's back jeans pocket.
"Five tickets, please," he asked the lady behind the glass window, holding up his hands and showing his two fingers and thumb on one hand, and his first two fingers on the other. The lady gave them the tickets, and they turned, out from the line. Mikey spilt the tickets up for each of them, ignoring Prida saying she'll pay him back.
Prida frowned for a second, thinking something odd. She turned to Mikey, as they were walking towards the food counters.
"Mikey, how did you show five on you fingers?" She asked.
Mikey frowned and held up what he had showed to the lady without thinking. He looked at them, frowning, then saw what Prida meant. He quickly dropped them, and shrugged.
"You could have just held out all five fingers on one hand," Prida smiled. "Forget you HAD five fingers?"
Mikey laughed, but couldn't quite conceal the nervousness in his laugh. His brothers looked at him, showing the same face that quite simply said 'we should watch it'.
Mikey walked up to the food counter and asked for a large popcorn. His brothers and Prida walked up behind him.
"Mikey, we don't need any more food," Leo said in a low voice so the man who was filling up the box couldn't hear.
"Hey, I can't live on just potato chips and sweets, I have to have something else!"
His brothers groaned, and Prida smiled.
Once Mikey had got and paid for his popcorn, they walked over to the woman who looks at the tickets. They each showed her them, and walked down the blue-carpeted corridor to screen six, where Men In Black two would be playing.
The auditorium was dark, and the screen was the only big light source. There were little lights running along the edge of the steps so people didn't trip, and the guys and Prida followed them up to their row, and then sat at the end because no one else was on their row. The whole room wasn't that full; there was a couple to their left, three rows down; a group of kids, younger than them across the room, three more couples, another group of kids, older, about eighteen/nineteen, a few people in front of them slightly to their right. But not everyone seemed to have come in on time.
As the brothers and Prida sat down, Leo at the end ("Arh, good, I can rest my foot now," Mikey said), some more people entered the room with kids, who were making one hell of a racket, and just happened to sit directly in front of Donnie and Prida, two rows forward.
"Great, kids from hell," Donnie muttered to Prida, smiling.
"Hey, remember, we were all one once," Mikey joked. "Of course we were more from hell than most people - ow!" He rubbed his arm where Raph had elbowed him.
To their relief, Prida just laughed, and they were thankful for at that minute the screen darkened slightly and the movie began.
Only fifteen minutes into the movie and they guys and Prida were already laughing. The movie was great, and Mikey nearly choked on his popcorn twice, but one of those times was because Donnie got hit on the head by someone passing on the row behind them, muttering a gruff 'sorry'. Donnie rubbed his head, smiling embarrassedly.
But only a few minutes after the people who had moved and hit Donnie, a couple moved just next to the other couple on the left in front of them, on the end of the row. And the only one recognised one of them was Raph, who glanced at them, then quickly turned his eyes back to them, knocking Mikey on the arm and pointing. Mikey frowned.
"It's Reily!" Raph hissed, Donnie (sat next to Mikey) looked around too. All three sniggered as they saw who Reily was with. It was some tartish woman, face (though they couldn't quite see) was heavily dressed in make-up, and she was wearing flashy garments. She was sat right in front of Leo while Reily was sat right in front of Prida.
Leo and Prida noticed what they were sniggering at, and laughed quietly as well.
Reily jerked his head over his shoulder irritated by their laughs, but he didn't see their faces, only gave them a grunt and muttered 'shut it, teenagers'. He then put his arm around his 'companion'.
This was too much for Raph and Mikey and they were making funny noises trying to restrain themselves from laughing.
Trying to talk, Raph leaned over to Mikey, and, meaning to whisper but instead burst out loudly said:
"I'm gunna be sick!"
Reily, now clearly annoyed, turned around fully in his chair with a hard glare on his face.
"Do you mind?! You selfish, irritating youths!"
It was then he realised who he was talking to, and looked along them all slowly, a sneer now growing on his face.
"Well, well, if it isn't the four identical weirdos," he said. Then he glanced at Prida. "Miss Valantine, sharing four now are we. Now, now, Jo Tooks isn't going to be happy about that, perhaps I should slip him a little note about how you're two - or - four-timing him -"
"Shut up Reily!" She snapped, then blinking at her own bravery.
"Don't you tell me to shut up, young lady!" He said.
"We're out of school boundaries so you can't tell us what to do," Leo spoke up, glaring at the horrible, snotty faced teacher.
"Right, true Leo, but I'll remember this tomorrow." He gave Raph a stare, and he and his girlfriend (sick!) moved far away from them.
"Great, he doesn't have to tell me I have detention tomorrow, I already know." Raph growled. He sat their, angrily, then his face changed and he said, "But that was just sick, man!"
Mikey grinned and they both started to make jokes about what Reily and friend get up to in cinemas, or what they would have gotten up to if they hadn't been there. It turned sick and too funny, that Leo, Donnie and Prida all told them to stop before they throw up. Raph and Mikey sat back grinning, and they all continued to watch the movie.
But only twenty minutes after they had stopped talking, in which time Mikey had finished not only his popcorn but two packets of potato chips and a packets of M and Ms; some kids their own age chose seats right behind Prida and Donnie, and it was when Prida's chair was kicked and she was nearly thrown out her seat that everyone turned around to see Ci Ci Harrington and her gang of tarts grinning back at the evilly.
"Hey Prida," Ci Ci said, not nice, but more contemptuously.
Prida said nothing, but turned back around, eyes narrowed in irritation and anger. Ci Ci had to spoil everything, didn't she? Just a day out with her friends and Ci Ci the dog was there to ruin it.
"My God, Prida, you're out with all four today?" That horrible, tormenting voice said in false surprise. "What did you have to do, hypnotise them?"
Her friends were joining in now. Discussing it loud enough for Prida to hear. The guys were frowning, but they couldn't exactly tell her to shove it. No, this was Prida's problem, and if they defended her then Ci Ci would give her so much hell at school in the classes she had with her. She knew Raph knew this, and she looked at him, to see his fists balled but his eyes on the screen.
"Yeah, must be her eyes, those freaky purple eyes, hypnotises people into what she wants -" The group were giggling pathetically now, so stupidly Prida wanted to turn around and -
"Runs in the family, freakish inheritances. Her sister, well, just a weird one, but Prida . . . whoa, man is she weird. I mean, she could be a witch, the only explanation for this scene in front . . .
All four bros were about to turn around, but Prida whispered to them, "Don't, just ignore them."
They tried to concentrate on the movie, but the voices behind them seemed to raise above the noise, no matter how loud the explosions on the screen were.
" . . . yeah, I heard she uses them on all the good looking guys in the school, I mean, she has Jo Tooks drooling over her, and yet she turns him away, I mean, that's just plain stupid, getting the guy you want and turning him down. Cruel, but I guess she inherited it from the parents, her mom probably. Along with the other bad genes like her purple eyes. No one liked her parents when they were alive, mine practically threw a party -"
Burning rage like nothing she had felt before snapped itself loose inside Prida, and she turned, with a growl, kneeled in her seat and delivered a good, solid punch to Ci Ci's face, whose shocked gasp was cut short and was knocked back, and fell off the chair. Her friends shrieked and dashed back as Prida, now blind with rage was climbing over her chair to Ci Ci, dazed on the floor.
The fours bros had gotten over their shocked surprise, and Leo and Donnie were now standing up to restrain their enraged friend, who was growling much like Raph would at this point.
Ci Ci's friends were staring at Prida with looks that suggested Prida was some rabid animal. They cautiously moved towards Ci Ci, avoiding Prida, and picked up their friend, who's nose was bleeding. Then they ran off very quickly.
Leo and Donnie slowly pulled away from Prida, who dropped into her chair, eyes burning with tears of rage and sadness. She stared at the dark floor.
Leo and Donnie looked at each other, Mikey crunched his food slowly. Then all three turned to Raph, who looked at them.
"What?" He asked, palms raised.
"You didn't . . ." Leo said. " . . . teach her . . . tell her to . . ."
"No! I din't . . . I don't go tellin' people . . . to hit . . . punch people . . ." Raph said, frowning about it and sitting back down in his seat, eyes returning to the screen, but when his brothers had looked away and were directing their attention to Prida, Raph checked to make sure she was okay. His eyes looked from the screen to his friend and he sighed. Ci Ci had to be taught a lesson. But he was glad Prida had punched her. His brothers may not think that was right, but he sure as well did!
Prida, wiping her eyes quickly and sniffing looked up at the screen.
"I'm okay, I'm - sorry about that, she kinda went to far. I snapped . . ."
"Hey, we're okay, we see it often," Leo said, glancing at Raph, whose eyes were fixed on the screen. "Are you okay now?"
"Yeah . . . I'm good, sorry guys," She started to sound herself again. Prida sat up in her chair, and managed a smile. They smiled back at her.
Leo knew what it was like to try and ignore someone. He had tried with Raph, and had once got up and punched his brother, but he was little, and after the punishment he had received from Splinter, he had never done it again. But he had managed to miss bits of Ci Ci's torment and didn't hear everything she said. He knew his brothers could shut it out as well, so they obviously didn't hear what was said, or they wouldn't be so surprised at what Prida did.
She cheered up for the rest of the movie, and the guys were thankful she wasn't a sulky person, but could get over things quickly. Like Mikey. She laughed a faire few times, and by the end of the movie, felt glad it was a film she could laugh at and be cheered up by.
They all walked out the movie smiling and talking about some of the antics used by Will Smith. Mikey was imitating him, and making everyone laugh.
It was still light outside, but was darker than it should be. This was because of the dark rain cloud threatening to burst above the city, and no sooner was this typed than the rain started to fall. Slowly at first, but a few seconds later it was chucking it down so hard, they were soaked to the bone before they went back and reached the shelter of the cinema.
They all turned to each other, faces matted with hair, and wet through.
"Okay, so, who votes we run?" Mikey said, smiling, flicking his head so that his hair flew back and slapped wetly onto the back of his head. His orange bandanna was a darker orange now, and the tails stuck to his back.
"Well, my house is about two and a half miles away," Prida said, sighing. "Mai won't be off work till late, so if you don't see me till tomorrow, I'd have probably drowned." She grinned jokingly.
All bros looked at each other. They were all thinking the same thing. That they should look after her until her sister arrives home, and then take her back, but they couldn't take her back to April's apartment for two reasons. One, she couldn't see Splinter, other wise she would most likely have a heart attack and faint - like they all do. And two, she would know where April lives, and, in Leo's fear, might try to visit on unexpected times, which they didn't want because that would mean shutting Splinter up and the old rat didn't need to be moved every where. But, they all had one idea in their head, and they promised themselves it would just be a one off, for her . . .
()()()()
"Guys, I can't see a thing," Prida said, arms out in case she walked into anything, which she knew she wouldn't because the guys were guiding her. The reason she couldn't see anything was because she had Mikey's bandanna over her eyes (the eyeholes under the fold of material so she couldn't see through them).
"It's okay, we can," Mikey said, feeling slightly bare on his forehead even though it was being pounded on by the fast rain that was still pouring.
They had told Prida that she could come home with them until her sister arrived back home. But as soon as they had gotten within two blocks of April's apartment, they had stopped her, taken Mikey's bandanna off and told her to wear it. She had frowned, but then they said wear it over her eyes, and she frowned even more, asking why. The reason they came up with, was that April didn't really want people to know where she lived, using Leo's little lie that she was attacked a few days ago, and was nervous about youths knowing where she lived. She would understand since it was a friend, but they still said she was a little edgy. Prida had agreed, smiling, and they blindfolded her, Mikey taking her hands and leading her, with Leo and Donnie at her sides and Raph behind her. She found it funny, but to their relief, didn't seem to bothered about it.
They rounded a corner, one that took them in view of April's apartment building. Donnie said he was just going to make sure April was in, and jogged ahead, in truth he was going to explain to Splinter and make sure he was well hidden before Prida arrived.
"Okay, so, who was that that went?" Prida asked, her head held slightly high, as do most people who are blindfolded. Just an automatic thing when you can't see what you're doing.
"That was Donnie," Leo smiled. This whole thing was quite funny, and so far they had only passed one person on the streets who, by the look on his face, thought so too.
"So we're nearly there?" Prida asked, her mouth open, smiling.
"Yeah, just mind the great big, dog that likes to snap at hands on your way in," Raph said, smiling.
"Very funny, Raph," Prida grinned. "You are kidding, right?"
Raph laughed while Leo assured her that he was joking. Mikey, still holding Prida's hands, laughed too.
They guided her through the building, receiving looks from a few passing people, all muttered 'teenagers'. They lead her to the stairs, telling her she was coming to steps. Hopefully, to cover April's track to her apartment even better, Prida wouldn't remember how many lots of steps she had to go up. But Leo knew from Maths that she was smart.
"Are we nearly there?" Prida asked again after a few staircases. "We've been up five sets already."
So much for that plan, Leo thought. "Nearly," he said.
After one more, they turned down the corridor and walked to April's door. Leo opened it an inch, looked through the gap, saw the coast was clear, and pushed it open further.
"Okay," Leo said as Mikey lead Prida in. "Welcome to April O'Neil's home." He smiled as he shut the door, and Raph gently took the bandanna off from around her eyes. He threw it to Mikey, who replaced it over his own head.
Prida looked around the place. "Wow, cool . . . neater than mine . . . nice pad . . ."
Donnie appeared on the spiralling staircase, smiling as he saw Prida was checking the place out.
"Hey, would it be okay if I left a message on Mai's answer machine, in case she gets in and worries about me? Then she can call back and I can leave then." Prida asked.
"Sure," they said.
Prida took off her shoes, and walked over to the phone while Leo went to make drinks, Donnie and Raph seated themselves on the couch and Mikey went to get towels for them to dry off with.
"Hey, it's your fave lil' sister here," Prida said, smiling to the guys who where looking. "I'm at a friend's house, well, some friends' house, they invited me, just up till you get back and call this number, which'll be on that thingy box that shows the numbers called. Then I can come home. Saw a movie, it was great, see ya," she hung up.
"You can sit down, ya know," Leo said smiling, carrying a mug of hot chocolate for the guest.
"Oh, thanks, Leo," she said gratefully. She loved hot chocolate when she had just been out in the cold or rain; she always came back inside to a mug of the stuff.
Raph budged up on the couch, making room, but immediately wished he hadn't because Donnie grinned at him in a way Raph didn't like. But Prida took the friendly gesture and sat down next to him in the space he had made.
"Will April mind me being here?" She asked, realising for the first time (surprised she didn't see before now) that she was the only girl in here.
"Nah, she likes meeting our friends," Mikey said without thinking. He saw the look Leo just gave him and added, "well, female friends . . . which isn't that many so . . . she doesn't see many people, friends . . ." he shut up, and took the mug Leo had just given him.
Prida laughed, and slurped her drink. She didn't feel as uncomfortable as she thought she would, in the apartment with four guys. Just as she was taking another sip from her drink, she noticed something behind the stairs, through the gaps. It was one of their school bags, Mikey's, hint the big 'M' written on it. But poking out of the bag was a handle. At the end of the handle was something shiny, long and thin, with three prongs.
Prida looked back at the TV that Leo had just turned on. Prida had seen those weapons before. But only once, so they couldn't be common around New York. She had seen them in a picture, about something she was greatly interested in. In a clipping she had ripped from a newspaper that was right now stuck to her wall, that she looked at every day, remembering it when she went to sleep at night . . . the weapons had been fastened in a belt . . . attached to someone - or something - in a . . . costume . . .
"Hey Prida, you okay?" Mikey asked.
Prida blinked herself back, and found them all looking at her.
"Yeah, I'm okay . . . just thinking . . . about Ci Ci," she quickly thought up.
"Hey, don't let her get to ya," Raph said, smiling and holding his index finger up to her.
She smiled. "Nah, I won't. She's just a tart, nothing more nothing less."
"That's the spirit," Donnie smiled at her.
Prida remained at April's apartment for another three hours, and during that time April came home for a short while with Casey, who grinned at the guys when he saw Prida was with them. He announced that he was taking April to lunch, and that they would be back a few hours later. April politely started a small conversation with Prida, apologising she was such a bad host. They left, and the guys and Prida continued to watch their movie. Every few minutes one of them would glance to the ceiling, thinking about poor Splinter shut up there. But it wasn't much longer. After the three hours, Prida's sister rang, and said she would pick Prida up. Since Prida couldn't give directions, she told her sister to meet her at the food store down this street they both knew not far from the street she last saw before she was blindfolded.
"We can take ya," Leo said, motioning himself and his brothers.
"No, you don't have to," Prida said. "You already let me stay here, I don't wanna be a bother."
"Nah, besides, we have to blindfold ya again," Mikey smiled. Prida smiled back.
They all put their soaking shoes back on, and did the same routine as before to Prida with Mikey's blindfold, which was now dry.
Going down the stairs was a lot harder than coming up. Prida slipped twice, and took it slowly. Finally they got to the bottom, and hurried it slightly. It was now dark, and the rain made visibility worse. But they made it up to the 'safe street' and took Mikey's bandanna off Prida. She looked around, blinked and smiled.
"Thanks you guys, but you don't blindfold every girl who comes to your apartment." She laughed, and so did they.
Bright lights flickered on in a car parked across the street, opposite them. They couldn't see much because of the darkness and the rain, but they heard a car door slam, and the wet slaps of feet walking towards them.
"Prida!" It was Mai.
"Hey, Mai," Prida smiled. She loved saying that. (it rhymes, in case that wasn't clear)
"Oh, thanks for looking after her till I got back," Mai was saying to the guys.
"No problem, but we'll send the bill for the vase she broke, the plate, the glass, the antique -" Mikey said grinning.
Prida hit him playfully, and he laughed.
"See ya tomorrow," she said, and was steered out of the rain to her sister's car. The guys waved, and watched it drive off. Then they turned and started to walk back.
"Great, school, and Reily's gunna be hell," Raph grumbled, hands in his jeans pocket.
"Well, if he is," Mikey started. "Maybe he'll create another fire and we can go home again!"
They all groaned at him, and disappeared into the night's rain, heading home, and preparing for school the next day.
Sorry the ending was rushed, it IS late though! (looks at watch) it is exactly 12:00! So, SFAM, and thanks for the reviews, lol, I've been called Ziptango, thanks Mily, lol, nah, I'm not taking that as an insult, as Ziptango has a very good story going, so I'll take it as a compliment, lol. Hey, ya know what was freaky? When I was doing the bit where they were watching MIB2, I had my music on and that song just happened to come on, lol. But it was the first film song, so . . . (sigh) more coming, my fingers are nothing but stubs becoz I'be been pounding at this keyboard for way to long, lol. Thanks y'all! More a-coming, and as I said before, all this IS leading somewhere, but I'm nat saying anything . . . it'll spoil it . . . hehe, (evil laugh), so, g'night friendly reviews and authors!