Radical Transformation
"Mikey, you're not going out for another hour," April told Mikey, who was rushing around wondering what to wear, and then realized that all he had was his orange shirt and black jeans.
"I wanna wear something different though," he moaned, stopping behind the couch, where his brothers were calmly watching the TV with Splinter.
"Well, why don't you wear one of the blue jeans, and Leo or Don can wear your black jeans," Raph suggested. "It's different." He shrugged.
Mikey frowned and rolled his eyes. "I wanna look a bit more different than that."
"I'm sure April will lend you one of her skirts," Leo joked, keeping his eyes on the TV. Mikey pulled a face behind him, but Leo saw the faint reflection on the TV screen, and said, "I saw that." April tittered.
"Ya have another hour, Mikey," Donnie reminded him. "Sit down, we can get ready in two seconds flat."
Mikey gave up with a sigh, and flopped down on the floor in front of the couch. Raph used him as a footstool, and propped his feet on Mikey's shoulders.
"Will this charming friend of yours be accompanying you to this party?" Splinter asked smiling, eyes on his sons, who looked at him as he spoke.
"No," Leo shook his head. "She's not coming."
"Oh, why's that?" April asked, walking into the kitchen and clearing up the mess of a small lunch by Mikey.
Leo shrugged. "She said she don't like wearing dresses."
"Is that all?" April's eyebrows rose. "I'm surprised you couldn't convince her it would be worth it, what happened to your charms, Mikey?" April grinned.
Mikey kept a straight face. "I guess she's too strong to escape me." He couldn't wait to tell them that he DID persuade her to come. He had the charm!
"Now that's some power," April sounded amazed.
()()()()
"Argh! Lookatthetime!" Mikey suddenly yelled, words falling into each other, making everyone jump, even Splinter looked slightly alarmed at the sudden outburst. Mikey jumped to his feet. They had been watching a good film, and the time almost flew by without them noticing.
"Okay, this time I agree," Leo said, getting to his feet slowly, extending his stiff limbs. "We really should get a move on." He and his other three brothers looked at the clock, looked at each other, and all rushed upstairs in twos.
"What are you guys wearing?!" April called up after them, smiling about something. "You guys have got on the only day wear you have!"
The thuds stopped, as though they all stopped to look at each other and find this true. April glanced at Splinter, and they both heard, " Damn!" by four voices. April grinned, and walked over to the stairs. The guys appeared at the top.
"Well, it ain't gunna stop me going anyway," Mikey shrugged.
April started to make her way up the stairs. "Well, it's just lucky I felt generous when I first heard about this disco fever, and went down to a couple of clothes stores . . ." She walked into the guys' room, with them following, and walked up to the lone dresser table. She bent down and pulled open one of the draws. "Got ya colors an all," she winked.
The guys looked at her and Mikey pulled out a blue-buttoned shirt with a white collar. Underneath were three other colored shirts and different jeans.
"Gee, thanks Ape," Mikey smiled.
"It was lucky those were in the sales," April smiled. "I'm not made of money, so I thought I'd buy them for you to wear while you're human, and then give them to my friend's son, or charity or something."
"Cool, Ape, thanks," Leo said.
April walked over to the door as Mikey gave Leo the blue top. "I guess I should leave you to change - and I think you should hurry." She walked downstairs and sat on the couch while the guys changed. Splinter looked at April.
"I thank you for all you have done for my sons," he said with a warm smile that matched his warm eyes. "You have made them feel part of society, like a human. Something I cannot give them, and am afraid will not last very much longer."
"At least they managed to experience it once," April said softly. "I know they don't enjoy it thoroughly because they feel they are now different from you."
" . . . Yes, they are . . . but only in form, not in soul . . ."
//
"Looking good," Mikey commented himself as he looked into the mirror in the bathroom. He was wearing an orange-buttoned shirt, like Leo's, except that his collar was the same color with black stitching around the hem of his shirt and his sleeves.
"Mikey, stop gawking at yerself and c'mon," Raph said, dressed in his own red shirt with black stitching running neatly around a pocket on his chest. He grabbed Mikey and pulled him downstairs, where Leo and Donnie were pulling on their sneakers. Don's shirt had a small pocket on the sleeve. They all looked incredibly cute, stood together with their baggy-ish, dark blue jeans on.
"Party, party, party," Mikey was jigging, grinning. He couldn't wait until the guys saw Prida! He wanted to bring a camera. He stopped jigging and turned to April. "Hey Ape, why don't you come in, talk to the teachers - maybe have a little dance, heh." He laughed. He was in such good spirits that the others found themselves smiling without realizing it.
"I don't think so Mike," April chuckled. "Some of those people are a nightmare, especially that Reily. And I'm sure you don't want your 'Aunt' there when you waltz with the girls." She grinned. "I know you Mikey, you'll be on that dance floor all night if you had enough people to dance with."
Mikey smiled. "And I'm gunna try!"
April laughed. "C'mon, let's get going." She went over to the door and opened it.
"Have an excellent time, my sons," Splinter smiled as they passed him on their way to the door. "But always be alert."
"Yes Sensei," they chorused, and bowed their respect before leaving the apartment, April locking the door after them.
"I feel this night," Splinter said to himself. "Will not be a normal school one . . ."
()()()()
"Man, there's, er, a lot of people," Donnie observed through the window of April's car. She was going out with Casey so she didn't mind dropping the guys off. She had just pulled up outside the school, where quite a few people were hanging around in the gardens and walking in. Flashing lights danced on the floor just inside the doorway, and since it was dark, it looked like a really party.
"Have fun," April grinned as they got out and slammed the doors, gawking at the scene. It felt so weird to be going to a party - and to be able to walk around without staying hidden in shadows for fear of anyone seeing them. They had visited some parties before, but had kept in the shadows and had not stayed for long, all except that one they had been to where they defeated Tokka and Razah, and danced away having everyone think they were wearing costumes. That had been fun, an experience they wanted to repeat. They seemed to have gotten their wish.
Mikey closed his mouth and his smile slowed returned. He glanced at his brother, who were staring, and said, "C'mon guys, let's go party!" Mikey walked ahead, with his brothers behind him. They were well known in the school now, and most of the kids outside, making out on the walls of the front lawn and some just walking, said hi as though they were friends.
"I'm guessing left!" Mikey shouted as a blast of music made all of them blink as they stepped inside. It was pretty obvious that the party was to the left, as that way was the assembly Hall, and the double doors were wide open, welcoming them in. The corridors they were in would have been very dark had it not been for the flashing lights of the equipment that had been set up on the stage to the very back of the Hall. The guys walked in and looked about. The dance floor was made up of a perimeter of tables and chairs, which people were sat at, either on their date's knees, on the table, three trying to succeed in sharing one chair and the smart people who sat at a table the correct way with a drink in hand and shouting at one another as loud as they could even though they were sat next to each other. The lights danced over them with a mixture of green circles, red ring lights, blue flashes and yellow patterns that moved around onto the walls, then the floor. Many other lights moved too fast to be able to follow then until they stopped and then whizzed around again. People on the dance floor were bathed in the color glows. They were all having a good time, and it was crowded.
"Hey!" A voice called out behind them.
They all turned around (without realizing they had walked further into the Hall), and came face to face with Matt, who was grinning, glad his friends could make it.
"Glad you could make it!" He yelled above the fast pacing music that rattled their very lungs as the beat pounded through the air. "I've only seen Dean and Roxanne so far!"
"Where are they?" Leo shouted, admitting to himself that he wanted to mingle and share the night with his friends. It would be their last after all.
"I think they grabbed a table," Matt shouted, searching the tables and chairs through the bodies. "Dean was telling me how hard it was to find the perfect dress for his sister - but she's come up with a good one!" Matt raised and dropped his eyebrows, grinning. "Oh! There they are!" He pointed, and they followed him to a table with Roxanne and other boys, most likely Dean's friends.
Roxanne looked great in the flashing lights. She was wearing a white dress that seemed to glow. It settled neatly around her legs as she was sat down, and reached her knees. The top of it was pretty eye catching, as it was pretty low. The straps crisscrossed and disappeared behind her neck. She wore white sandals. Leo smiled as her pretty face blushed towards his way. Her crimped, blonde hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, falling lighting on her shoulders. Her lips shone in the light as well as her earrings.
"Hey," Dean said to them, sat next to his sister, who was sat at the edge of the table away from Dean and his friends.
"Didn't you, er, have anyone to come with?" Leo asked Roxanne kind of awkwardly while his brothers turned around to see Tyson and started chatting to him.
Roxanne smiled. "No, I came with Dean."
The music that was blaring out picked up the heavy beat, and Matt started to mime the words.
'Get up, get up, get up, drop the Bombshell . . .'
He waved to someone over the guys' shoulder, and they turned around to see Michael walking over smiling; his girlfriend at his side wearing a tight, dark pink dress, which reached her knees.
"Hey!" Michael greeted, wrapping his arm around her small waist. "Where are your dates?" He asked.
"We ain't got dates," Mikey said, keeping an eye on the door as people flooded in, some people leaving for fresh air.
"What? You guys?! No dates?!" Michael looked shocked.
"Not yet anyway," Mikey grinned. "Hey Bonnie! Looking good!" He yelled, pointing out someone who had come up behind Leo, Don and Raph. They turned around to see Bonnie had joined their group. Like Roxanne, she had dressed for the occasion well too: She was wearing a red dress with black lace over it that reached below her ankles nearly to the floor, where it just showed black, heeled sandals which crisscrossed and tied by silver buckles. Her hair was pulled back by a sparkly hair bobble, letting her mid-length, light brown hair bounce and swing with her steps. Wrapped over her arm was a black velvet jacket to match the dress.
"Hi guys," she said, grinning at Matt who was gawking jokingly. She pushed his shoulder giggling. "Hey, no staring!"
"You know, I hope for a dance some time soon," Michael grinned and turned to his date. She smiled, and with a, "I thought you'd never ask," whisked him away onto the dance floor where they took hands and twirled to the quick pace music.
"Aw, the joy of love," Mikey sighed grinning. His brothers turned around and raised their eyebrows at him. Mikey shrugged and then spotted the snacks table. "Oh yes! Food!" He grabbed his brothers and started to pull them over. "Er, you guys grab something to eat, I'll be right back okay? Stay there."
Mikey left the group and walked out of the Hall and outside where people were still arriving. He stopped and leant against the edge of the door, watching the cars pull up, drop the kids off and drive away. Some came walking from behind the building, most had dates; but there were also many people in groups with no dates, just there for the fun. Mikey sighed. He wished he could have been here to grow up with everyone, be normal. But that just wasn't how it was suppose to be. Mikey knew he had to accept the way they lived, down in the sewers on their own. It was difficult, but they still had fun together.
A couple of kids behind him walked out into the fresh air and bumped into him, muttering a 'sorry' and walking away. They looked pretty worn out, and they had only been dancing for a bit. Mikey watched them walk away, and his eyes fell on the car that was pulling up. He recognized the person at the wheel, and she spotted him and waved. He waved back and shifted his eyes to the person getting out of the car, saying something to her sister and blushing.
Prida was dressed in a beautiful dress, flowing perfectly in the slight breeze. It was a lovely shade of dark purple, and flowed just liked water. It was definitely some sort of silk material, and it hugged her perfect figure around her waist, flaring off when it reached her hips. It reached just above her knees, and her long, slender legs ended in heeled sandals a lighter color of her dress, straps crisscrossed her feet. The top of it exposed a good dose of chest, but was covered slightly by the straps that tied behind her neck. Her red hair was pulled back sleek and shiny, plaited many times where it wound around on the top of her head, with the long ends of the plaits falling down her bare back; the dress met at the small of her back in a 'V' shape. Dangling from her ears were a silver pair of earrings of an intriguing symbol, glinting like the light in her purple eyes, which really showed with the dress she was wearing; And as always, around her neck was that silver twisted fireball necklace. She turned to see Mikey walking over to her, grinning.
"Prida!" He said, pretending to stare in shock and then bowing like a polite gentleman. He held his arm out, grinning.
Prida giggle and blushed bright red, while Mai laughed. People around them glanced once or twice, and there was a few from their year who knew Prida and stared.
"I'll pick you up at ten," Mai said to her sister. "I'm sure this kind gentleman will take care of you, along with the other three." Mai grinned and drove off.
Prida turned to Mikey, who wiggled his arm, indicating for her to take it. She grinned and looped her arm through his.
"You - look - fabuloso!" Mikey said.
Prida breathed, flattered. "Thanks - I was hoping I would be - but I didn't now because I've never -"
"Prida! Don't worry, the guys are gunna be totally shocked with surprise when they see you - you look great!"
Prida swallowed, her throat felt really dry. "Where ARE the others? You haven't told them yet have you?" Her heart was pounding with nervousness. Why was she so nervous? Was it because she didn't know what everyone's reactions would be to her wearing a dress? Or was it because she would be showing her hidden figure to her friends? Especially four certain friends - three now.
"Nope, of course I didn't. I don't wanna spoil the surprise!"
//
"Hey Matt, wassup?" Leo looked at the friend who seemed slightly in the wrong mood for this atmosphere. Matt was munching carrot stick and staring into the hall with not much of an expression on his face. Before Matt answered a loud crunching noise made them look up to find Donnie crunching happily on the carrots and other snacks. He grinned and turned to watch some people nearby dance wildly, reminding him much of Mikey.
Leo looked around wondering where Mikey could have gone, reminded of the wildness too. He had dashed off with an odd grin on his face, and Leo wanted to know why. Leo turned back to Matt to find his friend no longer looking like he wasn't enjoying it much, but he has straightened up and his mouth had fallen open. His eyes were fixed on something behind Leo and his two brothers.
"Man that's a fast change in moods," Raph said, next to him Donnie shrugged and they both turned back to the table to pick out more carrots. They started to throw them into each other's mouths while Leo frowned and turned to looked behind his brother's at what Matt was staring at. At first he noticed most of the people he knew were staring wide-eyed at two people who had just walked in through the entrance to the Hall. Actually, as Leo's eyes fell on the people, he realized that they were all staring at just the one, who was arm in arm with his brother. Leo's jaw fell open and his eyebrows had reached their highest point. Walking in with a grinning Mikey was a really beautiful girl, though how Mikey ended up getting her Leo didn't know - but, as he looked closer, the girl's familiar purple eyes and necklace became clear, and Leo realized with a jolt and a sudden blink that it was Prida! `She looked great!` Was Leo's first thought, or more like `P- Prida - in - a - dress - at - a - disco!` Mikey had told them that Prida wasn't coming! Leo's heart just thudded s hard he gasped - how could he have not known it was her? Well, she did look really different from a distance, and Leo wasn't used to seeing her look so . . . thin! With her hair taken back and up from her face it had made her look very different; but as she and Mikey drew closer he realized her face was still the same, decorated with lip-gloss and earrings. She was smiling, cheeks red from all the stares - and Leo didn't blame her, but then he saw no reason for her to be embarrassed. Mikey was practically lost in his grin.
Leo, eyes still unblinkingly fixed on Prida, poked Donnie in the side, who still had his back to her along with Raph. They had been picking at the food, still throwing it at each other. As Leo poked him, Donnie was put off and threw a chunk of cucumber in Raph's eye.
"Yeah?" Donnie muttered, turning around to see what Leo wanted. He turned to Leo, but had only just faced him before his eyes shot to the girl walking towards them, his head followed. Donnie's mouth dropped open, and he slapped Raph on his arm.
"Eh -?" Raph said, turning around with a plastic plate of snacks. He looked at Donnie, frowning. "What?" Shaking his head when Donnie didn't answer, Raph glanced at what his brother was staring at: Nothing, just some girl. He turned back around, but a second later Raph's neck snapped back round and the plate fell from his hand onto the floor, scattering the food. His mouth dropped open and he stood staring just like his brothers. They were stood in a line, identical faces staring at the same person.
Prida felt like some amazing jewel, being stared at like this. Not that she didn't mind, actually she thought she would have hated it. But with her gaze mostly focus on her three identical friends, she managed to catch glances of her other friends out of the corner of her eyes. Matt had been staring, and she had seen Roxanne's surprised stare with a thumbs-up to go with it. Michael and his girlfriend had stopped to look and grin, and now everyone seemed to be over the great surprise and were grinning at the three brothers. Mikey sure was enjoying himself.
"Told ya their jaws would drop," Mikey said to her, and they came to a stop in front of his brothers. "Hey, don't she look great?" Mikey grinned, and took one of Prida's hands and made her twirl in a circle, letting her dress fan out. He though she looked great, and her cheeks went even redder.
Leo blinked and closed his mouth. "Prida . .. . you look - you look -" He smiled and then glanced sidelong at his brothers. He reached up a hand under Donnie's chin and closed mouth. It seemed to snap Don out of his gaze and he blinked, smiling politely to Prida. He glanced sidelong at Raph, and shut his mouth. Raph blinked back to reality and looked at Prida, still looking amazed, but apologetically.
Prida was still waiting for Leo's sentence to end, she smiled, and Mikey left her side to grab some food, passing her a plate piled.
"You look really -" Donnie began to say.
"Great," Raph finished, and Prida blushed.
"Mikey forced me to come, blackmailed me!"
Mikey grinned, looking shocked. "I did not! I just bugged her a lot and she finally gave up. We can tell Ape that I HAVE got the charm!" He winked and crunched on a couple of potato chips, bobbing to the music blasting out. "And she's gunna dance with everyone here!"
"No I'm not! I came . . . only because you forced me! I didn't say anything about dancing!"
"Hey that's not fair!" Mikey said. "That's the whole point of a disco, to dance! And I believe your first dance is with yours truly," he grinned.
Prida gave up with a smile, glancing at the others before she nodded in defeat.
"Yay, alright," Mikey said. "Because you know this might be our last time together before we, er, move back to LA."
Prida frowned. "When're you moving back?"
Leo sighed and looked at the floor. "Tomorrow or Sunday, we're not sure . . ."
Prida's smile faded, and just then the rest of the group joined them. Matt walked over with Tyson, Michael and his girlfriend behind them. They started talking excitedly to Leo, Don and Raph, while Mikey noticed Prida's sad expression.
"Hey," he put his hands on her shoulders. "The past few weeks have been the best, thanks to you, but we'll never forget you, just remember that."
Prida forced a smile. "I know, I'll never forget y - hey, I can't even believe I'm saying this right now! I never actually thought I'd be saying goodbye to you guys . . ."
"It's not goodbye yet."
Prida's smile was small, and with a sigh she turned her eyes down to the floor.
"I know, but I didn't even imagine ever saying goodbye to you," she said.
"Saying goodbye doesn't mean we're gone," Mikey lifted her chin up with his hand and smiled.
"But it means I might never SEE you again."
"Sure ya will, in here," Mikey tapped her temple, and she smiled. At that minute a girl of their age wearing a lovely white satin dress with wide straps and baby blue, velvety flowers over it asked Mikey if he would dance with her. Prida watched his grinning face walk off with the girl, and disappear among the dancing people.
"Donnie said you'd always be there for me," Prida whispered to herself, now watching Matt walk over to another table to grab some drinks, and as Mikey appeared and disappeared through the mass of people.
"Looks like Mikey has his first dance," Tyson pointed out, and everyone turned to watch the cute dude in orange spin a pretty girl around in a twirl before taking both her hands and swinging them around to the funky music; her hair bounced in its loose curls.
"He's such a show off," Raph muttered.
Leo nudged him with his elbow. "Well why don't you go show him you can show off better," he grinned, nodding his head towards Prida.
"No way - you crazy? I don't dance," Raph said, tugging on the collar of his shirt.
"Not yet anyway," Don muttered to Leo, smiling.
"Hey Amba," Matt said returning with a drink and looking over to their friend behind them who had just greeted Prida. Amba was wearing a lavender dress that flowed loosely, staring with spaghetti straps over her thin shoulders. It had blue and purple sequins at the bottom in a flower design, showing white sandals. She looked very pretty. She smiled sweetly at Donnie, before glancing at the others and talking to Prida again.
"It don't matter that you didn't arrange to come with anyone then, Donnie boy," Raph said. "We all met here anyway - and it will be easier for you to ask 'em to dance, since you got two who wanted to come with ya."
Donnie went red. "What makes ya think I came here to dance?"
"C'mon! You WERE gunna come here with Amba AND Bonnie!"
"Oh go dance with Prida, Raph," Donnie said, trying to shut his brother up.
"I don't dance."
"It's a disco!"
"So - here's food, I'll eat that, but I'm not dancing."
"Guys will you just shut up and have fun?" Leo interrupted. "Donnie - Raph, you're dancing whether you like it or not, this is gunna be too funny!"
Both Don and Raph glared at their brother humorously.
Sorry I had to leave it there, but I thought I'd let ya wait for the next chapter which I promise is gunna have dancing in it [winks to Danceingfae] hehe. SORRY IT WAS SOOO LATE! I haven't been in the mood to write much, I think I'm fighting writers blocks, coz I feel awful as well. This chapter was just a get-together and descibe what who was wearing, I'll TRY and get the next chapter up as soon as I can . hehe. And thanks to Rebekah Brown - who the girl who danced with Mikey and Amba's dresses are her description, thank you!
Oh and Caitriona Grady [looks at that VERY long review] thank you so much for the mixed comments in that, I appreciate someone pointing out my errors, and I swear when this is finished I will go back and correct em all. I'm ashamed of the mistakes I made, so if anyone finds anymore they have to shout at me and be harsh, lol. I hope ya enjoyed this chapter - and I'm sorry about any mistakes and the lateness - and not everyone has been intro-ed in this chapter for the dance [cough] Tooks [cough] hehe, I have to get writing more, actually this chapter might be replaced, so I'll letcha know when it is. Thankies!
"Mikey, you're not going out for another hour," April told Mikey, who was rushing around wondering what to wear, and then realized that all he had was his orange shirt and black jeans.
"I wanna wear something different though," he moaned, stopping behind the couch, where his brothers were calmly watching the TV with Splinter.
"Well, why don't you wear one of the blue jeans, and Leo or Don can wear your black jeans," Raph suggested. "It's different." He shrugged.
Mikey frowned and rolled his eyes. "I wanna look a bit more different than that."
"I'm sure April will lend you one of her skirts," Leo joked, keeping his eyes on the TV. Mikey pulled a face behind him, but Leo saw the faint reflection on the TV screen, and said, "I saw that." April tittered.
"Ya have another hour, Mikey," Donnie reminded him. "Sit down, we can get ready in two seconds flat."
Mikey gave up with a sigh, and flopped down on the floor in front of the couch. Raph used him as a footstool, and propped his feet on Mikey's shoulders.
"Will this charming friend of yours be accompanying you to this party?" Splinter asked smiling, eyes on his sons, who looked at him as he spoke.
"No," Leo shook his head. "She's not coming."
"Oh, why's that?" April asked, walking into the kitchen and clearing up the mess of a small lunch by Mikey.
Leo shrugged. "She said she don't like wearing dresses."
"Is that all?" April's eyebrows rose. "I'm surprised you couldn't convince her it would be worth it, what happened to your charms, Mikey?" April grinned.
Mikey kept a straight face. "I guess she's too strong to escape me." He couldn't wait to tell them that he DID persuade her to come. He had the charm!
"Now that's some power," April sounded amazed.
()()()()
"Argh! Lookatthetime!" Mikey suddenly yelled, words falling into each other, making everyone jump, even Splinter looked slightly alarmed at the sudden outburst. Mikey jumped to his feet. They had been watching a good film, and the time almost flew by without them noticing.
"Okay, this time I agree," Leo said, getting to his feet slowly, extending his stiff limbs. "We really should get a move on." He and his other three brothers looked at the clock, looked at each other, and all rushed upstairs in twos.
"What are you guys wearing?!" April called up after them, smiling about something. "You guys have got on the only day wear you have!"
The thuds stopped, as though they all stopped to look at each other and find this true. April glanced at Splinter, and they both heard, " Damn!" by four voices. April grinned, and walked over to the stairs. The guys appeared at the top.
"Well, it ain't gunna stop me going anyway," Mikey shrugged.
April started to make her way up the stairs. "Well, it's just lucky I felt generous when I first heard about this disco fever, and went down to a couple of clothes stores . . ." She walked into the guys' room, with them following, and walked up to the lone dresser table. She bent down and pulled open one of the draws. "Got ya colors an all," she winked.
The guys looked at her and Mikey pulled out a blue-buttoned shirt with a white collar. Underneath were three other colored shirts and different jeans.
"Gee, thanks Ape," Mikey smiled.
"It was lucky those were in the sales," April smiled. "I'm not made of money, so I thought I'd buy them for you to wear while you're human, and then give them to my friend's son, or charity or something."
"Cool, Ape, thanks," Leo said.
April walked over to the door as Mikey gave Leo the blue top. "I guess I should leave you to change - and I think you should hurry." She walked downstairs and sat on the couch while the guys changed. Splinter looked at April.
"I thank you for all you have done for my sons," he said with a warm smile that matched his warm eyes. "You have made them feel part of society, like a human. Something I cannot give them, and am afraid will not last very much longer."
"At least they managed to experience it once," April said softly. "I know they don't enjoy it thoroughly because they feel they are now different from you."
" . . . Yes, they are . . . but only in form, not in soul . . ."
//
"Looking good," Mikey commented himself as he looked into the mirror in the bathroom. He was wearing an orange-buttoned shirt, like Leo's, except that his collar was the same color with black stitching around the hem of his shirt and his sleeves.
"Mikey, stop gawking at yerself and c'mon," Raph said, dressed in his own red shirt with black stitching running neatly around a pocket on his chest. He grabbed Mikey and pulled him downstairs, where Leo and Donnie were pulling on their sneakers. Don's shirt had a small pocket on the sleeve. They all looked incredibly cute, stood together with their baggy-ish, dark blue jeans on.
"Party, party, party," Mikey was jigging, grinning. He couldn't wait until the guys saw Prida! He wanted to bring a camera. He stopped jigging and turned to April. "Hey Ape, why don't you come in, talk to the teachers - maybe have a little dance, heh." He laughed. He was in such good spirits that the others found themselves smiling without realizing it.
"I don't think so Mike," April chuckled. "Some of those people are a nightmare, especially that Reily. And I'm sure you don't want your 'Aunt' there when you waltz with the girls." She grinned. "I know you Mikey, you'll be on that dance floor all night if you had enough people to dance with."
Mikey smiled. "And I'm gunna try!"
April laughed. "C'mon, let's get going." She went over to the door and opened it.
"Have an excellent time, my sons," Splinter smiled as they passed him on their way to the door. "But always be alert."
"Yes Sensei," they chorused, and bowed their respect before leaving the apartment, April locking the door after them.
"I feel this night," Splinter said to himself. "Will not be a normal school one . . ."
()()()()
"Man, there's, er, a lot of people," Donnie observed through the window of April's car. She was going out with Casey so she didn't mind dropping the guys off. She had just pulled up outside the school, where quite a few people were hanging around in the gardens and walking in. Flashing lights danced on the floor just inside the doorway, and since it was dark, it looked like a really party.
"Have fun," April grinned as they got out and slammed the doors, gawking at the scene. It felt so weird to be going to a party - and to be able to walk around without staying hidden in shadows for fear of anyone seeing them. They had visited some parties before, but had kept in the shadows and had not stayed for long, all except that one they had been to where they defeated Tokka and Razah, and danced away having everyone think they were wearing costumes. That had been fun, an experience they wanted to repeat. They seemed to have gotten their wish.
Mikey closed his mouth and his smile slowed returned. He glanced at his brother, who were staring, and said, "C'mon guys, let's go party!" Mikey walked ahead, with his brothers behind him. They were well known in the school now, and most of the kids outside, making out on the walls of the front lawn and some just walking, said hi as though they were friends.
"I'm guessing left!" Mikey shouted as a blast of music made all of them blink as they stepped inside. It was pretty obvious that the party was to the left, as that way was the assembly Hall, and the double doors were wide open, welcoming them in. The corridors they were in would have been very dark had it not been for the flashing lights of the equipment that had been set up on the stage to the very back of the Hall. The guys walked in and looked about. The dance floor was made up of a perimeter of tables and chairs, which people were sat at, either on their date's knees, on the table, three trying to succeed in sharing one chair and the smart people who sat at a table the correct way with a drink in hand and shouting at one another as loud as they could even though they were sat next to each other. The lights danced over them with a mixture of green circles, red ring lights, blue flashes and yellow patterns that moved around onto the walls, then the floor. Many other lights moved too fast to be able to follow then until they stopped and then whizzed around again. People on the dance floor were bathed in the color glows. They were all having a good time, and it was crowded.
"Hey!" A voice called out behind them.
They all turned around (without realizing they had walked further into the Hall), and came face to face with Matt, who was grinning, glad his friends could make it.
"Glad you could make it!" He yelled above the fast pacing music that rattled their very lungs as the beat pounded through the air. "I've only seen Dean and Roxanne so far!"
"Where are they?" Leo shouted, admitting to himself that he wanted to mingle and share the night with his friends. It would be their last after all.
"I think they grabbed a table," Matt shouted, searching the tables and chairs through the bodies. "Dean was telling me how hard it was to find the perfect dress for his sister - but she's come up with a good one!" Matt raised and dropped his eyebrows, grinning. "Oh! There they are!" He pointed, and they followed him to a table with Roxanne and other boys, most likely Dean's friends.
Roxanne looked great in the flashing lights. She was wearing a white dress that seemed to glow. It settled neatly around her legs as she was sat down, and reached her knees. The top of it was pretty eye catching, as it was pretty low. The straps crisscrossed and disappeared behind her neck. She wore white sandals. Leo smiled as her pretty face blushed towards his way. Her crimped, blonde hair was pulled back in a half ponytail, falling lighting on her shoulders. Her lips shone in the light as well as her earrings.
"Hey," Dean said to them, sat next to his sister, who was sat at the edge of the table away from Dean and his friends.
"Didn't you, er, have anyone to come with?" Leo asked Roxanne kind of awkwardly while his brothers turned around to see Tyson and started chatting to him.
Roxanne smiled. "No, I came with Dean."
The music that was blaring out picked up the heavy beat, and Matt started to mime the words.
'Get up, get up, get up, drop the Bombshell . . .'
He waved to someone over the guys' shoulder, and they turned around to see Michael walking over smiling; his girlfriend at his side wearing a tight, dark pink dress, which reached her knees.
"Hey!" Michael greeted, wrapping his arm around her small waist. "Where are your dates?" He asked.
"We ain't got dates," Mikey said, keeping an eye on the door as people flooded in, some people leaving for fresh air.
"What? You guys?! No dates?!" Michael looked shocked.
"Not yet anyway," Mikey grinned. "Hey Bonnie! Looking good!" He yelled, pointing out someone who had come up behind Leo, Don and Raph. They turned around to see Bonnie had joined their group. Like Roxanne, she had dressed for the occasion well too: She was wearing a red dress with black lace over it that reached below her ankles nearly to the floor, where it just showed black, heeled sandals which crisscrossed and tied by silver buckles. Her hair was pulled back by a sparkly hair bobble, letting her mid-length, light brown hair bounce and swing with her steps. Wrapped over her arm was a black velvet jacket to match the dress.
"Hi guys," she said, grinning at Matt who was gawking jokingly. She pushed his shoulder giggling. "Hey, no staring!"
"You know, I hope for a dance some time soon," Michael grinned and turned to his date. She smiled, and with a, "I thought you'd never ask," whisked him away onto the dance floor where they took hands and twirled to the quick pace music.
"Aw, the joy of love," Mikey sighed grinning. His brothers turned around and raised their eyebrows at him. Mikey shrugged and then spotted the snacks table. "Oh yes! Food!" He grabbed his brothers and started to pull them over. "Er, you guys grab something to eat, I'll be right back okay? Stay there."
Mikey left the group and walked out of the Hall and outside where people were still arriving. He stopped and leant against the edge of the door, watching the cars pull up, drop the kids off and drive away. Some came walking from behind the building, most had dates; but there were also many people in groups with no dates, just there for the fun. Mikey sighed. He wished he could have been here to grow up with everyone, be normal. But that just wasn't how it was suppose to be. Mikey knew he had to accept the way they lived, down in the sewers on their own. It was difficult, but they still had fun together.
A couple of kids behind him walked out into the fresh air and bumped into him, muttering a 'sorry' and walking away. They looked pretty worn out, and they had only been dancing for a bit. Mikey watched them walk away, and his eyes fell on the car that was pulling up. He recognized the person at the wheel, and she spotted him and waved. He waved back and shifted his eyes to the person getting out of the car, saying something to her sister and blushing.
Prida was dressed in a beautiful dress, flowing perfectly in the slight breeze. It was a lovely shade of dark purple, and flowed just liked water. It was definitely some sort of silk material, and it hugged her perfect figure around her waist, flaring off when it reached her hips. It reached just above her knees, and her long, slender legs ended in heeled sandals a lighter color of her dress, straps crisscrossed her feet. The top of it exposed a good dose of chest, but was covered slightly by the straps that tied behind her neck. Her red hair was pulled back sleek and shiny, plaited many times where it wound around on the top of her head, with the long ends of the plaits falling down her bare back; the dress met at the small of her back in a 'V' shape. Dangling from her ears were a silver pair of earrings of an intriguing symbol, glinting like the light in her purple eyes, which really showed with the dress she was wearing; And as always, around her neck was that silver twisted fireball necklace. She turned to see Mikey walking over to her, grinning.
"Prida!" He said, pretending to stare in shock and then bowing like a polite gentleman. He held his arm out, grinning.
Prida giggle and blushed bright red, while Mai laughed. People around them glanced once or twice, and there was a few from their year who knew Prida and stared.
"I'll pick you up at ten," Mai said to her sister. "I'm sure this kind gentleman will take care of you, along with the other three." Mai grinned and drove off.
Prida turned to Mikey, who wiggled his arm, indicating for her to take it. She grinned and looped her arm through his.
"You - look - fabuloso!" Mikey said.
Prida breathed, flattered. "Thanks - I was hoping I would be - but I didn't now because I've never -"
"Prida! Don't worry, the guys are gunna be totally shocked with surprise when they see you - you look great!"
Prida swallowed, her throat felt really dry. "Where ARE the others? You haven't told them yet have you?" Her heart was pounding with nervousness. Why was she so nervous? Was it because she didn't know what everyone's reactions would be to her wearing a dress? Or was it because she would be showing her hidden figure to her friends? Especially four certain friends - three now.
"Nope, of course I didn't. I don't wanna spoil the surprise!"
//
"Hey Matt, wassup?" Leo looked at the friend who seemed slightly in the wrong mood for this atmosphere. Matt was munching carrot stick and staring into the hall with not much of an expression on his face. Before Matt answered a loud crunching noise made them look up to find Donnie crunching happily on the carrots and other snacks. He grinned and turned to watch some people nearby dance wildly, reminding him much of Mikey.
Leo looked around wondering where Mikey could have gone, reminded of the wildness too. He had dashed off with an odd grin on his face, and Leo wanted to know why. Leo turned back to Matt to find his friend no longer looking like he wasn't enjoying it much, but he has straightened up and his mouth had fallen open. His eyes were fixed on something behind Leo and his two brothers.
"Man that's a fast change in moods," Raph said, next to him Donnie shrugged and they both turned back to the table to pick out more carrots. They started to throw them into each other's mouths while Leo frowned and turned to looked behind his brother's at what Matt was staring at. At first he noticed most of the people he knew were staring wide-eyed at two people who had just walked in through the entrance to the Hall. Actually, as Leo's eyes fell on the people, he realized that they were all staring at just the one, who was arm in arm with his brother. Leo's jaw fell open and his eyebrows had reached their highest point. Walking in with a grinning Mikey was a really beautiful girl, though how Mikey ended up getting her Leo didn't know - but, as he looked closer, the girl's familiar purple eyes and necklace became clear, and Leo realized with a jolt and a sudden blink that it was Prida! `She looked great!` Was Leo's first thought, or more like `P- Prida - in - a - dress - at - a - disco!` Mikey had told them that Prida wasn't coming! Leo's heart just thudded s hard he gasped - how could he have not known it was her? Well, she did look really different from a distance, and Leo wasn't used to seeing her look so . . . thin! With her hair taken back and up from her face it had made her look very different; but as she and Mikey drew closer he realized her face was still the same, decorated with lip-gloss and earrings. She was smiling, cheeks red from all the stares - and Leo didn't blame her, but then he saw no reason for her to be embarrassed. Mikey was practically lost in his grin.
Leo, eyes still unblinkingly fixed on Prida, poked Donnie in the side, who still had his back to her along with Raph. They had been picking at the food, still throwing it at each other. As Leo poked him, Donnie was put off and threw a chunk of cucumber in Raph's eye.
"Yeah?" Donnie muttered, turning around to see what Leo wanted. He turned to Leo, but had only just faced him before his eyes shot to the girl walking towards them, his head followed. Donnie's mouth dropped open, and he slapped Raph on his arm.
"Eh -?" Raph said, turning around with a plastic plate of snacks. He looked at Donnie, frowning. "What?" Shaking his head when Donnie didn't answer, Raph glanced at what his brother was staring at: Nothing, just some girl. He turned back around, but a second later Raph's neck snapped back round and the plate fell from his hand onto the floor, scattering the food. His mouth dropped open and he stood staring just like his brothers. They were stood in a line, identical faces staring at the same person.
Prida felt like some amazing jewel, being stared at like this. Not that she didn't mind, actually she thought she would have hated it. But with her gaze mostly focus on her three identical friends, she managed to catch glances of her other friends out of the corner of her eyes. Matt had been staring, and she had seen Roxanne's surprised stare with a thumbs-up to go with it. Michael and his girlfriend had stopped to look and grin, and now everyone seemed to be over the great surprise and were grinning at the three brothers. Mikey sure was enjoying himself.
"Told ya their jaws would drop," Mikey said to her, and they came to a stop in front of his brothers. "Hey, don't she look great?" Mikey grinned, and took one of Prida's hands and made her twirl in a circle, letting her dress fan out. He though she looked great, and her cheeks went even redder.
Leo blinked and closed his mouth. "Prida . .. . you look - you look -" He smiled and then glanced sidelong at his brothers. He reached up a hand under Donnie's chin and closed mouth. It seemed to snap Don out of his gaze and he blinked, smiling politely to Prida. He glanced sidelong at Raph, and shut his mouth. Raph blinked back to reality and looked at Prida, still looking amazed, but apologetically.
Prida was still waiting for Leo's sentence to end, she smiled, and Mikey left her side to grab some food, passing her a plate piled.
"You look really -" Donnie began to say.
"Great," Raph finished, and Prida blushed.
"Mikey forced me to come, blackmailed me!"
Mikey grinned, looking shocked. "I did not! I just bugged her a lot and she finally gave up. We can tell Ape that I HAVE got the charm!" He winked and crunched on a couple of potato chips, bobbing to the music blasting out. "And she's gunna dance with everyone here!"
"No I'm not! I came . . . only because you forced me! I didn't say anything about dancing!"
"Hey that's not fair!" Mikey said. "That's the whole point of a disco, to dance! And I believe your first dance is with yours truly," he grinned.
Prida gave up with a smile, glancing at the others before she nodded in defeat.
"Yay, alright," Mikey said. "Because you know this might be our last time together before we, er, move back to LA."
Prida frowned. "When're you moving back?"
Leo sighed and looked at the floor. "Tomorrow or Sunday, we're not sure . . ."
Prida's smile faded, and just then the rest of the group joined them. Matt walked over with Tyson, Michael and his girlfriend behind them. They started talking excitedly to Leo, Don and Raph, while Mikey noticed Prida's sad expression.
"Hey," he put his hands on her shoulders. "The past few weeks have been the best, thanks to you, but we'll never forget you, just remember that."
Prida forced a smile. "I know, I'll never forget y - hey, I can't even believe I'm saying this right now! I never actually thought I'd be saying goodbye to you guys . . ."
"It's not goodbye yet."
Prida's smile was small, and with a sigh she turned her eyes down to the floor.
"I know, but I didn't even imagine ever saying goodbye to you," she said.
"Saying goodbye doesn't mean we're gone," Mikey lifted her chin up with his hand and smiled.
"But it means I might never SEE you again."
"Sure ya will, in here," Mikey tapped her temple, and she smiled. At that minute a girl of their age wearing a lovely white satin dress with wide straps and baby blue, velvety flowers over it asked Mikey if he would dance with her. Prida watched his grinning face walk off with the girl, and disappear among the dancing people.
"Donnie said you'd always be there for me," Prida whispered to herself, now watching Matt walk over to another table to grab some drinks, and as Mikey appeared and disappeared through the mass of people.
"Looks like Mikey has his first dance," Tyson pointed out, and everyone turned to watch the cute dude in orange spin a pretty girl around in a twirl before taking both her hands and swinging them around to the funky music; her hair bounced in its loose curls.
"He's such a show off," Raph muttered.
Leo nudged him with his elbow. "Well why don't you go show him you can show off better," he grinned, nodding his head towards Prida.
"No way - you crazy? I don't dance," Raph said, tugging on the collar of his shirt.
"Not yet anyway," Don muttered to Leo, smiling.
"Hey Amba," Matt said returning with a drink and looking over to their friend behind them who had just greeted Prida. Amba was wearing a lavender dress that flowed loosely, staring with spaghetti straps over her thin shoulders. It had blue and purple sequins at the bottom in a flower design, showing white sandals. She looked very pretty. She smiled sweetly at Donnie, before glancing at the others and talking to Prida again.
"It don't matter that you didn't arrange to come with anyone then, Donnie boy," Raph said. "We all met here anyway - and it will be easier for you to ask 'em to dance, since you got two who wanted to come with ya."
Donnie went red. "What makes ya think I came here to dance?"
"C'mon! You WERE gunna come here with Amba AND Bonnie!"
"Oh go dance with Prida, Raph," Donnie said, trying to shut his brother up.
"I don't dance."
"It's a disco!"
"So - here's food, I'll eat that, but I'm not dancing."
"Guys will you just shut up and have fun?" Leo interrupted. "Donnie - Raph, you're dancing whether you like it or not, this is gunna be too funny!"
Both Don and Raph glared at their brother humorously.
Sorry I had to leave it there, but I thought I'd let ya wait for the next chapter which I promise is gunna have dancing in it [winks to Danceingfae] hehe. SORRY IT WAS SOOO LATE! I haven't been in the mood to write much, I think I'm fighting writers blocks, coz I feel awful as well. This chapter was just a get-together and descibe what who was wearing, I'll TRY and get the next chapter up as soon as I can . hehe. And thanks to Rebekah Brown - who the girl who danced with Mikey and Amba's dresses are her description, thank you!
Oh and Caitriona Grady [looks at that VERY long review] thank you so much for the mixed comments in that, I appreciate someone pointing out my errors, and I swear when this is finished I will go back and correct em all. I'm ashamed of the mistakes I made, so if anyone finds anymore they have to shout at me and be harsh, lol. I hope ya enjoyed this chapter - and I'm sorry about any mistakes and the lateness - and not everyone has been intro-ed in this chapter for the dance [cough] Tooks [cough] hehe, I have to get writing more, actually this chapter might be replaced, so I'll letcha know when it is. Thankies!