Chapter Three
The sun had barely set over the horizon when Vanessa pulled into the driveway of the Turtles home. She turned off the engine and took one last look in the rear-view mirror, replacing strands of her wavy auburn hair and checking her makeup. She then bared her fangs to check for any remnants of food or lipstick, then Vanessa smiled at her reflection.
Vanessa adjusted her thigh length black shirt, along with the thin straps of the pale yellow tank top she was wearing. She then reached back into her car through the open window, grabbed a squared object wrapped in balloon paper, then walked towards the front glass doors. As Vanessa rang the bell and waited for an answer, she fingered the small pendent on her necklace with her forefinger and her thumb, and thought about that fateful day when she had first met Raphael.
Two years earlier...
"Man, that movie sucked!" Raphael griped. Donatello shook his head in disagreement.
"Oh, come on! It was funny! Jim Carrey is such a great comedian. The role was perfect for him."
"Yeah the guy is funny," Raphael shrugged. " But the whole pet detective thing? That was just stupid."
Leonardo rolled his eyes. He and his brothers had been standing down in the subway waiting for the train for what seemed like forever, and Leonardo was getting sick of hearing Donatello and Raphael fight over the movie they had just watched.
"I liked it!" Michelangelo piped up, shoving the leftover popcorn he had taken from the theater into his mouth.
Raphael scoffed at his younger brother. " Mikey, you laugh at everything!"
Donatello reached into the popcorn bag. "Yep, and that's why Mikey will out live you, Raph." Then, Michelangelo added a big smile to Donatello's comment.
"Whatever," Raphael turned back around, just as the subway train pulled into the station. Raphael stepped up and waited for the doors to open.
"Watch out, Raph," Leonardo warned. " You should really wait until everyone gets out."
"Like I do everything I should," Raphael joked. "Besides, Leo, you've lived in this city long enough to know that you have to push your way into these things to get a good seat."
No sooner had Raphael spoken when he found himself on the ground, face to face with another mutant.
"Hey you idiot! What's the big idea!" She screamed at Raphael. "Get off of me!"
Raphael pushed himself up, then helped the mutant to her feet. Then, he got a really good look at her face. She was a mutant fox, with red fur and dark auburn hair than hung just below her shoulders. The mutant wiped at the dirt on her long, black coat, then looked up at Raphael.
"What? Are you some kind of pervert or something? Stop staring!" She glared at Raphael, showing him her fangs. But Raphael just continued to stare, looking deeper into her eyes, and recognizing something in them he thought he would never find.
"Leslie..." Raphael said in almost a whisper. The mutant wrinkled her snout at him, then looked over at the other mutant turtles.
"Does this belong to you?" She asked Leonardo, as she pushed at Raphael with one finger.
"Sorry about that," Leonardo swooped in and grabbed Raphael, shoving him into the subway car, waving at Donatello and Michelangelo to join them. The mutant fox shook her head, then turned around and headed for the stairs.
"God, Raph," Leonardo griped. "I told you to watch out, didn't I?" He looked at Raphael, who was still in some state of shock. "Raph?"
A buzzer rang, and the doors began to close. Suddenly, Raphael blinked, then jumped back through the doors, almost getting the bottom of his pants caught in them. He turned back around as the train pulled away, watching as Leonardo mouthed screams at him. Raphael then pushed back through the crowd of people toward the staircase. He saw the mutant fox at the top of the stairs, raced up them, and then grabbed her by the arm, turning her around to face him.
The fox looked at him in disgust. " Look buddy, you better leave me alone. I have pepper spray!"
Raphael, who was trying to catch his breath, raised up his hands, as if telling her it was okay. He saw her relax a little, then he reached up around his neck and removed the gold necklace he had been wearing for so long. Without saying a word, he dangled the ruby and emerald pendent in front of her face, then smiled as the fox gasped.
"How- how did you-" She reached out and took it slowly from Raphael's hand. She stared into the pendent, feeling tears rush into her eyes. She then looked back at the turtle who had given it to her, not really knowing what to say next, so Raphael made it easier on her.
"Your aunt wanted me to give that to you." He held out his elbow to her. "Wanna get some coffee?"
She smiled, then took his elbow in her hand. Still feeling a bit stunned, she managed to tell the turtle her name.
"I'm Vanessa, by the way."
"Nice to finally meet you, Vanessa. I'm Raphael, and I've been waitin' on ya."
"Hey! You're here!" Raphael exclaimed as he opened the wide, double doors. He embraced Vanessa in a hug. "I didn't think you'd make it."
Vanessa felted puzzled. "Why is that?" Raphael made a you-what-I'm-talking -about face, then Vanessa caught on. "Oh, because of Chad?" Then Vanessa began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" Raphael asked, narrowing his eyes.
"Chad does not own me, all right?" Vanessa pushed past Raphael and walked into the entrance way, bending down to undo the straps of her sandals.
"Well, then why did he call me and tell me to stay away from you?" Raphael crossed his arms over his chest.
Vanessa stood back up and sighed heavily. "Chad is just jealous that I have guy friends and he can't handle it." She moved out of the entrance way towards the dining room, but stopped when she noticed Raphael was still standing where she had left him. She shook her head, then waved the small package in the air.
"Do you want this or not?"
Raphael uncrossed his arms, then walked towards Vanessa. "What did you get me?" He took the gift from her and ripped it open. Raphael's eyes immediately lit up.
"Sweet!" Raphael looked over the cover of the CD he held in his hands. "Stone Temple Pilot's new album!" He grabbed Vanessa in another hug, almost knocking the wind out of her. "Thanks!"
"Your welcome," Vanessa returned the hug. She closed her eyes, and savored the moment. Raphael then pulled away and began to rip at the plastic wrapping on the CD, and walked into the living room to the large stereo system. After the strains of Lady Picture Show echoed in the foyer, Raphael met back up with Vanessa, who still held a dreamy look on her face. He walked up to her and waved his hand in her face.
"Hello!" Raphael yelled as Vanessa shook her head and snapped back to reality. " Man, were you miles away or what?"
Vanessa gave Raphael a weak smile. "Sorry." Her nose then caught the pleasant smell that had been lingering in the air. "Is that an apple cobbler I smell?"
Raphael nodded as they walked into the dining room. "That was Mikey's gift to me, since he is a bum and has no money."
Just then Michelangelo walked out of the kitchen, and made a face at his brother. "See if I make you another one then!" He then waved at Vanessa. "How's it going?"
"Fine." Vanessa smiled back. "How are you?"
"Lazy," Raphael said, getting another glare from his younger brother. Vanessa punched Raphael in the shoulder, which caused Michelangelo to go into fits of laughter.
"Nice to see someone else get hit beside me!" Michelangelo continued to laugh as Leonardo and Donatello entered the dining room.
"What's so funny, Mikey?" Donatello asked as he pushed in several of the many oak chairs that surrounded the table.
"Raph's getting beat up by a girl." Michelangelo said through his laughter, but stopped when Raphael raised his fist in the air at him.
"So, is everyone ready?" Leonardo asked as put on his brown suede coat. "Our dinner reservations are in two hours but we need to leave to beat the traffic." Everyone nodded and began to head for the front door.
"Hey, Raph," Donatello called out. "Hang on a second." He motioned to Leonardo, who was reaching into his coat pocket. Raphael walked over to them as Leonardo pulled out a white envelope.
"What's that?" Raphael studied the envelope before taking it, then gasped as he read the blue Ticketmaster logo on the front of it. "Oh, no way!"
"What is it?" Vanessa asked Raphael as she watched him rip open the envelope. Raphael then pulled out two white and orange concert tickets and held them in front of Vanessa's face.
"Two, front row- METALLICA TICKETS BABY!" Raphael screamed, then grabbed Leonardo and Donatello into his arms and squeezed them both tightly.
"I take it you like your gift, Raph," Leonardo managed out as he gasped for air. Raphael let them go, then turned back to Vanessa.
"Think Chad will let you go if I sign your release forms?" Raphael asked as he looked back over the tickets. Vanessa glared back at him, then headed back towards the entrance way to put her shoes back on, then she went through the double doors. Raphael chased her outside to his Mustang. "Oh, come on! I was joking!"
Vanessa crossed her arms and sighed. "Well, I didn't find it very funny!" She jerked on the door of the Mustang and slammed it shut after climbing in.
"Hey! Watch the paint!" Raphael yelled at Vanessa. " This thing is an antique!"
Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo cautiously walked to Leonardo's SUV, trying not listen to the fighting mutants in the car beside them.
"Those two fight like an old married couple," Donatello said after they had found safety inside the vehicle. Leonardo smiled as he stuck his key into the ignition, and turned around as he backed the SUV up.
"What?" Donatello asked after noticing the sly smile on Leonardo's face.
"Nothing really," Leonardo chuckled as he looked both ways before pulling out onto the street.
Hours later, after an eventful dinner where Raphael was throughly embarrassed by the choir of waiters who sang "Happy Birthday" to him at Michelangelo's request, Leonardo and Raphael sat in a booth at a night club while Michelangelo, Donatello and Vanessa danced out on the dance floor. Raphael looked around, taking in the surroundings of the club.
"This place isn't too bad," Raphael said, bringing his eyes back to Leonardo, who was leaned back against the booth with one hand hung across the top of the seat and the other around his glass of water. "Much better at that dump I work in."
"Well, then get a job bartending here," Leonardo pointed at the tip jar up on the bar that was stuffed full of money. "The tips alone make it worthwhile."
Raphael only shrugged, then his eyes traveled back to the dance floor. He smiled as he watched Vanessa slow dance with Donatello as Michelangelo tried desperately to cut in. Leonardo followed his brother's line of sight, then looked back at Raphael, wearing the same sly smile Donatello had seen earlier.
"Why don't you just tell her, Raph?" Leonardo's voice broke Raphael's thoughts.
"I can't, Leo," Raphael picked at the sticker on his beer bottle. " She's too happy with that dipstick Chad."
"Did she tell you that?" Leonardo leaned over the table, taking another drink of his now warm tap water.
"No," Raphael threw the pieces of the label onto the table. "I don't know why she puts up with that jerk. He treats her like dirt, then he tries to keep her away from me." He looked back up at his brother. "Anyway, I'd feel stupid if she didn't feel the same about me. So, it's better left alone." He picked up the beer and gulped it down, then motioned the bartender for another one.
Leonardo sighed, watching as Raphael added the empty bottle to the other six that sat next to him. "Watch your alcohol intake, Raph."
Raphael drunkenly waved his hand at Leonardo. "I'm fine. No problem." Just then, Vanessa appeared at the table while the strands of Some Like It Hot by the Power Station blasted over the speakers.
"Dance with me, Raph. I love this song!"
Raphael laughed, unscrewing the cap of his beer. "It's Eighties night. You love every song they've played." Before he could take a drink, Vanessa had grabbed the bottle, placed it back on the table, and grabbed his now empty hand.
"Come on, you drunken monkey!" She pulled Raphael up and dragged him away. Leonardo laughed as he heard Raphael comment about being a turtle and not denying the drunken part of it, then looked back at the table. He reached for the glass of water, but then remembered how warm it was. As he pushed it away, Leonardo's sharp ninja senses suddenly alerted him that someone was watching him and he turned around.
At the bar sat an attractive young woman with long blonde hair and a bright white smile, which was directed right at Leonardo. She continued to stare, making Leonardo feel very uneasy. He returned the smile very quickly, then turned away, leaned his elbow on the table, and rested his head on his hand. No sooner had he turned away when he felt a presence behind him.
"Hi." The blonde girl flashed her bright blue eyes at Leonardo, who turned around after growling to himself.
"Hello," he managed through a fake smile.
"Do you care if I join you?" She asked, motioning towards the booth with the drink she held in her hand. Leonardo gritted his teeth, wanting to really tell her how he felt about her idea. Instead, he smiled again and waved her in.
"Be my guest." He said as his lie broke up his voice. He cleared his throat and watched as the girl ran her fingers through her hair.
"So," the girl said after taking a drink. "I see your, uh, friends, left you here all alone."
Leonardo let his eyes wonder around. "Family, actually." Then he remembered Vanessa wasn't a turtle. "More or less."
The girl smiled, then noticed the glass of water in front of Leonardo. "Oh, honey. You can't come to a place like this and drink that! Hey, Joel!"
The bartender looked up as the girl waved her hand to their table. "Get me another Jack and Coke please!"
Leonardo shook his head. "No, thanks, but I don't-"
"Oh, come on honey," The waiter set the drink on the table, and she pushed it towards him."Don't break my heart. One is not going to kill you."
Leonardo hesitated, then reached for it. "Just one, okay? I mean it." He took a small sip and felt the alcohol burn the inside of his mouth. "Man, this is strong."
The girl laughed, then took a huge gulp of her own. " You'll get used to it after the first drink. So, what's your name?"
Leonardo took another sip, then glared at the girl. "Why does it matter? All you're planning on doing is getting me drunk enough to sleep with you."
The girl's mouth dropped, but she soon regained herself. Leonardo then saw the tears that started to well up in her blue eyes.
"You know, I just figured you were lonely, and I just wanted to keep you company and help you have a good time, and then you think I've got something planned?" She laid her head down on the table and Leonardo watched as her body shook from the sobs.
"Hey, look, I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to-"
"Yeah, just because I bought you a drink, you owe me something!" She sobbed as she lifted her head. "Why does everyone think I am like this? I'm not some stupid whore! I have feelings, you know!"
Leonardo suddenly grabbed her hands. " Hey!" The girl stopped crying instantly.
"I'm sorry, okay? That was completely out of line. I didn't mean it." Leonardo offered her a comforting smile and she relaxed a little.
"I'm sorry too," the girl wiped at her eyes with a tissue from her purse. "I've just had a rough day, and I-" She stopped and looked at Leonardo. "You probably don't want to hear about. I'll leave you alone."
Leonardo held onto her hand as she stood up. "If you need to talk to someone, just stay here. I'll listen."
The girl sniffled. "Are you sure?"
"Apart from being making an ass out of myself, I listen very well."
The girl laughed at Leonardo and sat back down. "Will you tell me your name this time?"
Leonardo nodded. "But only after I hear yours."
The girl smiled and pushed a few strands of hair out of her face. "It's Christina."