I watched the door shut as Melinda left and a felt my stomach butterfly for like the hundredth time that day. I could tell something was wrong with her. She had an almost constant guilty expression on her face and whenever I asked her anything she seemed to look so distant. Like she was trying her best to hid something from me. It kind of hurt because we were such good friends. I couldn't understand why she couldn't just tell me what was bothering her.
And then there was what Leonardo had told me the night before. I knew I had screamed at him. I had called him a liar and few other nasty things, but I was beginning to wonder as I looked blankly at the TV if that really was how I felt; or if I was denying my true feelings. Like maybe I could feel there was some truth to his words but I didn't want to face it.
If I just hadn't found the money in Mel's purse maybe I could have hung onto my illusions, but when she had mentioned staying and then almost ran into the bathroom to avoid a discussion with me about it I had grown both concerned and curious. My eyes had fallen on her purse. At first I was going to check her phone, see what kind of places she had been calling lately but as soon as I opened her purse my eyes shot wide open.
Inside there had been huge wads of cash. Hundreds upon hundreds of dollars. I was flabbergasted. I knew no way Mel could have gotten all of this money all of the sudden. Well no way legal at least. I had sighed frustrated wondering if Leo was indeed right. Melinda turned off the shower water then and I threw her purse back on her bed. I didn't even want to face the implications of what I had found.
Now as I sat in our hotel room. Knowing that my friend had lied to me about where she was going. Knowing that she was out there in one of the most dangerous cities alone. I felt the need to act. I grabbed my coat and taking my money and few other things out of my purse stuffed them in my pocket. Figuring it would be safer then carrying a bag around with me. I left Mel a note. Telling her I had went for some snacks, just in case for any reason she did come back and left.
I knew she had went to Brooklyn, but honestly had no idea where. I kept my eyes peeled hoping for any sign of her as I hopped the subway, but I knew I was being foolish. I had wasted too much time making up my time to go. There was no way I was going to get caught up with Mel now. Even with this fact I knew I had to look for her. She was my sister and I couldn't leave her to wander around the city alone. To get into some terrible problem without me to back her up.
I exited the subway. Keeping to myself looking around trying to figure out what my next plan of action was. Honestly I had no clue where to even begin looking. If Leo was right and Melinda was in a gang, well where did gangs go? I wasn't really well versed on this kind of thing, and I was certain this wasn't the kind of situation that you could walk up to someone and ask them about.
I chided myself for NOT checking her phone when I had, had a chance. I was almost certain there would have been at least one number in there for a contact for where ever she was. And I was also pretty sure I could have found her through that contact. I was so useless sometimes. I had been so depressed and down on myself about my own events that I hadn't been planning clearly.
I just hoped something bad didn't happen to Mel that maybe I could have helped her with if I hadn't been so stupid. I was getting nervous and could feel myself walking a little too fast looking a little too desperate. I forced myself to slow down, to calm my breathing to think. I looked around me. There were a few stores, a lot of apartments and cars wheezing by, but thankfully not many people on the streets. It was starting to get dark and I began to question the sanity of what I was doing. Maybe I shouldn't be wandering around out here alone either, but I had to take the chance to find Melinda.
As I was looking at the buildings around me I did a double take. I distinctly thought I saw shape moving alone the roof of a building about a block down. I sighed frustrated. Having a feeling I knew whom it was and if I saw him he must have wanted me to notice him. I didn't have time to play games with Leonardo at the moment. I thought about just turning around and heading back the other way, ignoring him, but then I also thought he might be able to give me some information about what was going on. Sense he seemed to know so much about all of this.
I quickly covered the distant of the block and slipped into an alleyway right around where I had seen the shape. I looked around me. There was garbage strewn on the ground and I could hear music blaring from some apartment above. I grew frustrated quickly, wondering if maybe I had been seeing things. "If you're here Leo just come out, I am NOT in the mood to play games with you." There was a slight growl in my voice.
"And why do you think I would WANT to play with you?" My eye widened at the voice as I turned. I stood looking a little more shocked then I liked, but I quickly tried to hide it and forced my expression to become more neutral, more controlled, I crossed my arms glaring at the figure across form me.
"What do you want, Raphael?" The Turtle in the red bandana stood across from me, hidden partially in the shadows. The smirk that was on his face made me want to stomp off and away from him. I couldn't even fathom why he had followed me or why he was talking to me now.
"You looked like you needed some help. Imagine my surprise seeing you wandering around out here, after you were SO certain your friend wasn't doing anything wrong. I thought it might be a laugh to see what you had to say, so I got your attention." His left hand rested on one of his sais, he was considering me. Sizing me up. I growled annoying by his expression.
"I don't need or want your help. Whatever is happening with Melinda I can handle on my own!" I went to try to push past him but he moved, blocking my path and stopping me.
"So NOW you'll admit your friends up to something right? That MAYBE Leo was right after all…" He was glaring at me, his expression becoming hostile very quickly.
"Look I don't know what I think. All I know is I still don't trust the two of you or anything either of you tell me. So please just leave me alone." I went to try to move past him again I really didn't want to fight.
"You really hurt his feelings you know…" I stopped surprised and just looked at Raphael, uncertain what to say by his implication. He looked at me with accusation. "He would never admit it to anyone, but I could tell at practice this morning. He dragged. He wasn't motivated. For him that's almost like being dead. Whatever you said to Leo cut him really deep." Raphael studied me trying to decide what he thought about my reactions.
I felt guilt sweep across me. I certainly hadn't been expecting to hear ANYTHING like this. Truthfully I hadn't given much of a second thought about how what I said would affect Leonardo. Even if he was right, I didn't think he would really care if I thought so or not. I simply couldn't believe it. "You're lying." I stated the fact bluntly. Stopping from trying to leave now facing Raphael again. My own expression hard.
"Why the fuck would I have any reason to come here and lie to you? You REALLY have to get over yourself, if you think everything we do revolves around us trying to do something to you. I could honestly give a rat's ass what you think of me or my brothers or ANYTHING for that matter. I think you're a spoiled little brat and I don't respect you, BUT… for some reason Leo got hurt by you and THAT pisses me off and I wanted to tell you that." He was glaring at me. I could feel his dislike for me radiating off of him. I shifted uneasy. Not certain what to say to him, because I did believe him now; he honestly didn't have any reason to lie to me. Maybe if I hadn't been so consumed by myself I could have seen that.
"I didn't mean to hurt him…" I looked away, a guilty expression on my face. I felt bad. I had been so angry with Leonardo, so intent on making him my enemy that I had been blinded to so many facts that where slowly beginning to become clear to me. Now I really just wanted to leave, I didn't want to have to face Raph's judgmental expression.
"That doesn't stop the fact that because you're a selfish bitch you did." His voice was still threatening. I cringed. "And now look at you, wandering around down here all alone looking for your STUPID friend, who is going to get herself and you killed pretty soon and you hurt probably the only person who would actually want to help you with all of it."
My eyes narrowed. I could only take so many insults. "Melinda is not stupid, Raphael. And I honestly don't know for a fact that she is in a gang still. Maybe Leonardo just saw her with the wrong people." I tried to come across as strong but truthfully my own words sounded juvenile and stupid to me.
"Yeah right…" Raphael rolled his eyes, shaking his head. "Like even YOU believe that!"
"Look just let me go, I'll figure this out on my own." I started to move again, but was very surprised when he grabbed my arm.
"Are you stupid or something? Do you honestly think your EVER going to figure out where she is tonight? And even if by some chance you do, what are you going to do? Get yourself hurt, or maybe just get yourself raped while you are looking for her. This is completely against my better judgment, but…" He shook his head looking even more annoyed. "I'll take you to where she is. Leo would be pissed at me if I just left you here." He started to tug me towards the fire escape. "Move it!"
"What? No! I can take care of myself!" Even as I protested I knew what I was saying was stupid. The most logical choice would be for me to go with Raphael, but I still didn't want to trust him, because if I did that means I had to trust Leo and that meant a lot of things I wasn't sure I was willing to face yet.
"Sure you can! Whatever…CLIMB!" Raphael pointed at the fire escape ladder not even really listening to what I was saying. I could tell he was displeased with having to help me, but that he felt like it was the right thing to do.
Reaching up I started to make my way to the ladder to the roof. I felt strange. I was happy Raph was there, because I knew I would be wandering aimlessly without him, but I also wish I had never crossed his path that night, because as I climbed and I could hear him complaining about me below I realized one sharp emotion. I wished it was Leonardo there instead and I wasn't sure how to face that.
We reached the rooftop and I couldn't hold in my guilt anymore. I shivered in the cooler night air above, "Raphael, could you please do one thing for me?" I considered him as we started to move, making our way from one rooftop to the next. He wasn't as patient as Leo had been with me earlier and I was afraid he was just going to toss me in the air to get me to move faster. At first I thought maybe he didn't want to know what I wanted so he didn't answer. Finally it was like his curiosity got the best of him.
"What do you want?" He paused, looking at me.
"Could you tell Leonardo, I am honestly sorry. I didn't mean to hurt his feelings." I looked away unable to bear his expression. He was so judgmental and honest. His eyes burned into my guilt.
"Tell him yourself, if your really sorry." That was all he said as he started to move away again. I ran to keep up afraid to say anything else. I wasn't sure what I wanted or could say to Leonardo, but I was afraid to see him again and I wasn't sure why.
"Stop!" Raphael grabbed me as I was getting ready to attempt to jump to another rooftop. "That's where your friend is right there." He pointed down at a rather bland looking building, but I could hear the loud, earth shaking music pounding out of it and could see masses of kids moving in and out. I knew it had to be the right place.
"Your certain Melinda is in there?" I hesitated, looking down not quiet able to picture her in with this crowd. Raphael rolled his eyes at me, I knew I was getting very trying to him but I was still so unsure of everything. All my core beliefs I had build up sense I had arrived here had been bashed to hell this evening.
"Leo is rarely wrong… live with it! I do…" He sighed, relaxing leaning against the building. "Watch for her, she'll be out." I nodded, knowing we were now done talking. Raphael kept a lookout for trouble, his eyes never stopped moving. He was like a predatory animal. I on the other hand, leaned against the side of the building and just watched the entrance waiting for Mel to appear.
I had questions I would have liked to talk to Raphael about. Mainly why he thought I upset his brother so much. Leonardo seemed rather unshakable. I was uncertain why someone like me could cause him so many problems. Looking up at Raph briefly I knew he didn't want to discuss anything with me. I was pretty certain he didn't like me, and the fact that I had hurt his brother made him like me even less. I knew the only reason he was even helping me was for Leo. I sighed. I was so stupid. It seemed both Raphael and Leonardo where very good guys and I had been so cruel to both. I needed to get Melinda back, apologize and get out of this city. All this conflict was getting to confusing.
After about fifteen minutes I saw Mel leaving the building. I was shocked. I stood quickly gasping. Raph was right she was there I don't know if I ever could have completely believed it had I not seen it with my own eyes. "Raphael!" I pointed at Mel. He looked at me like I was stupid.
"Well go talk to her, get her away from the building, I have a few things I would like to say to her." I could hear even more dark annoyance in his voice. I nodded. I wasn't going to argue now. I myself was very curious what Melinda was doing.
"I'll try to get her over here into an alleyway." I barely looked at him as I ran to a fire escape and climbed down it. It only took me moments, but Mel was already crossing the street away from the club by the time I got down.
"MELINDA!" I called out chasing her. She turned and the look of pure shock on her face was priceless. I think I was the last person she ever expected to see running down the street at her here. She glanced back at the club quickly before turning back to me.
"What are you doing here Lea!" She hissed at me. I saw blood flush to her face and realized she was embarrassed I had found her here. I glanced over at the club too and just saw some kids milling around, I shrugged.
"I was worried about you Sis, what were you doing here?" I heard her intake of breath, she looked a little cornered.
"Nothing really, just meeting up with some people I ran into a few days ago, hanging out." She tried to look non-caring, but I could tell she was upset.
"Melinda," I decided to be blunt. "Are you like trying to join a gang or something? Is that why you are here?" I watched as she actually stepped back from me shocked, then her expression became suspicious.
"Lea, how, why? What do you know? How did you find this place?" Her voice was rising a few octaves I could tell she was upset. I grabbed her hand dragging her a few steps.
"Come with me and I'll explain everything okay? I don't feel safe talking here." A very large man had exited the club. He was rough looking with lots of tattoos and some sort of scars on his face. He was looking at Melinda and I with interest, especially me. He made me very uncomfortable; I wanted to get out of his view and back near Raphael where I would feel safe.
"Okay…I guess, but I still don't understand how on earth you found me, Lea!" Mel allowed me to drag her back and into the alley I had told Raphael I would get her into. She was looking at me puzzled as Raph suddenly sprung down next to us landing softly.
"Look who decided to show up." He gave Melinda a hard stare. Obviously displeased with her. Melinda backed a few steps away from him. Surprise on her face. She looked in between him and I, with a very uncertain expression.
"Lea, why are you with him?" She pointed at Raphael, giving me a critical look. I frowned at her. Displeased not only with the fact she had been flat out lying to me the last few days, but that now she was being to blatantly rude to Raphael after he had went through so much trouble to help me find her.
"No, the better question Melinda is WHY you are with a gang, hanging out and lying to me?" I crossed my arms a hurt expression on my face. She once again got a cornered look in her eyes. She glanced between Raphael and I. He too was standing with his arms crossed, but he was glaring rudely at her. I was actually surprised HE wasn't attacking her with words, but he must have been allowing me to have my say first.
"I…I don't have to answer that, Lea. Its no big deal, its just some cool people I met." Mel was glancing back and forth between us. I could clearly tell she was confused at how Raphael and I had ended up together. I was going to allow her to stay confused.
"Yeah, everyone I hang out with gives me hundreds of dollars for no reason. I saw your purse Melinda." My voice was becoming cold. Very few things hurt me more then being lied to and I had a feeling Mel had done her share of telling my falsehoods that week. Raphael rose an eye ridge looking over at me surprised then turning to face Melinda.
"So you're taking money from these scumbags now… how cute. Don would be so proud," The sarcasm in his voice was unmistakable. Melinda was shaking slightly, as while I felt pity I still was in disbelief she could have thought so little of me that she wouldn't even try to tell me what was going on.
"Look it's none of your business!" Mel glared at Raphael. Her eyes shooting daggers. "And Lea, you don't control me, I do what I want. If I want to be friends with some of these guys I don't see what's wrong with that. They have been very kind to me."
I was taken aback. It was like I was slapped in the face. My tone became harsh. "So what I'm not? Do THEY deserve more respect them me Melinda? I know I don't give you hundreds of dollars, but I thought we were friends and FRIENDS usually don't lie continuously to one another!" I was glaring at her too now. Trying hard to keep from saying anything I would regret later. Raphael was allowing me to speak, but I could see he was growing more annoyed by the second by watching how tense his frame was becoming.
Melinda's fist balled and she started to yell at us. "Look neither of you understand and how could you! I only lied because you wouldn't accept these people as my friends Lea, so it's YOUR fault. Why don't all of you just LEAVE ME ALONE!" Melinda shoved me suddenly and I almost lost my balance. She got an almost panicked look on her face as she realized what she had just done. "I… I need to get out of here." Suddenly she took off, I was shocked. I couldn't believe everything that had happened so quickly.
I went to run after her and felt Raphael grab my arm suddenly. I turned about to scream at him for holding my back when I saw he had his sai drawn in his other hand and was slowly backing up. "We're not alone here anymore, move it! We need to get out of here." He nearly dragged me down the alley and we started to move swiftly down streets sticking to the shadows.
After we got a few blocks away Raphael stopped. I leaned against the building, breathing hard looking around. Raph was very tense, both weapons drawn now, looking carefully around him. "I think we lost them." Still he didn't put his weapons away.
"Good I need to get back to the hotel, I bet Mel is going there." My expression was panicked. I felt like I had been thrown into the middle of an action movie. I was clueless as to what was going on.
"You won't be going back to the hotel, not tonight at least." Raphael nudged me, forcing me to start moving again. He was still watching, being cautious.
"What do you mean NOT going back, I have to!" I protested, thinking he was over reacting.
Raphael shook his head. "I am taking you to April's, I don't think its safe for you to be alone right now and I wouldn't trust your friend at the moment." He shoved his weapons into his belt again. "Come on!" And pushed me down the street. I squeaked surprised. "You and April can get your stuff in the morning."
I wanted to protest more but couldn't. I was caught up in something I didn't understand and right now I knew all I could do was trust these creatures that just a few hours ago I had hated. I was scared for Melinda, very scared. I wished we had never come to New York.