Donatello and I walked towards the entrance of his room but when I heard Leonardo asking, "Is she STILL up in his room," I quickly let go of Don's hand. I mean I felt strong emotions about Don, but I didn't want to face them yet about all of this. I also think Don didn't mind either about me retrieving my hand because I had noticed that he quickened his pace to gain some space between us as we walked out of his room. As soon as we entered the main area where everyone was at, all of them looked at us. Leonardo was the first to speak, "So everything okay now?" Don and I made quick eye glances to each other. I remained quiet, but Don nodded his head. I looked over at Lea and Leonardo. Lea had a very guilty expression on her face about something, but I wasn't too sure what.
Raphael had turned back around to watch television, he didn't look too interested in what was going on, which I was glad about because I really didn't want to talk about it. I watched Donatello as he walked towards his computer desk but as he passed Michelangelo, Mike grabbed his arm to stop him. "So did you kiss her, bro?" He asked, grinning from ear to ear. I heard Raphael groan. My eyes went wide and I started to grow red when I heard Mikey ask this.
Don looked at Michelangelo in shock as if he knew Mikey could read his emotions pretty well. "Knock it off, you goob," He said teasingly as he kept on walking to his worktable.
"Mikey, stop it," I heard Leonardo warn his brother as he made his way over to the couch as well. Lea looked at me and then grinned big at me before she followed Leo over. I stood there and watched them. Leo had sat down on the couch, but when Lea sat down too, they noticed that they were sitting way too close to each other. Their faces got kind of red as well, Leonardo got up from the couch and then sat down on the floor. His eyes never left Lea. I knew something had to be up, but I decided not to push it. I sat down on the other couch's end near Mikey and near Don's worktable. As I watched the evening news with them, I couldn't help but to let my eyes glance move over to where Don was. He was working on what to be some sort of circuit board. I smiled to myself watching him. But then I saw that Don had looked over at me, he knew I was looking at him. He had a warm smile on his face, I smiled at him back and then returned my gaze back at the television.
Later on that evening we had dinner again. This time Michelangelo cooked. We had spaghetti and tomato sauce with meatballs. Actually Mike doesn't cook that bad, but you couldn't tell from the racket he made in the kitchen. I sat in the same spot I did last time, right next to Don. Lea had retaken her position near Leonardo. I glanced over at them and saw Leo and Lea exchanging tiny smiles to each other. Then I noticed that Leo seemed trouble about something. He had a frown on his face as he was thinking deeply about something. I wasn't too sure what. But something was definitely bothering him. Michelangelo and Raphael made numerous attempts throwing meatballs at one another throughout dinner. I think it was mostly Mike. Splinter kept getting after them, especially Mike. "Michelangelo! We have guests in our room! I would expect you that you would have better manners than this! I'll send you to your room if I have to!" He warned. I couldn't help but to let out a small giggle by this. Mike was such a little kid!
"Aww, sorry, sensei," Mike said and then remained good. Donatello chuckled too and then smiled at me. Suddenly I felt his hand reach over and hold mine underneath the table. He gave it a light squeeze. I was first kind of surprised by this, but then I smirked back at Don playfully and gently stroke the side of his hand with my fingers underneath the table. I gently felt his skin, I noticed that sometimes he did the same to me. Luckily for us, I was left-handed so we didn't have trouble eating so I don't think anyone could tell.
Later on that evening while Lea was watching the evening katas practice between Leonardo and Raphael, I decided to go upstairs and get my shower again. I took about a 15-minute shower. I got out and dried off, then slipped on my pink flowery silk robe and tied it around the front. I gently folded the towel and placed it on the towel rack like my mom had always taught me. I gently stepped out of the bathroom and quietly made my way over to Leonardo's room where my stuff was. As I walked, I looked down and saw that Splinter was talking to Leonardo and Raphael during the katas, Lea was still watching them. Mike was on the couch, watching television and Donatello seemed to be fumbling through a box full of computer parts. As I got halfway to Leo's room, I heard this loud noise down below. It sounded like lots of metal pieces had slammed to the floor. I almost jumped! I looked down to see everyone to be staring at Don. The box full of computer parts was down on the floor, parts all over the floor. He must have been carrying it and just dropped it or something. His face was really red! As red as Raph's mask! I noticed that he shyly looked at me and then got down to his knees to pick up the parts.
"Oh, good job, Don!" Mike groaned. "Give a guy a heart attack!"
I quickly fled to Leo's room, feeling embarrassed. I mean I was smiling to myself, but at the same time I felt embarrassed. Was Don looking at me in my robe? I giggled some and then walked over and slipped on my long, cotton, pink gown that my mom had given me for Christmas. It had short sleeves, but it was long enough to my knees to keep me kind of warm in the damp, cool sewer lair.
For rest of the evening, I stayed up in Leo's room. I was really nervous about being around Don. I mean I wanted to be near him but at the same I didn't because I was afraid on how everyone would take it. What happened earlier that day seemed so incredible that it was hard to believe that it actually happened. I sat down on my little makeshift bed and read my Inuyasha manga book that I bought months ago to kind of clear my mind. Then I kind of skimmed through the books that Leo had on Bushido and the Samurai. I mean since after all I did get a major in History. Later on that night, Lea finally came into the room. "You ready for bed, sis?" She asked me as she walked over to get the nightclothes she would change into after her shower.
"Yeah," I said as I put the book that I was reading back into the neatly organized bookshelf.
"Well I am going to take my shower. I'll be right back," She said as she walked out of the room again.
I decided that I would go to tell Donatello goodnight. I walked towards Don's room. I looked down at the main area and I didn't see Raph or Don so I figured that they went to their room. Leo and Mike were still downstairs, sitting on the couch. I tiptoe quietly towards Don's room, hoping not to alert them, especially Michelangelo. But I think Leo had looked up at me, I am not sure so I hurried my steps.
Don was walking over to his ladder to his bed when I walked in. He had taken his bandana off again and placed it on the little hanger that he had placed near his ladder. I think he was surprised that I had came in. I saw him looking at me, I looked back at him. There was a lot of silence between us. Then I finally spoke, "Hey, Don. I-I just wanted to tell you goodnight…" My voice was shaking! I could barely look at him! Without his mask on I could see his eyes directly looking at me. I wanted to kiss him again so badly, but yet I felt so nervous around him.
"Oh okay," Don said gently as he walked over and stood in front of me. But I felt myself growing tenser as he approached me. My heart was racing! I felt so silly! "Well uh…goodnight, Melinda." He said, his voice was very soft. We stood there just looking at each other. I felt like I couldn't move, but I didn't know what else to do! I think he was feeling the same way! Then I felt really dumb, expecting that something else would happen.
"G-goodnight, Donnie…" I said again and then I quickly leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. "I hope you sleep well.."
He looked at me, his eyes were wide. "I hope you sleep well too…" He said gently. I nodded my head and turned around to walk off, but I quickly felt him grab my hand. "Melinda, wait…" He said.
I turned around to face him. "Yes, Don?" He looked at me again, growing silent. Something about his eyes, I can't quite place it. Then suddenly he pulled me in close and kissed me right on the lips passionately. I returned the kiss probably with even more passion. I knew that I wanted him…I wanted to be near him…by his side for the rest of my life. Finally after several minutes it seemed like, we pulled apart. Both of us breathing heavy. He leaned in gently nuzzled my forehead with his as he smiled into my eyes. "I love you…" He said to me as he smiled again.
"I love you too, Don," I replied as I lifted my hand to gently caress his face. "Sleep well." He smirked and then I turned around and left his room again to retreat back to Leo's. Along the way back, I knew Leo was watching me again…
The next evening around 8pm, Donatello told everyone that he was going to go up to the junkyard for a while. This to me seemed kind of odd, but seeing his brothers acknowledging, I figured it must be a routine thing with him. I wanted to go with him, but I figured he needed some time alone so I didn't want to pester him. I decided it would be a good way for me to spend some more time with Lea. We planted ourselves on the couch and decided to watch some television with Mikey. Mike was groaning as he was flipping through channels, trying to find something to watch. "Hey, stop right there!" I said when I saw a familiar movie on the screen.
"What is that?" Mikey asked.
"The One" I smirked over to Lea.
"Jet Li!" She exclaimed and giggled.
"Aw," Mike groaned. "I don't want to watch that."
"Hey that looks pretty cool with all the violence," Raph smirked evilly as he walked over and snatched the remote from Mike and sat down on the floor near the couch.
"Yeah, Jet Li is pretty hot!" I smirked big. Lea just giggled some with me. Mike groaned and Raphael rolled his eyes.
We watched the movie all the way through till the very end. Leonardo was practicing his katas nearby; I noticed that Lea had shifted her glance over to watch him some instead of the movie. I felt like nudging her to let her know I caught her, but I decided against it. Towards the end of the movie, around 10:00pm I started to grow drowsy. I haven't slept well in the past few nights and I think it finally caught up with me. I must have dozed off some because when I woke up, I noticed that I was the only one on the couch. I lifted my head to look at the clock on the VCR to see it was 11:15pm. I rose up suddenly and looked around and saw that Raph and Mikey were sparring with no weapons. Leonardo was leaning against the column, watching them. Lea was standing beside him and they were talking amongst one another as Raph and Mike fought. Mikey glanced over at me, "It's about time you woke up, sleepy head!" He chuckled. Leo and Lea turned and look over at me. I giggled and got up from the couch, stretching some. I was still tired.
"Don back yet?" I asked.
"Nope," Mike said and then laughed as he pounced at Raph again playfully. I looked worriedly over to Leonardo.
"Trust me. Don's not late," Leo said soothingly.
"Yeah, Brainiac would spend his entire life at that place if he wanted," Raphael said as he and Mike continued to spar. I nodded my head and walked over to continue to watch the fight with Leo and Lea. But I couldn't get my mind clear. I mean they would know Don better than me, but I still worried about him. Something wasn't right, I could feel it. I knew that time hadn't passed long, but it was 11:45 and still no sign of Donatello. I glanced over at Leo and saw he was frowning some, but he was trying to hide it. "Leo, something's not right…" I broke, my voice shaking. Lea looked at me and hugged me tightly.
"Aw, you worry too much, Melinda," Raph said as he walked over to his punching bag. "Trust me when I say nothing is wrong. Geek boy just gets distracted too easily."
Leo let out a sigh, I could see that he was troubled some. "Let me contact him and see where he's at," he said as he walked over to Don's desk to retrieve something. I watched him curiously. Leo walked over and picked up a small device and opened it. It folded out to what resembled a cell phone in a way. He pushed some buttons on it and then held it to his ear. I watched him, my body was tense. I saw Leo's face falter after a few moments and he put the device back down. "He's not answering…" I felt like my heart had stopped. I saw that Mikey and Raph had both lifted their gaze over to Leo.
"Maybe we should go check on him…" Mikey said.
"I am sure he just left it in his bag or not be hearing it," Leo said quickly. "Look I'll go find him and see what's taking him so long. I am sure it's nothing. The rest of you just stay here." He walked over to the column to gather his swords. I watched him, I wanted to go with him, but I felt like I couldn't talk. I watched Leonardo walk over to Lea and murmur something to her, but I wasn't too sure what. He then sighed and walked to the door. "I'll be back soon."
Lea walked over to me. "Come on, Mel. You're tired. Let's go up to Leo's room and try to lay down." She gently tugged on my arm. I sighed and followed her.
Moments later after Lea and I got dressed for bed, I sat down on my little bed and sat there. I couldn't lay down…I was tired, but I didn't want to sleep. I heard a soft knock on the wall near the room's entrance. "Come in," Lea said.
Mikey walked in and smiled big. "Hey, dudettes! I came in to say goodnight!" He chuckled some and then looked over at me. I knew he could tell I was really worried about Don. "Aw, don't sweat it, Mellers. Donnie will be fine. You know…" He said as he sat down beside me, still grinning big. "We had to give Don a curfew."
I couldn't help but to let myself giggle, Lea laughed too. "Are you serious, Mike?"
"Yeah. See Don use to spend HOURS at that place and worry the shell out of us! So finally with some talks with Leo and Sensei, Don can only stay there for a few hours during the night so we won't be worrying for the poor genius." Mike patted me on the back some. "Awww, but it's so sweet how you care about him, Melinda." He smirked big.
I felt my face grow red. "Mike!"
He laughed and then said, "So…you want me to read you a bedtime story?"
"No, Mike. I think we are fine. We are going to sleep now," Lea said.
"Aww, ok!" Mike got up from the floor. "Goodnight!" He said and ran off from the room.
I smiled some and put my head down on the soft pillow. I did feel somewhat relieved from Mikey. Amazingly what he said kind of cheered me up although there was still a nagging feeling about Don. I decided to tell myself that I would rest my eyes for a few minutes…but I felt asleep…