November 9, 2012

"Do we need more popcorn?"

April carefully tilted the bowl to check while making sure she didn't mess up the detailed nail job Karai had just completed. "We're down to just a couple of unpopped kernels. I'd like some more for when the movie starts in a bit."

Karai, April, and Karai's yokai friend from school Sunita were having a Girl's Night at Karai's apartment. They had the whole place to themselves as Takeshi was out hunting a bounty for the Hidden City Police Department. The plan was to pamper each other with facials, mani-pedis, too much chocolate, and a special showing on MTV of Legally Blonde: The Musical.

"Do you guys want to hear the tea from hockey practice yesterday?" Sunita came back from the kitchen with a fresh bowl of popcorn sprinkled with M&Ms. Currently in her cloaked human form, her hair was tied into a messy bun atop her head.

April wiggled the fingers of the hand Karai was now painting. "Spill!"

Sunita, in her cloaked human form, placed the bowl on the coffee table before curling up on the couch. "Well, we were having hockey practice after school today like normal, right? And this kid in a ratty-old hockey mask slides onto our rink DEMANDING to try out for the team!"

"I bet Coach Bruno wasn't too pleased with that." Karai tsked, concentrating on adding fine stripes to one of April's nails.

"Nope!" Sunita pulled her hair up into a messy bun. "He just laughed, telling this joker that he can join the team if he can get a goal against a handful of his best players."

"So what did the kid do?" April asked.

Sunita leaned forward. "Mask Boy asked Coach for three pucks and a five minute timer. Kid plowed through all five of the players Coach chose and had all three pucks in the goal with 30 seconds to spare!"

Karai whistled low. "Wow. So is he on the team now?"

"Yeah. Name's Casey Jones. He's a weasel yokai. Casey said he and his family moved from the Mystic Area in Minnesota." The yokai girl tilted her head. "He's got some real skills, but they come with some real attitude. I don't know how often he'll actually play if he keeps it up with Coach."

The girls talked for a bit longer before they noticed the time. They flipped the television to the correct channel, just in time before the opening number. Sunita was the only one who had seen the original Broadway run, but hyped up the show with the girls so much that they blasted the cast album together as a bonding ritual. They had been ecstatic to learn that MTV would be reshowing their pro shot of the show they had aired back in 2007. Karai and April were especially excited as they had only listened to the music.

Karai sighed as Emmett draped his jacket over Elle in her Playboy Bunny costume. "Isn't he just dreamy? Christian Borle doesn't have a classically 'hot' vibe, but I dig it."

"I got his autograph when my dad and I went to see the show when I was a kid!" Sunita beamed. "It was so cold waiting by the door for the cast that we almost froze our slime off underneath our cloaking broaches!"

"Jealous!" April playfully shoved the girl.

The girls continued to giggle and sing along as the show went on. As Elle and Emmett kissed during the finale, Sunita pointed at the screen.

"Okay, real talk: is kissing all it's cracked up to be?"

"You've never been kissed?" April turned down the volume slightly.

The yokai shook her head. "Nope. Just haven't found the right creature. I don't see the point in kissing everything with lips. Isn't it supposed to be something special?"

"I mean… I guess. Kissing's not so bad." Karai shrugged. The other girls started at Karai's statement.

"WHAT?" April screeched. "When did this happen?"

Karai smirked, leaning back in her seat. "I don't tell you everything. Besides, I don't remember hearing your story, O'Neil."

"That's right!" Sunita exclaimed. "Karai told me that you're dating Leo's brother… Donnie, right? And that you're their adoptive sister?" Her face scrunched up. "Isn't that kinda weird?"

April sighed, realizing that she wasn't getting out of this. "To be honest, that was one of the biggest hurdles for me to get past. But… my relationship with Donnie was always different than with the other guys."

"Come on, O'Neil, SPILL!" Karai jostled her. "If you share your first kiss story, I'll share mine."

The red-head rolled her eyes. "Fine."

xXx

April and the turtles had gone to Mai's new apartment near Lincoln Square for a movie night. She didn't have any roommates to sniff around, so it was a nice place to go to get out of the sewers for a bit. April had decided to stay the night with her friend to have some 'girl time' while the boys returned home.

"Do you need me to bring you anything from the Lair, April?" Donnie stepped out of the large window that led to the fire escape.

The girl shook her head. She leaned against the window frame. "Mai's got some stuff I can borrow. She'll drive me to the closest manhole cover tomorrow morning." April cocked her head as she noticed the sweat beginning to dot the boy's brow. "Hey, Dee… you okay? You look kinda feverish…" She placed the back of her hand on his forehead.

Donnie swallowed thickly. "I-I uh…" He took a deep breath. "April… Can I…" He bit his lip, gently catching April's hand in his own.

"Can you what?"

He shook his head, seemingly giving up on his query. He dropped April's hand.

The girl sighed. "Alright, Donnie. Goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow."

"April!" Donnie gathered his courage, capturing her head between his hands. "Wait….

April wasn't sure what was happening until she felt their lips connect. It was a strange sensation, her first kiss. It felt… tingly? She kept her eyes open mainly due to her surprise. The kiss continued until Donnie's eyes opened to meet her own. He pulled away quickly.

"I-I'm sorry," He panted, slightly out of breath. A heartbeat passed before April grabbed the back of Donnie's head, pulling him back to her. As both of them closed their eyes and sank into the kiss, April climbed out the window to join Donnie on the fire escape. His fingers undid her pony-tail as they wound into her hair.

For this one moment, everything was perfect.

xXx

"Awww!" Karai and Sunita cuddled together, cooing at April's story.

"That was so precious!" Sunita dabbed at her eyes.

"Was that really your first kiss?" Karai asked.

April shrugged. "Yeah. Didn't have much other interaction with people my age until Splinter adopted me." She scooted closer to the other girls. "Alright. I shared mine, so now it's your turn, Karai. Tell us about you and Leo!"

The girl smirked, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth. "I never said that I've kissed Leo…"

"But-" April sputtered. Sunita's mouth hung open.

"I had my first kiss before I left Japan. Leo and I are still taking things slow." She ran her fingers through the fringe of the hair framing her face. "He hasn't even asked me on an actual date yet."

Sunita slammed her fist into the palm of her other hand. "Want me to go all explodey on his butt?"

"Nah. Thanks for the offer, though." Karai chuckled. "We're just getting to know each other right now. An official date is probably around the corner any day now."

"You've been 'hanging out' since summer and he hasn't asked you out yet?" April crossed her arms. "You can bet that you'll get an ask as soon as I get home. Boy's waited way too long."

Karai giggled, drawing both girls in for a hug. "I'm glad to have girlfriends like you guys. So… It's still early. Want to find something else to watch or call it a night?"

I actually have a reference for Donnie & April's first kiss! There's an animatic sketch floating around on Pinterest. It's not from an episode and links to a Tumblr page that doesn't actually include the GIF... but it's out there if you'd like to see what I was envisioning!