Ch 4 Wooing April.
Leo walked into his family's apartment and quickly ran to his father's office where he found the telephone book, after a few minutes of perusing it, he found the address he was looking for and quickly left the apartment making sure not to run into any of his brothers as he left the building. He walked for several blocks before coming to a large apartment building in downtown New York, a few blocks from the O'Neil Antique store. He walked up to where a doorman was holding a door open for a couple walking out of the building. Leo attempted to walk in but was quickly detained.
"May I help you?" The doorman asked.
"I was, um," Leo looked up at the large dark haired man with a long dark beard dangling down from his chin, "I was wondering if April O'Neil was home?" He asked with a timid smile.
"No, she is currently not here," He told him and held out his hand, "I can take a message for you and give it to her when she comes home?"
Leo sighed heavily, "No, that's okay," He started to turn away from him but stopped and looked back at him, "Say, are you pretty familiar with the people who live here?"
"If they live here, then yes I know them quite well," He frowned at Leo, "But I don't give out their personal information." He stated sternly.
"Oh, I don't want any of her personal information," Leo assured him as he rubbed the back of his head, "I was, umm, just wondering if you would know if she has any hobbies of any kind?" He smiled up at him with a hopeful gaze, "Could you tell me that much?"
The large man laughed, "Oh, I see," He nodded at Leo in understanding, "I know she loves art and….." He winked at him, "She really loves artists," He told him with a knowing look, "Whenever there's a showing at the art gallery; I always have to get a pamphlet for her so she can make sure to go see it as well as meet the newest artist."
"Art huh," Leo mused and rubbed his chin thoughtfully; he looked at the doorman and smiled widely, "Thank you very much." He said and took off running down the street back to his own building.
The large man shook his head, 'Ah, young love.'
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Raph made his way to the O'Neil Antique Store in hopes of seeing April but upon walking in, it was clear to the red clad turtle she was nowhere to be found.
"Can I help you?" Another young female voice asked.
Raph turned to see a brown hair girl with thick glasses walking up to him, "Um, I was wondering if April was here?" He asked hopefully.
"No, she has classes today," She watched as Raph's face quickly fell in disappointment "I'm Irma, her best friend and fellow salesperson, is there something I could help you with?"
"Well," Raph rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "I wanted to ask her if she would like to go out sometime and if so, what she was interested in doing?" He looked at Irma intently, "I don't suppose you would know what things she likes to do when she goes out on dates."
"She loves the theater, especially ballet," Irma said smiling thoughtfully at him, "Annnd," She looked him up and down, "She especially likes a guy who can dance," She told him with a wink, "Ballet style."
Raph's jaw dropped, "A guy who can do ballet, huh?" He repeated, rather surprised. After a moment, he shrugged, "I can do that," He stated confidently then turned and left the building.
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Donatello, his laptop in hand, made his way to the local library and found a quiet corner to sit at. He, like his brothers had decided to do things away from the others so they would not figure out what information they had found. He turned on his computer and began his research. "Hmmm," He hummed thoughtfully as his fingers flew across the keyboard, "According to April's profile, her mom passed away when she was six, she lives with her dad and her aunt lives close by." His face brightened and he pulled out his cell phone. After a little more typing on his laptop, he dialed a number.
"Yes hello, my name is Don…" He stopped speaking when he decided he should not use his real name, "Um, Donald Terrapin, and I'm a college student doing research on the typical American girl and what she looks for in a husband and I was wondering by any chance," Donnie took a breath as he came up with his ploy, "Would you by any chance have any young daughters or nieces of about the age of twenty five that I might be able to speak with?"
"No, I'm sorry I don't have any daughters but I do have a niece that I'm very close to," April's aunt Patty stated, "What exactly do you want to know again?"
Donnie cleared his throat, "Well, would you be able to tell me what your niece would want her future husband to do to make him be more interesting?"
"Oh, that's easy," Donnie heard her chuckle, "She would love a man who can play musical instruments."
"Musical instruments," Donnie muttered thoughtfully, "Any particular kind?"
"Well, she herself enjoys playing the guitar and really enjoys when someone can accompany her."
"The guitar huh," Donnie mused while tapping his chin, "OH, well, okay, thank you for your time," Donnie told her. He hung up and looked down at his cell thoughtfully. "Hmmm," He went back to his laptop and started typing again, "I bet I could learn to play the guitar," He told himself excitedly, "And I bet I could learn it very quickly too."
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It was late in the evening when Mikey walked into his room and took out his cell phone. He pulled up the phone number to the O'Neil Antique Store and after a few rings, got April on the phone. He cleared his throat, "Hola y buenas tardes," He began in his best Spanish accent, "My name is Miguel Tartaruga and I'm taking a poll to find out the interest young women in today's society have to spice up their lives after a long day of school or work?"
"Oh, well, I don't know about other young women," April answered with a giggled, "But I usually enjoy riding my motorcycle throughout New York City with some of my friends."
"Really,you like to go motorcycling?" Mikey responded excitedly, "Wow, that's pretty cool."
"Yes," April answered with a giggle, "And it sounds like your accent is disappearing," April told him.
Mikey cleared his throat, "Ooops well gotta go," He quickly responded with his Spanish accent. He hung up the phone and tapped it against his chin for a few seconds, "I wonder if there's a place that rents motorcycles," He mused as he began typing on his cell, "And maybe some cool riding gear".
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The next day, toward late evening, April, along with the few patrons still in the store, watched puzzled as Leo, dressed in a white painters smock, walked into the O'Neil Antique store with a blank white canvas and a palate of paint. She placed her laptop down and stared in wonder as Leo began to set up an easel.
"What are you doing?" April asked as Leo brought his hands out in front of him and framed them around her face.
"April," Leo began, "For the last week, I've attempted to think of something new to paint and I've decided that you are to be my new masterpiece."
"Leo," April smiled dreamily at him, "Are you a painter?" She asked as she quickly walked around the counter and watched in excitement as he began to sketch her picture.
Leo chuckled and smiled brightly at her, "Does a fish swim?" He stated as he put his hand under her chin and moved her head slightly, "I wasn't given the name Leonardo for nothing."
April watched dreamily as Leo began to sketch, "You will be my new muse April," Leo told her, he looked her up and down, "Clearly yellow is your favorite color and now…." He smiled at her, "It's mine."
"Oh yes," April muttered as she leaned closer to him, making Leo's cheeks burn bright. Their faces got close and Leo started to lean toward her in hopes of a kiss when the bell above the door jingled and Donatello walked in strumming a guitar.
April turned and gasped in excitement as Donnie's music filled the room. "Donnie," April walked over to him and stared at him in awe while Leo's face contorted in rage, "You play the guitar?"
Donnie's smile widen as April stared at him, "Does a fish swim?" He asked her. She sighed and watched almost mesmerized as his fingers waltzed and strummed quickly along the neck of the instrument.
"April," Leo pulled on her arm, "I still need to do your portrait."
"Oh, right," April attempted to pull away from Donnie but found it difficult as Donnie, picking up the pace of the music, deliberately stepped in between her and Leo.
"Do you have any requests?" He asked.
Before April could answer the bell once again jingled and both Donnie and Leo's jaws dropped as Raphael, dressed in a Peter Pan ballet costume danced into the room.
April squealed in delight as Raph danced his way over to her, "Oh Raphael!" She practically yelled out, "You dance ballet?"
Raph pirouetted toward her then leaned forward with his left leg straight back and his right leg on tip toe, he batted his eyes and smiled at her, "Does a fish swim?" He asked then looked over at Donnie, "How 'bout something in the key of 'C' Donatello," He asked and took April's hand and began to dance them around the room, ballet style.
Determined not to be outdone, both Leo and Donnie attempted to get in between the two dancers, "April," Leo attempted to get her attention, "I was hoping you would sit over here so I could do your portrait."
"Any song, April," Donnie said as he strummed his guitar, "Think of any song and I'll gladly play it for you."
April watched excitedly as the three turtles vied for her attention. She was just about to follow Leo back to his canvas when the loud sound of an engine could be heard just outside the door. April, the three turtles along with astonished customers turned to see Mikey, dressed in a black leather jacket and orange helmet, ride in on a brand new rented Harley motorcycle right into the store.
"Oh Mike," April looked at him knowingly, "You ride a bike?"
Mikey grinned up at her, "That's right dudette," He said with a smug attitude, "And fish do swim." He looked at April hopefully, "Wanna go for a ride April?"
"No wait," Leo grabbed April's hand, "What about your portrait April?" He attempted to coax her back to the counter where his canvas was, "You're my muse, my inspiration."
"April wants to hear music Leo, not sit for hours posing for you," Donnie stated as he pushed him aside and got in front of April, "I can play a classical if you'd like me to April."
"Since when," Raph demanded, "Come on April, come dance with me." He attempted to take her hand but it was quickly slapped away by Mikey.
"No, April wants to come with me and take on the town," he said as he pulled the young and now slightly confused red-head toward the motorcycle.
Raph growled and pushed Mikey back, "You wouldn't know how to show a girl a good time even if you got a book on the subject."
"Boys, this is nice and all but…"
"April, how bout you come over here and let me finish the painting," Leo suggested in an attempt to get her away from his now feuding brothers.
"Leo," Donnie again got in between them, "April wants to hear me play," he looked at her hopefully, "Right April."
"Well, I…"
"Come on April," Raph said as he again pushed Donnie away, "I know where there's a show going on right now, we still have time to catch it and I can get us in to meet the cast and crew."
"How bout you get your motorcycle and we go cycling around New York?" Mikey said as he pushed his brothers away and got in front of them.
"Uh, well…." April looked from one turtle to the other, feeling overwhelmed, flustered and slightly embarrassed as the turtles continued to try and win her affections in front of the customers that continued to stare at the scene before them while snapping pictures and recording everything with their cell phones.
"ENOUGH!" A loud voice rang out and everyone turned to see Kirby O'Neil walking out of his office, "This has gone far enough," He told them and pointed toward the door, "You four are no longer welcomed in this store, so get your stuff and leave this place…..Now!" He watched as the four turtles, their eyes filled with shame, gather their things and walk out of the store. "Please, everyone, the store will be closing in fifteen minutes, so please finish getting your things and we'll ring you up."
While his customers went back to their shopping, Kirby turned to his daughter who was making her way back behind the counter looking sad and slightly embarrassed. "April," He said in a soothing voice, "Those boys are clearly taken with you," April nodded as her father put his hand on her hand, "Don't you think it's about time you tell those boys that what they're doing to you isn't fair to either you or them and you can only be involved with one of them."
"You're right daddy," April told him, "But they're all so wonderful, to go out of their way to impress me like that and practically take up hobbies and interests that I enjoy just to try and win me over," She shook her head, "I feel like I'm falling in love with each of them but how…." She rubbed her tired eyes and sighed heavily, "How am I supposed to choose just one?"
A customer walking up behind Kirby had him moving to the side, he patted his daughter's hand and smiled gently at her, "You'll figure it out," He told her, "But do it soon, please," He implored as he turned away from her.
April nodded and smiled at her father as he walked toward his office while she assisted their customer. Kirby sat at his desk. attempting to go over his reports and bills, but his mind was elsewhere. As he rubbed his chin in contemplation, an idea finally struck him and after a few minutes he picked up his phone.