"Okay, I think I have this down," Noah says, nodding. "Thank you...Doctor Faulkner?"
"You're welcome," the scientist smiles. "I'm eager to have another intelligent young mind in the lab. I'm sure you and Donatello will get along just fine."
When he takes off, I turn to Noah. "So what exactly do you think of all this?"
He shakes his head. "It's still crazy. But I think I've got it for now. It really isn't hard to understand once I get past the fact that your best friends are mutated turtles and for the last ten years, you've been in a secret agency that spies on ninjas and gangs."
I laugh. "Glad you've got it all down. So what do you think of the guys?"
"You mean the turtles? They're cool. They all seem fine; but that Ralph guy needs anger management."
I snort. "It's Raph."
"I'll need time with the names. But that Donatello and I will for sure get along," Noah says.
"You and Don are for sure gonna click," I agree. "You both speak science and practically breathe inventions."
"That's always good when I can find another person who breathes inventions instead of oxygen," Noah jokes.
I slide some folders into Serena's mailbox, and feel my phone buzz in my pocket.
When I take it out, I see it's Leo.
"Someone special?" Noah asks, and I quickly realize I've been smiling. I look up at Noah and see something in his face I don't understand. I blush a little and shake my head.
"Uh...no. No, it's just Leo. He's one of the turtles," I stumble. He nods and the look disappears from his face.
"Well good." I pretend to ignore that. What does he mean?
"I'm gonna answer it, just in case it's an emergency." But that isn't the real reason. I'm answering because whether Noah knows it or not, Leo is someone special. And I am done blowing him off like this.
Without even waiting for a reply from Noah, I wave and answer the phone. I hurry away.
"What's up, Leo?"
"Hey...sorry for calling during work. I just wanted to know how everything was going. Does Noah understand everything? Is he doing okay?"
I smile at his concern. "He's doing fine. He's gotten the hang of things so far."
"Well that's good. I guess I should let you get back to work now. Uh...bye, Lex." My heart almost stops.
"Wait!" I exclaim. "Are you still there?"
"Yes?"
"Hey," I begin, trying to keep my voice the least awkward I can. "How would you like to come over and watch a movie? Just you and me. I can ask my mom if I can leave work early. I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever." Just the sound of being next to Leo makes me smile.
"Are you sure your mom would let you do that?" he asks.
"I'm sure she'll let me. Please? I really wanna spend time with you," I plead.
Leo chuckles. "Well...okay. I'd love to." His acceptance warms my heart.
To my surprise, it doesn't take much convincing for Mom to say yes.
I skip about two stairs each as I head up the steps to the apartment. I throw my hair up in a bun and take out the many movies we have and spread them out. I hear a soft knock at the window. I unlatch the window and he hops in.
In a way, he looks...different. His facial expression isn't as rough as it has been as of late. I smile and embrace him. He slides his arms around me and doesn't pull away. After a bit, I pull away and look into his rich, hazel eyes.
"I've missed you so much, Leo," I say softly.
He smiles. "I've missed you even more."
"You wanna do the honors of bringing forth the food from the depths of the cupboards?" I ask.
Leo laughs. "Oh, I see." He brings his hand to his chest like he's offended. "I'm just the servant-turtle guy. That's all I am."
I laugh. "Hey! I have to do the job of picking out the movie!" I pick up some of the movies. "What are you up for? Action? Comedy? Animation?"
"I'm up for anything," he says.
"We've got Shrek, The Incredibles, Elf...The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe," I list. "Any sound good?"
He looks at the cases and picks up the last one. "What's this about?"
"Read the back."
As he reads, I get up and take the popcorn out of the microwave. I pour it into a large bowl, and look up at Leo. He has put in The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe. I take a seat right in front of the couch. He doesn't waste a second before sitting down next to me.
We watch the movie, commenting at some parts and laughing at others. I feel really at home. I've missed talking to Leo so much. Just to have him sitting here next to me as we watch a two and a half hour movie really comforts me. It feels like my love for Leo has strengthened over the past few months.
When the movie ends, our night doesn't. We continue to talk. I've missed this closeness.
"It was really nice having you here, Leo..."
"Lexi..." he begins, rubbing the back of his neck. "I know that this may seem selfish, but I guess...I guess I've been a little jealous that Noah's been spending so much time with you. I've missed spending time with you." He sighs and closes his eyes. "And I know I may seem like I've been avoiding you, but I've just been scared. I'm scared Noah's replacing me. I know it sounds stupid, I just..."
"No, no, no," I say, shaking my head. "Leo, it doesn't sound stupid! It makes sense. I'm so sorry. Honestly. I'm the one who should be apologizing. I've been spending so much time with Noah because I wanted to maintain that friendship that I didn't realize our friendship was falling apart." I close my eyes. "I'm so sorry."
Leo pulls me into his arms. I bury my head into his shoulder and pull him closer. I can feel his breathing, and I can hear my own heartbeat. I feel at home in his arms. When he pulls away, he ruffles my hair.
"Don't touch the hair," I warn playfully.
"Don't touch the hair?"
"Don't touch the hair," I repeat, and he grins. He begins ruffling my hair some more and I continue to push him away. "Leo!" He laughs and begins to tickle me. I laugh uncontrollably as he tickles my sides. I try to push him away with a pillow but he continues to tickle me.
"Leo...Leo, stop!" I laugh. He finally stops, but continues to grin. I throw a pillow at him (which he easily dodges). "You're a jerk."
"You know you love me," he teases, and I toss another pillow. "Stop throwing pillows! What did they ever do to you?"
It's funny that all it takes is a phone call and a certain amount of courage to mend a friendship back together. Mend it back like it was never broken. Now all I have to do is make sure those stitches stay put.
"Everyone shut up! Doctor Who is on!" I shout, diving into the couch.
"What the heck is a Doctor Who?" Raph asks, standing next to the couch and crossing his arms. He peers at the screen curiously and raises an eye ridge at me. "Is that a blue outhouse? Flying through space?"
"It's the TARDIS!"
It's been a few days since my little movie night with Leo, and I've been taking advantage of the short school days by hanging out at the turtles' place. Although I still hang out with Noah, it's almost to the point where even if I'm not here, Noah is here with Donnie.
Raph passes by, with an orange-clad turtle trailing him. "Mikey, that's why you don't go skateboardin' in the sewers!"
"What happened?" I ask, turning away from the TV.
"Mikey lost his skateboard," Raph says, heading to his room. "Lexa, it's your turn to be therapist."
"Okay, so I'm skateboarding, right? Okay so I almost slipped a few times because of the greasy sewer floors," he begins, and Noah and Donnie walk in.
"Sewer floors aren't greasy," Donnie points out. He has two blueprints in his hands and he and Noah are wearing matching eye goggles. "They're wet."
"And slightly mucky," Noah adds.
Mikey rolls his eyes. "Back to what I was saying: so I almost slipped but I managed to catch myself because of my amazing ninja skills because I'm really cool."
"You're so modest," I mutter.
"Stop interrupting me! Why does everyone do that?" Mikey shrieks.
"Ya make it so easy!" Raph says from above. We look up and see him leaning over the railing.
Mikey growls. "Nevermind..."
"No, Mikey, wait!" I call. "I care. Tell me what happened."
He looks at me, helplessly. "Okay, so I managed not to slip but one of the times I ended up slipping. My skateboard went flying only a few feet in front of me. I could even see it. But as soon as I blinked, it was gone. Just like that. And don't call me crazy, because I wouldn't lie about losing my skateboard," he explains.
"What do you mean it was gone just like that?" Don asks.
"I think he means gone like poof," Noah responds.
Don tilts his head. "Wouldn't gone like pop work too?"
Noah shakes his head. "No, because pop is appearing, and poof is disappearing."
"Okay the main problem here," Mikey begins, "is that my skateboard was there one minute and gone the other! I know that board well enough that it makes a noise when it rolls away! I didn't hear that noise at all! So my theory is..." Everyone leans in, listening. "That we have a gooey monster that stole my skateboard!"
"And we're not listening anymore," Noah decides, and he and Don start to turn away.
"Wait! Don't leave: you're the only smart ones! Help me out here, dudes, and tell me what's going on! What do we need to kill this monster? A gun, a sword, a spear? I want my skateboard back!" He crosses his arms like a child.
"Here's how to kill it," Donnie begins, looking him directly in the eyes. "A very nonexistent imagination. Take Raph for example."
"Since I was actually listening to that sentence, I'm flattered, thanks," Raph says, yawning and turning back towards his room.
"Wait, Mikey," Leo begins. "How would a monster be able to steal your skateboard without making noise or being seen?"
"Yeah, didn't you say you only blinked?" I ask.
"Because he's invisible!" Mikey exclaims.
"And we're gone too," Don says.
Noah nods, as the two of them head back to Don's lab. "Hope you find your skateboard, Mikey."
"Why doesn't anyone listen to me?" Mikey complains. "If we're mutated turtles, then there are countless possibilities of other alien monsters out there!"
"But invisible alien monsters? That steal skateboards?" Leo asks.
Mikey glares and turns away. "Fine. Whatever. You guys don't believe me."
I sigh. "Leo and I will look for your skateboard," I turn from Leo so I don't feel guilty when he gives me an 'are you kidding me' look. "What does it look like? Does it have a name? What does it answer to?"
Leo snorts, and I elbow him. For all we know, Mikey could have one hundred nicknames and bird calls for his beloved skateboard. This is Mikey we're talking about.
"Really? You'd do that? Thank you so much!" Mikey embraces me into a big bear hug. "I love you, I love you, I love you!"
"Okay, okay," Leo says, trying to pry Mikey off of me. "Don't suffocate her. Then I'll have to go into the sewers alone and look for your board."
When Leo and I leave the lair, he turns to me.
"Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" I ask, but then realize what he's asking. "Oh. Well, he just seemed so upset. And in a way, his explanation kind of made sense."
"Invisible goo monster in the sewers?" Leo repeats, giving me a look. "That makes sense to you?"
"Okay...not all of it," I begin, looking around. "But he did have a point about something."
"And what's that?"
"You guys aren't the only unusual creatures out there," I respond, looking over at him and into his eyes. "You are just a fraction of mutants. And you four are lucky you aren't dangerous; you grew up with Master Splinter. He trained and raised you. You know that capsule? The one with the mutagen that you said you guys destroyed?"
"Yeah..." Leo says quietly. "A few months before we met you, we destroyed the last of it."
"Well..." I take in a breath. "That wasn't the last of it. There's more, Leo."
Leo is silent for a moment, and I almost regret saying anything.
"More? What do you mean?"
"There are bad people out there...really bad people. Some who don't even want to be people. They want to tower above the human race and have their own army tower above it too." My voice is shaking.
He doesn't reply, so I add, "I just wanted to tell you."
"I'm glad you did," he says quietly.
"Just...please try to be more open-minded when Mikey says something that...something that seems impossible. Because lately, Mikey's logic has been the only realistic logic," I say.
Leo chuckles darkly. "Well that's dangerous." He looks at me, pleadingly. "Just be careful, Lexi. I really don't want to see you getting hurt."
"Oh Leo..." I mumble, shaking my head. "I'm not the one you should worry about getting hurt..."
A/N: Yayyyyyy we patched up Lexi and Leo's friendship! Nothing can tear them apart! And okay Noah & Donnie are actual friendship goals. They have matching goggles! See, like I said, Noah is pretty easy to like; just picture him as another Donnie, just with several differences because HE IS HiS OWN INDEPENDENT PERSON wHO DOnt NeeD nO DOPPELGANGER.
As always, thank you for reading(: