LEO'S POV:

"What's a word that rhymes with time?" Rose asks, looking up from her laptop. "I have to write a poem for English."

"Rhyme," Lexi says.

Rose nods. "Yeah, a rhyme for time."

"No," Don begins, shaking his head. "She means that rhyme rhymes with time. So does lime."

"Or mime!" Mikey exclaims.

"Paradigm," Noah suggests.

Raph glances over at Rose. "How is she supposed to make a poem out of those dumb words?"

Lexi looks up. "One day I was looking for a rhyme for time. It was simply a time where I needed a rhyme. Not just any rhyme-an absurd kind. Such as lime or mime or paradigm," she recites. "Like that."

"That isn't fair!" Mikey exclaims. "You're a writer! Poor Rose doesn't have any talent."

Rose scrunches her eyebrows. "Um...thanks, Mike."

"Ugh, Cats 101, why are you still here?" Lexi exclaims. She picks up the remote and tosses it. I dive down and catch it. I raise my eye ridges and ruffle her hair.

"Don't break the remote please." I toss the remote to Benj.

Lexi leans forward, propping her head up with her hand. "Now we have to watch cats be stupid..." she whines.

I feel a tap on my shoulder and see Noah.

"Hey Leo," he says quietly. "Can I talk to you?" Why would he want to talk to me? I scan my brain for anything I could have done, said or thought that may have made him hate me.

"Uh...sure," I respond. I get up from the couch and follow him into the hallway. He crosses his arms and looks slightly uncomfortable. He's silent. I try to break that. "Is something wrong?" He's quiet some more before he answers.

"Leo, I'm sorry...but...like a week ago, when we were at the HUA...you remember that night, right?" Of course I remember it; it was the night we discovered a cure. I don't have short-term memory loss. But how would he know that? I have unintentionally distanced myself from Noah. I haven't been giving him a chance.

"Yeah."

"Well...when you were talking to Rose, I got curious. I heard her say Lexi's name, and I started listening. I'm really, really sorry, Leo. I honestly didn't mean to. I was curious. I've felt bad ever since and I've felt like I needed to apologize." He rubs his hands nervously. "I'm sorry..."

So he'd listened to my conversation with Rose. Fury piles up inside of me. He had absolutely no right to do that. I'm about to tell him that he's just an eavesdropping idiot who doesn't deserve Lexi, but then I remember something.

I'm the one who followed them when I'd seen them. I am the one who hadn't trusted them together, and saw them kiss. I'm the one who needs to apologize.

But I can't. I can't let him know I'd seen them kiss! After that, he might tell Lexi. And I really don't want to lose her trust.

"How...how much did you hear?" I ask slowly, trying my hardest to remain calm. Noah swallows.

"From the part when Rose was telling you about what she does, from then on," he responds quietly. So basically the entire conversation.

"It's...alright, Noah." But it isn't alright. I don't need Noah knowing about my feelings for Lexi! There is a very fat chance that he's going to tell her.

"I promise I won't tell her. It was a mistake to listen to the conversation. I'm sorry. I won't tell her. I promise, Leo." And the worst part about it all is that he isn't lying. He's honest and loyal and genuine. And for some reason, it's really pissing me off.

I shake my head. "Thanks..." I just want to get back into the living room and get away from Noah. He already knows too much. I don't like him but I have no valid, mature reason to not like him. He's smart and polite and cares for Lexi. What more could you need in a friend? Which is why I'm jealous of him.

"Are you sure you're not angry?"

"I'm...I'm not angry, Noah."

"Good." He pauses. "If you don't mind me asking, how long have you liked her for?"

"I do mind," I admit quietly. "Sorry."

"It's cool," he says casually. "I'm sorry again. Are we cool?" What does he mean by that? No, we aren't cool! I suddenly want to ask him how he feels about Lexi but I tell myself that's a really bad idea. I don't think I want to know the answer.

"Yeah..." I mutter. "We're good."

When we walk back to the living room, I let my mind wander. Why is he acting so casual about all this? He isn't showing any jealousy. Maybe his crush on Lexi has faded away. Maybe that kiss meant nothing to him.

Or maybe he feels bad for me. Maybe he knows all good and well that there's no way Lexi would choose me over him. He pities me, and he's confident in himself. I sigh. Whatever it is, it's really irritating me.

I find Lexi on the couch, lying down, leaving no room for anyone. I sigh, smiling a little. I approach, lift up her feet and sit down. I focus my eyes on the TV, but through the corner of my eye, I can see Lexi smiling at me. I almost turn and smile back.

Almost. And I probably would have if I didn't have Noah's eyes staring at me as well.

A/N: Literally I feel like every character knows something they shouldn't know(': Eavesdropping is quite the trend. Speaking of which, we haven't heard from Shredder in a while, have we? I wonder what he's up to...

Okay, I know this was a short chapter and stuff and might seem kinda pointless but the next chapter is gonna be BIG. I'm seriously so excited to post it. In fact, the next few chapters are gonna really lead up to things changing. Everything will kind of be happening all at once, but I don't think it'll be chaotic or anything. I guess we'll have to see how it goes(: