Benjamin and I sit in silence on the couch as we watch commercials. An animal protection commercial comes on, talking about how there is a lot of Animal Abuse that goes on every day and there is a number to call if you see something. The commercial is complete with the sad music and cute puppies with bruises and bandages.
"That actually makes me want to go hug my non-existent dog," I say, sniffling a little. "It's so sad that people do that to animals." When Benj doesn't answer, I glance over to see that he's stroking his pet rock named Rock-Rock.
"It's okay, Rock-Rock; I would never do that do you," he assures in a calming, whisper voice. I have to suppress a smile and before I know it, I have picked up my own pet rock, Rocky, and am stroking it as well. So there we both sit caressing our pet rocks and whispering calming words in the 90 degrees weather while sitting in the middle of the living room while a commercial about zit cream plays.
The door opens and in walks Noah. He has to stand there for a few moments, watching the scene play in front of him before he speaks.
"Well..." he begins, blowing air out of his cheeks. "This sure isn't something you see everyday."
Benj looks up at him dramatically. "Oh Noah," he says in a considerably calm voice. "This is something you should be seeing everyday. Especially in this home."
"I think this is why I don't visit you guys very often." He shakes his head. "It's not Recluse Day; why are you stroking your pet rocks while watching commercials?"
"Everyday can be Recluse Day," Benj and I both say in unison, in the exact same calming tone of voice.
"That was only a little bit creepy," Noah mutters, but then he shakes his head. "The reason I came here is because I have a job for you."
"For me? Or for us?" I ask in the same serene voice.
"Or maybe by saying 'you' you really just meant 'you'..." Benj says, using that same voice. We are both silent for a long moment.
"I request some degree of normalcy for just two minutes, please. That's all I need: two minutes," Noah pleads, and I glance over at Benj, who nods.
"Okay, what'cha need?" I ask, sitting up straighter. He sighs out of relief and hands me his iPad.
"I need you and Benj to sign this petition."
"An iPad petition...?"
"It's a petition, nonetheless. You can't imagine the increased amount of participants due to the fact that they get to hold an iPad..." he mutters, but then clears his throat. "It's a petition to let anyone ages sixteen or older, with a 4.3 GPA or higher, work alongside some of the best scientists of New York. You'd have to pass a test too, along with the GPA, but it's worth it."
"Please explain why this is so important to you."
"I'm eighteen years old, going to college this September and I still don't have a job or even a job to be considered. Sure, I work with Donnie and sometimes in the Headquarters, but that isn't a real job. I want to not only make a difference, but publicly make a difference. I'm smarter than most people take credit for, and I'd like to share what I know and what my ideas are. There are hundreds of clinics and laboratories that have doctors and have scientists, but what they need an assistant. I'm assistant material and it's a way to really make my mark on the world."
"Sounds good to me," I say, beginning to sign the petition. "How many signatures are you trying to get? And what's your method?" I hand the iPad to Benj, whose eyes look as big as saucers. He rarely gets the chance to hold an iPad.
"I need to have at least one thousand-five hundred signatures before this Friday," he explains and Benj and I both look up at him in awe.
"That means you only have two and a half more days to get the rest of the signatures!" I say to say, but Noah shakes his head.
"Relax; I've already got one-thousand-five. Well, one-thousand-seven counting you guys." He releases a "thank you" when Benj hands him back the iPad.
"How did you—"
"You seem to forget that my Dad's a scientist," he reminds, grinning so that his straight, pearly white teeth are showing. "He, along with a lot of his science buddies signed it. They think it'd be nice to have an assistant that didn't have as much knowledge as they do. People sure like to show off these days..."
"No kidding." I laugh. "So what's your method? How are you going to get the rest of the signatures?"
"Anywhere I can. I don't want people to see me more than twice, so I'll probably move myself and my petition around New York a bit so that people don't think that I'm desperate."
"But you are."
"But they don't need to know that," he says, rolling his eyes. "I'll probably call up some science buildings and maybe cool museums too. There're a lot of people that will sign petitions, even when they're indifferent to the subject. They just sign it because they can."
"Sure; hey, here's a petition to put a stop to all sandwich shops in the state of Vermont. I'll just sign it because I can."
"You're a pain."
"We can take back our signatures if you'd like."
"No, I'm good," Noah says, standing up. "Thanks; it means a lot."
"Anything to help out our little Noah," I sniffle and wipe a fake tear. "It seems like just yesterday he was making little short films starring his stuffed animals and his feet."
"The Adventures of Feet Friends," Noah remembers, grinning. "I remember that..."
"Who wouldn't?" Benj asks, raising his eyebrows. "Even I remember that. Wasn't there an episode where one of your toes got cut off?"
"That was a season spin-off, and it wasn't supposed to get published." He looks at me accusingly. "But someone got a little too excited and learned how to hack onto my computer and post it anyway."
I smile innocently at him and prop my chin up with my hands.
"I learned from the best..." I sing and he smiles at me, and I see his face flush the tiniest bit.
"Right," he says. "Well, I'd better get going now. Thanks again."
"No problem. Thanks for interrupting our 'mock Recluse Day'."
"Please carry on with your insanity; I'll be off now," he says.
"You broke the mood."
"Sorry about that," he apologizes, but he's grinning and he doesn't look too sorry.
A little bit after Noah leaves, Benj, Mallory and I decide to stop somewhere and get some frozen yogurt, then head to the lair right after.
We walk into Master Splinter sitting on the couch, watching the Soap Opera, 'Kerrie Nicole'. Over at the small round breakfast table, Donnie sits trying to read a book. His eyes keep beginning to close and he every time he catches himself falling asleep, he begins to shake his head to wake himself up. Mikey is sprawled onto the couch, groaning and covering his face with his hands. Raph is sprawled on the ground, passed out (not personally my go-to location to nap, but everyone is different). Every few moments, you can hear a groan or a cough or a yawn.
"Man, it sounds like a hospital in here," I exclaim, jumping onto the couch. "How hard were you guys worked today?"
"It wasn't just today; it's everyday," Mikey says, his voice muffled into the couch. "You clearly wouldn't know since you never visit us."
"Aw," I say, rubbing Mikey's arm. "We're here right now, aren't we?"
He groans, and doesn't respond in any proper form.
"Yeah," Mallory says, setting her frozen yogurt down. "We thought we might come over and hang out. How's that sound, Donnie?" She turns, addressing Donatello. He doesn't respond in any way. "Don?" Nothing. She raises her eyebrows and places her hand on the chair, glancing over at Master Splinter. "Dang, Master Splinter! How hard do you work them?" Somehow, that wakes Donnie from his daze.
"Who did the what-ma-bob?" he mumbles frantically, and it takes him a few moments to realize that we are here. "Whoa! When did you guys get here?"
I glance over at Master Splinter as well.
"Are they always this exhausted?" I ask him.
Master Splinter chuckles. "My sons seem to prefer the training of Tatsuo far more than my own training, which deeply confuses me due to saying that I teach them the exact same material of which Tatsuo teaches," he explains, and Mikey groans.
"It's just that because Master Splinter is our father, he finds it completely necessary to slap us with his walking stick every time we cough, fart or breathe," Mikey states bitterly.
"Michelangelo!" Master Splinter exclaims, sternly.
"Sorry, Master Splinter." But he doesn't sound sorry; he sounds absolutely drained of all energy.
"Well maybe this isn't the best time for us to be over here..." Benj decides, glancing over at me and Mallory. "Maybe we should leave."
"Naw," Mallory insists, taking her cup of frozen yogurt and having another bite. She sits down next to me. "It'll be fine."
"Here, Mikey. Try some frozen yogurt; it'll help you feel better," I insist, shoving my Styrofoam cup forward.
"Does it have insane and unnecessary toppings?"
"Does pizza get delivered faster than an ambulance?" I respond and under all those pillows, I see a smile creep up Mikey's face. He moves his way out of the mess of fabrics and pillows, shoving some of them to the ground. He has dark circles under his eyes and he smells like cold sweat. He truly does look exhausted. But being the orange-clad turtle that he is, he still manages to grin and take the cup of frozen yogurt. After the first bite, he's already looking better.
"See? Insane toppings aren't ever a disadvantage," I say, directing my statement towards my brother. He snorts and rolls his eyes, finishing up his yogurt.
"Yeah," he mutters, scraping the bottom of the Styrofoam cup, trying to get the last bits of toppings and droplets of yogurt. "Unless you actually want a date with someone." I laugh and shrug my shoulders.
"That's what I've got Leo for," I reply, grinning. "He can't judge me because he's a mutated turtle that lives in a sewer."
"Is that all I'm known for?" A worn-out voice asks from nearby. I glance over my shoulder to find a beat looking Leonardo coming out from the hallway. As tired as he looks, his eyes brighten when he sees me. I smile softly and get up to give him a hug.
"Did you get the sleep you needed?" I ask him, reaching up to hug him. His arms slide comfortingly around my waist and I throw my arms around his neck.
"I got what I could," he mumbles. "I'm glad you came over though."
"I'm not sure that I am, if you didn't get any rest."
"I did, I promise." I can't scold him anymore, because his hug is so comforting and I know that that's all he needs right now. I pull away and smile up at him, enclosing my hand into his. He smiles back and I hear a loud burp from behind. I laugh and look over at Mikey, who has finished my entire cup of yogurt.
My eyes widen and so do his.
"Um...were you planning on finishing that?" he asks sheepishly. I laugh and shake my head.
"You look much better, and trust me when I say that that's all I really wish for right now," I say.
He grins. "Awesome! Well, it tasted very good; compliments to the chef!" Mikey exclaims and I chuckle.
"Well, I'm glad that you're feeling better." I glance over at Don. "Now we gotta work on Donnie, Leo and Raph."
"I'm feeling better," Leo tells me and I look up at him, eyebrows raised.
"You sure?"
"Positive," he responds, leaning in to give me a kiss.
"Ugh, will you two refrain from keeping your relationship so public?" Mikey groans stuffing his face into the couch again. I scoff and cross my arms.
"I gave you my ice cream!" I remind him.
"And it tasted like magic."
"Also," Leo begins, glancing at his red-clad brother. "My advice is let Raph sleep. We don't want to awaken the beast."
And just like that, everything is okay. Mallory is laughing and balancing her yogurt cup on Raph's head while he sleeps, Mikey is animated and explaining the basics to a new video game he got, and Benj is trying to keep up with him. I watch Benj and smile. The two of them get along really well together but it isn't hard for Benjamin to get along with people. I feel like he has a little piece of everybody.
I feel that way about everyone, I think.
My "life is okay" moment is interrupted by the buzz of my phone.
Mom: Lexi, I need you to stay in the apartment. You and Benj both stay in the apartment. I've already gotten a co-worker to escort Rose there, so she should be there ASAP. Please listen to me and don't ask any questions. The RBMC has released freshly made mutants all programmed to kill you. This spree of mutants will continue to multiply until Friday night. We have a force field that's been installed into our apartment and it'll keep out all the mutants. They'll still be able to try and get into the apartment, but if you don't open the door, then they can't get in. Please, just make sure that you don't leave. The mutants have your scent, so they know where you are. I won't be coming home for until the three days of mutants are through. I love you, Lexi. Please don't open the door for anyone. Stay in the apartment, and you'll be safe.
A growl sounds from the corner of the room.
A/N: I know that this is definitely one of the worst chapters I've probably ever written. I recognize that it might seem bland and pointless (though I recognize that much of my writing seems to be that way lately). But sometimes there are days like that, and there are chapters like that. This is the second to last chapter, and I just want to say thank you for staying with me this far. Or if you've just stumbled upon it and decided to only read the 19th chapter of the 2nd book (in that case, you must be very confused) then welcome and thank you for reading this chapter.