Irma spent the rest of her day working, as usual. She finished two papers for school and done research for an upcoming independent study. Her work was strewn about her desk and had three word documents and fourteen internet tabs open on her computer. At about three in the afternoon, Irma realized she needed to run to pick up a book she had ordered for the independent study. She laced up her brown ankle boots and ran to the library. The book was waiting for her and she was in and out within ten minutes. As she approached her apartment door, Irma heard noises. She was frightened at first but it melted away as she raised her book to the air. She opened the door quickly and pounced in let on a loud "Ah-Hah!"
"What's the problem?" Mrs. Langinstein emerged from the kitchen.
"Mom? What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at work?"
"The institute let us out early, so I started to cook dinner."
Irma was astonished. Her mother had never once cooked yet the lack of smoke in the kitchen proved she had a hidden talent. The teenager's heart skipped a beat. She had waited for this day her entire life and now it was here.
"Your father's in the shower. We'll be eating at around seven that way he and I can get enough sleep for tomorrow."
And there it was.
"What's tomorrow?"
"We were selected to participate in a two week study trip to the Massachusetts countryside. We are studying the modern comparison of pollution in big cities and rural areas. We're leaving at five in the morning."
"Oh, well that's great mom," was all Irma could get out. She knew it was too good to be true.
"Is there something wrong honey?"
"No, it's nothing. I'm just really dreading starting this study project."
"Knowing you, you'll be done before we get back." Mrs. Langinstein retreated to the kitchen and continued to prepare the meal. At supper, Irma sat in silence while her parents discussed packing and research tactics. "So, we're a modern family. It shouldn't bother me," she thought to herself. But it did. It consumed her. Most teenagers did all they could to avoid their parents, but all she wanted was someone to talk to. It would be nice to know someone cared. That night after shedding a single tear, Irma decided she would make the best of the situation. She would get up and make herself breakfast and dance around in her underwear. Just because she could, and she knew no one would know. Except for one.
The next morning Raphael had a sudden urge to go find Irma. He got out of bed and ran out of the sewers. His brothers weren't awake yet, but he told Splinter he was craving an early morning workout. Splinter agreed as long as he would stay on the rooftops and bring a jacket. It was a cloudy morning with a very good chance of rain. Raph knew he would be in the clear seeing as New Yorkers tend to stay away from roofs on rainy days. Right before it began to rain, Raph found the apartment building. He landed on a fire escape on the left side of the building and looked into the open window. It was white with black accents. A large bed sat directly in front of the window. There was a large desk with shelves of books and a large computer. Next to the desk was a medium-sized flat screen mounted on the wall. Although what really tipped Raphael off was the picture next to the bed. It was of the same girl he'd met the other night with her parents. She looked so happy. It also helped that next to the picture was a large wooden "I". "I for Irma," he thought and concluded that he had the right place. All of a sudden loud music started playing from down the hall. The turtle almost jumped out of his shell as he walked to the door. He poked his head out and his eyes grew wide. The tiny girl was dancing around the kitchen making breakfast. Her hair was tied up and her glasses were perfectly perched on her nose. She was wearing an oversized blue dress shirt and no pants. Grey underwear to be more specific. And knee high white socks. And she was dancing between the island and the stove making herself an omelet singing some old song Raph didn't know.
"It's not unusual to see me cry, I WANNA DIE," Irma wailed while putting the finishing touches on her breakfast. Raph couldn't help but laugh a little. She was adorable. He saw her finish up her breakfast and began to head to her room. Raph ducked back in and stood in between the desk and TV. As he stood waiting, the song changed on the iPod. Irma entered the room backwards, still singing and dancing with an omelet in one hand and a music player in the other. "FINALLY IT'S HAPPENED TO ME RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY FACE AND I JUST CANNOT HIDE IT!" As she spun around, the girl opened her eyes. "Meeting Mr. Right, the man of my- OH MY GOD!" As she had turned around, Irma had tried to close the door with her body. Now she was plastered against the closed door shaking. Raph had covered his eyes in panic that she would think he was a perv.
"What is this, Risky Business Sunday?"
"Wasn't expecting visitors. Sorry for the view." She made an attempt to cover herself but it was no use.
"Don't worry about it. You look great- I mean you, you pull off the no pants look I mean uh," Raph stumbled through his words. Irma giggled as she sat her breakfast down on her nighstand. She saw this kind of stuff at school all the time. Some guys from the AV club would come up to her and April's lockers at the end of a day frequently. They would ask her friend if she was interested in going out for pizza after school. April would always turn them down in favor of hanging out with her best friend. She would always argue with her, insisting she'd be fine at home by herself. Deep down, Irma wondered what it felt like to cause speech troubles in the opposite sex. She guessed Raph was a good example. She began to walk toward him with a big smile on her face.
"I'm so glad you came back." She took his humongous hands in her own petite ones. She squeezed to reaffirm her excitement. Raph felt his muscles tightening.
"No problem."
"So what's the occasion?"
"I felt that since we met under such sour circumstances, I should make it up to you by explaining this," he gestured to himself.
"This early in the morning? How'd you get here without anybody seeing?"
"Rooftops, besides it's raining."
"Oh, so we can talk?"
"Yeah if your parents aren't going to run in on the mutant freak."
"What did I tell you? Don't call yourself that. Besides my parents just left this morning for a two week research trip."
"Scientists?"
"Ding ding." Irma looked down and realized she was still standing in her underwear. "Maybe I should get dressed first."
"Good idea, not that you look bad, you look great," he blurted out. This wasn't like Raph to throw out compliments. He must be sick.
She laughed some more. "Thanks." The girl walked over to her chest of drawers and fished out some clothes and grabbed some boots. "You stay here, I'll be right back."
"Alright."
She was gone for maybe two minutes. She came back wearing an oversized blue and grey sweater, jeans, and those brown boots he'd seen her carry. She sat down on her bed and he sat in the desk chair.
"So what do you want to know first?"
"How'd you get the lightning bolt scar?"
Raphael's eyes became huge, "What?"
"You know the little notch in your plastron, where'd it come from?"
"You don't want to ask the obvious?"
"I'll ask that after you tell me about the scar."
The boy hesitated, "I was dropped as a baby."
"Aww." Irma put her hands to her mouth in disbelief.
"So now do you want me to explain my existence?"
"Of course, go on."
And he did. He told her the whole story. The rivalry, the fire, the mutations, the vendetta, and everything else. Irma just sat there and listened to every word that came out of Raphael's mouth. When he was finished, he waited for a response from her. She remained quiet.
"Well?" She stayed silent. "Aren't you going to say anything?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Something along the lines of 'Oh my, what a terrible existence!'"
"It's not that bad." She rubbed the bed and insisted on him joining her. He did.
"Oh really?"
"Yeah." Irma thought about the story a bit more. She thought about this Shredder guy Raphael had talked about and how he was out to kill him and his brothers. "At least you have a family."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"And you have a friend."
"And who's that," he asked playfully. Irma moved closer to his end of the bed. Still sitting, she leaned toward him on her hands.
"Me."
"You?"
"Yes me. Why? You don't want to be my friend?"
"It's not that. It's just; you are actually interested in being my friend? Why?"
"Because," Suddenly Irma grabbed one of the mutant's hands. It was made up of three fingers that were thoroughly taped and a large palm. She examined it and continued without looking up, "You're different. And I'm different. And it is possible for two oddballs to make an even, isn't it?"
Raph smiled. He was lucky. Despite all the facts that had been revealed, despite his appearance, despite the fact that this could lead to trouble, she accepted him for who he was. Maybe all humans weren't that bad. The girl then sat his hand on her waist as she moved in to hug him. Her arms wrapped his neck and she pulled herself into him. Raph's hand were frozen around her but slowly came to rest on her hips. "I never properly thanked you for what you did the other night. Thank you."
"It's no big deal."
"Yes it is. I could have been hurt. I could have been violated. I could have been killed, but that's probably taking it a bit far. The point is, you see that as all in a day's work, I see it as an extraordinary gesture."
"Well, I'm glad you're okay. What'd you parents say about your bruises?"
She pulled out of the hug as her smile faded.
"They didn't notice."
Raph remembered what April had said about Irma's parents. They were never around. That was proven when he first got there and they were nowhere to be found.
"They shouldn't be bad. Just ice them daily and they'll be gone by next week."
The girl shook her head halfheartedly. He could tell that he had severely damaged her mood.
"You said they'll be gone for two weeks."
"Yep."
"Then I'll visit frequently. Just to make sure you won't get lonely."
Her head shot up and her eyes widened. "You mean that?"
"If you'll leave the window unlocked."
"Yes! Yes of course I will!" She pulled the turtle in for another hug. Raph smiled and hugged her back. He was getting good at this.
"All right I got to get going. Be good for me okay?" As Irma pulled away from Raph, he noticed she was crying. But this time she was smiling. She started sniffling as he wiped her eyes. "Hey calm down," he whispered, "I'll be back soon." She giggled as his huge finger tried to dry her face.
"It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
She giggled again, "I'm just really glad you exist."
And with that Raphael told himself he had to leave before this got too emotional. He climbed out of the window and waved to his new friend. Irma waved back, already growing impatient to see him again.