Chapter 3
That night after June left the turtle's home, Raphael was walking on cloud nine. Of course he tried not to show his brothers, but was failing in his attempts.
"Oooooh, someone had a good time," Michelangelo said from the couch. He had finished playing Donatello in Halo an hour ago and was now watching the news.
"Yeah, someone did have a good time," Raphael said as he flopped down on the side of the couch that was opposite of his youngest brother. "I found out June's staying in New York."
"She's what?" Donatello asked from his computer area, suddenly interested in the new information.
"She's gonna stay in New York for college," Raphael said, still suprised by her decission to stay in the city instead of returning to Japan.
"Whoa, Raph- you didn't put her up to that, did you?" Donatello asked, taking a break from whatever it was he was doing on his computer.
"Uh, no, I didn't, Donny," Raphael said, "Why?"
"Well, she was looking at going to school in Japan, right?"
"Yeah..." Raphael said, starting to get a little irritated that Donatello was beating around the bush, "Again- why?"
"Well, it's just..." He said, "for an imagrant like June, having the option of looking at going to school in Japan is phenominal! Especially because she could basically have her pick of which one she wanted to attend, what with her father having his connections, not to mention her ability to maintain a high grade point average after going to two different nations for high school- that just makes the opportunity even greater!"
Raphael stopped to listen to his brother, feeling his brows begin to knit together, "...Really...? It's that big of a thing...?"
"Raph, are you kidding?!" Donatello laughed, "This is huge! People spend most of their lives trying to get great careers and being financially stable. With June's ability and her not attending a prestigious university, like I'm almost positive she was looking at, would be a huge mistake. I mean, that's a once in a lifetime chance for most people! That's why I asked if you talked her out of it- I mean, that's just such a big mistake! I can't get over it! I would talk to her about it if I were you- seriously!"
Raphael wasn't even listening to his brother anymore; he was lost in his thoughts. Did she decide not to go to Japan because of me...? Knowing June and her romanticism that's probably just what she did- she wanted to get closer to me... I don't want her to give up something this big because of me! I... I've gotta do something...
"June, I just got a call from the guys asking if you were coming to visit today- you up for it?" April asked as she stood in the doorway of June's room. "Actually, I was going to ask you if you wouldn't mind if I went over today," June said with a smile, as she dabbed something on her wrists and under each side of her jaw bone.
"Putting on perfume, huh?" April asked with a sly grin.
"Yeah! Check this out Aunt April!" She said with a smile. She carried the bottle over for her aunt to smell. It was very, very small for a bottle of perfume. Probably a tester, April thought. When June brought it over, April took a wiff and was amazed- she could smell strawberries; not synthetic ones, either. Real strawberries, as well as lavender, crysanthemum, lily, and other fragrant flowers. It made April imagine herself standing in a glorious floral garden, with wysteria covered trees, rose-filled bushes, and at least 3 dozen different types of fragrant flowers growing abundantly, and strawberries, thousands of them, littered the ground.
"Oh my God, June! That's amazing! You can't even smell the chemicals!" April said, nearly breathless after returning to reality.
"That's because there aren't any chemicals, Aunt April. It's a natural perfume from Canada- isn't it great?"
"June, where can I get this?? Do they sell Canadian perfume in Japan?"
"Actually, I ordered off the Internet while I was in Japan- I'll be sure to get you some," she said with a smile.
"What's it called?" April asked, pressing for more information about the scent-miracle in a bottle.
"Well, the brand name is 'Nothing Perfume,' and the scent's name... well," June trailed off slightly as she put the cap back on the bottle, "take a look for yourself." She handed it to April who immediately read the small lable on the cap. And there is was, written in gold- "Raphael."
"Oh... June...!" April said, getting all mushy.
"I ordered it because of the name, but when I smelled it.... It immediately made me think of him. It's such a happy scent, you know? It's like, how I feel whenever I think of him..."
"That's so... sweet..." April said, still feeling mushy. She gave her neice a bear hug and gave her back her bottle of perfume. "Well, let's get on the road- it looks like there's going to be some rain tonight, so don't forget your coat."
Everytime June went to visit the brothers, she just felt so at home, and so thrilled to be around her friends. But today, she had a feeling in her gut that it was going to be different somehow- like something new and interesting was going to happen, but she had no idea what.
"Wow June," April commented as she took her eyes off the rode and stole a glance of her neice, "you sure are fidgety tonight..."
"Yeah... I don't even know why, really. I guess it must be the city lights under storm clouds or something..." June answers, squirming a little in her seat.
"That could be it- they say the city lights do glow brighter under an overcast sky..."
April pulled over in front of an alley way. June opened the door and got ready to get out. "I have my cell phone on me Aunt April so I'll just give you a buzz when I'm ready, okay?"
"Sure, not a problem. I just have to go get some things at the store... Oh, hey! Is take out okay with you? For dinner?"
"Yeah, that'd be great. Be sure to get extra potstickers though- Casey always eats like, 99 percent of them before we can..."
April rolled her eyes, "How could I forget? I'll see you later, sweetie!" With that, June shut the car door and April drove down the street. June then made her way down the alley. Luckally she didn't have to go far into it until she found the manhole that would lead her to the turtle's lair.
Raphael stood in the living room pretending to watch his brothers play some sort of racing game. The truth was, his mind was just whirling. He hadn't been able to really concentrate on anything all day. Except for one thing- what he and Donatello had discussed earlier. He wasn't sure what to do now, but one thing was certain; he had to--
"Hey guys!" June's voice called out. All of the brothers turned their heads in the direction of her voice. "Hey June!" They all called out. June walked into the room with a smile on her face, as usual. "What are you guys up to?"
"Oh, we're playing Grand Turismo- it's super fun!" Donnatello said enthusiastically, "June, do you wanna--"
"June, I gotta talk to you real fast," Raphael blurted out. June looked at him with a bit of suprise- his brows were knitted together, which in itself isn't anything new, but something just didn't sit right with his expression. "Yeah... No problem, Raph...." June said gently as she followed him out of the room.
Soon, they were standing on top of a random building under a stormy New York sky. "Raph, why are we up here? We should probably go back before it rains..."
"June... I gotta tell ya.... When you told me you were going to stay here in New York for college, I was so happy- I... I can't even tell you how happy I was."
June smiled uncertainly, "I'm glad..."
"But, are you going to stay here in New York because you want to, or because of me?"
June looked at the turtle, feeling more and more confused by the moment. "Well, you are one of the reasons I wanted to stay..."
"Donny was right..." Raphael said sourly.
"Raph...?" June asked, moving closer to him, "Is everything okay...?"
"June, you should go to college in Japan..."
June laughed a little, "Raph, but I want to go to college here!"
"June! Do you even realize what opportunities are waiting for you in Japan?! Why are you throwing that away?!"
"Raph, what are you talking about?" June said, getting a little frustrated, "I want to go to college here! I mean, I can live in the city, I can see you all the time-"
"That's just it, June!" Raphael shouted at her, "Your totally screwing up your future over me!"
"Raph, I don't think--"
"June, just listen-"
"No, Raph! I want to go to college here! What has gotten into you?!"
"June, I-"
"I want to stay here! And you want to know why?! Because-"
"June, we're over!" he shouted over her. June stopped arguing and looked at him- a sudden cold shock ran all over her body. Rain drops started to fall out of the sky, but she didn't notice until one landed on her eye lashes.
"Wait, Raphael, what do you mean, 'we're over...?'"
"God, are you that dense?! I mean we are over. We're done, broken up, split- we're over!"
"But... but why...?" She asked, her voice starting to break.
"I don't want to be the one who's responsible for your stupid mistake...."
"Stupid mistake...?" June asked, feeling her temper raise, "What does that mean?"
Raphael laughed out loud, "Haven't we just gone over this?! Jeeze! Get out of New York, June! Go back to Japan! Go to college and leave us alone..."
"Us? You mean...?"
"Yeah! Me and my brothers think you should go to Japan! And guess what! Donny was the one to come up with this idea!"
"Your kidding...." June said, "You've got to be kidding..."
"No, I'm not," he said glaring at her through the rain.
"But Raph..." She said quietly, "I lo-"
"Shut up!" Raphael snapped, "Look, if you don't believe me go ask them yourself!"
June just nodded, as she looked at Raphael, hoping he would just start appologising and saying he was sorry for joking with her about this, but somewhere, deep down, June knew he was serious. With that, she turned and rushed back down into the sewers, Raphael slowly following her, gritting his teeth.
"Yo dudes, check this out!" Michelangelo called, waving a small orange flyer around. "The arcade down the block is going to be holding a Dance Dance Revolution competition- winner gets the new version of the game, as well as Pizza from Little Cesar's! And we all know they make an absolutely divine Hawaiian Pizza..."
"Mikey, why don't we ask June if she would be interested? I think that could actually be a lot of fun," Leonardo said. The sound of hurried footsteps started to echo down the halls. "Oh hey, sounds like June's on her way back!" Michelangelo said with a smile, "let me ask her real fast..."
June entered the room, her hair flying, a look of anger and confusion was on her face.
"Hey, June!" Michelangelo said, happily, but once he saw her face he grew concerned, "Hey... What's wrong...?"
"Mikey," She said, her voice breaking, "is it true?"
Michelangelo looked suprised at her question, and then looked at the flyer in his hands, and back at her. "Yeah, yeah, it's true.... How did you hear about it?"
Her eyes began to water, "Raph told me," she choked.
"He did? Well, it's nothing to be upset over, is it?"
"You tell me, Mikey..." she said, looking at him, fighting back her tears.
"Well, I mean, it could be fun, right?" Michelangelo said, trying to cheer her up. Why is she so upset?! He thought, I thought she liked DDR!
"I can't believe this..." June said, still trying to swallow the lump in her throat.
"So... um.... are you going to do it..?" Michelangelo asked nervously.
June looked at him, tears flowing from her eyes now, "I don't really have much of a choice, now do I?"
"Well, great!" Michelangelo said, smiling, "We wish you the best of luck! Right guys?"
"Um... yeah..." Donnatello said, slightly confused by June's reaction.
"June, are you sure your okay...?" Leonardo asked, concerned. "Maybe you should go home now..."
"Yeah, maybe I should..." June said quietly. As she made her way past the turtles, she turned around and looked back at Raphael. He was leaned against the back wall, arms crossed over his chest, a stone-set look on his face.
"I really did love you, you know..." June said quietly. With that, she turned and ran out of the room and into the sewers.
Leonardo watched her go, feeling very worried for his friend who was so obviously upset. He turned to Raphael, glaring. "What did you do to her...?"
"We broke up, that's all..." Raphael said, trying to play tough. "I told her that we all thought her going back to Japan would be the best thing for her, and well, whatever Mikey was talking about made it easier..."
Michelangelo looked at Raphael, compleatly suprised. "You mean, what I said made her think-"
"That we wanted her to go back to Japan," Lenoardo growled, moving closer to Raphael. "Why would you do that?! Jeeze, your such an idiot!" With that, Leonardo took off after June.
June pushed aside the manhole and lifted herself out of the sewer. She quickly slid it back in place, as if she were locking up something she never wanted to be troubled with again. She crouched on the ground for a while, he head in her hands. She stood and started to walk out of the alley and onto the street. Thunder cracked overhead, but June didn't care. The rain was coming down heavily now, and she watched as people ran for cover, some even using newspaper as a make-shift umbrella as they dashed around. She just kept walking, letting her tears flow freely now- it's not like anyone could see she was crying anyway. Afterall, she was compleatly drenched. She made her way to a small Italian resturaunt and stepped into the foyer out of the rain. She had no desire to eat- just to get out of the rain. And she wasn't the only one who had that idea- the doorway was packed. She pulled out her cellphone and dailed her aunt.
"Hello?" April said on the other line.
"Aunt April?" June croaked, her voice still heavy and near breaking.
"June?" April asked, sounding suprised, "What's wrong?"
"I-I'm gonna need a ride," she cried, unable to hold back her tears.