A/N: Don't. Own. Ninja. Turtles.

"Violate all my love that I'm missing
Throw away all the pain that I'm living
You will believe in me
And I can never be ignored" –Garbage

--

Raphael looked both confused and angry.

"What are you talking about?" Hazel sniffed, rubbing her eyes with her knuckles.

"Y-You know. D-Do you hate me? J-Just tell me the truth, 'kay?" She was shaking quite visibly.

"You think just 'cos I got mad at you that I hate you?" He frowned, but it seemed softer this time.

"I-I don't know," sobbed Hazel. "What am I supposed to think? That you want to be friends? No…" Hazel coughed, sniffling and remaining silent. Great, she thought, he's going to think I'm a big crybaby.

"Look," Raph sighed. "I'm just tryin' to look out for you, okay? What if you mentioned the Foot and the wrong person overheard? They'd track you down, they'd…"

"Then what about that night in the tunnels?"

"You think Leo ever says somethin' nice about me? He only says when I'm wrong. He and everyone else would rather me not be around." Hazel had stopped crying.

"T-That's… How it is with me too," she sighed. "M-My parents just don't care."

"Finally, someone who gets it." Raph smirked. "You're more like me than I thought."

"L-Likewise," smiled Hazel. She turned on the television, flipping through the channels.

"What d'you like to watch? I mean, you're the guest…"

"Any horror?" Hazel nodded, trying to hide her distaste for the genre. She handed Raph the remote, taking every ounce of self-control she had to keep her composure.

"You seen this one?"

"I don't really watch many horror movies."

"Oh," he smirked, making her want to shrink into disappearance, "You're scared of them."

"W-What? No! I… I just don't watch them!"

"Uh-Huh. Well, this one isn't that bad. It's not like we couldn't switch if you don't like it." He shrugged.

"No, no! It's fine! Don't worry about me." Hazel smiled nervously at him; Raph sighed as the movie started playing. Why'd she have to be so damn shy?

"I'll leave if you don't want me around." Raph stood up, but Hazel grabbed his arm immediately.

"Please don't go," she pleaded, feeling sick to her stomach at the thought of being alone, "I-I like you being here."

"And that's why you keep actin' like I'm gonna kill you?"

"I-I'm sorry, I-I don't mean to… I just…" Hazel pulled her dress over her knees. "I-I can't trust people yet. I've never had friends- I just assume people are only trying to befriend me to hurt me." Her eyes were wet with tears again.

"Don't cry, okay? Calm down, kid."

"K-Kid?" she sniffed, feeling her heart sinking a little.

"I didn't really mean you were a kid." He rolled his eyes.

"S-Sorry, I'm just a little tired. I… I was so worried last night, I didn't sleep." Hazel looked at the TV for a minute, seeing a girl wandering around somewhere in the dark.

"Well, crying ain't helping you relax."

"Y-You're right." Hazel took a deep breath, assuring herself that he couldn't hate her now. She leaned back, watching the screen sleepily. Raph was right- this one wasn't scary. In fact, it was a little boring. She closed her eyes, and Raph didn't notice until she shifted, nearly jumping out of his shell when he felt her head fall onto his shoulder. Great, he thought.

Hazel frowned. Where am I? she wondered, opening her eyes. She was still leaning against Raph, her arms clinging to his. She yelped, jumping up and looking for the time.

"Raph! Wake up!" she cried, running around the house in an attempt to get organized.

"Wha--?"

"I-I'm so sorry, but I've got school in an hour!" She ran upstairs, yelling down to him, "If you're hungry just look in the fridge, okay?" A door slammed; Raph heard the shower running.

He couldn't even remember falling asleep. He only recalled browsing channels and wondering when Hazel would wake up… Well, she hadn't until now. He decided he had to get out.

Hazel rushed downstairs in her uniform, and then realized she'd been abandoned; her spirits dropped. She sighed, grabbing her backpack. It'd be a long day.

"Where were you all night?" cried Leo, furious. "You can't just disappear like that!"

"Seems like I just did," Raph growled. "You're not my babysitter, Leo! It's my life."

"I-I'm sorry, am I interrupting?" Hazel looked down at her feet.

"Yeah," Raph huffed, storming off to his room. Leo rolled his eyes, but smiled toward Hazel.

"Don't mind him… You're here early, aren't you?"

"Y-Yeah, it was a half-day today…" She looked toward her feet again.

"Um… Leo, I suppose it's not my business, but…" She shook her head. "Never mind."

"Are you alright?" Leo frowned.

"I… I just wanted to talk to Raph about something."

"I wouldn't suggest it now."

"I-I know." Hazel smiled bravely to him before walking down the dimly lit hallway, shivering. Knocking softly on the just-slammed door, Hazel held her breath.

"Whaddya want, Leo?" barked Raph from inside. Shakily, Hazel opened the door, peering inside shyly.

"I-It's me." Raph sighed, putting the headphones in his hands down.

"What?" He didn't really want her seeing his room- it was an awful mess. She bit her trembling lip.

"I-I'm so sorry for earlier, I-I should've let you come back last night." Her face burned.

"Don't worry about it, okay?" He got to his feet, crossing his arms.

"But… Um…" Hazel sighed, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "I was wondering… If you wanted to come by again. B-But this time we'd actually do something, I promise!" Raph could see her shaking; he put his hands on her shoulders.

"Are you sick? You're shaking really badly." Hazel shook her head, taking a deep breath.

"R-Raph… I…" She could feel a lump in her throat; her heart hammering right under it.

"Spit it out, kid." Hazel winced.

"Raph… I… I really like you." She squeezed her eyes closed. "I-I'm sorry!" She opened the door behind her, bolting out and running as fast as she could without tripping over her own feet, vision blurred with fearful tears.

"Hazel!" Raph yelled, running after her, but Leo stopped him.

"What've you done now!?" He yelled, grabbing him so he couldn't follow her. Raph only growled in response, pushing him away, but Hazel was gone up to the surface now.

Hazel had run all the way back to her house, her neurotic side completely taking over her mind. She didn't have a single shred of hope in her body.

"Maybe I'm a cynic," she coughed to Apple, "But I think I just beat the record for shortest friendship."

"Meow."

--

Ohhhh man. Xx This chapter took a lot longer than I'd hoped, but it was so awkward to write.

Anyhoo, I know you'll be on my back to write more, but reviewing makes me write faster! Hint hint. :3