Chapter 11
"So, how was it?" I ask nervously, feeling my cheeks start to go red with a blush.
"It was amazing Nicole! As usual." Leo smiled as he finished up his last bite. It's just after lunch time and I made a new dish, in preparation for when I go back to my culinary school in a few days.
"T-thanks." I smile, flushing with embarrassment. I never know how to respond when someone compliments me. I always hope for the best, but expect the worst. Even when being judged by a mutant ninja turtle...who's also a teenager, "So Leo, tomorrow's your birthday right?"
"Um...sorta." He answers and I cocked my head in confusion. Then I realize that he can't see me. So reading my body language as a response is not an option anymore.
So I ask, echoing his words,"Sorta?"
"Well we-I mean, I call it mutation day...since I don't know my real birthday." Leo explained, stuttering as he did. I wondered why he was so nervous. Granted he hasn't been here for long, but we've talked a lot over the past few days. So what reason does he have to be nervous?
"Mutation?" I get more and more curious to what Leo is exactly. I know that he is a mutant, but I have no clue to what a mutant is.
"Yeah, the day that I went from behind a normal turtle to...this." He explains and gestures to himself. It's true that Leo isn't human, but he does posses many human qualities. But does he think of himself of nothing more then...a thing? Just a living being who got put of this planet by mistake?
"So, we're you a scientist pet or something?" I dig deeper on the subject, though I'm a little scared too. I can tell something's wrong with Leo. I mean, he's obviously hurt, but I often catch him drifting off in his own thoughts. Sometimes he doesn't hear me when I call his name, and that always leaves me wondering what he's thinking about. And for the past few days, pretty much since Leo arrived, I've been wondering what he is, where he comes from. It's not that I'll really care or change my opinion on him, but it would be nice to know.
"Uh...no. Just a normal person's pet." Leo answered hesitantly, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. I fear I might be approaching a touchy subject. Not many people like to talk about their past.
I open my mouth, about to say something, but my phone rings. Toby gets up startled and starts barking, angry at the telephone for disturbing his nap.
I answer the phone, situated on my computer desk, and I hear a male's voice come through, thick with a French accent.
"Hi, is this Mme. Babin? Owner of Desserts d'or?*" (*Desserts d'or=Golden Pastry) "This is Nicole, I'm filling in for Mme. Babin while she's in Germany. May I help you?"
"Yeah, this is Jacob from the uh...repair shop for your windows. Just calling to let you know that my crew will be there today around one o'clock."
"Alright, thanks." I tell him politely and wait for the guy to hang up. When he did, I set down the phone and Leo asks,
"What was that about?"
"Oh, the repair mans for the windows are gonna be here soon." I explain and check the time. It's a quarter to one, "I should go downstairs and wait for them. I'll be back."
"Okay." Leo agrees and I could swear that I heard a hint of disappointment in his tone. But I shake my head, ridding it of any thoughts.
I make my way out the door, shutting in behind me. I walk down the hall and down the stairs, like any other day. Every day, I wake up, eat breakfast then I'm out the door on my way to culinary school, cooking class or work. And now I'm not even gonna leave the bakery.
"Man, my life is dull" I say out loud to myself as I reach the bottom. The repair men aren't here yet, so I take a seat at a table and give myself time to think. Which in my opinion, can be a dangerous thing sometimes.
I sit here and ponder for a little while, thinking about anything my mind happens about. I reflect on any thought that comes to mind, but I mainly think about Leo.
I hope he's alright. And so my thought process begins, I mean he's stayed by himself before, it's not like it's anything new to him. Even back in New York he's all by himself, at least I think he is. I don't really know much about him, nor does he about me. It would be sad, living all by yourself. Where does he even live in New York anyway? An apartment? A house? Do people accept him there? Maybe there's an entire race of him...of giant turtles?
I shake my head and laughed at myself. An entire species of giant turtles living in New York? That's a ridiculous idea and if anyone ever heard me say that out loud? They would think I'm crazy!
But what if he falls sick? I continue to think, who takes care of him? Surely he can't do it himself? What if he doesn't know how to treat himself? Then, fear hits him as a sudden realization comes to me, What if I don't know how? This entire time I've been treating him like I would a human, and I haven't the slightest clue how to do that! What if his wounds are infected? What if his body functions differently from humans? What if this entire time, I've just been putting Leo in danger.
I shake my head again, but this time, I don't laugh at myself. I can't. It's not a ridiculous thought, to be thinking what if. It's scare almost. I don't like it, not one bit. I can't allow myself to think I'm putting someone in danger. That I might be the cause of their pain. I hate hurting people, I hate it so much.
I find my heart beating fast in my chest with worry. I can't shake the feeling away. I keep thinking of how Leo might be in trouble right now. That maybe his wounds are getting worst, that he's slowly making his way into his demise. With all of his injuries, how can he get better? What if he never walks again? Or what if his arm will be functionless. Or, and possibly the worst, what if he goes blind?
My teeth start to chatter and I shake slightly. That's when I tell myself, "Don't be ridiculous Nicole, that's not gonna happen?"
I tell myself this, but the effect does nothing. I can hear my own lie. I can feel it, even see it with my own eyes. My words of comfort fail me. The fail to shatter my concern, instead they just ignite the spark. Setting my worries aflame, burning within me.
My leg starts to go up and down, my foot tapping rapidly against the floor. I glance up at the wall clock, it's ten minutes past one. The repair man is late, and who's to say he won't be latter? They never show up on time, I have time to go check on him. I can go quickly check up on Leo. But I don't. I want to run upstairs, but I can't. I won't. I won't allow myself to worry over him.
"It's probably nothing." I attempt to convince myself again. To rid myself of any fear or conscious I have. Today it seems that success is not on my side.
Is Leo okay? Did I leave him a glass of water before I left? What if he's dehydrated? But he's a reptile...is that possible? Or maybe since he his a reptile, the possibilities are even higher? What if Leo's trying to sleep and Toby's being to noisy? What if Marie is over at my house right now and walks in on Leo? What then? What if she hurts him? Did I lock my door before I left!?...was that a creek I heard? What if it's a robber? Or a killer? What if it attacks Leo? What if Leo's in danger right now and I'm just sitting here, waiting for some man to fix my windows!
At this point, I make up my mind. I practically flew out of my chair and bolted up the stairs. I could barely felt ground beneath my feet. My only surface was the air. Though the air was beneath my feet, none seemed to be filling my lungs. I rushed up four flights of stairs and finally got to my floor. I ran down my hallway and quickly gripped the knob to my door. I didn't waste a moment, I turned the knob, finding my door unlocked, and rush in. Not realizing what I was doing, I slammed the door, causing Toby to jump up and start barking like crazy. He came running to the door with a snarl on his face, but I didn't care at the moment. Toby would soon realize the it's just me, so I jump right over him. Continuing to make my way to the living room.
I grip the side of the entrance and fling myself into the living room. My nails scrap along the door frame.
"Leo!" I shout his name and leap on the couch. Then, I hug him. Wrapping my arms tightly around his neck and resting my head on his shoulders. I admit, this wasn't an action I would normally take, I usually keep to myself. I receive hugs, I don't always give. But for some reason, I took the bold action for once.
"Nicole? W-what's going on?" He asked, confusion etched loud in his voice. He placed one hand around my waist, awkwardly hugging me. I realize what I'm doing and scramble out of the hug. Trying my best not to hurt Leo.
"O-oh...um, uh..." I'm at a lost for words as my cheeks go bright red. What am I suppose to say? How can I explain to Leo what just happened? How can I speak when the words are jumbled in my brain and caught in my throat.
"Hey." Leo's voice is calm and collected. He placed on of his giant, three fingered hand on my knee and rubs it, "Is everything okay?"
I take a deep breath. I feel a lump rising my throat and my eyes threaten to water. I'm not allowing myself to cry. Not for a silly reason like this. I don't like crying, in fact it's one of my least favourite things to do. And I hate crying in front of people. They can't see me like that. So I hold it in. I can cry on my own time.
"Y-yeah. Everything is fine." I respond and brush a stray piece of hair out of my face. I didn't completely lie, everything ended up being fine. Just another normal day, I was just lost in my world of paranoia. But the question is, did I fool Leo.
"It doesn't seem fine." He replies flatly, though concern still ringing in his voice. He's right. How could coming rushing up the stairs, slamming the door and attack Leo with a death hug classify as just fine? I know I have to tell him the truth.
"Well..." I sigh, "You see, I was down in the bakery waiting for the repair man the I began thinking. I remembered that...I forgot to lock the door so came up to check on you." I explain the situation very simply, under exaggerating.
"Uh-huh." Was Leo's only reply. I could tell he didn't fully believe me, I could hear it in his voice. But he also never questioned it.
"Yeah..." I said lamely, slapping myself internally for not coming up with something better to say. Well what was I suppose to say? It seems as if today my brain doesn't function properly. It doesn't want to come up with words to say, no sentences form, nothing.
"Uh...Nicole?" Leo's voice snapped me back into reality, "What about the repair man?"
"Oh yeah!" The thought erupted in my head as Leo reminded me. The repair man completely slipped my mind and I hope I didn't miss him. I sensed that I should go, it would be the appropriate time to leave however, for some reason, I stayed.
"Look, I'll be fine." Leo words of comfort brought a smile to my face, "You don't have to worry about me."
"Alright, I'll be back soon." I told him with a smile and finally got myself up off the couch. This time when I left, I made sure to lock the door behind me. I wouldn't want anyone waltzing into my apartment to find a 6 foot turtle waiting for them.
How tall is Leo anyway? I thought to myself then shook my head. I couldn't let myself start thinking about Leo again.
When I got downstairs, the repair man was finally here. And now the broken windows can finally get fixed.
