Chapter 20
Leo
A month, a whole month went by since I last say my Nicole, since the finale battle with Shredder, since I've felt complete. And now I sit here on the couch, my shoulder wrapped up in bloodied bandages. Taylor and Donnie are here with me, the rest are out getting supplies for the celebration we're suppose to have for finally defeating our enemy. I sit here in the living room with my head leaned far back on our sofa, I listen to the silence of the afternoon. I think about Nicole, and at first I feel sad, but then a smile slowly creeps upon my face. I don't want to think about how I left her, or how she didn't come with me, or how she's probably happier now. Instead I think about the good times. All the laughs we shared, I think about holding her in my arms, I think about her amazing cooking. Speaking of which, she's probably just finishing up college by now too. I think about how happy she must be, how successful she's gonna be, and that makes me happy. If she's happy somewhere, anywhere, than I'm happy too.
The silence gets interrupted by Taylor's long yawn and outstretched arms, she appeared to be getting up. Of course, my brother Donnie jumps up right away and this causes Taylor to fall back down in surprise. I try not to laugh at the scene.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?" Donnie asked in a panic. Ever since the final battle, Donnie's been really over protective of Taylor, and I don't blame him.
She responds with a chuckle, "Yeah, I'm just getting a glass of water."
Of course Donnie jumps at the opportunity and declares that he'll get it for her, running off to the kitchen before she had a chance to protest. This time I can't hold back my laughter, I let out a soft chuckle and shake my head in amusement. Taylor smiles at me and slides over on the couch closer to where I'm sitting.
"Does it feel weird?" She asks, starting off the conversation.
"Does what feel weird?" I now look at the brown haired girl, answering her with a question of my own.
"Having Shredder out of our lives." She shrugs.
"I dunno. I guess it kinda feels...empty. But...in a good way, you know?"
"Yeah, I get'cha" Taylor responds and I can practically feel the goofy smile on my face. But not for the reason she probably thinks. I'm still thinking about her. About Nicole. And that always makes me smile. A moment of silence passes between us until she speaks again and snaps me from my thoughts, "What ya thinking?"
"Huh?" I ask, breaking my trance but I still wear a smile.
"What's on your mind?" She rewords herself.
For once, I don't hesitate to answer, "Nicole."
"Who?"
"Nicole." I repeated then added, "I met her in Paris."
"Oh really?" Taylor places her hand beneath her chin as a wide grin spreads across her face and curiosity spark in her eyes. She wants to know more, I can tell.
"Yeah..." I say and sigh happily just thinking about her, "She's the most beautiful girl I've ever met."
"Do you love her?" She asks, though I can tell she already knows the answer. And so do I.
"Yes."
As soon as I say the words, I feel sorrow. I miss her so much. Taylor quickly notices my change in mood and is about to say something, but Donnie comes back in the living room, interrupting our conversation.
" Here you go." He said and brought her a glass of water. Donnie handed the glass to her and when he sat down on the couch, she gave in a quick kiss in thanks.
" We're back!" Mikey's young voice boomed from down the sewer halls and within seconds he appeared in the lair. Followed by Garret, Raph, Lily, John and Karai. Each one of them was carrying a shopping bag full of stuff.
" We got everything on the list!" Lily announced with pride ringing in her voice and glowing in her bright blue eyes.
" Yeah, but do you know how hard it is to find a balloon that says 'congratulations on defeating your greatest enemy?" Raph spat sarcastically. He really wasn't one for shopping, even though him and Mikey only stayed in the shadows and observed.
" Guessing you didn't find one?" I almost laugh as I say that.
" No, we found one." Raph, again used the sarcastic tone, "Of course we didn't French boy!" That was my nickname from Raph. Since I spent about eight months in Paris France. I don't really mind it though, in fact I feel amused by it.
"But we did get some plain balloons." John tried to lighten the mood, "So maybe a certain someone could...fancy them up." John then glances towards Taylor and pulled out a package of permanent markers then swung them lightly in his grasp, "We got markers."
She rolled my eyes in amusement, "Sure." she got up and took the markers and balloons from John's hand. He smiled a thanks to her.
"We also need a helium machine." Mikey announced then stared hopefully at his inventor purple masked brother, "Donnie, think you can hook a turtle up?"
"I'll see what I can do." Donnie agreed then walked towards his lab. Taylor followed right behind him. And now everyone goes to do their job for the party. Mine is layout and planning. I get started right away.
I stood by the grey fold out tables along the living room wall. They were filled with food from on end to the other. I slowly sipped my punch as I watched everyone in the room. It was filled with laughter and music, nearly everyone was on the dance floor, except for me. Everyone seemed to have someone, except for me. Karai has John, Lily has Raph, Mikey and Garret seem to be close friends, and of course, Donnie has Taylor. And I? I have no one. Except for Nicole. But she is not here. She's back in Paris, finishing her school program. Her whole life awaits for her. How could I ask her to stay? I said that to Donnie just ealier today when he came to talk to me. I told him everything. I told him about the bombing and the blindness and Nicole. I told him how much I miss her, how much I need her, how much I want to see her and to touch her, just one more time. One last time, and I could be satisfied. I could wait. Just one last time, I would-
"Hey Leo." Taylor's voice interrupted my thoughts as she reached over and got a paper cup and some punch.
"Hey." I smiled back and took one last sip from my drink then crushed the cup and threw it out.
As if she read my mind, Taylor asked, "You still thinking about her?"
"Yeah..." I sighed and closed my eyes for a moment, "It's just...I...I" I was at a lost for words.
"You feel like you can't breathe without her?" She wondered and leaned forward. Taylor always knew how to finish mine, or pretty much anyone else's sentences.
"Yup." I responded, even I could hear the desperation and absentmindedness in my voice. I was only half paying attention.
"Go to her" Taylor blurted out suddenly and I finally turned my head to look in her direction with shock. Our eyes met, and her's were dead serious.
"What?" I was surprised at myself when I didn't stutter.
"Go to her." She repeated, never breaking our eye contact. However, I did when I looked at the ground. Her words stung. I know she didn't mean to, but Taylor doesn't understand. I've longed to go back. To run back to her. I've spent nights awake in my room, staring out my door always thinking what if. What if I stayed? What if I ran away again? What if she's waiting for me? But I know that would never happen.
"I...I can't." I explained simply, wishing she'd drop the topic. It hurt too much. But of course, Taylor is stubborn. So she pushed on.
"Why not?"
"Because I invited her back to New York with me before I left."
"And?"
And? And she wanted more. Great. There was no backing out of this now.
"And...she said no." I answered and fought back the lump in my throat, continuing to stare down at my feet.
"Oh Leo." I heard Taylor's voice grow empathetic. She can relate to what it's like to lose someone. I sighed heavily then lightened up the tone in my voice.
"I can't blame her though. I wouldn't want to leave my friends and family behind either." Even though I did, and I would do it a thousand times over again, just to see her one last time. I added that last part in my head silently.
"Will you ever see her again?" Taylor asked, I knew it was her attempt to cheer me up. I couldn't help but wear a small smile on my face as I thought of it, thought of seeing her again.
"Maybe." I shrugged, not feeling so down anymore. I tore my gaze away from my feet and smiled at Taylor, "But for now, I guess I should just focus on being back. And healed. I mean, Shredder is finally out of our lives. It's time to celebrate!" And with that I took the brown haired girl's hand and spun her around, laughing.
"I'm glad you're back." Taylor smiled at me warmly once the spin was complete. I knew what she meant. I knew that she didn't just mean that she's glad I'm back physically, but also mentally. She's glad that I'm back to being my old self. She's glad that I'm me again. I smiled back at her. She, still gripping my hand, dragged me across the room and pushed me on the dance floor. I bumped into Taylor's blonde hair friend, Lily. She laughed and pushed me back, then we started to dance. Lily, Myself, Garret, and Mikey were all on the dance floor. John, Raph and Karai were all by the chips and dip. After a few moments of dancing I noticed something, Donnie was gone, and Taylor was walking out the door. I smiled as I watched her go. I knew what was in store. Donnie told me all about it when him and I talked. I knew about the ring. I knew about the rooftop. I knew about the promises. And I knew that Donnie was upset that it's only a promise ring, that they're too young, and frankly can never happen, but I also know Taylor will be ecstatic. That she'll say yes. And as I watch her leave the lair to go find Donnie, I mouth the words Good Luck.
It was a week after the party when I got the text. The anonymous text telling me to go to the rooftop of the Fill Me Up coffee hut. I didn't recognize the number, and it definitely wasn't from the New York area. My first thought was Karai. She doesn't come around the lair that much once she finally took over the footclan now that Shredder's gone. She had travelled back to Japan for a few days and was suppose to be back by now. But why would she specifically text me? Why on the rooftop of that coffee shop? Why at this time in the evening? Nevertheless I decided to go, my curiosity too great to ignore.
"H-hey, I'm gonna go." I announced as I stood up. Everyone was on the couch watching a movie. What movie? I haven't the slightest idea. I never really pay attention unless the film actually sounds interesting, which is rare. All eyes turn to me when I spoke, and I stood there, frozen.
"Go where?" Mikey asked with a slight tilt of his head.
Crap. I didn't think this far ahead. Going to my room would lead people to think I'm upset. But I'm not. I'm curious and anxious and...excited? I feel a shimmer of hope inside me. I didn't think I missed Karai that much. I guess I was wrong.
"Oh, um, I'm gonna go...for a walk." I come up with an excuse not as quick as I would have like. However, it wasn't a complete lie, "This movie is putting me to sleep." I add rapidly afterwards.
"Oh, okay." Taylor shrugged and everyone turned their attention back to the movie they were watching, "Don't stay out too late."
I give a light chuckle and mutter as I make my way to the door, "Yes Mom."
Once I'm out of the lair I start dashing through the sewers to get to the nearest manhole cover. My footsteps splashing in the water echo throughout the halls, getting increasingly fast and louder until I slide to a stop and nearly fall over. Luckily I catch myself on the latter. I glance over both my shoulders before saying "Glad no one saw that." Admittedly, it wasn't one of my most graceful moments. I climb up the latter, my blood really pumping now, and get up on the rooftops and start running. I can't ignore my excitement anymore. Or my confusion. Why am I so excited to see Karai? Why does with every step I take, I get faster? My heart pounds harder? My grin gets bigger? I can't wait to see her.
I can't wait to see Nicole!
I come to a hard stop near the edge of a roof. What did I just think? Why? Why did her name come up now?
I'm going to meet Karai. Not her.
And with that thought, my hopes fade. I realize I was tricking myself this entire time. I was telling myself Karai, I was going to meet Karai, but I was hoping for Nicole. This wasn't fair.
"This isn't fair!" I scream and start thrashing around. All my anger finally coming out. The one thing to set the mood would be rain, but the night sky is as clear as every. In my fit of anger, I end up kicking over someone's satellite dish, it falls over the edge of the roof and when I hear it smash on the ground I flinch, "Oops."
I'm stuck on what to do now. Do I got to that coffee shop? Or just head home? I'm not really in the mood to see anyone right now. I sit down on the edge of this rooftop to think, not that that's really gonna get me anywhere. My only two options are to keep going or go back. I look up and down the street from my ledge, I'm more than halfway there. With a deep sigh I stand up. No point in backing out now. Karai might need my help with something. Could be an emergency. I start to run again, though not with nearly as much energy this time. I fooled myself once, I wasn't going to do it again.
It didn't take long to get to the coffee shop, but when I did get there, nobody was on the roof waiting for me. At this time of night, not many people were walking in and out of the cafe, just a few late night customers. Was this some kind of trick? Was Mikey behind this? If I let myself get pranked by a wrong number, I'm more of an idiot than I thought. Nonetheless, I decide to wait. For what, or rather, for who? I have no idea. But it's better than going back in that stuffy layer. I haven't been out for a while, so even if I was to spend the night alone getting pranked, the results weren't so bad.
"So, you did come." The voice is quiet and came from behind me. I turned around with a jolt, surprised that my heightened ninja senses didn't pick up on anyone sneaking up on me.
"I didn't think you'd be back so soon from Japan Kar-.." My voices trails away in the midst of my sentence as I realize exactly to whom I am talking to. I instantly recognize her icy blue eyes and her pale skin. The freckles that lightly kiss her cheeks and her glasses that make her eyes shine just a little brighter. Her hair has grown a bit longer with the months that we've been apart, but she's still just as beautiful as I remember her. With the moments that I take to study her face, I realize that I'm standing here like an idiot. With every passing second the silence extends and my mouth is still hanging open ever so slightly. No words come to mind, but a pink blush goes to my cheeks as I try stammer out something, anything really.
"I- uh..wow, I mean, you. Um. Hi?"
She laughs. Maybe I didn't blow it yet.
"Your eyes have a lot more colour now." She says, taking a step closer. I remain frozen in place.
"Y-Yeah, yours' too." I blink, what did I just say? "I mean, you don't look as tired. Not that you looked tired before! I mean, you look uh...You look good." Now I'm definitely an idiot.
Another laugh.
"Thank you."
Okay, now I need to say something. I have to look cool. I go to lean back against a wall but I remember I'm on a roof and I stumble a few steps back. Nicole tilts her head and looks at me with a confused expression. I can see doubt crawl into her eyes. She's second guessing herself, thinking that this wasn't such a good idea. I regain my composure quickly and take a deep breath. I'm not gonna blow it this time.
"What are you doing here?" My voice comes out surprisingly calm despite the panic I feel inside. She takes a step closer to me, I take a step towards her.
"My culinary program ended. I'm done of school." She explains but doesn't fully answer my question.
"No, I mean, here. In New York. On the roof of a coffee shop."
"Oh." She tone is shocked, realizing what I meant. She blushes faintly, and if I know her, she feels like the idiot now, "I got sent here with their trades program. I'm studying here now." The faintest of smiles appears on her lips.
"So you're..."
"Staying in New York." She finishes my sentence.
"And you..."
"Came to find you." She does it again.
"Why?" Stupid question, but part of me fears the answer.
"Because I- uh." It's her turn to stutter. And with another step forward she answers, "Because I missed you Leo."
I feel myself start to smile. We're barely a foot apart and only now does the conversation feels real. I reach out to touch her, dragging my hand lightly down her arm. With that, a full grin spreads across my face.
"I missed you too." I pull her into a hug. My embrace is so tight I hear her little grunts for air, but I never want to let go again. However, eventually we do let go, but just as our hug ends my voice goes again, "So you're really here to stay?"
She laughs and rubs at her eyes, sniffling softly, "I am, at least, for now. I might have to leave again if I get sent somewhere else. But I'm staying here for a few years at least."
Something like that would have dampened my mood, but right now I couldn't care less. She's here to stay, at least for a while. Nothing could make me happier. I bring her into another bear hug, but a split second later I pull back, holding onto her shoulders.
"You have to meet my family!" I exclaim, excitement now taking over my every nerve, "You're gonna love them! I've been telling everyone about you! Come on!" I take her by the hand and get ready to dash off. But she doesn't budge and my grip slips from hers, "Nicole?"
"Leo, I uh...I should tell you something. You see, I-" She sighs, struggling on her words. My heart warms, I know exactly what she's going to say.
"Nicole." I interrupt her stuttering and smile brightly, "I love you too."
That seems to have done it. Her nerves melt away, replaced by a smile. For a last time, I pull her into a hug but this time, I also sneak a quick kiss in there. And finally, we take off. I carry her bridal style as I run the rooftops, she's hanging onto my neck with a death grip. I tell her to close her eyes as I descend into the sewer. I keep carrying her until we reach the lair, knowing how fearful of germs she is. I set her down at the front entrance, she seems alright, though her face is slightly disgusted by the smell.
"You get use to it." I tell her, trying to be encouraging.
"You better not be lying." She smiles weakly, but I can see the humour in her eyes. I take her by the hand before entering.
"Ready?" I ask. She smiles my way and nods her head
"Ready." And with that, we walk in. For years I dreamt of this moment, except it would have been Karai by my side instead. I use to be head over heels for her, I use to daydream about her all the time. But now? Now I have a new dream. And she's walking right beside me as we enter my home, about to be introduced to everyone I care about. Now I have a new dream. And she's the very one who fixed me, both mentally and physically. Now I have a new dream. And she's right here by my side. No longer will I daydream about a different life, with a different girl, longing to be happy. Because now I have a new dream, and it's about to become a reality.
And that's the end of my story! Well, there's gonna be an epilogue, and then that'll be the official ending. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed and read my story(ies), I really appreciate it.
Until next chapter,
~ DarkSecrets3
