Chapter 4

Raph was the first one back. He glared at Lara as he walked past the living room. Lara hung her head. Would her ever want her around? Donnie was next. He sat down on the couch next to Lara and asked,

"So, how's your new book?"

"It's good." She answered.

"Don't worry about Raph. He'll come around one of these days."

"I hope so." Lara mumbled. Leo sat on the floor and turned on the TV.

"Do you want to do those experiments now?" Donnie asked.

"No thanks." Lara answered. "Maybe later." Donnie shrugged.

"Suit yourself." He said and walked to his lab. Mikey watched intently what was happening on the screen. Lara didn't feel like watching today.

"Can I go up top for a while Leo?" she asked.

"Is April going with you?" he asked without taking his eyes off of the screen.

"I can ask."

"Go do that." Lara ran to ask April, she said yes.

"Let me get my shoes on first." She said.

"Okay." Lara answered running back to the living room. "She said yes Leo."

"Alright, as long as you're back before dinnertime."

"I will be."

"Go on then. Have fun."

"I will."

"Ready to go?" April asked.

"Yup."

"Then let's rock and roll."

…

The girls arrived home just before dinnertime.

"I don't really feel hungry. I think I'll just go to bed." Lara said when she caught sight of Raph.

"Well, okay." April said. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Lara shut her door and collapsed into bed, and she soon fell asleep.

…

Lara awoke soon the next morning, slipped on another pair of shorts and a tank, slipped on her purple shoes, and braided her long black hair down the right side of her body. Her green eyes and freckles stood out among her other features. She opened her door to see Leo standing there, posed to knock.

"Leo!" Lara burst out. "You scared me to death!"

"You're not dead, are you?" Leo teased.

"You still scared me good." Lara smiled, telling him she knew he was teasing.

"Sorry about that. I just wanted to tell you how you could earn your chance of coming with us on missions." Lara was utterly surprised. "I was going to tell you last night, but you went to bed before I could."

"I'm sorry." Lara answered, feeling ashamed. "I didn't want to be around Raph." Leo nodded.

"Well, anyway. I gave you that bow and arrows, right?"

"Of course."

"Go get them for a minute." Lara dug into her drawers to retrieve them. "Good, now come with me." Leo led her to the training room, and two stuffed, and made out of pillows, deer. "When you can shoot an arrow into both deer's hearts, then you can come." Leo said. Lara looked at him in dismay. "You can do it." Leo encouraged. "I know you can." He winked. "Start practicing." He said and left. Lara pulled back the bowstring and let it go.

"Bulls eye." She whispered. She sighed and loaded an arrow into the weapon. She shot, and it hit the deer in the face.