Chapter 7

Lara stretched and yawned. It was Wednesday morning, and time to go to school. She quickly packed up and got dressed. She stepped out of her room, and saw everyone watching TV. She shook her head.

"Really?" She said, laughing a little. April turned around and shrugged. They exchanged looks saying, "Boys are weird."

"Are you leaving?" Raph asked, turning around.

"Yes, sadly." Lara answered with a smile. "Want to say goodbye?"

"Yea." Raph answered and walked her to the entrance of the lair. He hugged her, and she turned around to go on her way. But before she was able to leave, Raph grabbed her arm, spun her around, and planted a firm but gentle kiss on her lips.

"I-I love you." He stammered, his face becoming redder by the second. Lara couldn't help but lean in and kiss him back.

"I love you too." She turned her green eyes up to him. "I'll miss you today. I wish I could stay here." She looked at him. "It's not the same without you with me." Raph blushed even more deeply.

"I thought we hated each other." Raph said in surprise.

"I didn't hate you Raph," Lara answered, taking his hand in her own. "I wanted you to accept me; I never felt any anger or hatred towards you."

"I'm really sorry." He said softly. "I never meant to make you run away."

"I already forgave you." Lara said, using her free hand to lightly weave the tails of his mask through her fingers. "There's no need to be sorry anymore. Forgive and forget, that's what my mum always said." She smiled. "I really need to get going now. I don't want to be late."

"Bye. And Lara?" She turned around. "Please be careful."

"I will. I promise."

…..

The school bell finally rang. School was over! Lara gathered her books, dropped them into her backpack, and headed out the classroom door. Before she left, she went to her locker to pick up any last things. She slammed her locker shut a moment later and breathed a sigh of relief. Now she could go home, and see Raph and the others again. She wondered what patrol would be like tonight.

"I know it will be better with Raph by my side." Lara said to herself quietly. Then she looked behind her, and saw Big Brock, as the other kids called him, beating up an eighth grade boy. Brock was one of the strongest boys in the school, and he did not use his strength nicely. Lara met his eyes by accident, and knew what was coming. She snatched up her backpack, and walked fast towards the school exit, but before she could take three footsteps, Brock was in front of her, blocking her way.

"Brock please," Lara pleaded, not wanting to get beaten up, and then have to explain to the guys later. "It was an accident."

"Accidents ain't an excuse girl." Brock answered. "You did it, now you will pay." One of Brock's followers pulled Lara's backpack off of her back, and held her hands together tightly behind her back, so she was defenseless. Brock came close to her face.

"What a shame a beauty like you tried to test me." He laughed. "I kinda like you. Wanna be friends? I won't beat you up. What do you say?"

"I'd sooner be friends with a pig's rear end." Lara answered before she could think better of it. Brock stood tall.

"You need to be taken down a peg Lara, maybe a few pegs." Lara closed her eyes to steady her anger, and felt immense pain in her nose. She didn't have to open her eyes to know that it was bleeding. Brock pinched her cheek.

"This might take you down a bit." He held her shoulders tight, and in front of half of her homeroom class, kissed her, and it was not a pleasant one. Lara jerked back and sputtered.

"Bet you're not so high and mighty now huh?" Brock taunted. Lara felt two hot tears slip down her cheeks. What was she going to say to Raph? "Awww, look at that boys!" Brock laughed. "Little Lara's a crybaby! Come on, cry, you little weasel!" Lara did, but Brock's friend held her tightly, as Brock hit her in a few more places. "That'll teach you." Brock answered and walked away, followed by his friend. Lara, humiliated, and upset, snatched up her bag, and ran out of the school as fast as she could. She had to get away from all those watching eyes. She stopped in a nearby alleyway, and collapsed on the ground. She looked down at her shirt, and saw a huge deep red stain by the neckline. She held her nose together with her fingers, and pulled out the T-phone Donnie had given her on the first day of school.

"I was just about to call you." Leo said when he answered. "Are you okay? You should've been home an hour ago."

"I'm not okay." Lara answered.

"What happened? You sound awful."

"I am!" Lara explained everything that happened. "I'm so embarrassed, I don't know if I can show my face there tomorrow."

"It may be time to pull you out."

"What?"

"Uh, nothing. Come on home and I'll explain."

"Okay. I'll try."

"You'll try? Are you hurt badly? Do you want me to send April and Casey to come get you?"

"No, I'm fine. Just a bloody nose and some bruises. I'll make it."

"Okay, I'll let Donnie know. He'll check you out when you get back. And if you need me to send them, please let me know."

"Alright, I will. I'm on my way." And she hung up.

"Gosh, what was that all about?" Donnie asked when Leo hung up.

"I think Lara got caught in the middle of a fight at school by accident."

"Is she okay?" Raph asked.

"She said she had a bloody nose and a few bruises, but I have a feeling that something else happened that she didn't tell me. I could hear it in her voice." He looked at Donnie. "Do you think it's time to pull her out?"

"I don't know yet." Donnie answered. "I want to know exactly what happened before everyone else, then I'll tell you guys and we decide then."

Meanwhile, Lara staggered down the ladder into the sewer. She moved down slowly, but lost her footing and fell all the way to the bottom, landing hard on the concrete. She groaned and sat up. Walking as fast as she could, she stumbled into the lair, surprising the others.

"Really?" Leo said. "Only bruises?"

"I fell down the ladder, okay?" Lara snapped. "I'm not steady on my feet right now."

"I can see that." Lara glared at him as Donnie took hold of her shoulders and led her to his lab. Leo hung his head.

"Oops." He said under his breath.

"Just a few bruises, and your nose." Donnie said after examining Lara. "Nothing that can't be fixed." Lara nodded.

"Thanks Donnie." She said and wrapped her arms around his neck. Donnie blushed but returned the hug.

"I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too, even if I have some marks on me for a while."

"Did you fight back?"

"No, I was too afraid." Donnie nodded.

"I want to know exactly what happened."

"Well," Lara began. "I was getting my stuff out of my locker, and I accidentally met this bully's eyes. His name's Brock by the way. And he came over and one of his followers held my hands behind my back, and I couldn't move." She shuddered. "You really want to know everything?"

"Yes Lara." Donnie answered firmly. "Please go on."

"Then, in front of half of my homeroom class, he, kissed me." Lara hung her head. "It's not fair. What will Raph say to me?"

"He'll probably not care once he knows it was an accident." Lara nodded. "I would like you to go to your room for a while. Me and the others need to talk alone." Lara nodded and went off.