A few days later in science class, Donatello spotted Mona sitting in the back of the class reading. He walked over to her and stood in front of her.
"Hello Mona." He smiled as he took off his bag. Mona stood quiet.
"Mona?" Donatello waved his hands close to her face. Mona become startled.
"Hi Donatello. I didn't see you there." Mona blushed at her mistake. Donatello smiled at her and sat down.
"It's fine. It seems like you're a little distracted. What are you reading this time?" He looked over at the thick novel in her hands.
"Oh it's just a book of short stories." Mona looked at the book. Her mother gave it to her the first time she went on a 'business trip'.
"Is it good? I've been meaning-" Donatello was interrupted by a textbook hitting the table and Anton Zeck sat down next to Mona.
"What's up? Teacher said I have ta work with ya guys." He slurred. Mona looked at Donatello. He shrugged at her. Then Karai came walking over to them. She sat down next to Donatello and smiled at him. She looked at Mona and Anton and frowned.
"Ugh when Mr. Falco said I was working with Donnie, I didn't know I was gonna work with you two as well." She scuffed.
"Then leave!" Anton said. "Go with your leader." He pointed at Lotus. She gave a look towards Mona and turned around.
"I would if I could idiot! But Mr. Falco said we had to work with other students." Mona rolled her eyes and went back to her book.
"How about we all come up with an idea?" Mona said as she read her book. They all stood quiet. Donatello coughed.
"Why don't we do an experiment with rats? Maybe a maze? Like a psychology experiment." He asked.
"Oh I like that!" Mona exclaimed looking up from her book.
"Eww. Of course you would." Karai groaned. Mona gave her a death glare and turned to Anton.
"What do you think?" She asked. He looked around nervously.
"Yeah sure that sounds...great?" He said unsure.
"Uh okay. We'll do that for our project." Mona looked at Donatello.
"Great! Why don't we come up with a plan at my house today?" Karai looked up from her phone.
"Your house? Will your family be there?" She questioned him, looking hopeful.
"Uh yea. They live there." Mona giggled at Donatello's response. Donatello smiled at her. Karai the opposite.
"Okay we'll meet at your house after school today." Mona stated. Everyone agreed.
After school, Mona walked to Donatello's house from school. When she got to his house, she stood in amazement. It was a beautiful, big house. It made her small, cozy house look ugly compared to it. She walked up the walkway to the front door. She knocked on the door once and it was immediately opened by a tall, Spanish woman.
"Hiii! You must be Mona! I've heard so much about you from my Donnie!" She exclaimed loudly in a thick accent. She took Mona's hand and pulled her into the house. She led Mona into the living room with Donatello and Karai. Karai looked at Mona and rolled her eyes. She was about to go back to talking to Donatello but he stood up to greet Mona.
"Hey! Did you find the place okay?" Donnie walked towards Mona. He then whispered, "Thank goodness you're here!" Mona laughed and put her bag down on the floor.
"Aw my Donnie having a hang out with his little friends!" Donatello's mom stood in the door way. Donatello looked like he was developing a headache and rubbed his temples.
"Oh! I forgot to introduce myself. So rude of me!" She laughed. "My name is Kimora." Mona turned to her and shook her hand.
"It's nice to meet you." Mona said politely.
"Ma, you're embarrassing me." Donatello whined. Mona liked seeing him like this. The other times she had seen him, he was in class or in the hallways, and he acted like such a stick in the mud.
"Embarrassing you?! What is this embarrassing you're talking about?" Kimora argued. She looked wildly at Mona and Karai, who was on her phone at this point. Mona was trying to hold in her laughter. Donatello then looked up, and noticed that there was a slight burning smell coming from the kitchen.
"Ma, the snacks are burning!"
"AYEE DIOS MIO!" Kimora ran for the kitchen. Donatello sighed and went back to the couch. He looked stressed out.
"You okay?" Mona asked as she sat down next to him.
"Yeah. My mother is just- She's so embarrassing!" He groaned.
"Hey! Your mother is just excited is all. She actually pretty funny. She reminds me of my mom." Mona looked at her hands and back at Donatello. He just stared at her.
"Hm. I guess you're right." He looked at the doorway. "How about we get started while we wait for Anton?"
"Yeah… Let's." Donnie got up.
"But first, I'll be back. I'm going to go check on the snacks. Ma is a great cook, but she tends to get distracted." Donnie left the room. Mona and Karai sat in awkward silence. Just then, the front door opened.
"Ma! We're home!" The familiar voice yelled. Mikey walked into the living room and threw his bag on the couch. He paused and looked at the two girls.
"Hi, Karai. Mona! It's Mona right?" Mona shook her head 'yes'. What is he doing here? Wait did he say 'Ma'?
"What are you guys doing here?" He asked. Karai quickly got up and went over to him smiling. This nauseated Mona.
"We're here for a science-" She stopped out of nowhere and stared at the area where the front door was.
"H-Hi Leo." She whispered. Leo came into the living room and took off his fencing gear at the doorway. He looked up and saw Mona sitting on the couch watching. She turned quickly and looked down.
"Aren't you the girl that Mikey fell on the other day?" Leo asked. Karai choked on her laughter. Mona's face felt hot.
"Yes. Mona." Leo took notice.
"I'm sorry! I-I didn't mean to embarrass you." He quickly apologized. Mona gave him a small grin and pushed her hair behind her ear.
"No it's fine. No need to apologize." Mona blush. Leo smiled at her. He has a great smile. Is it hot in here? Karai felt a pang of jealousy and quickly went back to her cell phone to text Lotus. Kimora came into the living room with a big plate of snacks; some a little burnt.
"Ah you're home! How was school, you two?" She asked Leo and Mikey.
"It was fine, mom." Leo said. He and Mikey walked over to the plate of snacks and took one. Leo sat down next to Mona and he could feel her tense up. He smirked to himself. She's cute when she's nervous. Donnie came into the living room and gave his family a look. Mikey and Leo took the hint and started to leave. They both looked at their mother, who decided to sit down and stay.
"Mama, let's leave Donnie alone with his friends." Mikey said. Kimora looked at him and smiled. She still didn't get it.
"Maaaa!" Donatello whined. Kimora put her hands up.
"Fine! Fine! Fine! But one day I'm not going to be here on this Earth anymore and you will regret making me leave!" She got up and left the living room with Leo and Mikey.
"Drama queen!" Donnie yelled back at her. She appeared in the doorway right after Donnie made that remark and stuck her tongue out at him and disappeared just as quickly. Donnie let out a loud sigh and turned and walked over to Mona while motioning Karai to follow suit. Mona was still trying to hold in her laughter.
"Okay let's get this project started." He sighed.