The next day…

Raphael felt nervous about hanging out with Mona. He didn't know what to do. He wanted to make sure that she had fun with him. He had told her he didn't mind, though. So, after school Raphael waited for her outside of the school. He kept fidgeting with his hair and his clothes. People were looking at him as he waited. Lotus, in particular. She wondered why he was acting that way. She had to walk over to him and ask.

"Raph, you look good today." She put her hand on his chest. She bit her bottom lip. "You've been working out more, huh?" Raph didn't really pay attention to what Lotus was saying. He had all his focus on the day ahead.

"Hey." Was all he said to her. She removed her hand and crossed her arms.

"So what are you waiting out here for?" Lotus asked.

"Just waiting for someone." Lotus looked a little shocked "Who?"

"You know that girl, Mona, from our home economics class." Lotus growled a little bit.

"Oh you don't want to hang out with her. She's such a loser." Raphael gave her a look.

"Oh really? Do you even know her?" He asks, looking disgusted.

"Yes, I've known her since middle school. She was such a bitch at that time." Lotus said. Raphael didn't believe what Lotus is saying. Mona didn't seem like that kinda girl. He knew Lotus was an excessive liar. She always did it to get what she wanted.

"Well, she doesn't seem like that now. The past is in the past." Raph said. He saw Mona come out of the school and headed straight for him. He excused himself to Lotus and walked over to Mona. Lotus was starting to turn red with anger. She couldn't believe what was happening. 'Why doesn't he act like that when we hang out?' She thought.

"Hey Mona." Raph said.

"Hey." They both stood there in awkward silence.

"So… What are we going to do?" Mona asked. Raphael thought about it a bit.

"Well, I was thinking we could get pizza."

"Pizza?! I love pizza!" Mona exclaimed. She grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the main shopping area. Lotus looked on. She felt hurt and anger at the same time. She thought about the times when they would "hang out" and Raph's reaction towards it wasn't the same as his reaction with Mona. Lotus saw him being nervous around Mona. Raph was never like that with any of his ex-girlfriends or the girls he just fooled around with. She wanted that reaction from him.

Mona moaned as she took her first bite. She loved pizza. Raph loved pizza too but damn not as much as her.

"This tastes really good." She said with a mouthful of pizza. Raph chuckled.

"I see." Mona blushed.

"I've been craving pizza a lot but I haven't had it because I'm on a diet."

"Diet? That's fucking stupid." Mona looked away in shame. Raph had to think quickly. He didn't want to make this awkward. "I mean that you don't need to diet. You're perfect just the way you are and also you can treat yourself sometimes, ya know?"

Mona looked at him then the pizza and ate it. She smiled at Raph. 'That was nice of him to say. Way different from what Xever said to me.' Mona's spine shivered just at the thought of Xever.

"Thank you." Raph smiled and went back to his pizza. Once they finished, Raph paid for another slice for Mona to take home and proceeded to leave. As they were leaving, Mona stopped at a fighting game. She checked her pocket for change.

"Wanna play?" She said to Raph as she pulled out two quarters.

"Nah, I'm good."

"What? You chicken?" She smirked.

Raph scoffed. He took the quarter from her and put it in the machine.

"What ya waiting for? An invitation?" He said. Mona laughed and put her quarter in. She shoved him with her shoulder.

"It's on!"

Ten dollars and many victory dances later, they left the restaurant.

"I totally won." Mona said. Raph laughed.

"No you didn't! You lost a bunch of times. You're just being a sore loser."

"Me a sore loser? I'm insulted! This is coming from the guy the almost punched the wall when I did an amazing combo and wiped the floor with him. Thank you very much!"

"I-I did not!" Raph started to turn pink.

"Oh yes you did!" Mona did a little victory dance in front of him. Raph laughed so hard he held his sides.

"Fine. Fine. Fine. You won this time but next time I'm gonna win."

"There's a next time?" Mona smirked. Raph blushed and rubbed the back of his neck.

"I mean if you want there to be a next time."

Mona giggled. "Hmm I'll have to think about it. I don't know if I want you to ruin my good shoes with your tears when I beat you again." Raph stopped dead in his tracks and gave Mona the look he gives Mikey when he touches his stuff.

"You better run." he growled. Mona had to admit when he said that she felt a tingle. She let out a scream and ran.

She ran as fast as she could. Laughing while doing so. She didn't want to look behind her but when she did she freaked! Raph was right behind her. She tried to run faster. She suddenly felt hands wrap around her waist and a tug. She yelped. Raphael picked her up and she screamed.

"Put me down! Put me down!"

"What? I can't hear you." He laughed. Mona struggled to get free. She didn't feel comfortable being picked up.

"Aww, well aren't you two the cutest couple I have ever seen." They heard from an old lady sitting in front of a cafe. Raph put Mona down and blushed. Mona laughed nervously.

"Thank you but we're not... together."

"Oh what a shame. Why don't you give him a chance?" The old woman asked. She gave Mona a wink.

"Hm maybe I will." Mona played along. Raph had to hide his face from the embarrassment. Mona and the old woman laughed.

"You two have a nice day." The old lady waved goodbye as Raph and Mona walked away.

"You too." Mona smiled at Raph. He wouldn't look at her and his face was a bit pinker than usually. Mona grinned to herself as she looked back at the little old woman.

"So I have to ask you; how come I haven't seen you at school before?" Mona wondered.

"Well, I don't- I mean I didn't really go because I was training." He answered.

"Training? For what?"

"I want to be a professional boxer someday. I need to train a lot to reach that goal." Mona gave him a confused look.

"I don't want to sound like a Debby Downer but if I were you, I would train and go to school. Ya know just in case." Raph turned to her. This was a sensitive topic of him. He hated to be judged on his life choice to be a professional boxer.

"What? You think I won't make it?" Raph's voice elevated a bit.

"No, I mean as a back up plan. Everyone needs a back up plan."

"Well, guess what sweetheart I don't need one!" Mona stopped and looked at him. She crossed her arms.

"First of all my name ain't 'sweetheart'! Second don't raise your voice at me when I'm trying to give you advice." Mona pointed at him.

"No one asked you for your advice!" He exclaimed.

"Stop yelling!"

"No, you stop yelling! And mind your own goddamn business!" He yelled. Mona stood quiet. Rather then prolonging the screaming match, she decided to walk home. Raph stood there looking at the ground, trying to gather his thoughts. He groaned and turned to see Mona walking away. She was talking to herself loudly with her fists clutched. He wanted to just go home but then he wanted to chase after her.

Mona could not believe what just happened! She was having such a great time with him and it ended with a screaming match. She guessed that was a touchy topic for him. Maybe she should have minded her own business, or at least waited until she knew him better to suggest something. She finally reached home. She closed the door behind her as she entered. She went to the living room and laid on the couch. 'Ugh, boys are so stu-' Her thought was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Maybe it's the clothes I ordered?" She asked herself as she walked to the door. She opened it thinking it was the delivery guy but it was Raph. He seemed very nervous and sweaty. Like he ran over here. 'Wait how did he know where I live?'

"Geez, you walk fast." He finally said.

"Yea I do that when I'm mad." She crossed her arms. Raph stood silent.

"I wanted to apologize for yelling at you. I just get angry about the whole boxing thing." He said. Mona looked at him. She uncrossed her arms.

"Apology accepted. I'm sorry for yelling back at you and for putting my input into something that didn't need it."

"Thanks. Uh I guess you want to be alone now." Raph started to walk away. Mona didn't like him leaving like that. She grabbed his wrist.

"Wait. Why don't you stay? I was gonna make some cookies." She asked. Raph smiled and Mona moved to let him in.

Raphael walked into Mona's house and looked around. Since growing up in a large house, Mona's tiny home felt very different to him, but not at all in a bad way.

"What kind were you going to make?" Raphael walked into the living room and sat down on the couch. Mona was flitting around the kitchen, trying to get all the ingredients for baking.

"The one's your mom taught us yesterday." Raphael thought about and then remembered.

"Oh, the double chocolate chip ones!" Raphael was sitting there for a short time before he started hearing her grumble. He then got up and walked into the kitchen, where he was met with Mona struggling trying to get the flour from the top shelf and she was climbing the counter. Raphael, being as tall as he was, walked over to where she was and grabbed it with no problem and set it on the counter. Mona climbed down.

"Thank you." Raphael started to blush and then started to back up, but Mona spoke up.

"Hey do you want to help, like in class?"

Raphael smiled and nodded and helped her mix the ingredients.

An hour later, and 4 dozen cookies baked, Mona and Raphael were in the living room, watching a movie featured on one of the channels. Raphael looked over to Mona and then looked up at a picture of an older woman that looked similar to Mona. Curiosity got the better of him.

"Is that your mom?" Raphael pointed to the picture behind Mona, as she turned her attention to Raph and then the direction where he was pointing. She then looked back and sighed.

"Yeah, that's her." Raphael could sense something was wrong and although he didn't want to attempt at another screaming match, he pushed on further.

"You don't seem too happy." Mona sighed again. Now this was a sensitive subject for her, but she was able to channel her emotions a bit better.

"It's not that. It's just… ugh, she's always away on business and I don't really get to see her. I'm always home alone. Meaning I've been pretty much on my own since freshman year."

Raphael feel guilty for even bringing it up. There were times he would have shouting matches with his parents about moving out and being on his own. He thought it be the greatest thing in the world, but now witnessing someone who has lived on her own for four years and seeing the loneliness take its toll; he started having second thoughts.

Raphael then got up and sat by Mona. Driven by a drive to protect her, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and Mona, although surprised at first, leaned into him and laid her head on his shoulder and she started to cry. Raphael stayed with her for awhile longer until she calmed down. The more he thought about, the more it became clear. He then turned to her.

"How about you spend the night at my house?"

Mona looked at him with wide-eyes and blushed a bit.

"What? No, I'll just stay here! I'm fine. Trust me." Raph wasn't buying it.

"Mona, you were just crying and telling me how lonely you are. Besides, my mom will be happy to see you." Mona thought about it

"I don't want to impose." Raphael scoffed.

"Please. She won't mind. She loves the company." Before Mona could protest, Raphael left the living room and was on his phone with Kimora. Mona could hear the excitement in Kimora's voice coming from his phone. He told her about Mona's situation and everything. Mona sighed and saw Raphael walking back into the living room.

"She'll be here soon, so pack up a bag."

Mona went and packed up all of her necessities and before she knew it, Kimora had arrived and Raphael waited for Mona. Raph had thought about going in the front, but decided against it. He joined Mona in the back and off they went. Kimora was so happy.

"Oh, Mona, I am so happy Raphie had you come over! Now you listen to me. You are welcome at my house as long as you want. I do not want my best student alone and sad. Not on my watch." Kimora continued to ramble on as Mona looked over to Raph, who looked back, and she mouthed a "thank you" to him. Raphael smiled and then turned forward. They covered their ears upon Kimora's screaming.

"We're here!" Kimora pretty much yanked Mona out of the car and bustled into the house.

"Boys, be decent! Mona is staying with us for the night!" The next thing Mona laid sight to be was Leonardo walking out of the living room, shirtless. Mona went red in the face and tried to hide.

"Mona is staying the night?" Leonardo then looked at Mona, was still hiding. Raphael walked in the room, and noticed Leonardo shirtless too and growled. Leonardo glared at Raphael, but they both stopped when they heard an irritated Kimora.

"Leonardo, put a shirt on. Raphael, go get changed for dinner. Mona, come with me." Mona followed Kimora to a room on the first floor. It was beautifully furnished and was three times the size of her bedroom at her house.

"Mona, when you are finished, you can join us. Let me know if you need anything."

Mona nodded and as Kimora left her, Mona sat on the bed and just couldn't help but smile.