Again, sorry for the terribly long wait. But you guys broke the review amount by a la-a-and slide. So, because of that, for this story I have decided to stop the reviewing thing and just update as soon as I am able.

Otherwise, here it is now though.

Enjoy!

-BookBearer

Chapter Seven: Dinner

Two months, sixteen days, eighteen hours, forty minutes and twenty seven seconds.

I twirl the fork in my left hand slowly and endlessly as I stare at the empty plate in front of me. The fresh pizza box sat patiently on the counter top in front of me, waiting to be opened and eaten.

Two months, sixteen days, eighteen hours, forty two minutes and twenty nine seconds.

April had bought an extra-large pizza from Mario's Pizza Shop for dinner and brought it over. When asked why and for what occasion, she had simply replied with a shrug and a smile. She insisted that it was for no reason at all, but her frequent glances in my direction told a different story; she wanted to get me to eat.

Two months, sixteen days, eight hours, forty four minutes and twenty two seconds.

As usual, Raph spoke loudly with his mouth full to Casey about some ignorant wrestling show and almost choked with laughter when he got the same response back from Casey; he also had his mouth packed with a mixture of dough, cheese, and pepperoni with mozzarella sauce. We were supposed to wait for Leo to finish cleaning himself up from coming back from patrol, but those dumbasses snuck a piece in anyways.

Two months, sixteen days, eight hours, forty seven minutes and forty six seconds.

Donnie sat beside April, speaking in a low voice about personal things and chuckling every so often when she added a soft joke within the conversation. Smiling and nodding, she seemed to be engrossed within the topic that he was speaking about and seemed to forget about everything but Donnie.

Two months, sixteen days, eight hours, fifty minutes and forty six seconds.

It had been exactly thirty seven days since April and Donnie made up and forgiven each other. I remember, he pulled her aside, spoke quietly to her and after a few tense moments, they walked into Donnie's room and shut the door. They were in there awhile and I couldn't quiet remember what they said, but I remember, clear as day, when the two came out; April's face flushed and her hair a sad attempt to be fixed. And Donnie had a huge grin on his face and a deep red blush on his cheeks. You can guess what happened in there that day.

Two months, sixteen days, eight hours, fifty two minutes and fifty five seconds.

Ever since that day, they had been inseparable.

It makes me sick.

Two months, sixteen days, eight hours, fifty five minutes and twenty one seconds.

Leo walks through the door, his arms full with notes and yawning. It's always the same; he walks in, greets everyone with a silent shake of the head, looks to me, I avoid eye contact and after a few moments, sits down and continues to do whatever he was doing previously. I always avoid eye contact, with everyone—not just Leo. It's just better that way.

"Mikey," Leo says, his head down and reading some police report. "Get out the drinks, we're about to start dinner." My gaze remains on the piece of sliver wear as the table reduces to a low murmur. Leo looks to Raph and Casey and raises his eyebrows.

"Seems like some of us couldn't wait, huh?"

Casey smiles widely, his sauce stained teeth fully on display while Raph rubs his neck awkwardly.

"Eh," Raph shrugs and motions to the box of pizza. "You really expect us to control ourselves from Mario'sPizza? I guess all those reports are going to your head, man." The table chuckles in soft laughter at the joke and Donnie stands up.

"I guess we should serve the pizza now, yeah? Oh, is Splinter eating?" He asks ask he, finally, moves away from April and goes to the cabinet with the plates.

"No," Leo sighs, his eyes still glued to the papers in front of him. "He's put himself in another meditation session for tonight, for some reason or another. When I asked, he still wouldn't tell me so I just let it be. But be sure to leave him a few slices, he might be hungry later."

Understanding, Donnie quickly gets out the plates and places them out on the counter, six total. Raph and Kasey move immediately for the pizza box, and following close behind was April.

"Mikey," Leo voice says from his seat. I could feel his gaze on me, yet I refused to meet his eyes. "Mikey, I told you to get the drinks."

I continue to twirl the fork slowly in my hands and I stare at the grey counter top below me. "Why don't you? You've got legs, use them." As cold words leave my mouth, the table instantly goes quiet and everyone turns to me, including Leo.

"Mikey." His stern voice says and I could feel his cold blue eyes staring at me. "Get the drinks," He repeats himself again, but this time, not soft at all. "Now."

Finally, I put my fork gently down and flick my eyes into the gaze of my elder brother currently speaking to me. I stare at his face for a few moments, never wavering, not blinking. The slience around us grew thicker with each passing second and I was sure that all eyes were on our little staring contest. I just look into his eyes, watching.

It's gotten easier to read people's emotions, after all, I have been stuck down in this prison for two months with nothing to do. I could see seriousness in his eyes, such authority. Oh, but I knew better. I can see beyond the surface of his emotions. I know better.

"Of course." I say in my usual monotone and with a blink of the eyes, I get up and walk towards the cabinets. Donnie moves out my way with the plates in his hands and walks towards the table as I reach out for the six glass cups.

"Oh, I'm sorry," I say bitterly, letting out a short breath of a laugh. "Did I ruin the joke?" I look towards Raph and see the smile that was once on his face, gone, and was replaced with a worried, frowning expression.

I count the cups in the cabinet and take them each out, one by one. By now everyone has been sitting at the table, quiet, and watching me. I know why, I hadn't talked much at all since that day. So it must have been a surprise to hear my voice now.

"Because, I just find this whole thing, this whole situation, so funny. Hilarious even, in some type of sense, if you think about it."

The small sounds of the glass touching the counter filled the silenced room as I put exactly three ice cubes in each. The fridge door opens with a soft 'pop' and I grab six sodas and place them gently on the counter. I open the first can, and the brown sugar continents inside bubble up to the surface with a small crackle sound.

"You know," I say while I gradually fill up the first glass with the soda. "I've had a lot of time to think—you all know that right?" I say that last part with mock sarcasm and I laugh dryly.

"You know, with the retribution that you have all so graciously bestowed upon me…the decision that had gone surprisingly unanimous," At that word I cast a sort of glare at the red head who, once catching my gaze, slowly stood behind Donnie like a coward.

"However," I turn back around, resuming the task at hand of drinks. "I'm sorry to disappoint, but you cannot hold me in here forever. And I know how much that makes you so, furious, right Leo?" I stir the contents in the glass, watching it fizz and waiting for Leo's response. In about, 3…2…1-

The seat underneath Leo screeches as he stands up instantly and leans towards my direction, eyes narrowed. "We are not having his conversation again, Michelangelo." He hisses out precariously, everything about his tone, a serious warning. "For once, let us have a normal dinner. Grow up, Mikey and just sit down and eat."

…And there were those words again. Those pair of ghastly words that caused this whole thing to erupt. They had the ability to strike a nerve in me that just makes me snap.

Grow.

…

Up.

…

..

.

I quickly spin around and slam the glasses of soda on the counter top, creating a loud banging sound. Everyone flinched visibly and jumped back at the noise, except Leo. He stared straight at me, his frown deepening. I was sure at least one of the glasses chipped or at worse, broke due to the impact.

"You don't tell me what to fucking do, you understand me?" I growl out at our 'leader' as I stared him down with just as much anger as he was giving me. He doesn't understand—he'll never understand! He should be lucky I don't give him the beating of a life time for saying that to me, they all should!

"No," Leo snarls straight back at me, "you need to understand me, Mikey. Just stop all the sarcastic comments for a second and listen! You've been acting rude and distant lately and if you ask me, that's selfish on your part. So get this through your head, Mikey," He hisses out my name as if it were venom and leans in closer, his eyes narrowed and threating.

"You're a smart turtle Mikey. You need to learn that we're not against you, we're not the problem here, you are. What we found that night, was a threat to your life-do you not remember how much time you spent in Donnie's lab before you were properly bandaged and stitched up?"

"I could have handled it on my own!"

"But you didn't!" He shouts back at me, hitting his hand on the counter top for more leverage to make his point. "You could have died Mikey! That attempt to cover up those wounds was complete and utter bull shit! And you know it!"

Donnie tried to speak up and make a suggestion, but by the look of the glare Leo gave him, he shrunk back into the crowd of people watching the argument unfold in front of them.

Leo turned back, continuing his lecture. "What you attempted to do, didn't fix anything. You're still on drugs and medication to help you heal faster because of what those punks did to you. We had to go up there, find them and with the help of Raph, we beat their asses. Do you not realize how serious this was?"

"I didn't need your help—I don't need help at all!" I holler back at him.

"Don't tell me that Mikey!" He snaps at me, hitting the table once again and crunching his face together accusingly. "Do you want to tell me why we found a beer bottle in your room and several different types of alcohols in your system on that night? Huh? Explain that to me!"

The room went silent.

Donnie sighed miserably I heard April gasp quietly and Raph stood up and leaned forwards, no doubt shocked. Casey grunted and shook his head and cursed under his breath.

"What da' hell?" Raph growled and I could see him out of the corner of my eyes. "You we're drinkin'? W-What were you thinking—why didn't you tell us? What's wrong wit' you, Mikey?" He snapped angrily, his eyes burning a hole in the side of my head. Leo looked at me waiting for an answer and I just glared back in response. His eyes showed anger and disappointment and his lips we're drawn in a straight line.

The room's intensity level skyrocketed and the awkwardness was so thick that you could cut it with a knife. I could practically feel everyone's stares, and the room was dead silent.

"Yeah? And?" I ask, my eyebrows raising, my voice penetrating the quiet room. "Is that a problem? I'm sixteen—an adult. I can do what I want."

"Going out for nearly six hours, drinking alcohol and nearly getting beaten to death isn't something adults do, Mikey!" Leo says. "And you're not an adult, might I add, you're still a teenager! You have limits!"

I continue to stare at him with narrowed eyes and a blank stare. Eventually he'll have to stop, and when he does, I'll leave. What he doesn't know is that this is going in one ear, and out the other.

"God Michelangelo, we all love you to death, but sometimes it's just so hard to get you under control! Don't you understand that what you're doing isn't right?"

My glare intensifies and I my arms remain crossed, my defiance obvious.

"Then get me under control, Leo!" I hiss out at him challengingly. "I'll tell you this right now," I stare straight into his cold eyes, and point an accusing finger at him.

"You cannot and will not keep me in here for much longer. I will find a way out and I will be free to do whatever the hell I please, Leonardo. I am grown up enough to finally realize what the real problem is," I step back and meet the eyes of everyone in the small, dining room. I gesture to everyone and speak reprovingly.

"It's you guys, you're the problem." My eyes flicker back to Leo for a quick second. "And you're the center of the problem, leader."

I quickly turn around and immediately begin to retreat back towards my room. The anger inside me bubbled and spewed, just about ready to erupt. They think because they give me a few stares, that they can scare me? It's not like they haven't done it either! What's the big deal?

"Okay, I'm sorry guys…" I could hear Leo's voice and sigh from the kitchen as I stomped to my room. "Please, eat. Raph-don't forget, you're on watch tonight."

I growl at his sentence and slam the door to my room. I flop on my bed with an angry huff. They treat me as if I…I'm a prisoner or something! I can take care of myself, I don't need a baby sitter!

Every night since the incident, Leo put everyone on a watch schedule. To watch me. And to make sure that I don't leave again. And believe me…I've tried.

Tuesdays were April's, Wednesdays were Donnie's, Thursdays and Fridays were Raph's days, Fridays and Mondays were Leo's and Saturday was Casey's. They all take shifts and stay up and wait—wait for me to try to leave. They might as well have put me in a jail house, at least there they don't have as many rules as this place.

But, luckily I'm smarter than those bone heads that I see on TV. My brothers may think I'm stupid, but I've been watching, waiting. And—call me a liar—but I actually put down those comic books for a change and actually read. An actual book.

Smiling in the dark, I shift over to the left side of my bed, shutting my eyes. Ignoring the grumbling of my stomach, I sigh and begin to welcome the beginning of sleep.

Things are going to change. Yeah, finally, I'm going to get some air—freedom. And tonight, too. I've just got to wait.

1:30 AM.

…

..

.

1:31 AM.

I jump out of my bed silently and run to my closet. Grabbing the cleaned, brown trench coat, I pull out the money from my left pocket, counting twenty five dollars exactly. I had gotten it from April a while back to buy some pizza, but I only pocketed it instead.

Slowly opening the door, I step out into the dark hall way, adjusting my hat along the way. I peek around the corner, to see a passed out Raphael on the couch, snoring quite loudly.

I smile to myself, knowing that the pills worked. And seeing as it worked, he…-they would all be asleep for quite a while if I did it right. I remember almost getting caught by Donnie while I was trying to make it in his lab. It took me awhile to finish because, well, I'm no good when it comes to that type of stuff.

To be extra cautious, I check on the others to see if they were dead asleep too, which they, thankfully, were.

Silently sprinting away through the exit of the lair, my excitement flared and a smile grew on my face. Finally, I would be able to get to go topside again! You know what Raph once told me, if you want something done, you have to do it yourself; and that's exactly what I did.

I pop up through the sewer pot cover and immediately rush to the dark part of the alley way, behind a few trashcans. The fresh air rushes to my face, greeting me. I heard the people of New York talking and laughing to each other when they passed the ally way, along with the occasional late night car or bus passing.

I jump up to the stairs and climb up to the rooftop and stop, looking around. Frowning, I try to remember just which direction the bar was, and when I finally did, I sprinted left, jumping off the rooftop and on to the next. I just hope the bar is open late night…like really late night. It is almost two o'clock in the morning.

I hop from the next rooftop again and spot the faint outline of the bar in the distance. Finally, I can just relax for once. Being sure to be stealthy, I sprint my hardest, my money practically burning a hole in my pocket and my eagerness to get there unbelievable.

One tall shot, here I come baby!

Damn it!

I kick the rock on the rooftop angrily and stomp my foot repeatedly.

The bar was closed!

Sighing, I take my hat off and take off my coat, placing it next to me. Laying down, I extend my foot and sit myself down before laying back on my shell. I put my arms behind my head and shift around a bit before finally getting comfortable. I look up into the sky and mindlessly admire the stars above. It might be awhile before I could see them again, due to my ass wipes for brothers.

The only time that I am actually able to get out of the lair and go out, they had to be closed. Maybe I should have gotten up earlier. But not all is bad, at least I got to get out for some fresh air. And plus, it's only like two thirty now and I've got time on my hands.

"Huh." I say to myself, lifting an arm and extending a finger. I trace the stars above and realize it made a bunny. A genuine smile appears on my face and for a second I forget about everything.

"It's a bunny," I say quietly, before tracing more stars with my fingers absentmindedly, letting my imagination run free. "And that one's a dragon…a horse…another bunny…oh a spaceship…and a boy?"

"…more like a girl. See the hair?"

I frown and look closer, connecting the dots a second time, but this time around, it did look like a girl. My face relaxes and I grin. I did see the hair connecting to the body. "Oh yeah, I do see it!" I agree, pointing upwards.

"You can also see the body, and like, how the face connects with it, Oh and you can see the stars look like eyes…-"I trail off and my voice gets quieter when I realize that, that voice just a second ago wasn't mine. I'm pretty sure I hit puberty last year, and my voice wasn't as high anymore. And, I'm positive that I don't smell like…strawberries?

Slowly, my head turns left and my eyes connect with large green pupils. Dark black hair was tucked behind her top ear, while the rest was spread out on the rooftop ground between the two of us. Her face shined brightly in the moon light and a wide, cheeky smile was plastered on her face, showing off part of the little freckles on her cheeks, similar to my own.

"What's sup?" I whisper, partly shocked that she hadn't run away screaming and partly stunned by her overall…cuteness or whatever you call it. A blush appeared on my face at my thoughts and I felt flushed.

"Nothing much." She says breathlessly back, the amusement clear on her face.

"I'm M-Mikey." I offer, still in this stupid trance that she probably didn't even know she put me in and also the same one I don't know how to get out of.

"Grace," She replies softly, pink tinting her cheeks as well.

"Nice to meet you, Mikey."

Okay, that's where I stop…hehe.

Um…I'll make this quick, again, SO SORRY for not updating sooner, it's been crazy and yeah. Right now, I think I have more of a grip on my schedule so I will have time to update my stories. Oh and I made the decision to not do the whole: '60 reviews=next chapter update' because I can't deal with it anymore, and plus some of you asked for it to be removed, so it shall. But remember if you do ask for stuff like that, I do not like being called a 'child', or being deemed 'childish'…if you feel that way, you can go read another TMNT story, 'kay?

I won't say any names, but it just bugs the fucking crap out of me.

Not mad! Just saying, would it kill you to be nice?

No, I didn't think so.

Anyways, until next time!

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-BookBearer