Disclaimer: I sadly do not own the TMNT. They belong to Eastman & Laird, Mirage Studios, and are played on 4kids TV. I do not happen to work at or own any of those companies; therefore I will simply admire what I can't have from afar. Depressing, isn't it? On the plus side, I own Vanessa, Lily, Rachel and Sam!
Okay, so here's a brief: This chapter starts off directly after where the other one ended. Mikey is still hugging Casey, all of them are still covered in mud, and the girls are still wearing their parachutes-I mean giant T-shirts. I will play with their hormones in this chapter, and there will be some more jumping from one place to another, but rest assured that it will all make sense!…hopefully. Enjoy this chapter, there is one more fun one to come before we get back to the real world, where problems are of abundance. Oh, if life was only as simple as TV! Problems would be solved in less than 30 minutes, fewer than 60 if you're unlucky, and we would all be really witty and have exceptionally nice clothing. But this is reality, and no matter how much I wish, there's nothing I can do about it.
Sorry for babbling on and on. Have fun reading! :D
PS- Last edited March 15, 2010
The girls can't help but laugh at Mikey, snuggling into Casey's chest like a little kitten. Casey looks pissed and utterly repulsed. Rachel has to admire Mikey's moxie and guts, but supposes that he'll get away with it because he's the baby of the family. She can see somewhat why Sam likes Mikey, yet still prefers Leonardo, so sweet and strong and kind and…
'Whoa there, girl," she says to herself, slowing her thoughts down and not going any further. She reaches up to wipe her forehead then freezes, not wanting to smudge the mud already on her face. Almost regretting the idea of agreeing to the tug of war, she suggests, "We should clean off before the next challenge," pulling of her enormous white shirt. Then glancing over at the boys' father sitting on a large rock with a hint of a smile on his face as he watches his sons, she lifts her pink tank top over her head quickly and tugs off her jean shorts, revealing a brown and white bikini. Rachel seems to take no notice of the gawking teen boys, wading into the cool water slowly. By this time, Sam has her shirt off and her plaid shorts pulled down to her knees, showing her itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini, Lily already ankle deep in the water, sporting a teal one piece. Vanessa seems reluctant, but finally takes off her clothes to display her red and white tankini, the disgusting feel of the mud winning over her insecurity. She makes to take a step, turning suddenly on the boys and asks, "Aren't you four going to clean off too?"
Snapping out of his trance, Raph nudges Leo to bring his brother back to his senses, Don jerking his own head sharply to rouse himself. Every effort put into looking at only her face, Don replies as smoothly as possible, "We want to give you girls privacy while you clean off," internally smacking himself when he glances at Lily bent over in the water.
"Giving us privacy would involve you guys closing your eyes," Vanessa recommends over her shoulder, walking deeper into the water. They are quick to take her advice, turning around and clenching their eyes shut, Leo's hand finding Mikey's eyes to cover. Realizing his arms are still around Casey's waist, Mikey lets go, sending a longing, blind look to the lake.
To the girls, it is hilarious, and they quietly murmur and laugh among themselves at the behavior of the boys. "Hormones can be a pain in the ass," Sam remarks, remembering the days when she used to moon over any boy who played on a sport team or had blue eyes.
'I was so shallow back then,' she chuckles to herself, then looks at Mikey. 'Oh. Okay, maybe I haven't changed that much." Shrugging her shoulders she excuses herself, defending that Mikey came to her first.
After a few more minutes in the water, the girls splash back to shore, finding refuge in their beach towels. Thankful that they are allowed to open their eyes, but vision impaired from the sudden brightness, the brothers pull off their shirts quickly and go into the blue lake. The mud now dry, Mikey has to scrub hard to wash the caked mud from his knees and is about to wash the filth from his lower back when he notices the four who had demanded privacy sitting on their towels with their heads together watching them. Shielding his body as much as possible from view, he points them out to Don who suddenly feels violated.
"Hey! We didn't look at you girls when you were cleaning off, why do you get to stare at us?" Donatello asks, bending over a little in the water. While he attempts to hide his abs, Lily laughs and concludes, "Vanessa didn't say anything about it being reciprocal."
'I've got to admit, he's hot. Not to mention intelligent, modest, funny, kind and talented. What did I do to deserve him?" As she fantasizes, Lily's eyes become soft and dreamy, her mind wandering aimlessly until a voice jerks her out of it.
"How are you Lily?" Splinter enquires and Lily starts, finally noticing she's sitting all alone now, the other girls throwing around a yellow plastic Frisbee. So much for being inconspicuous. Blinking rapidly, she stammers with a flush on her cheeks, "F-fine. It's a lovely day."
Master Splinter nods in agreement and Lily opens her mouth to say something, changing her mind at the last second and closing it reproachfully. However, he asks without missing a beat, "What is it you wish to discuss with me?"
Eyes on the grass she replies lightly, "Nothing in particular, I just want to talk about whatever comes to mind…unless you're busy, because I can just leave you alone and stop talking if you want me to—"
"It is alright," the man interjects with a chuckle, her quickening stream of words petering out to nothing. She is for some inexplicable reason captured by the older "man's" eyes, noticing that though they are surrounded by wrinkles they are lively, kind and soft. Looking deeper, she sees hardship, pain remorse and loss harbored deep within them, surfacing for but a moment in the small black orbs. A little wary that her eyes can penetrate his own like this, Master Splinter remains still and skims her thoughts and memories. He confirms that she is no threat and patiently waits for her to finish her journey through his eyes, Lily giving her head a sound shake to come back to the present. A knowing smile on his face, Splinter comments certainly, "You have a gift."
"W-what?" she breathes in utter bewilderment, confusion tangible in her furrowed brow and cloudy expression. Trying to make it more understandable, he explains, "You have a gift of seeing what few can see. You can know the emotions, personalities and intentions of others by simply gazing into their eyes. This is a rare gift among those who do not practice meditation or the martial arts, and is therefore an uncommon and remarkable thing."
Still perplexed to no end, Lily leans forward slightly in interest, eager to know more about what she has always taken to be good judgment and perception.
A few minutes of clarification later, she asks very slowly after organizing this new information, "So what you're telling me is that I have some kind of ability that allows me to know people's minds, and because of that I have a link or destiny with the martial arts?"
Smile twitching ever so little at the corners of his mouth, the Sensei replies, "Not quite, but that is partially what I meant."
Compelled to ask more, Lily starts, "So if—"
"LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII-LYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!" Sam calls, beckoning with her fingers. To her visible reluctance, Vanessa insists, "We can't win without you!"
Lily stands quickly and excuses herself out of politeness, hurrying over to join her teammates. As she draws up to them, she demands apprehensively, "What are we doing this time?" preoccupied with her new knowledge and unasked questions.
"A relay through the woods," Rachel replies, not seeming too bothered by the dramatic change in Lily's expression from curiosity and optimism to one that says 'I wish you hadn't told me that!'.
'A race against the guys? Are they nuts?! We were beaten badly in the tug of war; imagine what will happen in a competition of speed!"
Lily keeps her opinions to herself, if only to deny the boys satisfaction of hearing how inevitable she thinks their loss is, and instead asks, "What point do I go to?"
"The guess the third one with Don," Vanessa answers.
'I get to race against Don? Hm, this could be interesting…"
Once all eight are ready in their pairs and Casey's arm comes down, Leo and Rachel, the first pair, lunge forward. Keeping an even pace, neither falters as they weave through the huge, towering trees, their feet beating the ground rhythmically. Leo observes Rachel's muscular legs moving rapidly from the corner of his eye, neck and neck with himself. For fear of losing, he pushes himself harder and gains a few meters on her in mere seconds. Flashing him a dazzling grin, she pumps her legs even faster, gaining a slim lead faster than it took him.
Vanessa and Raphael stand at the ready, arms out, but Vanessa's hand is slapped first and she sets of at an inconceivable speed. Raph has the upper hand, his legs longer than Vanessa's, and he quickly regains the ground lost by Leo. She dares to spare a sideways glance at his face, the determination and passion etched into his expression causing a little flutter to arise in her chest which she frantically forces back down.
'I can't lose, I won't lose!' Vanessa insists, regaining her focus.
The forest around them is a blur, both hearts rattling in their ribcages violently as Lily and Don come into view, hands outstretched. A rush of adrenaline erupts inside Raphael and he smacks Donatello's hand loudly before Vanessa can reach Lily. Wincing at the pain that shoots up his arm, Don shakes it off and turns, running as fast as his feet can carry him. Lily follows not too far behind, the speed of her legs causing her to almost trip over the root of a gnarled oak tree, its fallen leaves crunching beneath her feet. She gains a bit of ground, but Mikey gets a slap on the hand first and runs like a maniac (which he quite possibly is).
Sam pursues him and is shortly in stride with the athlete, near enough for Mikey to feel her loose hair graze his arm. He takes in a sharp breath to the feeling and Sam's eyes flick to his face for a fleeting moment. Wondering what that look of longing was, she hopes against hope that it was for her, a second later regaining her focus. Her steps speed up and she moves slowly but surely ahead of Mikey, her confidence expanding in her chest. She crosses the welcoming finish line, and panting heavily she advises, "Next time, don't celebrate your victory before it's safely in your hands, sweetheart," giving his cheek a friendly tap.
She is absorbed into a gaggle of sweaty but excited teammates, and while enveloped in the noisy embrace, she steals a look back to where she left Mikey. Her face falls when she sees how disappointed he looks, and trying to make him feel better she gives him a smile. Leo taps Mikey on the shoulder and points out Sam who has a sympathetic smile on her face, her lips stretching into a grin as she gives him a flirty wink. With a proud squeeze of the shoulder, Leo assures him, "You did good, Mike."
'Mike'; a name that has been popping up occasionally but more and more lately. Mikey's a little drawn to the name because it sounds more grown up, but he doesn't want to be too serious. He wants to be a ninja that is trusted and responsible, yet can laugh about something completely senseless and beat anybody in a video game. It's hard for him; it feels like he's throwing away his flamboyance, his freedom. 'Mike…'
"Mikey! Are ya listenin'? We have ta pick the next one!" Raph yells at his baby brother, knocking him out of his musing. Mikey ponders for a moment, then suggests volleyball.
"Volleyball?" Don echoes, his eyes flitting toward the beach three miles up the road. He is answered with a nod, and Leo repeats to the girls, "Volleyball."
The four girls exchange looks and Rachel shrugs. "So be it."
Everyone including Casey, April and Master Splinter pile into the Battle Shell, and they set off down the road, Vanessa fiddling with the radio until a familiar guitar riff crackles over the speakers and Sam demands, "Turn it up!"
Vanessa obliges and Kid Rock's voice floats from the radio, Sam joining in promptly,
It was 1989, my thoughts were short, my hair was long,
Caught somewhere between a boy and man,
She was seventeen and she was far from in between
It was summertime in Northern Michigan
Grinning, Rachel and Lily begin to sing along
Splashin' through the sandbars, talkin' by the campfire
It's the simple things in life like when and where,
We didn't have no internet but man I never will forget
The way the moonlight shined upon her hair
And we were tryin' different things
We were smokin' funny things
Makin' love out by the lake to our favorite song
Sippin' whisky out the bottle
Not thinkin' 'bout tomorrow
Singin' 'Sweet Home Alabama' all summer long
"Stop singin'! It ain't even summer!" Raph growls, turning around for but a second in the driver's seat to glare at the girls in the back. Face splitting into an enormous grin, Vanessa joins in with just as much gusto,
And we were tryin' different things
We were smokin' funny things
Makin' love out my the lake to our favorite song
Sippin' whisky out the bottle
Not thinkin' 'bout tomorrow
Singin' 'Sweet Home Alabama' all summer long
Now nothin' seemed as strange as when the leaves began to change
Oh how we thought those days would never end
Sometimes I hear that song and I start to sing along and think
'Man I'd love to see that girl again'
"God, have mercy on me," Leo mutters as Mikey begins to sing the chorus loudly with the girls, all five dancing in their seats,
And we were tryin' different things
We were smokin' funny things
Makin' love out by the lake to our favorite song
Sippin' whisky out the bottle
Not thinkin' 'bout tomorrow
Singin' 'Sweet Home Alabama' all summer long!
"Whoo!" Vanessa cheers as the song fades out, positively beaming at Raph who is by this time banging his head repeatedly on the steering wheel. Tilting her head to the side in innocence, she teases, "What's wrong, Raphie? Did our singing bother you?"
He lifts his head and gives her death eyes, grumbling sarcastically, "Ya think?"
'Life is a Highway' begins to play and Sam opens her mouth to take a breath, shutting it with a clink of her teeth when Leo hisses, "You sing one note and you'll be walking."
The car ride is relatively silent after that threat until the sandy shore comes into view, everyone jumping out of the vehicle and rushing toward the sand. It's really not that difficult to set up the volleyball net…Casey simply makes it difficult by almost snapping one of the poles in two. No one is surprised that he's not chosen as referee, but Casey takes the blow pretty sulkily. Ignoring him, the eight players get in their places in front of the net, Lily asking to play up front.
"Why?" Vanessa asks, wondering what brilliant plan Lily might have up her sleeve. Her smile secretive, she whispers, "You'll see," Vanessa's suspicions nearly confirmed by the tone of Lily's voice.
Don is the first to serve and it soars to Sam's ready hands as if by magnetic force. Sam bumps it easily to Vanessa who sets it straight and perfectly into the air. Out of nowhere Lily jumps high off the sand and strikes it hard into the ground in a vertical line.
"I guess that's our point," Rachel says, still shocked that someone so thin and fragile-looking as Lily could be powerful. They all stare at her in disbelief as satisfied, Lily walks to where she assumes thE court lines are. With a small grunt she serves a fast one over the net, Raph sending the ball to Mikey who just barely sets it properly. Leo moves to spike the ball but before he gets to it, Lily tips it over the net daintily onto the ground at his feet. Becoming more amused by the second, Lily goes back to the imaginary line and hits an over hand serve at Donatello, the ninja knocking it awkwardly back to Leo. Eyes narrowed in concentration, Leo smacks it over the net violently, getting a well earned point for his team.
The shift of power causes a wave of determination to wash over all the players, and Rachel jumps at the first chance she gets to spike the ball back over the net. To her disappointment, Mikey blocks her attempt, receiving an extremely harsh hit to his palms, but he figures the pain is worth it.
Raphael serves again and after two hits from the girls it's sent back to Leo. The eldest bumps it to Raph who sets for Mikey, the little video game addict tipping it over the net under the impression it will be too low to hit by the time anyone is close enough to whack it. This makes it even more disheartening when Lily dives, digging the ball out of its downward spiral toward the sand. Vanessa sets it beautifully, and Lily, being the only one in range, slaps the ball hard toward Mikey. It ricochets off his foot and hits Don in the back, the ball landing on the sand and rolling but an inch before it settles into a footprint.
"Game, set and match," Sam gloats, the opposite team sporting sour frowns after being defeated by the girls. Turning her head toward the other three, Vanessa asks, "Should do our happy dance?"
"I believe now would be the appropriate time," Lily agrees, and they all being a joyful round of the cabbage patch. Leo crosses his arms and rolls his eyes, unimpressed by their display of immaturity. Simply smiling at how disgusted and stone faced he appears to their childish antics, Rachel asks, "Would you care to join our dance?"
He shakes his head but Rachel dances her way over to him anyway and takes both of his hands in hers, moving his arms like a puppet. His face shows a bit of amusement underneath the strong, serious features and she laughs, pecking his cheek. For but a moment, everything is her and he pulls her body a little closer to his with the hold she has on his hands, eyes focused on hers.
"Please, let's keep it G-rated, kids!" Mikey teases. Amazed at how funny he is, Mikey cackles loudly at his own joke. Raising an eyebrow, Sam graces her body lightly against his and sighs.
"Too bad it's G-rated," she bemoans, merely brushing her lips against his and inhaling sharply. Slowly releasing her breath she whispers in a sultry voice, "That means this will be about as far as I get," her lips centimeters from their target. Pulling back with an almost disappointed expression on her face, it becomes a smirk once she turns around and she shrugs her shoulders, swinging her hips as she walks away.
Because Mikey is more or less a human being, he is enticed by that bit of body language and he quickly pretends to draw an invisible cell phone from his pocket, asking, "What's that, Mr. Director? It's now rated PG-13? Excellent!"
Hanging up his 'phone', he tells Sam the good news. She can't help laughing at his work ethic, and shaking her head she states, "Sorry, but I walked out. This wasn't my type of production."
Falling to his knees, Mikey calls out dramatically, "Samantha!" arms open wide to bring her back to him. The rejected teen receives a hit on the head from Raph who snaps, "Get over it, goofball."
"Gosh Raphie, don't you know violence is not the answer?" Don chides, disappointed he didn't get the privilege of whacking Mikey across the head himself. Raph cringes at the dreaded nickname and threatens darkly, "Say that again and you can kiss yer hard drive goodbye, brainiac."
"Don't you dare touch my computer," Don counters just as seriously as his brother, the passionate fire for his technology burning deeply in his soul, heart ready to suffer anything for his one true love. Besides Lily.
Muahahahahahahahaha! Evil cliffy! :D
I am so mean, aren't I? I'm sorry, but I've had to cut this chapter into three parts instead of two. When I get going, a hurricane can't stop me! So there will be one more installment of this day of fun and games, and then ONE MORE (drum roll, please)...
*****BONUS CHAPTER!!!!!!*****
Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! :D
So…you'll have to wait 'til then. Sorry for the long wait, my internet has been really flaky lately and we have absolutely no idea what's wrong with it!
Ooh! Ooh! One more thing before we do the whole 'Have a happy day' final message:
ANOTHER DISCLAIMER!!!!!!!!
Here it goes.
Disclaimer: Aside from the fact that I do not own the TMNT, I also do not own Kid Rock's 'All Summer Long' or Rascal Flatts' 'Life is a Highway'(even though Leo wouldn't let Sam sing it. Meanie.) However, as at the beginning of the chapter, I own my OC's Sam, Rachel, Lily and Vanessa. Mine since Christmas 2007! Woot!
Now it's time to thank our sponsors. I would like to say a mighty thank you to all the people who manufacture scribblers, pencils and computers (except whoever made this one). You have all done an excellent job. I'd like to also thank God and the Greeks for making the alphabet, and what's his name for making our modern day alphabet. Finally, I'd like to thank chocolate, who helped give me the energy boost to write this stories and the many more to come.
Wait, here's the final finally: I'd like to thank all of you for reading and supporting me. Couldn't have done it without you!
Please Review!
If you wish to make the author ecstatically happy, send me a cookie via e-mail or post.
E-mail: thisisnotarealemailaddressI'
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Postal Code: TMNT
Like I said, please review! :D