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Chapter 6

Let It Out

Alex was arguing with her mother on the phone," MOM! I'm EIGHTEEN! I'm moving to New York and that's that! No! Okay, but…NO! No! FINE! See if I care!!!"

She slammed the phone down and groaned," My mother CAN'T LET GO!!!!"

Mikey winced and commented," Not to be insensitive, but do you really need to yell?"

"YES!" Alex shouted," Do you have ANY idea how annoying it is when you can drive, see r-rated movies, shop, move out and bloody VOTE and your mom still thinks you're a little four year-old with pigtails?!?!!"

"Oh…sorry, dudette." Mikey frowned as he thought about that.

Alex sighed and slumped against the wall.

Charis timidly asked," So…now what? If your mom won't let go, then what about us?"

Alex grunted, still ranting," I'm bloody eighteen frikkin' years old…"

Chloe smiled slightly as she began to sing softly," If you love somebody, set them free…free, free, set them free…"

"Oh SHUT UP!" Alex groaned.

Leo looked at Chloe," Another love song by Sting?"

She giggled," How'd you guess?"

Raphael groaned," You're always singing his songs out loud and now, we can TELL when you're singing one of his songs or not!!!"

Charis looked up, a smile tugging on her now wide mouth," You still listen to Sting?"

Chloe nodded, grinning," You bet!"

Tana pouted," How can you STAND that jazz-stuff?"

Chloe corrected," Adult contemporary."

"Whatever!" Tana retorted.

"What music do you listen to?" Mikey asked.

Tana grinned.

"JUMP5!!!" she squealed, jumping up and down excitedly.

Donatello frowned," Jump5?"

Tana stopped short and gaped," You've never heard any of their songs?! I'll call April and tell her to bring our luggage, so I can get my ipod so you can listen to them!!! They ROCK!!!!"

Alex grinned," They are a cool band, I like their music."

Chloe protested," I like their music too, is it a crime to also like Sting?"

"YES!!!" Tana yelled.

Chloe yelled back," You don't have to shout!"

Tana hollered back," I'll yell if and when I want to!"

Raphael roared," IF YOU TWO DON'T SHUT UP, I'LL-"

Chloe and Tana both turned around and screamed," YOU STAY OUT OF THIS!!!"

Charis started giggling," You two are so crazy!"

Tana grinned and bowed," Thank you, thank you."

Raphael groaned," I'm going out." He stomped out of the room, and they heard the faint roar of his motorcycle.

Chloe giggled," Well, Tana, you ticked Raphael off and lived to tell about it! Good job!"

Tana grinned," Duh! It's a talent!"

Alex groaned, "Tell me about it…"

Charis timidly asked," um, I have an idea, is anyone interested?"

Chloe smiled," Sure, Charis, spill."

Charis timidly began," What if, we ask Ms. O'Neil to…maybe call our parents and ask if…if we can work in her shop. She can tell them that she'll give us room, board, pay and that we can attend college from here. That way…we can send occasional letters to our family, telling them we're doing well, and we'll just keep playing at that until we can come up with something better."

Donatello frowned as he responded," But, we tried doing that with Chloe's mom, and it didn't work."

Alex gave a crooked smile," Not all parents are as caring as Chloe's. Chloe has the coolest mom on earth."

Mrs. Lashonde was not there at the moment, she was with April, shopping and gathering the girl's luggage to take to the Lair.

Chloe nodded softly, "yeah…she is the coolest mom on earth…I just wish…" she stopped, and Leo froze as he saw the old, hidden look coming into her eyes," I gotta go." she finished, turning and leaving.

Leo followed, worried.

Alex frowned as she muttered," What was that about?"

***

Chloe held back the tears that threatened to spill down her face and she softly sobbed," Why am I crying? I thought I was over this."

Leo knocked softly and she turned as he came into her room, asking," Chloe, what's wrong?"

She looked down, tears falling as she murmured," My poor mom…I felt so bad for myself, that I didn't remember that she's still in pain. Her life has been such a wild roller coaster of downs."

Leo looked at her in surprise.

"Why do you say that?"

Chloe smiled, her old, crooked smile.

"My mom's story is that she was unloved by both parents. She was like me, only my parents loved me…and that made all the difference. She was unprotected, while my parents protected me. She was taken advantage of by both boys and men. She did some things she knew was wrong…and she's scarred from it, but that's what makes her so tough and strong. But, Leo, when she finally did marry, she married someone who LIED to her. my adopted dad kidded himself in thinking he forgave all the things she had done in the past. He neither forgave her, nor loved her. the worst part is he denied everything. He told her it was her fault. And she didn't deserve it. she was already scarred, without him re-opening her wounds." Chloe bowd her head," I…I remember the fighting…the long talks…I wanted to get away…which is how I ended up here. When she finally divorced my dad, I thought that was the end of the problem…but then he started fighting for custody of my brothers and sister. he was denied, and my mom saw that I was hurting, from all the fighting…and I guess she figured out I wasn't strong enough to face it alone, as I had been doing. So, she asked me what I wanted to do…where I wanted to go."

Chloe looked at him, her eyes still full of tears," I was so blinded by sorrow and anger, I didn't consider that she needed me, my support. I just wanted out. Leo, I… I think after I was mutated, and after I remembered, I was still running from the problems at home. I'm a coward, Leo. Plain and simple."

She lowered her head again, the tears pouring down from her face.

Leonardo took her hands and tilted her chin up so she could see him.

"Chloe, whatever problems your parents are having, it's NOT your fault…and…maybe it would have been better for you to stay with your mom…but then, I never would have met you."

Chloe sobbed softly, "You don't know that!"

"Yeah, I do." Leo said fiercely," Listen, Chloe, you're human…well, um, you're mortal, you make mistakes, just like everyone else. It's natural to want to run from a fight…especially one so close." Leo murmured, thinking over what she had told him.

Chloe looked into his eyes, shyly, as she asked," What am I going to do?"

"You stand up, shake the dust off and keep walking. Learn from your mistakes, if it WAS a mistake to leave." Leo told her sternly.

Chloe nodded softly," Leo…thank you. You're still my moon."

Leo smiled softly, as he took her in his arms and hugged her.

"You done two makin' out?"

Chloe jumped as Tristan walked in, his grey eyes bored.

Leo protested, "We WEREN'T making out!"

Tristan smirked, "Sure… Chloe, are you okay?"

"Yeah, Tris, I'm fine."

Tristan gave her a look that said," Liar," and asked Leo," Can you two help me out? I'm trying to practice these katas Splinter showed me, and I need someone to watch me, make sue I'm getting it right."

Chloe and Leo nodded, Chloe grinning, "Sure little brother," as she looked up at him.

He scowled, "Only by three and a half years!!!"

So, now you know more about Chloe's story, and her mom's.

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