Ch 7 Making Amends
For the rest of the class, Leo attempted to concentrate on his schoolwork but his thoughts kept going back to Mona and Raph. He knew he had been taken in by the green eyed turtle's rugged good looks and beautiful green eyes, but he also knew that Raph and Mona were an item which meant Raph was basically off limits. He sighed deeply as he looked down at the drawing of Raph he was doing in his notebook. He quickly erased his drawing and looked up at the teacher writing on the blackboard and forced himself to focus.
After history class, Leo made his way to art class since on Tuesday and Thursday there was no gym. Upon walking in he was both surprised and happy to see Raph, Mona and Renet also in his class.
"Hi Leo," Renet smiled as he walked over to them.
"Hey guys." Leo said with a smile on his face as he walked over to them. Raph smiled up at him as Leo stood in front of their desks. "I didn't know you had this class."
Mona scowled at him. "I'm sorry we didn't think to ask you." She sneered as Raph looked between the two of them nervously. "But as you can see there's no seat nearby so it looks like you'll have to sit somewhere else." She told him sarcastically.
Renet looked away and lowered her eyes in embarrassment while Raph looked at Leo apologetically. Leo nodded at them and looked around. He found an empty desk on the other side of the room toward the back and sat down. 'I'll speak with her after class.' He told himself.
Much to Leo's relief, the class went fast and as soon as the bell rang, Leo got up and walked over to where the three of them were gathering their things and getting ready to leave. "Hey Leo," Raph began but Leo quickly waved him off.
"Mona," He looked up at her as the tall Salamandrian looked down at him with narrowed, angry eyes. "Can I speak with you?" Both of them looked to Raph and Renet, and taking the hint, started to leave the classroom.
"I'll meet you at the library Leo." Raph told him then looked at Mona. "See you after school at our lockers."
They watched them leave and the two slowly made their way out of the room. "What is it Leonardo?" Mona demanded.
Leo took a breath, "Look Mona," He began. "I don't know what you think is going on but I just want you to know that I understand you and Raph are a couple and I am sorry if I gave you the impression that I was interested in him," He continued toward his locker, "Although I do like Raph, I want him strictly as a friend." He looked up at her. "Really, nothing more." He insisted. "He's all yours." He held his hand toward her. "And I would like you to be a friend as well."
Mona stared down at him with cold, angry eyes. "You may say that and perhaps it's true," She leaned her face close to his. "But I know Raphael and I know all that he has been through." Leo leaned back slightly as Mona stared him down. "I am not stupid Leonardo," She said. "I see the way you two look at each other and I am telling you now, it would be best for both of you if you did nothing more than be a friend….a very distant friend." She stood tall and started toward her class. But she glanced back at him again with a glare. "And once school is over I suggest you forget about Raphael completely." With that she turned from him and walked away.
Leo watched, completely dumbfounded as she walked away. 'Well that didn't go as plan.' He thought to himself as he slowly made his way to the library where Donnie, Raph and April where waiting for him. Raph looked at him in concern but Leo just shook his head at him and immediately went to his studies.
"Leo?" Raph whispered over to him after several minutes of awkward silence. Leo looked over at him but said nothing. "Leo, what happened between you and Mona?" Raph asked.
Leo shook his head. "Nothing Raph," Leo told him. At the sound of a growl, he looked up and startled when he saw Raph's eyes narrowing angrily at him.
"Just tell me Leo." Raph whispered harshly causing everyone to look at him in surprise.
Leo huffed. "I just wanted to apologize to her for whatever I did to make her angry." He replied. "Okay?" Feeling very miffed, Leo got up and walked over to the information desk where the computers were.
Raph narrowed his eyes and followed him. "Not okay Leo." Raph told him. "What do you think you need to apolo….."
"Look Raph." Leo turned to him in exasperation. "What do you want me to say?" He demanded, turning back to the computers and pulling up the location on a book. "I have a lot to do and I just want to get it done." He muttered as he moved away from the information desk and started walking toward the Art and Artist section. "I'm still trying to catch up in my schoolwork and get to where the rest of my classmates are."
"I want to know what Mona said to you," Raph demanded angrily.
Leo stopped in front of a particular book case and lowered his eyes. He let out a small sigh and turned his head slightly toward Raph. "I've got so much going on in my life right now Raph." He told him tiredly. "I really don't need all this drama." He turned away from him and began to scan the books. "I just want to finish high school, graduate and do whatever it is I have to do to survive out in the real world." He took out a book then turned to Raph. "Okay?"
Raph looked at Leo for several seconds before looking down at the book in his hands. "The life and times of Leonardo da Vinci?" Raph looked up at him. "Is this what you're going to do you art report on?" He asked. Leo nodded. "Were you named after him?"
Leo lowered his eyes and nodded again, "He was my grandfather's favorite painter." Leo told him. "That's why he named my mom Venus….." Leo swallowed hard and turned away as the tears once again threatened to fall. He took a deep breath, "Venus De Milo Tartaruga," Leo whispered. "Like the painting, she was beautiful." Leo gave a small smile and looked sadly into Raph's eyes.
Raph looked at Leo tenderly. "As is her son." He told him.
The two turtles stared intently at each other as Raph placed a hand on Leo's cheek. They began to lean in close and Leo watched as Raph slowly began to close his eyes. "Raph," Leo whispered and backed away. Raph opened his eyes and looked at Leo in bewilderment. "You really are a nice guy Raph." Leo told him as he reluctantly stepped back. "And I just want to be friends." He started slowly back to the table. "Just friends….okay?" He said looking back at him. "Nothing else."
Raph watched Leo walk away from him. He wanted desperately to call out to him and demand an explanation. To walk over to him and let him know how he felt from the moment they first met. He shook his head as he thought back on the morning before when he had first seen Leo flip Fong and the impressive way he stood up to the dragon leader. He had like what he'd seen and even more after he looked into Leo's blue eyes. The bell ringing brought Raph back to the present and he huffed angrily to himself as he went to the table and gathered his books. He watched Leo pick up his things and walk over to where his aunt was currently signing books out. He said goodbye to his aunt and walked out with April following closely behind.
"You okay Raph?" Donnie asked, placing a hand on his brother's shoulder.
Raph looked at him and nodded. "Yeah." He said with a tired sigh. The two turtles walked slowly out of the library and toward their next classes.
Leo and April walked into their language class and sat down in their seats. April looked at him as he walked in and shook her head. "You look like you have the whole world on your shoulders Leo." She commented. "Wanna tell me about it?
"I tried to apologize to Mona after art class." He said and looked over at her. Seeing her confused look he continued. "Casey and Spike were telling me that I and Raph look at each other in…" He looked at her thoughtfully as he tried to think of what to say.
"In such a way that it looks like you two have a thing for each other." April finished for him. She smiled and nodded her head. "Yeah Leo," She said. "You do."
Leo looked down at his desk in disappointment. "I do like Raph." He told her. "But I only want Raph as a friend," He said. "At least that's what I tried to tell Mona but she…." Leo let out a frustrated sigh.
"Didn't believe you," April again finished for him.
Leo nodded and looked over at her. "April," He began, "I've got a lot going on right now so since you and Mona are friends," She looked at him with understanding. "Would mind telling her that I really do have no intentions of getting in between the two of them?"
April nodded. "Sure Leo." She placed her hand on his arm. "And I'm sure Raph will be okay as well." Leo looked over at her and gave her a thin smile. He nodded then turned his attention toward Mr. Usagi.
The class went fast and since it was his last class of the day and he didn't need to wait for his aunt, Leo wasted no time in running to his locker, gathering his books and leaving the school to catch the city bus back home. He didn't want to see Raph or anyone for that matter. He didn't want to take the chance of anyone asking questions or discussing what was going on. He just wanted to get through the rest of the week.
When did life get so crazy?' He wondered to himself as he walked toward the bus stop. 'Why do all these things keep happening to me?' As the bus pulled up, he gently rubbed his chest where the bruise on his plastron still ached. "School can't end soon enough." Leo muttered in disappointed as he boarded the bus.
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April watched as Leo grabbed his book and darted out of the room once the bell rang. She noticed Usagi give a look of surprise at Leo's sudden departure and she shrugged her shoulders at him. She gathered her things then slowly walked toward her locker where she found the others. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Leo's retreating shell rushing down the corridor and toward the stairs. She lowered her eyes and walked over to the others.
"Why did Leo leave so quickly?" Mikey asked. "He didn't even stop to say goodbye."
April smiled sadly at him. "He said he had to get home." She told him. She then turned to Mona and took her aside. "Leo told me what's been going on." She said to her. Mona huffed and crossed her arms. "He meant what he said Mona." She insisted. "Really."
Mona looked away from her for a few minutes before she finally uncrossed her arms and relaxed. She nodded her head at April and let out a sigh. "I will speak with Leonardo tomorrow April." She promised. She looked across at Raph who was watching them curiously.
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Fifteen minutes later, Leo stepped off the bus and walked the two blocks home. Like the day before, he walked into the house, removed his shoes and made his way upstairs to his room. He spent the rest of the afternoon attempting to do his homework but once again his thoughts were elsewhere.
'I do like Raph', He thought to himself as his eyes roamed over his papers. "But I also know he's taken and it wouldn't be fair to him or Mona if we went any further then being friends." Leo pushed his papers away and picked up the book on 'Leonardo da Vinci.' He sighed deeply and rubbed his tired eyes. "And it wouldn't be fair to me. He flipped through the pages but ended up putting that to the side as well. 'I can't concentrate.' He muttered angrily as he placed his head on his fists with his elbows on his desk. 'At least this report isn't due till Tuesday.' He got up and went over to his bed to lie down. He looked at the clock. 'Not even four yet.' He rolled over and yawned. 'I need a nap.'