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Ch 8 Friday at Last
A few minutes before five, Leo went downstairs and walked into the dining room. He looked around and was somewhat surprised to see his father was not there. He took his seat and waited for his supper to be served. At five, a small and slightly overweight woman with grey hair and wearing a simple blue dress with an apron tied around her middle walked over and placed a plate of beef stroganoff served over noodles in front of him.
Leo sighed in annoyance and looked up her. "He won't be coming home tonight will he?" He asked her.
The woman smiled sadly at him and shook her head. "I'm afraid not master Leonardo." She told him.
"That means I won't be seeing him till sometime in November." Leo chuckled lightly and shook his head. "You always serve me this when he's not coming home because you know how much I love it and how much he hates it." He looked up at her. "Thank you Edna," He said as he picked a forkful of the food. "You always know how to make me feel better."
Edna bowed to him. "Will there be anything else master Leonardo?" She asked.
Leo looked down at his food and shook his head. "No thank you Edna." He told her. She bowed and was just about to turn and leave when Leo stopped her. "Actually Edna," Leo said causing her to turn back to him. "There is something I would like to discuss with you."
"Yes master Leonardo?" She asked.
"Would you please not call me master?" He asked her.
She raised her eye ridges at him. "But master Saki requires me to address you as such."
"Master Saki is not here." Leo reminded her. "And I do not like being called 'master'." He told her. "So please," He implored her. "Leonardo or Leo will do."
She smiled down at him and nodded. "Will there be anything else then Leonardo?"
"Well…." Leo looked up at her in contemplation, "Just one more thing," He smiled up at her. "Can you make me one of those Italian desserts you used to make for me and my mom?"
"Have you finished your homework?" She asked him knowingly with a teasing glint in her eyes.
"I'm still working on it." He told her with a shy smile.
"Finish your supper then go to your room and do your homework." She gave him a wink. "I'll bring a Cannoli to your room."
Leo looked at her in mock horror. "Father doesn't like it when I eat in my room." He said while chuckling.
Edna tweaked his cheek affectionately. "What your father doesn't know won't hurt him." She said then turned to go to the kitchen.
Leo quickly finished his supper, enjoying every savory bite, than went to his room to get his homework done. As he walked in, he looked down at his wastebasket and saw the crumbled up permission slip. He picked it up and smoothed it out. He grabbed a pen and very carefully and meticulously signed his father's name. He smiled as he looked at the signature. "Perfect." He said as he placed it in his folder. "What father doesn't know won't hurt him." He patted the folder and placed it into his backpack.
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On Friday morning, Leo walked into the school carrying his backpack and a large box with his science project inside. He made his way up the stairs and stopped at the end of the corridor. He took a deep breath as he stared across the hallway over to where his new friends were currently milling around, talking, laughing and gathering their books. But even with the crowded hallway, he couldn't help but notice Raph looking over to where Leo's locker was. 'He's waiting for me.' Leo told himself as he started toward his locker.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched as Raph smiled at him and started to walk over to him. Leo smiled nervously at him then turned toward his locker and started getting his things out. Raph had started to go over to him but was stopped by Mona.
"Let me talk to him Raphael." She whispered.
He looked up at her in surprise. "Mona…."
But she waved him off and walked toward the blue-eyed turtle. Leo felt a presence standing over him as he knelt down to place some things on the bottom of his locker. He stood up expecting to see Raph but was surprised to see Mona instead. He waited, looking up at her as she seemed to hesitate slightly before sticking her hand out at him.
"I thought about what you said yesterday Leonardo." She said as Leo slowly reached out and accepted her hand. "And I accept your apology."
Leo smiled up at her. "Thanks Mona…"
Mona suddenly pulled him in close. "But keep in mind Leonardo." She whispered down at him. "I know Raphael better than anyone and it is always me he comes back to when he needs someone to talk to." She squeezed his hand hard to emphasize her point before letting go. "Or to be reminded of how much someone really cares."
Leo whimpered slightly as he looked down at his now throbbing hand. He nodded his head to her in understanding before picking up his things and walking over toward the group who were watching both of them in curiosity.
He smiled nervously at them as Mikey walked over to him. "Hey Leo," He called out as his eyes looked at the box in Leo's hands. "Is that your science project?"
Leo nodded to him. "Bell's about to ring," He said as Raph attempted to come over to him. "We should get going."
"Leo?" Raph tried to call to him but Leo refused to stop.
"I'll see you at lunch Raph." He told him as he hurried away. Raph scowled at the turtle's retreating shell, he then turned to Mona.
"What exactly did you tell him Mona?" He demanded of her hotly.
"I merely told him that I accepted his apology and that I understand he likes you as a friend Raphael." She replied as she looked down at him tenderly. "I also wanted him to know that I care very much for you." She placed her hand on his cheek and stroked it with her thumb. "And I don't want to see you hurt anymore." She whispered to him before pressing her lips to his. They parted and Raph looked back at her with softening eyes as she turned away from him before he could say anything further.
Raph huffed and turned toward the others. "When did life become so complicated?" He asked them. The others shook their heads or shrugged their shoulders and made their way to their classes.
In science class, Mr. O'Neil watched as Leo presented his project to the class. After the turtle was done explaining what he had done, the red bearded man stood up and walked over to the table Leo shared with Mikey. He picked up the model and looked it up and down.
"Very impressive Leonardo," He told him as he inspected the model. "You did this in two days?" He looked over the model and admired the handiwork. The planets were painted with hard acrylic paint and the sun, which was centered in the middle and sitting on a black base was large and painted bright orange. The planets were attached to the sun and suspended by stiff hard wire.
Leo looked up at the teacher and rubbed his neck. "Ummm, well….it was a kit." He explained. In truth, the model had taken him and his mother over a week to complete due to the fact that his mom was very sick but also because, despite her failing health, she had insisted they make it from scratch.
Mr. O'Neil nodded his head. "Well, you weren't supposed to use a kit but since you only had two days I will allow this." He took the model and placed it on a shelf with several other models. "I'll give you a 'B+'."
Leo smiled and sat down. He looked up at his model now sitting across the room on the shelf and couldn't help but feel a little miffed about the grade. A hand on his arm had him looking over at Mikey. "Personally Leo," He said with smile. "I think you deserved an 'A'." He gave a sharp nod and went back to his book.
Leo smiled and shook his head. 'Amazing how he always makes me smile.' Leo thought and turned back to the lesson being taught.
The morning went fast and before too long, Leo was sitting in the cafeteria laughing with the others while enjoying his lunch. "So Leo?" Spike looked over at him. "How's that permission slip coming?"
Leo forced a smile at him. "My father signed it last night." He told them proudly.
"Hey that's great Leo," Casey exclaimed. "Well alright!' Donnie told him while Mikey high-fived him.
"Wonderful news Leonardo," Slash told him. "It will be good to have you on our team."
Leo nodded at them then lowered his eyes. He hated lying to his new friends and he couldn't help but feel a little guilty about forging his father's signature but; he continued to tell himself he did feel fine and what would his father care anyway. Leo sighed as he bit into his sandwich and watched the others interact.
'They all look so happy,' He thought to himself. He received a playful punch from Mikey regarding something about the team and their legs in basketball shorts. Leo smiled back at him and continued eating.
"Did you get your test back yet Leo?" Donnie asked eagerly breaking through Leo's thoughts.
Leo nodded. "A-," He told him. "I forgot the negative on one number in a problem but I still got the right answer." He chuckled.
"Amazing how that happens." Raph muttered as he smiled at Leo.
Leo nodded at him and continued eating. Shortly after, the bell rang and everyone left to go on to their next class. More homework was assigned in history class due on Monday then Leo made his way, with Casey and Spike, to the gym. He walked into the gymnasium and over into Leatherhead's office. The large alligator looked up and smiled when Leo handed him his permission slip.
"Wonderful Leonardo," He said as he looked the paper over. "Practice will begin the first Monday in November." Leo nodded in understanding and left the office.
As on Wednesday, the boys played basketball and this time, both Fong and Leo kept their promise and behaved themselves although throughout the entire time, they were constantly glaring hatefully at each other.
"Time to hit the showers," Mikey said after the game ended. He clapped his hand on Raph's shoulder. "Some of us really need it."
Raph turned angry eyes to him. "Keep it up Mikey and I'll slap the green off you." He threatened.
Leo watched as everyone started toward the locker rooms. "Come on Leo." Donnie said as he followed the rest of them.
"You go ahead." He told the others. "I'll help clean up out here and hit the showers after."
"There is no reason for that Leonardo." Leatherhead walked over toward the bleachers. "I take care of that since you students need to get to class."
"Oh," Leo looked down at the floor and gently rubbed his chest. "Um…okay." He started toward the locker room and over toward a locker. He started rummaging through it as though he were looking for something.
"Ya lose something Leo?" Raph stood behind him.
Leo stood up. "Um, just looking for a clean shirt," Leo said while keeping his back to Raph.
Raph placed a tender hand on Leo's shoulder. "I'll wait for you and we'll walk to study hall together." He told him. "I'd still like to talk to you."
Leo shuddered as he felt Raph's hand on him. "Um, no….ah you….you go on ahead" He told him as he shook his head slightly and turned away to slowly go toward the showers. "I'll meet you there." He waited for Raph and the others to leave before he got out of his clothes. As before, he took a quick shower and quickly dried himself off. He was just starting to head toward the lockers when the sound of footsteps startled him. He looked up and saw Raph standing just outside the shower room.
"Did you get that bruise when Fong elbowed you the other day?" He asked as his eyes roamed over Leo's body.
Leo brought his towel up and swallowed hard. "Well, um," Leo stammered trying to think of something to tell him. "Yeah… probably," Leo looked away from Raph. He really did hate lying to him but the thought of telling Raph his father beat him just because he didn't want to attend a new school was more embarrassing at the moment so he just decided to go along with the story. He looked at Raph and laughed nervously. "But I probably gave him one too." He said.
Raph nodded and walked toward him but Leo stepped around him and walked over to his locker. "I thought I said I would meet you in study hall." He told him as he hastily put his shirt on. "You don't want to be late."
"It's only study hall and I was still hoping we could talk." He watched as Leo quickly finished getting dressed and started to leave.
"I said I only want to be friends." Leo reminded him. "After all, we only just met."
Raph nodded. "I know Leo." He said. "I was just wondering if maybe sometime soon you might like to get together and just….I don't know" Raph shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe hang out?"
Leo looked at Raph and slowly nodded his head. "Just as friends?" He asked.
Raph walked over toward him and stared intently into his eyes. "Is that really what you want?"
Leo wanted to tell him 'no', he wanted desperately to run to him, put his arms around him and press their lips together, but the promise he made to Mona kept coming back to him. After a few seconds of hesitation, Leo nodded and Raph lowered his eyes to the floor. "Sure," He responded sadly. "Just as friends."
Leo nodded again and turned to leave the locker room. "We should get to the library before the others start to worry."