The whole day was hell, Michelangelo had to deal with his gossiping peers. Word spread quickly, thanks to Casey's cousin Sid, that Casey was hospitalized. Everyone knew that Casey and Raphael were best friends so everyone started spreading gossip that Casey, Raphael and even Leonardo and Donatello were hospitalized with him. Some have even said that Raphael was the one who sent Casey to the hospital.

"Well, you know how he is! He gets mad over any little thing, and he got in a fight with Leo too."

Michelangelo over heard someone talking as he made his way to the lunch line. This is just getting stupid! Where are they getting these stories?

The cafeteria was crowded, there was chattering everywhere and it was hurting Michelangelo's head. Once he got his food, he pushed his way outside, careful not to spill his tray. He found a nice spot underneath a tree. He ate alone, avoiding everyone's gaze. He picked at his lunch never bringing the food to his lips. Then he saw someone approaching, he recognized that they where in the same year as Raphael, but they have never taken even two seconds to talk to him. They were a group of three girls, they had long hair, lip rings, and several ear rings. They wore heavy make-up and talked in such a high pitch, that it made Michelangelo cringe.

"Oh hey, aren't you, like, Raphy's little brother?" the tallest of the three said.

" Oh my god! I thought you were lying!" one of the shorter girls who had hair curled whispered,rather loudly, to the other.

The girl with the curly hair quickly turned to Michelangelo " You look nothing like him!Like nothing."

He tried, with much effort, not to roll his eyes. It was just like freshmen year when all his classmates asked over and over the very same question. It seemed to take everyone by surprise that the four were a family. After all, Leonardo and Donatello are the only ones who are related by blood. They didn't look alike.

So he rolled out his answers to the expected questions. " Yeah, me and Raph are brothers, yes, so is Leo and Don, if you know 'em. Yes my dad adopted all four of us, yes, four of us. So yeah that's why we look so different." It wasn't like it was a secret.

"Well, we just wanna know why Raph and Casey weren't in class today, did they ditch, or are they really in the hospital?"

"That's really none of your business."

This time he did roll his eyes and went back to picking at his food without looking at the girls, hoping that they get the hint to go away.

" Oh, well you don't have to be a dick about it." one of the girls said, though he didn't know who.

" Okay, I'm out," he just left his tray next to the tree and walked away leaving the girls.

He had to spend the rest of the day listening to people talk about his brother whenever he walked by. People loved gossip in this school. It made him nervous, however.

No one had mentioned his brother, Donatello, in all those talks. He wasn't the most popular kid in school, which at this moment Michelangelo was thankful for. They didn't take his absence and relation to Casey and Raphael as anything suspicious. He was thankful that he didn't have to talk about Donatello, because he wouldn't know what to say.

The day was unbelievably long because of all this. In every class he was running out the clock, counting every second. He didn't talk all day in his classes, not even to his friends. His teachers found this odd, they figured it had something to do with all the talk that was happening about his family.

It was half an hour before the last bell would ring, and Michelangelo couldn't be happier. He found himself thinking every second that it might have been a better idea to stay at home, but what good was this now. Then the door to his classroom opened, it was a student carrying a note to his teacher. The student waited patiently by the door as the teacher read the note.

"Michelangelo," he called to him " Please go to the counselors office."

He was escorted by the student who brought the note to the office, and was left alone as he went into the counselor's office. There where five counselor's who divided the students by year and name. His counselor was a friendly and clam man called . He was slightly over weight and balding. He sat at his desk which was cluttered with papers, photo's of his kids, and granddaughters, small drawings from his granddaughters, and loads of files. Even the walls of his small office where cluttered with photos of the students, graduating classes, championships, a large calendar with dozens of scribbled noted on it, colorful thank you notes from graduated students, and a motivational poster that looked like it belonged in the 80s.

When Michelangelo walked in, smiled. The wrinkles of his eyes made his appearance friendly and reassuring, but it didn't seem happy to the boy.

"Have a seat, please Michelangelo."

They were both well acquainted with each other, Michelangelo having been sent to him more times than he could remember. His mannerisms confused Michelangelo. The man didn't seem upset at him at all.

"Err, am I in trouble?" He asked, though somehow he knew he wasn't.

" Well, I just wanted to make sure you are alright. We have heard some rumors about your brothers and Casey Jones." His mood turned serious, but he was still trying to be as gentle as ever.

" Oh," he should have known.

" Everyone knows that you are close friends with Casey, your brother Raph, especially close to him. I just want to know if you are doing well, and if your brothers are okay too, they weren't at school today."

Michelangelo was nervous, he knew it was only a matter of time before they notice Donatello's absence. Why won't dad let me tell anyone?

Michelangelo, slouched and was looking down fiddling his thumbs. " I don't wanna talk about it, my brothers were just... concerned about Casey, are they in trouble?"

" No, I understand, they still have to have a signed note when they return though. The school just wants to know if there is anything that you and your brothers need."

"Okay...can I go back to class?"

seemed to fawn at how closed off the boy was acting, but didn't say another word about it.

"Alright you can go now."

As he was leaving MR. Wilson called out to him and said, "Just know that I'm here to help if you need anything."

"Okay" was all he said in return.

Michelangelo walked slowly back to class and ran out the clock. He was delighted when the bell finally rang and he walked home. As he was getting home he sensed that he was being followed. He took in his surroundings and tried to see if he noticed anyone. As he was walking down the street he noticed the one following him. There was no denying it now. It was a teenage girl, looked about Leonardo's age. She had fair skin and dark hair. There was something frightening about her, even though she seemed like any other person in the streets, something was off. He turned around and looked at her then kept on walking.

He got on the subway and headed home. He didn't notice the girl around him anymore, but he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. He was trying to convince himself that it was just in his head.

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