The next morning Leonardo padded into the lounge to find Hope sitting on the sofa, her bags on the floor next to her feet.
"Hope-"
"Don't. It's fine. I'm over it. Him. Whatever."
"You must be Hope." Said April, offering her hand. Hope couldn't help but notice that she'd arrived from the direction of Donatello's room. She was so beautiful. Long fiery hair billowing around her shoulders. Gleaming sapphire eyes. One of those smiles that made you love her, even if you wanted to hate her.
"Hi. April." She greeted with all the kindness she could muster and took her hand. She'd heard a lot about April and she admired her and her inner strength. But that was all before she had learned the missing detail. That her darling Donatello was actually in love with April. And not her.
He appeared from behind April, rubbing his eyes. Stopping dead in his tracks, his eyes widened when he saw Hope.
"H-hi." He managed. April winked at Donatello and he blushed. Hope couldn't have felt more awkward. She looked down at her lap.
"I'd better unpack my things."
She was suddenly hit with a blur of green and orange, and before she knew it she was engulfed by an ecstatic Michelangelo, his arms locked around her.
"Oh man! I've missed you so much!" He said lifting her from the ground and swinging her side to side. She couldn't hold back her laughter, trust this turtle to lift her spirits when she felt so low. "Where did you stay last night, dude?" He placed her on the ground and tilted his head at her. Donatello looked up, gauging Hope's reaction. She blushed.
"A friend's."
He didn't know what to believe. The silence in the lair was unbearable. Hope looked up and saw Donatello and April share a look. The way he sheepishly grinned at her. The way she wanted him to look at her.