WHOOP! Sorry for any spelling and/or grammar mistakes!
How had things gotten so bad so fast? Nicole didn't even know how to answer that.
If she had to write everything down, she would start with waking up that morning.
It was early, the sun barely peeking out from behind the buildings and through Nicole's window.
It was like every normal day, and for a few moments, she actually began to believe that her Best friend bringing home two mutant turtles was just a dream… till something hit her on the face.
Scrunching up her nose, she grunted as something hit her nose again. Opening her eyes, she grumbled. She was on her couch, laying flat on her best with something resting against her chest. "Ow." She huffed when something hit her nose again.
Squinting down towards her stomach, all she could see were large yellow eyes staring at her.
"…" she blinked, and they blinked back. She wanted to scream, or sit up and send the creature off of her, but the nights events flooded back to her in the last minute. It was Picasso.
Since she had no where to put him she just let him sleep on her stomach all night. That little guy was out like a light as soon as she settled him down.
"Oh." She rubbed her eyes. "It is just you."
He cooed at her, rising to his feet to crawl up her chest and curl up next to her neck and shoulder like a cat would. Glancing at him, she sighed. "Morning to you too.' She patted his head. "I'm assuming you sleep well." With a yawn, she glanced around the room. If she remember correctly, she had offered Arinna her bed last night, meaning that Sebastian was also in there with her.
She hummed in thought.
So… she slept on it like she told Arinna she would. Keep the Turtles?
Well, she was sure Arinna would do that regardless if she agreed or not, so she supposed she had no choice but to go along.
"Hey Picasso-" she glanced at the little baby. He was currently staring at her hair in awe. Since he was next to her neck, it kept getting in his face, so he would open his mouth and try to bite down on it. "No. No." Nicole quickly sat up. "My hair isn't food." She grumbled. The baby looked up at her in confusion, a deep frown sketched across his face. "You hungry or something?"
He didn't reply and wiggled his toes.
"Yes?"
"…Gah…"
"Yes." Nicole nodded, rising to her feet. Placing Picasso awkwardly in one of her arms, unsure if she was holding him correctly, she moved into her kitchen. "Hey Arinna!' she called. "Breakfast!"
A snort echoed from her room followed by a confused grown. "Huh? Wha- AH!" then there was a small silence. "Oh yeah! Hello Sebastian!" Arinna coed seconds before exiting Nicole's bedroom with Sebastian in her grip. "Good Morning Nicole." She beamed.
"Yeah, morning." Nicole gave her a smile in return. "So um… how exactly do you hold this guy again?" Nicole held Picasso out. Arinna almost screamed.
"Definitely not like that!" she wailed.
Nicole blinked. Not like this? But she was holding him by his waste and all that- oh… she was holding him upside down. "Whoops." She flinched, placing him on the table. Picasso on the other hand only blinked at her, as if he didn't care if he was thrown, held upside down, or punted like a foot ball.
Nicole would never punt him like a football.
"Honestly." Arinna sighed, placing a hand on Picasso's head to make sure he was okay. "You really have no experience with babies do you?"
"None that I can really remember." Nicole sighed. "Sorry Picasso." She apologized. The baby smiled at her, giggling.
The two older women chuckled. "So…" Arinna glanced back at Nicole. "Have you decided?"
"About keeping the kids?"
"Yeah."
Nicole turned back to the fridge to grab some milk. "…Well, I guess we can." She shrugged. "But if we are going to do this, we need to do some research. I don't know how to care of babies… or Turtle babies."
Arinna nodded in agreement, looking down at little Sebastian. "Yeah, I'm a little unsure of that too." She agreed.
"Right. So we need some sort of plan and supplies."
"Like Baby supplies?"
"Well, I'm sure we could get baby supplies at any store." Arinna offered. "But… I'm kind of broke."
'Which means I am paying. You need to get a job." Nicole sniffed.
"Yeah… working on it." Her friend shrugged sheepishly.
"Okay so a quick game plan!" Nicole declared. "You stay here and watch Pica and Seba while I got to the store to get some supplies… and I'll stop buy the library to get some information." She nodded to herself.
"…Pica and Seba?" Arinna frowned. "Really?"
"What?" Nicole held out her arms. "Those are cute nicknames!"
Arinna sighed, nodding her head. "Well yeah. But I think since they are boys they would want cooler nicknames... like Casso or and Bastion... or something like that."
"Whatever." Nicole looked at Sebastian, who was frowning. "Hey, what is wrong with him?"
Realizing Nicole meant Sebastian, Arinna looked down to the little baby. Frowning, she titled her head. "I dunno. Maybe he is grumpy?" Sebastian shifted in her arms, whimpering. "O-Or hungry?" Suddenly, Sebastian began to sniffle, tears pooling in his eyes.
"Oh jeez! He's crying." Nicole panicked.
"I can see that." Arinna began to pet his back, holding him close. "There there. Don't cry. Don't cry." Sebastian let out a wail… as if he was in pain.
The two almost jumped out of their skin. "Shut him up!" Nicole hissed, knowing her neighbors might be able to hear.
"I'm trying! Shhh. Shhh. There there darling, it is alright. No need to cry." Sebastain began to twist and turn in her grip, and to prevent from dropping him she placed him on the table with Picasso, who stared at them with wide eyes. Scanning over the child, Arinna fumbled for an answer. "I-I don't know what is-" she trailed off, looking to his legs.
Was it perhaps... his legs?
Nicole seemed to get the same idea as Arinna and gently placed her hand on his legs. Massaging them gently, she ran her fingers over the muscles, feeling for any sign on injury. "I bet it is his legs." Nicole muttered. "Arinna, go into my bathroom and get the first aid kit that is under the sink."
Looking horrified, Arinna quickly scurried into the bathroom to retrieve the first aid kit. When she did, she opened it up and held it to Nicole. Reaching in blindly, keeping her focus on Sebastian, Nicole lifted out some bandages. "Get me those spoons." She pointed to the two wooden spoons that were hanging above her stove.
Confused, Arinna grabbed them and handed them to her. Taking them into her palms, Nicole placed them together and broke then in half.
"Nicole? What are you doing?" Arinna inquired as Nicole broke off the rounded part of the spoon and began to tape over the splintered ends of the sticks.
"I think the problem is that his bones aren't staying straight." She began to explain as she placed 2 parts of the sticks to each of his legs. Using them as splints, she wrapped the bandages around Sebastian's legs, using them as a sort of wooden Braces.(Note, this is the Title of the Story that features Sebastian if you want to go check it out)
Arinna stared curiously from over Nicole's shoulder. "Will those help?"
"They should." Nicole chuckled. "Though they aren't the best they'll have to do till I can make him something batter." Tying a secure knot, she examined her work and nodded. "There, he is done!" she lifted him up and held him out to Arinna.
Bending down a bit to look at Sebastian, Arinna beamed to find Sebastian wiggling his fingers, staring at his new looking leg gear. Reaching down he patted his legs, squeaking as if he was trying to figure out what exactly they had done to him.
He didn't even remember he was in pain a few minutes beforehand.
"Oh Nicole, thank you!" Arinna grinned, taking Sebastian back into her arms.
"No problem Arinna-"
BAAM! BAAM!
Hearing a loud banking from her door, Nicole jumped. Realizing someone was at the door, froze. She recognized that knocking instantly. It was… her.
She had exactly 10.3 seconds to open the door before an unwanted house guest would come barging in.
"Quick hide in the closet!" Nicole whispered in a hush tone, pushing Picasso into Arinna's arm and shoving them into the nearest closet. "Don't make a sound!"
"Nicole wha-?!" Arinna couldn't even get out her sentence before the door was slammed in her face. Nodding to herself, Nicole scrambled for her front door, grabbing the door handle just as another booming knock sounded.
"Yes?" Nicole put on her best smile as she opened the door. On the other side, a dark shadow edged at the doorway, glaring inside.
"Nicole." They hissed.
"…Oh. Hello Agatha." Nicole gulped. This was Agatha Handel… the owner and manager of Nicole's apartment building. She was 39 year old women that wore heavy boots every single day, dark brown hair, and green eyes that could pierce into your very soul if you weren't careful.
Agatha could sense something was wrong with her building from miles away. Usually Nicole thought that was very comforting, knowing she would be safe at night. However, now she was hiding two baby turtles and a Hobo in her house.
…She was scared.
Nicole once heard a rumor that her neighbor had made too much noise one night from having his buddy over, and Agatha completely crashed through the door, yelling at them to quiet down before she cut out their tongues.
Granted, the rumors in this place got a little crazy and over exaggerated, but it was true that Agatha had some how gotten into that apartment that night. Poor John always looks pale now whenever Agatha comes by.
"Hello Nicole." Agatha smiled. "I'm sorry to bother you so early in the morning, but I received a phone call from one of your neighbors down the hall complaining about how there was a large ruckus coming from your apartment." Agatha glanced over Nicole's shoulder to peek inside, a suspicious glint appearing in her green eyes for a moment.
Nicole straightened. "Noise? Well, that is odd. I was asleep all night last night." She glanced down the hall. Curse you Ms. Flay and your super human ears!
"Oh, how strange. So everything is alright then?" Agatha inquired.
"Yup. Yup." Nicole nodded some more. "Just same old me in here. I might have left the Tv on last night if that helps at all. I'm a really heavy sleeper."
"Oh, well that must have been it." The older women nodded. "Have a nice morning Nicole." She turned to leave. "There are cookies down stairs if you would like some."
"Thank you Agatha. I might just take you up on that offer later." Nicole waved, stepping back into her apartment and closing the door. Keeping her hand on the door handle, Nicole kept still, listening for any sign that Agatha was still standing outside her door.
She was a fool to think things would go so smoothly. Agatha was like some sort of frigging CIA agent! That women knew when anything was even slightly off with this building! if she was going to survive, she would need to be as sneaky as a Ninja. Or an assassins... assassins sound cooler.
Suddenly, she could hear the sound of fading foot prints and sighed with relief. Quickly locking the door, she flew open the puffed out her cheeks with a huff.
"What in the world was that?" she demanded.
"Sorry, that was the owner." Nicole shrunk. "She's got ears like a hawk, I didn't want to take any chances. Plus, if she came in here, I wanted to make sure you three were already hiding."
"Why would we have to hide from her?" Arinna's eyes widened.
"Well, I don't know how she would react to mutant turtle babies. Plus, though it has never been proven, I think she is some sort of ex FBI agent or something. Or CIA, I don't really know the differences between the two.
"FBI?" Arinna almost scoffed. "Seriously?"
"I'm not kidding! That women can be a monster sometimes."
With a roll of her eyes, Arinna placed Picasso and Sebastian on the floor to play. "Well, your FBI owner aside, I think we should get the boys food."
Nicole glanced at the clock, nodding. "Yeah, that would probably be best. If I leave now I should be back in 30 or 40 minutes. Think you can handle them on your own for that long?"
"Yeah. I mean… how hard can it be?"
"Very hard."
"No, it would be very hard for you. I know how to handle children." Arinna correctly.
"Rude, but true." She grabbed her bag. "Okay, then I am heading off. You know my cell, so use my house phone to get in contact with me if something happens."
"I will."
-00030 minutes later000-
The trip to the library had been oddly enough quick and easy. Nicole had literally run through the whole place grabbing every baby and turtle book she could get her hands on. The total of books had run up to around 25. She practically had to bribe the librarian to let her check out that many books.
She now had to make over 2 cakes and 5 dozen cupcakes by next Saturday for some sort of get together. Great… Nicole was terrible at cooking, and yet she owned a Bakery. It was an odd little thing to do, but it was always a dream of hers.
Again though, she can't cook to save her life. So she hired some help to help get the cooking done. She had actually hired this women who only needed an extra little cash.
Her name was Vanessa Thompson. She was this Fashion designer or whatever as well, but because she had recently had a little girl named Alexis she needed some extra money or something. Nicole didn't mind, as long as she got the job done.
It was actually Vanessa right now who was watching over the store while she was out doing all this shopping.
She'd be lost without that beautiful angel! Though she could definitely do less with Vanessa bringing her crazy baby with her to work. Alexis was cute… but man that kid stared at her like she wanted to eat her! It freaked Nicole out!
…Or maybe it was just because Nicole was terrible with babies? She wasn't sure.
Anyway, since Nicole no longer had to worry about her shop, at least for now, she could focus on getting supplies.
She dreaded her trip to the store however. She was terrible at buying groceries, even just for herself. She never knew what she would need and would get distracted by things she didn't.
She had to stay focused though, she needed baby supplies and food. She hated every minutes of it.
Nicole sighed heavily as she marched through the store, pushing a cart in front of her. She had told Arinna she was going shopping for the turtles but… seriously, what in the world was she doing?
Why was she going to such lengths for two weirdo turtles? Sure, she didn't mind helping them, but she had no reason to. Arinna even asking her might not have been enough.
She didn't know how to explain it.
When she had left this morning to get supplies she had felt so excited to go get stuff for Sebastian and Picasso, but now that she was here… she wasn't sure what to even get!
"Why is everything so flipping expensive?!" Nicole demanded quietly as she sped through the aisle, scanning over the baby supplies. She wasn't going to buy them cloths because she knew they would probably never fit, but maybe she could at least get some cloth to sew them some socks or something?
They definitely needed diapers though. Grabbing to large bags she tossed them into the cart. They would also need bottles, blankets, maybe a binky or two, and some toys. Like hell- or um, Shell, (hehe) she going to let those two tots mess with anything in her apartment.
Grabbing some milk and eggs, she placed them in the cart and continued threw the store. She paused as she passed by a children's fairy tale. Plucking it off the shelf she opened in and skimmed over the words. Would the boys like it?
It was about a the turtle who raced the rabbit, so they probably would. It like, was about a turtle so, probably.
She had never actually read the book… did the Turtle win? Yeah, they would be happy if the turtle ended up winning… right?
Yeah.
Tossing it into the cart she shrugged and pushed on. Above, the song 'Cotton Eye Joe' began to play. Confused at the odd set list this store had, Nicole turned the corner, grunting when her cart ran straight into another.
"Oh!" she gasped. "Sorry about that. I didn't even see you there-" she trailed off as a pink sweater and Afro came into view. Her eyes widened in horror. "You!"
The person she ran into looked up in surprise, pushing up his bulky circular glasses. "Wha- NICOL!" None other than Baxter Stockman, her old HighSchool enemy, squeaked. Growling, Nicole pulled her cart back, slamming it back into his to ram the handle into his gut. He gagged, stumbling back a bit. "Good heavens! Do you have any idea who I am!?" he huffed.
"Nerd Stickman."
"It is Baxter Stockman!" he growled. "You know this! You've known it for years!"
"Whatever Stickman, get out of my way. I got some serious business to attend to." Nicole hit his cart with her own again.
Scrambling to hold his cart steady, he scowled. "What sort of stupid business is so important-" he glanced inside her cart. "Baby supplies?" he looked horrified. "Holy Mackerel, please tell me you aren't bearing children." He glanced towards her stomach.
"UGH!" Nicole leapt back, covering her stomach. "No way, idiot!"
"Then why-?"
"That isn't any of your business!" she yelled, she kicked his cart over.
"Hey!"
Hissing like a cat, Nicole grabbed her cart and rushed out of the isle, quick to escape anyone else from witnessing the sight. Sprinting to the other side of store, Nicole huffed a few times, turning into the cereal isle. Stockman would never follow her down here. Too much sugar gave him hives.
To think that she would see him here though. She must have been having the worse luck ever. Good thing Arinna hadn't come with her. If she was, who knows what would have happened. Even if Arinna hadn't realized it in High School, Stockman was head over heels for her.
Seriously, Arinna had to be completely blind of love to not see those little hearts in Stockman's eyes every time she walked towards him. It was kind of gross.
"Well-" Grabbing a box of cereal since she was there, she moved to the check out. She basically had most of everything she needed, and the rest was at home. So it was probably best just to head back. She didn't want to leave Arinna alone for too long.
So, to be safe, she scurried through the self check out, ran out the door, and headed straight home. As she moved, she pulled out her phone, calling her house phone.
Seconds later Arinna picked up, sounding hesitant. "…Hello?"
"Get out the Swag-muffins and Yolo-Rolls Arinna, I'm coming back with some food, research and presents for the kids!" Nicole cackled into her phone.
Arinna laughed on the other end. "That's great Arinna. The boys are really starting to get fussy here. They are starving."
"Just feed them some worms or something. Or some berries! I got some berries in the fridge. I know turtles can eat berries."
"Berries? Well, alright. I'll see you soon."
"Kay, bye." Nicole said as she crossed the street towards her motorcycle. Hopping in, she revved up the engine and sped down the road.
-000-
Stepping into the apartment building lobby, Nicole dropped to her knees just before she reached the front desk. Sensing Agatha on the other side, Nicole carefully crawled in front of the desk, keeping as low to the ground as possible.
How in the world was she going to explain to Agatha that she suddenly needed baby supplies? Yeah, no, she was going to avoid that, and hopefully get past her unseen.
Careful… careful…
Hiding behind a plant, Nicole pulled out a stick she had grabbed on the way in here. Waiting till Agatha looked away, she extended out the stick, using it to press the elevator door button.
Glad that the elevator buzzer was currently not working, meaning there would be no little bell to signify its arrival, Nicole rolled into the room, pushed up against the side, and jabbed her thumb a billion times on the 'Close' button.
She had barely closed the door before Agatha turned her head towards her direction.
Victory!
Feeling like a friggin' ninja, Nicole wiggled her hips in an odd victory dance, pumping her fist. Slamming her finger into the button that said '3' she cackled, her laughter slowly dying away into a sigh. All this trouble for some turtles, she must have been just as crazy as Arinna.
Kicking her door a few times, Nicole grinned when Arinna cautiously opened it, peeking out. "Hey." She grinned.
"Nicole." Arinna threw open the door with a smile. "Welcome back. Did you get everything?"
"Sure thing." She held up the bags with a smug look of triumph. "But seriously, you gotta get a job so next time, you're paying. This stuff is ridiculously expensive!"
"Really?" Arinna took a few of the bags. "At least the books are free."
"Yeah, but we gotta return them. Always a downer." Nicole sighed.
"That is how the library work."
"Things should just be for free."
"That isn't how the world works." Her friend giggled.
"Ugh!" Nicole huffed. Opening the door a little wider with her foot, Nicole stepped in and placed them on the side of the hall, near her shoes. Turning to close the door, she jumped when Arinna let out a cry.
"Nicole! Watch out! Picasso is making a run for it!"
"Huh- AH!" Nicole yelped when Picasso crawled between her legs and out her door like a speeding bullet. For a baby, he was speedy!
"No! Picasso! Come back!" Nicole scrambled after the turtle tot as he dashed out of the apartment. Diving out of the room, Nicole grabbed the little guy, rolling into the wall, holding him close to her chest. "No." she whispered angrily.
He blinked up at her curiously, unsure of what just happened. He began to wiggle though, looking upset. "Ah, yeah no. I'm not letting you run off." Nicole narrowed her eyes. "I just spent hundreds of dollars getting you baby stuff! You are terrible at being grateful-"
SNAP
Nicole's whole body shifted, going rigid at the sound of a clicking noise. What was that?!
As she turned her head to investigate, the color in her face began to drain downward. On the other side, a women stood with a camera held firmly in her grip.
It was her neighbor, Michelle. She was a videographer/photographer who worked for a newspaper company down the street.
…And she had just taken a picture that would ruin everything.
"M… Michelle." Nicole stammered quietly, stumbling to her feet.
The 20 year old women blinked a few times, a look of shock frozen on her gentle features. Crystal blue eyes stared at Nicole, unsure of what to say or do.
In fact, neither of them knew what to do. They both just kind of stood there, staring at each other, waiting to see what the other one would do.
Arinna was the one to break the silence when she peeked her head out of the door. "Hey Nicole did you catch Picas- Oh-no…" she trailed off as she followed Nicole's gaze, her eyes locking in on Michelle. "…Oh gosh…" Arinna grew pale.
"N-Nicole…" Michelle motioned to Picasso with a shaky finger. "What is t-that?" she whispered, her voice thick with her England accent.
Nicole gulped, and she looked to Arinna. Handing Picasso to her, she turned back around to Michelle. "Michelle… give me the camera."
Michelle took a step back, her black hair falling in front of her face.
"Michelle… seriously…" Nicole opened and closed her palm. She stepped forward, cursing when Michelle whipped around and fled down the hall.
"Nicole!" Arinna screamed when Nicole booked it after her. "What are you doing?!"
"I need to get that camera back!" Nicole called over her shoulder. "Don't worry! I got this! Michelle! You get back here!"
Michelle let out a screech as she slammed into the emergency fire escape stairs and shot down them. Right on her tail, Nicole hurtled over the steps. "Michelle I swear when I get my hands on you you're gonna wish you never moved here from England!"
"AH-" Michelle barely got out another cry before Nicole tackled and wrestled her to the floor.
"GIVE ME THE CAMERA!" She just knew making that promise to Arinna last night was going to bring nothing but trouble.
Wahoo! New chapter. Man, it is kind of hard adding people's OC into this story from time to time…. BUT I'm LOVING THE RESULTS! XD Thank you all for sending me in your characters, you are all beautiful people!
Oh and a quick note, Michelle belongs to Dark Nightwatcher while Agatha belongs to Aerissee. Hasste, and Alexis/Vanessa belong to Runpup14.
WAHOO!
….Yeah, Nicole had a long day. Hopefully Michelle doesn't blow the whole secret XD That would be bad.