Thank you Guest and PCKB for the reviews. I was hoping more readers would have reviewed by now but as long as people are enjoying the story, I will continue to update. If anyone out there would like to review, I would love to read it. Just please be kind. Peace :)

Ch 8

"Hey Grayson," Leo said into his cell phone. He had just come home from being at the dojo and, after contemplating all Mikey had said, decided to give Grayson another chance. "I was just wondering if you might like to go to Coney Island?"

"Sure Leo," Grayson answered, "What time and day?"

"How bout tonight say around seven?"

"Sounds great, would you like me to pick you up?"

"Sure, I'll meet you at the entrance to Central Park."

"Awesome, I'll see you then."

With a smile, Leo hung up the phone and made his way toward the kitchen, feeling slightly surprised that he was at ease with the prospect of the evening. But yet, in the back of his mind, there was still a feeling of nervousness he just couldn't shake.

'Maybe this really isn't who I am,' Leo mused to himself, 'And it just wouldn't be right to Grayson, or anyone for that matter, if I'm not being honest with them or myself,' Leo huffed, 'I'm beginning to wonder who it is I really am.'

"Penny for your thoughts Leo," A voice cut through Leo's musings as he remembered he was in the kitchen looking for a snack.

"What?" Leo looked up to see Donnie walking in. "What did you say, Donnie?"

"You've been standing in front of the fridge for at least ten seconds," Donnie walked over and grabbed a mug from a cabinet above the coffee maker and went about making himself a cup of coffee, "I was hoping I could eventually get in there and get the creamer but if you need a moment to decide what you want, I don't mind waiting."

Leo sighed and opened the fridge, he quickly handed the turtle the creamer then gazed into the refrigerator and scanned the contents. "I thought I was hungry but it might be just boredom." He sighed and closed the door. "I think I'll go down to the dojo and do some practicing."

"Or maybe you could talk to me about what's really on your mind," Donnie suggested as he sat down at the kitchen table. He looked at Leo expectantly as he began to sip his coffee.

"No offense Don," Leo started walking out the door, "But there's really nothing I need to talk about with you."

"From what Mikey says," Donnie continued as though Leo had said nothing, "There's a lot you could talk to me about."

Leo looked back at Don and shook his head, "You wouldn't understand."

Leo had just started to walk out the door again but stopped and looked back at Donnie in surprise when the purple clad turtle started laughing hard.

"How can you say that Leo?" Donnie asked after finally calming down, "Do you really think I have no idea what you're going through?" He stood up and placed his cup in the sink, "Do you really think Mikey has no idea what you're going through."

"Mikey maybe," Leo retorted indignantly as the two walked out of the kitchen, "But I highly doubt you do."

"Wait a minute," Donnie turned and placed a hand on Leo's chest, he looked him square in the eye and stared hard at him with mounting anger, "Do you honestly think I was born knowing I was gay?"

Leo looked Donnie up and down, "Maybe not born knowing you were but at some point I'm sure you were able to figure it out."

"At some point yes," Donnie said as he turned and continued toward the room he shared with Mikey, "But even I had a lot of soul searching to do before I realized who and what I truly was," He stopped and walked back toward the table at the end of the couch and picked up a stack of envelopes, "You know, maybe instead of being concerned with what you are, why not just go out, have a good time and see where things go," He rifled through the envelopes and pulled one out, "And stop assuming what others are all about, you're not the only one who has a lot to deal with you know," He handed Leo the envelope, "Mikey told me to wait till you were certain about your feelings toward Grayson before we gave you your wedding invite but seeing as you still have a lot to deal with, I figured I just give it to you now, I would hate for you to forget about your brother's important day."

As Donnie turned and walked away, Leo felt a pang of guilt in the pit of his stomach. He sat down on the couch and placed the invite on the coffee table.

"Now what is all the noise about?" Splinter's voice rang out. He stopped at the entrance to the living room upon seeing Leo sitting on the couch looking rather dejected, "Leonardo?" He made his way to the couch and sat down, "What is the problem?"

Leo fingered the envelope while chewing on his bottom lip, "Nothing Sensei," Leo finally told him with a heavy sigh, He pulled out his cell phone and turned it on, "Donnie was just giving me a lecture and I was thinking about what he said," He looked at Splinter with a tired look, "That's all, nothing else."

Splinter looked down at the wedding invitation and shook his head, "I thought you were going to make a date with your new friend, Grayson?"

"It's not a date Sensei," Leo insisted as he pulled up his picture gallery, "It's just two guys going to Coney Island and hanging out," Splinter watched as Leo swiped through the many pictures on his cell phone and pulled one up, "That's it."

"I see," He then pointed to Leo's cell, "Then if that is 'it' as you say, why are you staring at a picture of Karai?"

Leo placed his cell on top of the wedding invite, "Oh Sensei, I feel so confused!" He suddenly blurted out, "I don't want to date a guy but at the same time I kind of feel okay about it," He sighed heavily and placed his head in his hands as he placed his elbows on his knees and leaned forward.

Splinter shook his head, "My son," He began as he placed his paw on Leo's shoulder, "Do you know what I do when I feel confused about things?" He hummed thoughtfully, "Especially things about myself?"

"You find a quiet spot and meditate," Leo told him stoically.

"I find a quiet spot and meditate…" Splinter looked at Leo in annoyance, "Uh, yes correct," He muttered, "Perhaps you should take some time and do that as well."

"I honestly don't believe all the meditating in the world is gonna help me, Sensei," Leo responded clearly exasperated, "It's just, I was debating about possibly telling Grayson that the dating service made a mistake and all I want to be is just friends."

"If that is how you truly feel, then that is what I would do," Splinter told him.

"But I don't want to hurt his feelings and I'm not sure that is how I feel."

Splinter shook his head and sighed, "Then hold off on telling him anything, just go out tonight with your friend and see what happens," Splinter said as he stood up from the couch and started toward the kitchen, "Who knows," He continued as he stopped by the kitchen door, "You may be happily surprised by how things end up."

Leo nodded, then frowned at the rat's retreating back, "Have you been talking to Mikey and Donnie Sensei?" He called out, then looked back at his cell phone "Because that's the exact same thing they said to me."

Xxxxx

At seven that night, Leo watched as the bright blue convertible pulled up alongside him. He hopped in and smiled at the turtle sitting behind the wheel.

"How's it going Leo?" Grayson asked as he put the car in gear and headed toward the amusement park.

Leo buckled his seatbelt and leaned his head against the headrest, "It's going good," He replied as he looked up at the brightly lit evening summer sky. "This is a really cool car," Leo said as he settled back against the seat, "I love the color."

Grayson smiled, "Yeah, it was the color that attracted me to her," They came to a stop light and he patted the dashboard lovingly, "I love the color blue."

"Really," Leo looked at him approvingly, "It's my favorite color too." He shook his head and gave a light chuckle, "Amazing how we are so much alike," He sighed contentedly, "But I guess that's why the dating service matched us up."

Grayson nodded in agreement, "I was surprised you called me Leo," Grayson said, "After the way you walked away from me yesterday, I thought you weren't interested in another date."

Leo looked out the side of the car, silently debating with himself whether or not he should tell Grayson the truth about himself. After a moment, he shrugged, "Well, I'm actually not sure how I feel right now about anything," He finally said, "But my family told me not to give up so quickly and see where things between us could go."

Grayson pulled into the parking lot of Coney Island and parked the car. But before Leo could get out of the car the other turtle placed a hand on his arm, "Look Leo," Grayson stared intently at him, "First of all, as much as I'm hoping to find a lifelong mate, I'm not looking to rush into anything, I want to get my career taken care of first," Leo looked back at Grayson curiously as the other turtle settled himself back against his seat, "And second of all, I'm just looking to have some fun in a new city while I'm waiting for my father to find a gym for me sign up at and my brother to finish up with his college courses so he can join us." Leo nodded in understanding, "So I don't know what it is you think you may be giving up on, I just want to have someone to hang out with." The two turtles got out of the car and headed toward the entrance, "And if the relationship ends up going somewhere then that, in my opinion, is a bonus."

"Sorry Grayson," Leo said as he paid for their tickets, "I didn't mean it like that, it's just…" They walked through the park, checking out the rides and booths.

"Just what Leo?" Grayson prodded.

Leo again debated with himself about whether or not to tell Grayson about his true feelings. "It's just that I recently broke up with someone and I wasn't sure if getting back into the dating scene was a good idea or not."

"I understand," Grayson said, "But no worries, like I said I'm just looking to have some fun."

Leo nodded, "Then let's have some fun," He pointed to a roller coaster, "And I say we start with that."

Grayson nodded enthusiastically and the two turtles quickly made their way to get in line with several other eager riders.