I'm bored.

I'm bored.

I'm SO bored.

Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored. Bored times infinity.

I reread my Jupiter Jim comics. I already know these by heart. Every line, every detail, every plot, and I wouldn't mind reading them. This time it's crucial I pay attention for a reason.

Okay, two reasons.

One, we haven't had any excitement for two days since we rescued Mayhem. Not to mention the incident where those mosquitoes escaped the mystic zone from Barum Draxum's lab. So far, it's been a little quiet. Most of our days we train by watching Lou Jitsu's movies studying on his fighting style. Sometimes I didn't get involve. Overall, a quiet, boring few days.

Two, I can't stop thinking about a certain Goth. Two days since we've encountered Merrill and I can't stop thinking about him. Since meeting Mr. Dark and Depressing, my brain keeps showcasing Merrill in different scenarios. I was like portraying as him, looking through his eyes. Kind of strange seeing through someone's eyes, especially if their vision is like being a computer in a spy movie. My latest daydream is imagining him doing pushups with one arm; sweat dripping down on the hardwood floor. He was finishing on his routine – I guess – as he stands up and walk over to his towel on a rack next to a wall of mirrors. His black hair pulled back to a ponytail, he wore a white tank top and gray sport shorts which showed his bare arms and legs. What shocked me of his prosthetics. I thought his arms were the only one he has, but I was completely wrong. His metal arms go past his elbows and legs were above his knees. That would explain his agility and speed. I saw him drying the sweat with a gray towel. He sighs in relief. He looks in the mirror and blinks his dark blue eyes. He stares into the mirror before I woke up.

I squeal in my pillow. What is wrong with me? He's no different than me... beside the mutation.

I visioned him going to his bathroom turning on the faucet on his shower. I see him looking at his sink mirror while taking his top off. I squeal again. I think my pillow is already crumble. I jump up hearing Mikey coming to my room.

"Hey, Leo, have you seen my art kit. I don't remember where I put it..."

"Nope. No idea. Haven't seen it. Bye!" I smother my pillow. I feel a tap on my head. I peek through my pillow and groan. On no.

"Talk to Doctor Feelings. Tell me what you're feeling." I hate it when he becomes Doctor Feelings. It's hard to read his expression. He does a complete 360 turn on the personality scale. I guess it wouldn't hurt to tell Mikey – I mean, Dr. Feelings. He could help me figure out why Merrill is in my head.

I sit up with a sigh. I discard my pillow. "Something is wrong with me. Ever since meeting Merrill, he's stuck in my head. I try distracting my mind with my hobbies: skateboarding, reading comics, watching videos, playing video games, but nothing works! I keep seeing him! I mean, come on! The first time we met, he stuck a knife at my throat! A knife! Who does that? Next, he said he wasn't getting involve and then got involved anyway! He's rude, conceited, has a dark sense of humor –"

"Okay. But how do you feel when you think of him?"

My face gets heated. "Um... uh... idunno... weird? Like a good weird. Merrill isn't all bad. Before our encounter, he reassures Mayhem he would protect him. And he goes through the trouble of saving Mayhem. He could've gone home and pretended like he didn't see anything, and he didn't. and the way he holds me, three times, feels like I was hugging a warm blanket. If the moment lasted a little longer, I wouldn't mind sleeping there." I sigh heavily. I soon realized I was holding myself. I straighten myself before looking back at Dr. Feelings. "Every time I think about Merrill, my heart beats too fast, my hands sweat slot, and my stomach has an uneasiness to it. I know I'm not sick. What is it?"

"Do you want my opinion?"

I nod. "Yes. Should I take some medication?"

"Let me be frank. What your experiencing is your first crush", Mikey states.

I stare at my baby bro and laugh hysterically. I laugh some more. I laugh so hard I feel a cramp coming in. I gulp some air and wipes a tear off my eye. I look at Mikey chuckling at theory. Mikey didn't laugh with me. Posture straight and blank expression. My laughter immediately stops. "You... you're not serious... right?"

"When it comes to Doctor Feelings, I'm always serious." He shifts his glasses looking down on me. I gulp.

"Tha – that's crazy! Me crushing some dude I just met! We can't stand each other! He's so not my type. And... and... and..." I keep stuttering and making different excuses. This is new. I never stutter! What's worse, I just keep talking and playing with the tails of my mask. "And who cares if he's thinking about me? Who cares if he got out of the shower after a long day of working out shirtless and in boxer shorts. I don't care! Who's Merrill?!" I may have said the last pitch in a high pitch voice.

Mikey stares, patiently. "You don't have a crush, huh? Alight. Let's test that. While you were chatting a mile, I did a quick sketch on your 'not crush'. Exhibit A!" he flashes his sketch. The picture he drew is Merrill – shirtless and boxers – thin body with muscles. I swear my brain was on the frizz. I didn't realize I was staring for so long until Mikey clears his throat, loudly.

I blink. Shit, I was gawking too hard. There's no way I'm crushing on Mr. Hello-Darkness-My-Old-Friend. I refocus on the sketch. Mikey did a good job, but something didn't look right. I tilt my head. "That's wrong." I say before my brain caught up with my mouth. Mikey tilts is head, looking back at his drawing. His metal arms are above his elbows but not up to his shoulders and he has prosthetics on is legs, too. They reach about above kneecaps."

"Really? That explains a few things." Mikey discards his outfit. "What are you going to do?"

"What is there to do? I don't have a crush, Mike. I'm sorry, but I think Dr. Feelings is off the mark for the first time."

"Agree to disagree. Doctor Feelings knows his shit." I chuckle. Mikey has been swearing in secret in case pops or Raph are nearby.

"Guys!" Mike and I walk out of my room, seeing April running toward my smart twin's room, "come to Donnie's room! Quick!" She runs, throwing her bag beside the skate ramp. Mikey and I look at each other, the latter shrug.

We gather in Donnie's lab. April standing next to Donnie telling him to hack into her school's network. "And whom am I looking for?"

"Find Ramirez. You'll find a familiar face."

"Okay..." Donnie doesn't bother questioning her and hacks her school's system. He manages to get in no problem. "Ramirez. Ramirez. I don't see the point in – oh, look it's Mr. Ramirez comma Merrill D." he clicks on the file and pops up Merrill's headshot – frowning.

"Goth Boy goes to your school?" Raph asks as Mikey elbows my side. I roll my eyes. Don't care.

"I knew I recognized that name somewhere. I can't believe we encountered Mr. Suspension."

"Mr. Suspension?"

Donnie nods. "Yup. According to his school file he was supposed to be expelled, however, his sentence was reduced to a three-week sentence. Ho daddy he's the BAD in bad boy. And this isn't his first suspension! Mr. Ramirez has quite the track record dating back to his junior high days. Has a criminal record before entering freshmen year. He is literally a bad egg. Despite his attitude and is reputation, he would have made valedictorian of his class. His academics are flawless. His physicals are top notched. He could have any career he wants with the right mind set."

"And his parents are stinkin' rich!" we turn to April who keeps looking at Merrill's picture. "I heard his parents put in a huge donation to keep him from expulsion. Probably to make sure he doesn't do anything crazy. But Donnie's right. The guy got smarts, money, talent, good looks, charms, and can have anyone he wants. If it wasn't for his dark getup, he could be hangin' wit' the popular kids!"

"That tears it! We're never going to meet Goth Boy again!" Raph says with his leader/big brother voice. "The farther we're apart, the better for us."

Donnie dramatically sighs. "Sigh. How will I ever get answers on his prosthetics? Or his bike? I can at least get his email address?"

"Donnie, when I said 'we', I meant all of us."

"I must know his technology! LET. ME. HAVE. THIS!"

"I bet he wouldn't let you come anywhere near him within a thirty-six-foot pole", I joke, but I'm certainly know Merrill doesn't want Donnie gawking his robot limbs.

"At least I didn't enjoy the tango with the Phantom of the Opera."

"He's not a phantom, Donnie, and I didn't enjoy dancing with him." My twin rolls his eyes. Obviously, I didn't get his reference.

"I don't know, Leo. You seem awfully cozy in his arms." Mikey smirks. "Maybe Donnie isn't the one with the boy crush. You know what I'm saying." My lil bro gets close wiggling his eyes emphasizing his earlier theory. I push his face away. I can feel my face heating.

Raph, Donnie, and April look at each other before turning to us. "Leo... is there something you're not telling us?" April asks.

"Nope. There's nothing to say! Nothing at all! Nada. Zilch. Zero."

Donnie looks to our brother beside me. "Michael..."

"Leo likes Merrill! Leo likes Merrill! Leo likes M –" I start strangling Mikey.

"I. Do. Not. Like. Him!" I continue strangling while Mikey sings his little melody.

"Wait, what?" I stop strangling to see Raph horrify at the sudden information. "You like Goth Boy."

"Ah, his hormones are probably in effect", Donnie says. I can feel my cheeks getting hotter. "Or Merrill found a way to release his pheromones in Leo's system. I might need to convey a quick diagnosis."

"Guys!" I yell, everyone turns my way. "There's nothing going on. I don't have a crush on Merrill. Merrill doesn't have a crush on me – maybe he does I'm not judging; I am awesome. But I don't have a crush on him! He's not my type!"

"You have a type?" Raph and Donnie both says in unison.

"Merrill is a professional player", April says, "he can make a straight man go gay in a snap", she emphasis by snapping her fingers and continues, "he was in thirteen relationships. He dumped them after having sex one time! I don't know how, but Merrill has this charm like he can literally make anyone do his bidding with a wink and a smile. Everyone calls him the Sexy Lucifer."

"Again, he's NOT my type!" I repeat.

Donnie stares, blankly. "And I counter, YOU have a type?"

Raph walks up to me. His hands lay on my shoulders. "Leo, this is serious. What if Goth Boy charms you into getting in his bed? Probably drug you on the way. You wouldn't know."

I shove his hands off. "Merrill is NOT like that! You all don't know anything about him!"

My older brother sighs. "I'm just concern. This is your first crush. I don't want to see you get hurt." Everyone is wrong! He's nothing what they say.

"I'm not listening to this!" I yell storming out of Donnie's room and heading to mine. I throw myself on my bed with the sheets over me. I don't have a crush on Merrill. He's the one crushing me! I mean, who can blame him? I'm a catch. I'm an irresistible, attractive turtle. Why wouldn't he go for me?

...because I'm a mutant.

Yeah... Merrill can have anyone he wants without trying. He has everything he wants and does what he wants. He's so lucky.

He also... lonely.

Maybe one day... we can be lonely together.