I lay on my bed staring at my ceiling. It was two days after Albearto's destruction. Leo came a day later feeling better than ever. I wasn't in a talking mood. He must've sensed my discomfort and made up an excuse to leave. I didn't want to be rude, but I need to think things through. How was I able to do all that? The moment I touched Leo's sword, I felt a surge of electricity coursing through my veins. At first, I thought it was the circuitry pumping at hyperdrive. What shocked me of how I was able to summon a portal like Leo. Maybe it was odachi's power after all. I can't believe Leo believed in me to handle his weapon (I don't mean that sexually).

I swear my life got weirder the moment I encountered those turtles.

My lie has gotten weirder the moment I encountered Leo.

Should I hate it? I don't like it... I don't hate it... fuck, that turtle is messing with my mind and he's not even here! I grabbed a pillow and let out a muffled yell. Why am I so confused?! This shouldn't be a no-brainer. Do I enjoy his company or don't I?

Leo is the biggest pain in my ass! An immature, cocky little shit that I don't mind slamming his skull against the wall! However, he's better company than I usually get in my social life.

My cell phone rang on my bedside table. I reached it without looking at the caller ID and answered. "Hello", I called.

"Merrill", my mother's commanding voice came from the other end, "you will resume your education on Monday."

I blinked. "That fast?"

"But of course. No one can say no to me." Understatement of the year. My mother is known for her ruthless commandment. No one can neglect her orders, not even Father. "I cannot let you laze around the house with nothing to fill your time. Remember our deal, Merrill. Your time is not here, until then, you must continue to manifest your skills and gather intelligence." Mother was never a caring parent for all I knew. She was like a major in an army. "Do I make myself clear?"

"Crystal", I said, trying not to grit my teeth. I hate how commanding she is. She talks to everyone who likes a subordinate or those beneath her. Her call disconnected ending our conversation.

I sighed. I tossed my phone aside on my body pillow. So much for saying hello. Not so much as a tender conversation. An order to pass from the commanding officer to the soldier. So much for my freedom. At this point, I'm more of a leashed dog being harshly pulled by my owner.

I have until Monday. I might as well live it to the fullest. I'm not going to dwell on the negatives and I'm not going to let my mom sour my mood.

I pushed myself out of bed. My plans already circulating. Time to get started with my day.

The day went by in a flash. Servants came and gone. My training went through three hours, my reading time was one hour and thirty minutes, and I switched prosthetics to standard. The standard is basically ordinary limbs with no special qualifications. I barely used it, but my Iron Fists needed to be repaired so I might as well let it rest until then.

I was bringing an armful of junk food: from chips to cookies and to sweets and sour candy. Anything that gives me the biggest stomachache ever! All the food I grabbed I dropped on the couch in the living room. That's right, I'm going to binge-watch horror flicks and not just the new ages shit. I'm talking about Friday the 13th, Silent Hill, The Hills Have Eyes, Nightmare on Elm Street, and so much more! I'm not going to move from my spot until Monday. I grabbed the remote and pressed a button. The shelves parted as it revealed a beautiful, 65" by 55" flat-screen TV. I don't know why I never installed a heavenly chorus in the speakers. It would make the appearance grander.

"That is one big television."

"It sure is." I blinked and I quickly turned to the intruder. "What the FUCK are you doing here?!"

"Visiting!" Leo sang as he jumped over the couch and landed on the seat cushion causing some of the chip bags to fall.

"Oh no. Nononononononono!" I grabbed the turtle's wrist and dragged him out of the living room and headed to the foyer. "You're not staying! This is Me-Time!"

Leo, the stubborn idiot that he is, dragged his feet on my floor. "But I don't wanna leave!" he whined.

"I don't fucking care! I'm having a movie marathon and I plan on binge-watching the entire weekend by myself!" I already had the door open, but the slider held his ground firmly as he used his limbs to hold on to the door frame.

"Great! Let me stay with you!"

"Puta, what part of 'no' do you not get?" I was shoving my back against his shell forcing him to release his grip.

"Just let me watch one movie!"

"No!"

"Thirty minutes of it!"

"Again no!"

"Just the trailer...?"

"You're pissing me off!"

"Please! I don't want to go back!" the desperation in his tone made me stop my attempt. I backed away letting Leo dropdown.

"Let me ask you one simple question: why don't you have a movie night with your family? I'm sure they won't mind."

Leo sat cross-leg while not looking at me. 'Raph and I got into an argument.'

I raised an eyebrow. About...?

He glanced my way before turning away.

Was it about me?

Leo stood up fast and glared. "Not everything is about you, OK! We just had a fight! That's it!"

"Right... I'll take that as a 'No shit, Sherlock."

Leo sighed. "Look... we fought, and I needed space... I thought 'hey, we're... friends - I think - and maybe you'd be cool letting me hang here for a bit." He gave me a shaky smile. "None of my bros know where you live, not yet I hope, and..." he sighed again. "This was stupid. I'll get out of your hair. Enjoy your movie." He turned to leave, but I laid a hand on his shoulder.

"You came all this way... I could use the company. It would be bad manners to kick out a guest after the trouble of coming here."

"'Bad manners'? Who are you and what have you done with Merrill?"

"Do you want to watch a movie or not?"

Leo's eyes glistened with hope. "Yes!" he ran inside with a leap in his step. I sighed heavily. I don't have the energy to deal with his energy. I closed the door and followed him to my living room. Leo made himself comfy with a bowl of popcorn on his lap. "So, what are we first?"

"I was contemplating on whether I should start with The Hills Have Eyes or Texas Chainsaw Massacre." I felt a touch of fear riding on my chest. I looked at Leo. He was smiling. A tight smile, might I add. I smirked. "What's wrong? Can't handle horror flicks?"

"You're - you're watching scary movies?"

"Yeah, scared?"

"Ha! No! I practically live off movies! I'm just gonna call it a night. I don't want to ruin your Me-Time." He grabbed his sword to swing, however, I grabbed it before he had the chance to open a portal. I forcefully pulled him close with a shit-eating grin.

"Nah, nah, nah. If I don't know any better, I'd say you're not too keen on horror films."

"Ha! You're funny! You're a funny guy, Merrill. I'm just tired, that's all."

I leaned in close. My breath tickled his earlobe. "Funny how you weren't tired a few minutes ago." Heartbeats echoed in my ears. "Let's make this interesting. You watch one film and if you watch it throughout the whole thing, you have full privilege to come to my home whenever you like. If you lose, well, you still get to come here, but on my terms AND you must come to my beck and call AND you must wear a maid's outfit." I crossed my arms in silent victory. There's no way he's going to agree.

"Fine! But I'll also add that if I win, you have to be my slave AND I get to boss you around AND you have to compliment me AND you have to be nice to me."

I nodded. "Agree. May the best man win." I held out a hand.

Leo eagerly grabbed it. "Oh, don't worry. I plan to." I yanked him to the couch and sat down with Leo sitting between my legs. One arm circled his waist as the other grabbed the remote. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, nothing. Just want to make sure you don't chicken out." I knew the perfect movie.

"Freddy V. Jason?"

"I thought it would be a nice movie for a beginner like you unless you want to call it quits, I can understand. I know the perfect outfit suited for you. Can't wait to order you around and all you're going to say is 'yes, Master'."

"Why do I get the feeling this is a fetish of yours?"

"Not gonna lie, seeing you in a maid outfit might turn me on..." Leo's body got heated. "Or it might turn me off. I mean not many people can pull off a cute maid. You might not have the right body structure for such dainty clothing."

"Just play the fucking movie", the turtle said with such bite.

I shrugged and did as commanded. During the movie, Leo did an 'okay' job of staying put. A few flinches here and there, yet steady as a rock. I tried blowing at his earlobe, trailing my fingers on his plastron, and as a last resort, I licked his neck. That last one he shrieked.

"Was that necessary?" his form is rock-hard. "Is this your attempt to make me bail then you have to do better than that!"

Oh, you poor naïve little turtle, I intend to.

The doorbell rang. I paused the movie. Leo let a relieved exhale. Dude, we're so not finished.

"Answer the damn door so I can win this bet!"

I rolled my eyes while making my way to the door. It rang a second time; however, it stopped as I got closer. Weird. I opened the door. No one was outside. I checked both ways until my eyes caught on a small stack of pizza boxes. As soon as I mentioned pizza, Leo came behind me.

"Whoa! Did you order pizza? And for lil' ol' me? Oh, you shouldn't have!" Leo already took a box from the small pile.

"I didn't order pizza. I was planning on buying Chinese."

"Probably the delivery guy assumed these were for you and left them here. Oooh, pineapple." Ew. "Pineapple on pizza is great!"

"That's terrible service on the delivery dude; and FYI, pineapple on pizza is a crime!" I checked the other boxes. "Mushroom and ranch? Peanut butter and avocado? Who the fuck came up with these travesties? It's like the delivery guy wanted to get rid of these rejects and call it a night. I'm throwing these away."

"You're wasting food!"

"I'm not eating a pizza with avocado or any other mayhem they put on to these pies. I'm merely saving our stomachs the trouble." I marched over to the garbage bin outside the gate and threw the boxes in. I casually walked back but groaned as Leo happily munched on his pizza. "Puerco."

"Agree to disagree." I closed the door before anyone can spot a mutant turtle and a human teenager mingling together. "Man, this is so good! Compliments to the chef!"

"On second thought, I'll give it a shot." Leo was skeptical, but he sensed nothing out of the ordinary as he gave me the box with one hand. I grabbed it, but I tossed it over my shoulder leaving a cheesy mess on the marble floor. "Seriously?"

I shrugged. "Let's be honest, you should've seen that coming." Leo angrily finished his pizza and marched to the living room. "Too soon?"

We resumed the movie. I tried and failed in making Leo admit defeat. He's one tough turtle. We were so close to the end of the movie that I pressed pause. I stretched. I needed to take a leak.

"TMI, dude."

"What? Want to watch me pee?"

"Ew! No! There's something wrong with you. I'm just gonna finish my pizza."

I hastily got up. "How can you eat pineapple on pizza? It's disgusting."

"Don't knock it 'til you try it."

"I'd rather eat a bowl of acupuncture needles", I called, leaving the living room.

~Lady Ai~

Merrill left the living room in a hurry. When you got to go, you gotta go. I went to my discarded pizza box Merrill tossed aside. However, the pizza box was torn apart, and the pizza pie was gone! Did Merrill eat it in secret?

'Bitch, I'm in the bathroom hold your fucking panties!'

I'll take that as a no. I spotted a cheesy trail tailing to the door. I followed the trail to the door. The handle had splotches of cheese. What the shell? The trail continued way from the door through the hallway and up the stairs. The trail went on until it reached the end of the hallway and went to what looked like a giant kitchen. How many kitchens does Merrill have? Mikey will go bananas!

I stepped into the kitchen. The kitchen I entered was bigger than the one in the basement area. It was clean and pristine. The trail ended here. No marks or indications of an intruder. What was I supposed to find? Maybe Donnie's overthinking method got the best of me.

I was about to leave when I was hit with the worst smell ever. I covered my nose. It's like sweaty socks mixed with rotten tomatoes... and a faint aroma of pineapples?

I heard movements from behind. I slowly turned and faced an oversized pizza with different toppings scattered over its body. I slowly backed away. Why did I leave my sword downstairs?!

Merrill!

'Shut up! I'm trying to take a leak here!'

It shouldn't take this long to use the toilet!

'It is if you were holding it in for an hour! Now let me finish, dammit!'

There's a giant pizza in your house!

'Oh, ha, ha. Very funny. Next, you're gonna tell me a sub sandwich is bench pressing in the gym.'

Merrill, I'm not kidding! There's a giant pizza in your kitchen! Merrill? MERRILL! Shit! the overgrown pizza was blocking the doorway. My eyes landed on a collection of knives. This would do. I quickly grabbed them and started tossing them at the pizza. A few at its eyes and the rest on its body. It left a small opening. I used it as my chance to make a break for it. I managed to get out of the kitchen. Suddenly, I tripped and fell. I saw my leg get tangled by the pizza's cheesy grasp. It strongly pulled me back in.

"MERRILL!!!!"

The double doors closed shut.