Everyone was having the time of their lives. I was, too... for a while. Don't get me wrong! Merrill and I were dancing to a pop song when suddenly, I was shoved aside by a herd of students, and they swarmed around Merrill. I decided to lean against the wall watching my friends enjoying the dance. Alex tried to teach Raph the dance steps to the song playing. Katie and Lydia were dancing at the far end. My eyes landed on Merrill; my blood began to boil.

Talking with Merrill was the popular girl, Taylor, talking his ear off. Merrill's expression screamed "kill me". What really got my blood boiling was how the tramp kept touching his arm and getting too close to his space. It pissed me off. Blondie needs to take a hint and leave.

"Meow. If that's not a glare, I don't know what is." I saw Alex coming my way with two cups of punch; they offered one to me. I graciously accepted their offer while focusing on Taylor. I tightly clutched my cup seeing Taylor whispering to my date's ear. "You know... you have every right to bitch slap the slut. Hell, I would back you up; nails are itching to scratch her fake face. The way she body pressed all over Merrill is discriminating; that girl has no shame."

I should do something – I WANT to do something – but we just survived an attack, and everyone came out of Hypno's trance. I don't want to attract attention. I'm surprised no one bother to ask about my skin tone. "Shouldn't you be whisking my brother off his feet or something?" I asked with a scoff, changing the subject. I didn't want my tone to be rude and all it just came out.

Alex smiled. Good, they weren't offended. "Raphael is in good hands; he's with April. I came over to see how you were fairing, Leeny Beany."

"Peachy."

"Ah, yes. You reek of jealousy."

"I'm not jealous!"

"Says the jealous turtle." I huffed. This wasn't the night I wanted. I want to go home. "What's stopping you from going over there and teaching that slut a lesson? If it were my date, I would gladly beat her up for even touching him with her filthy fingers. My offer stands, though."

"I told you I don't want to attract attention. And no to your offer."

"Shame. I was hoping for some homecoming drama." Too bad. I lifted my beverage. "Did you know Merrill's a virgin?"

I spat out my drink. That's the second time I did a spit take. I coughed. "Why did you say that?!" I asked, furiously taking the handkerchief Alex pulled out. "And why should I care?" I wiped my mouth before any drops landed on my outfit. That info wasn't what I was expecting. How is Merrill a virgin when he went out with thirteen people and had sex within a month? That doesn't make sense!

They simply shrugged. "Oh, no reason. I'm implying our little Dark Prince is holding on to someone special." I could feel their eyes trailing my form. My face got heated. "Taylor believed she could be Merrill's queen. What do you think?"

My eyes hardened as I saw Taylor trailing her fingers over my date's lips. Merrill pulled back, repulsed. I don't know what came over me. My legs moved on their own. I weaved through the crowd until I was behind the bimbo. I lightly tapped her shoulder. She turned around.

"Oh, hello. You're Katie's cousin, right?" Taylor 'smiled', "Be a dear and get us some drinks. We're having a dry throat from all the chit-chatting." The queen bee shooed.

"He's not a servant, Taylor", Merrill protested but was ignored.

I smiled as I got closer to Taylor. She noticed how I didn't obey. "What? Are you deaf? I said go fetch us –" oh she got her drink alright. I poured it over her head. She was shocked. "YOU BITCH!" she lunged at me. I easily dodged and she collided with a boy with a lizard over his neck. The lizard got tangled in her hair. "MY HAIR! YOU RUINED MY HAIR!" she screeched.

It didn't bother me. "Stay away from my man", I threatened loud enough for her to hear. I saw everyone with their phones out recording the incident. Oh no. I didn't mean it! I ran out of the gym. I ran until I burst through the double doors and out to the trees. I leaned against the bark and slid down. I pulled my knees up and hugged them. I want to go home...

I didn't mean it. I really didn't. I was... I was so... I was angry. I hate how Taylor was flirting and getting close to Merrill. My Merrill. MY date!

... oh God! I'm possessive!

"I wouldn't say possessive per se. More like concern." I quickly looked up to see Merrill leaning against the same bark I was. "At least not on yandere standards", he added with a smirk. My eyes were itching. I avoided him.

I shouldn't have come. I should've stayed home and waited until my punishment was over. I'm a terrible person!

Merrill tilted my head. He wiped my eye, wiping the upcoming tear. "You're not a terrible person, Leo. What you did was common sense; anyone with a strong conscience would do the same in your shoes. Besides, I thought that was badass." I felt more of a jerk than a badass. "You have to leave soon, huh?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'll go back to my ivory tower until my grounding is done. Yay", I sarcastically remarked adding a finger twirl.

Merrill pulled his hand back and took out his phone. "I didn't have a chance to get a slow dance." Soft music played through the speaker as he set his device. The emo got up. He held his hand out. "Can I have this dance?"

I smiled as I grabbed it. He pulled me to my feet. I wrapped my arms around his neck while he held my waist.

"The strands in your eyes that color them wonderful
Stop me and steal my breath
And emeralds from mountains thrust toward the sky
Never revealing their depth"

We gazed into our eyes. The music overpowered the school's bopping music. We swayed. Nothing mattered, but our movements.

"And tell me that we belong together
And dress it up with the trappings of love
I'll be captivated, I'll hang from your lips
Instead of the gallows of heartache that hangs from above"

I laid my head against his chest along with my palms. Yes, this was how I wanted to remember my first dance.

"And I'll be your cryin' shoulder
I'll be love's suicide
And I'll be better when I'm older
I'll be the greatest fan of your life"

"This is nice..." I heard Merrill mumble.

I looked up at him to agree, but our chests glowed. Two bright light orbs poked out and touched. We were blinded by a bright light.

~Lady Ai~

The setting changed. We weren't in front of my school. We were in a Sakura Garden underneath a full moon. The wind blew gently; petals fell out of the trees. Two individuals – a man and a woman – stood on a red oak bridge.

"Oroku, we can't keep doing this", the blue-haired woman said, sadly gazing across the riverbank, "sneaking behind our family's back. I feel like a traitor to my clan socializing with you."

"And yet here we are conversing without a care", the man, Oroku, retorted.

The woman glared at the man who was balancing on the bridge's fence with ease. "Must you make everything in a joking manner?"

"One of us needs to have a leveled head."

"Roku, please, this is harder for me to say as it is." Oroku jumped off and landed beside her.

"Your scowl doesn't suit your face, Misa. I prefer your warm smile", he said, causing the woman, Misa, to blush, "we had gotten this far in our rendezvous. What's different about today? If it's about your family, your brothers warmed up to me... well, except Rinmaru; your brother looked like he wanted to slice me to pieces."

Misa rigorously turned to Oroku. "Rin would have more of an excuse to execute you if he were to find out your clan's name."

The man shrugged. "We'll take care of it another time."

The blue-haired woman shook her head. "We are enemies. We cannot continue these secret meetings. I am drawing the line. This is our last goodbye, Oroku Saki."

He lowered his head. "I wish our families weren't at war; better yet, I wish our names don't define our clan's hatred."

"It's more than a family feud. Your clan represents the resurrection of a great evil. The Hamato clan was tasked to prevent the Foot from summoning the demonic entity which lurks in the dark armor."

"You think I want this!" Oroku yelled, causing Misa to jerk. The man regrated his anger, "I have heard stories of the Shredder conquering the world in chaos and discord. The shadows fear him; I fear him. The clan elders believe we can use the yokai's essence in our favor. The dark and shadows said otherwise. What if the Shredder is more powerful for our control and he leads the Foot straight to destruction? I don't want to be part of the upbringing if the world I live in doesn't involve the woman I love."

Misa's eyes widened. "The woman you love?"

Oroku's softly smiled. "Do I need to spell it out?" he leaned in close and whispered, "If I were to ask you to run away with me, would you?"

The woman was unsure. "I... I... are you asking me to choose you over my family?"

Oroku's expression shifted before he aloofly stepped back. "Of course not. I was jesting, Mi Mi. You took my bluff too seriously."

She crossed her arms. "I hardly call that a bluff."

"Would I lie to you, Mi Mi?"

"Yes." He frowned at her answer. So, he vanished in a heap of shadows and appeared in front of her to kiss her forehead. Her face turned a bright shade of red. She pulled out of her state and growled as she took out her hidden kunai. "Roku, you piece of shit!"

He disappeared to a puff of mist. "Red suits your complexion, Mi Mi." Oroku ran off with a laugh. Misa ran after him with a yell and a threat.

The setting shifted again. Leo and I returned to the schoolyard with our hands entwined. The blue electricity vanished. "What was that?" Leo asked in disbelief. His hands clutched tightly on my shirt.

"I wish I knew", I honestly answered, "A dream? A vision? Are we high?"

"I doubt we were on drugs."

"Did Alex offer you a drink whatsoever?"

"Yes, but I didn't drink the whole thing."

"Well, there's your answer."

"Did you drink anything?"

"No..."

"There's your answer."

I heavily sighed. "We're not getting anywhere."

Leo cupped my cheek. "You're overthinking. Let's enjoy our night. We'll cross that bridge when we get there."

I laid my hand over his. "I guess you're right. We just defeated Hypno and saved the school. We'll figure it out another time." I stared into his eyes. He stared into mine. I noticed how he tipped his toes high. His face inching close. I leaned in closer. If this was what I thought it was, I was accepting the exchange.

You all were expecting a kiss, right? Well, so was I! The universe said fuck no!

"Leo! Where are you?!" Raph's booming voice echoed across the yard.

"Daddy, leave them be", Alex tried consoling him, "he may not look like it, but Merrill is as vanilla as an ice cream cone." Gee, thanks Alex, you dick. The duo didn't spot us as they stomped past our hiding place. I sighed in relief.

Leo pulled out of my grip. "I should go... knowing Raph he'll check over dark places until he finds us", he joked as he nervously rubbed his neck.

I had the urge to pull one last stunt before saying goodbye. I gave Leo a quick kiss on his cheek. The slider looked at me with a heavy blush; his hand fell onto the spot I marked. I didn't care if my face was just as red. "I'll wait for you, Leo. Send me a text as soon as you get out of prison." I walked away. His expression was engraved in my memory.

Despite the whole fiasco, this homecoming was something I want to cherish.