Hi guys! I'm back with another chapter. I have realized that I haven't included my "Meet the Robinsons" OC Karena as much lately, so there's definitely more of her here. And here I go typing up another surprise in Lily's world. Enjoy!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" nor "TMNT." I only own Karena, Lilianna, Ryan, Venus, Athena, Claire, and James.
August 31, 2040 – Todayland, North Montana, USA
KARENA'S POV
My first week of student teaching was in the books. I wasn't sure how well it was going to go with Wilbur being in two of the classes I was accompanying Mr. Samuels in, but to my surprise, it turned out very well. Along with my student teaching, I continued to work as an assistant manager at Denny's, and right now, I was living a good life. A year from now, my dream of being a music teacher would come true, and I had already thought of so much that I could do to inspire my students.
After I said my good-byes to Mr. Samuels, I let out a chuckle. I had realized that I hadn't heard from Donatello all week. Ever since he taught one of my classes in person, I had enrolled in one of his other classes both semesters last year, so it felt weird to me not having Donnie as a teacher. I missed hearing his advice. I took out my phone and made myself a note to give Donnie a call tomorrow. Then, I put it back in my purse as I opened up my flying car to head back to my apartment.
I was going on a date with Wilbur tonight at Logan's Roadhouse, so I needed to change dresses for it. I got out of my yellow dress that showed my school spirit and put on a white dress with a beige jacket. I put on white heels, as I did not have any cowgirl boots. Once I was ready, I waited for Wilbur to come pick me up. I sent him a text, and then I just waited. I wasn't one to play games on my phone and I did not have social media either, for I did not have many friends. The only friends I needed were the Robinson and Hamato families, and I was content. It only took Wilbur ten minutes to drive to my apartment to pick me up.
"So, Logan's tonight, huh?" Wilbur asked.
"Yeah, something different."
"Hey, it's no problem. Claire works there. Let's go!"
I took note of what Wilbur. He was wearing a grey shirt with blue jeans and his black sneakers.
"You look nice tonight," my boyfriend of over two years complimented me.
"Thanks, I feel underdressed."
"I'm not worried about that. Tonight is a night for us to catch up outside of school."
"Sounds good to me!"
We arrived at the restaurant five minutes later, and we were led to our seats.
"Hi, Wilbur!" a blonde waitress greeted us.
"Hey, Claire! How are you?"
"Just fine," Claire answered. "The talent show has helped my family move on from Kyle's death, so my summer has gone by smoothly. Is this your girlfriend?"
"Yes, this is Karena Edwards. Karena, this is Claire Goodwin."
Claire and I shook hands.
"I remember you sang Legacy at the talent show. You were amazing up there."
"Thank you so much," I replied with a smile. "And we met at prom."
"We did?" Claire asked with confusion.
"That's right, you did," Wilbur replied. "Well, time to meet each other again!"
Claire and I laughed.
"Nothing wrong with that," I said. "May I have a peach lemonade please?"
"Ooh!" Wilbur exclaimed. "That sounds good."
"Lily got me hooked. What are you having, dear?"
"I'll just do a water, please."
"How is Lily doing?" Claire asked.
"Lily's doing good," Wilbur answered.
"I hope Lily performs at the talent show again this year. She's got raw talent."
"I'll be sure to let her know!"
Claire walked away to get our drinks.
"Was Lily in the chorus?" Wilbur asked me.
"I don't know," I answered. "Chorus wasn't one of the classes I'm teaching."
"Oh. I was just curious. I'm really surprised Lily didn't think about it. But did you know she's taking classes at Todayland University? And she's a junior."
"Holy crap. She really is Donnie's daughter! What kind of classes?"
"Math. She told me the high school ran out of math classes for her to take, and since she wants to attend Todayland University after she graduates high school, she came up with the idea to knock out some college credit. My dad approved it."
I looked down at the table before facing Wilbur again.
"Wilbur, Donnie and I have grown close ever since he taught here in person," I explained with worry in my voice. "I'm worried about how he's going to handle Lily living so far away."
"Lily's lived far away before," he replied. "I'd say Don and April had handled their daughter's kidnapping pretty well. If they can handle that, then I think they can handle Lily living here for college."
I smiled, thankful for my boyfriend's assurance.
"That's a good point. Speaking of Don, may I ask you something? What is he like as a teacher? You know, in case I have him as one of my teachers in college."
"He is the most understanding professor you will ever meet," I explained. "He asks you fantastic icebreaker questions to get to know you, and he learns your learning style so he can accommodate your needs. But then again, he is your doctor, so in a way, he already knows a lot about you."
"That is true," Wilbur replied as Claire returned with our drinks.
"Here you go," Claire told us, setting our drinks on the table.
"Thanks, Claire."
"My pleasure! Have you decided what you'll be having for dinner?"
"I'm just going to have some potato skins," I answered.
Wilbur and Claire gave me dumbfounded looks.
"You gotta get some meat in you, Karena!" Claire replied. "Why don't you try some of our sirloin steaks?"
"Actually, is it possible to split a sixteen-ounce steak?" Wilbur asked.
"Absolutely!"
"Then I'll take a sixteen-ounce steak with broccoli and sweet jalapeno corn."
I gave Wilbur a look of surprise. He was not usually one to try spicy things.
"Karena, did you want anything else besides the potato skins?" Claire asked.
"That sweet jalapeno corn sounds pretty good," I answered. "I'll try that."
"Sure! I'll be back soon."
Claire took our tablets away and walked into the kitchen.
"That's a genius idea, Wilbur," I told him. "Splitting the biggest steak possible."
"Actually, I have heard the biggest steak is 72 ounces."
"WHAT?" I almost yelled. "There is no way anyone on the planet can eat that much!"
"I can think of two people who can: Uncle Art and Michelangelo."
"Mikey, yes. Uncle Art? Nah."
"I also heard that in that particular place in Amarillo, if you are successfully able to eat that steak, your entire meal is free."
"I'll pass, thank you," I replied in disgust. "Did you want to try my lemonade?"
"Sure, if you'll try my water."
I laughed. Wilbur took a sip of my lemonade while I sipped his water.
"This is absolutely amazing!" Wilbur said happily. "This is genius! You said Lily got you into it?"
"Yeah. Lily invited me for a sleepover in North Hampton this summer and April made some peach lemonade. It was the best drink I ever had. Apparently, April can cook a lot of Southern dishes really well, despite her never being in the southern United States before."
"That is, until Lily's kidnapping," Wilbur reminded me. "Don told me he and April tracked Lily all the way to central Oklahoma before they lost the trail. But let's go back to today. How was your first week of teaching?"
"Eh, all I did was sit and listen in," I answered. "It must have been weird for us to be in the same room a couple of times, wasn't it?"
"I won't lie, it felt a little awkward to me. I mean, what am I supposed to call you?"
"Well, for those who don't know we're dating, I'd like to keep our relationship under wraps. So, whenever we're in the same room, could you call me Miss Edwards?"
"I will if you call me Mr. Robinson," Wilbur answered with a smirk.
I laughed at that.
"I probably could do that, actually. I know sometimes the teachers call their students by their last name. I will not be one of those teachers, so I may tease you about calling you Mr. Robinson."
"Goodness, if I do decide to become a teacher, I'm gonna have to start getting used to that."
I frowned.
"You don't want to be a teacher?" I asked.
"Lily's encouraging me," Wilbur explained. "And I did ask Don for advice and he gave great advice. I just don't know if being a teacher is in the cards for me."
"Well, when you were a child, what did you want to be?"
Wilbur chuckled.
"A lot of things. A superhero, a protocol droid, a Jedi, a time traveler, etc."
"At least you had your childhood," I replied with a smile on my face.
"I have," Wilbur said, returning a fond smile. "I didn't think I did, but looking back on it, you are right. I did have a childhood to be happy about. And here I am, a senior in high school. I can't believe I'm going to be a legal adult next year. It's going to feel so surreal to my parents since I'm an only child."
"Donnie's probably going to feel that next year. All four Hamato cousins are an only child. I can't believe how much Lily has grown in just two years."
"I know! She was your height when we first met her. Now she's just as tall as her dad with the hair to compliment that."
"Lily has the most prettiest hair I have ever seen," I replied. "I'm kind of jealous of her. I mean, how does she do her hair to make it look so healthy?"
"I think that's a question for Lily," Wilbur answered with a chuckle. "Oh, good! The food's here!"
"Here we go!" Claire said as she happily placed our food on the table.
"Thanks, Claire."
"Let me know if you need anything else!"
Wilbur and I ate our dinner to our hearts content and even did a little square dancing together before heading home for the night.
New York City, New York, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
I chose to drive in tonight's patrol. Athena had stayed home due to her sore legs, and my dad had offered to tend to her. I had assured her that with my dad's hands, she would be feeling better in no time the next day. Ryan and Venus were on their own on the rooftops while I drove in the sky. At some point in the patrol, I felt myself getting bored, so I took out my T-Phone and started playing The Little Mermaid. I tried my hardest to drive, pay attention to my cousins, and watch the movie all at the same time. About thirty minutes in the movie, my phone started ringing loudly and I answered it.
"Hello?" I said sweetly.
"Lily, look out!" Ryan shouted in my ear.
I looked up and screamed. I was heading right for an incoming car! I quickly veered out of the way as the incoming driver honked at me. I stopped driving and took some deep breaths.
"Lily? Lily, are you alright?"
I continued to take deep breaths.
"LILY!"
I shook my head, bringing myself back to reality. I looked around me and gave myself a pat down. I was still alive. I blew a huge sigh of relief.
"I'm okay, Ryan," I finally spoke into the phone.
"What happened?"
"I got distracted. It happens. Let's keep going."
"Lily, we'd be totally fine if you decided to go home and relax," Venus chimed in. "You almost got into an accident. Ryan and I can complete the patrol."
"And what, leave you to battle criminals alone?" I asked with doubt in my voice. "I don't think so. I'm staying with you."
"If you say so," Ryan replied.
I let out a sigh and continued driving behind my cousins for the rest of patrol.
DONATELLO'S POV
"And there! How do you feel now, Athena?"
"I'm still pretty sore, but it's not as bad," my youngest niece answered with a smile. "You're really good at this."
"I am a doctor after all," I replied.
I heard my T-Phone ringing.
"I should get that. It's probably Lily."
I walked over to my desk to answer the phone.
"Donatello."
"Hey Uncle Donnie, it's Ryan."
My smile transformed into a look of surprise.
"Ryan! I'm surprised to hear you calling. Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, we're fine, but Lily almost got into an accident."
"What?! Is Lily okay?"
"Yeah, she's okay. I think she's in shock."
"What happened?"
"I think I should let Lily tell you herself. She's your daughter. If I tell you, she's going to think I'm a snitch and she'll hate me even more than she did a couple years ago."
"I don't think that will be the case, but I understand. Aunt April and I will ask her about it when she gets back. Thanks, Ryan. Please help Lily ensure the rest of patrol goes smoothly."
"I will. Thanks."
We hung up.
"Is Lily okay?" Athena asked with worry on her face.
"She's fine. Something must have happened on patrol for her to almost be in an accident."
"What?!"
Athena and I quickly turned to the door to find April walking in the lab.
"Lily almost got into an accident?!" April yelled with panic in her voice.
"April, please calm down," I soothed her, walking up to her and putting my hands on her shoulders. "Lily is fine. Ryan was just calling me about it. We'll talk to her when she gets back."
"I knew driving around in New York was a bad idea," April muttered.
"Hey. The four of us did the same thing when we were her age. This is normal. And we have had our fair share of accidents. I'm sure this is no big deal."
"But Donnie, we're not being threatened by the Kraang or Shredder's forces. New York is the most peaceful it has ever been. I think Lily got distracted."
"If that's the case, then we'll discipline her, like we always have. But then again, even after Cornelius invented flying cars, there are still people who drive with stupidity. But right now, let's wait until she gets home."
We only had to wait another half an hour before she got home with her cousins. April and I were watching Lord of the Rings when Lily and her cousins returned through the turnstiles.
"Lily!" April and I exclaimed with relief in our voices.
We ran up to her and gave her a hug.
"Hey, Mom, Dad," Lily greeted us. "It's nice to see you too."
"Are you hurt?" April asked with worry in her voice.
"Mom, I'm fine."
Lily paused, putting a skeptical look on her face.
"Mom, how did you know something happened?"
"Lily, we need to talk," I told her. "Could we all go to my bedroom?"
The three of us went into my childhood bedroom and sat on the bed.
"Lily, Ryan called me and told me you were almost in an accident," I explained. "And before you say anything about him, he only said what I just told you."
"What happened out there?" April asked. "Did you get involved in a fight that almost caused you to damage your car?"
"No, no fighting happened as always," Lily answered, and then let out a sigh. "I... don't know how to explain this without either of you yelling at me for it."
April and I shared a glance with each other.
"You were distracted?" April asked. "How?"
"You weren't on your phone while driving, were you?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, Dad, I was," Lily answered with another sigh. "It got a little boring, so I started watching a movie."
"While you were driving?!" April asked angrily.
"During your patrol?" I asked with just as much anger.
"Ryan called me and yelled at me to look out," Lily continued explaining. "Before I knew it, I had almost crashed into another driver. Thankfully, I managed to steer myself out of the way. The car's not damaged. I had not touched my phone since then. Mom, Dad, I am so sorry. I'll do anything to make up for this."
"Lily, your distracted driving could have gotten you killed," April replied angrily. "And it's not just your safety that was put at risk, but your cousins' also."
"I think you need to think about the rules of the road while you don't use the car for a week," I told our daughter.
Lily let out another sigh.
"I understand, Dad."
She handed me her car keys.
"And your phone," I told her, holding my other hand out.
"What? Dad, I need my phone. How am I supposed to know when it's time for school or when to come home?"
"You will be surrounded by friends who will have their phones on them," I sternly replied. "You will also not have your phone for a week."
"I'm not sure I can manage that long without it!" Lily cried.
"Lily, if I can survive three days without my T-Phone, so can you."
"Yeah, but Dad, that's only three days. My punishment is seven."
"We can extend it to fourteen if you keep this up," I sternly replied.
Lily let out an angry sigh, giving me her phone afterwards.
"Thank you."
"Lily, I hope you have learned something from this," April reprimanded her.
"I didn't really need a punishment to learn this," Lily replied. "I know what I did was wrong."
"Lily, the reason why you are grounded is because this is a serious matter," I explained. "If a criminal had come out and damaged your car and you were not on your phone, that's different. You would not have been at fault. Had Ryan not called you and warned you, you could have died. Life is not something to be taken lightly, because we only get one chance at it, and we do not know when our time is up."
"You are only sixteen, Lily," April chimed in. "And you are our only child. If you had died, we both would have been devastated. Right now, we are just... so relieved that you are okay."
"But we are your parents also, Lily," I sternly continued. "And your actions were enough cause for punishment. You. Do not. Ever. Touch your phone while you drive. You do not even touch it when there's a call coming in. If you ever receive a call, you stop driving and then answer it. I hope we're making ourselves clear to you."
"Yes, sir," Lily replied. "I'm just going to head on to bed. Good night, Mom. Good night, Dad."
"Good night, Lily," April told her.
"Good night," I replied.
Lily walked out of the room. April and I glanced at each other, and we both let out a sigh.
"How are you feeling, D?" she asked me.
"The same way you're feeling," I answered. "I'm relieved she made it home alive. At the same time, I hate being a dad for having to punish her."
"That's one of the hardest parts about being a parent," April replied. "Needing to punish a child so she learns to not use that behavior again. But I know Lily just as much as you do, D. She's a good girl. I think she's learned."
"I think so too. But she also needs to learn that-"
"Life is not to be taken lightly," we both finished my sentence at the same time.
"I think teenagers often try to prove to their parents that they know everything and want their own freedom," April told me.
"Yeah, but that's not what Lily was trying to prove. She may have tried to escape punishment, sure, even to the point where she owned up to her responsibilities. What Lily did tonight was an act of negligence: not paying attention to her surroundings. Hopefully, she'll follow through with her punishment."
September 4, 2040 - Todayland, North Montana, USA
LILIANNA'S POV
Today was the first time I had gone anywhere without my phone on me. School was not in session yesterday due to Labor Day, so my family enjoyed a three-day weekend in the lair... that is, after my parents gave me my punishment for not paying attention to the road. Athena and I got to school early and waited at my usual spot in the cafeteria for Wilbur.
"So you don't have your T-Phone?" Athena asked me.
"Nope. I gotta wait it out until Friday. Friday is also the first football game, so hopefully Dad will allow me to take my phone with me that day. We're not going to be back in New York until about midnight."
"Dang! How long are these football games?"
"There are two of them, and I know you have to cheer for both of them. I did last year. The junior varsity game - the one the freshmen and sophomores play in, starts at four-thirty. The varsity game - the one everybody participates in, starts at seven. I do plan on attending the junior varsity game to cheer you on."
"Thanks, Lily," Athena replied with a smile on her face.
"Did you ever find out if you made it into the play?" I asked, returning the smile.
"No, I didn't make it, and that's okay. I'll just stick to student government and cheerleading. While you make everything look easy, I'm going to take Venus's advice and limit myself. I still would like to cook for the family."
"Hey, ladies," Wilbur greeted us with a smile.
"Hey, yourself!" I replied. "How was band practice?"
"We should have our Fellowship of the Ring medley finished by Friday."
"Your theme is Lord of the Rings?"
"Yeah!"
"I gotta get my dad to see that," I replied excitedly. "He loves Lord of the Rings. In fact, my mom loves it too. That's how they first bonded as a couple."
"Hopefully, I can convince my dad to come out and support me," Athena chimed in.
"You're a cheerleader?" Wilbur asked.
"Yep!"
"Well, congrats to you! Having Lily with you is going to make it easy."
"Lily was why I tried out," Athena replied with a laugh. "I'm glad we're doing something together besides ninjutsu."
"And right now, I need Athena as my guide," I chimed in, my smile disappearing. "I'm grounded from my phone until Friday."
"What happened?" Wilbur asked, his smile also fading away.
"I didn't pay attention to where I was going while driving, so my dad took my phone and my car away."
"Hey, Lily!"
I turned to my right to see James walking in with a smile on his face. My smile came back when I saw him.
"Hey, James. What's up?"
"Could we talk alone?"
"Sure. I'll see you guys later!"
I followed James to his locker.
"So what's up?" I asked.
"I got tickets to a concert Thursday night and was wondering if you wanted to come along."
James smiled while holding up the tickets.
"That is amazing! Of course, I'll go. Unfortunately, I'll be going without my phone. My dad grounded me from it because I wasn't paying attention to the road."
"That's a bummer. Speaking of which, you should probably ask him before saying yes to my date. I want to respect your boundaries and all that."
"James, if I ask my dad, he's going to say no because I have training. I'll probably tell him that I have a meeting with the homecoming committee. It's a legitimate reason now that I'm the vice president of my class."
"Lily, I know you. Lying to your dad is not a good idea. I can always find someone else to go the concert with. I can ask Wilbur or Kate."
I let out a sigh, knowing that James was right. My dad hated it whenever I lied to him.
"Alright, I'll ask my dad. But I wonder if I can find a way to fit the concert into my schedule."
"Lily, if you can't, don't worry too much about it," James replied. "You're a good kid."
James kissed me on the forehead before closing his locker and walking back to the cafeteria. I followed him, looking forward to reuniting with my friends.
New York City, New York, USA
Wilbur came with me and Athena to New York so we could all train together for an hour. Before we went out on our patrol, I broke away from the group to talk to my dad. I knocked on the door to his lab.
"Come in!" Dad yelled from his desk.
"I'm in, Dad."
Dad looked up and put a smile on his face.
"Hey, Lily Mae. What's up?"
"Just out of curiosity, if I'm grounded, does it mean I can't socialize with my friends?"
"Well, it depends," Dad answered, clasping his hands together. "I only grounded you from your car and your phone. I did not ground you from having a good time, although there's a good chance I'll say no."
I let out a sigh.
"James got tickets to a concert and he invited me to go Thursday night."
"Lily, what about your training? That is more important than going to a concert."
"Yeah, I didn't think you'd say yes," I replied with a depressing tone. "Thanks, anyway."
I started to walk away.
"Lily, wait."
I stopped in my tracks and turned back towards my dad. He stood up with a worried expression on his face.
"Are you okay?" Dad asked.
"I don't know, Dad," I answered, shaking my head.
"What's on your intelligent mind, Lily Mae?" Dad asked with a concerned smile on his face.
I blew a sigh of relief, knowing that everything was going to be okay.
"I'd like a break from training to go to this concert, Dad. I've been training every night as far back as I can remember."
I paused, realizing that wasn't the complete truth.
"Well, alright, except for the time I was kidnapped and ended up staying in Todayland for a while. But still, training's all I've done. I've never really had a night to myself, let alone an entire day. Please give me that, Dad."
My dad's smile went away as he pondered over my words.
"Let me talk to your mother about this. We'll let you know what we have decided."
"It's better than a no," I replied. "Thanks, Dad."
DONATELLO'S POV
"Lily's grounded, Donnie," April said.
"Only from her car and her phone," I replied. "I never grounded her from having a life. How would you feel if I told you you couldn't go to a concert because you were grounded?"
My wife pondered for a moment.
"Probably just as miserable as Lily is right now. We were teenagers too, you know."
"I know all I had wanted was a day to myself. And Splinter would give us that once in a while. But the first time I truly had a day to myself was... within the first few months of Splinter's death."
"It wasn't everything you imagined?" April asked with sympathy in her voice.
"It was. Don't get me wrong. But it didn't feel right without Splinter being there. It felt more right after we got married and moved to the farmhouse. Then I really felt content with my life. But back to Lily. How do you think she's handled the punishment so far?"
"I think she has learned her lesson, D. She hasn't really complained about it. If anything, she's looked more miserable than normal. I think she really does feel guilty about not paying attention to the road."
"Let's talk to her together, then," I proposed.
"Agreed."
We walked up out of the bedroom and into the lab where we saw Lily working with Venus.
"Hey, Lily," I greeted the girls with my gap-toothed grin. "Hi, Venus."
"Hey, Uncle Donnie," Venus greeted me back. "Did you need to speak to Lily?"
"Yes, please," April answered.
"Maybe I can help Athena in the kitchen," Venus replied. "Have a good chat."
We watched Venus leaving the lab. I sat down at my desk, and then April and Lily sat in chairs surrounding the desk.
"Well?" Lily asked.
"Well, let's talk about you for a moment," I replied with a smile on my face. "Ever since we punished you on Friday, how have you been?"
"I always hate being grounded, Dad," Lily answered. "But that's a part of life. I haven't even attempted to run in the woods or use my powers because I'm grounded. I didn't want to be in any more trouble than I already was. I truly am sorry for being negligent on the road. I promise to never use my phone in the car again."
Lily grunted angrily.
"I don't even want to drive anymore! I'd much rather run with the wind pulling my hair back!"
I frowned.
"Lily Mae, what happened?" I asked with compassion and sadness in my voice. "You were looking forward to driving and now you don't want to?"
"I didn't pay attention. That's what happened."
"Lily, you can't let one setback get you down," April told her with a smile on her face. "You made a mistake. We all make mistakes. It happens even to the best of us! But now, you've learned not to repeat your mistakes and now all you can do is move forward."
"Making one mistake at something doesn't mean you are terrible at it," I comforted her, putting a smile on my face. "You are an amazing driver. You just had an off night on Friday, and after the things you told me, I understand why. Heck, I've even made a mistake at the wheel once or twice. Like your mom said, it happens to the best of us."
"Dad, what did you do when something like that happened?" Lily asked.
"If it involved something breaking, I fixed it and moved forward. Otherwise, I learned from my mistake and moved forward. You can't dwell on the bad things for too long or else you won't be able to move forward."
Lily let out a chuckle.
"Wilbur said the same thing."
"And Lily, children are still being punished because they didn't do what their parents tell them to do or because they actually broke the law and did not get caught by the police," April explained. "But it doesn't mean we love you any less."
"Our job, Lily Mae, is to guide you and help you learn what is morally right and wrong and how to survive," I chimed in. "And once you're on your own, our job will simply be to love you no matter what choices you make, because you are our brave girl. Heck, you inspire me!"
Lily gave us her biggest gap-toothed grin while crying at the same time.
"Oh, Dad..."
The three of us hugged each other as Lily cried into the tails of my purple mask and my plastron.
"Does that mean I can go to the concert?" Lily asked.
"Yes, that's what that means," I answered. "It also means we're going to give you your phone back a night early so that you can text us pictures at the concert and at your first football game of the year."
Lily wiped away her tears and gave both of us a fond smile.
"Thank you for trusting me, guys. I'll send you both photos."
"We'd love that," April replied, returning the fond smile. "I haven't been to a concert since I was your age."
"I've never been to a concert before," I chimed in.
"WHAT?!" April and Lily exclaimed at the same time.
"Well, hey, people didn't look too kindly to mutants back in the day," I explained with a shrug. "Not that it matters. Concerts weren't really my thing."
"If you were to see one band in concert, who would you see, D?" April asked.
"Three Doors Down, hands down. That, or Thousand Foot Krutch."
April and Lily both pondered about my answer.
"Lily, may I speak to you alone, please?" April asked with a smirk on her face.
"Okay, I may not be psychic, but I know something's up," I said, also carrying a smirk. "What are you planning?"
"Oh, Donnie," April replied innocently. "Sweet, sweet Donnie. Lily and I are just going to have some girl talk. See ya!"
I put a confused look on my face as my wife and daughter walked out of my lab.
LILIANNA'S POV
My mom led me into my dad's old bedroom, and then we sat on the bed.
"Mom, what is going on?" I asked with a smirk.
"Lily, your dad's birthday is coming up," Mom explained with a big smile on her face. "And your uncles were mutated on the same day. What if we surprised them with tickets to a rock concert in New York or Todayland?"
"Mom, that is an amazing idea! September 29, right?"
"Yep!"
I glanced at my calendar, and I grinned.
"And the best part is... it's on a Saturday! So, here's an idea: we try to find a concert in Todayland for Dad and Uncle Leo and Raph and Mikey. And then us girls have a slumber party! Because I've never had a slumber party before."
"We should try to get a ticket for Ryan too," Mom suggested. "I don't want him being the odd one out."
"What about Wilbur? We can invite Karena to party with us."
"And this is why you are the best daughter I could have. That is an amazing idea!"
Mom suddenly let out a huge gasp.
"And I just realized something else: Athena's birthday is that Sunday."
"How about a surprise birthday slumber party?" I suggested in a high tone of voice.
"Brilliant!"
We screamed with delight, and then we laughed like two teenage girls.
"Mom, get your laptop!"
My mom got on her laptop, and I peered over her shoulder.
"Ooh, this looks promising," Mom said. "There's a band playing the classics from various decades. Oh, Donnie would love this!"
"So would the other guys," I replied. "And these are at good prices, too."
"Even better because I'm a reporter," Mom replied with a wink. "So we send the guys to Todayland and then us girls will surprise Athena here in the lair."
"Mom, we are amazing planners."
We high-fived each other with huge smiles on our faces. Then we heard knocking on the door.
"Girls, it's me," I heard Dad say on the other side. "Are you done with your conversation?"
"Yes, dear!" Mom yelled and then brought her voice down to a whisper. "Lily, hide this thing!"
I took my mom's laptop and hid behind the bed. I heard my dad opening the door and walking in the room.
"Where's Lily?" Dad asked.
"She's just putting my laptop back in your lab."
I took that as my cue to use my ninja stealth to leave the room and sprint for my dad's lab. I placed my mom's laptop on my dad's desk and then ran off to the dojo to start my training with my cousins.
September 5, 2040 - Todayland, North Montana, USA
KARENA'S POV
Another school day came to an end. I gathered up all of my stuff and prepared myself to leave when I heard knocking on the door. I turned to see Lilianna Hamato dressed in a white shirt and black shirts, and all of her long red hair tied up in a ponytail holder. Her bangs were swept to her left side. I smiled at the sight of her.
"Hi, Lily! What can I do for you?"
"Shall I call you Karena or Miss Edwards?" she asked with her gap-toothed grin.
"Karena, please."
"Well then, Karena, I'd like to invite you to a slumber party on September 29th."
"Oh!" I exclaimed happily. "That is so sweet! Who all's gonna be there?"
"Just us girls: me, Venus, Athena, my mom, and my aunts."
"The party's in the lair?"
"Yep! Meanwhile, my mom bought tickets for my dad and uncles to see a band play classic rock in Todayland. She bought tickets for Wilbur and Ryan too."
"Alright, Lily, what's the occasion?" I asked with a smirk.
"September 29th is the Turtles' birthday."
Lily paused with an awkward look on her face.
"Okay, technically, it's the day they were mutated into humanoid turtles. We don't know when their birthdays actually are. But we celebrate their mutation day like it's their birthday. And the reason for the slumber party is because September 30th is Athena's birthday."
"Now, are we surprising Athena or no?" I asked.
"Yes. I was thinking... Auntie Renet can take Athena to Todayland and go on a birthday shopping spree while we get everything set up."
"I can help with that," I offered. "I've been in Todayland for three years now. I know the city like the palm of my hand."
"I'm glad to see you're confident!" Lily replied with a wink. "That would be amazing! Thank you!"
"Should I tell Wilbur about any of this?"
"How good is he with secrets?"
"You've been his friend for two years," I replied. "Tell me what you think?"
"He is an honest person. What do you think, Karena?"
"I think we can keep this between the three of us."
"Four. This was my mom's idea from the very beginning. We had asked my dad what band he would see if he would ever go to a concert. Once he said his answer, my mom and I had this idea-"
"For the Turtles to experience their first concert," I finished for her. "That is brilliant! I do remember your dad revealing that his favorite movie genre was rock. What band did your dad say he wanted to see?"
"Three Doors Down."
"Your dad has excellent taste. He must have wanted to be a hero growing up."
"My dad's always wanted his own family and to be known for his scientific breakthroughs," Lily replied with a fond smile. "His dreams came true. In his own way, he is a hero, and even more importantly, he's my hero."
"I haven't seen my dad since I moved here. I was curious once to see if he existed, but then I forgot about it."
Lily gave me a compassionate smile.
"What was your dad like?"
"He's a chemist back in LA. He makes medicine for pharmacies. When he's home, he's a kind man who is always willing to help."
"He sounds like my dad," Lily said.
"My dad really liked working with your dad."
"My dad met yours?" Lily asked in astonishment. "How?"
"Your dad was a teenager when they met in 2013. But they worked really well together."
Suddenly, one of our phones went off loudly. I took out my phone, and I let out a loud gasp when I realized I was late for work.
"Uh-oh. I gotta go! I'm late for work!"
"And I'm late for cheer practice!" Lily replied with a look just as shocking as mine.
"Have fun!"
Lily ran to the door, but then she turned around waved. I waved back, and then she left.
September 6, 2040
LILIANNA'S POV
I had a wonderful date with James tonight. He took me out to an early dinner after school at Futureburgers. Then we went to the concert. We had such an amazing time jamming out and dancing to the music. I took lots of pictures and sent them to my mom, as I promised.
All too soon, the concert was over, and James had decided to escort me to the crystal bridge.
"So it's been six months," James started the conversation. "How have I done so far?"
I let out a gentle laugh.
"I'd say you've done well," I answered. "I only hope I have done just as well."
"Did you enjoy yourself tonight?" James asked with a smile on his face.
"I did, more than I ever thought. I needed this date more than I thought."
I paused, letting out a sheepish chuckle.
"I mean, I had asked my parents to let me go to the concert because I needed the night to myself. Being leader of a clan does take a toll on me. But it felt extremely freeing. Heck, all of my favorite songs were played tonight! I had an amazing time. We should do this again some time."
James blushed. I giggled and analyzed every part of him: his blue eyes, his brown hair, and his toned muscles hiding behind his purple shirt and blue jeans. A part of myself felt like I was burning, and I decided to try to hide it by rubbing the back of neck. I turned towards the city, and wow! It was quite the view.
"Lily, could I confess something to you?" James asked.
"Sure. Just be yourself."
"I like you. And not just as your friend."
"Huh?" I asked, turning to him with a weird look on my face.
"I mean... I really like you. I want to be more than friends with you."
I let out a laugh louder than I wanted it to be.
"It's funny you mentioned that, because I was thinking about how much I want to kiss you."
I let out a loud gasp. I had said too much.
"Sorry! I meant to say... how much I want to hug you."
James laughed in reply.
"Things are really going well, huh?
"I guess so. Do you wanna kiss me? You would not be the first boy I have kissed."
"Who was your first?" James asked me with a compassionate smile.
I laughed, remembering that fateful day in the high school pool.
"Wilbur. It was a test of trust."
"Ah, so like a dare," James replied. "Gotcha."
"Yes!" I exclaimed, relieved that he understood. "Thank you! That's exactly what that was: a dare."
What happened next happened so fast. James placed his right hand on his left cheek, and I melted into the touch, closing my eyes and giving him a contented gap-toothed smile. I placed my right hand on his left cheek. We drew each other close, feeling each other's heat. Before we both knew it, our lips met. I cannot speak for James because I had closed my eyes. This kiss felt more pleasant than my kiss with Wilbur, and it felt sweet. Before we both knew it, our kiss ended. We opened our eyes and looked at each other fondly. I finally understood how my parents felt when they stared lovingly at each other, and my kiss with James felt just right.
"I guess we're official now, huh?" James asked me.
"Well, I am sixteen now," I answered innocently. "I think sixteen is a good age to have a first boyfriend. I've grown so much since the accident back home."
"What accident was that?"
"I accidentally set my dad's lab on fire. But that's a story for another time. Now kiss me again."
James and I laughed gently, and our lips met again. This time, I put my hands around his neck while his hands found my waist. Our relationship as a couple was now official.