From The Shadows || TMNT 2012 FanFiction (BOOK 1)

Chapter 5. Breakfast

     Carrie was terrified to leave the room. She hated that she trusted the rat, but what else could she do about that? He was all-too nice and seemed to know a good bit about her family.

     She still didn't fully trust the turtles. While Carrie wasn't as fearful of them anymore, she still heavily leaned on the side of caution. 

     She wasn't exactly sure and how mutant turtles would act in their free time. Sure, they could act all nice and gentle in front of her, but it could be just that- an act. To her surprise, they all presented themselves like normal teenagers, even out of sight of their new acquaintance. Mikey sat close to the TV, maybe a bit too close, watching a very old cartoon. April and Donnie sat on the couch, talking, but in a very low whisper.

     "Carrie!" April shouts. Donnie squints at the sudden yelling in his ear. "Are you hungry?"

     "Yeah."

     April smiles. "Mikey made breakfast."

     The redhead stands, leaving Donnie on the couch, and leads Carrie to the kitchen. Behind the curtains, voices could be heard bickering back and forth. Carrie, already paranoid, thought the voices were talking about her, although she couldn't prove it (but they were definitely talking about her).

     Leo and Raph went silent as April and Carrie walked into the kitchen. A hot plate of eggs and newly made toast sat on top of the counter. Glasses and a carton of orange juice sat on the central table. 

     April took the liberty of dishing up Carrie's breakfast and pouring her a glass of orange juice. Carrie had her arms folded, rubbing the insides with her fingers. She snuck glances at the two brothers, wondering what they had been arguing about.

     The two girls sit at the table, at opposite ends of Leo and Raph. Only seconds pass before Raphael leaves the kitchen, glaring at Leo on his way out. April had already begun eating by the but Carrie was quiet and slow. She felt uncomfortable and awkward. Maybe if the turtle said something she wouldn't feel so bothered. But he never did. Leo read her discomfort. He avoided eye contact. When he finally decided to leave, he offered a small smile and left. 

     Carrie begins eating her breakfast.

     "You don't have to be afraid of them, you know," April comments.

    "They're going to eat us," Carrie whispers.

     "You need to get that out of your head. You know what you're being? You're being speciesist," April accuses.

     "Speciesist? That's not a word."

     "Well, it's going to be. It's like racist except towards different species. You don't want to be speciesist, do you?"

     "Well, no. But-"

     "No buts!" April shakes her head. "This is the future. Better to get ahead and accept it."

     Carrie frowns. "But-"

     "Besides, it's not like they'd eat you. They're practically human, Carrie. They've got Master Splinter's DNA and everything. They just-"

     "The rat?"

     "He wasn't always a rat. He used to be human before he got mutated. The turtles? They were just itty-bitty pets he had bought. But when he got mutated, his DNA mixed with the turtles. So, they're pretty much human, just with a turtle appearance."

     "That doesn't make any sense." Carrie frowns. "That's impossible."

     "Well, obviously not. They're here aren't they?" April says. She eats fast and finishes her breakfast before Carrie barely even begins. "What was Master Splinter talking to you about?"

     "He's kind of confusing."

     "He can be."

     "I don't know if he knows about me and my family or not. He kept saying stuff like: 'oh they're nice, but I can't say anything else.' Anybody could say they're nice, and then explain how they know them."

     "Maybe he's just trying to make you feel comfortable."

     "Maybe," Carrie says. "He seems pretty interested in my skills."

     "Skills?"

     "You know, how I was in martial arts and took archery and everything. I'm not great at it, but he seems pretty interested."

     April smiles. "Maybe he'll teach you to be a cool ninja such as I."

     "You're not a ninja." Carrie shakes her head. April hadn't even been able to sneak out of the apartment without attracting attention from Carrie, who really hadn't had much ninja skill anyways. "Besides. I don't have much ninja skill anyways."

     April rolls her eyes. "That's the point of learning."

     "Why would I need to learn in the first place?"

     April shrugs. "When you go back to the dojo, look to the right wall. There are a couple of shelves with some of Master Splinter's most favorite things. There's a picture there of Splinter's family when he was human."

     "Where's his family now?"

     "That's something for him to tell you if he ever feels it's important to tell you. Family is very personal."

     Carrie frowns. "Then why does everyone know so much about mine?"

     "Your family must be pretty cool I guess," April says, taking her empty plate to the sink. "I think it would be best that you don't try to worry about it too much. Now, hurry and finish."

      "Why? I have all day." This was true. She had multiple days, in fact, to finish her breakfast. Carrie just didn't ever want to finish it. She knew she'd be forced into being around those mutants, and she really just didn't want to.

     "This is the first day of many where you are going to be stuck down here with them. You might as well get used to it."

     "No one can force me to stay here."

     "They can and they will. It's for your own good," April sighs. "Just stick with Master Splinter if you're so scared, at the very least."

     Carrie stands, placing her plate in the sink. "Fine."

     April follows Carrie out of the kitchen. She nudges her towards the dojo, as Carrie had attempted to make strides towards the exit. Ironically, Carrie was too scared to leave. She thought about it a lot. It wouldn't be too hard, Carrie thought. But, she was just too scared to even attempt leaving. Where would she go? She found herself trapped. What a horrible feeling.

     Master Splinter sat in front of the tree in deep meditation. Leonardo sat next to him, also meditating. Carrie tried to subtly turn around and leave. She wanted to avoid the turtles. Unfortunately, as April walked behind her, she pushed her inside, sitting her next to the blue-clad turtle. April then sat next to Carrie, probably to make her feel better. Carrie looked over at the rat and turtle. They seemed unbothered by the two girls barging in. They hadn't even acknowledged their presence.

     "What exactly are they doing?" Carrie whispers.

     "Meditating, obviously," April says, she doesn't bother speaking in a low voice. "You should try it."

     "You just sit there and don't do anything."

     "It's a skill. Try it. It's calming."

      Carrie rolls her eyes and shakes her head. She looks over at Master Splinter and Leonardo to mimic their posture. She sighs but closes her eyes anyway. It was already boring staying down in the sewers and now she was being forced to sit and do, quite literally, nothing.