When In Rome...
Lola S. Cubish

Part 7: First Cool Hive


Paris, 09:02 am, July 6th, 1999

Paula

"Man, sis-- you look exhausted!" Charly looks up from his cereal as I enter the kitchen.

I turn on my heel and go into the hall to look in the mirror. My reflection isn't a pretty sight. My hair looks like it's gone through three typhones in a row, I've got giant bags under my eyes and my nightgown is just one big wrinkle.
My facial expression isn't very cheerful, either.
I look like I've eaten not only a lemon-- but a whole truckload of them.

That's what you get when you only sleep in periodes of five minutes. The way I kept dozing off for five minutes and wake up again all the time, you should've thought I had an internal snooze button or something...
I go into the bathroom, fill up the sink and dunk my head in it. Then I dry my face and hair. I look in the bathroom mirror.
OK, now I look a little better...

"Come and sit here with me," Charly says and pats the chair next to him when I fill up a cup of coffee for myself.

I mutter something and do as he tells me to.

"Something is obviously bothering you,"

I just give him a stupid look and sip my coffee. Too hot. My tongue gets burned.

"Sis--" Charly starts, but then sighs. "Alright...I won't nag you," he gets up and puts his bowl and spoon in the sink.

"Remember when I had a crush on my teacher, way back?" I mumble.

He stops at the door and goes to sit in his chair again.

"Yeah?" he says, urging me to go on.

"Well...this is kind of like that...kind of. I think I'm in love with someone I'm not supposed to be in love with...or at least--
I can't get him out of my head...he's, he's different-- he's not older, just-- I can't tell you..." I stammer.

"Oh, you're not affected by mom, are you?" he puts a hand on my shoulder and gives me a understanding look,
"You're not having a guilty conscience over dating a black guy or something, are you? Cause mom's just ignorant in some ways, and you shouldn't pay attention to--"

"No, no," I interrupt him, "it's not like that...he's not black, and I would never listen to what mom have to say about those things anyway-- you should know that, Charly." I roll my eyes at him, "He's-- well, to put it simply...he's green." I sigh.

"Green? Do you mean like a gardener?" Charly gives me a weird look.

I laugh and almost choke on my coffee. " No," I giggle, " he's not a gardener!"

I clear my throat. "I'm talking in terms of skin color,"

When I glance up from my coffee, Charly is frowning at me.

"Green skin?"

I shake my head. "I...I warned you I couldn't tell-- this is very hard for me, I..." I stumble in my own words.

"Sis, are you joking?" Charly looks confused.

"Charly...can't you please come with me and see him?"

"Where?"

"New York city," I reply with an uncertain smile.


New York, 06:00 am, July 6th, 1999

Kylie

This just isn't real.

Why did he have to call? Why now? Why exactly the moment Raph is gone?

I don't want to see him again. I don't want to. He has no chance with me-- hasn't he realized that yet?
If he comes back...
I make a grimace and pour another finger of scotch into my glass. The ice cubes rattle under my shaking hand.

So he thinks I'm gonna take him back-- just like that? Some nerve on that guy! I grit my teeth in anger.
He's not taking Sheila either, that for sure! Why the hell does he suddenly change his mind about her, anyway?

But...
He's too charming...too devious...too cunning...too slippery...he's gonna talk me into it, if I know him right-- and myself.
Damn, his voice is almost enough...seeming to be so full of love...so deep and seductive...

Not like Raph's straight-forward, rough voice...
Man, why am I even comparing them? I love Raph-- not that sleezeball of an ex-husband...!

Raph, I need you...more than ever.


New York, 05:32 am, July 6th, 1999

Jade

He just had to get himself kidnapped again, didn't he? Lucky for him that I followed his trail.

It's been over a day since he got kidnapped, and I still haven't done anything about it. What can I do alone? I've just lurked near by the ninja hide out or lair or whatever they call it, waiting for a sign. Waiting for something to happen.

Some noises not very far from here makes me crouch longer down into the bushes. My heart almost jumps into my throat as something brushes against me. Geez, it's only that cat that's been following me around. He seems to like me.
I stroke him on his head, he purrs gently, and I return my attention to the noises.

They are getting closer. A bunch of those ninja soldier guys comes within my range of sight, and I can see that they're holding someone prisoner. It almost looks like...Leo? No, he's still captured...
Besides, this turtle is shorter and more stocky. He looks very angry. If I had to take a wild guess, I'd say it was Leo's brother; Raphael... the one he's been telling me about. But I don't know.

Great, now I have two turtles to save.

I really need some assistance. Maybe...maybe I could go and look for his other brothers-- they are supposed to live in New York too, right? Yeah, I dunno where they are, but it's the best I can do. I have to at least try to find them.

Who knows? Maybe I'll be lucky and bump into them? Yeah, right...


New York, 05:50 am, July 6th, 1999

Raph

In the end of the hall they kick me into a cell, and I crash into something hard, making me give a muffled groan behind my muzzle.

"Raph?" a familiar voice asks me.

I turn around on my back and see that I've just bumped into a wall.
Where did that voice come from?

"Raphael?"

I struggle for the longest time, and I finally manage to remove the piece of rag tied over my mouth, with my tongue.

"Whozzat?" I ask suspiciously.

"Raph!" the voice sounds more cheery now. Can it be...?

"Leo?"

"Raph!" he almost laughs.

"Are you plannin' to say somethin' other than Raph fer once?" I say irritatly.

"I was just so happy to see you, Raph-- or to see anyone...anyone-- well, I guess I can't use the word "friendly" in your case, but you get the idea..." he goes on.

"Funny," I mutter and sit up. Leo's trapped in the cell directly across from mine.

"So, is anyone going to get us out of here?" he whispers.

"Not unless you've got an army up your sleeve," I reply sarcastically.

"Oh," he closes his eyes, "not even Donny? Where is he, anyway? Mike isn't back, either, huh?"

"I think Donny got away...if we're lucky...last I saw of him was his heels," I whisper and rub my eyes. I'm so tired.
"And Mike...we figure he's still in Germany,"

Am I gonna tell him about Kylie? Nah...he'll find out in time.

"So, Leo..." I sigh, "guess we ain't got no one to come rescue us. We gotta get outta here some way by ourselves,"

"Right..." Leo nods.


New York, 05:45, July 6th, 1999

Don

That'll have to be enough rest for now...gotta get up and move on....but to where?
I sigh as I slowly rise to my feet in the alley.

"Excuse me, sir? Um, you wouldn't happen to know anyone named Leo, would you?"

I spin around, seeing a woman standing a few feet away from me. I also notice that my hat is lying on the ground. Shit!
I quickly bend over and pick it up.

"It's okay..." she smiles wearily, " I know what you are...I know Leo,"

"Leo?"  I look at the woman, with her black curls, blue eyes and slim figure.
What has Leo been up to when we were gone? Heh. Besides getting himself kidnapped, that is....

"Uh, yeah...he is your brother, right?"

"Yeah...do you know where he is?" I ask eagerly. Maybe she can help me.

"I know where he is," she nods, "he needs our help!...who are you? Are you Don? Raph? Leo said that one of his brothers, Mike, was in Germany,"

"I'm Don. So where is he?"

"He's captured in this weird ninja hideout...I saw them take another turtle there, too...just about an hour ago,"

"That must've been Raph," I mumble,

"Actually, this isn't the first time he's been kidnapped..."

You don't say? Tell me about it...

"We both got captured about a week ago or so...I dunno...I kinda lost track of time...anyway, we escaped, went back to my sister's place-- but then he remembered about you guys and he decided to go out and look for you...he got attacked again, but luckily, I was following him, so--"

"You followed Leo? Without him noticing?" I shoot her an incredilous look.

"Yeah...I did. I train martial arts, you see,"

Aha... then she actually might be able to help me.

"Impressive...can you show me where Leo is?"

"Sure...but we're not gonna get him out of there alone," she says reluctantly.

"I'll see how our chances are after I get there,"

She shifts in her position, but finally nods. "Okay, c'mon..." she mumbles and starts towards the fence. "Follow me."

"How did you meet Leo, by the way?" I ask curiously as we climb over the fence. She's pretty agile, and climbs it smoothly and easily.

She jumps down on the ground, laniding steadily on both feet.
"My leg got stuck, and he called 911 for me," she grins, as I hit the ground next to her.

Ah, Leo, the hero of the day, as usual...


New York, 13:45 pm, July 5th, 1999

Brioni

Lazy afternoon... I love to cuddle up to Mike. I sigh happily as we sit on the couch, close together. I have to admit-- I never thought I'd be kissing him, even hugging him. He is a turtle. Now, that somehow doesn't seem to matter so much anymore...

Don't know why it happened. And he didn't do anything, it was all me. I started kissing him. I know he wanted to, but he didn't try anything, and I appreciate that. I probably would've panicked if he did.
All I know now is that I don't regret it. There's not much to regret anyway, we only kissed, we haven't really-- well, we didn't do anything like that...

Sitting here on the couch, I can feel that we both want to. There's something in the air, there's something between us.
He feels so warm, safe and protecting against me, and I love the vague feel of his breath on my cheek.
I lean my ear on his plastron, and it's actually not that hard. I discovered that last night. He smells my hair, kissing it gently, making my spine tingle.

There's nothing stopping me, and yet-- I don't know. I just can't do it yet. Can I?

Mike looks down at me and I smile, sit up, meeting him eye to eye. He smiles back, causing his whole face to light up.
His eyes are almost sparkling.
We don't have to say anything, we don't need any nervous chatter. We make each other feel so relaxed...
Leaning on each other, breathing, feeling each others presence...


New York, 20:28 pm, July 6th, 1999

Kylie

I straighten my sweater and look nervously at my hair. I'm not dressing up for Will, I'm just not about to look like a wreck when he comes knocking, that's all. The weaker I look, the easier it will be for him to win me over.

I put a hand in front of my mouth and breath on it. The smell of alcohol is almost gone, but it's still lurking in the background.

Sheila is lying in her crib, sleeping soundly. Wonder what she thinks about the whole matter?
Do babies have rational thoughts at all? Thoughts that expand beyond "I'm hungry" and "my diaper is wet, now I'm gonna scream for attention," and so on?
If she had a choice, who would she want as her father? Raph or Will? Guess I'll never now what she thought. But I'll know what she thinks about the two of them in the future...if Raph and Will are ever in the same place at the same time, which I doubt, or if she gets to compare them somehow.

I draw my breath in surprise as the door bell rings. Here goes nothing.

Unlocking the door, I peek outside, finding Will staniding there with a broad grin and his arms stuffed full with a bouquet of roses. The sweet smell of them enter my nostrils and makes me lightheaded.
Roses...my favorite. He remembered. The sneaky bastard.

"Good evening, Kylie," he gives his nonchalant smile, "you look beautiful,"

I try to ignore his comment, even though I can feel my cheeks turn a light red. "Come in," Grabbing the bunch of roses, I walk into the kitchen and put them in water. Will isn't in the livingroom when I return, and the panic flows freely in my head.
Has he taken Sheila and disappeared?

"Kylie, come in here...she's beautiful,"

Turning my head at the sound of his voice, I see that he's standing in her bedroom, one hand on the edge of her crib.
He looks so peaceful, looking down at her in awe, tiny smile on his lips.
Why do I always forget why I broke up with him every time he comes back? I have to remember this time...it's different...
I'm involved now.

Have to remember what he did to me. Can't give in to his "I've changed now, Kylie," bullshit anymore.
But just watching him stand there with my daughter...his daughter...

"Kylie, I'm sorry,"

"Sorry isn't going to cut it this time," I hear myself say, stronger than I hoped for.

"I didn't know what I was doing then...I wasn't ready to--"

"It's only been a year, Will...I don't think you've changed," I interrupt him, "you're not ready to be a father,"

"I am, Kylie!" he exclaims, but then adds in a lower voice, "If it's about me not being there for the birth, then I've already--"

"It's not only about that, but yeah, that too," I interrupt him again, "it was the only time I truly and desperately needed you, Will! Do you have any idea how it felt not to have the father of my child there?"

Will only stares at the floor.

"No, you're not ready to be a father...I can tell." I walk into the living room, cause I can feel that an argument is about to take place, and I don't want to wake Sheila.
"But the worst of it all, the worst of it all, was that not only were you absent from the birth of your own child, you were also cheating on me with my best friend at the very moment I was in labour!"

Will sucks in his breath in a gasp and looks at me. "How...?"

"Jaqueline told me everything herself..." I whisper, and glancing at Will, I see the word "bitch" form on his lips.
Guess he didn't expect her to talk. How the hell can he keep up this innocent exterior when such nasty thoughts go on inside?

"I can't really blame her," I mumble," I know how irresistable you can be....she was sorry she ever slept with you, she was even crying on the phone...she felt so guilty."

"Listen, Kylie," he says softly and moves towards me, letting his breath tease the skin on my neck, " that was just a one night stand...one last fling...didn't you ever do anything like that? I would understand it,"

Yeah, like hell you would understand it.

"I just had to do it, I was going to spend the rest of my life taking care of you and our daughter,"

"Why? Do you see it as a burden?" I'm not gonna let him get away with this one, even if he gets angry, even if he-- I shake my head, trying to get images of the past to dissolve and fade away.

"No, of course not..." he kisses my neck and I almost sigh in pleasure, but I manage to contain myself. His mouth is so different from Raph's...God, stop comparing them, you stupid little--

"Will, get away from me," I whisper.

"Hmm?" he says absently and gently nibbles my ear.

"I said, get away from me," I repeat, louder this time.

He turns me around, gripping my shoulders, not so hard that it hurts, but hard enough to keep me from moving.

"Why?" he says, a hint of fire burning in his eyes.

"I have someone now,"

"Who? It's not this Raph-- is it?" he says, suddenly jealous.

"Huh?" my eyes are wide with shock. How can he  possibly know about us? Has he been following me or something?

My confusion is amusing Will. "Thought so. You used to mumble his name in your sleep for many years.
Hah, and here you come and accuse me of--"

I was mumbling Raph's name all those years? I know he made an impression on me, but that it was that big of an impact--

"Don't even try it, Will," I say sternly, "I was only 16. I met him during one of our many break-ups, so I've never cheated on you,"

Will seems to ignore this. "Why should I believe that?"

"Believe what you want," I say, apparently a little too cocky for Will's liking, so he slaps my face.
 
 

Baby, don't tell me
You miss me, you love me
Don't whisper gently
that you can't forget me

Tonight...tonight
Cause I've heard it all before
Just turn away
Don't play that game
Baby, I don't want to anymore

Let it all fade away
don't you know the love is gone?
It's too late
Everything fades away
Nothing ever stays the same

Baby, don't tell me
you're sorry you hurt me
How many times can I give in?
How many battles can you win?
Don't beg for mercy

Tonight...tonight
Cause I can't take it anymore
Just turn around
Don't break me down
Baby, I don't love you like before

Let it all fade away
Don't you know the love is gone?
It's too late
Everything fades away
Nothing ever stays the same

So hard for me to let you go
So hard
Don't leave me standing in the cold
Oh,God, now give me one more chance
I know that we can make amends

Just let me love you one more time
Don't say it
cause I don't want to lose my mind
Don't you say it
So hard for me to let you go
So hard for me to let you go

Let it all fade away
Why don't you let it?
Don't you know that love is gone?
It's too late
Everything fades away
Nothing ever stays the same
Nothing ever stays the same

"Everything fades away", Mariah Carey



New York, 05:58, July 6th, 1999

Leo

Now both Raph and I are captured...damn.
I feel like yelling at him for being captured, but that's not going to do me any good...we can't start argueing now, that's just stupid...we have to plan...how to get out...

The Foot have learned...they put us in seperate cells...they were really stupid to put me and Jade in the same cell...ah well, it was lucky for us, wasn't it?
They're never going to be the same without The Shredder, that's for sure...the leader they have now can't be very bright...
Not that it matters to me, anyway...I'm just glad for anything that slows them down...

"How did they get Mikey's phone number, by the way? And mine?"

"Hmm?" Glancing over at Raph, I notice he's got kind of a crooked smirk on his mouth.

"You didn't buckle under the pressure, now did ya?"

"What are you insinuating?" I sit up, as far as my shackles allow me to.

"Come on...we've been captured before...they've tortured you, right?"

"Yes, of course they tortured me--"

"Asked you questions too, eh?"

"Yeah, they asked me where you were and--"

"Didn't tell them anything?" Raph gives me a wicked glance.

"Raph, I didn't tell them a thing!"

"No? How did they know then?"

"They beat me, they kicked me in my stomach, they--" now I'm beginning to get a little irritated.

"You're a real hero," Raph is clearly amused, "how did they know?" he repeats.

I sigh. "I have no idea...they couldn't have got it from Jade either, since she doesn't know--"

"Jade?" he wiggles about in his ropes and chains for a while, trying to lean forward, but he only falls over on his beak and grumbles some obscenities. After a while he manages to get on his back again and scoots on his backside towards the wall.
Leaning on the wall, he looks over at me. "Jade?"

"It's a long story..."

"Ya might as well tell it...we're kinda stuck here, remember?"

OK, anything to stop us from argueing...I'm never going to get him to believe I didn't tell them everything, and I really don't know how they got to this information, so I have no arguments to defend myself with...he simply has to believe my word, which he most likely won't...

"Okay...I was patroling the streets when suddenly I saw this woman getting attacked by a gang of muggers--"

"And that was Jade?"

I suck in my breath. "No. Well, anyway...I was pretty far from them, being on a rooftop, so by the time I got there, the woman was gone, and another woman was standing there, beating the shit out of them...unfortunately, they had guns, so she had to surrender...heh, they didn't kill her...that was pretty strange...they opened a grate instead and threw her down there--"

"A grate?"

"Yes...I searched for her a while, and she must've heard me, cause she started yelling for help. I got over there and she said her leg was stuck, and asked me to call 911,"

"Call 911?"

"Yeah, call 911," I give Raph a stern look, " and so I did. She asked if I could stay and talk to her, and I stayed there for a while. She couldn't see me, however,"

"What did you talk about?"

Well, mainly the many joys of being the older sibling...

"Oh, nothing in particular,"

"I bet," Raph mumbles. I just ignore him.

The iron bars slide open and two guards enter my cell. I can see two other guards entering Raph's one as well.
I grit my teeth as I hear the first muffled sounds come from Raph, followed by the usual cursing.

"Raph!"

A guard stops my mouth with a blow with the back of a dagger.


New York, 23:57 pm, July 5th, 1999

Mike

"Mike...this place is so cool,"

Gazing at the view from the old treehouse, I have to agree with her. It's pretty awesome. The moon reflecting on the dark, old river, the insects buzzing around the old lantern hanging from the rickety old roof, and those beautiful clouds across the moon...

"I used to go here all the time...for inspiration...haven't been here for a while now,"

Brioni comes silently up beside me and puts her hand in mine, seeming to try to memorize every single little detail, every expression of the scene...no, of the moment...just as I'm doing. It takes a while for her to realize that I actually said something.

"Inspiration?" she whispers.

"Mmhmm," I nod, blushing a little, " heh, I'm a writer...and I like to draw,"

She forgets about the scenery for a while and looks at me, her brow crinkling into a frown. "You never told me you did anything creative?" she smiles, "I would love to see it,"

"Not much to see," I shrug it off.

"No? Do I have to tickle you to find out?"

"Anything but that," I grin.

She sticks her fingers between the ridges on my shell-- she knows where I'm ticklish-- and I laugh out loud as she tickles me without mercy. I have to catch my breath, so I try to escape. But where can I go in a treehouse?
Brioni runs after me, again in little circles like we did on the roof of my apartment building, but suddenly I hear the floorboards creak with exhaustion.

"Brioni--"

Brioni gasps as her foot goes through the floor. Throwing myself forward, I grab her hand just in time. She's dangling from my hand, looking down at the ground with panic filling her face. This treehouse is pretty far up, wouldn't want to fall down...

With a groan of concentration, I manage to pull her up again, and she tumbles on top of me.
This time she doesn't bother to get up. She looks at me.

"Brioni...what's the true color of your eyes?"

"Hmm? Oh, you mean the contacts? I still haven't taken them off?"

I shake my head, and she brings her fingers to her eyes, fidgeting around a little. Finally, she takes them down again, and I can see her real color...green. Bright, deep, green eyes...I hold her gaze.

"Beautiful," I mumble, but I'm cut short as Brioni covers my mouth with her.
She strokes her fingers down my arms until she reaches my hips where she starts massaging my skin.
I lay one arm around her neck and the other one on her back, lifting her shirt so my fingers can reach under the fabric, feeling her soft skin.

She twines her legs around mine, and my head throbs with desire...I can't believe it...she's actually lying here...kissing me...
Does she want to...?

She gets up from me. Guess not.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to--" I begin apologizing, nervously.

"Shhh," she whispers softly and begins to unbutton her pants. I watch her kick her shoes off, and slide her shirt away, throwing it and the pants behind her on the old wooden floor, over the hole she caused. Now she's only got her underwear and socks on, and she lies down on top of me. "Don't worry," she smiles.

Her naked skin feels so incredible against mine! I just hope I don't ruin this somehow...
She kisses me, first on my mouth, then moving over to my neck, and I start kissing her shoulders, working my way down, very, very slowly, tentatively.

We wrap our arms around each other. "Mike," she suddenly says, "do you love me?"

I stop kissing her, and pull her face a little away, so I can see it. She's still smiling. I kiss her cheek. "I don't know..."
Please, don't get sad or mad or--

"Good," she pulls me closer in a delicious hug, smelling my neck, "me neither..."
 
 

  I can sense it
Something important
is about to happen
It's coming up

It takes courage
to enjoy it
The hardcore and the gentle
a-big time sensuality

ho-en-may-be

We just mm-met
and I know I'm a bit too intimate
but something huge is coming up
and we're both included

It takes courage
to enjoy it
The hardcore and the gentle
big time sensuality

ho-ahh-may-me
he-yeah
he-yeah-hah!
the ultimate-oh-hold-en
angen-e-le

I don't know my future
after this weekend
hrrmm!
and I dont want to!

It takes courage
to enjoy it
The hardcore and the gentle
big time sensuality

Sensuality!

"Big Time Sensuality" ,  Bjørk


New York, 05:47, July 6th, 1999

Jade

This new turtle doesn't look much like Leo, either.
He's taller, and he's slightly slimmer...also, he's got another tint of skin...well, what I can see of it sticking out of his camoflage. I probably wouldn't have noticed him if he hadn't lost his hat. Lucky for me...

We both know, or at least I do, that we're not going to get them out of there alone...either way, we're moving quickly, determined to get there...
What surprises me the most about these turtles, is how quickly they move, compared to their crawling relatives...they're even faster than most humans...

Suddenly we hear someone coming down the road, Don creeps into the shadows, and I just stand there, curious to see who it is...It's not completely light outside yet, still dark enough for them to go out fairly unnoticed, if they mostly stay in the shadows...

Don carefully pokes his head out after a while, and his eyes get big with amazement as a couple round the corner.

"Mike?" he whispers to himself, puzzled.

I follow his gaze to the couple, who are holding around each other as they walk, the woman giggling a lot, the guy chuckles, kisses her neck, and she takes his hand as they walk further towards us. I notice that this guy's also wearing a trenchcoat and a hat, just like Don. Don walks out of the shadows and towards them, me following suite.

"Mike? Aren't you supposed to be in Germany?"

The couple stops and looks surprised at Don. After a while, the guy gets a silly grin on his face.

"Hi, Don,"

"Well?"

"There, um, was a slight change of plans, and I went home early...long story...tell you about it later,"

The woman's big smile fades at his words, and I wonder what has happened to them.

"Leo's in major trouble. You have to come-- him and Raph are captured by the Foot," Don says solemly.

"Leo? Raph? When?"

"There's no time for explanations-- just follow us, okay?"

Mike glances helplessly at the woman holding his hand, and she nods; slowly.

"Just let me know where you're going," she pleads softly.

I step forward and explain to her where they're holding them captive. She nods and grabs Mike in a close embrace, kissing him tenderly.

"Go home, Brioni," he whispers hoarsely.

"Promise you won't get hurt,"

He smiles. "Promise,"

We watch as she darts over the road and down the street, then we start on our path again...the path to save Leo and Raph.

That cat is still following me.



Somewhere over the Atlantic Ocean, 17:23 am, July 6th, 1999

Paula

Charly's the best brother anyone could have! He actually agreed to come with me. Of course, I've helped him before too, when he was in trouble, needed money or was heart-broken...

He didn't ask me to pay for his airplane ticket. He's got a great deal of money now, just closed a deal at work.
Wonder what his reaction will be when seeing a walking, talking mutant turtle?

There's another issue I haven't thought of. Does Don really like me? Is he interested?
I've been so concerned with the question If I like him or not, that I haven't even considered-- but he does... doesn't he?

Thinking back to that first evening, I remember him saying that he wasn't disappointed...at least he thought I was pretty.
But is he really interested? Does he have any feelings for me? He acts so strangely around me...nervous, stammering-- there's gotta be something...I hope...

I also hope that Charly doesn't freak out! His approval is pretty important to me...it's not that I can't do things without him wanting me to, it's just-- I need his aknowledgement, and it's more important to me than my mom or dad's...they've been critical to every boyfriend I've ever had...
To not be able to talk about this to someone-- especially Charly-- I would go ballistic. Charly...the friendly, charming, open-minded...hope he's that open-minded about Donny too...

Charly'as sitting with a bag of peanuts jammed between his teeth, tearing at the wrapper, trying to get it up, making insane grimaces. He does it just to make me laugh, cause he's never been that big a big fan of peanuts.

He grins contendedly. "There! did I see a smile, sis?"

"No," I try hard not to giggle, and turn my head away to look out the window. Charly leans closer until his nose almost touches my cheek, giving me the staring manouvre. Finally, I break into a laugh, unable to contain myself.

"See? Don't be such a droopy head," Charly smiles.

Suddenly, the airplane starts shaking all over, and my glass of water falls into my lap before Charly manages to catch it. Charly gets an alarming expression on his face as the plane drops to the ground, oxygen masks coming down from the ceiling.

"This is your captain speaking..."


New York, 06:15, July 6th, 1999

Brioni

I've just got into the apartment, taken off my shoes and sat down in front of the TV set, since I'm too excited to sleep-- when the door bell rings.
Who can that possibly be? One of Mike's friends? Can't be Mike-- he wouldn't ring the doorbell of his own home!
Hesitantly, I get up from the couch, walk frowning to the door, and look through the peep hole.

"Savy?!"

I quickly tear the door open and give her a confused smile. How did she know where I was?
"Savy? What are you doing here at this hour?"   What you're doing here at all is sooner the question...

"Just call me Savannah,"

I give her a frown. Is this chilly tone a way to get back at me or something? "Okay...Savannah...won't you come in?"

"Thank you,"


Go to Part 8: Monday Massacre On A Tuesday
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This chapter is named after the song "First Cool Hive" by Moby.