A Rose by Any Other Name

The Reminiscent Gala: [8](Rose)

I'm so warm. This blanket is so soft. But I feel like i'm suffocating.

I open my eyes and find a red ball of fluff covering my face.

I sit up and Cinder chirps and falls off my face.

 I spit out red fur from my mouth and look around. 

I'm back in April's room?

Then I remember what happened last night while I was half conscious and falling asleep. 

Oh no.

"I didn't fall asleep on Donnie did I?" I groan and rub my face.

"Oh yea you did. It was hilarious!" April responds from the doorway.

I check my wrist pad. 5 PM.

"When did you wake up?" I ask looking at her confused.

"Like, 5 hours ago? Why?" She pours a cup of coffee.

"Wow. Human's really aren't nocturnal?" I ask getting up. 

Cinder is still mad at me, in the corner giving me the death stare. I toss her a carrot and she munches on it happily.

"Nope. But Dee has some news he needs to tell you and his brothers so i'm gonna go over with you." She says handing me the cup of coffee.

"Ok. Any idea what it's about?" I ask. 

Hopefully not anything about last night.

"Nope." She says smiling. "Let's go." 

I groan and follow her out of the escape hatch.

"Come on Cinder." I say. Leaning down for Cinder to climb up my arm and sit on my shoulder.

We start climbing down the fire escape and I grab my cloaking brooch in my pouch I have on my leg. I haven't gone anywhere without it.

I put it on and it changes Cinder to a dog.

"CINDER?!" I yell shocked.

"I didn't know it did that!" April said taking Cinder. She turns back into a red panda the second i'm not touching her.

"Weird. But cool." I say taking Cinder back. 

"Let's keep going." April smiles and turns as we exit the alleyway.

A few minutes later we reach the sewers nearest to the hangout.

"April?" I ask, unsure.

"Mhm?" She responds as we climb down the ladder into the sewer.

"How... How did I end up back at your house?" I ask following.

She stops on the ladder and looks at me. Smiling.

"Obviously Donnie carried you." She continues on down.

I almost fall off the ladder. He carried me back? Dear god how awkward was that?

Cinder chirps on my shoulder. I forgot I still had the cloaking brooch on because I expected to see her as a red panda but she was a dog.

I take it off once we reach the bottom.

"April." I ask again.

"You know. You don't have to say my name every time you want to ask a question. We are best friends now!" She smiles bumping my arm.

"Oh." I say frowning.

"What's wrong? Did I say something?" She asked me.

I feel a tear stream down my face.

"I've just. Never had a friend before. Let alone a best friend. No one wanted to be my friend in school. And ever since I met the turtles, it feels like I finally have a family." I smile at her.

April covers her mouth with her hands.

"Who hurt you?" She asks wiping my tear.

"Well." I say laughing.

"Ooooh. Don't tell me their names otherwise they will wake up to me towering over them with my bat." She says, imitating karate moves.

I laugh as we continue into my home. 

My favorite home.