Teenager In Love

Chapter 2

The smell of rain filled the air as Donnie waited on the rooftop. Fidgeting with his phone, Donnie kept glancing at the time. He and Nina had met around the same time every Friday for the last two months, but today she was late. She was never late and it made him nervous that she wasn't replying to his text messages. As he watched the hour change on his phone, he frowned, deciding to go to her apartment. Luckily her apartment was on the top floor.
Cautiously, he dropped down on the fire escape. The smell of vanilla and coffee drifted out of the open window where Donnie could see the living room and kitchen. A faint but upbeat melody could be heard as the tall turtle carefully scanned the interior. That's when he heard it.
"I've got a pair of eyes that they're getting lost in! They're hypnotized by the way I'm walking! I've got them dazzled like a stage magician, when I point they look and when I talk they listen!" Nina sang as she danced into living room, a small girl balanced on her hip as a small boy mimicked her movements behind her, "Well everybody needs a friend, and I've got you, and you, and you! So many I can't even name them. Can you blame me? I'm too famous!"
Donnie watched with a small smile as Nina danced with the two dark skinned children. The children giggled as Nina continued singing, her confident voice ringing loud and strong.
"Haven't you noticed I'm a star? I'm coming into view as the world is-"
A knock at the door interrupted them, making the kids protest as Nina set the girl down.
"Come on guys, get your shoes on." Nina told them as she opened the door with a smile, "Hey mom!"
"Hi there, sweetie!" A thin, dark skinned woman smiled as she walked in, "Sorry to keep you from your date."
"I-it wasn't a date!" Nina stuttered, her face turning a bright pink, "We were just going to hang out!"
"Oh, I see." The woman said with a playful nudge.
"R-really! We're just friends!"
Donnie couldn't help chuckling as he watched the woman tease the blonde.
"A-anyways, I already text him to tell him I'd be late. So it should be okay." Nina continued.
Donnie blinked, pulling his phone out to double check his messages. There was nothing from her. A confused look crossed his face as he turned his attention back to them.
"Nina!" The boy whined as he clung to her arm, "Come to the park Sunday!"
"Promise us!" The girl pleaded, clinging to Nina's other arm.
"If you guys are going to beg like that, I'm just going to stay home and study." Nina replied.
"NO!" The two hollered, their voices raising several octaves.
"Hey!" Nina said sternly, "What have I told you guys about whining like that? Mom didn't raise any brats, right?"
The two children pouted as they stared at her. With a sigh, Nina kneeled down, pulling both of them into a hug.
"You guys have to learn you can't get what you want by acting like that." Nina said softly, "Mom works really hard, we can't let people think she didn't teach us any manners, right?"
The children looked at one another before slowly shaking their heads.
"That's what I thought." Nina said with a smile, "If you two can behave, I'll come play with you all day Sunday, okay?"
"Really?!" The two exclaimed.
Nina nodded, making the two cheer as they threw their arms around her. Nina and the woman laughed as Nina stood back up.
"That's our tough big sister, huh kids?" The woman chuckled as she ruffled Nina's hair.
"Mom..." Nina groaned.
Donnie smiled to himself as he watched them exchange their goodbyes. He had never seen that side of Nina before. Usually she was so laid back, he never thought she could have a strict side.
Once the woman and children were gone, Donnie tapped on the window. Nina jumped, turning to see the purple clad turtle waving at her. Blushing, Nina rushed to the window, opening it wider for him to come in.
"How long have you been out there?" She asked, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"Long enough to know you can sing." Donnie replied with a smile as he climbed through the window.
Nina's eyes widened as she stared at him, "Y-you heard that?!"
He nodded, "You have a beautiful voice Nina! Why don't you sing more often?"
Nina glanced around nervously, her cheeks burning a bright red as she repeatedly ran her hands over a thick lock of her blonde hair, "I-I it's not- I mean i-it's not a big deal or anything! Anyone can sing."
"Have you heard Mikey sing?" Donnie asked, raising an eyebrow ridge, "Trust me, not everyone can."
"How could I hear him? I haven't even met him or the rest of your family." Nina laughed.
"That's true." Donnie replied, "Speaking of family, I didn't think I'd see your mom today. Or your siblings."
"Oh, yeah!" Nina chuckled, "Sorry about having to push back hanging out today. Mom had a meeting so she needed me to watch the twins."
"Twins?"
"Yeah," Nina smiled, "They just turned six last week!"
"I didn't realize they were twins." Donnie commented, as he followed Nina into the kitchen.
"A lot of people don't realize it actually. Since Lilly got dad's tall genes a lot of times people think she's a year older than James." Nina explained as she stretched on her toes to reach the two mugs from the shelf.
Without thinking, Donnie reached over her, grabbing the two mugs and handing them to her. With a smile, Nina thanked him before pouring the warm coffee into the mugs. This had become a normal routine for them when Nina's dad wasn't home. Donnie would get the mugs, even though Nina tried to reach them, and Nina would make their coffee. It was so natural for them that a person would think they had been doing this for years instead of a couple months.
Donnie watched as Nina added the sugar to both their mugs, a small amount for him but twice as much for hers. He stirred the sugar in his own mug as Nina added the hazelnut creamer to her.
"By the way," Donnie said, "You told your mom you sent a message to me, didn't you?"
"Yeah, why?" Nina asked.
"Are you sure it went to me?" Donnie asked, "I never got it."
"Really?" Nina asked, setting her mug down.
Donnie followed her to her room. He couldn't help smiling at the large room as he leaned against the door frame. The cream colored walls were covered in photographs, posters, and paintings. The room smelled like apples and cinnamon and was very clean, aside from some clutter on her dresser and the scattered papers on her desk.
"You can come in if you want." Nina said as she pulled her phone off of its charger.
Donnie nodded, stepping into the room as he walked to the wall that was covered in photos. There were several photos of different landscapes, buildings, and people in the city. Donnie's eyes fell on a photo of Nina with four other people. The three girls were leaning close against Nina and another person whose face was covered with a piece of duct tape.
"Oh crap!" Nina hissed, "My message never went through! You were seriously out there all that time?!"
"Erm... yes?" Donnie replied as he stared at the wide eyed girl.
"I'm so sorry about that!" Nina exclaimed, "I never thought to check my phone after I put it on the charger!"
"It's okay, really." Donnie replied, waving his hand, "I'm more curious about this picture."
"Hm?" Nina walked over to him, frowning when she realized which photo he was talking about, "Oh... It's my ex under the tape. If he wasn't in the middle of the photo I would have just cut him out. Honestly, if that wasn't the only picture I have of Emmy, I wouldn't even have it up there."
Nina sighed as she sat on her bed. Donnie glance at the picture before turning his attention back to her.
"Was it that bad?" Donnie asked, "The break up I mean. If you don't mind me asking."
"I don't mind." Nina said, "It was, well..."
Nina bit her bottom lip, trying to find the right words as Donnie sat in the chair for her desk. He carefully moved a couple papers, placing his mug on the desk.
"It was fine at first." Nina finally said, "Things were going good, at least I thought they were, but then he just... He started hinting that he wanted more."
"More?" Donnie gave her a confused look.
Nina nodded, a faint pink color rising in her cheeks, "He... He wanted to do it."
Donnie felt his cheeks burn, "O-oh."
"Yeah," Nina muttered, "I-I didn't want to though."
There was a moment of silence between the two teens before Nina continued, turning her attention to the floor.
"He just kept pushing and I kept telling him I didn't want to. He got mad and asked me why one day. I didn't know why I didn't want to. I just..." She paused for a moment, chewing on her bottom lip, "I just didn't feel like it. I... I don't think I've ever felt like doing that kinda stuff. When I told him that, he got really mad and told me he and his last girlfriend did that kinda stuff all the time. He said..."
Donnie watched as Nina gripped the edge of her bed.
"He said I was just a tease. Cause we would cuddle and kiss, and I liked those things, but I never wanted to go farther. I told him I just didn't feel like doing things like that. I don't know why, I just don't. So he broke up with me and told me he... he didn't want a broken girlfriend."
Donnie stared at her, his brown eyes wide with surprise that someone would talk to Nina like that. Nina looked up at him, her grey eyes shining as if she were holding tears back.
"I-I've never been interested in sex." She said, her voice starting to shake, "I-is that really that strange, Donnie? I'm n-not really broken, right?"
Donnie quickly moved next to Nina, sitting beside her as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"Of course you're not, Nina." Donnie replied, resting his chin on her head, "If anything, it sounds like you're asexual."
"Like, I could make my own baby?" She asked, glancing up at him with a confused look.
"No, no," Donnie replied, trying not to chuckle, "You're thinking of asexual reproduction. Asexual is when a person doesn't have any sexual feelings or desire. It doesn't mean you're broken, Nina. That's the farthest thing from the truth."
"Really?" Nina asked, pulling away from him as she looked at him.
Donnie nodded, a small smile on his face.
"How do you know about that?" She asked, "Are you..?"
"Me?" Donnie felt himself blush, "N-no, I'm not. As far as I'm aware of I'm straight. Though when you have as hard of a time sleeping as I do, you manage to do a lot of reading."
"I see." Nina said as she looked away for a moment, before looking back at him with a smile. "Thanks, Donnie. I never really thought of it that way before."
"I'm glad I could help." Donnie said, flashing his usual gap toothed grin.
Nina let out a small giggle when she saw his smile. She didn't think he would ever notice how cute his smile really was.
"How bout we change the topic?" Nina suggested, "My dad won't be home for a while, do you wanna watch this ocean documentary I recorded last night?"
"Sure!"