True Love

Monkey Brains

Monkey Brains

~Chapter 9~

Monkey Brains

After a few weeks of hanging out with the turtles, only one thing nags me. Telling April about my mutant powers.

I still haven't told her, since she might not want me to be a mutant. It's hard to explain.

I type away on my laptop, and balance between answering Alli online and feeding treats to Hachiko. He balances on his hind legs, trying to get the box on the kitchen table. Since I'm sitting at the table, I move the box further away from the Akita. He growls, and suddenly jumps onto the table, grabs the box, and runs out of the room.

"Hachiko!" I yell. I abandon my laptop and run after my dog. "Get back here!"

He jumps the stairs and runs into Donnie's lab. I run after him, tripping on a piece of metal. Hachiko drops the box and barks, stealing another treat. I roll my eyes and glare at Hachiko.

"Alright, boy," I say, leaning on my arm. "You win this round, okay?" He barks and licks my face, placing his paw onto my forehead.

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I grab my laptop and race to Donnie's lab, where the turtles gather around the purple-masked turtle. He's drawing on some chart with a marker. He doesn't seem to know the others are around him.

"Whatcha up to, Donnie?" Leo asks, breaking the silence and Donnie's concentration.

"Just putting the finishing touches on my master plan," Donnie announces.

"Master plan?" Raph asks.

"Yeah," Donnie says. "To get Annie to hang out with me." The turtles laugh at the scientist. My face reddens. Wha...?

"Try this," Leo suggests. "'Annie, do you want to hang out with me?'" I face-palm.

"It's not that simple," Donnie says, waving the marker. "I have to prepare for every possible response to maximize my chances of success."

"Aww," Mikey coos. "That's so romantic."

Donnie hooks the chart onto a board and rolls it in front of his brothers. He clears his throat. "Yeah, for instance, if Annie says she can't because she has homework, then I will suggest an informal study session and serve healthy, brain-stimulating snacks."

I smile. Dude, I'd hang out with you even if I had a truckload of papers for school. I take out my phone and zoom the camera on the chart. I snap a pic of it before shoving it back into my pocket.

"Well, what if she says she can't because you're a total nerd?" Raph asks.

Donnie's face still holds the cute smile. "Ah, that's this thread here. I will list my non-nerdy qualities and suggest activities that will highlight my coolness, such as skateboarding, or shark wrestling."

I walk into the room. "Hey, guys!"

Donnie shrieks as he turns the chart over. "Hey, hey, An-hey, Annie," he stumbles.

I smile. "Hey, Donnie." I turn to the turtles and open my laptop. "You guys gotta check this out." I pull up a news video.

"'Renowned neurochemist Dr. Tyler Rockwell has been reported missing,'" a reporter says. "'I spoke with Rockwell's colleague, Dr. Victor Falco.'"

"'I hadn't heard from him in days, so I stopped by his lab,'" Falco says. "'The place was a mess, and he was gone. I fear the worst.'" I shut the laptop.

"So?" Raph asks.

"So, the Kraang have been kidnapping scientists from all over the city, including my dad." The thought of him in Kraang clutches makes me sick. "Maybe that's what happened to this Rockwell guy."