The Call (a TMNT fanfiction)

Chapter 17: Confessions

"You always need to be prepared. Always. Expect the unexpected," I warn, quickly tossing the basketball to my cousin.

It's Saturday, about half past noon. Our family has driven up to Mom's sister, Elizabeth's home in Rhinebeck, New York. Aunt Elizabeth lives with her husband and three kids and is the only family that we have nearby.

At the moment, I'm practicing basketball with my eleven year old cousin, Alice. The snow is lively and white, and the air bites through my sweater and nibbles at my skin. Although it's freezing outside, it's that time of the year where it's cold but not enough that wearing a heavy coat is necessary. The sun is beating down, as if trying to melt away all the snow. 

"Alli, Mom wants you to do your homework," Alice's thirteen year old brother, Gavin, calls out from the door.

She looks upset that she can't play longer.

I just smile and toss the basketball into a bin.

"We'll practice more another time," I say.

Alice reminds me a lot of myself. She's sensitive, but loves to talk and hang out with people. She doesn't look a lot like me though. She has straight, blonde hair that goes to her shoulders and her eyes are a beautiful hazel brown.

While she takes a seat at the counter, I collapse onto the couch and begin watching the movie that's already playing, which is the movie Brave. Five-year-old Isabella walks over to me and takes a seat. Bella has long, wavy red hair. She smiles at me and points to the screen.

"Merida has hair like mine, but mine isn't curly. Yours is!" she tells me, playing with my spirals of hair.

"I know. Maybe if we mixed our hair together, then we could have Merida's hair," I tease, taking a strip of her hair and placing it next to mine. "Alright, this should do. Where's the glue?"

Isabella laughs and shakes her head.

"You can't glue hair!" she exclaims. She takes a seat right next to me, snuggling close. She is now intensely watching the new movie, Rise of the Guardians.

Alice takes a seat on the other side of me, and Gavin stands behind me, leaning on the couch with his forearms. Uncle West and Aunt Liz have made their way onto the other couch, and Rose and Mom are hanging on the blue carpet.

My cell phone rings about halfway through the movie. I pick it up and see that it's Leo. I grin. Ever since that night I had stayed home from work, we have all put a considerable amount of effort into seeing each other. After all, they did kind of save my life. Twice.

I don't want to disrupt the movie though, so I just look up at Mom. She has a teasing glint in her eyes.

"It's Leo, isn't it?" she asks.

"No," I lie.

Benj laughs. "It's definitely Leo."

"No, it's not." 

Rose smiles and nods. "It's Leo."

Uncle Weston chuckles. "Is there a boyfriend that I need to beat up?" he teases. "I can give him the talk."

"No boyfriend, no talk. Let's focus on the movie," I please, but Mom pauses it.

"We'll take an intermission. Now in the meantime, answer the dang phone-call." Mom pauses the movie. 

I click answer and put the phone to my ear.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Lexi." His even, kind voice fills my ears and my stomach flips several times before I can respond.