Loving Raph Is Red (TMNT) ✔

4: Stuck With You

"You wouldn't believe me, trust me." He said. I tried to follow the voice behind the wall.

In the most quiet way possible, I moved my feet to get to the wall. Quickly, I glanced to my left and saw nothing but an empty space behind the wall. At this point, I was somehow considering that I'm talking to a ghost.

I thought I could outsmart him by sneaking up but I realized maybe he's too fast or he's a ghost. "You don't know that." I muttered then just leaned against the wall instead, facing a different building. I paused, waiting for some kind of response but I realized I was left there all alone.

It was fun when I thought I'd had some alone time, but then it got more fun when I thought I'd end up chatting with a criminal, but he's gone. An hour later, I finally decided to find a way to escape from the rooftop. I looked around the ledge, trying to find people but it looks like everyone just went to bed. Hopeless, I sat behind the door and hugged my knees to myself as I wrapped my cardigan around them. Somehow, it felt cold again.

I looked up and saw how the clouds looked closer from here. I watched how the reflection of the stop light appeared brightly on the clouds. The clouds appeared red. How majestic. It looked like I'm in an action movie. It made me wish I had my phone, but, stupidity at its finest, I left it in my room. Guess I'll have to wait until dawn, I thought and leaned my chin on top of my knees.

---

"I can't leave her...Should I...no...But..." I mumbled aloud, pacing the rooftop from the building beside hers. Why did she have to get stuck outside? Why did it had to be tonight? Why when I had to be here?

I convinced myself that she is not my responsibility. I convinced myself that she's nobody and that she merely tried to expose me and my brothers. But I could not leave. Instead of running back, I stayed and watched her stare at the sky for an hour. I looked up and saw nothing. She seemed interested. And so I became interested.

Then, I realized that I had plenty of time to waste. After that heated argument with Leo, I decided to get some fresh air away from his being before I get tempted to crush his skull again.

Besides, this is far too interesting.

I looked at her from afar. The brave, stern girl looked so calm and vulnerable as she sat behind the door, locked out. I sneered. She can pretend to be brave all she wants but here she is, looking like a little girl...so lost...so...tame...so...

I shook my head awake. Paused. Stared.

"The hell with it." I said aloud and jumped back to the building.

---

She leaned her head against the door and closed her eyes. I hid myself behind one of the chimney steams. "You planning to hang here all night or did you just lock yourself out?" I asked aloud.

The girl didn't even open her eyes. She sighed instead.

"Is this visit thing by the hour or?" She asked with an annoyed tone,

Visit? The hell is she talking about. "Visit?"

"Is that what ghosts do now? Annoy the psychics by the hour?" She opened her eyes but kept them at the clouds above us.

Ghost? She thinks I'm a ghost? 

"You think you're psychic?" I laughed at her. I couldn't help it. Out of all, she thinks this is some sort of ghost thing. I laughed hard.

"Well you can't tell me I'm dead because I can still feel." She looked around and rubbed her arms, trying to warm herself.

"I'm not a ghost." I said.

She grimaced, "Kinda hoped you were. Maybe you could pass through this door and open it for me."

"Can ghosts even make objects move?" I kid,

She sneered, "You tell me."

"I'm not a ghost." I said sternly. Then, we both paused.

"What's with the hiding then?" She asked and looked at my direction. Her eyes felt like it pierced through me. It felt as if she could see me. It made me paranoid that I had to make sure I was deep in the shadows so it was hard enough for her to figure out.

"If I was planning to expose you, I would have told the cops by then." She said and looked away, making me sigh in relief. "And why are you here?" She added.

"Just saw you needed some help." I turned the topic around.

She clambered to get on her feet and I shifted, paranoid she would see me. But she only stood there and looked at my direction again.

"So you were watching me?" She asked. Her face was unreadable. I couldn't tell if she was mad or was okay with it. 

I didn't say a word. 

She opened her mouth as if to say something, but then she paused, then sighed instead.

"Okay." She said and turned around, tried to pull the door but she failed again. So, she walked to the ledge and sat there. I had to stay in place. I wanted to see her face but I had to stay in the shadows. I couldn't see her again now.

"Why do I get the impression that you're not scared?" I asked just out of curiosity.

"I'm not the one hiding, so..."

Clever girl.

"Besides," she added, "It's not everyday you get to chat with someone...strange...and mysterious...or just straight up weird because for some reason he doesn't want to show himself even though we've already been chatting like we've known each other for so long."

She's right. It's kinda weird.

"I can't." I muttered.

She quietly responded, "I understand. You don't trust me yet."

I sneered.

"What?"

"That's just funny."

"What's funny?" She asked annoyed,

I laughed, "It's you who won't trust me."

"That doesn't make sense. I wouldn't be continuing this weird ass convo with a shadow man if I didn't somehow trust you. It's you who don't trust a woman even though you're both simply talking."

I didn't say a word. She's right again. I really should go before I'm tempted, I thought.

"You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

I looked to my right and saw the light coming from the street light just a step away from me. Slowly, I dragged my foot to it. Then, I allowed the tail of my red bandanna to be blown by the wind, making her see it. But before I stepped out, the metal door made a loud sound. Then, it opened. Her landlord appeared and gasped at the sight of her. Immediately, I leaned against the wall and hid myself completely.

"Oh there you are!" The old man said and began to apologize to her, "Sorry I just read the message now. How long have you been here?" He handed her a blanket.

I peeked slightly, enough to see. I saw her look at my direction, confused. She didn't know I found a way to notify her landlord minutes ago before I appeared to her again. I messaged her landlord and told him that she got locked out and that he needed to help her out. But I didn't know that in those few minutes, I would grow to like her.