Learning To Love Red

Chapter 7

Chanel's POV

After 30 minutes of just letting the warm water cleanse me, I finally stepped out wrapping a towel around myself. I looked through the yellow duffle bag for a pair of clothes. I pulled out a baggy pair of gray sweatpants and a baggy red sweatshirt.

When I was fully dressed I grabbed the toothpaste and toothbrush, when I finished I placed my supplies on the side of the sink. I looked up at the mirror and this time I recognized the girl looking back at me. My face had a pink glow to it making my freckles not as noticeable. My eyes were slightly swollen from the tears I had shed in the shower, I sighed and shook my head as I ran the hairbrush April had put in the duffle through my damp red hair.

I could hear laughter from the other side of the door. I put my clothes and towel into the hamper as I finished gathering supplies back inside the bag. I put the bag on my shoulder, taking a deep breath I let my hand rest on the door knob, for a moment to think.

I knew that once I walked out there,they would have questions which they deserved answers to. Taking a deep breath I slowly opened the door, I stepped into the hallway looking around my surroundings. I didn't see anyone around at first, but I could hear the echoes of laughter surround me.

I couldn't help but smile as I headed to towards the steps. I spotted all four turtles gathered in the kitchen the were all chuckling at who knows what.

I stood there at the bottom of the stairs and watched as they playfully shoved one an other, like a loving family. This time I wore a sad smile as I thought of the family I lost. I nearly jumped when I heard a familiar Brooklyn accent speak.

"Hey Chanel, why don't you join us?"

Raph was staring at with a lazy smile on his lips. I felt myself blush as his green eyes stayed focused on me as I walked toward them, setting my bag down next to the couch, glancing to see the evening news on the tv.

"Something smells delicious."

I said taking in the wonderful smell that filled the whole kitchen. I looked at each one of them carefully, Donnie was sitting at the table focused on a rubrics cube, which he almost had solved. The blue masked one -who's name I couldn't remember- was sitting on the counter with a apple in one hand and a book in the other.

Michelangelo was wearing a chefs hat standing in front of the stove, he had headphones and was dancing making me smile. Raph was leaning against the refrigerator with a stop watch in his hand, his eyes still locked on me.

"30 seconds brainiac."

Raph glanced down at the stop watch smirking.

"Done."

Donnie put the completely solved cube down on the table before leaning back in the chair, his arms behind his with a smug look on his face. The blue masked turtle put his book down and jumped off the counter, taking a bite of his apple he pointed at Raph.

"What's his time?"

He said with excitement.

"2 minutes exactly."

Raph said shaking head in disbelief. I grabbed the cube to get a good look at it.

"Wow that's impressive."

I placed the cube back on the table.

"Yeah yeah, Donnie can solve a rubrics cube but he can't cook nowhere as good as me."

Michelangelo turned around with a pot in one hand and a wooden spoon in the other. Donnie put his chair legs back on the floor, tilted his head to the side looking at him.

"I could cook if I wanted too, at least I cook better then Raph."

He said turning to look up at Raph with a smug smile.

"I am not that bad."

Raph fired back tossing the stop watch to me. Clumsily I caught it smiling up at him as he continued to pester his brothers.

"At least I don't set the toaster on fire."

He playfully shoved the blue clad turtle who threw his arms up.

"In my defense it wasn't my fault, plus Im still cook better than the both of you."

He laughed pointing at Raph and Donnie. Their playfulness made me feel a mixture of happiness and sadness for what I saw before me and for what I lost.

"Chanel why don't you take a seat, I think the soup Mikey made for you is done."

Donnie motioned for me to sit down, I took the seat next to him, using my hand to push some of my hair out of my face. I watched as the orange masked turtle place a bowl of soup in front of me, then placed a glass of water next to me. He than handed me a small silver spoon.

"Eat up dudette."

He said giving me a playful wink.

"Thank you Michelangelo."

I smiled up at him, he quickly returned the smile before speaking again.

"Call me Mikey, I only go by Michelangelo when I do something dumb."

His comment made me chuckle a little.

"Which happens a lot."

Raph said as he sat next to me, Mikey stuck his tongue out at him before dancing away. I blew on the soup trying to cool it, before putting a spoonful in my mouth. I savored the creamy potato flavor as is it filled my mouth.

"This is amazing."

I mumbled under my breath so that only Raph could hear me.

"You think that's good you should try his deserts sometime."

He whispered back to me, I smiled at him.

"Don't laugh at me but I forgot his name."

I whispered nodding my head towards the blue masked turtle sitting across from me, who was still eating his apple and reading his book again. Raph laughed before motioning his hand towards him.

"His name is Lame-anardo, but you can call him Fearless."

"Thank you Raphael or should I call you hot head?"

Raph stopped his laughing and glared at his brother, who smiled at me.

"I go by Leo."

He nodded his head at me with a smirk, before turning his attention back to his book. Raph continued to glare at his brother until I gave him a playful nudge. He his attention back to me with a warm smile.

"You better eat your soup before it gets cold." His bright green eyes stayed locked on me as I took a sip of my water.

"What are you guys gonna eat?" I asked taking another bite of my soup. I watched him as he smirked before leaning back in his chair. He opened his mouth to speak but the voice that I heard was female.

"Hey boys I brought the pizza!"