It's eleven in the morning when the apartment door opens. I haven't gotten sleep since Raphael left, I couldn't stop thinking about the whole situation even though Violet is still asleep in my room and I am seated on the couch. I remember how I felt nearly a year ago, how I wanted all the dreams to stop and how I wanted nothing but to leave this hellhole called earth, and how particularly difficult it was when Raph left so easily. Just like that.
I don't look at Vern when I speak. "Why would you lie, Vern?" I ask, my voice soft. He closes the door and walks swiftly towards me, his face confused.
"Hey, hello." he says sarcastically before sitting down next to me, but I still can't look at him. I can't shake the disappointment I felt when Raph told me that Vern said I'd died and he needed space. Why would he do that? "What did I lie about?" he asks.
I face him now, my eyebrows furrowed. "Was Raph my birthday present? Because that's just sick-"
"Raph? No!" Vern stands up quickly before walking to the kitchen counter and picking up a pamphlet. He walks back to me and hands it to me. "It's this." I take the pamphlet from him and read the front. "I'm adopting a dog for the apartment." he explains even though I can read the advertisement in front of me. Vern knows I love dogs. Back on the farm we had plenty. I've always wanted a dog for the apartment, and I've practically been begging Vern to get us one. "What does Raph have to do with anything?" asks Vern. It feels as if somebody has splashed me with cold water as I'm drawn back into reality. I scoot further away from Vern as I look at him with an accusatory facial expression.
"Raphael was here." I explain, and I notice Vern suck in a breath. "He thought I was dead." I shove the pamphlet back at him in anger. "You told him I'm dead?"
Confusion washes over Vern's face as he stares at me, trying to figure out if I'm joking or not. "Why would I do that? I haven't spoken to the turtles since they asked for my help. You are my priority so as soon as I was done helping them, I focused on you." he sighs hard. "I don't know why Raph told you that, but it isn't true."
I look at Vern. Do I believe him? The last time I didn't believe him about something, it turned out that he was completely right. I shut my eyes and sigh, not knowing what to believe anymore.
"I believe you." I tell Vern, though it's mostly a half-truth. "I don't know why Raphael would lie to me, though." I'm slightly pissed as I stand up. "But I'll find out tonight when I go to the lair."
"When you go to the what?" Vern's overprotective side is coming out now.
"The lair." I bite my lip sheepishly. "With Violet." as I say this, Vern stands up quickly, clearly shocked.
"What? No way, Emma, you know how irresponsible-"
"Coffee?" I interrupt him with a sweet grin on my face. When he gives me a pissed look, I sigh and my shoulders slump forward. "Relax, Vern. I'm eighteen now, I'm a responsible young adult and I can handle Raph."
"You might be eighteen, but you're not responsible. Need I remind you..." his sentence hangs in the air and I refrain from rolling my eyes. I know he's talking about the failed suicide attempt, but why can't he just let it go? I'm a different person now.
"That was so long ago." I say. "I just wanna go to the lair to find out the truth. I'll be safe."
Vern wants to protest again, I can see it, but then he sighs and shrugs. "You're too stubborn and it's too early." he sighs. "Gin and I wanted to know if you and Vi wanted to go for lunch, but considering the fact that Violet is asleep and sleeps until forever, I'm thinking it's a bad idea."
"Yeah, it is." I admit before walking to the coffee machine. "Go, we'll be fine."
"Alright." he sighs. "Don't forget we're going gift shopping tomorrow."
