After school, April and Jake decided that they would visit the turtles once again. They figured they would bring Makayla along with them this time, but she declined the offer and just went straight back home.

As Jake and April we're headed back to the lair, they had some things to discuss.

"I wonder what's up with her." April said. "She didn't seem too happy."

"Oh, I just overheard her having a talk with Douxie." Jake said.

"Overheard? Or intentionally eavesdropped?" April asked, rasing an eyebrow.

"Either way you slice it, I heard them talking." Jake said. "And I just don't think they're happy with the each other right now."

"What could you make out from the conversation?" April asked. "If anything, of course."

"Well, there was a book involved." Jake said. "And I think Douxie is suspicious of me for some reason."

"What would need to be suspicious about?" April asked.

"I don't know." Jake shrugged. "I guess he just wants an excuse to justify his hatred of me."

"I don't think he hates you." April said. "These things take some time, that's all."

"Easy for you to say." Jake said. "You don't have any siblings."

"No, but I still have some empathy for you guys." April said. "It must be hard living with them."

Jake didn't want to continue this conversation, so he thought of something to change the topic. "Is this the spot?" Jake asked, pointing to an alleyway.

"Yep. Let's go." April said, leading Jake back down into the sewers.

"Ugh. . . I can't believe you do this every other day." Jake said, climbing down the ladder. "How did you manage to get used to it?"

"Time helps with that." April said. "You'll get used to it with time."

"Doubt it." Jake said.

Once they were in the tunnels, they continue forward until they reached the turtles' lair.

Once in the lair, Mikey was there to instantly greet them with a big smile on his face.

"Jake, you've returned!" Mikey said with a smile.

"Of course." Jake said. "Now that I know your secret, I might as well keep seeing you guys."

"Is that an excuse to be around April?" Donnie asked, bitterly.

"What, no." Jake said. "I just thought I'd hang out with my new friends. That includes April, too."

"You're both awfully close." Donnie said. "In fact, you two are always next to each other when you visit."

"Donnie, knock it off." Leo said. "Sorry about him. He's a bit of the jealous type."

"Yeah, especially since he has a crush on April." Raph said.

"I do not!" Donnie said.

"Oh come on, D." Mikey smirked. "We all know it. Even April knows at this point."

April blushed before looking away, slightly embarrassed.

"Alright, cut it out." Leo said, again. "Don't worry, Jake. Just some harmless brother banter."

"I get it." Jake said. "I have a sister. In fact, I was thinking of bringing her over as well to meet you guys."

"Well, that's good that you didn't." Donnie said, coldly. "The less who know of our existence, the better."

"Donnie!" April said, angrily.

"What? I can't share my thoughts?" Donnie scoffed. "When did that become a problem?"

"You're acting rude right now." April said. "And to your new guest, no less."

"So?" Donnie said. "I couldn't give two darns about him."

"Don't worry about it." Raph said. "He'll come around eventually. He likes to hate on anyone who's close to April."

"Yeah, just ask Casey." Mikey said.

"You guys also know Casey?" Jake asked.

"*You* know him?" Leo asked.

"Well. . . we met." Jake said, shrugging. "He's someone who I could probably see myself being on good terms with."

"Unlike Donnie, I'm guessing." Mikey said.

"I'll have a talk with Donnie." April said. "Why don't you all get to know each other better? Maybe some icebreakers could be fun?"

With that said, April pulled Donnie away and went into his lab with him.

"So, Jake. . ." Mikey said, starting up a conversation. "You have a sister? Is she cool?"

"Well, you could say that." Jake said. "She's, like, the only family I've got. Aside from our guardians, of course."

"Cool." Mikey smiled. "Tell me more."

_______

With April and Donnie, they were having a small talk about him and his new attitude towards Jake.

"Look. . . I just don't think it's a good idea to have a stranger know of our existence in the first place." Donnie said. "What of he's working for the foot? Or he could even be a Kraang? Remember Irma?"

"I trust him, Donnie." April said, defending the bright blue haired boy. "He was one of the first people to show me kindness when everybody else still hates me for what I did, despite not knowing the full story."

"Should Jake know the full story then?" Donnie asked. "Cause I'm sure he'd be like everybody else."

"I can't tell him." April said.

"Cause you're scared he'd be like everybody else?" Donnie asked.

"Well. . ." April said, not being able to find the right words to say.

"If he can't know about your troubling past, then you don't trust him enough." Donnie said. "I'm not saying you should tell him about it, but it's something to keep in mind."

"What happened to you?" April asked. "You were so chill before, when we met."

"Yeah. And then there were guys who kept trying to get close to you." Donnie said.

"Donnie. . . are you okay?" April asked. "Tell me what's really going on."

Donnie sighed as he didn't know if this was the right time to tell her his true feelings. But if she wanted to know, then he had to tell her eventually.

"You know how the guys are always teasing me for having a crush on you?" Donnie asked.

"Yeah. . . it's a little weird." April said.

"Well. . . it's true." Donnie said. "If it wasn't obvious to you before, now it is. I've had very strong feelings for you since I first laid my eyes on you."

"Donnie. . ." April said.

"It's all been very confusing to me." Donnie said. "And while my friends have been the same, you've always been giving me mixed signals."

"What do you mean?" April asked.

"For example, you've kissed me. . . multiple times." Donnie said. "And you've given me hugs. . . even more times."

"Oh, Donnie. That's-" April tried to say something, but Donnie still continued talking.

"And when you're around other guys, it feels like I'm in the background." Donnie said. "Cause you get so close to other guys, like Casey or Jake. It just. . . it bugs me."

"Donnie. . ." April said, finally realizing what's happening. "Are you. . . jealous?"

Donnie sighed and looked down. "That's one word for it, yes." He admitted.

"I. . . I had no idea." April said.

"I just. . . I can't see myself being friends with Jake." Donnie said. "Like, never."

"Well, I'm sorry you feel this way." April said. "But. . . you know you're my friend. I'll always have time for you and the guys. Even if it's. . . confusing."

"Well, you could start by gathering your own feelings." Donnie said. "How do you truly feel about me? About Casey? About Jake?"

April's eyes went wide as she thought about it. She honestly didn't know what she wanted.

"All three of you are important to me." April said. "My feelings don't just go to one of you."

"Well, if that's the case. . . you might have to think harder." Donnie said. "Cause if you find out your true feelings, then you'll have leave two of us behind."

"Wait, I don't want to do that." April said. "Even if I end up dating one of you, I can make time for all of you."

"And until that happens, I can't be friendly." Donnie said. "Me. . . Casey. . . Jake. . . we're all rivals until further notice."

With that said, Donnie left the lab to confront Jake once again.

"Jake. . . I have something to say to you." Donnie said.

"Huh? Oh, okay." Jake said, confused. "What's up?"

"From now on, we're rivals." Donnie said. "We'll see who can win April's heart the fastest. And the winner. . . will be victorious."

"Well, yeah." Mikey said, oblivious to the situation. "That's how winning works, D."

"Donnie, please. . . it doesn't have to be this way." April said, with anger coming out of her voice. "I'm not some precious trophy to be earned. I'm just a girl who wants everyone to get along."

"Nope, it's settled." Donnie said. "I've had too many hurdles in the way of my chances with you, April. It ends here and now. End of story."

With that, Donnie went back into his lab and slammed the doors.

When he was out of earsight, April walked up to Jake and sat down beside him.

"April, are you okay?" Jake asked.

"Why does he have to do this to me?" April asked, as she out her face in her hands. "Everything involving me is like a game to him. But. . . I guess as long as you don't agree to it, then it's fine. I don't want guys fighting over me. Especially my friends."

"I'll try to talk Donnie out of it." Leo said, standing up.

"No, don't bother." April said. "He's serious with this."

"Why don't you just make him snap out of it yourself then?" Raph asked.

"I don't want to be treated as a prize to be won." April said. "But I'm afraid that I won't be able to convince him otherwise."

Jake smiled as he put a hand on her shoulder, causing her to look at him. "If it makes you feel any better, I won't play this stupid 'game' that he's playing." He said with a reassuring smile. "I respect you too much to do that to you. And if Donnie can't understand that, then he's just gonna lose by default. And I say that as a joke, with zero seriousness attached."

April smiled. "Thanks, Jake. I knew I could count on you to not be an idiot." She said, wiping her face with her sleeve.

"My sister's brother may disagree, but I'm too cool for any of this crap." Jake said. "And I promise of I have to. . . I'll protect you from Donnie."

"I don't think we'll have to worry about him doing anything too crazy." April said. "But I appreciate it."

April then smiled as she suddenly embraced Jake in a friendly hug. "You're a really good friend, Jake." She said. "And I'm glad we met."

Jake smiled as he returned the hug. "Yeah. . . me too." He said.

"Ooh, this is a point for Jake if I had to guess." Mikey said.

Raph groaned as he smacked him on the back of the head. "We're not on anyone's side, idiot." He said, with a tad bit of anger in his voice. "It'll only make April feel worse."

"Right. . . sorry." Mikey said.

"It's okay, Mikey." April chuckled. "In fact. . . I'd like it if you could actually root for Jake. . . or even Casey."

"Say what now?" Mikey asked.

"I thought you didn't like being seen as a prize." Leo said. "And now you want to-"

"If Donnie is serious about this, then we might as well play along." April said. "I hate to play with his feelings like this, but there's no other way to do it."

"So. . . we pretend that we want Jake or Casey to win." Leo said. "That sounds like it will go downhill pretty fast."

"I don't know. . . I'd like to see Donnie get slapped in the face by the competition." Raph said with a smirk. "Even if it's all gonna be an act in the end."

"I'm down!" Mikey said. "And I'm rooting for you, Jake!"

"This is a bad idea at its finest." Leo said. "But. . . I guess I'll go with it."

"Really?" Jake asked. "You're really okay with this, April?"

"Of course I am." April said. "It's all harmless fun in the end, right?"

"But. . . it's still a fake competition to get to your heart." Jake said. "And didn't you just say-"

"Yes, it's still an uncomfortable situation to be in, for sure." April said. "But I still want to see Donnie fail as badly as you do. Even if I'm not the end goal for you or Casey."

"So. . . that's it then? You're really okay with this?" Jake asked. 'I can see where the mixed signaling comes from on Donnie's end.' He then thought to himself. 'I'm so confused.'

"Yeah, I am." April said. "End of story."

"If you say so." Jake said.

At that moment, Jake's phone suddenly went off as he took a look at it and instantly grew angry when he saw what it was. 'How the hell did she get my number?' He thought to himself.

"What's the matter, Jake?" April asked.

"I got a text message." Jake said.

"That's not so bad." Mikey said.

"It's from Natalie." Jake said.

"That's psycho?" April said in shock. "What does she want?"

"I don't know, but she gave me an address." Jake said. "I guess I have to go and pay her a little visit."

"Who's Natalie?" Mikey asked.

"It's a love issue of my own that I need to deal with." Jake said. "But I'll be back later."

With that said, Jake stood up and left the lair with an angry look on his face.

"Is this another case of competition?" Mikey asked. "Cause if so. . . I'm on team Japril."

"What?" Raph said.

"Japril. It's a combination of 'Jake' and 'April'." Mikey said with a smile, before it fading when he noticed the looks on everyone's faces. "What, too much?"

"Yeah. . ." Leo said.

"Very much so." April winced.

"Don't say that ever again." Raph said.

To be continued. . .

Jake Moon belongs to me

Makayla Light (mentioned) belongs to makaylaLight435

TMNT belongs to Nickelodeon

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