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Chapter Text

The cafe’s atmosphere was a welcoming calm to April's busy days. Going from casting to casting every day can become an overbearing, repetitive schedule, where everything is loud and just busy, busy, busy. Don’t get her wrong, she loved being a model, but her agency was sending her through a loop with the number of castings she was attending. But alas, that’s what came with New York Fashion Week. She wasn’t even that big in the modeling world; she booked just enough to keep herself comfortable and her agents happy, but it wasn’t like people knew her name. 

She wasn’t the only busy woman in the world, that was for sure. The line she stood in had people in front of her and behind her, all tapping their feet, glancing at their watches, or peeking over the line to see how much longer they had to go. As busy as she may have been, she excelled in managing her time. She would always ensure she had more than enough space to get her favorite coffee without panicking about being late. 

April hummed a soft song to herself while she waited, checking over her schedule for the day. She had three castings to attend, two of which were very common to see during NYFW, while the other was a brand-new designer. She’d be going to walk for Maxwell first, just after she gets her drink. She had walked for them before, but that was two years ago, and she hadn’t been booked since, so she wasn’t sure how to feel going into that casting. Next, she’d walk for the up-and-coming designer, a woman named Cassandra J. That audition, April was going in kind of blind. She had done some brief research on the designer after her agent sent her the details, but there wasn’t much. Cassandra had been an extravagant fashion design student, many of her class displays catching the eyes of higher-ups, but even so, she hardly made any social connections. A recluse, some said. A narcissist, said others. It didn't matter to April; she just wanted the job.

Before she moved forward in the line, April sent a quick message to her best friend, Sunita, to see if she was also headed to the Maxwell casting. Finally, her turn, she pocketed her phone and slipped out her wallet. When the cashier greeted her, she returned it in kind. “Can I get a medium iced spiced mocha, please?” The man behind the counter nodded and typed in the order. Once she paid, she stepped off to the side, nearly dropping her wallet. Whoops.

Her hands kept slipping as she attempted to put her credit card away, the thin leather layers folding in on themselves. “Oh come on,” April groaned, slightly annoyed. 

As she struggled, she overheard the next person in line.

“Oh, shit,” the woman mummbled, patting down the sides of her cargo pants, her pockets empty. “Where the hell is my wallet- shit, I’m sorry, you can cancel that order.” She groaned, dragging a hand down her face. She sounded tired. 

Without really thinking it through, April stepped forward and tapped her card over the scanner. Why not help someone out? It’s always nice to get a helping hand.

The woman in front of April quickly turned towards her, her eyebrows raised in surprise. “Uh- thank you! You didn’t have to do that.” She stayed still until the cashier handed her a receipt, which she awkwardly grabbed and stepped away from the line.

April shrugged, “It’s no big deal.” She chuckled to herself, “My card wouldn’t go back into my wallet anyway, maybe it was waiting for you.” When she looked back up, she got a proper look at the stranger in front of her. She was a few inches shorter than April, but the thick platforms of the woman’s boots compensated for the difference. Her dark hair was buzzed short, but a little grown out. She had dark eyes and tanned skin, eye bags visible but not as severe as others she’d seen. Her brother, Donnie, always sported some designer-level eye bags. “I’m April.” She held out her hand.

The woman returned her smile, “My friends call me Casey.” She took April's hand and gave it a strong shake. She must be in business. Or it was just the toned muscles that ran up her arms- April, stop staring at her muscles. She tore her eyes away. April would be lying if she said she didn’t find Casey cute. The muscles were certainly a bonus. 

“Lovely to meet you, Casey. I’ve never seen you at this cafe before. Are you new around or just straying from your usual?” 

“Ehh, a little bit of both.” Casey put her hands in her pockets and leaned out a hip, relaxing into the stance. “I grew up around New York City, but not this far in. I moved here for work, and I’ve got stuff going on near here today.”

“Cool! Well, hopefully I can see you here more often, then?”

Casey released a humored breath, “I can certainly try, but,” She grimaced and shrugged playfully. A woman of high demand, apparently.  “We’ll see.” April nodded, understanding. While she was an outstanding, loyal customer, she knew busy people didn’t tend to be consistent. Get coffee where you can and hope for the best.

April loved listening to Casey’s voice. There was something so strong about it, so simple and warming. She wanted to hear that voice forev- Oh, girl, calm down, you’ve just met her. 

Then April's drink was called, catching her slightly off guard. Honesty, she had forgotten what she was waiting for. As she grabbed her drink, the phone in her back pocket buzzed—a message from Sunita. Shit, right, she had to get leave for the casting. 

“I've gotta run, but,” April gave a genuine smile, “I hope to see you again!” She waved, rushing off.

Casey stammered a goodbye and waved, watching April as she left.

It was only when April was halfway to the casting that she realized she hadn't asked for Casey’s number. Damnit. She should have asked what she did for work, what her schedule was like, when she was free- Good lord, April! Get a hold of yourself.

As she went about her day, April’s mind kept finding its way back to Casey. How her eyes were both kind and determined, how strong she looked, her boisterous voice, the desire to see her again. The only time Casey dodged her thoughts was when April was busy walking for the castings. Maxwell went well enough; she hadn’t stumbled or tripped, but she wasn’t super notable. After that underwhelming casting, she made her way to the next one. She was fairly proud of her walk for Cassandra J., as she made sure to be memorable. To her surprise, hardly any time had passed after she left the casting when her agent gave her a call.

“O’Neil! How’s it going?” Her agent, Kelly, asked. 

April moved to the side of the walkway, strangers passing her by as they moved on with their day. The wind brushed lightly against her face as she leaned against a building wall and looked up at the sky. “Pretty good, I’m about to walk into the Herrera casting. What’s up?”

“Fantastic news! Cassandra J. just booked you. I’ll send you the details in a bit.” 

April stood upright quickly, faltering for a moment. “Shit, actually? That was quick.” She wrapped up the conversation with Kelly, shocked and pleased, before walking into the final casting of the day. 

___

April ended up booking with Herrera as well, which was a pleasant surprise. She liked to joke that Maxwell had a personal vendetta against her. Over the weeks after the cafe incident, April returned day after day, as she usually would. Except now, she looked out every time for a specific eye-catching woman who swarmed her thoughts. But she never saw Casey again. She must not have been joking about being too busy to frequent the place. As much as she hated to say it, she was rapidly losing hope that she’d ever see her again, which was far more saddening than she’d like to admit. That was until the Cassandra J. show finally rolled around several weeks later.

Now, typically, April never really bothered to catch a brief look at the designers before her shows. She would have all of her energy on being focused and in the zone for her walk, and she dismissed their arrival like many people did. But her interest had grown for Casssandra J., since there was hardly any word spreading about her. The ever-elusive woman was a mystery to most, so was she so wrong to want to know what she looked like?

And thank god she did. Imagine her surprise when she’d just finished getting her hair done, when the one woman who took over most of her thoughts walked through the doors, looking more confused about where she was supposed to be than any lost child ever would. She was left slack-jawed and frozen. 

Casey was Cassandra J.?!

Casey hadn’t seen April immediately, and it wasn’t until all of the models were set and ready to walk out that the two finally met each other’s eyes. Casey had just done her walkout, arguably one of the most public things she’d done as a fashion designer. April was staring; she would not lie, and to her benefit, Casey stared right back. With that amazing, charming, slightly crooked, perfect smile of hers. She waved quickly as she passed, and April was too shocked to wave back. 

Nervous or not, April killed it on the runway. To no one’s surprise, Donnie said as he was working the lights for the show.

But ever since then, April hadn’t managed to grab Casey alone. She hadn’t even been able to catch anything more than a glance that was never returned. Casey was always consumed with work, and every other runway she presented, she didn’t do a walkout for. 

Even so, April couldn’t help but want to see her. Casey would not leave her mind. It certainly didn’t help that she was cast in every single runway and photoshoot the Cassandra J. brand held.

Chapter Text

Backstage was alight with conversation. April was getting her makeup done, looking into the mirror in front of her. Well, she was supposed to be getting her makeup done, but Leo had been staring at her in intense thought for a few minutes too long.

“Leo, do your job.” She muttered, a small smile crossing her face.

The blue-clad turtle threw his hands up; his thought train was brought to a halt. “I’m thinking, April! I need to make sure this look is perfect.” He muttered, putting a hand on his chin while he surveyed his supplies. 

“This is no different from all of the other shows we’ve done. What are you being so picky about?”

“Oh, sweet, sweet April.” He put a hand on his chest and turned away dramatically. “You do not understand the art process of a master.”

“Leo, I swear to god, I need to get dressed soon-”

“UGH, fine,” He grumbled, grabbing some primer and foundation. He made quick work of the base, and when he grabbed the concealer, a huge, smug smile moved across his face. “Want me to cover up this massive, disgusting zit on your face?”

April scowled, knowing full well that her skin was clear. “I’m going to get you fired.”

Leo gasped, “To your little brother? You wouldn’t dare.”

“Oh, but I would.” She grinned.

After Leo finished up a few more layers of makeup, he went back to his staring. He couldn’t decide what to do with the eyes. The most captivating part of a look, he would always say. That and the lip combo, but they hadn’t gotten that far yet.

“Seriously, though, what’s the holdup? What is so special about this runway?”

Groaning, Leo said, “Look, if I tell you why, you’re gonna say I’m wrong, and I am not arguing with the wall again.”

April quirked a brow. “Excuse me?”

He rolled his eyes. “I think Casey is here today, so I’m trying to make you stand out. More than she already thinks you do, of course.” He added quickly.

“Not again…”

“See! I told you.” Leo picked up a pallet, finally having made up his mind. “Close 'em.” He demanded.

“So bossy,” April muttered as she shut her eyes. “But seriously, you boys gotta cut it out with the Casey stuff.”

Leo scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous, April. She’s obviously in love with you. I don’t know what you’re not getting.”

April opened her eyes aggressively, causing Leo’s hand to recoil back and meet her harsh look with an annoyed one of his own. With a ticking clock, she closed her eyes again, but didn’t release her expression. “She is not in love with me.”

“She books you for all of her shows. All of them. Every photoshoot, every promotion, every runway… need I go on? Clearly, she loves looking at you.”

“You’re thinking too much into it.” She groaned. “Plenty of the same models get booked with Casey, like,” her voice trailed off, trying to think of a name. In all honesty, she couldn’t recall that many returning models. “Sunita! Sunita also gets booked every time. Are you gonna tell me Casey is in love with her?”

The soft makeup brush stopped running over her lids for a moment, so April tentatively opened her eyes, only to be met with a flat expression. “April, my favorite sister,” His only sister, “She started booking Sunita after she learned you guys were best friends. Sunita wasn’t booked for that first show. Casey probably saw you guys meeting up or something and took that as an opportunity to show she cares.”

April frowned, closing her eyes again to let Leo work. “You need to stop watching those soap operas with Splints. They’re making you delusional.” She heard Leo huff a breath through his nose, a poor semblance of a laugh. “Besides, she’s probably just… I don’t know, repaying me for the coffee I bought for her.”

Leo hummed, not convinced. “Yes, the thousands of dollars you’ve earned from Cassandra J. are just to make up for the five-dollar coffee you bought her almost a year ago. Makes total sense.” He drawled. 

“Don’t give me that,” She sighed. Honestly, she wouldn’t be all that upset if Leo were right. She did still find herself thinking about Casey regularly. She was cute, is that such a difficult thing to believe? Yes, maybe she had come to terms with the fact that she had just an itty-bitty, teensy-weensy crush on Casey, but it’s not like anything would come of it! Casey was far too busy a woman; April hardly ever saw her, so the opportunity for anything to develop was near none. The feelings weren’t even reciprocated, as much as she wished they were. On the rare chance April did see Casey at work, they never spoke, never looked at one another, hardly acknowledged the other. That’s not good parameters to start a relationship… even if April really wanted to. 

Okay, maybe the crush wasn’t that small, but still! It would pass, eventually.

“Your obliviousness will be the end of us, I swear,” Leo mumbled as he put away the eyeshadow. As carefully as he could, Leo drew on almost perfect eyeliner and stuck on some thick lashes. To top off the look, he layered on some lipstick and gloss. “Well, you’re all set.” He stepped back, letting April have her personal space once more. “Go get dressed and kill that runway! And maybe catch the eye of a certain lady, while you’re at it!”

As April started to walk away, smiling, she turned around and glared. “The only thing I’m going to kill is you if you don’t shut up!” She stormed off, a heat rising in her face much quicker than she’d prefer.

“Love you!” Leo sang as she left.

“Love you, too, fucker!” She called back, ignoring the looks from other models at her swearing. 

___

April did, in fact, end up killing her runway walk. She loved the feeling of a successful walk, the intentional pressure released from her muscles once she was back behind the walls, the oohs and ahhs she’d get from her look, the flash of the cameras; she loved it all.

Once she had finished her job, she carefully removed her makeup and brushed out her hair from the bun it was tied into. She chatted with Leo for a while, finally avoiding the dreaded crush talk. In all, the night had gone spectacularly, except for one point. She hadn’t seen Casey. If Casey had seen her, she hadn’t shown it.

Was it really that hard to get a look at the woman? She was the damn designer, after all, but she must really hate public appearances if she won’t show up to her own shows. Perhaps April could ask her about it one day, if she ever got the chance to talk to her. More than basic small talk, of course.

But until then, she was left to wonder. Wonder when the next time she’d get booked, when the next time she’d catch Casey’s eyes, wonder what Casey was doing in her solitude. April never thought she’d be into the mysterious types, but here she was. Dreaming about a woman she had spoken to once, and hoping she’d be able to again. 

Stupid crush.

Chapter Text

“Yes, April! That’s perfect, you look fantastic! As always, of course,” the photographer squealed, “you’re literally the most gorgeous person I’ve ever seen.” Another flash went off as a picture was taken. April went to pose again.

“I don’t think Leo would be happy to hear you say that.” April chuckled, finding comfort in the way she moved. Photoshoots were always more relaxing than runways. Don't get her wrong, runaways were amazing and she loved every bit of them, but photoshoots were always simpler. If she makes a mistake, simply delete the photo and try again—low risk, high reward, in her books. It also helped that she had two consistent photographers whom she loved with all of her heart.

Mikey chortled, “His ego will survive, I’m sure.” Another flash. April moved again. “Okay, last few poses with this outfit, then we’ll move to the next one. Raph, can you get ready to adjust the lighting?”

The large turtle that was manning the light boxes gave a thumbs-up. “You got it, big man.” April smiled at the two and continued her work. Another few minutes passed until they wrapped up the look, and she was sent back to the changing rooms. She got her makeup touched up, not by Leo, unfortunately. He was working another show.

When she returned, she saw Mikey fiddling with his camera while directing an unexpected model. Raph stood in the bright lights of the set, looking wildly uncomfortable with the striking poses his little brother was demanding.

“Whoa, looking good out there, Raph! Is this your secret element, huh?”

“Oh, don’t even start.” Raph laughed, releasing his shoulders from their tense, hiked-up position.

“No, Raph! I wasn’t done adjusting the lights!” Mikey whined.

“Use the real model, Mike, not me!” 

April felt a wide smile spread across her face. “Come on, you look great! Work those moves, Raphie!” She giggled.

The snapping turtle gave her a blank expression before quickly switching his appearance. He clasped his hands and started batting his eyes, “You really think so?” He was practically sparkling with sarcasm. When April barked a laugh, he released himself from his prison and joined her. “I’ll let the prodigies get back to work, and I’ll stick to my lighting, thank you.”

“Oh, boo, you’re no fun,” Mikey grumbled. Turning to April, he smiled, “Oooo, look at you! That’s a beautiful outfit! Casey really knows what she’s doing, huh?”

April, not having thought that hard about what she was wearing, glanced down at herself. “I guess, but that’s the theme of the line, isn’t it?” Cassandra J.’s new line was all about comparing casual to formal wear, where each outfit had a contrasting counterpart that followed the same, simple rules. Previously, she had an almost office-like outfit: a simple black, high, halter-top, paired with a sleek, deep red skirt. Now, she had a long, sheath gown that took both colors into one. It was created with a base of red silk, overlaid with a mesh of black fabric, combining the two into an extravagant, dark, wine-colored hue. Same neck line, but now paired with a red shawl and black gloves. “It is quite fancy, though, isn’t it?”

“It’s gorgeous, is what it is. What a coincidence that it’s you in her favorite color, no?” Mikey smirked. He was lucky he was the youngest brother, or else there would be some more choice words from her instead of the ones she was about to say.

April groaned, taking her spot in front of the camera. “What is it with you four? Seriously… there’s no way my dress is the only red one. That’d be ridiculous.”

Out of nowhere, Raph had a catalog of their photoshoot materials, perusing through the different outfits they’d be working with. Dramatically, he’d nod or hum, saying dumb things like “oh, would you look at that!” and “What a lovely shade of not-red!” and eventually concluded his journey with, “Nope, you’re the only one. Crazy how that is.”

“I hate you two. I hope you know that.” She grumbled, finding a comfortable pose to push forward on work so that she wouldn’t have to have this conversation. Just a coincidence, as Mikey said. Casey probably never thought about April, let alone romantically. She just happened to get assigned that dress because it fit her measurements. Whatever. Standard stuff for a model.

“Sure you do, April.” Mikey giggled, snapping a few photos.

She fended off any following comments that would dare suggest the reality she so desperately wanted. She was a dreamer, but she was realistic. If anything was ever going to happen between her and Casey, which it wouldn’t, then there had to be some genuine semblance of interest. Not some silly, teenage speculation from her younger brothers. Raph wasn’t a teenager anymore, but he was damn close. 

There had to be more than just passing looks. Speaking of, she had noticed Casey more often. She was appearing at runway shows more frequently, though still avoiding any sort of public appearance. Casey would just hang around backstage and make sure that things are going well. April stole a glance whenever she could, undeniably enamored by the not-quite-stranger, and every time she got caught, she violently fought off the creeping warmth in her face.

And maybe it was her delusion, but she swore there was a time or two when Casey was going to speak to her. But she was always dragged away by some problem or other. The slight reach of a hand, the gentle step in her direction, her name about to be called, every time, it drove her crazy. Because what if? What if?

What-ifs weren’t going to get her anywhere, unfortunately. 

So she continued to pretend they didn’t exist, while also not giving up her growing crush. April had tried, a time or two, but alas, Casey had an iron grasp on her heart. She was such a genuine person; in every small way, April saw her. But it was clear she was reserved. Afraid of something. April added it to her list of “what to ask Casey” for whenever she got the chance. If she ever got that chance.

Chapter Text

April was running late. She never ran late, let alone for a show. In her defense, it wasn’t her fault. There was a problem with the subway that caused a holdup for thirty minutes, but that didn’t prevent the piercing anxiety from lacing up her chest as she ran through downtown. Now, she wasn’t that late, but being a model, every minute counted. April was supposed to be at the venue twenty minutes ago. She still had a mile to run. Thankfully, her agents had reached out to the Cassandra J. team and alerted them of the mishap. April prayed they wouldn’t be upset.

By the time she made it, ten minutes later, she was exhausted. Sweaty and not looking her best. But she walked in with confidence, ready to face the day. It was out of her control, she knew that. Heaving a breath, she pushed the door open. There was no way she was going to be able to think if she wasn’t breathing. 

The technical team was out and about, setting up the walkway and ensuring chairs were spaced far enough apart. Walking through them, she saw a familiar body, with his back turned to her, waving off a few models with a huff.

“Donnie!” She called, rushing up to him with a smile on her face. “What are you doing out on the floor? Shouldn’t you be up at the lights?”

Her brother turned around, drawn-on eyebrows raised. He looked annoyed. More than usual, at least. “April! My favorite sister!” Okay, not a great start. He put his hands on her shoulders, surveying her appearance. “Are you okay? You’re not usually late. Have you heard anything?” He rattled off.

“Whoa, slow down there, Dontron.” She gently took his hands away from her. “I’m perfectly fine, subway problems, and what do you mean?”

He visibly relaxed. “That’s good. Keep it that way. Don’t get too chatty and don’t listen to whatever the others are saying.” Donnie said, all too quick.

April’s face fell to her signature big sister look. “Donnie. Why are you on the floor? What happened?”

Donnie cleared his throat, “Nothing. Everything is fine.”

“Donnie. I swear to god,”

“Okay,” The turtle put his hands up in defense, “Okay, jeez. Look, uh, there are some… rumors going around. Some of the models, instead of just chatting to keep themselves entertained, are getting a little more pushy about it, that’s all.” He kept his voice low. 

April blinked. “Okay? What does that have to do with me- are these rumors regarding me, Donnie?”

Donnie squirmed under her pressure. “Nooooo, whatever made you think that?” He shrank back into his shell for a moment. April glared. “Fine… there are rumors that you and Casey are in a secret relationship and people are saying you’re getting special treatment because of it.” He said, as if it were all one word. “And people are starting to say false and cruel things about you, so… I took matters into my own hands.”

Pause. The rumors are what now? The other models are speculating that April and Casey were in a relationship. A secret relationship, at that. What, were they wanting an affair? An industry-wide scandal? In what world was that realistic? April and Casey never spoke, aside from the one moment in the cafe, and that was outside of work! Where could anyone have fabricated that kind of story? April was there for work and nothing else. The chance to see Casey in passing was just a bonus, if anything.

That was beside the point. Competitive industries are always trying to take one another down. This was hardly the worst April had seen and wouldn’t be the last time she’d see it. “You didn’t threaten them, did you?” April huffed, dragging a hand down her face. At least she had finally caught her breath.

“UGH, no. I would like to keep my job,” Donnie grumbled, “So mind-Mikey said no.”

“Good,” April stated, crossing her arms. “Thanks for sticking up for me, Don, but I can handle myself. Don’t worry about me.”

Donnie smirked. “I’m more worried about them than you. If the others catch word of the shit they’re saying… I mean, we’re not trained in martial arts for nothing.”

“Don’t get violent, Dee. My pride is not worth your jobs.” She smiled. “I gotta go, I’m already super late. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

Donnie nodded. “Yep. I’ll see you during the initial walk-through.”

April mimicked his look and ran off backstage. Her makeup artist was alert and waiting, and they got to work immediately. While she was getting ready, she definitely felt the tenser air. She caught a few looks from models across the room. Some were sympathetic, with worried expressions, but not harmful. Others sneered and stared at her judgmentally. April paid them no mind. Their attitude was formulated on a false assumption about her life. Frankly, it didn’t matter what they thought. April had her life, and Casey had hers. They weren’t intertwined, as much as April wanted them to be, so it’s not like any trouble could come of the rumors. If it really became a problem, it’s as easy as Casey telling the news that no, she is, in fact, not in a secret love affair with a woman she’s spoken to a whopping one time.

Apparently, people were under the impression that April got to be some special model with special treatment. Throughout the preparation for the show, she learned bits and pieces of what people believed when they’d purposefully speak just loud enough or when people didn’t know April was nearby. Supposedly, April got to slack off and be late all of the time because of their relationship. This was the first time she had ever been late, so clearly, someone was feeling delusional. Supposedly, April never had to audition for the Cassandra J. jobs because she’d automatically get cast. April had been to every casting, and the models knew that. Best of all, there was this delightful story that April and Casey had made out in a closet after the NYFW show. Wild. Genuinely wild. All April did after that show was go home and crash into her bed so she could prepare for her show the following morning. When she’d heard that rumor, all she could do was laugh at the absurdity of it all.

People were desperate for entertainment and drama. 

But hey, April was bored, too. At least she was also getting some entertainment from learning all these ridiculous rumors. Even her makeup artist had asked her about it. She cleared it up, obviously, so she recruited the artist on her side. Now she had someone to laugh about it with.

“Oh my god, you did that?” The makeup artist would dramatically grasp.

“I know, right? I had no idea I was so bold. I have to know more about how I went about that. It’s enthralling.” April would joke.

Aside from the tense air and the ridiculous stories, the show went pretty well. Despite being late, she was ready perfectly on time and had no issues with the walkway path. She made sure to smile and waved at Donnie after she walked. He did his unnecessary duty of pointing out which models were talking badly about her, but she didn’t really remember them. 

It wasn’t until she had removed the last of her makeup that one of the staff came up to her side. April turned, a questioning expression on her face. “Hi, Ms. O’neil. Cassandra would like to speak with you once you’re available.” April was stunned, so she nodded when no words came to her, and the assistant walked away after telling her where Casey was waiting. April would have preferred Casey come to her herself, but if it was business-related, then she guessed it would make sense. Did designers usually speak with their models? She had never experienced that before. 

Now she was nervous. She pushed the anxiety away and walked towards the supposed meeting room. There weren’t many actual rooms in this venue, so it was more of a small hallway off to the side. Kind of cryptic, if you asked her.

And there she was. Casey was leaning against the wall, scrolling through her phone as she waited. April had to fight off the blush immediately. She hadn’t seen Casey so relaxed since their first meeting. It was charming– cute, even. She must have recently shaved her hair down, as it was shorter than the last time April had seen her.

“You weren’t joking about being busy, huh?” April joked, unsure of what else to say. Why couldn’t she have thought of something better?

At her voice, Casey looked up and kicked herself off the wall when she met eyes with April. “Hey,” She breathed, walking forward. “Hi, April,” She tried again. “Uh, how are you?”

Was Casey nervous?

“I’m alright, the show went pretty well. How are you?” April responded simply. Suddenly, she didn’t know quite how to talk. Granted, she’d always get a little nervous to talk to pretty women, but something about Casey made her far less confident than she usually was. Not in a bad way, but in a way that made her realize how calm Casey made her. It was ridiculous, April knew that, seeing as she hardly knew Casey at all. 

Casey wiped her seemingly sweaty palms on her jeans. “I’m good, I’m good. Look, uh, I wish I had the chance to talk to you again under better circumstances, but I wanted to say,” April’s heart dropped. Was she getting fired? No, wait, Casey couldn’t fire her, per se. She would just stop booking her for shows. But why would she need to tell April that in person? What was this? She was hoping this would be a bit more of a positive interaction. “I wanted to say that I’m sorry for all the problems the other models have been giving you with… with the rumors and such.” 

Oh. Oh! That’s what this was about. April’s heart slowly wiggled its way back to where it belonged. She laughed. Casey looked shocked at her response, a shine of wonder in the dark hues of her eyes. 

“That’s alright, you don’t need to apologize.” April eased her tense muscles and leaned against the wall, mimicking Casey’s prior stance. She let her face fall to the side so she could look at the woman in front of her. “I’m not bothered by it. People can think what they want to think; if it’s not really causing problems, then it’s no issue to me.”

Casey slowly returned to the wall, trying to match April’s relaxed stature. “Are you sure? Those types of rumors can be pretty brutal. Especially if people think you’re getting special treatment and stuff.” She muttered, looking at her feet. It was almost surreal seeing Casey this way, so timid and worried.

“Brutal or not, they’re not taking my job, so they’re not a threat. As long as I can keep coming back here, working for you and whatnot, I don’t care what they say.” She admitted, fighting back against the urge to regret the sudden confession. Casey was worried, so maybe April’s confidence could boost her morale. When the shockingly shy woman at her side nodded slowly, confirming her future employment, April smirked. A terrible idea popped into her head. “Besides, am I getting special treatment?” She needed justification against her brother’s continuous debates. 

However, that hope for a solid counterargument faded when Casey responded to her request. Casey’s head shot up, looking at April as a bright heat appeared in her face, rosying her cheeks and silencing her. God, she’s adorable. April caught herself thinking. Then she paused. That was not the reaction she was expecting out of Casey. “No!” She eventually sputtered, the sheer nervousness of her voice making April giggle. As tame as her response was, April’s heart was exploding. “You’re not getting special treatment,” Casey cleared her throat, returning her piercing gaze to the floor as if it would save her from the sudden embarrassment. “They’re just… I don’t know, jealous or something.” She sounded so unsure of her words, causing her to stumble over more random justifications. 

April’s smile only grew as Casey tried to defend herself. Without thinking, April raised her hand and rested it on the designer’s shoulder. In turn, she shut up and looked at the hand. “You worry too much, Casey.” Her voice was soft and carried a gentle tease. “People read into things all of the time; it’s okay.” April covered her mouth with her other hand when she couldn’t stifle another giggle.

Casey had a mesmerized look on her face when April finally regained her composure. She comfortably slid her hand away, missing the slight heat of Casey’s body, and returned it to her side. Casey cleared her throat once more, “Um, right, uh, anyway.” April waited patiently, “Back to a more professional topic, um… if anyone gives you more problems, please don’t hesitate to tell me.” April noted her use of ‘me’ rather than her team. A lot more personal than she expected. It was sweet. “I won’t hesitate to deal with it.” There was a subtle fire in Casey’s words, a determination April hadn’t heard before.

“You don’t have to do all of that. It’s really not a big deal.” She said quietly. 

Casey stood from the wall, taking on a more serious look. Serious, yes, but still kind. Still aware. “I don’t have to, no. But I want to.” Now it was April’s turn to blush. The tone of Casey’s voice was warming, velvety, and way too damn attractive for that moment.

A small cough escaped her from shock, and she covered her face, flustered. “Um, yeah, I’ll… I’ll let you know.” She spoke with a higher pitch, the flattery bleeding into her control.

There was a strained moment of silence between the two. April scolded herself internally. She finally got the chance to speak to Casey, and she couldn’t think of a single thing to say. She was too nervous, too enamored to even think straight.

“Uh… would you like to-” Casey cut herself off, shaking her head. April quirked a brow. “No, never mind. This isn’t the right time.” Now, April really wanted to know. But alas, Casey’s demeanor shifted back to her confident one, all of her anxious habits fading away. April couldn’t help but want to see that more relaxed side of her more often. That genuine part of her that she hid away for some mysterious reason. She wanted more of Casey altogether. “I have to go, but, um, I’ll see you later?”

“Yeah,” April breathed, “Well, I hope so.” She joked, her spunk finally returning to her. “If you don’t get too busy.”

Casey groaned, beginning to walk away from their quiet sanctuary. “Don’t put your money on it.” She started walking backwards, soft eyes lingering on April for longer than any normal person should. But Casey wasn’t a normal person. She was a woman who had snatched April’s heart. “Good night, April.”

“Good night, Casey.” April smiled, waving her hand. Casey returned it, and with that, she turned the corner and returned to her busy schedule. April returned quickly to her crushing. Holy hell, that interaction just made everything so much worse. 

April slapped her hands over her face, feeling the burning of her skin. The day finally came when she could speak to Casey, and the interaction felt like a whole package of Mentos being dropped in a bottle of soda in her heart. Her chest was on fire, her mind swirling with new dreams. That interaction was far more sincere than April ever anticipated. Was there more to that than she thought? Or was Casey just that kind of a person?

“Oh, I’m so screwed,” April grumbled, forcing her feet to move as she rushed back to her station. She needed to get out of that building before she exploded.

She knew she liked Casey a lot, and now everything was so much stronger. Because hearing her voice again reminded her of why she liked her. Her mannerisms were charming and endearing, another reminder. Her determination was a new look, and damn was it a good one. Her passion could be seen and heard in the way she acted, the smallest decision laced with admiration.

All of the wonderful, heart-warming, fluffy thoughts came to a stark halt when April realized she hadn’t gotten Casey’s number, again.

Then again, would that have been appropriate? Just after discussing rumors of their affair, would it be at all reasonable to ask for her number? That being said, what was it that Casey had stopped herself from asking?

No matter now, as the interaction had sadly concluded. With its conclusion came plenty more love-sick thoughts to accompany April's long journey home. She began counting the days until she could speak with Casey again because she needed it more than anything.

Chapter Text

The Hamato home was peaceful, which wasn’t standard. The brothers were ‘out on the town’, as Leo said. In reality, Leo and Mikey needed more supplies for their respective arts, and they dragged their brothers with them.

When April walked in, slipping off her shoes at the door, she reveled in the silence. Splinter was home somewhere, likely on his favorite chair in the living room, watching some sort of television show.

“Spliiints!” She called out, resting her bag on one of the dining room seats. April waltzed into the living room. Proving her suspicions, the old rat was seated comfortably in his chair with his eyes on the screen in front of him. “Watcha watching?” She asked, propping her arms on the top of the chair and peering down.

“Oh, April! I didn’t know you were coming over today.” He looked up and smiled briefly before returning his attention to the TV. “I’m watching one of your shows from a few weeks ago.”

April directed her attention to the screen, where a recording of a recent runway was playing. It must have started not long ago, as she remembered the first set of looks was still passing. She had already walked by that point. “Yeah, I remember this one. I liked the collection a lot, very fancy for Casey. I think she was working on this line for a lot longer as a background project.”

“You would know that, wouldn’t you?” Splinter muttered with a sly grin on his face.

April groaned, slumping into the chair so that her hands disrupted the rat’s vision. “I thought I’d be safe from you, of all mutants.”

Splinter chuckled, brushing April's hands out of the way. “I’m just teasing, my daughter. Would you be so kind as to start a kettle of tea, please?”

“Oh, sure. The boys will probably want some once they come back. It’s way too cold out there today.” She stood, instantly forgetting her sulking. Returning to the kitchen, she located the teapot that was safely set in one of the lower cabinets and started heating the stove. As she looked through the tea options, her thoughts drifted to Casey, as they usually did. She thought about whether or not she enjoyed tea. Their first interaction was all coffee. But maybe Casey just needed some caffeine that day. Did she prefer coffee or tea? If tea, what kind did she lean towards? More traditional green teas, or did she like those fun herbal blends that Splinter nearly refused to have in his house if it weren’t for Leo? Or was she more like Donnie, drinking far too much coffee to function as mysteriously well as they do? Maybe she could pick up some drinks next time she went to a runway, one coffee and one tea, and find a way to offer one to Casey… or she could just ask, but where's the fun in that?

Dismissing her thoughts at the sound of boiling water, she picked a nice peppermint tea. The only herbal tea that Splinter enjoyed and purely because it reminded him of the upcoming winter holidays. April didn’t blame him; she felt similarly about the festive tea. Leo, the weirdo that he was, drank peppermint tea much more frequently. Apparently, it helped him think.

She poured out the tea leaves into the strainer and waited a few minutes, listening to the sounds of the TV. She thought back on that runway. It was one of her favorites, the outfits so unique yet quite comfortable, which she noticed was difficult to achieve for some stylists. The actual runway path was interesting too, not just the usual catwalk. Casey had begun to get more creative in her exhibitions as she gained more popularity, like she was breaking out of her shell a little. It was interesting to see where her mind led her, how it created and expressed things. April wished she could know more.

With the tea brewed, she removed the damp leaves and poured a few glasses, leaving the kettle on a low heat. April brought the mugs to the living room, where she handed one to Splinter and looked at the screen. There, she saw herself walking back from the last pose point. She was wearing a sleeker look, a dress whose silvery-blue fabric swooped around her body in an alluring pattern. It was whimsical, the shimmering material glinting under the soft lights. Her hair was braided down to her back, with shells and silver hair jewelry integrated into the braids and free strands. Her skin was dewy and soft, the whole look reminding her of a siren. She’d love to wear that outfit again; it was stunning.

“I really like that one,” Splinter smiled, taking the mug with both of his hands. “Reminds me of the movies I did in my earlier years.”

“Yeah, that was a good one.” April moved to sit on the couch. “I loved most of the looks in this show, specifically.”

 Splinter hummed, “Yes, I can see why. Casey does tend to put you in the most eye-catching looks. Or at least sets you apart in some way in each show.”

April pinched her brows, “What do you mean? I don’t think she does.”

The old rat tsked and shook his head. “You’re as oblivious as you need to be, April.” The model gaped. Splinter chuckled, “I mean, you know my history in showmanship. I can always tell when someone is meant to be highlighted, and that, April, is exactly what Casey is doing to you.”

April stared at him with a look that said nothing more than ‘elaborte’. 

He returned his vision to the TV, “Well, this show, for example. All of the looks are fairly consistent, featuring a specific metal as their metallic base. Most commonly warmer tones, like gold, bronze, brass, etcetera. There have been five looks that are silver, four of which are matching outfits with their gold counterpart. So, while unique in color, not unique in style. The fifth silver look, your look, is a standalone piece.”

“What, one show is all it takes for you to follow in your sons’ footsteps?” 

“I wasn’t finished,” Splinter cleared his throat, shimmying up his seat while still watching the screen. “The show before this, where all of the outfits were based on gems.” April nodded, recalling the runway, “Each look was based on a gem and went in ascending order of preciousness. Tell me, April, where were you in that list?”

She pressed his lips together, “... last.” She muttered.

“Last,” Splinter agreed, “Wearing a look based on the blue diamond, the commonly agreed upon, most precious gem. Or how in every more casual-leaning shows, she adorns you in her favorite color or whatever look she suspects will be the crowd favorite. Sometimes she’ll admit your look is her favorite-”

“Alright, I get it,” April hurriedly said, trying to hide the blush on her face. Just as she waved her hands to get Splinter to stop, the main doors opened and let in the sounds of four boisterous brothers back from their chilly-day adventures.

“My point is,” Splinter continued right as they heard their local makeup artist squeal about a pot of tea being made, “Perhaps you should do something about your whole ordeal next time the opportunity comes up. Something tells me it won’t go wrong.”

Just as his words ended, Mikey bounded into the room with a few bags of goodies. He slid the bags off his arms and jumped at April. She screamed as she was attacked, shrieking at the cold touch of her youngest brother. “Mikey, you’re frigid, get off of me!” She laughed, pushing him away.

He didn’t cease his hug, wrapping his arms tightly around her, curling into her warmth. Splinter shook his head with a gentle smile on his face. “You’re so toasty, please save me.” Mikey giggled.

April succumbed to his little-brother charm and finally returned the hug, ignoring the cold that laced through her arms. She snuggled him close, giving him a small noogie first.

Leo showed up next, mug full of peppermint tea in his hands. “Ooo, this was such a fun show to work on!” He exclaimed, his attention on the television.

April followed his gaze and smiled at the memory. Maybe Splinter was right. Maybe she should stop doubting herself and be brave. Worst comes to worst… actually, the worst was pretty bad in this situation. If things all went to hell, April would embarrass herself and never work for the Cassandra J. team ever again. Gossip would spread like wildfire, and everyone would know about her terrible failure at asking Casey out. She shivered, but not from Mikey’s cold body.

But maybe, just maybe, the risk was worth it.

Chapter Text

April was not having a good day. For the first time in her life, she had missed an audition because she was late. She had practically run the whole way, and when she busted into the venue and held out her comp card, the attendant gave her a sad look.

“We just wrapped up, I’m sorry, hun.” She had said, taking a quick look at April’s exhausted and now devastated face.

“You’re joking,” April heaved, bringing her watch up to her face. It was exactly 3 PM, right when the audition was supposed to end. Her heart came to a sudden stop. “No, please, I’ve worked every single show, you think I could squeeze in?”

The young woman pressed her lips together and looked at her computer. Slowly, she shook her head. “We don’t have anything set up anymore; there’s not much you’d be able to do. I’m really sorry.” April brought her hands to cover her face, surprised at the sudden urge to cry. She had never missed an audition, let alone one from Cassandra J. Over the past year, she had made and booked every audition. Every. Single. One. At that point, she was almost the face of the brand, with the number of times she’d seen her face on a massive screen or billboard, walking around New York City with Casey’s brand icon right next to her.

“Okay,” April choked out, turning on her heel to leave. She nearly ran face-first into the door with her vision blocked, but she didn’t care. She was devastated. Out of all of the designers April had worked with, crush aside, Casey was her favorite. Everything ran super smoothly, and everything was so simple. The jobs were fun, above all else. To make it better and worse, April and Casey had been able to talk from now and then at the more recent jobs. Not long and hardly anything more than pleasantries, but they were finally talking. April got to hear her slightly scratchy, low, relaxing voice. She got to see Casey’s strong, playful, though sometimes distant personality. The woman always seemed to act a little differently when it was only April around, and that thought could only bring a little heat to April’s cheeks.

But now she couldn’t work the show. What if Casey thought April didn’t want to work with her? What if April was never booked again because her absence showed little dedication? What if Casey stopped talking to her?

Time passed without April knowing it, and all of a sudden, she’s in front of the Hamato home. She groaned, wiping at the tears that had fallen down her face, and she pushed inside. Instantly, she's comforted by the smell of freshly-baked goodies and the not-so-distant sound of video game arguments between her little brothers. The noise came to a sudden halt when they realized someone was in their home. There are some whispers she heard, and she can't help but giggle. “Oh, it’s just April.” She heard Donnie say, so she waved to the little camera by the entrance.

“Just April, my ass.” She tried to joke, but her voice was a little broken. She was far more upset about the missed audition than she thought she was. Apparently, the audio through Donnie’s tech was sharp enough to detect the small break in her voice, and all of her brothers came running. 

“What happened?” Raph demanded, using his large stature to scoop April into a massive, warm hug. Mikey climbed onto his arms to join in the hug. “Are you okay? Did someone hurt you?”

“No,” April sniffed, the unconditional love of her brothers feeling so comforting, even though her turmoil came from something so trivial. “I’m fine, I swear.” She patted Raph’s arm to let her down. “I just missed an audition for Casey, that’s all.”

“Oh, no!” Mikey still wrapped his arms around her, but far looser and gentler than the Raph hug she was previously trapped in. “I’m sorry, Riri, that sucks!”

She shrugged, feeling the slight sting behind her eyes again.

“What happened?” The twins asked in unison.

“New York did, that’s what.” She forced out a laugh that none of her brothers joined in on. “I left the house a few minutes late, that’s on me. But then the train ahead of mine shut down on the rails, so mine got stopped, so I had to get off five stops earlier than I was supposed to. I started walking there instead, because what else was I going to do with the terrible traffic?” Her brothers dutifully nodded as she spoke. “But there was a massive reroute because of some construction that added like thirty minutes to my walk, not really, but you get it, so I started running, because it was getting close to the time. I called an Uber, but the damn driver got in a car crash on his way to me!” She threw her hands up in desperation. “So I kept going on my own, tripped and absolutely ate concrete, which is so embarrassing,” She said, looking down at her ripped tights. She had forgotten about that. April must have looked ridiculous when she first showed up at the venue. “I got there right as they finished, and I couldn’t go in.”

The turtles looked at her in shock.

“New York… What a town.” Donnie muttered, not sure what else to say.

“Yeah, no shit.” April gave a crooked smile, rubbing away the rest of the tears on her face with her arm. “The driver was fine, by the way. His car wasn’t, though.”

Mikey frowned, but perked up as a thought appeared in his mind. “I got it! You should come with me to the craft store to get your mind off of it! Nothing like some good ol’ brother-sister time to make you feel better.” He gave a bright smile.

“You know what,” April returned the smile, “Sure, Mikey. Let’s go shopping.”

____________

The craft store wasn’t too busy. Some people were scattered here and there, but the numerous shelves and expansive fabric collection in the back tended to silence any conversations. They were walking through the painting aisles, Mikey peering at every color with a sharp eye. He held up two tubes of blue that looked identical to April, but apparently, there was a clear difference. She just lied and said she preferred the left one. He chose the right. When she went with Mikey to relax, she hadn’t intended to pick up the flaw of “not knowing her primaries”, whatever the hell that meant.

“Oh, Raph just texted,” Mikey mumbled after tossing the tube of paint into their basket. He opened the message and read for a moment. “He wants a few skeins of yarn. That area is by the fabric, I think.”

April nodded, just going along with it. She wished she had an artistic hobby like Mikey and Raph did, but it never really came to her as easily. She always liked storytelling, though, so a good notebook always caught her eye. They had some pretty sketchbooks here, but nothing with lines, so she never bothered. April liked the intricately bound notebooks that looked like they came out of a fantasy movie. Not that she ever used the notebooks to their full extent, but it was the vibes she was going for.

Once Mikey had found the new paintbrush he was searching for, the two of them started walking in the opposite direction. April released a heavy sigh, her thoughts drifting again.

“What’s up?” Mikey asked, softly bumping into her side as they walked.

April groaned, “I keep thinking about the audition.” She admitted. 

Mikey nodded, understanding. “What’s plaguing the thoughts?” They started walking through the many fabric aisles, first passing the thick fleece and wools.

“I’ve never missed an audition, I guess I just feel a little silly. But there was nothing I could do about all the obstacles, so…”

“So what are you really worried about?”

April mumbled to herself, not really sure if she wanted to admit it, because it truly felt kind of childish and unrealistic. As they moved further down the aisles, Mikey allowed April to take her time. He slowed at a moment and took a few steps back, right as April decided to speak. “I’m worried Casey will think it’s personal. Like what if she thinks I don’t like her anymore?”

“Well, uh,” Mikey stifled a small giggle. April turned around to see what had caught his attention. “I guess you could always ask her?” He pointed down the aisle they were placed in front of, fabrics spanning multiple unique brocades on one side and satin on the other. In that aisle, elegantly scanning her options, was the one and only Casey Jones. Mikey slowly turned to his sister, a sly grin on his face. “April, if you don’t go talk to her right now, I will publicly embarrass you so badly.”

“Ain’t gotta tell me twice,” April heard herself say. She was too encapsulated by how serene Casey looked. She was brushing her hand over a few of the fabric options, deep in thought. She was so cute. Move your legs, April, do something! 

So she started moving. Mikey skipped away, giggling, with the mission of getting his older brother's yarn.

April moved tentatively forward, not wanting to startle the designer who was currently in her own world. With headphones and eyes scrutinizing every grain of fabric, Casey looked beautiful. As April approached, she heard the woman humming ever so softly. Trying to figure out the best way to interrupt her, April stood frozen a few feet away. When Casey went to pull out a bolt of fabric, April slowly leaned to the side to get into Casey’s peripheral view and waved gently.

Casey did a double-take, realizing who was next to her. Almost dropping the bolt, she pushed out an earbud and cleared her voice. “O’Neil! What- sorry, what are you doing here?” She asked, sputtering a few times. 

April smiled and stood upright, taking a few more steps to lessen their distance. “My little brother dragged me with him. He’s off getting yarn right now, so I thought I’d come to say hello.” Also, because who knows what he would have done if I hadn’t.

Casey spoke as she blindly shoved the fabric back onto the shelf, “I’m glad you did! How, uh, how have you been? We haven’t been able to talk much, which I’m sorry about.”

April waved her off, “Oh, don’t worry about it. At least you’re trying. But I’m okay. Things are going well, I suppose.” Casey nodded, and then there was silence. April panicked, “You don’t think I don’t want to work with you anymore, do you?” She asked all too quickly.

Casey recoiled, “What? No, why would I think that? Is there a reason I should think that?”

A weight fell from April's chest. She heaved a breath, “No! I just tend to overthink stuff, sometimes, sorry.” She chuckled, brushing some hair from her face and keeping her eyes to the floor. All of a sudden, she found herself embarrassed. “It’s just, I missed the audition earlier because of some whack New York City shenanigans, and I was super bummed about it because I, like, just missed it. I was so upset, and” Casey watched her with full eyes as she rambled, “Actually, that’s why I’m here. I was so upset, and Mikey wanted to cheer me up, so he brought me shopping-” She cut herself off. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to go on a tangent there.”

Casey laughed softly, truly a beautiful sight. April felt a heat in her face return. “You’re so cute,” Casey mumbled, a hand over her mouth, but it wasn’t enough to cover her words. She must not have noticed the bomb she just threw into April’s heart, as she continued to speak. “Don’t worry about it, stuff happens. I was a little worried maybe something was wrong, so… I’m just glad to see you’re okay, honestly.”

April’s heart might as well have done a hop, skip, and a jump in her chest. It was hardly anything special, she knew that, but knowing that Casey was thinking about her when they were together made her disgustingly happy. “Anyway, uh, what are you doing today? Just,” she waved her hand around the fabric, “creative shopping, too?”

Casey looked back at the shelves, and it was like her brain jump-started to remember why she was even at the store. “Oh! Yeah, actually! I got this insane burst of energy and inspiration last night, and I’ve been working ever since on patterns and designs, but then I realized I didn’t have any of the fabric I wanted for it, so here I am!”

April nodded, then thought through her words. “Have… have you slept since you got the inspiration to do this?” It was then that she noticed the darker eye bags that Casey carried.

Casey blinked slowly as she pursed her lips. “Yes?”

April laughed, remarking at how much she reminded her of Donnie. “I bet. So… am I allowed to know about this project, or is that confidential?” April began to loosen up, leaning into the shelves as they looked into Casey’s eyes as she began to speak.

“Not a secret at all,” She smiled, bringing her attention back to the fabrics as she ran her finger over the patterned and textured styles. Casey began to go into the details bout her new project, her expression alight with a passion that made April’s heart melt. 

The two kept up a conversation, bouncing between the goings-on of their lives outside of the runways and photoshoots, for far too long. When April saw Mikey stroll past the opposite side of the aisle, where Casey wouldn’t see him, she knew it was maybe time to wrap up, even if she really didn’t want to.

Not long after, a comfortable silence fell over the two of them. Then she remembered something. “Would it be okay if I got your number?” She asked just as Casey spoke over her.

“Do you maybe want to go on a date?” She said with impressive speed. The two women stared at one another. Casey looked terrified as her eyes widened, and April’s jaw slowly dropped. “Shit, did I seriously misread this situation?” Casey sputtered.

“No!” April brought her hands out in defense, “No, not at all!” Her mind was soaring. “You’ve read it incredibly well. Yes, yes, I would love to go on a date!” Casey immediately relaxed. April couldn’t stop the large smile that started spreading across her face, and brought her hands up to hide. “I was too scared to ask because I was worried about the whole rumors thing we talked about.” She mumbled into her hands.

Casey chuckled, “As was I, but I didn’t want to let them win. I’m quite stubborn.” She reached out to grab April's hand and lightly pulled them away, smiling at the bashful expression she carried. “I can give you my number, and once I can look at my schedule, I can text you some different times?”

“Yeah, that works.” April squeaked. “What are you thinking?”

Casey suppressed a goofy smile. “Would it be appropriate to suggest getting coffee?”

April stifled a laugh into her shoulder, “I suppose I can work with that.”

“Fantastic.” The designer responded quietly, still holding April’s hands. When she realized that, she quickly dropped them, a blush creeping into her face. April scrambled to grab her phone from her back pocket and handed it to Casey with the contacts page up. She typed in her number and once the phone was returned, April sent her a quick text.

“Right, well,” April cleared her throat, “I’ll let you get back to your shopping. I should go find my brother.”

After Casey saved April’s number, she looked up. “Sounds good.” Her voice was so soft it almost made April too weak in the knees to stand. “I’ll see you later, then?”

“Sure will.” April started backing away, “Bye, Casey!” She drew out her words, long enough to get out of sight as Casey waved. The second she was out of view, she started giggling and running off with glee to find her brother.

Mikey was back in the paint aisle, debating fancier colors to add to his collection. In their basket were a few skeins of the same-colored yarn and two new crochet needles. “Mikey!!” April sang.

“April!” He responded, matching her energy. “Things went well, I’m assuming?”

April put her hands on his shoulders and dropped her head, trying to hide her smile. “Michael, you’ll never believe it.” Mikey put his one free hand on one of hers. “I got a date.”

Mikey gasped. “Actually?!” 

“Actually!”

Mikey put down his basket, and the two started jumping around in a circle together. “Yes, April! I’m so proud of you!”

“I’m so excited, oh my god. I have to figure out what to wear! What do I wear, Mikey??” 

“We’ll figure it out, but let's go home and tell the others!”

Quickly, the pair went to the checkout and began making their way home. Not long after they returned, squealing with her brothers as if she were a teenager again, she received a text. Seeing the ID read 'Casey,' she nearly threw her phone across the room in shock. Leo had gone still at her movement, just as nervous as she was. To her utmost pleasure, the message was about the few days Casey had open throughout the rest of the month. Brainstorming with Leo, she figured out what days and times matched. They concluded that in two weeks, Casey and April would be going on a date. An actual date. A romantic date. April couldn’t stop shaking in excitement. They had plans to go to the same coffee shop they met at, but after some brief messaging, decided that they would do more throughout the day. See a movie, maybe, go shopping, just something. They could plan in more detail later.

Now scheduled and heavily anticipated, April was elated. She spent the rest of her night giggling and kicking her feet, her brothers laughing at her antics. 

That night, after Casey had finally taken a long-awaited nap, the two texted as often as Casey had a moment in her sewing spree to spare. They talked on and off through the night, but eventually it came to a halt when April passed out. The conversation picked up just the same the following morning as if it had never stopped, and April couldn’t help but believe that she had made an excellent choice.

Everything about Casey felt right. She made sense. April hoped and prayed that the date would go well, and she had no doubts that it wouldn’t. For those two weeks, she counted down the days, scheming about what to wear and what to do, bothering everyone she possibly could outside of her profession with her excitement. She had never looked forward to something so much as she did to her date with one Cassandra Jones.