High School Odyssey
Summary: Explores the unique journey of our heroes as teen-agers as they cope with life at a critical juncture as they compete and cooperate with each other. As a conflict between them and among others arises, how will they deal with it and remain friends?
Chapter I
Accidental Meeting
A. Conversations
The City of Townsville…
The Powerpuff Girls and the Rowdyruff Boys were attending Pokey Oakes High School, located in the suburbs of the Townsville. They were fifteen-year-old sophomores. They were younger than most of their classmates by a year simply because they went to school early for their age. Most of their friends also were of the same age and also went to school early.
It was September 15, a week or two after the start of the school year, about four o'clock in the afternoon.
"Blossom, can I have your notes on history? You see, I forgot my notes, and I needed to copy it and since we have the same teacher, Mr. Allison, um, I think we really have the same lessons," asked Bubbles as they walked towards the exit of the building.
"Really. You don't need notes. It's all in the book," said Buttercup. "The teachers all get their lessons from textbooks anyway!"
"Yes, but our teacher requires us to take notes," said Bubbles. "He said that he'll check it at the end of the quarter, and you'll fail if you don't have complete notes. You're lucky your teacher is Miss Williams. Ours is a bit strict."
Before Buttercup could respond, a classmate called on them.
"Hey Blossom, Bubbles, could you do me a favor?" asked Margaret. She was not a friend to them. She's just an acquaintance. "You see, there is this group of girls, you know, the clique of Diane, May, and Lucy? Well you see, they stole my boyfriend from me and they make fun of me because they're jealous, so, could you beat them up or at least tell them to stop bothering me?"
"Not again," said Buttercup, shaking her head.
"I'm sorry, but me and the girls are kinda busy right now," said Blossom.
"And I think you and your friends could take care of that," said Buttercup. "You don't need us."
When a pouting Margaret left, Buttercup railed, "Why the hell do all people come to us? I mean, the other day, Tom asked us to get the cat out of his tree, then, Maria asked us to hook her up with some boy, then another tried to get us to talk to Mr. Langley to excuse his late project, then another asked us to beat at some of his enemies, while another tried to use us to make herself look cool! I mean, why?"
"Because we're famous, and we're superheroes. People look up to us, and they see us as the answer to all the problems," Bubbles replied.
"But this is too much!" Buttercup replied. "Last year is tough enough. People lining up outside our house asking for favors. I mean, 'Blossom please do this, or Buttercup, do this favor for me,' things that they can perfectly do on our own!"
"Not to mention all those boys trying to get dates with us! Goddamned it, why can't they understand the simple meaning of no?" Blossom added.
"Yeah, especially that most of our so-called suitors are idiots and embarrassments of one kind or another! I don't mind them helping them or being nice, but I won't go out with them," said Buttercup.
"Aw, boys aren't too bad! Most of them are cute," Bubbles replied.
"That's because you have Boomer. You're lucky. He's nice and I think he likes you, even if he is kind of naïve. Best thing, Bubbles, most boys don't pester you, and those that do, will end up upside down in a trashcan with black eye in the least," said Buttercup.
"Well, why don't you try having boyfriends?" asked Bubbles. "I mean, there are plenty who'd love to have you. And some of them are real nice."
"I'm really busy right now for those sorts of things," said Blossom. "I mean, monster and villains, for some reason, crop out and attack Townsville on a weekly basis! And it hasn't abated ever since the Professor created us! Plus, there is the school election on the end of the month, then there are tons of school work, plus housework that we do at home. Plus, we still have lots of favors that we promised we would do earlier this week for our schoolmates. Plus, most of the boys just wanted to use me or her to boost their reputations! I mean, we are the Powerpuff Girls! They would consider us a top prize, and they would show us off! And I do not consider myself a prize for anyone to claim!"
Suddenly, a tall blond boy approached them. "Blossom, um, could I talk to you, please?"
"What is it, Lex?" asked Blossom with a bored tone.
"Um, could we talk, alone?" he asked.
"No. Whatever you have to say to me you can say to my sisters," Blossom sharply replied, being polite and hiding her increasing irritation
"Well, you see, um, I was going to ask you, since it's Friday, if you would want to go out tonight?" Lex replied.
"I'm sorry, I'm not interested," Blossom replied. "Now, if you will excuse us, I have things to do and I have no time for idle chit-chat."
"But Blossom—" Lex replied but he stopped when Buttercup gave her a stare so cold and so threatening that he backed off and turned around.
"Ha, that showed him! That was the, say, tenth boy who ask you for a date this day?" Buttercup asked.
"Are you crazy! He's the captain of the football team! He's the greatest jock in this school!" Bubbles replied. "Most of the girls fawn over him! You shouldn't have turned him down."
"Oh please! So he's a football hero! I'm Blossom! A Powerpuff Girl! A real hero!" Blossom replied sharply. "He is nothing to me!"
"And we showed them! Sometimes, I wished we weren't so popular! Then more people would leave us alone!" said Buttercup.
"But think of the bright side! It's a burden, sure, but in exchange, we have more influence, and we have more power, than any student before us," said Blossom. "They'd do anything under the sun that we request, all because we're the Powerpuff Girls. And we can do a lot of good with it."
"You're just drunk with power," said Buttercup. "I wish I could just disappear into the mass and be just like everyone else. You know me, I don't have your lust for power, Blossom! I don't have your ambition, and your ruthlessness. I thank God everyday, that in spite of that, you're still a good person, who just likes to help. As for me, I just want to be left alone by most people. You know me, I hate crowds."
"Yes. Buttercup, I know you don't like this, but as a sister, I'm asking you to help me, as you have done before. Once I'm in the top, I need reliable hands to help me, and I don't know one who's as reliable as you are," said Blossom.
"And I'll be cheering all the way!" said Bubbles.
"Blossom, I'm your sister, and whatever you do, I'll be there at your side, even if there are crowds," said Buttercup.
B. Chance Meeting
"Look, I am ambitious, Buttercup, but I only want to use power for good!" Blossom replied. "Besides, it's not so bad when people all bow down to you, and do everything you want."
"Popularity isn't so bad," said Bubbles. "We have lots of friends! People always like to be with us! Besides all those admirers sending those love notes to my email and cell phone. They're so friendly and romantic."
"Pity most of them either end up with loose teeth and black eyes," laughed Buttercup. "You know how Boomer is! He's a nice boy, but if he ever sees any other boy even talk to you, then Boomer will beat him up. That's why nobody's pestering you for dates, in spite of the fact that you're even more popular than Blossom and I."
"Yes, he's wonderful," said Bubbles. "And a little overprotective."
"How 'bout you? You're just as popular with the boys as Blossom here," said Bubbles. "Especially now that on even-numbered days, you're just as girly as Blossom and I, wearing dresses and all, and guys notice you! Why don't you give them a chance?"
"Yes, don't remind me about that stupid bet," said Buttercup. "As for your second question, all boys are either idiots, and those who aren't are nerds! Besides, Blossom is right. Most of those who ask us only want to enhance their standing among their peers! Like, 'hey, look at me! I have a Powerpuff Girl as a girlfriend, and you don't! Ha, ha!' Oh no, I'm not playing their game!"
As they passed through the exit door of the school, Blossom collided with a rather tall boy, about eighteen years of age. Blossom, the much stronger one, was like a wall and just stopped, but dropped her books and notes on the floor. The boy, though muscular, bigger, and taller, was much weaker than the Powerpuff, and fell like a crumpled paper backward, on the steps and also scattered his things. "Look, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean—hey, you're Blossom! Look I'm really sorry, I didn't know it was you."
Blossom was stunned, it seemed, as she stared at the older boy for a few seconds. "Oh, no need to apologize. It's my fault. I was too busy talking with my sisters to notice you, and I'm so sorry. If I wasn't so powerful, you wouldn't have been pushed backward like that."
"Let me get those for you," said the teen-age boy as he scampered to get her fallen things on the floor.
"No, no, you shouldn't have done this," said Blossom. "Bubbles, Buttercup, please help me pick up his things."
But they didn't need to. The boy looked and saw that all his things were gone and in Blossom's hands. "Well, that was fast."
"Well, I'm a Powerpuff Girl," Blossom boasted as she handed his things to him. She was blushing as he looked and smiled at him.
"I'm Joseph Anthony, but please, call me Joe," said Joe. "Um well, can I walk you home? It's the least I can do to make up for what happened."
"No, we're flying home," Buttercup interrupted.
"Well, I think I'll walk home," Blossom said. "It's my fault that that happened after all."
"Yes, but—" Buttercup began, but she was pulled by Bubbles up in the air.
"Well, we'll see you," said Bubbles as she floated away. "Me and Buttercup will fly home! Hope you two have a good time!"
"Bubbles, what is going on here!" asked Buttercup as she was dragged away by Bubbles.
"She likes him," said Bubbles. "Just see how she looks at him."
"No! Blossom just said that she didn't have time, and she didn't want to be seen as a prize and—" Buttercup said.
"Well, it's her choice," said Bubbles. "Well, let's go home. I gotta prepare for a date with Boomer."
Meanwhile…
The two walked slowly toward the Utonium house. "Well, it must be fun being a Powerpuff Girl, and you know, being so popular and powerful and all? I mean, how many people would die to be with you?" said Joe.
"Yes," said Blossom. "What's so wonderful about it is that you can be as powerful and helpful as you can be. Especially now that people here would have a hard time denying a request of the famous Blossom Utonium, leader of the Powerpuff Girls and the RuffPuff Alliance. How about you?"
"Well, I'm so happy. I actually met you, I think last year. You were a freshmen representative in the Student Council, along with your sister. I was Vice President," said Anthony.
"You were? I wasn't aware of that," said Blossom. "I almost never see you in meetings."
"Well, you see, I'm not the hardest worker in the block, and there wasn't that much to do," said Joe. "Anyway, enough about politics. Can I ask you a personal question?"
"Sure," said Blossom.
"Do you have, um, I don't mean to be presumptuous, but, do you have a boyfriend yet?"
"No," said Blossom. "You?"
"Me, no," said Joe. " Well, um, are you busy tonight, because I wanted to invite you to go out and you know, get to know each other more?" asked Joe.
"Well, sure," said Blossom. "How about eight tonight?"
"Deal!" said Joe with a smiling happy face.
They were not aware that they were being shadowed.
Blossom and Joe walked about an hour, till they reached Professor Utonium's house, talking and laughing all the way.
C. Doing A Favor
Meanwhile, in the school cafeteria…
"I wish Mr. Forsythe could be more lively. He speaks like he is singing a lullaby. Especially on such a boring subject as Algebra," said Boomer as he sipped his soda. "Bah! That subject is so easy, it's actually boring!"
"Na! He's nothing to Miss Lizer. Her voice was so soft you could barely hear it at the front row, she speaks so slowly that you would finish a quarter of a lesson that should be finished in day!" boasted Butch. "And she teaches Home Economics! Some subjects are designed for insomniacs!"
"Well, Mr. Van Boor certainly is interesting. He has an allergy to chalk dust, you see, so every time he teaches, he sneezes every five minutes! And he has a runny nose, and he always brings a roll of tissue paper! You can't believe it! He blows his nose so often that half a roll would be used up in a day, or so they say," said Brick, laughing as he told his brothers. "Oh DeLancey, York, Hook, glad you could joined us. And also Rall. How can I help you?" he said as three of his friends, and a schoolmate joined them.
"Well, Brick, Boomer, Butch, you see, I have to pay some gambling debts today. You see, a week ago, I lost a game of dice with a couple of older boys. I promised them that I'll pay this afternoon, and they're going to send in thugs to collect. They'll beat me up if I don't pay—"
"And you don't have money to pay?" Butch finished. "And you want a loan?"
"Yes," replied Jacob Rall. "But I promise to repay it. Or if not, then please tell them not to bother me again. They'll listen to you! You're the Rowdyruff Boys, and no one will mess with me with you behind my back!"
"I don't know. I mean, you did gamble your money away, so why should I help you?" asked Brick. "It's your fault, you know!"
"Look, please, help me! I promise I'll always be grateful! I'll always do what you ask! Please! I don't want to be beat up by that gang of theirs! Please!"
"Well, I might, but I'll take you for your word. Now, I want you to write on this piece of paper your full name, Rall, your address, and your section so I will know where to find you once I need you," said Brick as he tossed him a piece of paper. "And write the name of the person and the gang whom you owe your gambling debts to."
Rall immediately wrote his name and the other relevant information on the paper and gave it to Brick.
"Rall, Rall, Rall, you don't how idiotic your actions are! You really are in deep shit! Do you know that the person you owe money to is one of the most dangerous students in this school? If you hadn't come to us, chances are, you'll end up with your whole body in a cast!" said Brick. "Next time, make sure you really find out with whom your gambling money with, or better yet, don't gamble at all if you don't have enough money!"
"Now, how much is it?" asked Butch.
"Twenty-five dollars!" said Rall.
"Twenty five dollars!" Brick replied. "That's a hell lot of money for a fifteen-year-old freshmen such as yourself. Okay, I'm going to send some of my men to talk to him, and do something about the debt. Don't worry. I promise you won't get beat up."
"Thanks, Brick," replied Rall as he shook his hand
"But remember, you owe me," said Brick.
"I won't forget about it! Just call me if you need my help," said Rall, before leaving the six sitting around the table.
"I don't think we could use him," said Butch. "I mean, somebody who gambles that much money when he doesn't have anything to pay if he loses, and to people who are clearly dangerous, is an fool! Why the hell did you help him, Brick? Let him suffer! He won't be of any use to us!"
"We'll see," said Brick. He took a black book from his pocket and wrote what Rall scribbled on the paper, then gave it to Edwards York. He then took a twenty and five dollar bills from his pocket and gave it to the same. "We'll never know when we might need a lowlife like him. He seems to me the kind who likes to avoid trouble, and hence, would simply do anything that I ask."
"Yeah," said Boomer. "Besides, we can have more support, and it would help us gain control of the students of this school. It's better to have more ass-kissers, you know, because they know that it would be to their advantage to well, do as we say and serve as our henchmen, err, I mean, supporters."
"But it would be easier to just beat up those who don't want to do what we say," said Butch. "But I know, I know, we can't do that! But it would be a much better world for us if we can!"
"Butch, you're wrong. York, go and tell him that I'm paying his debt, and that he shouldn't bother Rall anymore. I think he knows the consequences of refusing me, so he'll give us no trouble at all."
"Okay, Brick," said York, pocketing both the money and the paper on his jacket.
"And York, remember, we have a campout tonight at our backyard!" said Boomer.
"Oh I remember! Don't worry, guys, I'll be there," York replied before leaving.
"Hook, find out everything you could about this Jacob Rall. You know—his family, his wants, everything under the sun. We'll need to know what he's good at so we know how to use him. And find out how trustworthy and how loyal he is," Brick instructed.
"You're the boss!" said Richard Hook. "So, you want me to do it now?"
D. Alleged Plots
"No," said Brick. "Do it tomorrow. Stay and sit with us."
"By the way, one of my informers saw Blossom being walked home by Joe Anthony," said Hook.
"No way! Blossom is a cold fish! That couldn't happen!" Boomer replied.
"This has got to be a plot of some sort," said Butch. "I mean, all this time she snubs all this boys that tried to hit on her, then suddenly, the leading candidate of the Party for Student Council president goes and she says yes?"
"Easy Butch, maybe Blossom just likes him? I mean, I know a lot of girls who seemed cold to boys and such till they finally found the one they like," Lincoln DeLancey, who until this time, had been quiet, replied.
"Yes! Look at Bubbles and I! I'm sure she's not plotting against me just because we've been going steady since we're, like thirteen!" said Boomer.
"Boomer, this is Blossom we're talking about! My great rival! I think she's jumping the gun on me, but I'm not so sure. Blossom is just as ambitious, and more importantly, just as powerful as I am. I don't believe it's a simple crush on her part," said Brick. "Hm, maybe we can use this fact to our advantage, if we can find out what Blossom is really up to."
"Oh common! You're getting paranoid, Brick!" DeLancey expressed. "She's your friend! Granted, she's your rival too, but is it too hard to believe a schoolgirl getting in love with a handsome senior three years older than her? It's only natural! Just because Blossom does something doesn't mean she's doing it to one-up you, or to prove she's superior to you!"
"But that schoolgirl happens to be one of the most influential girls in this school and in the city, and also in the White Star Party!" Brick replied. "She is also my rival since age six, and we have fought it out to see who can achieve higher honors and positions and reputations ever since! And the one whom she suddenly takes a liking to is the Joseph Anthony, most probably the next Student Council President, in a school where that position is so much more powerful than the average Student Council President!"
"Brick, I'm with DeLancey here," Boomer replied. "You're thinking too much politics. I think you should find out what's really happening before you can any judgments. I mean, Anthony only walked Blossom to her home. That's the only thing we know. Don't make too hasty decisions. You're better than that. You didn't attain this much power in this school, and maintain a parity with Blossom in influence, by jumping to conclusions, you know. For all we know, Blossom just have a secret crush on him, or she's just repaying a favor, or there nothing at all between them!"
"Well, whatever it is," said Butch, "if they become a couple, then she'd beat you, Brick! You'll be very much behind, and I doubt you'll catch up."
"You're right. Boomer, my brother, you're always loyal to me, right? And you're do whatever, I say, right?" Brick asked.
"Yeah? Why are you asking me this?" asked Boomer.
"Well, you have a date with Bubbles tonight, right?" asked Brick. "Well, ask her what Blossom is up to! Ask her Blossom's plans, so we'll know what we'll expect when she makes her next move."
"Are you asking Boomer to ask his girlfriend to spy on her own sister?" DeLancey asked. "That's unbelievable!"
"That's a great idea!" said Butch. "At least you being steady with her would finally be of use to us!"
"Yes, I'm asking you to ask Bubbles if she knows Blossom's plans with Anthony, whether Blossom is just having a fling, or if she's really in love with that bastard, or if she intends to use him for her own purposes, and if those purposes has something to do with keeping me down and boosting her to the top," said Brick. "Will you do it?"
"Why don't you talk to her yourself?" asked Boomer.
"Because Blossom will only tell me what she wants me to hear, and that may not necessarily be the whole truth. Remember two years ago in junior high? When she pulled that brilliant coup over and I was left looking like an idiot?" asked Brick. "You told me that it was nothing, that it was innocent play, but it turned out that she pulled a maneuver that left me in the dust! It's only last year that I was able to catch up with her. I'm going to talk to her, but I want to know what Blossom told Bubbles, or what Bubbles observed. You know Bubbles! She'll probably want to know every detail of what happens between Anthony and Blossom."
"I don't like it, and frankly, I can't do it," said Boomer, "but I will do it. I will do it!"
"Well, that's settled. Blossom's up to something, I just know it, and I'm going to find out what it is!" said Brick. "And when we do, we'll move to take advantage of it! Blossom and I have been playing at this game for nine years now, and I for one won't easily be struck out by that girl!"