Bubbles' POV:

They were words I never thought I'd utter. Words I didn't think were capable of coming from me.

"I can't date you anymore, Boomer. I'm sorry."

I, Bubbles Utonium, had just broken off my almost flawless relationship with Boomer Jojo- nice, clean cut, sensitive, charming, and really attentive. Why?

Not because I'm brain dead, mind you. Not because I'm not in love with him- because, deep down, you never really fall out of love with Boomer. It's a universal law you can't hate and/or feel indifference towards Boomer and his bedroom blues.

It was a really simple and possibly harmless thing really. Really minor, to those of you who feel stuck in a rut.

"Why?" Boomer said, his voice calm, patient. You really couldn't fault him if you tried. And he used to be a bad boy; a ROWDY RUFF BOY!

"Because..." Wait for it. "Well..." Here it comes; the reason I'm breaking up with the all-American Dream personified. "We just don't have that spark."

He raised a brow. "Spark?"

I made a vague gesture with my hand. "You know... The thrill, the anticipation, the-" Emotion. "-pizzaz."

"I see."

Clearly, I didn't register that high on his emotional scale. I forced a smile. "I'm sorry," I repeated, not knowing what else to do. "I just... I can't feel much of anything in this relationship. Please, can we still be friends?"

He was silent for a moment before he cracked a dazzling smile, somewhat less dazzling than usual. Why waste the premium on someone who just pulled the plug on a perfect relationship, I numbly thought.

He stuck out his hand and smiled again. "Sure; no hard feelings."

I shook it, feeling that familiar warmth from his palm.

And, after holding it for a few moments, I left, planning to cry and sob over this guy into a tub of Cherry Garcia. And then I remembered that we used to share Cherry Garcia- better make it two tubs, and half gallons.

My hips were going to kill me...

Boomer's POV:

I stared after her, feeling like someone had just taken out my heart, stomped it to mush, and then put it back.

Boring, I thought. She effing thought our relationship was boring.

Bubbles' hair flowed down her back, a beacon to any red-blooded male on campus. Trust me, I know.

To think, I was carefully planning and taking steps to ensure I wouldn't push her a way, and I push her away. Hell, Blossom and Buttercup warned me that playing it safe would be bad. Blossom, the queen of Rules-and-Procedures!

I watched as the love of my life, and former girlfriend made her way towards the street.

I curled my hand into fists when that poser, Jeff Donahue, stopped her, casually dropping an arm around her shoulders. She didn't react more or less any different than usual.

She laughed, removed it, and started walking slower. Donahue always had that effect on her.

She relaxed a bit, her hair running through the soft golden tresses. I really, really- REALLY- wanted to run my fingers through it. Up until four minutes, twenty-one seconds and counting, I'd had an indiscriminate right to. And I hadn't so much as grazed it.

I cursed myself for the tenth time. And I'd agreed to be her friend? I couldn't do that. Not knowing that friends were introduced to boyfriends.

I felt queasy. I felt like I'd cheated her out of all that I was. I was an effing ROWDY RUFF BOY; granted not the worst of the brood, but still inherently bad.

I'd flavored our entire relationship with vanilla- I'd screwed up hard. Would it always feel this bad, watching others hold her? How had I stood it before? That's right- I'd said I was her prince, the person who could keep her safe.

Her petite body was swaying away, her light blue skirt barely brushing the end of her thighs.

He groaned. Now, he was the ex, turned friend.

Bubbles' POV:

Watching Blossom take shots of her boyfriend for her photography course, I sighed with longing.

Brick smirked at Blossom, his blood red eyes full of heat and dark promise, bare-chested from the waist up. Draped over his black jeans was a blood red silk sheet. He looked like a guy in love.

I sighed again, drawing Blossom's attention.

"Something wrong?" she asked, always the big sister.

I nodded.

"Talk to Boomer." Brick said.

I sighed heavily. "It's about Boomer."

"So? He's down with talking about his faults with his girl."

I whimpered.

Blossom raised a brow. "What's wrong?"

"I broke up with him!" I wailed.

Brick sat up and Blossom gaped like a fish. "You what?"

I broke out into sobs. "I just couldn't take it! We were so- so-"

"Perfect? Cute together?" Blossom listed qualities.

"Bland!" I corrected.

"Bubbles, what was so bland about it?" Blossom prodded, camera forgotten.

I sighed again- it was becoming a habit. "I just felt like we were in a rut. I mean, we never really disagreed on anything- whatever I wanted, he agreed with. And he was very careful to never hurt my feelings. And he was always on time for our dates, sometimes early-"

Blossom gave me a sour look. "Gee, how did you last so long?" she drawled. "You know, I'd kill to have Brickhead pretend to agree with me."

Brick took offense. "Hey, I agree- when it benefits me."

I moaned. "I mean, there was no spark anymore- no spirit."

"If you want a ghost, Boomer can become a medium."

I shot a scathing look at Brick. "I mean, we were distant, safe- I look at you and Brick, or Butch and Buttercup, and I feel like I'm cheating him out of a real romance... He's Boomer Jojo, heartthrob and dreamboat to millions- he could have any girl!"

"And he chose you." Blossom pointed out.

"But it feels like he's subdued! Like he's not showing me the whole picture." I protested. "I want him to be comfortable with me, Blossom. I want him to be okay with showing me his bad side, if he has one."

"Everyone has a secret they hide, Bubbles." Blossom counseled.

"But I want him to expose it to me. If no one else- I want to feel completely loved by him."

I stood. "I need to go; my shift at Star Fabric is in three."

"Boomer does love you, you know." Brick called after her.

Just not enough to be comfortable with me, I thought.

AK: Okay, Bubbles HAD to be the one to break up. Don't worry, Boomer isn't as good at bowing out as he is at keeping his...urges...under wraps. Look for more.