You only know what I want you to/I know everything you don't want me to
Glancing around nervously, she tapped on the door lightly. She pulled the loose cardigan she wore tighter round her, feeling the speed her heart was going at whilst she did so.
Her heart always pounded in her chest like this when she knew she was going to see him. It was because she knew what she was doing wasn't right. It was wrong. But that didn't mean she would stop.
She heard his footsteps heading towards the door. It was definitely him, she knew, his footsteps gave him away. Too heavy and, angry, to be either of his brothers.
He opened the door, a smooth smile fixed onto his face, his emerald eyes looking down at her warmly. He had known it was her too. Something about the small, soft knock on the door, that had given her away.
"Hey. Thought you'd come by tonight. What kept ya?" He asked, in his gravelly voice.
A smile peeled onto her face. "Oh you know. The usual. Sorry about how late it is." She replied, rearranging the bag on her shoulder.
This was how their dance began. Idle, almost awkward, on Blossom's behalf, chit chat at the door. Butch would give a sly toss of the head, gesturing for her to come in.
"It's not that late. I was waiting for ya anyhow. Come on in." His arm appeared behind her, guiding her inside the apartment.
She walked in, her eyebrows furrowed, her mouth a disheartened pout.
Butch stood at the door and closed it loudly, his head slanting down, watching her, as she gently slopped her handbag onto the floor, her back to him.
Everything about the girl spelled out worry, anxiety. Vulnerability. Too much on her plate. Too much to handle, with no means to escape. But Butch was okay with that. He could be her escape.
Her shoulders rose then fell again, as she turned around and let out a long sigh. He strode over to her, and her head rested onto his chest without a word spoken.
She opened her mouth to tell him what had happened. Some jerk at work had dumped her with the difficult patient. Another malpractice case. Bubbles had picked a nasty bridesmaids dress for her. Yada yada yada. It was always something along the same lines.
He stroked a hand along the curve of her hip. He'd then say something along the same lines. It'd all work out. That guy had always been a jerk. He wasn't right for you anyhow. She'd look stunning whatever she wore. Yada yada yada. Something along them lines. It was all the same.
"Jeremy just won't stop calling me. And my breast cancer patient relapsed. My sisters and the Professor won't get off my back about patching things up with Jeremy, which, I just don't want to do. Plus, the stress of Bubbles' and Boomer's wedding is beginning to eat me up. There's always something, a meeting, or a dinner. I don't have the time. They just don't seem to understand…" She trailed off, Butch continuing to brush his hands along the side of her body.
He hushed her, his hands sliding along her body and landing on her shoulder, and pulled her into him gently. Butch proceeded to list through every problem she had mentioned, correcting them. "Bubbles' and Boomer's wedding will be over before you know it. Just smile, and get through all the time consuming shit that comes along with it. Ignore your family, because Jeremy, is an asshole. You left him for a reason, and you know that."
There was a pause, in which rose eyes met forest green for a good few seconds. "And I'm sorry about your breast cancer patient. But you shouldn't take your work home with you. I've told you about that." He muttered the last line.
She sighed, a small smile clicking onto her face. "I know. I'm just, a walking talking mess at the moment." She leaned onto the crook of his neck.
"A hot mess, as always." He murmured, his eyes lowering.
"Is Brick in?" She mumbled into his neck.
"Out with friends. Should be back in an hour or two, I'd guess." He replied, his voice husky, and dangerous.
She didn't need to say anymore. She looked up at his face, and his lips crashed hungrily onto hers. She tasted sweet, with a bitter twinge. Or was it salty? Had she been crying? He didn't care, because she was here, and by the time they were done, he knew at least he'd be smiling.
He'd pulled off her cardigan before she was even aware, pushing her down onto the sofa, his hands entangled in her long red hair.
He slipped off her scrubs in one swift movement, running his hands over her toned midriff. She needed him, she needed this, and he knew it. He wouldn't change it, either. She yanked at his shirt and he pulled it over his head, the two kissing wildly across the sofa.
She stood up, guiding him into his bedroom and away from the lounge, leaving her clothes behind. They anchored onto the bed, resuming their positions. Blossom would whisper how she shouldn't be here. Butch would dare her to leave. It was a tale of two bodies meeting, not two minds.
Afterwards, Butch would fall asleep, his arm slung over Blossom's stomach. She'd sneak out of bed, and find any items of clothing she could. Today, her underwear, bra and long sleeved top she wore underneath her scrubs top were in his room. Silently putting them on, she padded into the lounge.
Her scrubs bottoms and tops were out there with her cardigan and handbag. Quickly throwing the bottoms on, she sat down on the sofa, shoving the periwinkle scrubs top into her bag and shrugging into her cardigan.
Wrapping her arms around herself, she breathed out steadily.
Why did I do this again?
She stared at the blank TV screen ahead of her vacantly. She knew meeting Butch like this was wrong. She didn't even know how, or when it had started. She just knew that it made her feel, oddly better. But only when she was in the moment. When they were entwined, she couldn't think of anything else. Butch was so, powerful, and spirited. He made her forget about her shortcomings. Her incapability to hold up a stable relationship, her stressful job, her persistent family, the fact that she was 29 years old, and was the only one of her immediate family without a long term relationship.
Bubbles and Boomer were to wed in just under a fortnight. Buttercup and Mitch had been together for 7 years, with a son together. Even the Professor was married. Despite being a successful Attending Doctor at Townsville General Hospital, she felt like a failure.
She glanced up at the large clock above the fireplace. 3.05am. She lived alone in an apartment not far from the hospital, no one would be wondering where she was. An advantage and disadvantage, all according how you looked at it.
Blossom jumped, breaking out of her reverie, as she heard the front door open slowly. It was Brick.
The room filled with tension almost immediately, as Blossom turned to look at him.
He didn't say anything, he didn't need to. His expression was blank, as his cold eyes met hers. After a few seconds, he stuck his key in the door and locked it, sliding out of his jacket and hanging it up by the door. Blossom resumed to staring absently at the TV set.
"Staying the night?" Brick suddenly spoke up, making Blossom jump again.
"No, no, I'll go home." She spoke, picking her handbag up.
"Late night at the hospital?" Brick asked, kicking his shoes off and heading towards their kitchen.
"Yeah. Some guy came in with a screw driver stuck up his butt." She muttered in reply, the memory making her cringe. "Late night, in general?"
Brick smirked as he pulled down a mug and placed it under the coffee machine. He missed her crazy hospital stories.
Brick returned to the room with two cups of coffee. "Yeah. Decaf." He muttered, sitting down on the armchair next to the sofa.
"Oh, thanks." She said taking the mug gingerly ensuring their hands didn't touch as he passed it over.
There was an intense silence as she sipped at the coffee, blowing it gently.
Brick had to tell himself again and again in his head not to ask why she was here. He didn't want to know why she was here. This happened time and time again. But he still didn't want to know. A voice in the back of his head knew anyway.
"Did you have fun, out?" Blossom uttered, fiddling with the button to her chunky cardigan.
He nodded lazily. "I was just at work. Stayed out longer than intended."
"I suppose you did." Blossom replied. There was another silence. She quickly gulped down the rest of her coffee, ignoring the burn in the back of her throat, and placed the empty mug down atop a coaster.
"I guess I better be going. It's late enough, I, don't want to intrude."
He raised his head, putting his mug down beside hers. "I'll get the door."
She left without a word, trying to escape the awkwardness of the situation, because she knew he knew why she was there.
Blossom was woken at 6am by her beeper going crazy in her bag. She groaned, rolling her eyes and pulling herself up.
A grand total of two and a half hours sleep, she thought as she jumped sleepily into her scrubs.
As she'd gotten older, her hair had taken on a bushy, wavy style. She'd cut it just below her breast, it's thickness spiraling out like a mane. She threw it up into a sloppy bun, rushing into the en suite bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.
She arrived at Townsville General to be greeted by the head nurse, Sophia.
"Hi Sophia, I got beeped by an intern. Do you know where Michael is?"
"How many hours sleep have you had?" She asked, completely ignoring Blossom's question.
"What does that matter?"
"You left at 2ish, I'm on the nightshift, it wasn't that long ago I saw you. How many hours?" She explained.
"2 and a half." She mumbled sheepishly.
"Go home, Blossom. Get some sleep."
"Seriously, I'm fine."
"Home." Sophia insisted.
"I'll go see what Michael needs, then, fine, I'll head home." Blossom relented.
After dealing with a particularly nervous intern who'd forgotten where the radiology department was, Blossom left the hospital to finally get some sleep, today was her day off.
She arrived home, not even bothering to take her scrubs off, just plummeting into her bed sheets. As her head connected with the pillow, her phone began to ring.
She wrinkled her nose in anger, looking over at the bedside alarm clock. Whose calling me at 6.45 in the morning?
"Hello?" She said, in an yes-you-just-woke-me-up tone of voice.
"Blossom! Good morning! I'm getting married in a week! AHHHH! Can you believe it?" Bubbles squealed excitedly, her shriek hurting Blossom's ears.
"Bubbles, I know you're excited, but, do you have any idea what time it is?" Blossom replied tiredly.
"I know, I know, I'm sorry, but, there's no way I can sleep, I'm too excited! You can still make it to the rehearsal dinner tonight right?" Bubbles burbled.
Blossom groaned inwardly, but found herself nodding.
"Blossom?"
"I'm nodding."
"Okay! That's great, it's at the Moemant Hotel downtown remember, be there for 7pm! I'm so excited Blossom. I love Boomer so much, I can't wait to be his wife!"
Blossom smiled. "I know Bubbles, and I'm happy for you. I'll see you tonight okay? Bye."
"Bye Blossom!"
After hanging up the phone, Blossom slumped back onto the bed.
"Jay, will you leave your goddamn tie alone?" Buttercup hissed to her son, as he struggled with the emerald tie he wore round his neck.
"It's goddamn uncomfortable!" He grumbled back.
Mitch Mitchelson scruffed his son's black hair. "Don't swear at your mother. You little ass."
Jay Utonium only crossed his arms in reply, a signature Buttercup glare plastered on his face. He seemed to enjoy these kinds of events just as much as his mother did.
"Come on, we'll be home before you know it." Buttercup said, leading her partner and son towards Bubbles and Boomer, who were surrounded by gushing family members and friends.
"Buttercup! Mitch! You're here! And is that my favourite nephew?" Bubbles said, looking down at Jay.
"I'm your only nephew." He said, rolling his eyes playfully.
Bubbles grinned. "Oh don't you look so cute in your little tux!" She grabbed him, squeezing him tightly, but careful not to crease her baby blue evening dress. It was strapless, ending just below her knee, showing her long milky dancers legs and small white heels she donned.
"Don't ruffle him too much." Boomer said, appearing beside her.
"Hey Boomer." Jay said, bumping fists with him. It was safe to say Buttercup's 7 year old son thought there was nothing cooler than the Rowdyruff boys.
"Hey Jay. Nice threads dude."
"Thanks, I chose the tie myself." Jay beamed, looking down at it.
"So, excited?" Buttercup asked, trying to distract herself from the bar, as she was the designated driver that night.
"Overly! Eeee! I just, can't wait. I really can't." Bubbles chattered animatedly. "I mean, we've been wanting to do this for years, it's taken so much saving."
"Well, you had to have your massive princess wedding, didn't you?" Boomer said, but there was humour in his voice, and a sparkle in his eyes.
"Well, we got to do it right, right?"
"Right." Boomer agreed, taking a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. Mitch avidly grabbed one too, eager to get the night over with. He noticed Buttercup's grimace in his direction; she normally got to drink.
"What about you Boomer, excited?"
"Of course, yeah. Just, kind of nervous. Not about the getting married part, of course! About the erm, best man's speech." Boomer said, glancing in the direction of his brothers, who stood by the bar.
Butch was scanning the crowds of people, presumably for someone to take home with him, and Brick was leaning heavily on the bar, Boomer hoped he wasn't drunk already.
"Yeah, choosing Butch probably wasn't your wisest choice." Mitch pointed out, stifling a laugh.
"Well, I thought it'd make him step up to the plate or something. He seemed pretty eager to do it at the time…" Boomer trailed off, worry taking over.
"He'll be fine! Don't worry. Best man's speeches are supposed to be embarrassing anyway!" Bubbles giggled. "He's not doing one tonight either way so, don't worry, just enjoy tonight." She planted a kiss on her fiancé's cheek, and he smiled back.
"Spose you're right."
"Who's doing a speech tonight then?" Mitch asked, confused.
"Well, Butch is Boomer's best man, and Buttercup's my maid of honour, so Blossom and Brick are doing speeches tonight, that way they still play a part in our wedding." Bubbles explained.
"That's nice." Mitch smiled.
"I wonder what wonderful things that jerk will have to say." Buttercup muttered, glaring over at Brick's red head.
"Don't be like that BC." Mitch replied, nudging her slightly.
She humphed a reply.
"We better go, mingle." Boomer said, pulling Bubbles aside gently.
"See you guys in a bit! Send Blossom my way when she gets here. I knew she'd be late." Bubbles called.
Just as they went to speak to the Professor and his wife, Kelly, a fellow scientist, Mitch noticed Blossom entering the room.
She wore a long red dress, v neck, cut down to just under her breast line, the hem almost hitting the floor, if it weren't for the black heels she wore. Her wavy hair was tamed back into a relaxed updo, and she smiled awkwardly as she approached her sister, Mitch and Jay.
"Hi guys. Sorry I'm late! I had to head back into work again. One of my interns has a useless sense of direction." She murmured, looking around trying to locate the bride to be.
"Hey Aunty Blossom! Got any cool, gruesome doctor stories?" Jay cried clutching her arm and jumping around.
"Hi Jay, don't you look handsome! Did mummy brush your hair?" Blossom asked, dodging the question he'd asked. After telling Jay about the kid who swallowed a dozen quarters, Buttercup had brought Jay in the very next day, he'd done the same, but better. TWO dozen quarters. Buttercup had kinda banned the gruesome hospital stories after that.
Buttercup nudged her redheaded sister. "Of course I brushed his hair!"
Blossom smiled, looking around to see who else was here. "Have I missed anything?"
"Not really. Just a bunch of really boring people handing Bubbles and Boomer good luck cheques." Mitch answered, glancing longingly at the bar.
Blossom followed his gaze. "Sounds about right. Good thing I'm getting a taxi home." She winked.
"All right for some." Buttercup grumbled.
Blossom froze slightly as she looked at the bar once more, Butch and Brick sat there, Butch catching her eye and raising an eyebrow in her direction.
Buttercup noticed, and looked where her sister was looking. "You gunna be okay with him here?"
Blossom snapped back to reality, looking back towards her green eyed sister. "Of course I am, don't worry. Brick and I are, civil, I suppose. Once we get past the excruciating awkwardness." She mumbled in reply. "I can be civil. I can also not talk to him, which is what I normally do if I have to encounter him anyway."
"I can't stand to be near the guy, so I dunno how you can be. I just wanna claw his eyes out." Buttercup growled.
"Buttercup, don't worry. It was, what, 3 years ago now? Don't claw his eyes out. Just ignore him. This is Bubbles' big day, almost. Let's just, be happy for her. Now, anyone want a drink? It's on the happy couple!"
As soon as Blossom appeared at the bar, both Brick and Butch looked her up and down.
Brick left after, mumbling something about going to find Boomer, Butch just sidled closer to her.
"Well don't you scrub up well." He leered, looking at her from top to toe once again.
She gave him a sharp glare. "You're just full of compliments aren't you."
He ignored her comment, smiling at her as she ordered a glass of rosé wine.
"Where did you go last night? I missed you." He said, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. She caught his hand quickly though.
"What are you doing?" She asked curtly, picking up her glass and composing herself.
"I can't be around you and not touch you when you look this, tempting." He purred, leaning in even closer. Blossom felt her stomach flutter, his warm breath on her neck.
"Well, you're just going to have to control yourself, aren't you?" She rasped back, a small smile fitting onto her face.
Butch almost rolled over and begged, as Blossom turned away and found her blonde sister.
"Blossom, you look, breath taking!" She oozed, smiling wide.
"I was just telling her the same thing." Butch said, looking quite the gentleman. Blossom knew better. She gave him an irritated look, but turned back to her sister.
"Thanks Bubbles. Bought it especially, just like you told me to." She answered half heartedly.
"Well, it's stunning. Do you have a speech prepared?"
"Yes, I mean it's just a short one but, a speech nonetheless." Blossom answered looking down at her feet. She was dreading having to do a speech. Especially as Brick's speech followed. Being associated with anything to do with Brick these days made her feel, uneasy. More so, these days, to be honest.
"If everyone would like to take their seats, and the rehearsal meal can begin." Boomer announced, carefully clashing a spoon against his glass.
"And so, I would just like to wish both Boomer and my beautiful sister Bubbles, a wonderful, fulfilling life together, I couldn't think of two people more perfect for each other then you two. To the happy couple!" Blossom cried, ending her speech. She sat down as everyone cheered and raised their glasses.
There was a hum of conversation round the tables, as Brick stood, clearing his throat and holding onto his glass. It was a wine glass, but Blossom knew Brick never drank wine. He detested the stuff. She also noticed he didn't have a prompt card or any notes with him. He'd probably not planned anything at all.
"As Boomer's 'older' brother, and father figure, in some ways, I have to say I am proud of the way he has grown up. He's always been the most, warm hearted of the three of us, I always knew he'd meet a nice, warm hearted girl, and make all her dreams come true. So, to be standing here today, knowing he's to be wed in week or so, I can only really wish them both a selection of things. I wish them both happiness. I wish them both a long, committed marriage together."
Blossom flinched at the last sentence, looking away.
"I wish, that my brother is smart. I wish that my brother doesn't make the same mistake, that I did. To the happy couple." Brick said, raising his glass, the bitterness not being able to escape his voice.
Blossom couldn't look at him. She could feel him burning a hole into the side of her head with his gaze, and when she sneaked a glance, she was right. He had been looking at her.
The crowd clapped quietly, as Brick sat down in his seat. Blossom could feel many knowing eyes on her, as she watched the bubbles in her wine rise to the top of the glass like it was the most interesting thing in the world.
"Well, thanks bro. And thank you Blossom. Erm, the meals will be brought out shortly everyone so, enjoy!" Boomer said, his enthusiasm breaking the spell from Brick's downer of a speech.
"I can't believe he did that." Blossom hissed to herself, as she looked at her reflection in the mirror of the ladies washroom. What was he trying to achieve? She thought, tucking an escapee strand of red hair behind her ear.
She stared hardly at her reflection for a good few minutes. She looked tired. Stressed. She was tired. And she was stressed. She remembered how many nights, 3 years ago, she had sat and started at her reflection in her bathroom mirror. She'd sat, and looked and looked, and wondered what was wrong with her. What was so wrong with her to have made him do it?
She shook her head. She didn't want to think about that. Not any of it. Then she thought of Butch. Butch's attentive words, lingering hands, powerful body. She sighed. What the hell was she doing?
She left the washroom to make social with family and friends, and bumped straight into the guy she was just thinking of.
"You okay?" He asked, not looking concerned, but sounding it.
She looked at him and sighed. "Wanna get out of here?"
r&r :)