Hey everyone, this is in collaboration (to some extent) with my other fanfiction "Mishaps". Or at least in a non-relating parallel universe to it. Hope you Enjoy it. Just to disclaim, I do not own anything in reference to the Powerpuff Girls, nor any of the songs on this fanfiction.

Of all the things that Brick had heard in his life, this had to be the worst he'd ever had the displeasure of hearing. "The school concert."

Butch moaned agonizingly beside Brick, dropping to his knees and hands pressed forcefully over his ears, looking as if he were on the brink of crying. Boomer, however, only smiled and fist pumped the air. "Yes!" he cheered gleefully. "I can so dig that!"

Brick leaned against the wall of the Principal's Office, staring down the principal himself with a death glare so cold, frost was practically visible on his shoulders. "With all due respect, sir, I am not participating in the school concert. Over my dead body."

Principal Newman glared in return to Brick. "Well young man. You and your brothers destroyed the west wing of our school in your… gym class. So, now you have to pay for that. You three will perform three individual songs and, at twenty dollars a person, people will come to see you three perform in the school auditorium. It's going to be such a wonderful concert."

"How do you know we sing or play any instruments at all?"

The principal stared Brick down, not showing the least bit of fear. Being that he'd dealt with these Boys since their return as sophomores, now seniors, he had become somewhat a master at taking insults and death stares from the infamous Rowdyruff leader standing before him.

"Don't pull that crap on me. I may have been born at night, but I was not born last night." He stared Brick down, but with somewhat a knowing look on his aging features. "I know you play Brick, and well I must say. I heard you when you were in the drama room yesterday. You play the guitar beautifully, and sing just as well. So you and Boomer have no excuses. He's in a band for heaven's sake. And I'm assuming it runs in the family." His eyes turned to glance down at the agonized looking Butch kneeling beside Brick. "You must have some sort of musical talent, correct?"

"If I say no can I get out of this whole thing?"

"No."

Butch signed, defeated. "Fine, Brick taught me to play a Strat, and I sing decently enough…. I guess I could do it."

Principal Newman smirked, almost full of himself. "I thought so. Well your success is your doom. In two weeks, you will perform one song each, any song of your choice as long as it is somewhat decent. I know it will be hard to find some songs that way, because I know today's songs are a bit… intense."

Boomer and Butch stared over at their brother. Brick only kept his eyes to the floor, looking somber and contemplative. "And there is no way to get out of this? Detention?"

"Nope, we need the money from the admission in order to replace the building. So you are, in fact, stuck with this."

He met the principal's eyes and nodded. "Fine. We'll do it."

"Good," was all the principal said. He started walking away, but froze midstep and smirked. "Oh, Brick… You might want to brush up on your dancing."

"Why?"

"Because you are going to have two numbers. Say hello to your dance partner." Principal Newman nodded to the door, and all turned to glance at the auburn-haired beauty that stepped into the room.

Brick froze, staring down the woman he loved to hate… Blossom smirked as she crossed her arms and stared him down. "Hey, partner."


"I don't see how this came to be," Brick muttered as he removed his button down, revealing his wife beater beneath.

"Stop being such a baby, Brick." Blossom said, looking up from the floor as she stretched. "I thought we'd reconciled our differences years ago."

He set his shirt on the rail of the dance bar, on the far side of the studio. He'd been extra careful to not meet her eyes. "True, but just because we don't hate each other doesn't mean we should be dancing together. I don't think your boyfriend will appreciate this too much."

She reached for her toes, staring at the tip of her jazz shoe to avoid his seeing the slight grin that had formed on her freshly glossed pink lips. "Brick, I don't think Butch will feel threatened by our dancing together. He's not worried."

It'd stunned him that she'd brought it up at all. But Brick couldn't help getting a faint glint of irritation from hearing his brother wasn't threatened by him. For months Brick had been fighting the thoughts he'd had, deeper feelings than the typical friendly flutter when he was with Blossom. He'd hidden it, denied it to himself, but when he'd gotten word of Blossom dating his "little" brother, his jealousy had sparked to such a degree that he couldn't deny it any longer. But he never had the guts to let his feelings be known. It was the first time in his life he'd ever been scared of her, or what she'd think or say. It was a vulnerability he didn't like feeling, but he couldn't bear living without it if it meant not having her at least close by.

"Besides," she said, interrupting his train of thought. "Butch wouldn't dare go against you. You're his leader, and he hasn't forgotten that. He wouldn't go against you even if he wanted to."

The thought tempted him a bit, practically daring him to challenge his brother for her. Blossom was right, if he'd wanted to be cruel, he could go against Butch and take Blossom for himself, but he didn't have the heart to hurt his brother like that . . .

Brick couldn't help smirk a bit at the thought. "Yeah, I suppose so." He grabbed her out reached hand and pulled her to her feet. His heart nearly gave out when her face ended up inches from his, the scent of her cool mint breath brushing against his skin like a soft caress.

Blossom could hear the rapid beat of his heart, but, honestly, she couldn't tell if it was his or hers. "Ready?" she asked, pulling away.

Brick let a small smile form on his lips, and watched as she strolled to the boom box in the corner. "As ready as I'll ever be. What song are we doing exactly?"

She looked up from the CDs in her hand and flashed him a rather impish smirk. Her mischievous grin sent little red flags off in Brick's head, and he couldn't help getting a twinge of nervousness. "You'll see…"