Chapter 2- fangs in the basket

I let go of my sister's hands as soon as we entered the school and in no time teachers were at the front steps demolishing the camp outside. I didn't stick around to watch them get pulled away- I was interested. I wouldn't get interested even if my life depended on it.

'Those girls were right.' Bubbles muttered as we carried on walking through to the corridor. 'Those boys turned into total hotties.' she grinned at both buttercup and myself. 'We've got the upper hand- we know them! Why don't we talk to them? Those other girls haven't got a chance.' she said fast raising her fist in the air dramatically.

'Why? I'm not interested in boys.' buttercup folded her arms. 'Especially not thugs like them- who needs more jerks cluttering the place up?' she looked defiantly at the floor carrying on muttering about boys being garbage.

'How about you Blossom? You've got to be interested in our old rivals. I mean you made us storm right through them.' she hugged my arm 'please.'

'I'm not interested either.' I said firmly. 'There's no time for boys when there's studying. The only reason I march through them was to send a message. We're here and they better now start acting up. I'm not saying that they're here to cause trouble but I can't see any other reason.' Bubbles let go of my arms.

'They could be here to learn like you, or socialise like me, or maybe to just goof off like buttercup over there. Is she still muttering?' I looked at her, she was. Bubbles strode forward out into the hall in front of us. 'If you two insist on being boring I'll find other girls that have some courage.' and with that she charged off as if she were on a mission.

I turned to see Buttercup had vanished too- out little time together had ended. I sighed holding onto my bag walking to the side of the corridor to my lock hoisting my bag into it fishing around with my books. I just ended up putting more books in my bag. My hands still felt pretty shaky from this morning. I should have just stayed in bed or rang the police or...maybe not. The boy I saved was Brick. He was invincible! He didn't need my help and he proved that by taking advantage of me. Sure I couldn't feel a real pulse but I'm pretty sure he's heartless anyway.

'Should have left him in a creator.' I growled pulling my bag from my locker slamming it shut. That boy really had some nerve coming here- and putting my ribbon on display like that. Was he taunting me?

The first bell rang and I headed to my first class- it was gym on Mondays. Normally I didn't care and I'd just get on with it all but I wasn't in the mood. Still, I sombrely dragged my feet to the changing rooms. There more sleepy girls were found- all early and all just not in the mood to go running round for no reason. Normally I'd try to be more optimistic about it all but I couldn't bring myself to do it. I couldn't force myself to be all happy or energetic. Then- the nightmare entered. Giggling girls. Ugh- so shrill and over reactive to about anything. For just a few examples; a spider, scream. A rabbit, scream. A boy, scream. Sometimes you've just got to think that they're doing it just for the sake of screaming.

'Blossom! I knew you'd be here early, you always are.' a random hand extended from the group of girls dragging me in. I looked to the sleepy girls for help but they were in their own world- I was completely lost.

'You know those boys. The one's front the steps.'

'Oh yhea, they were like your enemies. How cool it is that you're in the same school.'

'Does that mean that you want them too?'

'Oh, don't say that. If the powerpuff girls go out for them no one will have a chance.' there was too many voices.

'Don't worry. I'm not interested in them. As long as they don't go around beating people up they're innocent school mates. Feel free to annoy them.' I smiled reassuringly at them all. They looked quite pleased with that.

'I know our Blossom would be so kind about It.' a girl hugged me. 'But they're so scary.'

'Yhea, they just glared.'

'I think that was just because it was morning.'

'Yhea, everyone's cranky in the morning.' I managed to slip out as they started squeaking on about the boys.

The rowdyruff boys- why did they always return? Out of all the villains we have ever locked up, out of all of them that just vanished it had to be them who returned. honestly I would have liked to see HIM just to see if he still cross dressed or Mojo Jojo because it's be quite an old monkey by now and something tells me he'd be quite sweet. But I defiantly didn't appreciate the rowdyruff boys come back- they could have stayed vanished; I didn't care where they were or what they were doing. I was fine before. My day was peaceful and just everything nice. Why couldn't I close my eyes and go back to that?

I sighed walking out into the gym to see the teacher setting up a line of balls.

'What's this? Dodge ball?' I asked grabbing a few balls helping set up. The teacher looked up at me grinning.

'Yhea, we can't go outside in this weather. We'll get parents calling in to complain and I just can deal with that.' she straightened up rubbing her hands together. 'You don't mind referring this lesson?' I stud up looking back a little confused. 'You have super strength- we can't have you firing a ball at another student. It'll be like having a cannon ball thrown into your gut.' the teacher patted my back.

'Oh. Yhea. I understand.' I nodded smiling back. 'Don't worry, you can count on me.' I gave her the thumbs up before she headed into the changing rooms to rush the other girls out. I sighed picking up a ball and tossing it up in the air. It was always like this. I'm sure it's the same with my sisters but we haven't been in the same gym class for a while- so we can't even have a side game with just us. We're constantly on the side lines. The teachers don't even ask us if you could just not use our powers. I'm not using my powers now; if I was I'd throw the ball straight through the roof of the gym!

I didn't mind helping out but I did wish I got to join in now and again, I would say it wasn't fair but it was. I understand that sometimes- If I get too into the game I might throw or kick a ball as if I want it to fly straight out the atmosphere. But I could control myself- I spent my whole life trying to keep composed and in control! Well complaining didn't matter now; it wasn't going to change anything. The teacher was heading back to me now with a trail of chattering high school girls behind her.

'Here's a whistle.' the teacher said cheerily. I nodded putting on another weak smile. Yhea, I knew why she was so happy- I was doing her job. 'ok.' the teacher raised her voice to the whole class. 'The game is dodge ball.' the class groaned automatically. 'You know the rules- and no head shots. Last week a boy got a broken nose form one of them. So keep it clean.' she held her finger up eyeing the class for a moment before smiling. 'Well, Blossom will be the ref while I'm grading work. I'll stop you all at the end of the lesson.' and with that she turned and took a seat in the stands.

The girls looked at me waiting for instructions.

'Ok.' I bounced the ball walking round them. 'Let's get into teams.' I picked out two girls and it all started. I had got used to being some kind of teacher support so nothing was new. If there was a fight or trouble I could break it up and if something was going wrong I could sort it out- it's been happening for most of my high school life now. Sometimes I wished that I giant monster was attacking the city just so I could get out of it all. Of course that would be selfish and I don't wish a malevolent, evil creature on anyone. Well right now I have a trio of boys I wouldn't mind feeding to the wolves.

Gym passed and soon I was back in the old top and baggy jeans. I really should have asked the professor for money before I left this morning. I needed to go shopping for most clothes. I couldn't risk him knowing that I'm losing weight. He freaks out when any of us (my sister and I) change. We've seen many unstable chemical X experiments explode- bunny, and the Rowdyruff boys (well the first time anyway). When things change he begins testing us again and it's takes months out of school and I don't have time for that right now. I've got exams to study for and my coursework needs to be handed in. and this was before Christmas and all. It all showed promise for a very long year.

Next lesson- English. This I didn't mind. Reading was my pleasure and lucky me- I was doing English literature. Nothing could beat I good book in my opinion and it was the wordy subject that no one could say that I use my powers in. it was all my mind and I loved that feeling. outside of school is another thing. I want and would love to use my powers there. But in school with other people there are constant comparisons and everyone likes to point it out. Like the fact I have pink eyes, the fact that I'm fast and can see though things. People like using them as excuses to why I can or can't do things so when there a lesson I'm just like everyone else I take it. The teacher says he understands- he seems pretty cool. Mr. Smith is his name. He didn't live in Townsville while the powerpuff girls were at large so he knows next to nothing about my sisters and I. it's awesome.

I walked into the lesson taking my seat next to a group of nice quiet girls and the lesson began. My peace was back.

'Blossom. What do you think of the brothers grim? You've surly read a number of their work.' Mr Smith said after a long read through the traditional fairy tales.

'Well-'

'Can we speak to blossom?' a woman stud in the door was cutting me off with a very droll tone. I couldn't even reply I was that annoyed. Why couldn't I be picked on in gym? Why now? Why when I was about to answer a question? Didn't the world have manners anymore?

'Sure. Will she be gone for long?' Mr Smith went back to his desk. The woman nodded. I groaned scooping up my bag and coat. All I heard from the class was

'Lucky! Way to go blossom!' I didn't even have the heart to ask them to switch places. All my faith in this school was gone. I might as well just sleep in the corridor for the rest of the day.

I left the room silently following the woman.

'What's this about?' I asked moving to her side. 'I'm not in trouble I'm I?' she didn't answer. 'I swear, I have no idea what Buttercup does in her spare time anymore so I can't say a thing. If Bubbles did something then I'd be surprised. She never does anything wrong...well not intensely.'

'For god's sake. You're not in trouble. You sisters aren't in trouble. No trouble. Damn powerpuff. Always trouble to be sorting out. Give it a break.' I closed my mouth feeling just a bit embarrassed and angry. How was I meant to know no one was in trouble? She didn't say a thing. And why did she start bring up the powerpuff? I said nothing about them. Isn't it a normal reaction to think something's wrong when you get pulled out of a class?

'Then what is this about?' I asked as the woman started leading me through to the school main reception.

'Just listen to the head master. You really don't need to listen to me. I don't know anything. I just go fetch students when I'm told.' she moved round to take a seat at the receptionist's desk. On way she was the receptionist for the school she's too antisocial and cranky. No to mention when she breather it sounded like she was had tar clinging to her throat walls. Well at least you'd always know when she was coming.

She had left me in front of the principles door. I looked around for a moment wondering if I should knock or not. I had never been taken to the principle office before. I raised my hand knocking crisply three times.

'enter.' the voice was of a man...funny how I never know that before. I opened the door peering round the door to see an old man spinning in a large brown desk chair. The man was very thing- I was amazed his spine could even hold him up. He had long white hair that was so thin it reminded me of spider webs draped over a skeleton. He wore large cloudy thick glasses which too up over half if his face and leaving only his thin lipped mouth visible.

'Ah...Miss Blossom, please take a seat.' I nodded. I couldn't suppress my surprise that he didn't sound like an old man. He held order in his voice and it just didn't fit his fragile appearance. No wonder he needed someone to fetch the students for him.

'Thanks.' I muttered placing my hands neatly on my lap. I didn't like being in this room, there was only a desk and chairs. No photos, no posters, no ordainments or any kind to make the room less intimidating. It was only business. There was only the furniture that was needed and many papers.

'Well I called you here for a reason.' the headmaster leant forward on his desk linking his long bony fingers together. 'I'm sure that you know of the new students, they cause quite a disturbance this morning.' he looked over his thick glasses at me. I groaned sinking in the chair. I felt like slapping myself, there was no way I was brought in all because of them! Not that was not fair.

'I'm not a powerpuff girl anymore sir. And any way they haven't really done anything wrong. I don't have to have one single thing relating me to those boys.' I said clearly sitting back upright. He nodded still staring over his glasses at me.

'I see your point.' he nodded pushing his glasses back up his nose. 'But you see the boys mysteriously disappeared with all the other villains in Townsville. They say they just went on a really long holiday and merely forgot about school. Weather the story is true or not I don't know. But it doesn't matter. What matters is that they are behind in their education. He straightened up. 'Now this is where you come in. I need a good tutor for the leader- he seems to be resisting the most.' I felt my eyes widen.

'no.' I said instinctively. 'That involves one on ones, talking to him. Going to his house...and I'm not even sure he had a house. It's a bad idea over all. Normally I'd be fine tutoring people, I've done it before but this boy is or was a criminal!'

'I'm aware of your history.' the Head master spoke up again. He sighed opening a draw in his desk. 'But they were only five when they did all those crimes. And if you think about it they didn't do much. They've been through a lot and as far as the police are concerned they're innocent civilians that shouldn't be completely judged for what they did when they were so young. Can you say with complete honesty that you remember what you did when you were five perfectly? And if so, do you think everything you did was right?' I didn't have to answer, he got me there. 'You shouldn't judge him from what he did when he was that young. He's changed, he and his brothers deserve the same chance you and your sisters got.'

'Ok.' I muttered. 'But they've already proven that they're just slackers! They camped outside of the school.' I stared into the headmasters eyes begging for some way out but this tactic didn't seem to work.

'Why me?' I changed strategy. 'Why do I have to do it? There have to be better teachers, better more willing students that will gladly do there. I mean there are a herd of girls around them just waiting for an opportunity like this.'

'This is why I can't have any old student doing it. A teacher can't be enamoured to their student. No work will be done. But you are the smartest student of your year. You have no interest in the boys and so you'll have a clear mind to focus on work. That's what I need. That's what he needs.' I pursed my lips looking away. There was no way out of this.

'So you're going to force me into this? I have no say?'

'Well if you start being romantically attached to him I'll have to reconsider it all but it really doesn't seem likely.' I can only hope. The thought did however make me feel a little sick. 'So I will expect you to tutor Brick Jojo at his home, the volcano in the centre of the city, twice a week till he's caught up with lessons.'

'But that could take years with him!' I complained again but the headmaster just folded his arms. He had decided. 'You're a cruel old man.' I got to my feet. 'But by doing this you owe me one.'

'Of course.' the headmaster smiled. 'But you just worry about doing your job.' I picked up mu bag heading to the door.

'Sure, you can count on me.' I groaned heading out and closing the door after me. This was sooo not my day.

I walked out into the hallway running my had through my hair. This was complete shi-

'You can go back to your lessons now.' the receptionist called from behind her desk. I didn't look back as I picked up the pace of my walk. I didn't need her input. I looked at my time. English would be useless now, I had missed too much. The best I could do was to go to my locker and pick up a few more books to read before the next class.

I walked along the corridor which was practically empty all apart from a young giggling girl dragging a very tall boy through to a locker. She didn't look like the type to giggle over boys through. She was tall with died black hair and multiple piercings over her ears and lips. She pulled the boy close to her as she talked. I quickly slid behind a corner out of view form them. The boy was Brick. He was glaring down at the grinned girl. He had abandoned his guitar somewhere but the ribbon was still wound round his fist. My ribbon. I peered round the corner to see them. It was outrageous, right in the middle of school!

'You know I never would have thought that a rowdyruff boy would show up at my school.' she wrapped her arms round his neck licking her lips.

'I'm looking for a girl who wears a ribbon like this.' Brick held up his fist between them. The girl smirked taking the ribbon from him running it through her fingers.

'Why, this is mine. I believe I was wearing it the other day but I got carried off by the wind. I'll have to give you a reward for finding It.' he snatched the ribbon from her.

'It's not yours.' I held it up to her face. 'I'll ask this time. Who wears this ribbon? Do they go to this school?' this time the girl pouted.

'Oh poo, you're no fun.' she put her hands on her hips. She sighed looking away. I hid away as her face turned in my direction. 'Well,' she sighed. 'There's a girl in this school that wears a red ribbon but I don't know her. She's a goody two shoes for all I know.'

'That's all you know?' I looked back at them to see her nod. 'Then I have no use for you anymore.' the girls mouth dropped.

'jerk.' she hissed marching up a stair case. 'No wonder you were a villain.' I turned walking away from the lockers. I'd find another way to get to my locker.

'Did you enjoy the show?' I froze, hearing the voice of Brick call out to me. 'Just the girl I've been hoping to see.'

'Touch me and I'll break your arm.' I said before he could move closer.

'I'd like to see you try.' he snorted. I could hear his footsteps approaching. 'I'm pretty tough.'

'I know. I'd be stupid, and that girl's right. You're a villain.' I carried on walking for every step he took I made one of my own.

'A villain...I believe she said it in past tense...but come to think of it. I do like the sound of it. I've been good all day and I'm finding it pretty boring.' I clenched my fists as he spoke.

'Then go home. Go be a criminal there'll always be people to beat you, send you where you belong.'

'I'm sensing bitterness.' an arm wrapped round my arms and waist holding me tightly to the spot. 'You saved me and I want to know why, how, and who the hell you are.'

'Because that make such a big difference.' my bag fell from my shoulder. 'You really are stupid after all. You don't have to think too hard to just guess the answer. Who else other than you and your brothers can run as fast as the wind, fly, and lift trees as they're chop sticks? And even when you've answered that you just have to remember which one had red hair. It's not too hard.' I stomped hard on his foot to make him realise. I picked up my bag storming off. 'By the way I'm your tutor so I'll see you after school. No funny business you I'll really break your arm.' I pursed before abandoning him. 'And I want my ribbon back.'

The rest of the day moved far too swiftly. All I could think of was the doom of teaching that brute. It really made me feel ill but there was really no way out of it now. None that I could see.

'Blossom.' I looked up from my locker. I had no idea how long I had been standing there just staring into the metal box. It was already the end of the day. 'Blossom.' I focused on my sisters. Bubbles and Buttercup looking at me with worrying eyes.

'There's a nasty boy called Brick waiting for you outside.' Bubbles took my hand rubbing it softly.

'What's going on?' Buttercup frowned. 'I thought you weren't going to have anything to do with them.'

'I thought so to but the headmaster asked me to tutor him so I thought that if I just get it over with as quickly as possible the pain will be minimal but...' I bit my lip. I hadn't facing him in a long time, I hadn't faced an enemy in a very very long time.

'You're not looking forward to it. I get that.' bubbles chimed in. 'but at least you're being fun again! As soon as you get in good with them put in a good word for me. High school is just getting interesting.' she took my bag fixing it over my shoulder dragging me to the exit.

'Bubbles, she can't fraternize with the enemy.' Buttercup caught us up. 'There's too much history. They're scum. Dogs. And if they lay a hand on her I'll tear them to pieces.' we walked through the school door and there he was. The wolf looked up at me smirking.

'Don't worry girls.' I glared down at him. 'I'll be fine.'

'Good luck.' Bubbles whispered encouragement.

'Kick his ass.' Buttercup punched the air. I groaned walking down the school steps till I was in front of him.

'Blossom.' he grinned. 'I didn't think it'd be you.'

'Yhea well I thought you exploded again but we were both wrong.' I walked past him. 'come one then. let's get this over with.'