Chapter 2: Hit with a Brick
The first day back to school started off like most first days. I got up extra early, bathed, got dressed, and prepared breakfast for my family. After hearing a mixture of Bubbles singing at the top of her lungs along with Buttercup's usual complaints on school, I was more than ready to go. I swear when the bus pulled up, I leapt onto it. Professor waved us goodbye, and that was that.
The bus driver seemed a bit... harsh, but not that much to get on my bad side. She's typically never in a good mood, and truthfully, I'm more than used to it at this point. Besides, years of driving a bus filled to the brim with hyperactive children must really take a toll on her...
However, just because the bus driver avoided getting on my bad side didn't mean she avoided getting on Buttercup's. It was practically a tradition for these two to argue nonstop all the way to our destination. Honestly, I don't even bother listening to their taunts and shouting anymore; I'm an expert at blocking them and everyone else out. Instead, I walked over to my usual seat: two seats in front of the very last. Looking out the window, I concentrated on the scene outside, taking in the familiar sights of the town I've always known. The noise coming from the bus slowly yet surely faded into silence, and a smile formed on my face. Everything was fine, and I was content. Today was going to be a calm and-
"WE'RE HERE KIDS!"
The bus suddenly halted to a stop, snapping me out of my trance. Instinctively, I gripped onto the seat in front of me, only shifting a few inches compared to the others who were practically flung out of their seats.
I should be used to the bus rides being so short with a rather reckless stop, but apparently, I was not.
With a sigh, I got up and exited, ignoring the slight wobble of my legs. My sisters were standing just outside the entrance, waiting for me. As soon as I reached them, Buttercup immediately stated that she would never take the school bus for the rest of the school year, courtesy to Ms. Diana the bus driver. Bubbles giggled slightly as I rolled my eyes. Maybe if she were more calm and just ignored her, this wouldn't have happened. However, this was a typical Buttercup-like action, so whatever. There was no changing her.
The three of us entered the school with very bright smiles, thinking of all the good that was coming our way this year. We spotted all the positives right off the bat: the lockers, our peers, the teachers-
Heh, my apologies. I might have went a bit too deep in my nerdy daydreams... Again.
In reality, Bubbles and I entered with smiles, me because of all the things I listed before, and Bubbles because of the peers part only. Buttercup entered with her 'Ew, This Place Looks More Worse Than Last Year' scowl, just like every new school year. It was very packed, so much that I had to stay squeezed in between my siblings just to not lose them. Everyone around us was talking excitedly, happy to see each other again. The teachers standing just outside the main walkway repeatedly reminded us to enter the theater, holding up signs to show the way.
"What do they think we are?" Buttercup asked loudly (on purpose). "Stupid? We've all been here ever since... well, ever since! We don't need no signs!" A smirk formed on her face as she saw a few adults look her way. Oh great, she was already starting trouble...
My eye twitched slightly. "Buttercup, don't make the teachers angry at you already. And you used two negative words in a sentence! You can't do that!" I chose to ignore the annoyed look Buttercup gave me for saying that. She always hated when I corrected her, especially when it came to grammar, but I can't help myself. No ears should be forced to hear such inaccuracy!
Bubbles looked at me with narrowed eyes, and her head tilted in slight confusion. "Why not? Will we get in... trouble!?" Her voice rose up as she said 'trouble', practically dripping in nervousness.
I stopped walking and nodded before looking up. "Yes Bubbles, for it is our duty as Powerpuff Girls to set an example and use the right terminology-"
"LOOK OUT!"
Before I knew it, I was knocked down onto the cold marble floor.
With a slight groan in pain, I looked at my attacker. He seemed to look like my age, but possibly a bit taller if we stand up. He was looking for something on the floor, muttering something along the lines of, "stupid little brothers." His head was down all the way as he searched frantically, messy orange hair covering the majority of his face from view.
I quickly spotted a red cap on the floor. Picking it up, I said, "Um, is this yours...?"
He looked up, showing his deep red eyes. They actually looked really nice in the current school lighting- wait a minute.
Deep red eyes?
There was only one boy I knew who could possibly have those eyes, unless some sort of mutation occurred to cause a regular human have them.
"Rowdyruff," I spat out in disgust, my guard instantly coming up.
He narrowed his eyes at me and wiggled his nose, leaning towards me to get a better look at my face. Heh, he was concentrating and trying to remember me. We haven't fought in a while, have we? Hm...
After a while of silence between us, he clapped his hands together and nodded his head in realization. "Ah, Pinky! Wow, ya changed a lot. Ain't that ugly anymore, are ya?"
I huffed out a breath in irritation, a blush creeping onto my cheeks. "I never was 'Ruff! Now what are you doing here on school property? Trying to 'destroy us' again?"
Rather rudely, he snatched the red cap that was still in my hands and placed it on his head. "Babe, it's Brick, not 'Ruff or whatever, k? Bri-kah." Brick exaggerated the word slowly, as if I didn't know or understand how to pronounce his name. I was a bit offended, but that didn't cause me to lower down my guard for a second. "And don't I get a, ya know, 'Hey, how've ya been since the last time we fought'?"
"I asked you a question; now answer it," I replied back, not really in the mood to deal with his ridiculous questions and teasing.
"Wow, cold." Brick shivered slightly as if some sort of chilled wind blew straight through him. I rolled my eyes at that. "Anyway, the bros and I are just gettin' a e-ed...u...ca...tion." He said the word education so slowly, I could've ran around the world without my powers. He had wiggled his nose as he spoke. "Ya know, like other people 'round here?"
I got up swiftly and fixed my red bow so it was straight again. "Yea, sure." Somehow, I could taste the sarcasm that escaped from my mouth. "Now cut to the chase Jojo; I don't have all day."
"I'm serious Pinky!" Brick got up as well. "No offense to me and the bros, but we're possibly the stuppidest boys here in Townville!"
Oh yes, his grammar tells it all.
"So, this school seemed to be the place to gain smartness the fastest!" he continued with a slight shrug. "That way, we can beat ya stupid Powerpuffs for good and take over the world. Nothin' too hard."
I was about to tell him that you can't go to school to gain strength or strategic thinking for battles, but then I just shrugged it off. Might as well let him live in a delusion. He wasn't causing trouble (yet), so there was no need to start a fight.
"Whatever," I sighed out. "Just don't try to attack me or any other person in here, got it?"
Brick's face seemed to light up in amusement. He must think I'm a joke! "Wow, I'm a little terrified... but, no promises babe." With an evil chuckle, he walked away, his hands in his pockets.
And as he left me there, I couldn't help but grow the same scowl Buttercup wore on her face entering the school.
A/N Surprisingly finished this rewrite in a few hours! Yay me!
Thanks for reading, and hope you're enjoying the story~
