Chapter 1
The Calm Before the Storm

Bubbles, Buttercup, and Blossom walked onto the set of their show per routine, already anxious for getting the taping over with. The three of them along with the Jojo siblings made up the main cast of the show, a pretty typical high school drama. None of them played as siblings but as tentative friends, they each had their stereotypical cliques to adhere to after all. Blossom wondered often if that was really what high school was like. She and her sisters had been acting for as long as any of them could remember, they'd been homeschooled since the first grade.

If high school really was like the show then she supposed she wouldn't be in a much different place than her character. The brainy responsible one. That was the trope Blossom had been assigned. Bubbles had taken on the role of blonde bombshell, also not unlike herself, and Buttercup was the tomboy rebel, which held some truth. Buttercup did have incredible athletic capability and did happen to be less concerned with decorum than her sisters. The boys tropes were similar to the girls' as well. Brick was for all intents and purposes Blossom's male counterpart. He played the popular scholar, upsetting Blossom with his ability to keep up with her academically despite his stereotype as the popular boy. Boomer was a golden boy. And Butch was the asshole bad boy.

As far as the public was concerned, Butch and Buttercup were the goto stars of the cast during interviews. Buttercups refusal to undergo media training made her a big rebel. In interviews if they ever needed an attention grabbing headline they had to look no further than Buttercup and her filterless responses.

Bubbles was in a happy relationship—boring. Blossom was in a happy relationship—boring times 2. Buttercup was an unattached wild child—there's their story. Whether she was clubbing with friends or dating this guy or another or had something to say about a peer, the paps always got a good story from her. Buttercup's only real standard when it came to the press was that she refused to answer anything about her sisters. Family was off limits and if her two sisters wouldn't answer something about themselves, then it wasn't her place to comment. It was a rule that frustrated many but was respected nonetheless, no one bothered to ask her lest she shut down.

They settled into their dressing room just fine. Each taking a position that suited them. Bubbles took the loveseat big enough for when Boomer Jojo, her costar who doubled as her boyfriend would come through the bathroom that linked their rooms to hang out with her before they were called on set. Buttercup fell into position by the tv for when Butch came in and challenged her to a match of whatever video game they'd yet to finish. Blossom took a plush chair with just enough room for one, lest Brick try to push her buttons today.

While Bubbles and Boomer were blissfully in like, making all who witnessed their budding romance gag eternally, Blossom's situation was far less personally pleasing. She couldn't stand Brick and Brick couldn't stand her. They hadn't gotten along since the second meeting they'd all had after getting the call that they'd been offered the parts.

She didn't remember the specifics of her dislike for him and would only ever credit it to his winning personality. He was pigheaded, obnoxious, rude, selfish, lewd, just plain awful. Brick never really gave specifics to his apparent dislike for Blossom other than her uptight nature and general annoyingness gave him headaches. She gave him headaches and he returned the favor.

Blossom read her itinerary for the day, or rather all of theirs. No one else bothered to keep track of what they were meant to do but she didn't mind. They all were here for taping for the next 12 hours or so, give or take depending on how many mulligans there were today. Then Blossom and Brick had a scheduled appearance at some studio on the other side of town for a print interview, maybe film a clip or two. Bubbles had a meeting with her stylists directly after the taping, Buttercup had said she wanted to go to the gym, Boomer was doing something with his guitar…a coffee house appearance maybe, and Butch was going to the gym with Buttercup and then to a rave with his friend Ace.

Brick chose to let himself in then, just when Blossom had settled down with a smile in the hopes their offscreen interactions would be limited to the interview. He gave Bubbles a quick hug and nodded in Buttercup's general direction. Buttercup nodded back and left through the door he'd left open. She loved Brick like a brother and normally found his feud with her sister amusing but it was far too early in the morning for her to deal with their bickering. Bubbles apparently felt the same because she followed her raven haired sister through the conjoining door. Blossom watched him make himself comfortable and silently cursed her sisters for leaving her alone with a pig,

"Happy Anniversary, shnookums! K.C. wants us to go over talking points for the interview later." Blossom rolled her eyes. Stupid K.C. This Blick, one of their less heinous couple names, thing was all her idea.

"Fine, give them to me. We still have time to rehearse before we head to set." she twisted in her chair to grab a pen from her bag but Brick was playing with his phone rather than cooperating with her. "You don't have the talking points on you, do you?"

"Nope." he smirked, popping the 'p' extra loud with extra smugness. He didn't seem inclined to tell her either. He only buckled under her harsh glare. "Don't sweat it, Red. They're going to ask about our relationship and then whether we're seeking other projects, if we'd ever work together again, do we feel competitive, that kind of stuff. If they ask about our anniversary I got you a necklace."

"Gold or Silver?" He looked up from his phone.

"Does it matter?"

"I have to know which to wear, stupid." Brick rolled his eyes and reached into his messenger bag. She watched him shuffle around his scripts for a few seconds before withdrawing a small blue bag from it and promptly throwing it at her face.

"There."

"You actually got me a necklace?" she shrieked before taking a peek at the bag in her lap. "Brick this is Tiffany's! What the hell is wrong with you? I have plenty of stuff to wear, you ass!"

They never got each other gifts for anniversaries or Valentine's day or even their birthdays! They did get each other Christmas presents but their relationship generally experienced a ceasefire during the holidays, it was the only time they bothered to get along.

"Firstly, nothing's wrong with me. I'm amazing. Secondly, normal, non-certifiable people would say thank you. But whatever."

"Brick. What the hell is wrong with you!" She wanted to just throw it in his face like he'd thrown it in hers but her curiosity got the best of her. It was a gorgeous silver cylindrical pendant with 4 diamonds running down it. "It's too much."

"Asking me twice won't change my answer, Red. I already told you I'm amazing." he thwacked his arm. He pushed her hand away when she tried to give it back. "Chill, it was only like 400 or something like that."

"Have you had a lobotomy recently? We're not dating." he rolled his amber eyes and snatched the gift away. He moved to stand behind her and before she even thought to object he'd gently brushed her hair to the side, his fingertips briefly ghosting the nape of her neck.

"You're welcome, stupid." He smirked when he'd latched the necklace.

"Thanks, asshole."

"Anything to make you a little less ugly." He returned his attention to his phone.

Blossom felt weird in the pit of her stomach. It always made her uneasy when Brick let his not so bad parts shine through. This was beyond thoughtful of him. Her face burned as she tried to bury the memories that were quickly trying to make their way to the very front of her brain. They'd started their fake relationship three years into the show, when they turned 17, first as a brief ploy to gain more viewers, where the popular opinion that their characters were 'shipped' together.

It was great promo and their ratings soared. Except K.C. the Greedy felt what they had gained they would lose should they break up. That's how another three years later, they'd ended up like this. She loathed to agree with the general opinion that Brick was a good actor.

But what she'd never admit, loathe to or otherwise, was that he was so good she'd let herself fall for it once or twice. Brick wasn't always completely awful and it had given her hope for them to get along or forge a friendship, those hopes had ended up dashed by him reminding her that while he wasn't always a dick, majority rules. And the majority of the time he was a dick.

Over in the other dressing room, while Bubbles and Boomer cuddled and spoke in hushed tones, Buttercup had already beaten Butch twice, but neither had heard much more than Blossom calling Brick an asshole carry over from the next room. It was rare that they could enjoy some peace and quiet. They normally had to wait for really big special occasions for their bickering to cease. And if it wasn't those two then Buttercup and Butch would fill the hateful silence with their obnoxious frenemy-ship.

"What's your bet? Double murder or making out?" Buttercup smirked at him.

"Oh double murder for sure. The day I see our siblings all over each other is the day I owe you 50 bucks, mama."

They got up to go check to see who was right but were called to start filming.

Finally around 4 they were blooper free and ready to get back to real life. They all split up, save for Blossom and Brick, who had to wait for their security to give them a clear path to the double tinted town car. When they got the okay Blossom slid her mirrored shades over her face and Brick took her left hand in his, using his free hand to hover over the small of her back as he guided them to the car.

The roar of the paparazzi was familiar and as unwelcome as ever. If not for their shades they'd be blinded by the bulbs. Ridiculous questions were thrown at them left and right. Was he cheating? Was she? Did her dad support them? Did his mom? Did they have any matching tattoos? Was the show putting a strain on their relationship? Did they have a threesome with Hailey Baldwin? Insane.

Blossom, who'd all but held her breath the whole time, let out a deep sigh when they were within the relative safety of the town car. She slipped her shades to the top of her head and stared at Brick. Did she want to do this? Yes. Should she? No. But he'd gotten her such a nice gift. And it was so pretty and would match most anything she chose to wear. And upon closer inspection she'd seen that he'd had her initials engraved within a small heart on the bottom of the pendant.

"Brick, happy anniversary." She met his quizzical stare with a first class ticket to New York and 2 Knicks tickets. The Jojo's had been born and raised there and although they'd all moved out here when the boys decided to pursue acting full time, they took any and every chance they could to go back. Brick stared at her incredulously.

"How the hell?!" He scanned the tickets."These seats are incredible. This is too much!"

"So's a $400 necklace." she deadpanned before letting a smile stretch across her face. He looked happy but also like he was about to cry. "Daddy has a friend with some pretty great connections. It was easy."

"Blossom Amelia Utonium. Please understand what I'm about to do will not be a common occurrence and what I'm about to say will be the first and last time." She nodded only for him to pin her in a tight hug. "I love you!"

"Gross. Stop that, gift giving is meant to be reciprocated."

"I got you a necklace so you got me tickets to a basketball game? Unequal."

"No, I acquired tickets to the game. All I really got you was a plane ticket. You're welcome. Now if they ask about our anniversary you got me a necklace and I got you basketball tickets."

They pulled up to the studio then, to both their surprise. They'd either flown through traffic at a record breaking speed or time had flown while actually enjoyed each others company for once. They were led into a small guest room inside and left alone for a few minutes to 'freshen up'. Blossom reapplied her lipstick and made sure to tidy up the small smudges from her mascara. Brick was texting his thumbs down to nubs, only stopping to tell her that Butch said to break a leg. Ten minutes later they were led to a mock living room set. The interviewer, Diana, sat on the cream armchair, leaving Blossom and Brick to settle into the matching couch that could've easily fit five. Brick slung his arm around Blossom's shoulder, she placed her hand on his knee.

"Welcome guys! So this will be quick and casual I promise. We may film a quick promo clip at the end." with their megawatt smiles plastered on the both of them nodded.

"Alright, so I hear it's your anniversary? Happy anniversary you guys!"

"Thanks. Thank you. We are three years to the date."

"Anything special planned? What'd you guys get each other!"

"I've got a surprise planned for us, but she got me Knicks tickets so…best girlfriend ever, basically."

"You've got yourself a keeper! Watch out, Bloss, he sounds smitten." Blossom rolled her eyes playfully.

"Yes, while he refuses to tell me what we're doing tonight he did get me this lovely necklace." Blossom fingered her new pendant gently to put it on display.

"Gorgeous! Be honest, who helped you pick it out."

"All me, I'm afraid. I saw it and thought of her." Diana clutched her chest in mock pain. He was too good to be true.

"Okay, moving on lest I feel more bitter and alone just looking at you two. Have either of you been looking at any projects for the future or…?"

"Well, I haven't been actively searching but anything that comes my way gets filtered through my manager. So if she plops a potential on my lap anytime soon I'm fairly open to doing it."

"And I'm actually looking to limit my acting. A man can only take so much on his plate."

"True, indeed. Do you feel competitive when it comes to your careers?" they glanced at one another before lightly shaking their heads but Brick answered for them.

"I wouldn't say so, not really. Bloss is a great actress, so she always makes me want to do better and be a better person but I wouldn't say its competitive so much as supportive."

"Yeah…we just choose to support each others creative choices. At the end of the day he's great at what he does and we've both put a lot of time honing this craft that we love."

"Do you think that if and when this journey's over you'd ever work together again?"

"We'd be open to it, I think." Blossom nodded.

"We're both really professional and take pride in our work so should we end up a package deal for a project I don't think it would be a problem for cast and crew or come between us."

"You two sure are a strong couple. And by that same thread everyone wants to know: when on earth are you guys going to get more serious?" Blossom's brows furrowed and she opened her mouth to answer but Brick rescued her from inevitable fish face.

"Well, we've been dating just 3 years and we're still kids ourselves. So seriousness isn't our prerogative. We just like to take it day by day and enjoy each other as much as we can. Besides I'd say we're plenty serious."

"Fair enough. Other celebrities have met, dated, married, and reproduced in the time you've been dating. You two have yet to even move in together! Is it even on the table as of now?"

"I…we're just doing things differently is all." Blossom answered carefully, folding her hands to steady herself. "For now I love living with my family and he loves living with his. I'd like to venture into moving out on my own before I just jump into moving in with my boyfriend."

Diana looked to Brick for hopefully a different answer or something to indicate he disagreed with Blossom but he just shrugged.

"I agree. My family's really close. I'd want to ease out of it by moving in with my brothers then by myself and then possibly my girlfriend. We're about as serious as it gets for now."

The interview carried on that way for five or ten more minutes. They gave cheeky hints about the shows upcoming season and answered fan questions the rest of the time. (Couple color? Red. Song? Don't, Bryson Tiller. Food? Dessert.) By the end Blossom was about as flustered as she was tired. She'd never get used to how personal these things got. Did people really think about her life so much? And did they really expect her and Brick to move in together or something? They were only 20! People don't move in together at 20, she was sure of it. She wasn't allowed to legally sip champagne at a movie premiere why should she be expected to have a live in boyfriend?

The car dropped Blossom off first, for which she was grateful. She kissed her dad goodnight before burrowing up in her room. She didn't get right to bed because Bubbles came in babbling about her stylist wanting to cut her hair but it was fine after she shut her down and they found the most amazing shoes that Blossom just had to see, and didn't she want a stylist too? Sadly, she fell asleep on her sister. But Bubbles didn't mind, she shut Blossom's lights off as she let herself out.