Author's Note:

shootingsstarswithmeteors: I am so sorry for not including you in my thank-you note! I tried to put your name, but it wouldn't save it. That last group of comments was directed to you. :]

I appreciate everyone else, too! Thanks so much!

-After school-

"What about Madison?"

"No."

"What about Selena?"

"No."

"What about Alyssa? She's hot."

"No, Boomer!"

An exasperated sigh escaped Boomer's lips as a large hand raked through his honey blonde hair, softly rustling it.

He was currently trying to get my mind off of…her. Not that I was thinking about her much…okay, maybe I was lying. She's been on my mind all freaking daylong. But I just couldn't figure out why. Why her? Why should she be the one that's on my mind when tons of other girls practically throw themselves at my feet with the slightest bit of hope that, just maybe, one day I'll notice them? It didn't make sense.

"Brick…I think this is something that'll get your mind off of Blossom."

"Okay, shoot," I said half-heartedly, already certain in my mind that nothing would ever return me to my Blossom-free state of mind.

"Your ex is coming back to town."

I sat up in my bed immediately, my ruby eyes wide with astonishment.

"Since when did she-?"

"They're staying in Townsville for a few years then leaving again. I think they're gonna be looking for a new high school to go to soon. "

"Why?"

"I don't know, but she says she really misses you."

"I don't miss her," I retorted, every ounce of venom and spite I had for her flooding my mind, saturating my words with hatred and frigid resentment.

I hated my ex—it was true. I hated her. The slut.

I hated her with every fiber of my being. Her shoulder-length, fiery red hair with the sweeping side bangs. Her too-tight shirts and her too-short skirts. Her hot pink eyes with the long, mascara-clad eyelashes, the black eye shadow that was smeared on too thickly and the eyeliner that was lined on too heavily.

Worthless whore.

What was she doing coming to Townsville? I thought that she moved for good.

Then, I had a sudden epiphany that made all the sense in the world but at the same time didn't quite add up:

She was after something.

-Blossom's Point of View-

"Dad! You have to fight this! You promised us that you wouldn't leave us!"

"Daddy, no! Stay alive! Keep your eyes open! Please!"

I blinked furiously to hold back my tears to no prevail. Tears steadily streamed down my flushed cheeks and cascaded down my chin, dripping softly onto my collarbone.

The Professor had an experiment go tragically wrong in his laboratory, and he's been in the hospital since late summer. At first everything was great, but it gradually began to roll downhill from that. Professor was mentor, father, and mother to my sisters and I.

Bubbles took it the hardest when the doctors found out that Professor would have to be monitored in the Townsville Hospital. The nurses had been running various tests on him, so they left us alone with him. The doctor said that if Professor didn't wake up soon from his medicine-induced coma, then they'd have to shut off the life support.

He had been having sudden spasms every now and then, and each would be worse than the first. They say this was all in his sleep, and that he was fighting a mental battle.

Professor suddenly jerked his body every which way, his arms flailing frantically in the air. His chest jerked forward as he pulled himself up. Bubbles cautiously stepped up towards him and apprehensively grabbed his wrist, her lips quivering as more tears rolled down her cheeks. Professor slowly turned his head to Bubbles, his eyes gradually opening.

"Girls…I…I…love you."

"Daddy! Daddy, keep your eyes open!" Bubbles cried desperately, her voice choking on her tears.

"You promised you wouldn't leave!" Buttercup shouted, springing from her seat.

I didn't say a word. I didn't look at him. It was horrifying to see our father like this.

The heart monitor beeped once, then twice, gradually slowing until all that was left was a constant beep, the sound of death. I looked up to see Professor flop back down on the bed, his eyes rolling back.

I couldn't take anymore.

I sprang up from my seat and dashed over to the bed, snatching up Professor's hand hastily.

"I hate him! He promised he'd never leave, and now he's probably gone! Who the fuck is supposed to…"

I glanced at Buttercup. Her angry words had been replaced with a loud sob of agony as she kicked and screamed and slammed vases onto the floor. Bubbles wasn't much better.

Bubbles sat in a corner of the room and cried loudly, nearly suffocating herself as she gasped for air. She reached up for the window and cracked it ajar, taking in huge amounts of oxygen.

"Professor! You can't leave!" I cried out, shaking his hands furiously. My breathing hitched in my throat as mournful whimpers escaped my throat.

It seemed like I was all alone in this world now.

I glanced over at Buttercup to see her with a surgery knife in her hands, pressing it to her throat as she huffed continuously for air.

"Buttercup! No! Stop it!" I admonished, leaving Professor's side to quickly take up the knife and launch it out of the window.

Buttercup screamed and shouted as she smashed vases against the wall, kicking at the broken shards. I ran back to Professor and cried out for help.

"Please! Somebody help us! I need a doctor! Please! I need a doctor!" I shouted hysterically, rushing towards the door. I banged my fists on it desperately, repeatedly crying out for help, crying out for anything to take away the pain.

Seeing that it was to no prevail, I fell to my knees and crawled over to Professor's bedside, sobbing helplessly along the way, my cries creating a mournful harmony with my sisters'.

He promised that he wouldn't leave us. Now I couldn't trust anyone. No one could replace him. He taught me what I was worth. I had no one now. How could I possibly manage to raise my sisters alone? I needed him. And now he was gone.

I collapsed on the floor, my ragged breaths heaving in my throat as I closed my eyes.

The last thing I remembered was a group of nurses and doctors filing into the emergency room.

Around an hour later, I woke up to see Professor's heart monitor back to normal. I looked up. Buttercup was sleeping soundly on the couch, Bubbles on the chair beside Professor's bed.

Everything was okay now.

-Unknown Point of View-

I couldn't wait to see Brick. From what I've heard, he's gotten cuter. And I've also heard that he has a new girlfriend. Psh. He's not over me. He isn't ready to give this up for some new girl. We've been together too long. I just can't see why he broke up with me. He says that I was mentally deranged and demented. Whatever that means.

And I just knew that Brickie-baby would come back to me. And nothing would stand in the way of that.

-Brick's Point of View; next day at school-

During this whole class period, Blossom was eerily quiet. She didn't even raise her hand in class to answer a question for her favorite teacher. And on top of that, she looked a hot mess today. Stupid girls. Stupid girls and their stupid problems. Though I didn't want to admit it, I really wanted to make her crack some sort of smile. Nowadays, I practically fed off of her existence, anyway. It wouldn't be a surprise if I pestered her about her attitude. Stalking her and staring at her were my top priorities.

I glanced up at the clock. It was about time for me to leave the cafeteria for my stalking session. By now, Butch and Boomer had pretty much known my schedule, so they understood. I rose from my seat and rushed out of the cafeteria and past the bathrooms when I heard something. A whimper? A sniffle? A gasp for air? Another sniffle? Ugh. Crying.

I listened closer to hear the gentle voice whispering soft words that I couldn't comprehend. It's definitely a girl.

Ugh. Girls crying.

I began to walk on when I suddenly realized something. Blossom doesn't come by the lockers anymore now that she knows that I stalk her the same time everyday. She changed up her schedule.

I began walking back towards the cafeteria in disappointment and frustration when I heard a door quietly creak behind me. It was barely audible and near silent, but I heard it.

I turned my head to see a girl crawling out of the janitor's closet, her auburn hair hanging over her head in a mass of wild tangles. She looked up at me, and for a moment my deep crimson eyes met her reddened, fearful pink ones. Then I knew.

I began walking towards her. She let out a shocked squeal and closed the door, trapping herself in the janitor's closet just before I got there. I hung my head and banged on the door with my fists.

"Open this door, Blossom!" I snarled.

"Brick, please! Leave me alone!"

"Open the damn door, Blossom!"

"Brick, go away!"

I was silent for a moment, and silent for a reason. After a few moments, she inquisitively opened the door; cautiously peeping her head out, letting her curiosity get the best of her. I hastily snatched her up by her wrist and led her into the janitor's closet, closing it behind me. I sat down beside her as she curled up in a fetal position, trembling slightly.

"Blossom? What's wrong with you?" I asked, my eyebrows furrowing in concern.

"Brick, I…I-"

She didn't finish her sentence. She collapsed in my lap and cried her little heart out, nearly suffocating herself in the loose fabric of my jeans. I didn't really know what to do. I've never had a crying girl sit in my lap. Should I brush her hair out of her face? Should I wipe away her tears with my thumb? Give her my jacket since she's shaking? Rub her back? Soothe her? But how exactly would I do that?

"Blossom, can you tell me what happened?" I inquired carefully, gaping down in confusion at her.

She ceased her bawling and looked up at me. I had never saw so much emotion in a single pair of eyes ever before.

Her eyes were filled with longing, pain, torture, agony, relief, and grief. Her tearstained cheeks were flushed thoroughly, her lips quivering as she stared up at me with wide, innocent eyes. I've never really looked a girl in the eye before.

"My…m-my d-dad almost died last night…he's b-been in and out of the h-hospital…" she choked out, her voice a vibrating whisper as her body trembled.

"Anything else?" I asked hesitantly.

"…this isn't the first time that…that he had a near-death experience, and…I was scared because…I thought that it was his time to go…"

What could I say to that? I didn't want to make her mad or make her throw another fit. What would cheer a girl up? Huh. Complicated creatures. I thought a moment.

"Ohhh, well, umm…I hope you feel better? I mean, you know…that was a real close call, wasn't it? Well, of course it was, but umm—"

"You h-haven't talked to a girl like this before," she said, taking in deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself down.

"I-I think I should go. I don't want you to think I'm weak or anything," she added as she stood up.

Something in me told me not to let her get away. So I listened.

"No."

I grabbed her arm gently and settled her back into my lap, laying her head on my chest. I think that's what you're supposed to do. I think I saw that in a chick flick before. Chicks love when you do that.

"Brick, why are you doing this? Why do you care?" she asked. At this point, her voice was slightly normal, but her body still shook uncontrollably. Was she cold?

"I…I, umm…don't worry about it, okay? Just…are you cold?"

"Yeah…"

I lifted her up slightly and slipped my jacket off of me, then put it back on her. I had to admit; she did look kind of cute with my oversized jacket and her messy hair.

I saw that she hesitated for a moment, so I pulled her into my chest again. Her previously tensed muscles were now slightly relaxed. It was a start.

"So…um…what do you wanna do now…?"

I sounded like an idiot. She looked at me with a 'what the hell' look on her face before she smiled a tiny little smile. I smiled, too. For no reason.

"…Because I kind of wanna cheer you up, and…"

My pride just wouldn't let me ask for suggestions.

"…Wanna play football?"

She furrowed her eyebrows at me before wiping her eyes and sniffling a final time.

"What?"

"Football…at my house."

"Wouldn't that be skipping school?"

I shrugged my shoulders and lifted her off of me as I stood up.

"Come on. It'll be fun."

And without another word, I grabbed her arm gently and pulled her up as I opened the door. I quietly led her out of the janitor's closet and towards the exit of the school.

When we finally arrived at the front yard of my house, she sat down on the doorstep.

"Blossom, I'll be right back, stay here…umm, okay?"

She nodded. I unlocked the door and dashed into my room, snatching a football from underneath the heap of clothes scattered about in messy piles. I hastily ran back to the front door and stepped outside.

"Get up," I instructed calmly.

She blinked for a moment before lifting herself from the pavement, walking towards me. I led her to the backyard.

"Blossom, we're on individual teams, obviously. So you have to go on the opposite side of the yard, I'll stay over here."

She looked up at me, completely oblivious to my orders. I frowned.

"What's wrong?" I asked, prepared for another bawling session.

"I…I don't know how to play…"

I sighed, then smiled reassuringly.

"Come here, then. I'll teach you."

She walked closer to me, her steady gaze unwavering.

"Okay, so you hold the ball like this, and you prepare to throw it like this," I told her, placing the ball in her hands. They were so little compared to mine; she could hardly grip the ball with two hands.

"Am I doing it right, Brick?" she inquired, struggling to secure the ball in her hand.

"Yeah, like that. You just need to have more control of it, and you need to grip it better. Here, let me show you."

I placed my hand over hers and adjusted her fingers around the football. She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed a deep pink shade. Why was she so embarrassed?

"Now. When you throw, you move your arm back as a form of preparation, then you launch it straight forwards so it'll kind of glide through the air. And when you catch the ball, don't let it fumble and slip out of your hands. You gotta grab it real firm and secure, then you gotta run. Fast."

"Okay, I get it now…" she mumbled.

I turned to walk away. As I did this, I heard her soft voice call out my name. I turned around.

"Brick…don't go easy on me."

I smirked.

"I wasn't counting on it."

I dashed towards my side of the field and crouched down. She easily caught on and crouched down, too.

"On your mark…get set…go!"

I took off for the ball just as she did. Just as I reached the ball, she tackled me from the side and wrestled me for the ball. I wriggled under her as she secured me to the ground. It took all of her strength to hold me down, but, like I said, I wasn't gonna hold back.

With a groan, I shoved her off of me and rolled on top of her, sitting on her legs.

"You know, you're pretty tough…for a girl," I said, smirking down arrogantly at her.

This must have pissed her off, because in mere seconds, I was on bottom again. She stuck out her tongue and leapt off of me, hastily making a run towards the ball. I started to get up, but I rested my head back down against the grass and simply marveled at her.

The dirt smeared over her soft cheeks. Her deep auburn hair, matted to her forehead with perspiration in a wild mass of tangles. Her little hands gripping the ball. Her eyebrows furrowing in frustration. I was beginning to see her in a different light, one that Butch could never comprehend.

And I just kept staring in amazement.