CHAPTER 4: INTERNET SENSATION

ME: I'm back! And thanks to everyone who reviewed; you all rock socks!

BUBBLES: Cookie?

ME: Go ahead and take one! Along with the milk! In fact, me too…!

BUTCH: *through chewing on cookies* Usual disclaimer-*swallows*-applies.

ME: You're being lazy too…

BUTCH: Whatever! Just start the chapter already.

Chapter 4: Internet Sensation

BRIING!

School was over!

Bubbles got up and packed her bag, sighing in relief. Not much had happened after the whole Butch intimidated Michelle incident. Sure, there were Michelle's constant glares and the school's whispering, but Bubbles was used to it. No matter how much she hated it, she was used to it.

Bubbles was about to walk out the door, when someone called her name.

"Bubbles…"

Bubbles turned around, her heart all of a sudden thumping as she saw Boomer's wide, ocean-blue eyes. "Yeah?" she whispered.

Boomer took a step toward her. "I was wondering…if you wanted to walk home with me. My bros have…'things' they need to attend to. So…how 'bout it then…?"

Bubbles bit her lip. I want to, I want to, I want to so bad…

Boomer tilted his head in concern. "Bubbles…? So…?"

"...No thanks," Bubbles said hastily…a bit too hastily and also a bit too loud.

Boomer looked taken aback. "Oh…okay then…If you don't want to…" his voice trailed off.

Bubbles started to chew on her lip. "Well, I just kinda want to walk around slowly and breathe a bit of fresh air…alone," she mumbled, stumbling over her words.

"Oh…'kay then."

I'm sorry, Bubbles thought before flying off.

She heard Michelle purr, "I'd love to walk with you, Boomer!"

Bubbles squeezed her eyes shut and flew on, not wanting to hear his response.

When she was outside and sure she was alone, she slowed down enough to take a deep breath. She hadn't realized it, but she hadn't really breathed as she flew off.

Just then, her phone went off. She pulled it out and asked, "Hello?"

"Hey Bubbles! It's me!"

Bubbles' face brightened. "Oh hey; you're my mysterious caller!" Then she blushed at her sudden outburst. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"It's okay," he chuckled. "I thought it was cute."

Bubbles blushed even more. "Really?" she mumbled. "Thanks…"

"No problem!"

She heard whooshing noises around him, and she asked, "Where are you?"

"Isn't that a bit stalker-ish?" he teased.

She flushed. "No…I mean, not really…"

"Relax!" he stated. "I'm just teasing you. Anyways, I guess you can say…I'm riding home?"

Bubbles furrowed her brow. It sounded more like a question than a statement, but she let it pass.

"Well, have you looked around on the Internet yet?" he asked.

She shook her head before remembering he couldn't see her. "No…why…?"

"Oh…You'll see," he responded. "Well, I have to go; bye!"

"Bye," she replied. He hung up then.

Bubbles felt curious. What had he been talking about?

She flew home as quickly as she could, and when she burst into the house, the Professor looked up in surprise.

"Bubbles…?"

"Oh, um…hi," she mumbled. "I'm going into my room…"

As she flew off, she heard the Professor sigh something under his breath, and even though she didn't hear the whole thing, she managed to make out "Kids these days".

When Bubbles had flown into her room, she dumped her bag on the bed before turning on her laptop. What had her mystery caller mentioned?

After it was done loading, Bubbles went on her Facebook. She saw a lot people that went to her school had shared videos…of the same thing.

Curious, Bubbles clicked on one of the links. It took her to YouTube, and the video made her stomach turn somersaults and she felt like she was going to throw up.

It was the incident with Butch and Michelle, and as Bubbles scrolled down the comments, she felt faint and her head spun. How did this happen? Then she remembered the crowd's cheering, the cameras and phones…

"Oh no," she whispered.

The video had many supporters and haters too.

Bubbles felt sick. Michelle was going to decide this was all Bubbles' fault and want to get revenge on her…like usual. But Bubbles already had enough hate on her hands; she didn't think she could take any more.

Why oh why does it have to be me? Why does it have to happen to anybody? She squeezed her eyes shut; trying not to cry as she swallowed the bile in her throat.

"'You'll pay for this, Bubbles Utonium,'" was one of the comments. "'You've just embarrassed me not only in front of the entire school of Pokey Oaks High, but also in front of a million of viewers. You're so going to pay.'"

Bubbles swallowed again. She knew that was Michelle. Who else would say such a thing? Bubbles knew Michelle was exaggerating-after all, how was it a million views? And yet Bubbles knew she meant her threat.

Michelle had come from Townsville High, Pokey Oaks' rival school but also friend school. Many of the comments were from people from Townsville High, saying things like, "'OMG Michelle, is that you?'"

Others were things like "LMFAO this is so funny!'"

Some comments hated on Bubbles and some on Michelle, but the most hatful one was Michelle's comment…and it was aimed at Bubbles.

Bubbles bit her lip, the tears finally flowing. She sat up and rushed to her bathroom, where she began to throw up the contents of the food she'd eaten earlier. When she was done, she stared at her reflection.

A pale, thin girl stared back at her, with dull blue eyes and bags underneath. Her blond hair was messy and stringy, and it looked faded. She touched her cheek, feeling the wetness of her tears. Her face was still blotchy, and her eyes still puffy. Her clothes were wrinkled and messy, and she looked so frail…She was like a glass figure; if you weren't careful, she'd shatter to a million pieces.

"I look gross," she whispered shakily, just like many of the other times she thought of her looks.

Sighing she turned on her water for a shower and undressed. Then she climbed in, washing. The water should've felt refreshing, but at that moment, it felt like icy drops were crashing onto her all over her body.

When she climbed out, she shakily reached for a towel and wrapped it around herself. She looked in the mirror again. She looked…fresher, but she still looked like a frail, pale girl with bags under her dull, puffy eyes.

Bubbles wondered where the old Bubbles had gone; the one that smiled and was unstoppable when she was determined. It was like the flame inside of her had simply died out, and she just couldn't seem to relight it.

The old Bubbles had gone, and for the new Bubbles, it was too foggy to find her. Sometimes she might briefly get in contact with the old, peppy her, but her good moods never stayed for long. They were often shattered by Michelle, who made sure Bubbles was miserable.

Bubbles sighed, throwing on some clothes before bouncing back on her bed. She was dead tired. She might as well prepare for another day of hell at school, and even though she smelled the warm aroma of dinner, she didn't feel like getting up to help.

Instead, she curled up with her octopus stuffy, Octi, and soon drifted into a stormy sleep, dreams and nightmares clouding and storming in on her sleep.

ME: Once again Michelle got what she deserved, but with the price of Bubbles having to pay! What will happen next, hmm? Stay tuned!

BLOSSOM: That's just…horrible.

ME: *sighs* I know; but please review. Rant about how much you hate Michelle, how unlucky Bubbles is, and how sweet Boomer is. Or just state what you think of the story…Go ahead; it's not that hard to review. Please…?