I woke up Friday morning, expecting that I would need to go and drag Brick out of bed, as usual. But, apparently, Brick had other plans.

As I walked out of my cabin, staring down at my cell phone, I ran smack into Brick's chest. With an oomph, I fell back, landing flat on my butt. Shit, he was strong. Rubbing my head, I felt like I'd just run into a, well, a brick wall. Jeeze, no wonder his name was Brick.

I anticipated that he would laugh or just smirk at me with the infuriating arrogant look of his. Instead, I got an extended hand, offering to help me up.

"Sorry, I didn't see you walking out," he said, actually looking apologetic.

I paused a moment, to see if he was joking or completely blind. But Brick merely waited, handed stretched out to me. Feeling odd, and completely stunned, I took his hand and pulled myself up. "No, it was my fault," I insisted.

When I steadied myself, I presumed he would back away. This was not the case. If anything, it felt as if the small space between us had grown even smaller, that he'd inched closer. Still holding my hand, he asked, "You okay?"

Physically, I was fine. Mentally, I was going crazy. Maybe blind too. This had been the same Brick I was babysitting, right? Because Rowdyruff Brick would never help anyone, let alone me, up after a fall. In fact, he'd do quite the opposite. Brick would be the one kicking me when I was down. Frowning at him, trying to figure out what the hell had happened, I said, "Um, I'm not quite sure. Are you, uh, feeling all right?"

His eyes clouded over and confusion entered his features as he cocked his head to the side. "Sure, I guess. Why wouldn't I be?"

I glanced down at our adjoined hands before meeting his eyes again. It'd taken him a moment to process my hint, but eventually, he understood. "Oh," he said and he dropped my hand. "Sorry. I was just, um, caught by surprise."

Brick took a few steps back, leaving a huge gap between us. To my great disbelief, it bothered me to see the space grow.

"Oh. Right. So what- what are you doing up?" I stuttered. "I was just about to go and drag you out of bed."

Brick's well-known smirk had returned, all confusion gone, having been replaced by amusement. "I know, I'm totally sexy in my pajamas. It's not a surprise you'd like seeing them again." All embarrassment now gone from my face, his smirk grew from the glare that was now being thrown his way. "I was just trying to be nice and make your day a little easier. If you want me to go back, change into my pj's and lay down, you know, so you can 'wake me up', I'll be more than happy to."

Gritting my teeth, I furiously rolled my eyes. "Well, good to see your sarcastic pain in the ass attitude is back. I was worried you were getting sick on me or something."

"Nice to see you care so much about me."

There was something in his tone. Cynicism and narcissism without a doubt, but something else as well. Seriousness, perhaps? Unlikely. Brick couldn't be serious if his life depended on it. Which he'd proven more than a few times over the years.

Deciding to ignore it, I started heading towards the main campgrounds. "Right, well, we should go. We're taking the kids to the zoo today. Whoever's bright idea that was is obviously an idiot."

Brick's pace had slowed, his expression going somber. He raised his hand hesitantly, saying, "Actually, that was me. So you're half right. I personally don't think I'm an idiot, but I can understand why you'd think that."

I'd stopped dead in my tracks, looking back at him. I couldn't hold back the laughter. But I managed to only giggle. "I'm sorry, did you say you did it? How? This schedule was made before you were even given the deal for community service."

Brick shifted awkwardly, looking unsure of how to speak. He shoved his hands into his pocked, rocking back and forth slightly on his heels. "Well, Maddie was saying to me at break Monday how she'd never gone to the zoo. So, I spoke to the other counselors and they agreed we should make it fit into the schedule. They all were looking for an excuse to get cell phone service. Most don't get shit out here."

My slight giggle had morphed into an all-out laugh fest. I was practically doubled over from the pain in my sides laughing so much had caused. Brick scowled at me, not pleased that I was laughing at his attempts of being nice. "I'm sorry, it's just . . . you've gone soft on me. What happened to Badass Brick? The I-don't-give-a-shit-about-anyone Rowdyruff. Now you're all let's-sing-Kumbaya nice guy? Shit, I should have had you put on community service with kids years ago."

Brick's scowl had turned into a full on glare. Within two strides, he stood closely in front of me, looming over me. "Let's get something straight, Pinky. I can do whatever the fuck I want. So what if I felt like being nice once?That's my fucking prerogative. I'm still just as badass as I was before. Don't even go there. I'm still the Rowdyruff leader."

I couldn't help snickering, despite how he loomed a foot over my head at least. His tone may have been aggressive, husky, and full of hated, but his eyes were playful and teasing. "I'm sorry," I said between giggles. "But I can't take you seriously after hearing that."

He grabbed me by the throat, my hands automatically going to his in reflex, despite him not choking me. He pushed me into the trunk of a nearby tree, his face mere inches from mine. "You really should not have said that. I could kill you so easily. I have you in the perfect spot too. No one would ever know."

My laughing had stopped, but I wasn't scared. I felt his body pressed against mine, and the heat that radiated off his skin from his anger was like a personal heater. The emotions once present in his features still remained, but something else had been added, something I couldn't identify.

The playfulness in his eyes grew brighter with each second we remained like that. He watched me, looking to see if I'd quiver in fear of him. But I didn't. Brick's ragged breath blew in my face, smelling of mint and strawberries. And it drove me crazy. Shit, come on, Blossom. He just threatened to kill you and you're turned on by how sweet and amazing his breath smells? Get a hold of yourself, girl!

Something changed in Brick's features. The hate and anger vanished from his face, playfulness having taken over. His glare had turned into a smirk. And he started laughing. I smiled and started laughing as his grew. He rested his head on my shoulder, amused by this whole incident.

His large hand left my neck and went beside my head, using the trunk of the tree to support himself in his laughing frenzy. When Brick managed to get control of himself, he pulled back a bit, looking into my eyes, a smile taking the place of the smirk.

The playfulness vanished from his eyes, leaving behind an unidentifiable emotion. He watched me, seeing something just as confusing to him in mine, based on the look on his face. I hadn't realized we were still pressed against each other, faces less than a few inches apart. Not until the giggling of children caught our attention.

"Told you they liked each other," someone had whispered.

Our heads both whipped to my right, looking over at our group of kids. All were standing there, backpacks in hand and amusement on their faces. "See, they are dating. Look at them!" Danielle shouted from the front of the group.

Maddie, now holding Danielle's hand, smiled up at us, looking just as surprised and amused as the rest of them.

My eyes darted back to Brick's, as did his to mine. Glancing down at the way our bodies were, we both had realized what we must have looked like, especially the way they meshed together like they had. Taking a huge step back, Brick's face grew bright red, as I'm sure mine did as well. "Oh no," he said. "We're not . . . we're not together. We were just . . ."

Looking over to me for assistance, I stuttered unsure. I hadn't understood what had just happened any more than he did. "We were just um . . . um . . . we were just . . . talking. That's all."

They all just stared at us, giving us a "yeah right" look. Maddie was the first to chime in. "Brick is cute wif Bwossum!" Had she not just said that, I would have found it absolutely adorable that Maddie was still too young to pronounce my name correctly.

An embarrassed laugh escaped my lips as did one from Brick's. "Oh, well, um-"

"Yeah, don't play dumb with us," Rachel interrupted me. "We're kids, not aliens. We know when teenagers are dating."

"But-" I started, but was cut off again.

"It's cool," Danielle interrupted, shrugging. "Don't need to get defensive. We won't tell anyone. Villains and heroines can't be together, we understand that. It's cool."

Her logic did make sense. We were being defensive. But we hadn't been doing anything . . . right?

Brick smiled and squatted down in front of Danielle and Maddie. "We swear nothing is going on. But if there were, you guys would be the first to know." He tickled Maddie before scooping her up in his arms and patting Danielle's head. "So, who's ready for the zoo?"

My embarrassment had been erased by the amazement for Brick and his ability to bring an end to, well, messy situations like that. I watched as Maddie wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a peck on the cheek. "For you, since Bwossum won't do it."

Brick broke out laughing and glanced over his shoulder at me. "Well thank you, at least someone loves me enough to give me a little kiss. Maybe Blossom will another time."

Having just realized what he said, both he and I froze a moment, extremely surprised. Maddie, thankfully, quickly put an end to that with another question. "You tell me if you two date right? Pwomise?"

Brick kissed Maddie's forehead and nodded. "Of course."

The two of us were silent the entire walk to the bus. He'd gone so far as to actually call and have a bus brought over for the entire camp to go.

"Who paid for all this? The camp doesn't have money to rent a bus and buy seventy five people zoo tickets."

Brick smiled at me as he helped Maddie with her seat belt. "Anonymous donation," he said simply. I watched from my seat as Brick took attendance and counted everyone before yelling to the bus driver to get this "tin can" moving. After the cheers of excitement had settled, he met my eyes. "Mind if I sit with you? You know, since you're across from Maddie."

I couldn't help smiling at him, thinking about how much he'd changed in six weeks. "Yeah, I guess that's fine."

Brick smile returned and he settled himself beside me on the bus bench. I couldn't stop staring at the way he grinned at Maddie, only adding to her excitement. Or the way he seemed so tranquil and comfortable. It was endearing. Brick met my eyes and I couldn't help but notice the way the light literally brought a sparkle to his own. And for the first time, I was attracted to him. He looked handsome . . . okay, outright gorgeous. So much so, it hurt to actually look at him.

"You okay?" he asked.

Blinking rapidly, I nodded. "Hmm? Yeah. Great, actually."

Seeming unsure if I was lying or not, he must have settled on thinking I'd been honest, because his smile grew into a grin, showing off perfect teeth. My heartbeat grew rapid at the sight. I couldn't look at him anymore. Turning my gaze to outside the window, anything outside the bus window, I forced myself not to look at him the entire bus ride.

God, I couldn't be . . . I just couldn't be. My God, please, if there was any sanity left in the world, I'd wake up from this dream. Because if this was reality, than I was the world worst joke. I, a Powerpuff Girl, was in serious like with my evil counterpart. God . . . could I be any more of an idiot?


Brick's POV:

My head was killing me. What the hell had happened back there? Why had I let myself end up in that situation with Blossom? I'd gone from my hands gripping her neck and my threatening to kill her to suddenly laughing and being tangled together with her like we about to go at it. What the hell was wrong with me? Why, goddammit? Why was I in this fucking situation?

Maddie grinned at me the entire ride to the zoo which was a near hour and a half bus ride. Her eyes darted between me and Blossom, obviously suspecting I'd been lying about us not being together. To my dismay though, Blossom refused to look at me once on the ride over. Was she disturbed about our little incident before? Was she upset it happened? Nervous about it? God, it was times such as these I wish we were on better terms, ones in which I could ask her how she was feeling and know she'd tell me the truth.

To be honest, it nearly killed me that I couldn't see her eyes. They captivated me. I craved for the feeling I got inside when she would smile at me; it was like a sickness now. I longed for it more and more each time. It was worse than a drug addiction.

Once we were off the bus, Maddie reached up, begging for me to carry her. I lifted her up and she burrowed into the crease of my neck. She felt so small, so fragile, that most of the time I feared I'd hurt her. I know it sounds odd coming from me, someone whose whole life consisted of an unending desire to want to bring cruel and unusual pain to Blossom and her sisters. But since this camp trip started, it bothered me thinking of hurting these kids . . . or Blossom for that matter.

I watched Blossom the entire walk to the building, admiring either the way she strode self-assuredly or how her long auburn hair looked so stunning as it rested over her shoulders, creating a veil around her face. And the way she joked with the kids. Oh, and her laugh. It was mesmerizing to me. It was like a siren's song, calling to me.

All of which made me want to ram my head against a wall. She was gaining so much control over me and she had no idea of it. Oblivious to my growing feelings for her, I couldn't help but wonder what it would happen if I'd told her. What would she say if I'd voiced how I felt for her? Would she get creeped out? Angry? Would she laugh at me as she had today at my merely being nice?

Did she feel the same? No, she couldn't. Could she? All she'd ever known of us was hate, my undying hate and need to kill her. Or cause her pain in the cruelest way possible. But then again, that's all I'd known as well . . . and look where I ended up. Could she feel the same for me? Even a little? Sometimes, I felt so, the look in her eyes made me believe so. Like today . . . something . . . something in those peculiar pink eyes of hers had changed, some unknown emotion had arisen. But in that intense moment we'd had back at camp . . . something came alive in her. Was it feelings for me? Could she like me back?

I felt a light tug on my collar, pulling me out of my thoughts. Maddie glanced up at me, her big blue eyes curious. "Brick? Why don't you date Bwossom? You like her wight?"

Damn, this kid really was observant. I smiled at her, amused by her innocence. "Sure, she's my friend." It felt more than a little abnormal saying that aloud, let alone that I liked her.

"But why don't you kiss her?" she pressed.

God, as adorable as Maddie was, she really did know how to ask hard questions. My rubbed my temple, my head aching from having to explain this. Blossom stood at the door of the main entrance with the rest of the group, distributing tickets. And I couldn't help wonder about Maddie's question. Relaxing on a concrete bench about fifteen yards away, I set Maddie in my lap, looking down at her. "It's hard to explain. I'm . . . I'm the bad guy. Blossom's the good one. The hero. No one would like us being together anyway."

She sucked on her thumb, contemplating that a moment. Having determined what to say in response, she grinned up at me. "I would. You no need other people to care. Just me."

I laughed. Damn, this kid was gonna be a great politician or something one day. She sure knew how to make herself seem important. "Very true. But, we couldn't be together. It's just too hard. Blossom needs a good boy. A real good boy. I'm just a wannabe good boy trying to make up for his big mistakes."

For the first time since meeting her, Maddie glared at me, nothing but authority in her features. She stood on my lap, having excellent balance, and gripped my face in her small hands. Even standing up, she barely reached my eye level. "I say you good boy, Brick. Bwossom say so too. Don't you want to be wif her?"

I had been watching Blossom, thinking through Maddie's words. Maddie was really giving me something to think about. My head was practically on fire and it felt like it would implode if she asked another question. This was too much to consider at once. I'd only recently come to the revelation that I had any sort of feelings for Blossom besides hate, let alone liking her. And I did like her. But did I want to be with her? Could I be with her?

Maddie settled herself back into my lap, and sat there, waiting. "Well?" she pressed.

I looked back to her, smiling. "I'll let you know when I decide."

Having to consider that a moment, she finally nodded, having found that fair. "Good," she said, putting an end to that difficult topic.

I looked back over to Blossom and my heart did flips. She'd been looking at me, for the first time since we left the campsite. There was a small smile playing at the edge of her lips. Had she heard what Maddie and I had been talking about?

Having super hearing was a big pain in the ass. After having to deal with it for over thirteen years, I'd taught myself to block out unnecessary crap, well, things out of the normal hearing range at least. But even I had a slip up here and there.

"Very true. But, we couldn't be together. It's just too hard. Blossom needs a good boy. A real good boy. I'm just a wannabe good boy trying to make up for his big mistakes."

Brick? What on earth was he talking about? Only two things had stood out to me in that sentence. "We couldn't be together" and "I'm just a wannabe good boy trying to make up for his big mistakes". Is that all Brick thought of himself as? A bad guy trying to make up for his past? And more so, did he truly believe we couldn't be together? What the fuck, Blossom? Of course you can't be together! He's been trying to kill you for thirteen years! He's the worst villain Townsville ever had. Of course you'll never be together!

I forced myself to put the thought aside. My curiosity got the best of me. I had to hear the rest of this conversation. "I say you good boy, Brick. Bwossom say so too. Don't you want to be wif her?"

Maddie was the mastermind behind this conversation? I suppose I'm not surprised. She had this boy wrapped around her little finger. She would probably be the only one to be able to get him to answer this stuff at all, ever.

I stood there, waiting anxiously to hear his response. There was a long hesitation. Did he not want to? Of course he didn't. He threatened to kill you not even two hours ago. But then . . . why hesitate? Why not simply say that. Did this mean he liked me back? Did he want to be with me?

Thankfully, the silence was broken. "I'll let you know when I decide," he murmured.

He wasn't sure? That meant he had to feel something for me. Right? My heart leapt, eager to know his perspective on this entirely unusual situation. I couldn't help smile, but I fought as hard as I could not to show it, failing spectacularly. I dared myself to sneak a peek at him. He was smiling at Maddie, and, as if he'd read my mind, turned and met my eyes. He flashed me a brilliant smile, setting my heart into overdrive. It took all I had to look away, rather than continue gazing into those eyes of his.

I sighed deeply, putting on the authority figure façade on once more. "Okay, everyone. Let's get inside. Stick with your counselors and have fun."

As if instantaneously, Brick was at my side, whispering in my ear, "I'm here for you when you're ready." His sweet, seductive tone, however intentional or unintentional, sent a chill up my spine. I couldn't help but wonder if the double meaning in his words was deliberate or merely in my head.

I turned and looked up at him, a cocky, yet seductive, smirk on his face. Maddie was in his arms, smiling gleefully at me. I grinned at both. "Glad to hear it . . . ready?"

He nodded and followed behind me as we walked with the kids inside. I must have truly been losing my mind, but I thought, for a split second, he'd put his hand on my lower back.

My mind had been going over what Brick had said, or rather, that hesitation he had when asked if he wanted to be with me. I couldn't get over my need to know the answer. Did he want to be? Did he not want to? What did that mean? My heart was skipping a beat at the thought of it.

What was I thinking? So what if he wanted to be with me or I him for that matter. He was right about that first comment I'd heard. He was the bad guy and I . . . I was the good guy, the hero. We'd never be able to be together. No matter how much the idea pleased me.

Is that what it did? It pleased me to think about being with him? Was I so in like with him that I was willing to risk my sisters and the Professor to be with him? No, no way in hell would I risk my family to be with a villain. As much as the idea made me happy, my family meant more to me than any guy. Especially Brick of the Rowdyruffs.