Her Best Mistake

Alone and staring into space, Buttercup sat slouched on a mahogany chair that faced the puddles of blood stains forgotten on the floor with her hands on the chair's arm rests. She didn't bother to hurry as Bubbles and the others patiently waited for the money she promised to bring. She had bigger, more humongous, problems to worry about. She wanted so badly to tell Brick of everything that's happened and ask him of what he knew.

What the hell have I gotten myself into?! Blossom was sent to the hospital because of me! Because of that night I.. cheated on Mitch. But it's sorta weird though how since that night I've felt differently. GOOD differently. It kinda made me rethink stuff about Mitch. And Butch. I guess you can say that that night was the best mistake I've ever made. Except of course for the fact that a creep is now stalking me and have practically killed my sister and her boyfriend. I mean, thousands of people have cheated on others before! Some of them were even married! MARRIED! So why do I have to be the one who gets blackmailed by the bloodthirsty freakazoid?! The injustice in this world!

Buttercup sighed and stood from the chair. She made her way to her bed and grabbed her backpack. She took out a twenty-dollar bill and a few cents then buried them into her pockets, along with the crumpled up note left by T.C. Smith. She then flew out the window towards Townsville Hospital.

Meanwhile..

"What the hell's taking Buttercup so damn long?" Butch worriedly said, twiddling his fingers and constantly looking down at his wrist watch every five seconds.

"Dude, BC's a big girl. I know you like her and all but-"

"Boomer! I'm just waiting for her to bring the money. I'm really hungry, alright?" Butch lied. He was worried about Buttercup because of the blackmail he heard Blossom say. Maybe he didn't know everything about it but considering Buttercup's endless contemplativeness lately, he figured she knew something about what happened to Brick and Blossom cause the Buttercup he knew would've been cussing on and on about who did this to the reds and how she'd kick their asses so badly. So if the guy who blackmailed either Buttercup or Blossom had something to do with Brick and Blossom's condition then Buttercup better be careful.

Butch turned smart, huh?

"Whatever you say." Boomer nodded, a sly smile gracing his lips. Then, with a loud heave, Boomer stood up from the chair at Brick's bedside.

"Better go see if Bubbles is okay." He bid.

"And could you see if Blossom's awake?" Brick cried before Boomer could take a step towards the door.

"Yeah, no problem." Boomer went to the door and stepped out the room, gently closing the door behind him. The loud click of the closing door echoed through the room as an awkward silence descended on the ruffs left in the room.

"Hey, Brick?" Butch finally spoke up as the red ruff turned to him.

"Do you think BC really is okay?" He asked expectantly. Brick bit his lower lip. Butch took this as a bad sign.

"Bro.." Brick hesitated. He wanted to tell him so badly! He wanted to talk to him about everything instead of having it all bottled up inside. But it was Buttercup's secret and he had no right to tell Butch without her permission. No matter how much he wanted to. He let out a sigh.

"Of course, dude! Why wouldn't she be?" Brick faked a smile, trying his best to convince his brother.

"Um.. Okay, then." Butch finished. Suddenly, a knock filled the room as Buttercup stepped in. You couldn't believe the utter relief Butch felt at that moment. By instinct, he stood up with a smile tugging at his lips. Buttercup cocked a brow and smiled back.

"Miss me?" She asked. He chuckled at the egotistic question.

"No!" He cried sarcastically at her. The pair burst out in laughter as Brick looked awkwardly at them. If he could jump out of that bed, he'd be out the door by now.

"So, what took you so long, anyway? You getting slow or something?" Butch taunted.

"Oh, please. I'm a cheetah.." She started, imitating a few cheetah moves with claw scratches her and there. "..compared to you."

"Yeah, right. More like.." Butch ran as if in slow motion. "..a snail." He mimicked with equal enthusiasm as she chuckled. Brick fake coughed, making them shift their attention to him.

"Could I talk to Buttercup privately? It'll be just a sec." The greens stared back at each other.

"Sure. I'll just be outside, I guess." Butch announced, rubbing the back of his head as he made his way out the room. Butch closed the door behind him. After the click, signaling the stable close of the door, Butch quickly positioned his ear on the door to hear their conversation. It wasn't like eavesdropping or anything! More like.. well, eavesdropping was the best way to describe it.

"So, what's up?" Buttercup asked Brick, sitting on the chair Boomer recently sat on.

"I'm guessing you already know how we ended up like this, huh?" He faintly smiled.

"Kinda. The nurse showed me these yesterday." Buttercup handed him the photos taken before their surgery.

"Is this.. my arm?" Buttercup nodded. "A-and Blossom's?" Brick knitted his eyebrows as he carefully scanned the disturbing images before him.

"H-he did this to us?" Brick just couldn't look up from those pictures. Of all the villains he's faced, none ever came close to doing anything like that to them, especially to him and Blossom. The guy even had the opportunity to kill them. You couldn't believe how lucky Brick felt to be alive.

"Yeah. And he left another message too." Buttercup fished out the note from the front pockets of her torn out, baggy black pants and handed it to Brick.

"Great. More surprises." He said sarcastically as he took the note from her. He reluctantly unfolded each layer of folded paper.

My sweet Buttercup,

My apologies for what happened to your sister and her boyfriend. I just want to make it clear that if my blackmail isn't enough to make you do what I want you to, then I wouldn't hesitate to take extra precautions to show you how deathly serious I am. Please don't make this more difficult than it already is. Now, unfortunately, this will be my very last message. But not to worry because this solely signifies that the moment of my exaltation is drawing near. You remember Butch, right? Of course you do. You see, I want to hurt him. And I mean, make it sting where he'd feel agonizing pain. So let's get right straight to the point, shall we?

I want-no, need you to kill Butch Jojo. Because, my dear, if you really loved Mitch, you'd do this small favor I ask of.

In the words of President Andrew Jackson, "You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.".

Lovingly yours,

T.C. Smith

"The hell.." Brick trailed off. Buttercup could tell that he wanted to strangle the guy as much as she did. Now Brick thought of this guy as the demon himself. Brick personally knew how much his brother loved -yes, loved- Buttercup and this guy wanted her to kill him. Absolutely ruthless.

"I swear to God, when I get my hands on this guy, I will choke him to freaking death." Brick mumbled, trying to keep his calm. He refolded the piece of paper and handed it back to Buttercup who placed it securely back in her pocket.

"I'm with you on that one. He even added in President Jackson's name, the jackass." Buttercup replied. Meanwhile, Butch still stood motionless against the door. So far, he's gathered little information which would probably be a big help. He also decided on not telling anybody of his discovery unless someone who knew about it would want to tell him then he'd have to pretend that he just knew about it.

All Butch heard from Brick and Buttercup's conversation was that there was a photo showing Brick and Blossom's arm which was probably the cause of the reds' bandaged arms. Butch also knew there was a note which made both Brick and Buttercup very angry and that President Jackson's name was on it (Like that information would be of much help). But none of what they said still specified on who was being blackmailed. But he figured he'd find out soon enough. Right now, he'd have to settle on what he was given.

"Well, better go get Bubbles something to eat. Don't want her to get too bony. Although she'd probably want to be as skinny as a stick." Buttercup joked, as she stood up.

"Later. And get well soon." She smiled as Brick waved her off.

"And see if Blossom is okay for me, would ya?" Buttercup nodded at Brick's request and walked towards the door. Unconventionally, Butch only heard muffled voices as Buttercup and Brick were already bidding each other goodbye. The only warning he got that Buttercup was leaving the room were the growing sound of Buttercup's footsteps getting nearer. He fumbled to stand up but-too late. Buttercup had already pushed the door open, pushing Butch along with it. Buttercup's eyes widened as she saw Butch on the floor. A sole question zoomed right into her mind- Did he hear everything?

"Were you spying on us!?" She cried accusingly. He had no idea how to respond to that.

"N-no!" He stammered.

"Then why the hell were you behind the door?!" She pointed at the back of the door, growing very angry. She didn't want him to know that some stupid creep was threatening her to kill him! How the hell would anybody react to that?!

"I-I was.. I-I wanted to sit on the floor." He practically whispered, ashamed. By that time, the blue couple and other visitors popped out of their rooms to see what all the noise was about.

"God! I can't believe you! That was a private conversation!"

"So private that you can't tell ME, your BEST FRIEND?!" Butch was now, also shouting.

"Well, what if it is?!" That left Butch speechless. The only comeback he could think of was 'Then maybe we shouldn't be best friends anymore!'. And he certainly didn't want that.

"I-I'm sorry." Butch said, his head hung low.

"What did you hear?" She asked, ignoring his apology.

"Nothing important." He replied. He repLIED.

"I want the truth. What. Did. You. Hear." She said, her tone dripping of anger. Butch hung his head even lower.

"Everything." He uttered in a whisper loud enough for her to hear. She slightly winced at his answer. Then quickly regained her composure.

"I don't think we should be best friends anymore." She forced herself to say. "Or friends, for that matter."He quickly looked up at her with hurt-filled eyes. He wore the same expression in her dream.

"For spying on one conversation?!" He cried. She shook her head. She needed to get away from him if she wanted to keep him away from harm's way. Smith already wanted him dead. She had to keep a clear head if she wanted him back safe and alive.

"No. For letting me make the best mistake of my life."


A/N: It's 2:07 in the morning and I'm updating. Just goes to show how totally addicted you are to PPG fanfics. That's me! ;) REVIEW, btw!

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