Chapter 10

James Del Tora aka Boomer Jojo stood in front of the one person he hadn't seen in 20 years, he was like a dear in the head lights. For a moment neither blond moved, Boomer out of shock, Bubbles out of fear. Suddenly after a while Boomer walks a little closer to her and she resists the urge to step back. Her thumb slips along the side of the cap on the syringe removing it but only halfway. Boomers intense blue eyes look over at her, then without warning he bursts out in laughter. He chuckles in a fit of laughter while bubbles stands there confused and stunned, she was not sure whether this was a good thing or a bad thing. Boomer composes himself long enough to speak.

Boomer: Bubbles you scared the mess out of me, geez….

Bubbles frowns: what's so funny?

Boomer: I should have known it was you, I mean who else would have bunny 24 as a screen name. Only you would do something that adorable.

Bubbles gets offended: Bunny 24's not such a bad screen name.

Boomer: well no … for a kindergartener perhaps.

Bubbles pierced her lips, her pet peeve ever since she was little has always been being laughed at or taunted and treated like a baby. She began to think that maybe sticking him with the syringe wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Bubbles: alright enough already, why aren't you attacking me?

Boomer: bubbles why would I attack you?

Bubbles gets angry: what? I…..I'm not worth attacking is that it?

Boomer eyes her strangely: well….uh that's not what I was trying to say….

Bubbles interrupts him: I'm too weak and too much of a baby for you to even bother, is that it?

Boomer eyes the syringe worried: ok obviously someone here is not thinking clearly, how about you calm down a bit and…..

Bubbles interrupts again: not thinking clearly? Oh so I'm dumb now is that it? Just another dumb blond huh? Well let me tell you something mister big shot novelist. You sir are a real… a real…..SHIT HEAD!

Bubbles throws down the syringe on the floor, it smash's into a million tiny pieces. She then floats up glaring at him with tears in her eyes and shoots off, Zooming away from him. Boomer stands there shocked, not only at the fact that she cursed but also at the fact that she got so angry. He really didn't want to fight her, but it wasn't because she was stupid or weak, it was because he no longer felt the need to confront her. She was no longer his enemy, but he's going to have to catch her to tell her that. He runs back to his car so he can follow her blue streak before it fades away, he couldn't let things end this way, he had to get her.

[Deeper into Townsville forest]

Bubbles sits in her usual spot in the middle of Townsville forest. She use to come here all the time as a kid and the animals here were always so kind to her, gathering around her while she talked about her problems or cried. This time as usual she sat there upset, and as she holds herself something furry floats right into her arms. At first she jumps wondering what just came at her, but she then looks at it closer. It's a gray, slightly chubby squirrel with reddish brown eyes. The elderly squirrel settles itself in her arms and looks up at her expecting her to hold it. She looks down at it and blinks before remembering who it was.

Bubbles: Bullet?

Park ranger: hey, young lady.

A middle aged man runs up to them both. He then slows his pace and walks up to them through the trees. The badge on his outfit said ranger Jack in silver plated letters.

Bubbles: it's ok, we know each other, she a childhood friend of mine.

The ranger frowns a bit and is about to say something when he suddenly sees her and beams a smiles her way.

Ranger Jack: hey aren't you bubbles from the Powerpuff girls?

Bubbles gives him a faint smile: yes, I am.

Ranger Jack: wow… I never got the chance to thank you for saving my wife when you were little, remember? She was the one screaming in that burning building and you zoomed in and pulled her out, then you…

Bubbles zoned out a bit while the ranger kept talking. This was one of the things she found annoying about returning to Townsville, the fans. They were excitable and always expected the girls to remember them by name specifically when they use to save their lives. They couldn't understand that it was impossible to remember each and every person they have ever saved in the time span of 20 years. Bubbles eyes were focused on Bullet watching the squirrel gaze off at something behind the ranger. Bubbles looks in the direction bullet is looking and frowns. Boomer walks up to the ranger while he is talking and grins at bubbles from behind him.

Boomer: excuse me, not to cut you off but may I have a word with her?

Ranger Jack frowns: and just who may I ask are you?

He turns to look at Boomer and is instantly floored.

Ranger Jack: you're James Del Tora….. OH MY GOD, BUBBLES, HE'S JAMES DEL TORA.

Bubbles: trust me I'm well aware of just who HE is.

Ranger Jack gushes: oh wow me and my wife love your novels Mr Del Tora.

Boomer smiles: really? I didn't think I had fans in Townsville, well thank you very much.

Ranger Jack: no sir thank you. You sir are a national treasure. Oh…wow… this is quite an exciting night indeed. I got to meet an award winning novelist and the superhero that saved my wife all on the same night.

Bubbles forces a smile: guess this is your lucky night.

Ranger Jack: boy I tell ya, I remember the time the powerpuff girls fought the rowdyruff boys.

Boomer tilts his head: gosh really? Who are they?

Bubbles glares at boomer: you know who they are?

Boomer grins back at her: nope, totally drawing a blank here.

Ranger Jack: well be glad that you don't know them. They use to be 3 of the meanest little boys you could ever meet.

Boomer: really? you don't say.

Bubbles frowns and looks at boomer play dumb with the ranger. She wasn't in the mood for his playful sarcasm.

Ranger Jack: man the first time they were in Townsville, they fought against the girls, they threw everything at the powerpuffs. Airplanes, ships and school buses, remember bubbles? huh? Remember?

Bubbles gets irritated: yes I remember.

Boomer laughs: they sound like real hell raisers

Ranger Jack: oh you don't know the half of it.

Boomer looks directly at Bubbles and gives her a soft smile. She looks up back at him and blushes completely blind sided by that expression. She then finds herself smiling back.

Boomer: did you ever wonder what happened to those rotten boys, bubbles? Ever think about them from time to time?

Bubbles hugs bullet to her: I guess whenever I am alone with my thoughts and memories. But I never forgot about the dorky blond one

Boomer chuckles: is that right?

Bubbles nods: yep, he always had a tendency to do stupid things that hurt those around him. Guess it was always in his nature.

Boomers smile fades a little, he may have changed a lot throughout the years but he was still a rowdyruff boy deep inside. He looks at her thoughtfully for a moment before speaking.

Boomer: well I'm sure he's had a lot of time to mature and if he were here, I'm sure he would apologize for being so stupid and careless.

Bubbles smiles back at him brightly, remembering why she fell for him in the first place. He truly was a wonderful person. But leave it to the park ranger to interrupt their moment.

Ranger jack: nope I don't think he would. He's probably out there somewhere terrorizing a third world country along with his rotten brothers, once a hoodlum always a hoodlum.

Both bubbles and boomer chuckle amongst each other at his comment. If only he knew how wrong he was, that bit of news would blow his mind.

Boomer: guess you're right Ranger Jack, well if you don't mind I would like to speak with bubbles in private.

Ranger Jack: oh… one more thing before I go, would you mind autographing my hat.

Boomer takes out a marker: certainly

Boomer signs his hat and ranger jack beams a smile his way.

Ranger Jack: wait till my wife sees this, thank you Mr del tora.

The ranger runs off into the woods excitedly leaving Bubbles and Boomer alone. Bubbles pets bullet for a moment then lets her go. Bullet zooms off to go nap in a nearby tree. Bubbles then looks up at Boomer smiling.

Bubbles: if only he knew huh?

Boomer: wanna hear something ironic?

Bubbles: what?

Boomer: I beat him up and stole his wallet when I was five.

Bubbles: really? Why?

Boomer: butch and brick wanted money for candy and I wanted to play video games in the nearby arcade.

Bubbles chuckles: of course you did.

Boomer: Bubbles?

Bubbles: yeah

Boomer sits on the ground next to her and looks into her eyes.

Boomer: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you feel like I was patronizing you. Trust me when I say that you have no reason to be threatened by me. I have no reason to fight you simply because I don't want to.

Bubbles smiles: well I guess I'm sorry too, I'm way too sensitive. I'm also sorry for misjudging you, if you wanted to harm me you probably would have done it by now. I guess I thought you might still hate me for what happened to mojo. I thought you might want revenge.

Boomer: that was 20 years ago, if I didn't let go of it now then I'd be doomed to relive the memory of it for the rest of my life. Besides too much has happened in my life for me to concentrate on one incident. I understand it was an accident.

Bubbles: how could you tell?

Boomer: your reactions to it, all three of you looked just as stunned and traumatized as we boys did. I knew you girls wouldn't kill anyone intentionally.

Bubbles hugs him: thanks, this really means a lot to me.

Boomer hugs back: it really is good to see you again bubbles

Bubbles lets go of him and holds his hands, she then starts to float up till she lifts him up off the ground, but before she could go higher boomer fidgets getting her attention.

Boomer: uh….bubbles.

Bubbles: yes boomer

Boomer: could you put me down please?

Bubbles frowns sadly and lowers him down onto his feet, she becomes confused when she sees that he lands heavily on the ground, she was expecting him to hover a little before landing.

Bubbles: sorry I guess you're not in the mood for a midnight flight over Townsville

Boomer: oh no that's not it, I would love to fly off with you, it's just well… I….um

Bubbles: OH MY GOSH, I totally forgot.

Boomer: what?

Bubbles: I have an article to hand in tomorrow, I should really go.

Boomer: Bubbles wait before you go, I have to…

Bubbles: oh sorry I almost forgot.

Bubbles lands softly on her feet and immediately wraps her arms around his neck, she then kisses him passionately on the lips. Boomer is startled at first but gives into the kiss. They remain that way for what seems like forever before bubbles separates from him and floats back up into the air. Boomer has a goofy grin on his face completely forgetting where he is.

Bubbles: I'm having dinner at my dad's house on Valentines day, will you come have dinner with us?

Boomer: hmmm….. yeah love to…dinner….me….you at a house…. Sure

Bubbles: really you'll come?

Boomer: oh yeah sure

Boomer then snaps out of it as he fully pays attention to her invite.

Boomer: wait, you're what? Oh uh no I thinks that's going to be a little too awkward for me to be with you and you dad on Valentines day.

Bubbles kisses him again softly on the lips causing him to lose himself again, she then looks into his eyes pleadingly.

Bubbles: awe please.

Boomer: hmmmm…. Absolutely…. Wouldn't miss it for the world…. What should I wear?

Bubbles giggles: what you're wearing now is fine. Dinners at 8, so don't be late, hope you like meat loaf.

Boomer: love it.

Bubbles: see you then.

She smiles at him one more time before zooming away, leaving boomer to wonder just what in the world did he agree to. He sighs and walks away thinking about the Valentines day dinner.

Authors note: finally I'm done with the blues and reds, next chapter will be about the greens.