A/N I am so sorry it's been so long since I have updated. I don't want to rush the story to an ending since I figured it out when I last posted. I am also working on my other story Haze. I really hope you all are enjoying my writing, if not for the reviews and favorites I probably go on another hiatus. As usual enjoy read AND REVIEW thank you so much for the views.

3 SmittenKitten143

Buttercup~

Blossom called me early this morning, I could tell she stayed up all night. Her voice kept cracking and she was practically whispering on the phone. It had been three weeks since the cat got out of the bag. Greg insisted I take my long overdue vacation time and take a break from alcohol and drugs. I shrugged it off at first but he was worried OSHA would come in and close the place down. Redundantly I stayed home.

"Can you pick up the professor's car?" She breathed into the receiver. I bit my lip, none of us have even been back to the house since he passed. Not even to lock the damn place. Well eventually I went and locked the place, turned off all the lights made sure nothing was missing as well as I could tell in the ten minutes it took me to check. I swallowed my fear.

"Why? We can fly there." I replied softly, rubbing the sleep from my swollen eyes. I moved from resting on my elbows to sitting Indian style in my bed. I could hear her gulp down a sob.

"I just want things to feel normal. We used to always go to the beach with professor in his car." She choked out, "With the top down, plus you're the only one who can drive stick."

Which was a bold face lie. What she was really saying was you're the only who can stomach touching his things, remembering him. I sighed.

"Yes, I'll get the car but you two better be ready by noon. I will leave without you guys." I joked, she let out a small laugh.

"Okay Buttercup we won't be late." She chirped but then the line went quiet for a while. I thought she had hung up until she finally said.

"I want everything to be okay. WE are okay. I love you and I'll see you soon."

I stared down at my phone with a dry throat as Bubbles sent all of the wave and sun emojis she could in the group chat before she sent me a text directly.

Bub: Bloss still doesn't know.

BC: Okay. I'll keep it that way.

I took a few shots to wake me up before packing my things quickly. I would have to get my surfboard out of storage before I got to the garage. Blossom even wanted to stay in hotel rooms for the weekend. Again I wasn't sure why because we could fly back and forth home in about twenty minutes, it would take hours to drive to our spot….well my spot now. I rummage through my shoebox of a closet and finally find my lime green bottoms to match my pitch black bikini top. I slip into my bathing suit easily and pull a black tank top and black shorts. I shove some underwear, my rash guard shirt and a few other essentials into my lime green book bag before slipping it onto my shoulders. I pull the black straps tightly to make sure it will endure the flight to the other side of the city. The cool morning air is welcomed as it whips my raven hair into knots. I take my time, well as much time I can take while flying. I take in a deep breath as I swoop between buildings and get as close to the asphalt as I can without crashing. Another old game that is missing a partner, I reach out and let the asphalt scrape my fingertips before arching back into the sky.

I land with ease and stare at the garage, I see one lone light on in the office. I know Mark will be here this early because he lives in the apartment above the garage that and he is a workaholic. I stare at my reflection in the big window and see that I'm paler than usual, bags hanging under my clouded jade eyes. As if I willed Mark to notice me he steps out of the office to start a pot of coffee in the waiting area, I catch his eye somehow in the soft glow of the street lamp. His eyes light up and his lean frame heads towards the door.

"Wow Buttercup! I haven't seen you in ages!" He exclaims motioning me in. It's true I haven't seen him since Professor's passing. Mark's dark hair is becoming peppered with grey and his laugh lines are standing out even in the morning light. I smile back.

"Long time no see." I offer as he hands me a cup of coffee. I greedily gulp the caffeine before throwing the cup in the small trash can. He smiles as he takes me in, like a proud Dad, like the Professor.

"Here for the car?" He finally breaks the silence. I nod and he pulls the keys out of his mechanic's uniform pocket as if he knew I was coming today. He clamps his hand on my shoulder, gives me an encouraging smile and then returns to his office work.

I find myself acting as if I am lost in this giant yard for cars. I know exactly where Professor's car is but I hesitate as I make my way around the rows of cars. Finally I am standing before the white convertible and immediately fumble for the lighter in my back pocket. I hadn't had to use this good luck charm for a long time but for the last month I've been taking it everywhere with me since I'm too chicken to share my feelings with its owner. My eyes are everywhere but the car and the rectangle in my hand until finally I sigh out and stare at the lighter. His name is etched into the top and he carved a message into the body of the lighter:

"THOE I WALK THROUGH THE VALLEY IN THE SHADOW OF DEATH I FEAR NO EVIL FOR I AM THE MEANEST MOTHER FUCKER IN THE VALLEY." Is written in all caps in his boyish hand writing. Reading it always makes me laugh and gives me strength I grip the keys and unlock the car. I slide into the driver's seat and roll down the windows and drop the top. It still smells like the Professor in here, I start the engine and swallow down the tears.

Blossom~

Nervousness and excitement rush through me as I wait outside of my apartment complex with my bag waiting for Buttercup. I glance at my watch and stare at its face, watching the second hand tick away the seconds I'll never get back. The hours I will never get back waiting for Brick to come home to me. After he told me he was leaving and with no explanation, I had called him and texted him the entire day. After that I got the hint and crushed my cellphone in my hands angry that he wouldn't just work this out with me, angry that he was shutting me out when he promised to always let me in. I swallow my feelings just as Bubbles comes rushing out the front doors.

"Oh thank God Buttercup isn't here yet!" Bubbles seemed to be glowing today, having finally stayed at her own apartment instead of Boomer's. At this point I can only assume she actually got some sleep instead of staying up all night doing God knows what. For the longest time she had some deep circles under her eyes and hair so unruly as she made her way into her apartment to change out some clothes every couple of days. I smile and hug her because it feels like I haven't properly seen her in months. She squeezes me back and pulls away as Buttercup pulls up to the curb.

"Wow I barely made it." Bubbles whispers to me as she packs the trunk full of suitcases.

I was worried that this trip was going to be awkward, whether from the incident that happened or from the fact that none of us had come to terms with the Professors death, but it was the opposite of that. Buttercup had the top down and was blasting music we used to listen to in high school. All three of us screaming the lyrics at the top of our lungs. It felt normal, it felt like how it used to be. Just the three of us against the evil of the world.

After an hour or two we finally pull up to what seems like a random parking lot.

"The brush has gotten bad." Buttercup notes as she eases out of the driver's seat. Bubbles climbs over the side of the car to get out, too impatient to let me lift the seat for her. She rushes towards the trunk to grab the beach things while Buttercup is burning away a path for us. Soon we are setting everything up and I finally feel like everything will truly be okay.

Buttercup~

Lying on the old sheet with half of my body in the shade and the other half in the sun was more than the Doctor ordered. I already felt my mind drifting to sleep as I listened to Bubbles read to me her "who done it" book. By the first three chapters I had a feeling of who it was but Bubbles told me not to say anything, that I always ruin it by knowing exactly who done it. Blossom is lounging in a chair fussing over some paper work she brought with her, either to distract her mind or she is truly a workaholic. Bubbles reads a few more chapters before I actually do drift to sleep for it to only be disturbed by loud music and yelling. I growl and think that someone has discovered my spot until I see the three come into view.

Three heads, one topped with red, one with blonde and one with raven black hair.

They stop for a moment. Their arms full of beach gear and a grill. It's like a silent stand off before Brick grows some balls and guides his brothers close to us. Butch's eyes are everywhere but me. The joy that was in them a moment ago is long gone and I feel a heavy weight in my chest.

How in the name of all the Gods did the boys show up to the same beach as us on the same fucking weekend as us? It was already awkward enough between Blossom and I after everyone found out. I can tell with the thick silence between Boomer and Bubbles that Bubbles hasn't dropped the bomb on him yet adding to the already tense air. How much further could my favorite surfing spot get tarnished? I grab my surf board quickly as I can drowning out the hushed argument Brick and Blossom are having with the roaring wind. I land half way out from my usual spot and paddle myself a mile before arriving to where the waves are normally harsh but there were none. I lay down on my board and stare into the sky thinking about how dead the ocean is today. A lot like me.

After a few moments of the ocean gently rocking me back and forth on my board I hear splashing coming towards me. At first I squeeze my eyes shut and hope it's a shark but when I look I see that it's Butch. He paddles right up next to me and lies down on his board, closing his eyes. I grit my teeth, his silent anger is worse than anything. I'd rather he scream in my face and get it all out. Instead he stays still, looking almost asleep on his board but his clenched jaw gives him away. I think about paddling back to shore.

"I'm sorry." He says after too long of a silence.

"What?" I hiss.

"I'm sorry I ripped Brick off of you. I'm sorry I was possessive of you." He sighs and looks towards the sky, "You're right, you're not….my girl anymore."

I feel my heartbreaking all over again. I was only getting with Brick to forget Butch. I knew he wasn't over me but I was angry with him for just fucking leaving even though I did tell him to go.

It was this very beach that Butch and I had to, for the first time ever, act as if we were fighting. Butch threw me miles into the ocean with a force I wasn't expecting. I was half drowned when he pulled me up and out. He held me tight and apologized over and over. I can almost still feel my hoodie clinging to me with the chill of the water, denim still sticking to my legs like a second skin. I shiver at the memory.

"We could just run away. I'll disobey Brick for you." I remember him murmuring, his chin rested on my drying hair.

"No I can't…..I can't come between you and family Butchie babe. It's not right." I played with his fingers in my hand. He sighed.

"No seriously I don't even want to go." His voice became rougher, "I don't want to leave over some stupid nightmare he had B. He's delusional and refuses help. I don't want to be without you. I can't be without you. Fuck him. Fuck Brick and hell Boomer too."

"Well you're going to have to learn to live without me."

"What?" He snarled, "Are you not listening? I'm staying with you."

"You aren't gonna stay with me. Go with your brothers Butch. He's just going to try to hunt you down. Blossom would probably do the same with me too. Professor is going through a rough time with his health right now. I can't leave and you can't just stay here. Good bye Butch."

"B. Butterbabe. No come on." He stood, "Not like this. Don't leave me like this."

I knew he was going to fight me, so I returned the favor from earlier and launched him into the ocean.

I bite my lip hard enough to draw blood from the memories rushing back to me but it doesn't stop the tears. I cry silently as Butch lies still, his hand floating in the water. I want his comfort more than anything right now but just as I am reaching for it the ocean begins to recede as if preparing for a tsunami. We both fly from our boards and shout towards the shore but not before I am slammed deep into the ocean by a giant force.