Disclaimer: Why isn't TMM mine?! *cries*

Hey guys thanks for sticking around this long! I'm gonna say it now this CH might feel a teeny bit repetitive but SO much is due to happen which is built up here. The next CH shouldn't take as long as this because I was doing exams and my official GCSE's are in 40 days so yeah, and I'm to worlds worst procrastinator. And can I just say now in the previous CH I forgot to add in each mew mew using their new powers against the predisite they were battling which was the whole point of the scene (stupid me). It's like when your parent gives you money to go to the store and get bread and gives you change to get a few treats, and you come back with a bag of treats and no bread. (Happens to me all the time) so when I realised I forgot to reveal Renee and Kiki's new skill (don't worry, Zoey's is soon to come) I felt like an idiot. I added it in but my computer died and when it came on the whole scene did not save EVEN THOUGH I SAVED IT but the next time I edit CH28 I will include it and I will let you all know so you can re-read the scene. Other than that leave a review when you reach the bottom of this page and enjoy CH29 ;-D


Previously

"That's it Zoey I can't take this anymore." Mark said creating dramatic suspense. "Which one of us is it going to be... Me or Elliot?" Zoey expected Elliot to lash at out Mark again but when she turned to him he looked just as eager to hear her answer, like he had been wondering the same question himself. The world suddenly disappeared around her and she felt stage fright from the boys glares. The echoes from her heart escaping her chest were loud and throbbing.

There stood the two loves of her life, Mark and Elliot. Who was it going to be...?


Chapter 29: Betrayal?

Zoey stood there, her body froze and her eyes flickered between Mark and Elliot, like she didn't know which one the stare at for longer. If she spoke the only thing she'd be able to say was "umm..." so she kept it silent for the time being which unfortunately, only built up the suspense.

'Should I just run away? But you're not a coward! You can face this. Maybe not Mark but Elliot at least deserves to hear my answer, which I don't have yet. But I've had more than enough time to decide... and I've decided...'

'I've decided to go with the plan.' Zoey let out a long deep breath.

"You know what? And I can't believe I'm doing this but..." She left a pause. "I choose neither of you."

"WHAT?!" They all screeched, even Wesley.

"I choose Neither of you." She shrugged. "I mean come on, I'm 16! I probably don't know a thing about love! Sorry..."

'Doesn't know a thing about love? How can she say that? After all we've been through, seriously?' Elliot thought.

"I..." Zoey sighed again. "I need to focus on school, and my job, and my FAMILY... like normal a teenage girl. I'm sorry but I can't do any of this anymore. Running around in circles, pain after pain. Playing this sick game. It's all too much to cope and it's going way too far, I mean look at yourselves. You're both covered in bruises. I'm going to college soon, college, I'm not a little girl anymore. This is a big step in my life so I really can't get distracted.. I'm..." Sobs escaped her eyes. "I'm so sorry!" And she ran away. Mark stepped forward to go after her but Wesley put his hand in front of him and shook his head no. But Elliot dashed after her. Eventually he caught up but she was walking in tears, not yet realising Elliot was behind.

'I can't believe I just did that! How stupid!" Zoey thought. 'I love Elliot I should have chose him so that Mark would HOPEFULLY leave me alone forever! But... this love triangle is ruining my life! Did I make the right choice to reject both of them?'

"Zoey." He said. She paused and bit her finger, scared to face Elliot. She felt like the antagonist. After a while of wiping her tears she turned around. They stared at each other in the eyes which they hadn't done in a while. "Do you really mean that? You want me to stay away from you?" She hid her mouth in the sleeve of her shirt and looked away. Elliot's face slowly fell and he backed away. "Fine. I see how it is..."

"No I-!" Before she could finish Elliot groaned and fell onto one knee holding his rib. She snapped alert and yelled "Elliot!" Before running over to him. "Elliot are you okay?!"

"I'm fine." But telling by his hissing of pain, squinted shut eyes and deep breaths, he wasn't. She rolled up the side of his shirt a little and saw a long open wound. "Elliot your back..."

"I'll be fine." She gently touched the edges of the wound but his body flinched.

"You obviously won't you're bleeding! Shouldn't you get to a hospital?"

"Oh so your a doctor n- Ow! We can't go, they'll want to scan me somewhere and when they do they'll find Alto. I'll just bandage myself at home-"

"I'll come with you."

"But you said-"

"I didn't mean it." She confessed, this was her plan on the spot. "I meant what I said about college and stuff but I only said I chose neither of you so Mark would give up. If I chose you over him he'd just want to steal me back but if I rejected BOTH of you he'd have no reason for revenge since you'd both be at an equal disadvantage, then maybe he'd leave me alone. At least for now. I've known him long enough to realise that... Now come on let's go."

At the cafe

"Where's the first aid kit?" Zoey asked. He pointed to the kitchen but grunted, "I can do it myself- argh!"

"No no, I'll do it just err... sit somewhere." She set him on a chair before he took his shirt off and she collected the first aid kit that was hung up in the kitchen. She took out the biggest band-aid she could find and angled it confusingly squinting one eye because it didn't fit. "Er..."

Elliot rolled his eyes. "You can't put a band-aid on it, spray some aesthetic on it or something." She put the band-aid back and instead took out a white can and shook it. "Uhh ok... What's this stuff?"

"-AHHHHHHHHH!" Zoey sprayed the can all over the wound and Elliot let out a scream of pain trying as hard to not arch his back from the burning and sizzling drilling into his body.

"Sorry!" Getting a hang of it a little she dabbed around the womb. She remembered the fight like it was on replay. She couldn't help but smile a teeny bit at how sexy Elliot looks with a bloody nose, but he still got hurt and for that her smile fell. She stopped dabbing so Elliot turned to her wondering why. "I'm so sorry about this Elly, I dragged you into this mess and now you got hurt. This is all my fault. I don't even know if I'm really causing all this chaos for myself or if I've just got bad luck. And you got caught up in the mess. I never meant for any of this to happen." Her eyes watered on the last line but she wiped them. She looked back at it realising she had never seen him shed a tear. "You can cry too you know..."

"First of all, I don't cry. And secondly, I was fighting for you. And I won that fight."

"Why are boys so competitive?" She scoffed.

"Trust me, I can take it it's no big deal." After a while of looking at his wound she laughed.

"I don't know what I'd do without you Elly. Or should I say Alto? Now that I can say it loudly because it's no longer a secret. Thanks for standing up for me." Elliot showed a subtle smirk in return. He leaned forward until his lips hovered an inch above hers but she retreated. "I said I didn't know what I'd do without you... I didn't say we were back together. I need to concentrate on school, remember? What about spending more time with my family? If anything, I need to focus on my job as leader of the mew mews. This just isn't going to work..." She got up to leave but Wesley entered.

"I got rid of Mark for now. Elliot are you alright?" Wesley asked. A blush rose on Zoey's cheeks. "Zoey? Are you feeling any bett-" She quickly bowed and ran out of the cafe. Wesley watched confused then sighed at Elliot. "Looks like I've got some stitching to do."

The next day

It was about 8 in the morning. Wesley was was going out to hunt for blue aqua alone so he opened the door where Chrys stood, her fist was raised just about to knock before a smile formed on her face.

"Oh, hey Wes I was just coming over."

"Chrysy? Listen we need to talk.." He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly and she frowned. "I was going to break this to you later but since you're here- I've been doing some thinking and we can't keep seeing each other."

"What? Why not? I thought you liked me."

"I do! But it's for the same reason as before. Our research? We can't be together when we're this busy."

"I'm not going to be busy for the rest of the season remember? The habitats of the butterflies have been experiencing random cold climate changes lately and I can't catch them because their cocooning you're struggling that much with your work I can help you."

"Chrysy-"

"What are you hiding Wesley? Why don't you want to be with me? We've been separated for so long because of our studies and yet you never told me exactly WHAT it is you're researching. Do you really want to be stuck in the kitchen baking empty cakes for my birthday for the rest of your life because that's what will happen if you don't give me answers. Whatever it is I can keep a secret."

"Chrysy I... can't tell you. Sorry." He walked past and down the aisle in front of the cafe, but stopped when he got to the edge of the road. He turned to Chrys while she watched him from the entrance steps about to cry. He let out a sigh knowing he was too much of a gentleman to leave her like that. "Come on I have a lot of explaining to do." She didn't take a minute to run to Wesley after he said this.

"Where are we going?"

"For lunch. Chrysy... Have you ever heard of... the mew mews?"

Some time later Zoey was at home waiting for Renee to pick up on the other end of the phone.

"Come on... Pick up Renee... Your the only one I can talk to about this right now... Yes! Thanks for picking up- listen I need to talk to you!"

"Can't this wait? I'm getting ready for a photo shoot right now."

"Please Renee I'm begging you."

"*sigh* You have five minutes." So Zoey explained the day as quick as she could, mainly the fight.

"I really need your advice Renee, I feel like I'm running in circles and I just know I'm never getting back with Mark... But I don't know if I'll really stay with Elliot. What if the college is far away? What if he falls in love with another girl while I'm away? What if-"

"What if he forgets about you?" Renee asked, not in a rude way but a way to raise awareness.

"What do you mean forget about me...H-He wouldn't forget me."

"Okay think about it, Mark raped you. There's no going back there. Elliot on the other hand, he loved you more than he thought he could ever love anyone. And he hasn't felt love since what happened with his parents. Now think- What's the most important thing to Elliot? His main occupation? The event that made his life what it is today." Zoey took a long hard think but the only answer she could think of was herself. "The mew project. It's the number 1 thing he cares about. He'd sacrifice those closest to him to ensure the Earth wasn't conquered by the cyniclons. And after? We may never even see or speak to the guys again.I'll probably be on tour every second, Corina will be concentrated on ballet and the rest of us will be living on where ever life takes us. The cafe will be useless once that happens so you shouldn't expect for Elliot to hang on waiting for your answer forever. You have to remember he has a life to meaning we'll probably be no use to him either once the cyniclons are main question is, will Elliot still love you after the mew project is over..?" Zoey couldn't think of a better question in fact, that question had just become the subtitle of the story to her. She had a good point.

"Renee we need to get you into position for the shoot." Said Gretchen in the background.

"Give me a sec. I've got to go, but if you really want this whole mess cleared up give what I said some thought." Renee hung up and Zoey slouched down thinking about the question. 'Great job Renee, instead of clearing the mess you just scrambled it around!' Then Megan called.

"Hey Meg-"

"No time Zoey! Get your butt to my house it's an emergency!" And she hung up. As lost as she was Zoey made her way to Megan's immediately with Mimi who must have got the call as well. Neither of them knew what this was about so they didn't get dressed up to come over, their hair was kind of sloppy and they wore comfy yet loose clothes. Weirdly, Megan stood in front of her lawn alone beside a big white sheet smiling widely at the two girls.

"Okay, we're here. What do you want?" Zoey asked.

"Uck," Megan jumped. "You two look like crap."

"Well I WAS taking a nap at home until you gave me this emergency call." Said Mimi.

"No no! It's good that you look like crap!" Megan said excitedly holding out her hands and jumping on her toes. Zoey and Mimi looked at each other with an eyebrow raised. "It means we have an excuse to go to the mall... IN MY NEW CAR!" Megan pulled the white sheet and under it was a fresh 2013 cream-pink Volkswagen beetle with eyelashes on the headlights. Zoey and Mimi's jaw slacked. "OMG YOUR PARENTS ACTUALLY GOT YOU A CAR?! NO FAIR!" Mimi screamed.

"Yep! Since I'm up to date with my allowance AND we're going off to college they say I'm mature enough to drive myself! ...Plus their getting sick of my constant trips to the mall. Now don't just stand there, let's get pampered!" Zoey smiled and they all hopped in the car.

Later Zoey was in the salon with Megan and Mimi, she was sure a calm relaxing day out with the girls would put her in a better mood. They already got their hair steamed so they wore towels around their heads and we're now getting pedicures. Mimi sat in the first seat and Megan sat in the middle.

"Man, I can't remember the last time I got one of these done." Mimi sighed.

"You said it," Megan agreed "It's nice to have a girls day, you know, chilling and talking. But maybe we should have invited Bella, she would have loved this."

"True." Mimi nodded, until she snapped her fingers. "Oh yeah! Did I show you guys the pic of my new baby sister?!" Mimi whipped out her phone excitedly rolling through her photo gallery.

"Your mom had a baby?!" Zoey asked.

"Yeah didn't I tell you? Her names Millie." Mimi held the screen to Zoey and the baby looked just like Mimi. White skin, a lock of dark brown hair and brown eyes.

"Aww Mimi she's so cute, congratulations." Zoey replied.

"Yeah yeah she's adorable. Okay can we talk about US now? We're going to college!"

"Oh yeah!" Mimi pointed, "I can't believe the time is finally coming, after our finals that is. And then after graduation we have prom! I just really really really want to win prom queen so be sure

"And I'm going to have to do extra yoga is I want to look good when I ask out my date to prom. Brock Tucker... the hot jock." Megan sighed in love.

"Wow, you got over Brady fast." Zoey laughed.

"So Zoey," Megan began, "What's your resolution for college/prom?"

'Let's see, that a stupid predisite doesn't interfere and ruin everything?' Zoey creased her eyebrows together in thought in search for an answer.

"Uhh... I think for my friends to be there to support me. I think that's most important." 'That is if Elliot even loves me by then and hasn't forgotten about because the mew project is over. Why do I keep thinking about that?!' Megan and Mimi nodded along. Suddenly Megan did a loud shocked intake of breath and her eyes darted outside the window screen of the salon. She was slapping Mimi on the shoulder and when Mimi looked the same direction she copied. "What?" Zoey asked.

"C-C-C-C-C-Cute guy!" Zoey looked in the direction and saw it. A sorta-hot tanned guy with dark curly hair and a baggy green t-shirt was in the mall hallway talking to two friends. He was nowhere near as hot as Elliot though. Megan and Mimi completely froze into ice for a good twenty seconds before jumping up and shouting:

"DIBS! I SAW HIM FIRST!" Zoey smacked her head. 'Really?' Then her attention pointed to the small TV in the top corner of the room, which was on emergency news.

"This just in, sightings of strange weather spans have been spreading throughout Japan and are coming to Tokyo. Sources say abnormal figures have been appearing around areas of Tokyo, this photo was taken yesterday at a local train station by a civilian at 23:54. Reports have-"

Zoey stopped listening to the reporter man as she leaned forward in her chair and her jawed slacked. The photo showed a shadow printed on the walls of an empty, messy train station. 'Strange weather? But it's almost spring.. and that shadow doesn't look like any human or animal I've heard of.. could it be a predisite?'

"Okay Zoey," Megan stomped accusingly, "Don't you think I'd look way cuter with that guy than Mimi would?!"

"Umm, earth to Meg-bo! Remember Brock Tucker, the boy you was just talking 2 minutes ago! Or what about Brady? Or maybe you want to make out with the lamppost too!" Megan gasped at Mimi's insult and Zoey sighed.

"Oh yeah? Well I'd rather know a guy or two than be an awkward romantic!"

"Hey! I am NOT an awkward romantic!"

"Girls..." Zoey sighed, "Don't fall out over a guy you don't even know, this is supposed to be relaxing girl time. Most of them are just A-holes anyway."

"Are you talking about Mark or Elliot? Because I have a feeling this is about the first name. Maybe you need to get back on the saddle and find someone else to date. I hear Trey from Biology class is available."

"You don't get it. Girls about that... There's something I need to tell you about Mark and I. It is definitely over between us because he raped me..." She said this quietly but Megan and Mimi gasped.

"Your serious?!" Said Megan. "What am I saying- you wouldn't joke about something like this! We had no idea Zoe."

"We totally understand now. We're so sorry you had to go through that Zoey." Mimi brought her into a hug. "I feel awful and shallow for worrying about things so petty as spring queen crowns and boys, especially when my best friend was going through something so traumatic."

"It's not your fault." Zoey replied, "I didn't tell you so you couldn't have known."

"I feel bad too." Said Megan. "You should have told us sooner, do you need some ice cream to cheer you up?"

"Ice cream won't make much of a difference, I'd rather just forget about it." Deep down she knew she never would, but she could still be distracted from it?" Speaking of distractions, the girls both looked back out the window to see a girl approaching the boy they liked and she kissed him."Dang it!"

Later

"Thanks for the day out girls, I don't know what I'd do without you."

"No big Zoe." Megan flapped her hand.

"Yeah I totally had fun. Just take it easy okay?" She nodded and the three girls laughed and hugged. Zoey was getting the train home since Megan and Mimi were going in a different direction, so after she took off the two girls got in Megan's new car. They drove carelessly along a wide road while singing loudly to the radio and putting on lip gloss.

"Helloo from the other siiiiiiiiiiiddee!"

"Hey Meg, don't you think you're going a bit fast?"

"Pshk no, these people are just driving really slow." All of a sudden her phone beeped. "Mimi could you check my phone?"

"Sure uhh it says... you got a message from Brock."

"Brock?! As in THEE Brock in senior year, the jock?! Give it here!"

"Shouldn't you keep your eyes on the road?"

"I can multi-task plus this'll juuust be for a second." Mimi shrugged and gave Megan the phone while she opened her chats. Her eyes lit up at the message. "OMG he asked me out!"

"MIMI LOOK OUT!" A car was speeding towards them and the headlights were so bright her vision was one bright flash. Out of panic, Megan swerved the car and the girls crashed into a tree.

The car was smoking and Megan and Mimi we're unconscious... hopefully. Their heads were bleeding and Mimi had glass sticking out her arm. The mirrors of the car broke off and the tire was heating up, soon to catch on fire...

A few minutes later Zoey was near the park when she remembered something.

'Shoot, I left my coat in Megan's car. Let me call her and see if she can bring it to me sometime.' Zoey called three times, but no answer. 'Okayyy this is odd, I just saw them like 15 minutes ago. I'll call Mimi.' She called Mimi who didn't answer either. 'Maybe their phones died? I'll just collect it from her at school I'm sure she'll find it.' Zoey continued to walk when up ahead she saw a man approaching her. She walked faster in the direction of her house worried that it was a thief but he caught up to her. He had his hood up so you couldn't see his face.

"Look pal, I don't have any money on me."

"Zoey it's me." He said not lifting his hood.

"Mark? I already gave you my answer now leave me alone."

"I don't believe what you said Zoey I believe you still feel the same way about me as I do about you."

"Wow your still on this? I don't love you enough to be with you again! Now get lost before I call the police and tell them I'm being stalked."

"But Zoey look." He pulled down his hood and Zoey gasped at his face.

Meanwhile

There was a knock at the door of the empty cafe, except Elliot was there. When he reached the door he answered to... Renee surprisingly, who stood with her hand on her hip. Man was she gorgeous.

"Can I come in or what?"

"Depends. What brings you here?"

"Something I'd rather discuss in private. You really shouldn't keep a lady waiting Elliot, especially one that's half wolf." He scratched the back of his neck and sighed.

"Sure whatever." She welcomed herself in, the click clacks of her wedges echoed throughout the diner.

Back to Zoey

"Mark.. you're nose..." It was a bad sight, seeing him all banged up from the fight. Elliot really did a number on him.

"Yeah, that boss of yours can put up a fight. Listen, I don't care about what you said earlier, I want you Zoey. I love you, I always will. Give me a chance."

'Will Elliot really love you after the mew project is over?' Renee's words played back but Zoey shook her head.

"For the last time the answer is no! I wish I could say I was sorry but this is good for me so..." She then shrugged. "Besides every girl at school wants to be with you so it's not like you'll be lonely."

"I will be alone because I don't want any of them! They have nothing to offer me! You are the only one I want to be with because we were made for each other."

"I'm here to say goodbye not to get back together."

"I'm being honest aren't I? Admit it you'll never love him the way you loved me."

"Seriously? You dumped me and left me crying in the middle of the street! You secretly told my boss to fire me when we were dating AND you just tried to strangle him!"

"He hasn't been completely honest with you either Zoey..."

"...What do you mean?"

"...I know you're secret... I know you're mew Zoey." The news hit her in the face like a wrecking ball. Her eyes were wide open and her mouth gaped. This had to be the most surprisingly bomb-shell moment in the story for her.

"What? B-But how-?!" She stuttered.

"I know about you're powers... And I know about your friends powers... But there's something you don't know about me." His eyes glowed red again, this time on purpose and Zoey took a frightened step back, but he stepped forward. "I am the Bl-"

"Freeze right there!" Mark and Zoey's eyes snapped to the side to see about four police officers and two more that had just got out of a car running towards them. One grabbed Mark's wrists and locked them together with handcuffs. Zoey slowly stepped back and her eyes watered as she shook her head from side to side. 'no no no what is happening?! I never wanted this!' "Mark we are arresting you on the suspicion of sexual assault, anything you say or do will be used against you in court-"

"Mark?" Zoey cried out over the officers script. "Mark!"

"Zoey!" Once the handcuffs were on nice and tight the officer lead him towards the car.

"W-W-Where are you taking him?! Mark!"

"Zoey you called the cops on me?!"

"No! I swear it wasn't me!"

"Hey buddy let go of me!" Mark struggled but couldn't get out. "Zoey I promise I'll get out and sort everything okay? I love you Zoey! I LOVE YOU!" Zoey stepped forward and watched Mark be pushed into the car taking in a deep breath. It was for the best. She needed to physically watch him walk out of her live. Well, be taken out of it. He sat in the back seat and stared at Zoey who stared back at him for what felt like years.

'Is this really the last time I'll see him? Is this... the end?'

The car drove off and Zoey stood there watching the vehicle shrink. An officer stayed behind and asked her questions.

"Young lady are you harmed? Do you know the suspect?"

"W-What are you going to do with him? Where are you taking him?"

"That young man has been reported for sexual assault, we need to take him in and ask him some further questions, the operation may take several days if he is convincing to our interrogator but without a lawyer, he's looking at a long prison sentence. If you wish to make a statement you'll need to talk to us about it." Zoey looked down and focused on the pebbles beneath her feet before covering her mouth and crying. 'Mark... this is all my fault...'

Renee and Elliot

"What can I do for you?" Elliot finally asked.

"It's about Zoey. We were speaking on the phone earlier and she seemed upset about what she said. She's not sure if it was right or not. And yeah, she told me about the fight."

"Are you expecting me to burst out into tears? It's not my fault that she is so indecisive." Renee looked to the side in thought. "Anyway I don't know why we're having this conversation. It's up to her who she wants to be with, the most I can do now is be patient, or not be there at all." The pink cafe telephone rang loudly from the kitchen. He went into the kitchen and looked down at the screen when his eyes laid onto the caller ID:

Zoey

'What could she want? Should I answer it...?' He thought about it for a few seconds but just as his finger was about to press 'answer' button it was too late, it went to voice mail.

"Elliot?" It was Zoey alright, but you could hear gushing wind behind her voice on the voice mail making it hard to hear her clearly and she sounded like she was crying. "Elliot Mark knows that I'm a mew mew I don't know how but he does I need answers from him before he gets taken away for good I think he has powers too and somebody called the cops on him I just watched him get arrested and I don't know what to do! Elliot please help me!" Her crying grew.

"Don't worry Zoey I'm coming." He whispered. He went back to the table where Renee was standing patiently.

"Hate to break up the party but I've gotta go, I have to-"

Renee pulled his collar forward before swinging her arms around Elliot's neck and snapped him into a kiss.


(Wow writing this CH felt so long but it was actually really short... O_O)That was CH29, who do you think called the police on Mark? Will we see him again? Probably not. Are you happy with the CH? If you are then review and if you're not then you can still review because I'd love to hear your feedback. Also WHAT has been your favourite CH so far I realllyyyyy want to know every one of your favourites so tell me please! Now it's time for some sad news...

The next CH is the beginning of the Buried in Strawberries finale which I've only imagined so it ACTUALLY happening breaks my heart. Since I've started this story I think it's been my life, anytime I hear or see something I think "This'll work great in my story" So just imagining it not being there for me to say that is making me cry. I don't think any authors been more passionate about a story than I have about this. (Believe me the finale's going to be A.W.E.S.O.M.E this CH wasn't too good...) Just a reminder this story will be about 32-35 chapters long. I'll see you next time in... CH30?! Wow we've come far! XD


Next time: What will Zoey do if she finds out Renee and Elliot kissed?! Will Megan and Mimi wake up from the crash or will they be trapped inside when it blows?! Mark and Becky are in jail but will they be bailed out in time for graduation? Yes that's right, graduation. It's only a matter of months until the girls are off to college. And will Zoey want Renee/Elliot at the ceremony? Where will her relationship with Elliot stand now?