CHAPTER 44: PLAYING CARDS
ME: Haha sorry for the wait, guys! I've mostly been working on "A Rose for the Maiden"! *sweat-drop*
BUBBLES: You're back!
ME: *nods* Yup! And guess what...? Someone asked in a review when the Art Contest is...IT'S PROBABLY IN THE NEXT CHAPTER!
BOOMER: Ooh!
Chapter 44: Playing Cards
Michelle awoke, stretching and staring forward. She yawned. She rubbed her eyes and―
"Gooood morning, Michelle~!"
Michelle froze, her morning already ruined. Groaning, she glared forward at nothing in particular. She still often forgot that Michael had come back.
Sighing, Michelle turned and sat up, her black and pink silk nightgown rustling. "What is it, Michael?" she groaned, rubbing her eyes.
"Whoa sis; you have really bad bed-head," Michael commented, skidding into view in the doorframe to her room.
"That better not be why you're here," Michelle groaned, flopping down onto her back. She ran a hand through her messy brown hair. "If teasing is why you're here, I suggest you get out."
"Jeez; relax. I'm not here to tease. Anyway, Dad says you need to get down in the next thirty minutes," Michael said.
Michelle groaned. Great, she thought with gritted teeth, perfect early bird Michael gets to wake me.
"See you in thirty!" Michael called, already vanishing out the door.
Michelle sighed before rolling onto her side and noticing a deck of playing cards on her nightstand. She picked up a Joker.
...Great, she thought with a sigh. A joker.
Then the grinning jokester and his card floated down to the floor as Michelle dropped it.
Michelle went into her washroom and took a shower before brushing her teeth and combing her hair. By the time she was finished, she still had a few minutes to spare.
Zooming down the stairs, she smelled something delicious. "Oh wow; what is that...? Is that―"
"Pancakes," her father confirmed, looking proud. "And would you look at that. Michael is making them."
Michelle felt her eagerness to eat fall apart as she realized Michael was making breakfast. Her eye twitched. Yet another reason he's better than me.
Meanwhile, Michael was humming to himself as he flipped pancakes. He was wearing a black apron and was enjoying the rich aromas of the kitchen.
When he was finished, he went out into the dining hall and showed the pans of pancakes. "Breakfast, iz zerved!" he announced, imitating their chef's French accent.
"Wonderful," their father said, watching as Michael slid the pancakes onto his plate. "Thank you, Michael."
"...Yeah. Thanks," Michelle grumbled.
"Allow me," Michael said, drizzling golden syrup onto their "breakfast-licious" treats.
Michelle stabbed her fork into the pancake, gritting her teeth and grounding them as she watched her father and Michael chat.
Michael then turned to Michelle and smiled slightly. "Michellie, some of the guys and I are going to be watching a movie next week. Wanna―?"
"...Save it," Michelle said with a sigh, standing up and heading out to the kitchen. "I'll be busy...and I plan on being very busy."
Michael frowned, and sighed as he set down his fork. "Dad, will she ever get over...it?"
"...I'm not sure she will," their father said, sighing as he closed his eyes and set down his fork as well.
"Well, we should probably get to school," Michael said, grabbing his jacket. "You'll be there afterwards for the Art Contest, right...?"
"...I wouldn't miss it for the world," their father said with a smile, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
"Alright. See ya later then, Dad!"
"Goodbye Michael. Have a nice day at school!"
"I hope I will!" Michael called back, racing off to get his sister.
Bubbles pulled her comb through her hair, staring at her reflection. Why do I have to look―
"You look beautiful this morning."
Bubbles turned and smiled. "Aww, you're just saying that." Then she sighed as she turned away, staring at her reflection as she touched the mirror. "...I look more like a sleep-deprived ghost."
"On the contrary," her complimenter said, stepping forward with open arms.
Bubbles smiled again. "Thanks for letting me use your washroom, Brick." She paused then, tucking some stray strands of hair behind her ear. "Especially after...y'know."*
"Mmm; no problem," he said, nodding as he leaned against the doorframe. "You enjoy your stay...?"
"Did I?" responded Bubbles with a smile.
Brick shrugged. "I'll take that as a 'yes' then; no...?" He raised an eyebrow.
Bubbles hit him playfully on the arm. "Do I dare say no...?"
"Umm...no...?" Brick said with another shrug.
Bubbles giggled. "I do dare, but I won't." She smiled. "Because then that would be lying."
"So you did have a good time," Brick said with a raised eyebrow and a playful smirk.
"Duh; of course I did!" Bubbles rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Now, I'll see you downstairs. Blossom and the others will be waiting, you know."
"Of course," Brick agreed. "After you, m'lady."
When Bubbles had gone and Brick was leaning against the door to his washroom with a smile and playing with a deck of cards in his hands, he was approached by someone.
Thump.
Brick ducked down just in time as someone's fist hit the doorframe. Brick then stood up straight and spread his arms out. "What's the matter?"
"What. Do. You. Think. You're. Playing. At," the "visitor" hissed, glaring at Brick.
"I'm not playing at anything!" Brick responded, looking exaggeratedly shocked.
"I mean, with Bubbles."
"Dude, relax; I'm just playing you. I'm only cushioning the hurt you bring her," Brick said, ducking down and walking off.
"If you're 'playing' Bubbles, I swear I'll―"
Brick turned, a sudden dangerous glint in his eye as he turned. "You'll what? Boomer, you need to decide if it's going to be Bubbles' happiness...or Michelle's." He snorted. "And if you make a mistake, I'll be the one making it better."
Boomer growled. "I'm not sure you understand, Brick. I'm―"
"The deal is to protect her. I know." Brick sent him a glare that made shivers race down his spine. "But I also know that Bubbles is being hurt anyway, Boomer. Maybe you should reconsider―y'know, protect her from the actual danger. If..." He paused then. "...You're not too much of a coward."
"I'm not a coward, Brick," Boomer snapped, holding up his fists.
"...Maybe not," Brick said with a shrug. "But you are a Rowdyruff Boy. And we aren't bossed around. So make a choice, Boomer." Brick tossed something into the air then. "...And make it quick. ...Whether you'd like to or not."
Then Brick walked off.
Boomer caught the thing Brick had thrown, and saw that it was a playing card...:
...It was the Queen of Hearts.
Meanwhile, Brick was walking down the stairs when Blossom greeted him with a hug.
"Whoa, Blossie! What's the occasion?" Brick asked, pulling apart from her.
"The occasion is 'I love you'," Blossom giggled, giving him a peck on the cheek.
"Ooh, real romantic," Butch muttered sarcastically.
"Aww, you're just jealous," Brick teased with a smirk as he raised an eyebrow.
"Am not," Butch muttered.
Bubbles giggled. "Oh you boys can be so silly."
"...Silly is right."
Everyone turned to see Boomer floating down the stairs.
"Boomie―I mean, Boomer!" cried Bubbles, hurrying over.**
"Good morning," Boomer said with a small smile.
"Yeah, good morning," Brick added from his spot with Blossom.
Boomer turned and glared at him briefly before turning back to Bubbles. "I have our Art Contest entry."
"That's great to hear," Bubbles said with a smile.
"...Umm...shall we get going?" Braker called.
Bliss hit him on the head then.
"Ow! What was that for!?" he demanded, rubbing his sore head.
"For being an inconsiderate asshole," Bliss hissed. "Let the two―"
"I-It's okay," Bubbles said with a blush, turning away. She glanced at Brick. "Ready for school?"
Brick shot Boomer a look before turning with a smile and nodding at Bubbles. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Boomer growled silently before following Brick and Bubbles out.
"I said, BRUSH!"
"Right here, Mistress Princess! I'm terribly sorry for the delay―"
"That's quite alright," Princess said calmly, taking the golden brush with a carved "P" on it. She tugged it through her hair.
"Shall I brush your―"
"I can do it by myself," Princess said warningly, tugging the brush harshly in her irritation. "Ow!" she cried as hair was yanked out. Princess scowled as she picked the locks of red hair off the brush.
"O-Of course, Mistress Princess." The maid bowed as she stepped down.
"Humph," Princess said with a snort, glaring at the mirror. "Every last one of them is a mouse."
"Hey, baby. It ain't like you to get so mad in front of others anymore. Or...did you forget I was here...?"
"Mitch!" gasped Princess, spinning around. She blushed. "What are you―"
"You didn't lock the door," Mitch explained. "And seeing as I'm staying over, I figured...I'd visit."
Princess stood up and walked over to him. "You could've knocked first."
"And miss a good chance to scare you...? Nah; I don't think so," Mitch said with a smirk.
"...You're too cheeky for your own good," Princess murmured as Mitch wrapped his arms around her.
"Only for you, babe; only for you." Mitch smirked again, and then...:
...They kissed.
When they broke apart, Mitch raised an eyebrow. "You ready for tonight...?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Princess asked, leaning against him. "...You better be there."
"I told you already; I wouldn't miss it for the world," Mitch promised.*
"You better keep that promise," Princess said jokingly. She held up a King card, which had randomly been in her pocket. "Swear on li'l ol' Kingly here."
"Oh, I plan on doing so―so I swear," Mitch agreed, going in for one more kiss..
...And the King card floated to the ground, fluttering into a Queen card...
When Bubbles got to school, she said bye to the others and began to fly to class. She was joined by Boomer.
"Oh hi, Boomer," Bubbles greeted. "What are you doing here...?"
"I'm in the same class as you, remember...?" Boomer said with a raised eyebrow.
"Ohh...right," Bubbles giggled. "Sorry."
Boomer sighed but managed a smile anyway as Bubbles pushed open the door.
A paper ball hit her cheek.
...And she closed it again.
"Bubbles...? What's wrong?" Boomer asked, concerned.
"I-I..." Bubbles took a deep breath. "It's...nothing." She got up.
Boomer frowned, but quickly noticed the paper ball. Unwrapping it, he read:
"Mousey Bubbles"
Bubbles reached for the door again...
"Wait, no!" Boomer called, grabbing the handle and throwing it open first. He was met by paper balls and spitballs.
"...How wonderful," Boomer said, staring forward unamused.
Flash's eyes were wide, a straw in his mouth. "Boomer...? But I thought―"
"You're not going to hit Bubbles with those," Boomer warned threateningly.
Flash lowered the straw and put his hands up. "Okay, okay..." He glanced at his buddies and nodded.
They lowered their straws and paper balls as well.
Michelle frowned from her seat, glaring at Bubbles when she appeared from behind Boomer.
Swallowing hard, Bubbles slunk into her seat.
Boomer sent her the usual look of "stop running and face them", but Bubbles ignored it...also as usual.
Sighing, Boomer took his seat.
The teacher appeared just then. "As you may all know, tonight is going to be a big day―or rather, night," he announced, scrawling something on the board.
When he stepped back, the students saw that it was "Art Contest" scrawled out, and underlined in a swirly line.
"As you may all know, the school has been planning this for a loooong time, as we do every year." The teacher then scrawled something else on the board.
When he stepped back again, underneath "Art Contest" was "Be prepared."
"Give me a show of hands, please; who has entered...?"
Hands shot up.
"Very good," the teacher said. He turned back around and wrote something else on the board.
It turned out to be "Who had fun?"
Boomer raised his hand, and Bubbles followed...albeit more meekly. Several other hands shot up as well.
"Very good," the teacher said with a nod. He then turned to a bin on his desk. "Now, about preparation..." He started handing out papers to the front of the class, who passed them back. "You all better be ready for that quiz on Monday."
The students groaned.
"Now, now; there'll be none of that," the teacher said, stamping a stamp down on something. "Or else...you will get points taken off." He lifted the paper he'd just stamped, which had a big red "F" on it.
Students let out silent groans.
"Of course it wouldn't be enough to fail the test," the teacher said. Flash opened his mouth, but then the teacher sent him an unamused stare. "...Especially when some of you are failing already."
Flash shut his mouth and sulked.
The teacher smiled. "Now students, this quiz is much like the Art Contest. Whoever scores highest gets extra points."
Then the students cheered.
"But only the highest scorer," the teacher reminded them, making many groan again.
Soon class ended, and Boomer and Bubbles walked together to Art Class.
"...I-Isn't it weird how so many of our classes are together?" Bubbles stammered.
Boomer shrugged. "I guess so... What's even weirder is how many classes we share with Michelle."
"...Oh yeah," Bubbles said, looking away.
Boomer walked on ahead, not noticing her sudden discomfort.
Still, he did notice she wasn't following. Boomer turned and raised an eyebrow. "Uhh...you coming...?"
"Oh...yeah." Bubbles hurried after him.
Soon when they were inside, the Art teacher began her lesson.
"Since most of you have finished your Art Contest entries," she said, before turning to say sternly, "most of you"―this earned some sheepish grins and shrugs―"Instead of working on those entries, we'll be doing student portraits. Art Contest partners will draw each other, and whoever hasn't entered can choose their partners."
"We get to choose?" Flash said with a grin.
The Art teacher raised an eyebrow. "Of those that are left, yes."
Flash groaned as he lowered his pumped up fist.
Boomer turned to Bubbles. "Looks like I'll be drawing you, huh...?"
Bubbles nodded. "Oh...yeah." She blushed. "And I'll be drawing you..."
Michelle frowned from her seat.
"...Shall we begin?" Sophie asked softly.
Michelle managed to nod stiffly, picking up her pencil.
Sophie nodded as well and began to draw. The lines came to her as she studied Michelle's face. However, she did her best not to capture Michelle's rage and rigid posture. She knew she'd be in trouble if she drew Michelle that way.
Meanwhile, Michelle was drawing Sophie, but her irritation made her lines rough. One could consider it a style, but others could consider it "anger issues".
Bubbles felt the lines coming to her naturally, watching Boomer smile to himself as he drew. ...She'd already drawn Boomer plenty of times.
Boomer sketched Bubbles, a smile playing at his lips. This was too easy―he had drawn Bubbles before; there was no way he couldn't again.
He looked up and watched as she stared shyly at her sketchbook, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear. He took in her petite hand and wrist with her blue bead bracelet, as well as...
He froze.
She was wearing the butterfly bracelet and ring he'd gotten her at the carnival!***
He smiled.
Michelle noticed his surprised look and the smile, and her hand shook. Then she nudged Bubbles' right arm with her left one.
Surprised, Bubbles accidentally drew a line through Boomer's portrait. She gasped.
"Ooh I'm soo sorry!" Michelle apologized, her voice dripping with honey. She peeked over her shoulder and studied the portrait's new line. "...Oh wow."
Bubbles knew it was a little thing, but tears came to her eyes at the thought of showing Boomer a ruined portrait, or the fact it was ruined in the first place.
She ran off then.
"Bubbles!" cried Boomer.
"I'm really sorry," Michelle said again.
Boomer shot her a warning stare on the edge of being a glare. "...I don't believe you," he snapped, before racing off after her.
Michelle's eyes were wide, but then her hand shook so much her pencil snapped in half.
"Michelle..." Sophie tried, taking her friend by the shoulders. "Are you―?"
"I'm fine," she hissed. "But I won't be if anything happens between them."
Sophie but her lip, and when students became distracted, she slipped away...
Meanwhile, Boomer had gotten to the first place he expected Bubbles to hide:
...The girls' washroom.
"Bubbles, please come out," he begged. "I really don't want to have to go in there...again."
"...Then just go away."
"...You know I can't do that," Boomer sighed. He opened the door and was about to step in―
"...What's going on here...?"
Boomer turned to see a raised eyebrow and red eyes. "B-Brick...?" he spluttered.
Brick nodded. "And I'd really like to know why you're going into the girls' washroom." He raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Ooh; maybe you're finally―"
"Oh shut up, Brick. Bubbles is in there."
Brick froze. "...Bubbles...? Then why don't we get the fuck in there!?"
"...Nice...to know you care," Boomer said without amusement as Brick barged past him.
The door then swung shut after the two boys.
Meanwhile, a dark-haired girl watched from afar...
...It was Sophie.
Inside, Boomer had found Bubbles' stall and was knocking on it. "Bubbles...please come out."
"What's this all about, anyway...?" Brick asked, playing with the same deck of cards he'd had before.
"...Ugh," Boomer said with a sigh and a roll of his eyes. He then explained it, before saying loudly, "C'mon, Bubbles. It's―"
"Just leave me alone!"
The door swung open then, and the two Ruffs turned in nervous shock...
...But then they saw it was "only" Sophie, and they calmed down.
"What do you want, Sophie?" Boomer demanded.
Sophie shuffled. "I...I want to help."
Brick raised an eyebrow. "Now that'd be a first." He glanced down at the cards in his hands before holding them up. "Still...we'll just have to see."
Sophie took them with a frown, and saw that they were a Joker and a King.
"...I'm pretty serious, thank you," Sophie said, returning the Joker card with a toss. "Here; I'll hold onto the King card for now."
Brick raised an eyebrow but nodded with a smirk. "Sure thing."
Sophie knocked on Bubbles' stall door. "Hello...?"
"...S-Sophie...?" Bubbles whispered.
Sophie sighed and nodded. "Relax; I came here without Michelle telling me to. Anyway...I'm really sorry about what Michelle did. She's...just under a lot of stress."
"As if we aren't," Brick said with a snort, earning him a warning stare from Sophie.
"But...I hope you can forgive her...―"
"...It's not that, really."
"Then...what is it?" Sophie asked in surprise.
Bubbles hesitated from inside the stall. "I...I just don't really want to show Boomer―anyone―a ruined portrait..."
"Oh...then..." Sophie smiled slightly. "I think we can help fix it."
"...You...can...?" Bubbles asked, peeking through the crack between the stall wall and the stall door.
Sophie nodded. "Of course we can!" And then she smiled again. "But first...come on out, okay...?"
Bubbles opened the door, and Brick and Boomer watched in shock. Brick dropped his cards.
Sophie smiled as she picked them up and handed them back to him, the King card on the top. "I think you owe me an apology...?"
Brick recovered from his shock and scowled, raising his eyebrow. "...We'll just have to see."
When they headed out, Brick said bye: "I gotta go, but good luck with the whole fixing thing!"
When they got back, the three artists worked to get rid of the line, as well as redraw any necessary parts (although that was left to Bubbles, seeing as it was her drawing). Boomer posed during those corrections.
Soon when they were done, the sketch looked even better than before.
"That...is...amazing!" the Art teacher gasped, holding it up for the whole class to see. "This is the example of art, my students!"
Students "ooed" and "ahhed" as well as cheered as the teacher held up the sketchbook.
Michelle scowled from her spot, however, and she slipped away into the shadows.
When school was over, Bubbles headed out with quick steps. She didn't want to stay behind for Flash and his buddies to do anything.
"Hey, wait up!"
Bubbles froze in shock, and whoever had been calling her crashed into her. She turned slowly and saw...
...Boomer.
"Oh no! Boomie!" cried Bubbles, helping him up. "I'm so sorry. I―"
"Ehh; don't mind me. I'm fine." He smiled then. "But next time, let me know when you decide to freeze while I'm walking towards you."
"Ohmygosh Boomie I'm so sorry―"
Boomer placed a finger on her lips. "Shhh," he murmured. "Save it." Then he smiled again. "Glad to see you calling me 'Boomie' again, though."
"But I...I thought you disliked the nickname," Bubbles stammered. "Y-You said so to Michelle**! I thought...I thought you only let me say it out of pity―"
Michelle blinked, looking surprised. "Have you? I hope you find it soon then, Boomie! Hey...how's about...we look together?" She smiled an almost dark smile.
Boomer stared at her, distrust evident in his eyes. "...I'd prefer not, Michelle. And please, don't call me Boomie."
"No! Of course not! I just dislike Michelle saying it. You saying it is fine." Boomer smiled again. "Gee, you could've let me know you thought so before, so I wouldn't have to have gone through all that trouble."
Bubbles smiled and giggled.
Meanwhile, from behind two corners of the walls, two people were hiding...
And both had mixed reactions.
The person on the right smiled, holding up a cell phone.
The other person on the left frowned, her grip on the wall tightening.
The shadows hid them from each other, and soon, both were off.
...A number two heart card floated to the floor, before being picked up...
The person looked around before smirking and placing the card inside his coat pocket.
Michelle frowned when she learned what had happened between the blues and what Boomer had said.
She sighed, holding an umbrella as she looked up at the clear blue sky. She closed her eyes and then she opened it.
...As if on cue, rain began to fall.
Michelle sighed, looking up at the sky again. "Mother..." She took a deep breath and looked away, something making its way down her face. "I...I miss you."
"IT'S NOT FAIR! BUBBLES, WHY DO YOU HAVE TO STEAL EVERYTHING FROM ME!? WHY!?"
Michael stared out the window. "What...? It's raining?"
"They say it's only going to last for awhile," Mike said, slipping on a coat. He turned to Michael and raised an eyebrow. "Why...? What's wrong...?"
"...Michellie," Michael finally whispered. He slowly began to back away, before starting to run. "I need to find my sister!"
"Here; take this!" Mike called, throwing him a black umbrella.
Michael stared at him. "But you―"
"I'm riding home with Robin; I'll be fine!" Mike promised. "I may not know what's going on, but go!"
"Understood!" called Michael over his shoulder, already running off.
Soon he boarded the limo. "Please, drive!"
"But what about―"
"Just drive!"
"Understood!" the driver said, starting up the car.
Meanwhile, a girl with dark brown hair that seemed black watched from afar...
Soon Michael was driving through a bumpy, rocky street as the limo slowly rolled past the scenery. "Michelle...!" he shouted, calling for his sister. "Michelle; do you hear me? Whatever you do, don't go―"
Dark brown hair appeared up ahead...
"―there," Michael finished with a sigh, closing his eyes. "Just...drive."
The engine was revved up again, and the limo shot toward the location.
*(A/N: Reference to chapter 38!)
**(A/N: References to chapter 33!)
***(A/N: References to chapter 39!)
ME: Okay guys, just gonna tell you I haven't been doing too well.
I've been having a cold... Yeah, well for some reason it just got worse. A few days ago we went out and I felt dizzy and tired. Then when we got back, I later got a headache.
...Even later, I tried to throw up but couldn't.
...Then I did after awhile.
Yeah. I threw up. It was pink, tan, and red, and I think I saw some cranberries.
And also...something lovely came up―something that's monthly. Y'know what I mean, ladies.
Today I still feel sick, and my nose won't stop needing to be blown. My head is as if it's heavy, and I've been spending time at home, watching vids on Youku (Chinese YouTube).
And yeah, about the throw up... When I have a headache and I eat too much, I throw up. BUT it hasn't happened in a long time, so I didn't expect it too. But I knew it might. At first it was just spitting, but later in night came the big you-know-what.
So yeah, still sick; and my condition is worse than usual.
Today we went to the hospital, and tomorrow I need to wake up search at 9:00 am so they can extract blood to check on it.
BLOSSOM: Oh my...get some rest.
BUBBLES: *turns to Brick* Aren't you going to say anything...?
BRICK: *looks away, grumbles* ...Hope you feel better.
ME: *raises eyebrow, jokingly* At least something good came of this cold.
BRICK: *glares* ...Just leave a frickin' review.
