CHAPTER 3: WHEN A WOLF HOLDS A GRUDGE

ME: ...Okay, this should count as updated faster, right...?

BRAKER: Never again should you update after SIX FREAKIN' MONTHS!

ME: Wahh, I'm sorry!

BUBBLES: She owns nothing besides her own OC's and the story~!

Chapter 3: When a Wolf Holds a Grudge

"B-Butch!?"

"Yes, it's me. Surprised to see me in a class I'm supposed to be in? Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you; but I'm here. Looks like I'm not as irresponsible―or rather, lazy―as you thought." A growl escaped from somewhere deep inside his throat.

Buttercup leaned back. Butch's growl made him sound like a wild animal; ferocious, angry, and definitely not to be messed with.

...Too bad she already had.

"And I'm surprised you even remember my name. I thought I was a 'jerky asshole'...?" Butch's lips formed a sneer.

Buttercup winced. Ow, low blow. "Look man, I don't―"

"Forget it." Butch turned away and stormed off. "You always do, anyway."

Buttercup sighed and turned to see Robin, who was frowning and shaking her head. "What...?" Buttercup mumbled sheepishly, blushing.

"...Butch is really fast," Robin said, kindly changing the subject slightly. "He just appeared behind you while you were talking. I think he heard you outside."

"But that's impossible! Even with our super-hearing, we can really only use it when we tune in to things we want to listen to. Why would Butch want to tune into a noisy classroom...?" Buttercup muttered.

Robin shrugged. "Don't ask me; I'm not a Powerpuff Girl, and I'm not a Rowdyruff Boy either."

Buttercup ignored her comment and turned to see Butch in his seat beside Mitch. He was talking to his brown-haired friend about something, his earlier sleepiness from yesterday seemingly forgotten.

"...Maybe there's more to him than I thought..."

When class was over, Buttercup found herself waiting at the door for a specific someone.

"Who are you waiting for?" Robin asked. Buttercup didn't know if she was serious or teasing.

"B-Butch," Buttercup muttered, looking away with a red face.

Robin grinned. "Well then, good luck~!"

Buttercup looked up in surprise, but her friend just winked and was already out the door.

Soon Butch and Mitch appeared, talking about Call of Duty or something. Buttercup didn't pay attention.

"Umm...Butch...?"

Surprised, Butch stopped talking to turn around.

Buttercup blushed at the sight: Butch's mouth was slightly open, eyes wide in surprise.

...But his gaze instantly hardened when he saw who was calling him. "...Buttercup."

She winced at the iciness in his tone. He must be really mad. "Umm, look; I―"

"I told you to fucking forget it," Butch growled, glaring at her darkly.

His dark-green eyes looked like a forest ablaze with an angry flame. His growl was like a wild animal's. Buttercup looked away. "I just wanted to say I'm sorry... I really didn't mean it; I...I―"

"...Whatever." Butch turned away from staring at her, muttering "fucking hell" under his breath (making Buttercup wince). He then stalked off. "Just leave me the fuck alone."

"H-Hey!" Buttercup called, feeling irritation bubble inside of her. "You―"

Mitch rested a hand on her shoulder. She turned to him in surprise, and he shook his head. Sighing, Buttercup leaned back. "Sorry," she mumbled.

"...I'm not the one you owe an apology to," Mitch murmured, before walking out.

Buttercup sighed again before following him out the door, feeling guilt claw at her stomach. She really actually hadn't expected Butch to show up. Maybe she really did see too badly of him...

Shaking her head, Buttercup flew to her locker. She'd sort this all out later, when Butch had cooled down.

But for now, she had to get to class.

The day dragged on. Class by class passed, and Buttercup could feel her body get worse for wear.

Sighing, she slumped into her seat as Mr. Evans talked about history of countries God-knows-where.

Butch beside her wouldn't even talk to her, let alone look at her.

Buttercup felt so awkward sitting beside Butch and being unable to talk to him. The two might not have always gotten along, but Butch was usually easy to talk to. They were sorta like frenemies.

...But now they might just be enemies.

The green Puff let her head fall onto her desk as she traced circles on her desk out of boredom. She could already imagine Butch crinkling his nose and asking her "What are you doing?"

But now he ignored her, staring at his notebook as he scribbled little doodles.

...This is fucking messed up.

"...And so, the project is due next Tuesday."

Buttercup sat up all of a sudden. Project...? What project!?

Butch raised his hand.

"Yes, Butch...?" Mr. Evans raised an eyebrow.

"...Do we have to work with the people we're sitting next to?" Butch asked. He didn't sound mad or cold, just curious. But Buttercup knew he was mad.

"I'm afraid so." Mr. Evans raised an eyebrow again. "Going through the complexity of choosing partners for such a small project is too much work."

"...Working with Buttercup is too much work," Butch muttered under his breath; loud enough so only Buttercup heard.

"Hey!" she cried, offended. But then she just realized she'd cried out out loud, and clapped her hands over her mouth. Butch smirked.

"Buttercup...? Is there something you'd like to share with the class...?" Mr. Evan's raised eyebrow and frown showed that he was unamused.

"N-No; sorry," Buttercup stammered, embarrassed. She tugged at her uniform skirt nervously. I can't believe I was that stupid!

Mr. Evans nodded after a few moments of silence. "...Very well," he finally said, turning away. "And so...you may now have five minutes to discuss what you want to do for said project..."

Buttercup finally noticed the criteria sheets being passed back. Butch was kind enough to grab his own and let Buttercup take her own, instead of passing one to her.

Buttercup read the project over, feeling her heart sink with each word. This would be a mostly at-home project, and they had six days to work on it. Six days of working with silent, cold Butch (unless she could get him to forgive him...somehow).

Even after all these years, it was still hard for Buttercup to say a simple "I'm sorry".

Butch beside her was now listening to music as he kept scribbling.

Buttercup sighed. They were making so much progress already.

Lunchtime came by slowly.

Slower than Buttercup wanted; slower than she would've hoped.

Buttercup walked slowly to class, lingering behind so that she could maybe talk to Butch. He however, had supposedly learned from their first class and decided to simply ignore her.

...Great, Buttercup thought as she gave up and walked out the door. How am I supposed to get someone like Butch to forgive someone like me?

By the time she got to the cafeteria, Butch was already there. He had probably flown there (unlike her; she had walked). Buttercup tuned in to listen in on his conversation:

"I think I'm gonna take the way near the forest home. You guys up for that?"

Boomer shrugged. "Whatever, man. Maybe; I dunno."

Brick whacked his brother on the back of the head.

Braker laughed. "Whatever you say, oh wise sage Boomer," he said jokingly.

Buttercup bit her lip. The way near the forest, huh... Maybe she could go that way and talk to Butch. The other Ruffs would be there, so they'd prevent either of the bad-tempered greens from doing anything stupid.

Relieved that she had finally formulated some kind of plan, Buttercup hurried over to the table and sat down with her lunch. Now all she had to do is come up with an...apology.

"Hey, Buttercup." Bubbles greeted her sister with a smile.

"Did you get the Socials project too?" Bliss asked through a mouthful of sandwich. "Mr. Evans is sure nice, giving us such big work to do."

Blossom frowned. "Bliss... Work can be very good for you; it improves your skills. And the project is a small one."

Bliss rolled her eyes as she pretended her hand was Blossom talking good-naturedly, causing everyone to laugh (expect Blossom, who sent her a slight glare―but even then, her smile betrayed her darker eyes).

"I find it stupid that we can't choose partners," Butch added, chomping down on his Subway sandwich.

"Yeah; I'm with Elmer. It's okay, I guess; but I wish I could chose," Braker agreed, unwrapping a burger.

Elmer sighed as he rolled his eyes good-naturedly from behind his glasses. "Gee, I love you too." The once paste-eating five-year-old was now a smart teen who had opened up much more over the years.

Braker smirked. "Nah, you know you're cool." The orange Ruff gave his friend a noogie, causing Elmer to drop his sandwich on its wrapper as the two laughed.

Buttercup lowered her sandwich. She wished she and Butch were cool. The green Puff didn't know why, but the fact Butch was just so mad at her was really bothering her.

"Hey, Butch!" Braker called. "Who's your partner, anyway?"

Butch stopped chewing to slowly lower his food and grimace slightly. His lips parted and he muttered through gritted teeth, "...Buttercup."

Braker blinked. "Oh...okay then..." A silence descended, and Braker muttered "awkward~..."

Butch didn't even look at Buttercup. She found herself staring at him in amazement; he had simply displayed his anger towards her SO FRICKIN' EASILY! He hadn't given a shit that people were around them; he just muttered her name as if it were poison on his tongue, making it obvious he was pissed at her.

"Fuck, Butch; I love you too," she said sarcastically. She hadn't meant to say it out loud. It was supposed to just be one of those silent thoughts in your head you never say.

Sadly, she had said it out loud.

...And double sadly, Butch had actually heard her.

The green Ruff looked up and sent her a glare that could probably kill (and it just might've, had he used his laser vision). "Oh really?" he spat, "I didn't notice with you practically spewing hate of me this morning."

Buttercup winced. "I told you; I didn't mean it! I was just caught up in the moment―"

"Moment schoment," Butch muttered angrily. "I don't like being bad-mouthed! You had no right to fucking diss me!"

"What the fuck do you mean I have no right!?" Buttercup shouted back before the sensible side of her mind could stop her. "This is a free country, isn't it!? I can speak my mind, can't I!? You are a fucking jerk, Butch; and even if I did overdo it, YOU GOTTA ADMIT AT LEAST SOME OF IT WAS TRUE!"

"WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU MEAN BY TRUE!?" Butch shot back angrily. He continued to rampage: "I might be a lazy asshole, but I think I'm a human being with feelings and equal fucking RIGHTS! Oh I don't know about you, Buttercup, but I happen to NOT. LIKE. BEING. DISSED...?" Butch shot her a look.

Students were now staring at them trying to stop them, or they said nothing, or they chanted, "FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT!"

"Well, you―"

"Hello, are we having an issue here...?"

Both of the greens looked up to see Mr. Fickleson's dark, glaring face staring down at them.

Buttercup swallowed as she closed her mouth. "...No...I'm sorry."

"You should be," Butch growled.

Mr. Fickleson shot Butch a hard look.

Butch looked away and muttered a "sorry".

"...Just don't let it happen again. I will not tolerate such behaviour in school," Mr. Fickleson said sharply. "The next time I catch you shouting swears at each other, you'll be doing it in detention."

"...Yes, Mr. F," Buttercup said, hanging her head.

"...Yeah," Butch muttered under his breath.

"...Good." Mr. Fickleson then turned away and walked off.

Buttercup looked up to see Butch glaring at her, and she bit her lip. "...Look, Butch; I'm sorry―I wasn't thinking―"

"...Didn't I tell you to forget it?"

She looked at him in surprise. He glared back for a few seconds, before turning away pointedly. Buttercup sighed and lowered her head.

...Fuck life.

The last class of the day dragged on for what seemed like forever. And when it finally ended, Buttercup felt like someone had whacked her really hard on the back, and thrown her into a wall.

She felt tired and stiff; her back was aching, and her face felt stuck in a forever emotionless expression.

"God, I could sure use a nap," Buttercup yawned as she stretched.

Bubbles tugged at her pigtails in an almost nervous manner as she spoke: "I don't blame you; I could use one myself."

Buttercup shrugged. "Ehh, I can't take one though."

"Why not?" Bubbles looked at her green-eyed sister in surprise. She nearly expected Buttercup to want to fly straight home and flop down on the couch and sleep.

She hesitated. "...Well, I got...stuff to do."

Bubbles blinked, raising an eyebrow. It was obvious she didn't believe her sister 100% (like how she didn't believe all of the Ruffs' excuses 100%*). "...Okie dokie lokie," she finally said with narrowed eyes.

Buttercup grinned sheepishly as she shrugged. "Uhh...look, I gotta go now..."

"...Okay, you be on your way then." She waved her sister goodbye.

The green Puff nodded nervously as she waved back, before dashing off. She had to hurry, or she'll miss...

Butch...!

Buttercup noticed him walking out the door with his brothers. She began to tail them, trying to decide when she'd go up to them and try apologizing.

She followed with quick, long strides, trying to keep up with the Ruff's quick steps. Why are they walking so fast...? Why aren't they flying? She couldn't help but wonder.

However, she seemed to have waited too long, because very soon Butch said bye to his brothers. Now Butch turned to walk toward the forest.

Buttercup bit her lip. That's right...the Ruffs never actually agreed to taking the forest way... Does that mean Butch will just be by himself...?

...Shit.

The green Puff wondered about whether or not she should say hello and apologize. Maybe she could wait until tomorrow, but that might not be a good idea. She could send him an apology via text or Facebook or something, but that wouldn't be very sincere, and he probably wouldn't accept it anyway.

Buttercup didn't really care about any of these things (they were too much of a bother), and she knew Butch didn't either, but...she actually wanted to consider these factors for once.

So she finally decided to simply follow him and call out to him. She opened her mouth. "Butch―"

He turned suddenly, eyes widening. "Buttercup...!" he called, looking surprised to see her...a little too surprised. He then twitched, as if sensing something, before racing forward with his green streak behind him. He then shoved her into the forest, the two crashing through some bushes.

When they finally stopped skidding and rolling, Buttercup scrambled upwards and stared at him, eyes wide. "Butch...?" she managed to say.

He simply turned to her, eyes equally wide and almost...fearful...? "Shhh," he hissed, placing a finger to his lips. "They're coming."

*(A/N: Reference to chapter 1!)

ME: ...This counts as fast, right...?

BUTCH: Just remember to keep being fast.

ME: ...Oh screw you. You know I have Hung Up on You, A Rose for the Maiden, and even Death Angel and two story requests to deal with too, right...?

BUTCH: *shrugs* ...Whatever, man.

BLISS: Umm...please read and review...?