PpG3.7
Secrets and Surprises
Chapter Seven - Punishments

"What's wrong?" Buttercup asked, concern beginning to crack her fierce facade.
"According to Blossom, you said some pretty mean things back at school today. Something about Blossom note having any friends and not wanting to be her sister anymore. Care to offer an explanation?"
"She was following me after school when I was hanging out with Andra, telling me that I shouldn't keep secrets from her because we were sisters and teammates and junk. So I got mad."
"I can understand that, Buttercup, but you need to learn not to let your anger get the better of you. How many times have we talked about that?"
"What? Why lecture me? She was the one who wasn't letting me alone, even after you told her twice!"
"I'll handle that," the Professor assured Buttercup. "You worry about yourself. I think you should go to your room and think about what you said. I'll come get you in a while."
Buttercup stared at the Professor for a moment, not quite believing what was happening. Blossom was the one who kept messing up, but just because she was acting like a baby and crying, Buttercup was getting punished! The Professor's gaze didn't waver, he was serious.
"Fine," Buttercup said with an angry sigh. She stalked away from the couch and stomped up the stairs, making sure everyone knew how unfair she thought this punishment was. When she reached the bedroom the three Powerpuff Girls shared, she made sure to slam the door hard behind her, making all the furniture in the room, and hopefully the people down in the living room, jump.
She went to her closet and grabbed her blanket from its hiding place on a shelf then flopped onto her bed. "It's not fair," Buttercup muttered into the green fabric. "The Professor is always treating Bubbles and Blossom better than me just because they give him the innocent little girl and I give it to him straight." She grabbed her pillow and threw it at the door. "I hate them!"
Bubbles opened the door just as Buttercup threw the pillow and managed to duck before it hit her still tender face. "Buttercup?"
Buttercup turned her face down on her bed. "Go away. I'm being punished, remember?"
Bubbles ignored her sister's order and sat down on the green bed by Buttercup. "Why are you so mad at Blossom?"
"I'm not very happy with you either," Buttercup reminded Bubbles.
"I know why you're mad at me. And I'm really sorry about that. But I don't know why you...hate Blossom."
"'Cause Ms. Know-It-All is always sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, and then acting all innocent so she doesn't get in trouble, and I do!"
"Well, after you left, the Professor asked Blossom if what you said was true and she said it was, so now she's grounded for another day."
Buttercup lifted her head from her blanket. "Really?"
"Uh-huh."
Buttercup sat up and rested her chin on her knees. "Why is she so obsessed with me, Bubbles? Why won't she leave me alone?"
Bubbles shrugged. "she's curious. And worried. And...scared?"
"Scared? Why do I doubt that."
"I think she really is. She says it's because that now that you aren't with us all the time, we'll have to waste time finding you if a monster attacks during the day -"
"All of our classes are together!"
"But I think she's scared of losing you."
"Losing me?"
"Yeah. Like you won't hang out with us at all anymore and...stuff. I don't know, I don't understand her much either."
"Do you think that?"
"What?"
Buttercup sighed. "That I won't hang out with you two and stuff."
"No, I was just wondering what you were hiding in your notebook."
"Well, you aren't going to find out," Buttercup said defensively. "It's for my eyes only."
"Okay," Bubbles said with a sigh. "I better go now, before the Professor comes."
The Professor entered the room at that moment. Bubbles gave Buttercup a quick pat to reassure her then quickly ducked out behind the Professor. Buttercup turned over on her bed so she was facing away from the Professor.
"Can I sit down, Buttercup?" the Professor asked. Buttercup didn't answer, so the Professor remained standing, not wanting to antagonize his feisty daughter anymore than he had to.
"I know you feel I'm not being fair, Buttercup, but you need to learn to get all the facts before making your decisions. I was waiting to hear both sides of the story before punishing either of you. Once I heard what you said, I could make an informed decision about what to do. Did Bubbles tell you about Blossom's punishment?" Buttercup didn't answer, once again, but the Professor was sure his talkative daughter had. "I want you to stay in here the rest of the afternoon. No using Blossom's computer, no talking on the phone. Work on some homework and think about what you said to Blossom. You really hurt her today, Buttercup." The Professor sighed and sat down next to Buttercup, ignoring her when she pulled away even further. "Sometimes you don't realize how much words can hurt somebody else. You're so tough, you think the only way to hurt somebody is to use your fists, but sometimes words can hurt worse." Still no visible reaction from Buttercup, so the Professor sighed and stood up. "You may have made a mistake this time, but I know you'll do the right thing." He left the room, closing the door softly behind him.
And Buttercup let the first tear finally slip down her cheek.