Breakfast in the Utonium
household is usually a pleasant affair. The Professor fixes breakfast for
the Powerpuff Girls and all four members of the family eat breakfast together.
Oh this morning, however,
the setting looked the same as always, but the feeling was different.
Bubbles was her usual
self, bright and cheerful, seemingly oblivious to, or perhaps compensating
for, the tension that still hung between Blossom and Buttercup. The Professor
was also trying to ignore the tension between the Girls, overcompensating
for their silence with loud, bad jokes.
"And so then the other
scientist says -"
Buttercup stood up
suddenly, cutting off the Professor's punch line. "I'm going to go. Bye
Professor, bye Bubbles." The absence of Blossom's name was painfully obvious.
"Bye, Buttercup!" Bubbles
called after her sister.
"Have a good day, sweetheart,"
the Professor said, handing Buttercup a brown paper lunch sack as she floated
past.
"Yeah," Buttercup muttered.
As soon as she left the front door, she flew off in a streak of green light.
***
Just like yesterday,
Andra was at the locker when Buttercup arrived at school.
"Did something happen
again this morning?" Andra asked after Buttercup had violently thrown her
books into the locker.
"Not this morning.
Last night. Blossom and I both got in trouble for our argument after school."
"Why was she punished?"
Andra asked. Buttercup shot her a dirty look. Andra looked down, realizing
that wasn't the best thing to say to the already angry Buttercup. Buttercup
realized at the same time that alienating Andra probably wasn't the best
way to win her affection.
Buttercup relaxed herself
and explained. "She's in trouble for following us and trying to control
me. I'm in trouble for all the stuff I said to her. I...I guess you were
right. I was a bit harsh."
Andra shrugged. "She
sounds like sometimes she can be harsh, too."
"You have no idea."
The two girls began
walking down the hall, both loving the chance to be with the other girl,
but wishing at the same time they could walk hand in hand, like the other
couples in the school. Knowing how the other felt about a possible relationship
would have helped, too.
***
The Powerpuff Girls and
Andra had all their classes together, so any conversations Andra and Buttercup
had in one class could easily be carried on in the next. Buttercup had
been unusually quiet in first hour, so Andra started second by passing
Buttercup a note before class even started.
'Penny for your
thoughts?' 'Huh?' 'Mom says that to
me when I'm quiet. It means I'll give you a penny if you'll tell me what
you're thinking.' 'Nothing.' 'You have to be
thinking something. You've been quiet since before school even started.
What's up?' Buttercup sighed
before writing. 'I guess I'm just letting Blossom get to me too much.' 'Sounds like you
care a lot about what she thinks.' Buttercup made
a face. 'No I don't!' Andra raised
an eyebrow. 'Then why are you letting her get to you?' 'Because she's butting
into personal stuff that's none of her business.' 'What kind of personal
stuff?' 'The stuff in my
notebook.' 'Yeah, but what's
in your notebook?' 'Why do you care
so much?' Andra shrugged
before writing back. 'I don't know...curiosity about what super heroes
write in their diaries every night?' 'Same thing every
one else does! Likes, dislikes, dreams and nightmares, crushes and enemies.' "Buttercup and
Andra? Is that something you want to share with the class?"
The two girls jumped
in their seats. "Sorry, Ms. Wilson," Andra apologized.
Ms. Wilson sniffed
and turned back to the blackboard, but Andra didn't take the opportunity
to write back to Buttercup. She needed time to think. Crushes? Maybe there
was a way to find out Buttercup's feelings without risking her neck....
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