PpG3
Secrets and Surprises
Chapter Nine - Risks

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....