PpG3Author's Notes: I feel obligated to
tell you that while in my original author's note I said that there wouldn't
be any slash between the three Girls, I've changed my mind and in this
chapter we begin to see a bit of slash between two of the Girls. Nothing
major (I won't let this fic get higher than PG-13, and I still feel it's
a PG fic), but if the concept squicks you, please leave now (or leave me
my first ever flame!). Thanks for your time, and now I leave you to enjoy
the 16th (dang!) chapter of Secrets and Surprises, "DATE"
Secrets and Surprises
Chapter 16 - DATE
"Buttercup!" Bubbles pounded
on the door again. "Hurry up! I need to go to the bathroom!"
"Use the one down stairs!"
Buttercup shouted back.
Bubbles stomped away
from the door to Blossom, who was reading at her desk. "Blossom, will you
get her out of there?"
"Leave her alone, Bubbles."
Bubbles stared at her
sister for a moment. "What?"
"I said to leave her
alone."
"Why? You've been bugging
her for weeks! And now you're going to let her hog the bathroom for nearly
an hour?" She put her hands on her hips. "It seems very suspicious
to me."
Blossom threw her book
down. "I don't want to deal with it, Bubbles! Leave her, and me, alone!"
she flew from the room, leaving a bewildered Bubbles behind her.
Blossom flew down the
stairs, buzzing over the Professor's head as he climbed the stairs. "Blossom?"
he asked. She didn't stop, just kept flying towards the door.
"Blossom!" the Professor
called again, then sprinted down the stairs, trying to beat his daughter
to the door.
It was only because
of Blossom's maturity the Professor caught up to her. Blossom had learned
that it was best to open the door, rather than bust through it or the ceiling.
When she stopped in front of the door the Professor leapt forward and firmly
placed his hand on it. Blossom could still open it, she was much stronger
than him, but she'd also end up throwing him across the room, something
none of the Girls did. Intentionally.
"Blossom," the Professor
panted. "What's. . . wrong?"
Blossom folded her
arms across her chest. "Nothing."
"Oh? Then what possessed
you," pause for a breath, "to try and fly off without notice?"
"Nothing," Blossom
muttered again.
"I think you and I
need to have a talk." The Professor checked his watch. "Buttercup! It's
almost six! If you're going to get to Andra's on time you'd better go now!"
He turned back to Blossom. "We'll talk after Buttercup's gone, since I
have a sense that, once again, whatever's bothering you is about her."
"Why don't you talk
to her then?"
"She's leaving at the
moment. Or should be." He turned again towards the Girl's room. "BUTTERCUP!"
"I'm coming!" was Buttercup's
faint reply.
The Professor turned
back to Blossom. "Anyway, if I need to, I'll talk to her after she returns.
Why don't you go wait on the couch."
"Fine." Blossom floated
off just as Buttercup zipped down the stairs, earning her a dirty look
from Blossom.
The Professor did a
double take when Buttercup stopped in front of him. He hardly recognized
her now. Usually clad in old jeans and a trademark green shirt, she was
now in a dress. She hadn't worn one since she was seven, when the Girls
decided they didn't want to wear their old pink, blue and green dresses
anymore. He hadn't even realized Buttercup owned this particular
dress: a green camouflage mini dress. The outfit was still casual, but
for Buttercup it might as well have been a ball gown.
"You look very nice,"
the Professor managed to compliment her.
Buttercup blushed.
"Thanks." She waited another moment before she said, "Do you need anything?"
"No, why?"
"You're blocking the
door."
The Professor laughed
lightly as he realized that he was still holding the door closed. "I'm
sorry, Buttercup." He removed his hand and bent down to kiss Buttercup's
cheek. "Have fun. What time are you going to be back?"
"Ten?"
The Professor frowned.
"Try again."
"Okay, nine o'clock.
At the latest. I promise."
"That's better." The
Professor opened the door for Buttercup. "Bye, sweetie."
Buttercup rushed out.
"Bye, Professor!"
***
At 6:30 exactly, Buttercup
arrived at Andra's front door. She quickly ran a hand over her hair to
be sure it was smooth, then straightened the skirt of her dress before
ringing the doorbell.
A rush of footsteps
from inside, then Andra was at the door. "Hi, Buttercup!"
Buttercup's eyes widened
when she saw Andra, but she managed to say, "Hi."
Andra had also dressed
up for their "outing." She was wearing a royal blue wrap around skirt with
silver swirls and silver fringe around the bottom, and a matching blouse.
"You wanna come in
for a minute?" Andra asked. "We've got time, right?"
Buttercup managed to
find her voice. "Sure. I mean, yeah, we do." She giggled nervously.
Andra giggled too,
as she stepped away from the door to give Buttercup room. "I'm nervous,
too," she whispered as they walked across the living room.
"Hi, Cassie," Buttercup
said to Andra's mother when they reached the kitchen where Cassie was making
a light dinner for herself.
"Hi, Buttercup! Don't
you look nice tonight. Both of you look very nice." Cassie smiled at the
girls. She knew what was going on, she wasn't blind, she was just happy
that Andra was happy. Besides, Andra couldn't be safer with a real life
super hero as her best/girl friend. No one else would be able to get near
Andra, and Buttercup wouldn't have been a super hero if she was the type
that tried to hurt people who didn't provoke her. Besides, both of them
are way too nervous to do anything but watch the movie and maybe
steal a good night kiss. I'll have a talk with Andra later. Cassie glanced
at the clock on the wall behind her. "I'd love to keep you girls here to
chat, or perhaps to feed you, but if you don't hurry you'll be late for
your movie. Have fun, girls. Don't fly too fast, please, Buttercup."
"What's your definition
of 'too fast?'" Buttercup asked.
"I'll let you know,"
Andra assured her. "Come on!" Andra grabbed Buttercup's hand and led her
out the front door, calling a hasty goodbye to her mother over her shoulder.
"Okay, how do we do
this?" Andra asked Buttercup when they were on the porch. "Do I climb on
your back or what?"
"No way," Buttercup
said. "Sometimes I can hardly fly with a backpack on my back, I don't want
to try it with a person."
"Whatever happened
to that super strength of yours?"
"It's not the weight,
it's just that it throws my balance off. Anyway, I figured I'd just carry
you, like this." Before Andra could say anything, Buttercup put one arm
around Andra's shoulders, the other under her knees and in one swift motion
lifted both of them into the air.
"Eep," Andra squeaked
as she looked at the ground.
"Eep?" Buttercup asked.
"Andra, we're not five feet off the ground yet!"
Andra blushed. "Uh,
right."
"C'mon, put your arms
around my neck. I won't go too fast and I definitely won't drop you, okay?"
Andra wrapped an arm
securely around Buttercup's neck. "I know you won't. On purpose anyway.
It's just fun to mess with you."
Buttercup was tempted
to fly at top speed for a moment, just to mess with Andra, but in an amazing
moment of perception, Buttercup saw that Andra's beautiful grin was hiding
fear. Andra really was afraid of flying. She must be putting
up with this just for me. . . . No one's ever done that before. "I'll get you
back later," Buttercup finally muttered as she finally began to fly, at
a moderate speed, towards the theater.
***
As soon as Buttercup was
out of sight, the Professor went to the living room where Blossom was curled
up in one corner of the couch. He sat at the opposite end.
"Blossom, I want you
to be honest with me. What's wrong? Why are you so upset with Buttercup
lately?"
Blossom shrugged. "Personal
stuff."
"Normally I'm an advocate
for letting you Girls solve problems amongst yourselves, but this has gone
on too long and is becoming too serious. You have to tell me what's going
on, Blossom."
Blossom seemed to sink
further into the couch. "You'll be mad at me," she said in a small voice
that resembled Bubbles'.
The Professor sighed.
"Well, yes, there is that possibility. But just because I may be angry
or disappointed doesn't mean I love you any less."
"It's - it's really
hard to explain."
"We have all evening,"
the Professor said gently.
Blossom sighed heavily.
"You're right, it is about Buttercup. She's, I mean, I think there's more
between her and Andra than just being friends. Remember Buttercup was acting
weird all last weekend?" the Professor nodded. "And then they acted weird
all week at school. They glanced at eachother during class and. . . I don't
know exactly how to explain it, but it was exactly how boys and girls who
like eachother act on TV. And you saw Buttercup tonight! She was in a dress!
She wouldn't wear a dress for just anybody!"
"Yes, I noticed that,
too. But haven't we already discussed that Buttercup is free to like anybody
she wants?"
Blossom's cheeks flushed
slightly, but she nodded.
"So why are you still
having a problem?"
Blossom started to
answer "I don't -" but cut herself off and sank back down into the couch.
Things began to click
together in the Professor's mind. Blossom's sudden need to know everything
about Buttercup's life, by any means necessary. Blossom trying to control
who Buttercup could be friends with, and when she could see them. Buttercup
getting upset whenever something involving Buttercup was out of her control.
All signs he'd prepared himself to look for when the Girls started to date,
but never did he expect to see them in the Girls themselves!
"Blossom, I need to
ask you one more important question, and you need to answer me truthfully.
I promise I won't be mad. I won't yell or judge you or anything like that,
alright?" Blossom nodded. "Do you like Buttercup, honey?"
Blossom's eyes widened
in shock and her mouth full open slightly. "Why - what - how -"
"I'm sorry if I've
jumped to conclusions, sweetie -"
"But you're right!"
Blossom wailed. She threw herself into the Professor's arms, sobbing hysterically
and nearly knocking him backwards off the couch. "I didn't want to say
anything because it's wrong! I like boys, and it's unbelievably wrong to
like someone in your family. They have laws against that sort of thing!"
The Professor patted
Blossom's head. "Ssh, Blossom, it's all right -"
"No it's not! Everybody
knows that! Nobody likes their sister. It's just wrong!"
"blossom, please, calm
down a moment," the Professor said. "I want to talk."
Slowly, Blossom's sobs
reduced to quiet sniffs.
"There's something
you should know about you and your sisters," the Professor said quietly,
still stroking Blossom's hair. "Technically, you aren't sisters."
Blossom lifted her
head from the Professor's shoulder. "What do you mean?"
"Shortly after your
creation I analyzed you Girls' DNA, trying to figure out what it was about
the Chemical X that made you into super heroes and discovered that while
your DNA is similar, you aren't exactly sisters."
"Then why -"
"Did I say you were
sisters? It was easiest to say you were sisters and raise you as such.
Few people would understand the complexities of your DNA, I'm even baffled
sometimes. But I also thought it would be better for you to believe yourselves
to be sisters, rather than random people who happened to be created together."
"So. . . Buttercup's
not my sister," Blossom said slowly.
"Not genetically, no."
"But. . . it's still
gross to like her!"
The Professor sighed.
"It seems like that now, I'm sure. You can't change values you've held
all your life in a few minutes. But I want you to know that there is absolutely
nothing wrong with liking another girl, you just need to go about it the
right way."
Blossom hesitated a
moment before speaking. "Professor?"
"Yes, Blossom?"
"How did you know?
I. . . I haven't even written this in my diary. I wanted it to go away
and I didn't want to remember."
"I just put the pieces
together now," the Professor admitted. "As you Girls have started to hit
puberty, I knew you'd become interested in other people and want to start
dating, so I read up on things, like when and where should you be allowed
to go, but I also read about warning signs of possibly unhealthy relationships.
I'm afraid, Blossom, that you've been displaying classic signs of the jealous,
manipulative girlfriend. And you have been ever since Buttercup became
friends with Andra."
Blossom nodded, looking
absolutely miserable. "I knew it was wrong to keep bugging Buttercup, deep
down. But. . . I guess maybe I thought if I can't have her, nobody can."
"But you know differently
now?"
Blossom shrugged. "Now
I could technically have her -"
"But she's obviously
found someone she's happy with. You have no right to try and break up a
relationship so you can squeeze in."
Blossom sighed. "I
know. I know! It's just. . . ."
"Hard?" the Professor
offered. Blossom nodded. "I wish I had a way to make it easier for you,
but nothing I make down in the lab can change human nature."
"I know," Blossom muttered.
"You go back up to
your room," the Professor suggested gently. "Rest for awhile, read some
of those Japanese novels you got last week and have some quiet fun. Tonight
after Buttercup gets home, or tomorrow morning if she's too tired, I'll
explain to your sisters what I've told you. I think they deserve to know
too, right?"
"Right. Thanks, Professor."
Blossom hugged the Professor tightly.
The Professor patted
Blossom's back gently. "Any time, Sweetheart."
***
"Man, that was sooo cool
when she had the gun and was threatening to shoot them!"
Andra made a face.
"No, the cool part was the end. When that guy opened that cupboard where
the kids were hiding, that was creepy."
"Was not."
"You jumped too, Buttercup!"
"Only because you practically
spilled the popcorn in my lap."
Andra shook her head.
"Whatever you say, Buttercup." She looked at the large neon clock above
their heads and sighed. "15 minutes to get home."
Buttercup made a face.
"Dang, not nearly enough time to do anything else. C'mon, let's get outside,
then I'll take ya' home."
The girls flew home
in silence. Andra was slightly more comfortable flying now, but other things
were on her mind at the moment making her tense: what would happen when
they got to her house? A hug? A kiss? Nothing?
Buttercup gently set
Andra down on her front porch, though Buttercup tripped slightly when she
set her feet down, causing her to stumble into Andra's arms. Both girls
giggled nervously as Buttercup regained her footing.
"Um, this was fun,"
Andra said. "We should, like, do it again."
"Definitely," Buttercup
agreed quickly. "And, uh." Just do it! Buttercup leaned in and kissed
Andra, and Andra, thinking quickly, put an arm around Buttercup to keep
her from pulling away immediately.
A light flashed suddenly,
causing Buttercup and Andra to jerk back in surprise. "Oooh, look at the
dykes!" a grating voice called from the bushes. A head popped up and another
picture flashed.
"Mitch Mitchelson!"
Buttercup shrieked, her voice almost as high as Bubbles' could get. There
was a rustling in the bushes as Mitch ran away, but Buttercup was after
him immediately.
She caught up to him
in a small patch of trees behind Andra's house. Buttercup dove down from
above Mitch's head and tackled him to the ground.
"What the heck do you
think you're doing?!" Buttercup demanded as she stood over Mitch.
"Don't hurt me," Mitch
wailed.
Buttercup reached down
toward him, causing Mitch to shrink back with a whimper, but Buttercup
was simply grabbing the camera from his grip. She threw the camera to the
ground, stomped on it and, to ensure it was destroyed, melted it into a
black chunk of scrap with her eye beams.
Buttercup knelt next
to Mitch. "if you don't tell me what you were doing, you could be next."
"I'll tell!" Mitch
said quickly. "Some of the guys at school heard you and the new girl were
going out tonight. We wanted proof that you two were gay."
"Why was it any business
of yours?!" Buttercup demanded. Mitch simply whimpered. "You listen to
me, Mitch Mitchelson. If anybody finds out what happened tonight, and I
mean anybody, I will hold you personally responsible."
"No, you can't!"
"Why not?"
"Be - because -"
"Oh, I don't want to
hear it!" Buttercup said, standing up. "Just remember that warning. I will
beat you to a pulp less recognizable than your camera if I hear about you
saying anything." Without another word she turned from Mitch and flew back
to Andra's front porch.
Andra's was still there,
sitting on the porch swing with her mother. Andra was paler than ever and
appeared to be shaking. "It's happening again," she whispered when she
saw Buttercup. "It's happening all over again."
"She's told me everything,
Buttercup," Cassie said gently as she held her daughter close.
"I had to," Andra said
quietly. "She heard you chase after Mitch and came out to see what was
happening."
"It's alright, Buttercup,"
Cassie said when she saw Buttercup's reddening face. "I'll admit, I already
had some idea about you and Andra. I have no problem with it. And I'm glad
you chased off that little cretin of a boy."
Buttercup smiled slightly.
"I melted his camera and scared him pretty good."
"We won't have to move
again, will we, Mom?" Andra asked.
"No!" Buttercup said.
"Definitely not," Cassie
said firmly. "I like Townsville. You like Townsville. The vast majority
of people here are wonderful, open minded individuals. I won't let a few
idiots chase us out."
"I won't either," Buttercup
said firmly. Andra smiled gratefully.
"Will you be needing
a ride home, Buttercup?" Cassie asked.
"Oh crap," Buttercup
muttered. "My curfew! No, thanks, Cassie. I'll fly."
"I'll give the Professor
a call and tell him I kept you talking. Unless you'd like me to say otherwise?"
"No, no. I'll. . .
tell him later. But thanks." Buttercup turned to Andra. "Call me tomorrow?
On Sunday?"
Andra nodded. "I'll
try."
"Don't worry about
Mitch. He's a jerk, but I've got him pretty much beaten into submission."
"I hope so."
***
The Professor was waiting
near the front door when Buttercup returned home.
"I was getting worried
when it got close to nine and you weren't home," he said as he hugged Buttercup.
"I can take care of
myself," Buttercup muttered. "Besides, Cassie called you, right?"
"Yes, but I'm afraid
she doesn't lie very well."
"What do you mean?"
"With some people you
can just tell when they lie. Cassie is one of them. So would you like to
tell me what happened tonight?"
"No really," Buttercup
said. "It wasn't serious or anything."
"Buttercup, too many
secrets are being kept in this family lately. You can keep this one for
tonight, but tomorrow I want to know what's happening, alright?"
Buttercup sighed. "Alright,
Professor." Maybe by then I'll understand everything that happened
tonight.
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