Buttercup felt someone shaking her softly, whispering her name. Buttercup let out a growl If that's Blossom, I'll kill her. But, when Buttercup's green eyes opened, she saw the face of a young woman. The woman had big green eyes that sparkled brightly.
"Wake up, Honey." The woman smiled, she got up and headed toward the window throwing the curtains open. The light engulfed the irascible child. "Rise and shine you sleepy head, you gonna get up or stay in bed?" The woman's cute rhyme made Buttercup wince. She sat up and stretched. Now why did she think of the name Blossom? She didn't know any Blossom. Right? "Come on Baby, we gotta get going." Buttercup moaned and threw the quilt over her head, flopping back down on the pillow.
"Five more minutes, Mommy." She uttered into the pillow. Mommy?! Time out a second, Mommy? Buttercup didn't have a mommy. But…hadn't it had always been just her and her mommy? Thinking this early in the morning just made Buttercup's head ache. Her mother, Red Robins, put her hands on her hips.
"Now Sweetheart, we really don't have time for this today. You're starting school; you don't want to be late. I wanna see you at breakfast in ten minutes, Buttercup." Her tone of voice was more scolding and forceful than the playful greeting she'd started out with. Buttercup groaned again and waited till she heard the door shut behind the strange redheaded woman. She raised the covers off her head and sighed. But inside her mind was yelling.
This is seven kinds of weird! Her mind shouted I don't have a mother! I don't recognize this place! And I've all ready started kindergarten what the-- Quickly Buttercup calmed herself down. Get a hold of yourself! Geez, it's always been like this. I must've just had some kind of weird dream; I must be still reacting to it. She yawned again and got out of bed. She headed towards a large vanity on the other side of the small room. Her lazy eyes looked upon the table of the vanity to see a picture.
Buttercup climbed on top of the small stool in front of the large vanity and was soon eye-level with the picture. She reached forward and grasped the photograph. Inside the golden picture frame was a photograph of Red and her. Her mother was wearing a long red dress with a yellow bow in the back. She was smiling and holding…and holding...
Buttercup was surprised to see the woman was holding a smaller version of herself. In the photograph she appeared to be only two years old wearing a dress similar to her mother's. Her hair was much curlier though, and she had a golden heart locket around her neck. Buttercup looked down to see that same locket around her neck. Perplexed, she looked began to examine it when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.
Now this is definitely different. Buttercup could see the obvious change; her hair seemed much longer than she remembered. Her long black tresses touched on where her shoulder blades would've been. It was still messy from her sleep. Wasn't her hair shorter though, and in some kind of style? That must've been one crazy dream. Buttercup thought shaking her head from side to side My hair's always been this long.
She opened the door out of her bedroom and down the hall toward where she instinctively knew the kitchen was. Her house wasn't really a house though; it was a tiny apartment. Buttercup thought she remembered living in a house but shrugged it off as she entered the kitchen.
Red Robins was making pancakes on the stove, she seemed to be heavily concentrating on it. Her red hair was tied up in a quaint bun with two thick strands of her bangs hanging out in front and two "chopsticks" stuck in the bun. She wore a business-type dress that was a rich blue. A golden heart locket shimmered in the artificial light around the woman's neck. Buttercup climbed up on the chair her long white nightgown scraping the seat as she sat down.
"Good Morning Sweetheart." Red looked back at her child and smiled lovingly. "How'd you sleep?" Red asked carefully finishing up the pancakes.
"Good." Buttercup mumbled resting her head on her hands. This whole place still confused her. It was just way too early in the morning to think about it though. Red placed a short-stack of pancakes in front of Buttercup. They steamed pleasantly in front of her. Buttercup felt a soft kiss on the top of her head.
"Come on, Honey. I know you're tired but we have to get going, okay?" Her mother said gently as she rubbed her daughter's back. Buttercup lifted her head up and laid back in the chair giving her mother an evil eye for disturbing her. "Oh don't give me that look. Now, come on, eat your breakfast, we have a lot to do today!"
Buttercup mumbled, annoyed, as she mercilessly stabbed a pancake and shoved a piece into her mouth. Her eyes went wide with delight. "Chocolate chip?!" She asked excitedly, her mouth full. Red nodded.
"I knew you'd like those." Buttercup began to eat more hungrily, wolfing the pancakes down. Red poured some coffee from the pot into her pink mug and sipped it casually leaning against the counter next to Buttercup's little Puppet Pals lunch box. Red had finished the lunch and made sure to leave a special little note inside. She swallowed the coffee and said, "When you're done with breakfast I want to brush your hair and then we'll get that yellow dress for your first day and-"
"Not-uh! No way!" Buttercup yelled spitting pancake from her mouth.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Her mother sighed; knowing another battle was beginning. Buttercup swallowed quickly.
"I am NOT wearing that sissy yellow dress!"
"And why's that?"
"It makes me look like a wimp!" Buttercup cried, shoveling another forkful into her mouth. Red set down the coffee mug.
"Buttercup, you know how I feel about first impressions. The yellow dress is not sissy." Red knelt down next to her daughter. Buttercup crossed her arms stubbornly. "It makes you look like a nice and sweet little girl."
"I see…it's to disguise my true nature, right?" Buttercup asked sarcastically. Red sighed and grinned.
"You KNOW that's not what I meant." Red gave her daughter a kiss on the forehead. "I just want you to make a good first impression. I'm just worried that the other children might've heard about what happened at your…other school." Her mother looked down sadly.
At first the statement confused the five-year-old. Then, the memories came back. Buttercup used to go to a school that she had recently gotten expelled from. Buttercup had met with a lot of prejudice there. The children thought she was odd and funny looking. There was about one thousand times Buttercup would've beat them up for saying things like that. But one thing held her back. Her mother. Red had always made a point to "turn the other cheek". Which basically meant not to fight, cause Buttercup would be the one to get in trouble. But one day, that all changed.
Buttercup had been minding her own business sitting at the arts and crafts table with empty chairs surrounding her. Buttercup ignored the fact no one would sit near her, although it did hurt a bit inside. Suddenly, a group of children approached her, carrying a very large vat of something. And soon after a large vat of red paint was promptly spilt over her. The paint dripped off her in a taunting manner as the classroom roared with laughter. Buttercup burned. Mother or not, this had crossed the line. In a "Carrie"-like manner she took her vengeance out upon the students. She found she had an amazing talent for combat. Unfortunately, none of the other children did. Thus (after many MANY a parent complaint) Buttercup was expelled. Her mother had understood why her daughter had reacted in such a way. But Buttercup still felt that her mother must've been ashamed of her for not listening to her in the first place.
Red cleared her throat and stood up, shaking Buttercup from her memories. Her mother beamed lovingly. Buttercup's eyes cast down toward her food. Red suddenly felt bad for bringing back such horrible memories.
"I'm sorry, Angel." Red sighed, "Let's not try to think about it. But, if anything does go wrong there, please tell me first okay? Me or the teacher. Just…just remember to turn the other cheek, Darling. God will be the one to punish them in the end." Red kissed her daughter gently on her cheek. "Now come on, let's get going." Red smiled brightly, hoping she cheered up her child some.
"Mommy." Buttercup said softly looking down at her plate.
"What is it, Honey?" Red asked concernedly. Buttercup looked up at her mother with a strange smirk on her face.
"I am NOT wearing the yellow dress!" Buttercup nodded her head sharply as if to confirm it. Red laughed.
Wearing the yellow dress, Buttercup and her mother pulled up in front of a low-set red brick building. Buttercup crossed her arms stubbornly, annoyed. Her tiny Puppet Pals lunch box sat next to her. Buttercup's yellow dress was much like a dress she'd thought she'd worn before. It was a solid yellow except with a white stripe across the middle. She wore white tights and little black Mary Janes. The one thing Buttercup hated the most about the outfit was the large yellow bow on top of her head contrasting nicely with her long dark locks. It fanned out to either side of her head giving her a mouse-like appearance. She fidgeted uncomfortably. Red let out a deep sigh and looked over at her child in the passenger's seat.
"Okay, Honey." Red began, "Today's your first day. Be polite and courteous, listen to the teacher, play nice with the other children-"
"I know, Mommy." Buttercup rolled her eyes. "We went through this when I went to the other school. Except you were crying." Buttercup pointed out. Red was quiet for a moment, the other children laughing and filing into the school creating background noise.
"I'm sorry Sweetheart," Red took in a deep breath, "I just get so sad seeing you go to school, I feel that you're leaving me forever. They grow up so fast, you know?" She looked back to see Buttercup giving her a puzzled look. Red laughed and shook her head. "Never mind. Anyway, just be good and if all goes well…me and you will go to the park and have some ice cream." Red smiled. Buttercup's eyes lit up.
"Really?" She asked excitedly. Red grinned and nodded. "Can we play some baseball too?"
"Sure!" Red chuckled softly. Buttercup smiled happily and unbuckled her seatbelt. She opened the door. "Buttercup." Red began, Buttercup paused. "Have a good day, Angel." Buttercup smiled.
"I know I will!" Buttercup was about to leave but quickly turned back and gave her mother a kiss on the cheek. "Bye Mommy!"
"Goodbye, Baby." Red choked back some tears as her child shut the door and ran off the start school her little lunch box swinging wildly.
Buttercup found herself near lost amongst the scores of small students heading toward their classroom. The place seemed gigantic to the tiny girl. Suddenly the bell rang and the kindergartners ran to their classrooms leaving the young brunette in the middle of an empty, white tiled hallway. She took a deep breath and tried to remember which classroom was hers.
"Room number…number…" Buttercup had an amazing knack for forgetting things sometimes. "Oh right! Room #36."
She stood in front of room #36 fidgeting slightly. The name next to the door was typed in white print on a wooden marker. It said, "Ms. Rachel Green". Buttercup became nervous looking at it. She brought her mitt up, gripped onto her heat locket tightly, and rapped on the door.
Suddenly the door opened and a woman, probably in her early thirties smiled down at her. The woman had brown hair that was tied back into a cute ponytail on top of her head. She had brown eyes that looked on amiably to the girl. Buttercup shifted her weight to her other foot.
"Hello, you must be Buttercup Melissa Robins." She said to the child. Buttercup nodded. "I'm Ms. Green, don't be shy, come on in." The woman turned back into the room. Buttercup gulped and followed in, holding her lunch box protectively.
The room was filled with chattery five and six-year-olds. The room was bright and happy, garnished with millions of crayoned drawings and sloppy Popsicle stick art. There were cartoon characters on the walls that helped tell time and weekdays and one even announced birthdays. The green-eyed girl took in the scene at once excitedly. Ms. Green smiled.
"Now settle down class." Ms. Green began the students ignored her. "Class…settle down." The talking continued. "QUIET!" Ms. Green yelled. The room was as silent as death. Ms. Green chuckled pleasantly. "Now class, we have a new student joining us today, please welcome Buttercup Robins." Buttercup felt extremely apprehensive wondering if they'd except her.
The class gave a semi-unison "Hello Buttercup" from their seats. Buttercup smiled a little and gave a wave to the class. Ms. Green grinned. Ms. Robins had been so afraid the children would react poorly to Buttercup's "unique features" when they'd spoken. But, the children had already met a child with similar "disabilities." Little Bubbles Fisher was always so bright and perky. A rainbow seemed to follow that child everywhere. She had made it IMPOSSIBLE for the other students to hate her. Bubbles had made fast friends with everybody and the children quickly got over her oddities. Because of her, it would make the experience that much easier for little Buttercup. Speaking of Bubbles Ms. Green thought where is that girl?
Ms. Green had been concerned with that girl for a long time. She kept coming in with strange marks and Ms. Green couldn't help but wonder. And every time Ms. Green asked about the marks, Bubbles would say that she "fell down the stairs." Every time. Mr. Fisher did seem like a wonderful man but…she shook her head from her thoughts as students bombarded Buttercup with questions.
"I'm five." Buttercup answered a question easily.
"Is that a Puppet Pals lunch box?" Someone asked.
"Yeah-huh." Buttercup held it up proudly.
"What's in your locket?"
"This?" Buttercup picked up the locket and smiled. "It's a picture of me and my Mommy." Buttercup opened it and showed it to the class, although it was hard for them to see from their seats. Suddenly, a very rude question flew from the back of the room.
"What kind of a dumb name is 'Buttercup'?" All eyes turned to see a blonde-haired girl with her arms crossed in the back.
"Mitsy Lordanceson!" Ms. Green cried, hating to say such a long name. "That is NO way to treat a new student. Now you apologize right away!" Ms. Green put her hands on her hips. Mitsy frowned her long blonde hair swishing to the side as she turned her head away.
"It was just a question." Mitsy shrugged. Ms. Green was about to give her an earful when her phone beeped. She quickly approached the phone, giving Mitsy an "I'm-angry-with-you" look before answering.
"Hello? Yes…yes…oh my. That urgent? You sure, Ann? All right. Bye." The class turned eagerly toward her. She sighed. "Class, my sister's on the phone at the office. It seems she's had a terrible break up with her boyfriend, although I thought he was a jerk but…" Ms. Green noticed the vacant stare in the children's eyes. "Oh, you're children." She shook her head. "Anyway I'm leaving Jamie in charge of the class until I get back. This shouldn't take too long." She quickly got up and headed to the door. As soon as she shut the door, the room broke out into wild yells and prattle.
Buttercup was surrounded by many nice children who offered to play with her and be her friends. The brunette was pleased with how many of them wanted her as a friend. She was never treated so…so normally before. It felt great. Then, Mitsy Lordanceson approached her.
"Outta the way!" Mitsy shouted and the children fled in fear. Buttercup's smiled turned into a familiar scowl. "You never answered my question. What kind of a dumb name is 'Buttercup'?" Mitsy asked, purposefully trying to rile her up.
"It's not a dumb name! Besides, Mitsy's a pretty dumb name in itself!" Buttercup crossed her arms. Mitsy seemed unfazed.
"You know what, I already don't like you. You've got a dumb name, you've got a bad attitude, and you look like a total wimp!" Mitsy poked Buttercup in the chest with her index finger. Buttercup grumbled about wearing the yellow dress and big bow. "You're just too scared to fight." Mitsy began to push Buttercup; "You're just a little wimp! A sissy! And you know what, I don't like you. I heard about what you did at that other school. You beat up a bunch of kids just 'cause you couldn't take it. Well, we don't like bullies here at Golden Acres. We don't tolerate people like you." Mitsy pushed her into a shelf full of books. Buttercup bumped against it harshly knocking a few to the ground.
"You're being a bully right now!" Buttercup pointed out the obvious hypocritical nature of Mitsy's behavior. The other children looked on with anticipation neither helping nor hurting.
"I'm just taking out the garbage. You're nothing! You shouldn't even be allowed to come to a school with DECENT people." Mitsy hissed shoving Butterup against the book self again. More books clattered to the ground. Not even Jaime, the girl in charge, stopped it. They all wondered what Buttercup would do. Her temper was blazing but she held back. Her mother said, "turn the other cheek". God would punish Mitsy. Buttercup growled pushing Mitsy's hands off of her. "Aren't ya gonna fight back?" Misty asked giving Buttercup another push.
"NO! Mommy says to turn the other cheek." Buttercup recited. Although part of her was practically going nuts. She wanted nothing more then to punch her out. She'd taken out a whole room of kindergartners before. But, that had only made her mother upset. It was taking all of her will power to resist hurting the brash blonde.
"Your mother's a CRIMINAL!" Misty yelled. Buttercup's eyes widened. "You're mother's a no-good, lousy, rotten, cheap, evil, CROOK! And YOU are the KID of evil. That means you're bad too! I will NOT be in the same classroom with an evil brat like you! You're bad! Your Grandparents were bad and your mother's bad too!" The children "ooooo"ed with excitement. Buttercup was looking toward the ground. Her face hidden by her neatly cut bangs. Finally, she looked up.
Her green eyes glowed with an almost surreal anger. Her rationality dissipated as she winded up her fist. She thrust her mitt forward with so much power; the air around it seemed to howl. Mitsy never knew what hit her. As if in a split second, Mitsy was standing in front of Buttercup, the next, Mitsy's bruised body lay lifeless against the far wall.
The children had watched in horror as Buttercup's fist rammed into Mitsy's jaw, a savage battle cry escaping Buttercup's throat and a pained scream leaving Mitsy's. Bits of plaster fell from the indent Mitsy's body made in the wall. Buttercup breathed, the berserker rage leaving her emerald eyes. The class gasped in unison at the power the new girl had displayed.
"Oooooo! You done a bad thing." A little boy turned to Buttercup and said. Buttercup looked at what she had done. While somewhere inside she felt like celebrating, she felt horrified. What would her new friends think? What would her mother say? Oh no. I did EXACTLY what Mitsy wanted. I've let Mom down. Oh no…
"I…I…" Buttercup looked at the accusing stares from her new classmates. The anger and fear that had gripped their souls could be viewed in their eyes. Buttercup shook. She did it again. The class backed away from her in fear. It was happening all over again. Suddenly Buttercup pushed past the children and ran out the front door with no idea where she was going. As her Mary Janes pounded on the tile, Mitsy's scream echoing in her ears, Buttercup wished she'd never left her mother's side that morning.
