Chapter Eleven: Calm Before the Storm
That evening, the Professor was still hard at work. Blossom came down to the lab and joined him, "How's it coming Professor?"
"I am getting there," he replied, "I am so close to finding a temporary solution. I think by tonight I'll be done, I just need to figure one thing out."
"But only temporary?" she asked.
"Yes. A total cure will be difficult and will take a long, long time. But what I'm coming up with will renew your strength a little bit and maybe relieve you from the headaches you girls have been having. It will hopefully slow down the antidote X considerably, maybe even put the symptoms to a standstill and buy us a lot more time than we have at the moment," he said anxiously. "Provided we find the source of the antidote X anyway…"
"Any luck with that?" Blossom asked.
Professor Utonium shook his head, "No. I've checked everything I could think of. But what I'm working on now has been moved to top priority, because even with more antidote X exposure, it would hopefully slow down its effects."
Blossom slowly nodded. She felt a sharp stab of pain in her temples and groaned, shielding her eyes from the light in the lab that suddenly seemed too bright for her. Professor Utonium glanced her way, "Go take another aspirin."
"I did just an hour ago. I can't overdo it with the stuff," Blossom complained, "It doesn't seem to work very well anymore."
"Go ahead and take another one. Hopefully by later tonight you won't need it as much anymore," he said worriedly.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, sometimes I need to take two. It's OK," he said. Blossom nodded and rose to her feet. The Professor gently steadied her as she stumbled slightly. Blossom gave the Professor a hug and began to cry. "Blossom?"
"Professor, I'm so confused," she cried, "I just don't know what to do anymore!"
"Don't worry sweetie, it's going to be fine," he soothed. "I'm confident I'll be able to help you and your sisters."
Blossom shook her head, "No, it's not just that. I believe in you Professor. But I don't know what to do about Greg, about life…"
"Have you two patched things up yet?" Professor Utonium asked.
Blossom shook her head, "No, not yet. I mean, he wrote me a letter. It's the sweetest, and most beautiful letter too…"
"Then what's the problem?" the Professor asked. The phone started to ring but stopped on the second ring.
"I don't know," she sighed, wiping her eyes, "I love him, I want us to get back together, but in the back of my mind I worry about what would happen if we got back together and you couldn't save us? How would he feel? Wouldn't it spare him more pain if we weren't together? I just feel so confused. And what if everything I've worked hard to achieve, are in vain. All my hopes and dreams, down the drain… everything I've planned…I've worked so hard, but is it all for nothing? I want to be with Greg, but this antidote X thing complicates things so much I don't know anything anymore!" Blossom spoke frantically and quickly, pouring out what was on her mind.
"Blossom, breathe," Professor Utonium said, giving her a hug, "it's going to be OK."
Bubbles peeked into the lab, "Blossom, phone. It's Greg."
"What do I do?" Blossom sighed.
"You can't avoid the one you love too long," Professor Utonium said, "Talk to him, it'll be all right. It will make you feel better, and I want you to be happy."
Blossom nodded, "I'll take it upstairs." she slowly made her way up the stairs and picked up the phone in the family room. "Hello. Greg?"
Bubbles hung up the kitchen phone where she answered at the sound of Blossom's voice on the other end. Bubbles took another aspirin and checked her reflection in the mirror. She and Robyn had made plans to hang out and Bubbles invited Mike to join them while they watched TV. She didn't care how she felt, so long as she was with Mike. She couldn't wait to get all comfy on the couch watching movies, snuggling in his arms. He was her first serious boyfriend and the thought of being near him was comforting considering all that was happening.
The doorbell rang and Bubbles answered it hoping it was Mike, so she was kind of disappointed when she saw Kevin. "Oh, hey Kevin," Bubbles said.
"Is BC in?" he asked.
"Yeah," Bubbles nodded, "Hey Buttercup! Kevin's here!" she called. When there was no reply she turned to Kevin, "Just a sec, I'll go get her." She headed upstairs clutching the banister for support feeling slightly dizzy again. Kevin noticed and eyed her curiously.
Bubbles knocked on Buttercup's door, "Hey can I come in?"
"No." Buttercup replied.
"Kevin's here," Bubbles said.
Buttercup opened the door, "Can you tell him I had to cancel?"
Bubbles shook her head, "Oh no, you are not doing this again."
"Doing what?"
"Oh come on Buttercup, get a life!" Bubbles hissed.
"Considering the circumstances, I don't think it's a good idea. I mean, what's the point, we're dying remember?" Buttercup snorted.
"All the more reason to go out and get off your sorry ass and have fun. You've been locking yourself in your room and pitying yourself long before antidote X came into the picture. Besides, the Professor will figure something out. He's got to," Bubbles' voice trailed off. He has to. He will. He won't let anything happen to them. Bubbles shook her head, "Anyway, it's a miracle that you still have at least one friend the way you push everyone away."
"Oh what do you know?!" Buttercup snapped, "Miss popularity. 'I just want to be normal'." Buttercup mimicked her voice, "Well, your wish came true, are you happy?" Bubbles cringed at her words, fighting tears. Buttercup knew her words were unfair and uncalled for, but she didn't care. "I don't push Kevin away, he's the only one in this whole stupid world I can count on. I just don't feel like doing anything!"
"You never feel like doing anything!" Bubbles frowned. "It worries me to see you so reclusive. You need to get out more."
"Fine," Buttercup sighed, she glanced outside. It was starting to get cloudy. "But for your information," she said, putting on her black hoodie with a green Celtic knot design, "I like being by myself. It helps me think. It's better than wasting my time with people who will only stab me in the back."
"Not everyone will do that," Bubbles said.
"Easy for you to say," Buttercup said, "You've never been betrayed. Yet."
"My friends would never…"
"Define friend. I'll bet you that your fellow cheerleading friends are going to ditch you the moment they find out you had to quit the team," Buttercup said. "They hardly gave you the time of day until you joined the team. Remember?"
Bubbles sighed, "Let's not talk about this right now. You go have fun. Try it you'll like it. Staying at home by yourself and moping isn't going to help things get any better. We should be surrounding ourselves with friends and family right now, not locking ourselves in our room and hiding from our problems. Besides, you two made plans, it won't hurt to stick to them. Who knows maybe by the time you get home the Professor will have a solution. Now if you'll excuse me, I've got to finish getting ready for Mike."
"Mike? I thought Robyn was coming over," Buttercup raised a brow, "Weren't you going to have a girls night out or something like that?"
"Oh yeah, I invited Mike to join us," Bubbles said.
"And Robyn's OK with this?" Buttercup demanded.
"I haven't told her yet, but she's my best friend so I don't see why not," Bubbles shrugged.
Buttercup rolled her eyes and gave her a strange look, "OK, whatever you say."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Bubbles frowned.
"Nevermind." Buttercup shook her head. "Ciao." She grabbed her bag and headed on her way.
Bubbles shook her head with a frown. What did Buttercup know anyway?
"Oh, and Bubbles?" Buttercup stopped.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for the advice," Buttercup managed a smile, "If the Professor does by some miracle figure something out before I get home, call me OK?"
"I will," Bubbles nodded.
Kevin and Buttercup headed out the door. "Wow, you're dad actually let you borrow the car?" Buttercup asked as she climbed into Mr. Daily's old rusty tin can he called a car. Mr. Daily never let Kevin borrow the car. Ever.
Kevin shrugged, "No, but he won't know or care. He's spending the night at his girlfriend's and she's got a nice little SUV. I honestly don't know what she sees in him. I know what she sees in her though." He seemed nonchalant, but there was an undertone of bitterness and disgust.
"Could it be money? Sex?"
"All of the above?" Kevin added. "She's married you know. Maybe that's why she's attracted to him. Just to be rebellious and dangerous or some crap like that."
"I said it once, I'll say it again," Buttercup put her hand on his knee, "Just say the word and I'll kick his butt."
"Forget it," Kevin shook his head, "He's not worth the energy."
"You are," Buttercup said. Kevin smiled at that. Buttercup continued, "At least we'll be graduating soon," Buttercup grinned, "Then you can move out when you go to college and never have to see him again."
Kevin took a while to reply, "No, I can't do that."
"Can't do what?"
"Move out. He needs me. I can't do that to him."
"But why? Look how he treats you!"
Kevin shrugged, "He's family. He's all the family I got. He wasn't like this before my brother left, and mom died. I am all he's got."
"I miss your mom," Buttercup sighed, sounding nostalgic. Kevin's mother was killed in an accident three years ago.
"Me too," Kevin nodded thoughtfully. "Every day."
"She was a great woman. She was like my mother too. I looked up to her as a mother, the mother I never had anyway," Buttercup sighed. There was a long awkward silence as they pulled up into the theatres. Buttercup bit her lip and looked as though she was at battle with herself.
"BC?"
"Kevin, there's something I have to tell you," Buttercup said, motioning him not to get out of the car just yet. She had to tell him their secret, the truth. She couldn't keep quiet; if she did she would go crazy. She needed to be able to talk about it with someone she trusted.
"What's that?"
"But, you have to keep quiet. You can't tell a soul," Buttercup continued, "Not until it's time. I mean if this got into the wrong hands…"
"Is everything OK?" Kevin asked. Buttercup looked so torn and hurt.
"I'm… I mean we, er, my sisters and I, we're losing our powers," Buttercup blurted.
"You're what?! You've got to be joking!" Kevin said.
"I wish I was…" she sighed, "Well, we're not losing them completely. We'll still have them, but they're useless. They drain us of our energy and they're only growing weaker. You know what that means. No crime fighting ever again."
"I am so sorry BC. I know how much having powers and being able to fight crime means to you," Kevin said.
"Please don't tell anyone," Buttercup begged.
"Don't worry. You know me. I don't blame you for having to keep it secret for as long as you can lest the wrong person finds out," Kevin nodded. "How though? I thought losing your powers was impossible."
"Antidote X."
"Seriously?" Kevin shook his head, "How?"
"Good question," Buttercup sighed. Kevin reached over and gave her a hug. Buttercup returned the hug, embracing her best friend.
"Is this why you avoided me lately?" Kevin asked. Buttercup nodded. Kevin gave her a squeeze, "It'll be OK. I don't know what I can do, but you can count on me. It's times like these we need to lean on each other. Right" Buttercup only nodded.
They hugged for a moment until Buttercup suddenly grinned, not wanting to get emotional, "We're starting to get sappy so what do you say we go watch a movie?"
"Yeah," Kevin smiled sheepishly. He gave her a quick punch on the shoulder, "C'mon." As they sat down to watch their movie, they were unaware that three rows behind them, someone in the audience was watching them.
Thanks to each and every one of you fantabulous reviewers!
Pilfered Sympathy: Thanks for da review!
Cerberus5550: Thanks man! I try to put depth to my characters, even secondary ones, so thanks!
Hairy Gregory: I'm not saying who it is yet, but I will say that it is not an original character. I like your deductions BTW.
visv1695: Hey, thank you. You have no idea how happy that made me feel considering I was very depressed the day I got it, so it cheered me up!
