CHAPTER 3! Woo hoo, I'm on fire! I really, really, hope you like this story!
A bit more time has passed, maybe like, two days!
It was another bright, sunny afternoon. The boys were playing soccer while the girls picked flowers. Blossom put a daisy behind Penelope's ear and Penelope hopped up and down.
"Ookyoo! Ookyoo!" she cried gratefully. Blossom smiled affectionately at the little ham-ham.
"You're welcome, Penny!" she exclaimed. Penelope scampered off to go pick flowers with the others. Blossom watched the boys play soccer and she stared admiringly at Trav. He was a true soccer player. Trav loved soccer more than any other sport, and he practiced day and night.
She then glanced over at Dexter. She blushed and lowered her gaze. He was a handsome gentle-ham. He was proper, yet he liked to play, and he was nice and kind and…
Blossom blushed deeper. She felt a tap on her shoulder and whirled around. Pashmina stood there, smiling broadly.
"You OK?" she asked and Blossom smiled. She turned away, but Dexter was still on her mind.
Over at the field, Trav was taking a break. He mopped his brow with a cloth and glanced over to the girls. He gaze settled on Pashmina. He was completely infatuated. She's a very, very pretty ham-ham, he thought. She's also really nice and a little dainty, which is good! She likes to have fun, too!
Suddenly, Trav felt a tap on his shoulder and he came face-to-face with Dexter. Smiling, Dexter told him he was up on the field. Trav reluctantly turned away.
That evening, the ham-hams had an evening picnic. Blossom inched closer and closer to Dexter.
"Hello, Dexter! Nice evening isn't it?" she said. Dexter nodded.
"Very nice indeed," Dexter replied. From there Blossom managed to strike up a conversation. Pashmina was eating with Sandy and Bijou when she saw Blossom and Dexter.
"She's done that before," she said darkly. Bijou and Sandy followed her gaze and their mouths dropped. Blossom was most definitely flirting with Dexter!!!
"I guess this is, like, going to be another problem! Boy, this Comet Crew is a bunch of trouble-makers!" Sandy exclaimed, sinking her teeth into a sunflower seed.
"I suppose, but if zey had not come zhen you vould have never met Yami!" Bijou argued. Sandy looked thoughtful and nodded.
"Yeah, but what am I gonna do? Do you think that Dexter likes Blossom?" Pashmina asked worriedly.
"I don't think so. I mean, he isn't the one who started the conversation," Sandy said. Pashmina nodded, but she kept watching the two. She was unconsciously picking up her drink when Trav sat next to her.
"Hello, Pashmina!" he exclaimed. Pashmina was glad to have something to take her mind off of Blossom.
Blossom had gone to sit next to Ice and Noah so Dexter was sitting alone. He glanced over to his girlfriend and his fist clenched. He had seen Trav looking at Pashmina and he was worried that Trav and Pashmina liked each other.
Unable to stand it, he got up and plunked down next to Pashmina. She pecked him on the cheek.
"Hello, Dexter!" she said. Dexter nodded toward Pashmina and then to Trav. However, Trav was not leaving and the three started talking. Actually, Trav and Dexter were trying to outtalk each other.
After the picnic, Blossom and Trav tried to pull Dexter and Pashmina apart but the two seemed determined to stay together.
"I think they're on to us," Trav whispered. Both knew who the other liked.
"Well, we're not trying to deliberately make them miserable, but I do like Dexter," Blossom replied.
"And I like Pashmina!" Trav said.
The two sighed, each wrapped up in their own thoughts. Pashmina had no clue that Trav liked her and Dexter seemed oblivious to the fact that Blossom liked him.
That evening the girls were playing truth or dare. Blossom got asked who she liked by Pashmina, but she used a chicken.
"She knows," Blossom murmured to herself. Twice more she got asked the same question by Pashmina and she used her chickens. On the third try, Blossom had no more chickens.
"Um, well, um…Dexter," she said sheepishly. Pashmina crossed her arms, a grim smile across her face.
"I thought so! Well, he's my boyfriend," Pashmina said and Blossom looked at her.
"That's great, but Maxwell was Sandy's boy-ham, and now she's dating Yami!" Blossom countered. Pashmina faltered. This was true.
"Yeah, but me and Maxy were havin' like, problems! Dexter and Pashmina are way tight!" Sandy said defensively.
Blossom shrugged. "Whatever, but I make the same pledge as Noah!" She made an X over her heart and closed her eyes, nodding solemnly. Pashmina tuned away, rage rocketing through her. She had never felt so angry! Normally, she was the quiet, sweet-tempered Pashmina…but not now!!
Trav was lounging in a corner, talking to Maxwell about some book. He glanced over to his right. He had seen Blossom do the traditional promise symbol of the Comets. When a Comet made a promise, they X-ed their heart and closed their eyes and nodded.
Trav did the same, for he could tell what the vow was that Blossom had made. She had made the same promise Noah had and Trav agreed to it as well. Excusing himself from Maxwell, Trav got up and sidled over to Pashmina, seeing an opportunity to talk to her.
"Hello, Pashmina! Is anything wrong?" he asked. Pashmina sighed irritably and did not say anything.
"You OK?" asked the red ham-ham. Pashmina turned toward him, aggravation etched on her face like marks on wet clay.
"Yeah, something's the matter but I don't feel like talking about it! Ugh…it makes me SO MAD!" she cried out suddenly, feeling another surge of anger speed through her.
Trav blinked twice and patted her back. "Oh, well, OK, Pashy. But if you feel like talking then I'll listen." He walked off to his room.
Dexter was also very angry right now. He had seen Trav consult Pashmina and he knew he was flirting with her. Trav turned to Dexter, made the Comet Cross, as they called it, and walked off.
"How dare he!" Dexter mumbled angrily, clenching his hands into fists. He was livid with rage and he felt like screaming.
Blossom skipped up to him. "Are you OK, Dexter?" she asked him. Dexter flopped down on the sofa and shook his head, hand on his forehead.
"Yes, something is very wrong; very, very wrong!" he exclaimed, sighing tiredly. Blossom put an arm around his shoulder.
"Do you wanna talk?"
"No thanks, Blossom."
"Oh, OK, but if you need to talk, then you can come to me," Blossom said and Dexter nodded, forcing a smile onto his face. Blossom strolled off, whistling to herself.
Days passed and the Clubhouse was like a battlefield. A silent war between Dexter and Trav, and Pashmina and Blossom was raging. To make things worse, Pashmina and Dexter thought that the other liked the Comets.
One afternoon, Dexter knocked on Blossom's door. Blossom opened it and jumped backwards, surprised to see Dexter. She quickly invited him in and sat down.
"I'll take you up on that offer to talk," he said quietly. Blossom immediately asked the question that had been on her mind ever since he had stepped in.
"Why don't you talk to Pashmina?"
Dexter sighed. "I can't. You see, it's about her!"
Blossom nodded and then gestured him to continue. Dexter did not use Trav's real name, thinking that Blossom had not noticed that Trav was flirting with Pashmina.
"Well, you see, I have this friend and he keeps flirting with my other friend's girlfriend. Now, it's really getting on his nerves, but he has no idea what to do about it! Do you have any idea about what he should do?"
Blossom immediately knew it was Trav. "Well, I'm not sure…I've actually got a situation like that. You see, I like this guy, but he has no idea I like him," she said.
Dexter nodded knowingly. "I see. Well, just be yourself."
"As for your problem, well, maybe just talk to him and he'll back off!" Blossom suggested. She mentally pitied Dexter, for she knew that Trav was completely in love with Pashmina.
Dexter thanked her and left. Pashmina also exited Trav's room at that same time and luckily, neither saw each other. More flirting took place over the day and by the end of the day, Dexter and Pashmina were boiling with rage. But it was not with Trav and Blossom…it was with each other. Each was certain that the other liked the Comets!
That afternoon, the couple met up with each other. Blossom and Trav, who were getting sunflower seeds, saw the two and immediately knew the two were angry at each other. Hopes were high as the two crouched down behind some bushes and spied.
"Dexter, look, we need to talk!"
"We most certainly do, Pashmina-chan!"
There was a pause and then both spoke at the same time, "You go first!"
A giggle bubbled from the two, but it quickly dispersed.
"Ok, I'll go first, Dexter," Pashmina sighed. "Ok, well I think we should break up!"
Dexter looked taken aback, but it was not from sadness. "I thought so, too, Pashmina!"
There was another silence, in which both digested this information. Then, both spoke, again, simultaneously,
"It's obvious you like Trav!"
"It's obvious you like Blossom!"
Both stared at each other, appalled.
"I never liked Trav…he's just a friend," Pashmina said. "But you like Blossom!"
"Me? No, no, no! Blossom is my friend, nothing more! I've always loved you! I thought you like Trav. You two were always talking!"
"Well, so were you and Blossom!"
"Really, it was Blossom who started the conversations!"
"Same with Trav! It was always when I was troubled though, and I think he really did care!"
"Same thing with Blossom!"
The two burst out laughing and kissed. Blossom was crying openly and Trav was in a state of shock. He shook his head.
"Oh…Blossom….uh…" he said dazedly.
"Ookyoo! Ookwee!"
Trav turned around to see Penelope and he smiled sadly. "You're right, I could've just asked you!" he said. Penelope scampered over and pecked him on the head.
Trav blushed and stared into space as Penelope vanished through the foliage.
Blossom sat there the rest of the afternoon, with no one. Trav had left, still in a state of shock. Stan was passing by and he saw the tearful Blossom.
"What is wrong, pure rose?" he asked her.
"Oh-oh…STAN!" she exclaimed, burying her face in his shoulder. Stan patted her back, speaking softly.
"There, there, my shining daisy, no need to be so upset! Now, how about telling me what's wrong?"
Blossom wiped her eyes. "Dexter…he loves Pashmina! I thought maybe he'd fallen for me!"
Stan shook his head. "They're too tight! You know, I was devastated when Pashmina went out with Dexter," he said. Blossom smiled weakly.
"Really?"
"Yes, my dewdrop rose!"
Blossom hugged Stan. "Thanks, Stan. I dunno, I just needed to get that out. Not very much…just a short sentence, but it weighed so much!"
Stan nodded. "I know…that's how I felt and I just got rid of it-you!"
There was a silence and then Blossom felt herself move forward, as though a magnet was pulling her forward. She found herself giving a kiss to Stan and he looked very surprised.
Blossom giggled. "Oh my! I don't know what made me do that!" she exclaimed. Stan kissed her back.
"'Twas the gift of comfort love. When you're more healed, we'll be a couple!" he said. Blossom smiled broadly. She was not over her hurt, but she had a post-boy ham. If she needed comfort then she went to him.
As for Trav, he got over his disappointment quickly. After all, he was the youngest of the six. He soon was crushing Penelope, and she had a crush on him. Both never admitted it though, yet both knew. The two were great friends!
Another rivalry was solved, but not all were friends. A few strands of tension hung like threads in the air!
Hope you liked it! Thanks to those who…um…reviewed and read!