The decision

"Billy, you know that I have always been your friend, and we have always partnered up before, but maybe this time, I could be with someone different. I have never been with Buttercup before, and I think I should try to work with everyone. So I guess this time I will be partners with her. Sorry." Billy looked at him surprisingly, but in the end he turned and walked away, shaking his head.

Buttercup didn't know what to say. She was stunned that Clayton had chosen her over his best friend. She was wondering if this could lead to something…even, better. She stared at Clayton in the nicest eyes that no one had seen before. Clayton looked at her and smiled, he said: " come on, lets go. There's a net over there. Lets beat those people until they admit we're the best." Buttercup nodded in agreement. But inside her heart, she's still filled with warmth from her crush. HE HAD CHOSEN HER OVER HIS BEST FRIEND! She and Clayton went over the net and got ready to play.

Clayton asked Buttercup: " do you want to serve first?" Buttercup was going to die. She had never seen Clayton talk like that before. She thought it was the best sounding voice she had ever heard in her whole life. She answered: " Well, if you want to serve first, you can. But if you don't want to, then I will. Up to you." Clayton looked at her for a second, but didn't say a thing. In the end, he passed the ball to Buttercup and smiled, " I think you should start off the game with your powerful serving skills. I suck at serving." Buttercup knew that Clayton was being modest but she didn't want to waste their playing time.

A team came up to them, it was Billy and Mike. Buttercup glared at Billy, while Billy glared at Clayton. Clayton didn't notice, he was too busy getting in ready position to play Billy, who was also on the Volleyball team as well. This was going to be a rough game, Buttercup thought. Clayton finally looked up. He saw Billy glaring at him, but he didn't look like he cared. He and Buttercup gave each other a smile in saying ' we're ready'. And Buttercup served. Billy was a rough player; everyone in the whole school knew that. When the ball went over to his side of the net, he slammed the ball right back to Clayton and Buttercup's side.

The ball went fast, like fire. And 'coincidently' it went right towards Clayton. Clayton was faster though, he quickly got ready and bumped the ball back to the other side, and nice bump. This time Mike went for the ball, but he wasn't a very good player, so he missed, and the ball landed on their side. Billy was mad. He started yelling at Mike.

Clayton turned to Buttercup, " he's always like that whenever his team looses a point. Kind of makes one scared to be his partner." And then he started laughing out hysterically. Buttercup laughed too. She nodded her head in agreement, " I can tell, but haven't you been his partner a lot before?" She wondered. " Yeah, but we make a good pair I guess, he has really nothing to get mad at me for. He is only good in gym, nothing else. In all the other subjects, I get WAY better marks than him. So as long as I don't yell at HIM, there will be no yelling going on." He said as he laughed even harder. Buttercup stated, " You were on the honor roll for academics and sports right? He has NOTHING to get mad at you for, you're even better in him than his best subject." " I guess, but he is better than me at baseball. Baseball isn't really my type of sport. Once during our baseball tournament, Billy hit the ball right onto my forehead. I had to go to the hospital to get checked. But I was okay." " That's good." Buttercup said.

" But someone like Billy really is scary, you know, to be partners with. And friends. But I guess you…" Before she could finish, she heard an unpleasant sound. " OWWWWW!" And a thump. She turned to look at Clayton. He was on the ground. Bleeding, it looked like. She rushed right by his side. He was down groaning, it looked like he was in a lot of pain. " What's wrong Clayton?" Buttercup panicked. " Oww, I am..Ow..He..See..But…I…" He closed his eyes. Buttercup was so terrified. She called their homeroom teacher in the loudest voice you can ever hear a lot of times too. Her teacher saw Clayton on the ground, and came running over. " What happened?" He questioned. " I don't know." Buttercup answered, " We were just talking and then all of a sudden he fell on the ground."

What happed to Clayton?

Her teacher, Mr. Askme said " Quickly get him to the school nurse. She'll see if he needs to go to the hospital." Two strong students carried Clayton to the nurse, and Mr. Askme followed. Leaving Buttercup standing there by her self. She wondered what happened to Clayton. Then something caught her eyes. She saw Billy and George snickering. That made her speculate. If Clayton were Billy's best friend, then why would Billy not seem worried at all, but instead laugh when he got seriously injured? She had no time to worry about that though, Clayton was more, MUCH MORE important.

Just then, Mr. Askme came back. Buttercup flew to his side, and questioned him. " Is Clayton okay? Where is he right now?" Mr. Askme looked at Buttercup weirdly; he wondered why Buttercup cared so much about Clayton. " In what way are you related to Clayton? That you would care SO much about him?" He questioned Buttercup back without answering her question.

" She's the one that had hurt Clayton," Billy came up, " That's why she cares so much. She doesn't want to be suspended so she needs to find out how Clayton is so she could think of a plan to blame it on someone else." Mr. Askme looked at Billy, then at Buttercup. " Is this true?" He asked Buttercup. " NO!"

Buttercup exclaimed, " I LOVE Clayton, why would I hurt him? I would do anything for him; there is really NO point for me to hurt him like that. I love him!" The whole class got silent. They all stared at Buttercup. Buttercup stood there with her cheeks all red. But deep inside she was glad she had gotten it all out.

Mr. Askme spoke again, " You both are telling me different stories. So the best way to tell the truth and lie is to ask Clayton himself. I am sure he knew how he got injured." Buttercup smiled in agreement. She looked at Billy; he had a worried face on. But as soon as he saw Buttercup look at him, he turned on a smiley face as if saying Sure. They walked up to Clayton in the nurse's room. He was lying on a bed with ice on his stomach. He looked pale. Buttercup rushed up to him, " Are you okay Clayton?" Clayton looked at Buttercup and smiled. " Yeah, don't worry. I am fine." Billy told the teacher. " She's just pretending."

Mr. Askme beamed again. " Do you know who injured you Clayton?" Clayton thought for a minute. " Yeah." He finally said. " I think it was a volleyball. During our game. I think someone accidentally hit me with the ball. Possibly the opponent." Mr. Askme asked again, " and who was your opponent Clayton?" " Well," Clayton answered uneasily, as he looked at Billy, " It was Billy and Mike." He looked down as he answered the question. Billy's face turned red, but red because of anger not embarrassment. Mr. Askme looked at Billy angrily; he said, " Well, Billy, I am waiting for an explanation. Or do you want to be suspended right now?"

Billy looked at Mr. Askme and then Clayton, as he answered slowly. " I admit that I had hit Clayton with the volleyball, but it wasn't on purpose, it was an accident. I thought Clayton would have been fast enough to avoid the ball, but it turns out that he was talking with Buttercup during the game and not paying attention. I am really sorry. I really am. It wasn't on purpose." Mr. Askme remained silent for a moment. Then he asked Clayton and Buttercup, " Why were you two talking during the game and not paying attention? If you want to flirt at least do it during lunch, not in gym class."

Clayton and Buttercup looked at each other. Buttercup felt so embarrassed, she actually thought it was her fault that Clayton got hurt. She looked at Clayton with a sorry eye, but to her surprise, he smiled at her. She felt then as if nothing was important anymore. Clayton had smiled at her. That was the best thing in the world to Buttercup. " I'm waiting." Mr. Askme noticed. " Well, Buttercup and I were just really happy that we had gotten a point from Billy. I mean he is really a good volleyball player, and it's not easy to win against him. So we were just happy, that's all." Clayton tried to explain. Mr. Askme answered finally, " Well, I guess that's okay then. I guess there will be no suspending going on. If what Billy says is the truth." He added.

Buttercup looked at Clayton and smiled. He saw and smiled back. Then Buttercup looked at Billy, and saw him having a relaxed face. That showed her that he was lying, but she didn't want to ruin the moment, if Clayton didn't tell, then why should she? She was just really happy that Clayton was okay. Clayton struggled then to get out of the bed, and he walked briskly towards where Buttercup and them were standing.

Mr. Askme stepped forward, " Clayton, you really shouldn't be up. You're still injured. You should stay in bed for the rest of today." Clayton forced a smile on his face to Mr. Askme, " I am okay Mr. Askme. I can't feel the pain anymore. It's okay now." Mr. Askme looked over Clayton carefully and finally he answered, " Alright then. Take care." And he left. Leaving Billy, and Buttercup standing there with Clayton. Clayton looked at Billy, he didn't smile. He said, " Billy, I know it was you that had hit the ball on me, and I know that you did it on purpose. But I guess because we have been best friends since grade 1, I didn't want to tell on you. But don't you think you're making a big deal out of this? I mean just because we're best friends, doesn't mean we have to be partners all the time. We should all get to be with new people. Get to know them. It's better for both of us that way."

Billy interrupted, " I understand that you want to be with other people, but a GIRL? I mean seriously Clayton, a girl over ME in GYM? That's not done right. How do you think that makes me feel Clayton? Think about that!" Billy said as he walked away. Again leaving Clayton standing there with Buttercup. Buttercup spoke before Clayton had a chance to, " I am really sorry Clayton, I feel that this whole thing is my fault. I am really sorry that you got hurt." Clayton again smiled at her, " It's okay Buttercup. It's not your fault by the way. The decision was still up to me, and I chose you over him, that has nothing to do with you. Don't worry. I am okay." He again spoke in a nice voice; the nicest Buttercup has ever heard him speak. " Come on, let's go." Clayton finally added. They walked down the hallway side by side. While walking, Buttercup thought, ' if you would choose me over your best friend, and when you are hurt, but you would still smile at me and say 'its okay', then maybe you have some kind of feeling towards me too. Next time when we walk down the hallways, maybe we'll be holding hands instead of like this…'

Bubbles and Jaime

Buttercup and Blossom had each had their own first time experiences with their own crushes, and that leaves Bubbles and her classes with Jaime. Bubbles had heard her sister brag about Clayton and how he kept on smiling at her, and to be honest, Bubbles was pretty jealous of Buttercup. Jaime had never smiled at her. And she always dreamt that he will one day. Maybe today was the day.

It was time for science class. Today they were doing a lab, to test out different types of chemicals. They were told that they would have to be really careful because chemicals explode easily. So they would have had to choose a partner that they could work well with. Bubbles did exactly what her sister Buttercup did; she rushed to Jaime's side right after they were told to get a partner. I guess she and her sister are the same way to their crushes. Bubbles flashed a smile at Jaime and asked, "Do you want to be partners Jaime?" Jaime looked at her and shrugged. After a while, he finally answered " Sure I guess." Bubbles weren't THAT happy with his response. She felt as if he was just trying to be nice, and deep inside he didn't really want to be her partner. ' He seems disappointed that I am his partner. I don't want that.' Bubbles thought to her self. 'Why can't he be like Clayton? Or was Buttercup just exaggerating?'

Class had started, their science teacher Ms. Fishtail gave them the chemicals they will be mixing and told them to start. Bubbles and Jaime sat there looking confused, to be honest, either one of them knew what they were supposed to be doing. Jaime finally spoke, " Well, I guess we better start if we want to at least strive for a descent mark." " Yeah, I agree." Bubbles answered. They took the substances and tried to mix it together, although they still had no idea what they were doing.

Ms. Fishtail came up the them, she flashed a smile at Jaime and asked, and "do you guys need any help?" Jaime and Bubbles looked at each other, and none spoke. "Well, do you?" Ms. Fishtail asked again. She is a teacher that gets very impatient at times because she's a young teacher. In her eighteens or nineteen's.

Jaime finally answered, "Well, does it take away some of our marks? Because I think we can do it if we had more time, but if we only had this period then we might need some help." Ms. Fishtail smiled, "It wont take away any of your marks. In fact if you do a good job, I might just give you a ninety-five. How about that? Huh?" Jaime's eyes shone, "Would you really do that?" He drooled. "Yeah sure." Ms. Fishtail answered nicely. Then she sat down and poured the substances back into the container. She measured every chemical and put on her goggles. And the period passed just like that. With Ms. Fishtail working, however 'talking' to Jaime at the same time. More like FLIRTING, Bubbles thought.

Teacher problems

Bubbles couldn't help noticing something. There was about how many people in this class? About 30, and Ms. Fishtail had OFFERED to help Jaime. 'Isn't this too much of a coincident?' Bubbles thought to herself. 'That out of 30 people, she wanted to help Jaime. Are they related?' Bubbles wondered. 'If it was another girl in the class, I would think she likes Jaime as well, but a teacher? That's impossible for her, she's 19 years old. Surely too old for Jaime. I mean, he's MY age, he's 15. GOD! What was going on? But hopefully Jaime will be smart enough in knowing that I am better for him than our OLD teacher.' Bubbles prayed. She hated her teacher ever since. Just like how her sister Buttercup hated Billy ever since. After the period was over, Bubbles asked Jaime, " do you think our teacher likes you?" Jaime looked at her as if she were STUPID! " What are you talking about? Our teacher is like 5 years older than me. YOU'RE INSANE!" Bubbles felt horrible for asking that question. She knew Jaime wouldn't understand, and even if she told her sisters, they wouldn't understand either.

After class, Bubbles went up to her sisters in the cafeteria, and told them what had happened during class. To her surprise, they both understood. " He's such a dummy if he doesn't understand." Buttercup said. " Yeah, he should at least consider about that, I mean how coincidently can it get for a female teacher to go up to her male student and offer to help him, and use that as an opportunity to flirt with him. Geez!" Blossom agreed. " I say you shouldn't like him if he is so stupid. You should like someone like Clayton," Buttercup blushed, " he smiled at me again today when we were doing math." "Uh, Buttercup," Blossom said, " maybe not the best time right now." Buttercup realized, " oh yeah, sorry." " It's okay." Bubbles answered. " What do you guys think I should do though? I mean, I can't let my chemistry teacher get Jaime, it's not right. He and I were meant for each other, not him and our teacher." Bubbles cried.

" It's okay Bubbles, I am sure Jaime will come to his senses." Blossom tried to cheer her up. " Yeah, if he doesn't, then get a crush on someone else. Because surely he's too dumb for you. I'll ask Clayton about his friends, I'll check them out for you if you want. You know, to make sure they're not too dumb. But then, Clayton's really smart so his friends can't be that bad. I'll ask him to introduce you some. Then you do the choosing." Buttercup offered.

Bubbles looked stunned, " Buttercup, since when are you being so nice to me? Or since when are you being nice PERIOD. You changed, A LOT! But sure, I guess Clayton is pretty cool." Buttercup freaked, " WHAT? I meant for you to meet Clayton's FRIENDS, NOT CLAYTON HIMSELF! Clayton's mine. You two stay away from him." Buttercup was really freaking out. " Geez, Buttercup. That's what I meant. I don't think anyone will have to guts to like Clayton now, knowing that you're going to beat the crap out of them." Bubbles tried to cover up. Blossom laughed. But suddenly she stopped. " You are so lucky Buttercup. Clayton is actually nice to you. Well I guess Adam is nice to me as well, but everyone is still laughing at me for that stupid love note. But Adam is still talking to me. He acts as if he doesn't mind the love note." Blossom smiled.

" Yeah, well maybe he likes you and is really happy that you like him too." Bubbles added. Blossom blushed, " Yeah, I hope so." Bubbles seemed sad, " you both have gotten your crush to like you. But I am still not there yet.." She was close to tears. Buttercup, seeing her sister so sad, added, " I told you before Bubbles, gets over that freak. I'll introduce you to Clayton's friends. They'll be 100 times better than that freak." " Yeah, people do think he's a freak. They even told me. The only reason I didn't tell you before is because you liked him. But he really does have a bad reputation with other peers." Blossom added. Bubbles stared into Buttercup's eyes, " Have you seen any of Clayton's friends that would be good for me?" She finally asked.

Buttercup thought for a minute, " Well, it depends on what kind of guy you like. Hey why don't I introduce you to some today. After 6th period. Come to the cafeteria, I'll tell them to come." Bubbles' eyes shone, " Really? Sure!" Blossom looked at her watch, " Come on guys, it's time to go. Or we'll be late for class. It's language class, you guys know how Mr. Moojjooj gets when we're late. I'm still thinking of beating him up sometime for embarrassing me like that." Blossom said as her face grew red. Bubbles and Buttercup just snickered behind her back.

Two periods passed like rain, before they knew it, school was over. Bubbles and Blossom went to the cafeteria like they planned, where bubbles would get introduced to some of Clayton's friends. Buttercup wasn't there yet, so they sat at a table and waited. " Oh, I'm so excited." Bubbles squealed. Blossom just laughed. Buttercup appeared at the main entrance with several guys beside her. She saw Bubbles and Blossom and began walking towards her. Bubbles couldn't even sit still. She was too excited. Wondering what was going to happen next.

Oh my, he IS better than Jaime

Bubbles and Blossom waited impatiently for Buttercup to walk to them. "Hey," Buttercup said as she got closer, " These are some of Clayton's friends." Bubbles looked over all of them. ' Hmm…Buttercup is right, they ARE better looking than Jaime.' Bubbles thought to herself. She exchanged greetings with them as Buttercup started introducing. " This one is Clayton's NEW best friend," Buttercup said as she smiled at Clayton. Clayton looked back at her and grinned. " His name is Tino." Tino looked at Bubbles and smiled. " His real name is Konstantino, but nobody really calls him that. It's too long. So we call him Tino." Clayton added. Bubbles nodded. " Beside Tino is Cory. He and Clayton play volleyball together." Buttercup informed. " and last," she added, " This is Cavan. He is really smart also. Just like Clayton." Buttercup smiled sweetly at Clayton, as he looked at her and blushed. " Cavan is actually smarter than me," Clayton said uneasily, " we take math lessons together every Saturday. And trust me, he beats me every time when we have an exam or contest." Cavan smiled, " Not really, but you know, Buttercup, the only reason that I get better marks than him in math classes is because I listen more in class than him."

Buttercup was surprised, " Clayton! You don't listen in class?" Clayton blushed, " Okay, that's enough information Cavan. We're introducing you to Bubbles here, not to embarrass me. Remember?" Cavan laughed, " But I think Buttercup would want to know this though." Buttercup looked at him curiously. Cavan continued, " Clayton use to listen in class, before he met you Buttercup. Now he draws hearts and stars around your name in his notebook instead of taking notes." Buttercup blushed but was surprised at the same time. Secretly she felt so good, she blushed at Clayton who was looking down at the floor embarrassingly. " Okay anyways, we're trying to help Bubbles here." Buttercup saw Clayton's discomfortment and decided to change the subject.

Bubbles thought for a minute, " Okay I've decided. Blossom and Buttercup, I'll tell you guys at home. Thank you guys for coming." Buttercup and Clayton waved goodbye to each other, as they all left the cafeteria. On the way home, Bubbles couldn't stop the topic. She gave Bubbles and Buttercup enough hints as to who she chose out of those guys. " He is soooooo cute! And smart. Even his name is cute. If I got a pet, I'd name it Tino as well." By that sentence, Blossom and Buttercup knew immediately that Bubbles had a crush on Tino. Clayton's new best friend.