Alright, so for those who follow me in any capacity on here or , this new story may come as a slight surprise.
I never delete stories and always finish them. At least not without reason. Well to the good people who enjoyed and liked 'Counterparts', do not fear. The story is not dead, it's merely being revamped. I wasn't liking the way it was progressing both in terms of pacing and just the overall construction. It didn't feel very cohesive to me. So it will be re-released under a different format, but with the same general premise and idea.
In the meantime, I've been stewing on this idea since last summer and finally managed to turn into something worthy of paper. I actually got the inspiration from the song 'Girlfriend' by Avril Lavigne, the pop punk princess herself. Throw in the Powerpunk Girls as a plotline/aesthetic, I knew there was real potential for this fic to be a winner.
The end result remains to be seen. But I sincerely hope you enjoy this (not so) simple fic about teenage drama, growing up, lots of punk rock, and the perils of love triangles ;)
Chapter 1. A Big, Bold Entrance
"Blossom? Earth to Blossom?"
A short, sharp honk from behind indicated the light was green and she quickly stepped on the gas to avoid further trouble.
"Sorry."
"What's the matter, Leader Girl?"
Buttercup sat in the back seat alongside Bubbles, the middle and youngest of the famous Powerpuff trio. Blossom frowned when she noticed her black haired sister sitting in a sprawled out position without a seatbelt.
"Was just thinking…Buttercup?"
"What?"
"Do I really need to ask?"
Heaving an annoyed sigh and blowing a piece of her bangs out of her face, Buttercup didn't bother arguing. Her older sister would continuously nag until she complied with proper car safety. Then again, it was the Professor's old station wagon and an accident would raise the insurance premiums considerably as he constantly reminded them.
"I still don't get why we have to wear seatbelts," Buttercup grumbled, clicking the buckle into place. "We literally can bend the steel inside this hunk of junk."
"We're the Powerpuff Girls. It's our job to set an example whether fighting crime or out on the road. Defensive driving 101."
"Pffft, overrated if you ask me."
"And that's why I'm driving the car and you don't have a license."
Bubbles, sensing an argument brewing between her older sisters, speedily changed the subject. Blonde, beautiful, and with a personality that practically radiated sunshine, she'd never enjoyed the instances where Blossom and Buttercup fought. It brought back some bad memories.
"What were you thinking about, sissy?"
(Bubbles could hear Buttercup mutter 'know it all' under her breath but Blossom thankfully chose to ignore it)
"Just…stuff."
"That's pretty vague," the ravenette said while popping a grape flavored lollipop into her mouth. "Care to elaborate?"
"Must I? I'd like to concentrate on what's in front of me."
"You usually do. Don't hold back now."
Blossom signaled, took a steady, deliberate right turn onto the main boulevard leading to their primary destination: Townsville High. One of the few properly funded public schools within the general area of Central California. It was also the source of the drifting that uncharacteristically bedeviled her brain.
They were seventeen now and entering junior year. While that left a full two years before graduating, the Commander and the Leader was not accustomed to leaving things until the last minute. So much had changed since they were little and solely occupied with fighting crime and playing hopscotch. The future was now. She could see that even if the other two didn't. Responsibility increased with each passing second as high school passed them by. Then college. Then a job, a career, a husband, children, saving for retirement…
Yes, Blossom Utonium had it all planned out. But such a plan required patience and careful consideration. That meant continuing her straight A's, extracurricular activities, crime fighting, as well as becoming valedictorian. She'd already asked the Professor if they could look at colleges during the fall. Several interested her and a few already offered a full ride but she knew better. To pick the right university was a meticulous process and not one to be rushed: Cal Tech, California Berkeley, Stanford, etc. they were all amazing. To choose straight away defeated the purpose of attaining higher education in the first place. It all had to be perfect.
"Our futures," she put simply.
"Oh, God. Not this again," Buttercup groaned.
"Exactly why I didn't want to elaborate earlier."
Blossom loved her sister with all her heart and soul. But their respective goals in life could not have been more diametrically opposed. Almost every part of her attire was black: shorts, doc martens, a tank top with a neon green 'X' slashed across the middle, right down to the glossy nail polish. In addition, she sported multiple piercings in her ears and a velvet choker to compliment a bob that stopped just below the bottom part of her neck. Favorite bands included Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and Sum 41 but anything blaring with the sound of heavy guitars suited her tastes. It screamed 'rebellious teenager'. Mostly because that label suited Buttercup just fine. She didn't care and she didn't care if you cared.
The redhead once remembered Buttercup declaring how amazing it would be once they were allowed out after dark. Those words turned out to be prophetic. The Toughest Fighter lived for parties, hanging out with her friends, and general tomfoolery. Mostly with Mitch Mitchelson, Mike Believe, and Pablo Hernandez, a group notorious at Townsville High for general mischief and aloofness, though Blossoms stopped short of labeling her a slacker. She kept up with her grades well enough and while occasionally stepped a toe over the line. But the broader point remained that getting older only served to drive their interests further apart. Buttercup ignored colleges or expanding academic horizons, whereas Blossom lived for such opportunity. One eschewed structure, the other thrived on it. One snuck out to see local punk rock shows, the other stayed up late at night to finish AP classwork. One chugged fifty Red Bulls on a bet to prove she could do it without breaking a sweat, the other kept a personalized calendar.
"That bow must be too tight around your noggin," Buttercup said, cracking a grin. "You can't be spending high school wondering about the future all the time."
"I can and already have," Blossom informed her back with a degree of loftiness. "This is exactly the time to start preparing. To think about what comes next."
"This is exactly the time not to think about it. Because we can afford not to. We gotta live a little. Drink a beer, crash a party, grab the bull by the horns. We're the Powerpuff Girls. This is what we were born for."
Blossom snorted loudly as she kept to the right lane ready to make the next turn.
"We fight crime, Buttercup. That's been our purpose almost since the day we came into existence."
"Says you."
"Pretty sure that's not what the Professor had in mind when he created us."
"Hey, our powers aren't one dimensional. And besides, when was the last time we got a call from Miss Bellum anyway?"
She had a point. One which Bubbles expounded upon.
"You have to admit, sissy. Crime has been pretty low for a while now. Maybe it is time to let loose a little."
The kindly, warm nature of Bubbles stood out as a towering beacon in their respective sisterhood. Even now, she retained an almost innocent like quality despite losing her fear of the dark and learning about sex ed long ago. It was quite endearing in its own way. No one on the planet could despise Bubbles Utonium.
Of the three Puffs, she'd arguably been the least corrupted by the hormonal conformity associated with adolescence. She constantly texted on her phone, was very active on burgeoning social media platforms, kept up with the latest fashion and makeup trends, and even became captain of the cheerleading squad. All of this did nothing to alter her inherently pure hearted nature. The saying 'the more things change, the more they stay the same' came to Blossom's mind. With her youngest sister, it especially rang true. Bubbles still cast the widest social net, interacting and befriending everyone from the shyest geeks to the loudest jocks. She loved animals, her teachers, her family, and seemed immune from the constant social pressure that swallowed most teenagers.
Blossom would never admit it aloud, but she often found herself jealous of this kind of freedom. Even so, Bubbles remained her closest confidant when they needed to talk about something; usually boys. Come to think of it, when was the last time they'd discussed anything super personal that didn't pertain to school or drama?
"I am letting loose. All the extra time on my hands is something I use productively. Like studying for my SATs and planning the Homecoming dance as head of the student committee. Which we'll be able to attend by the way since we're upperclassmen."
Buttercup scoffed.
"Hard pass."
"Aww, Buttercup. You don't wanna wear a pretty dress and feel like a princess?" Bubbles giggled teasingly.
The ravenette made a false gagging noise with two fingers to symbolize her displeasure.
"Fuck that. I'll be caught in some dumb poofy getup when Him's lair freezes over."
"But we always go to fancy school events together," Bubbles pouted.
"We go because you make me. And no, we are not color coding this year. End of story."
"Buttercup, plllleeeassseee," the blonde continued to whine, giving her older sister puppy dog eyes.
"She's going to keep pestering you until you agree," Blossom said with a degree of amusement.
Buttercup rolled her eyes as Bubbles rested her head on her shoulder, but didn't bother pushing away. A small blush crept on her normally pale cheeks.
"Not like I'd be able to find anyone to go with, anyway," she muttered.
"What about Mitch? He likes you."
This elicited further tomato-faced embarrassment from Buttercup. If Bubbles was open and eager when it came to boys, the Toughest Fighter became as tight lipped as a clam. For her, talking about the opposite sex equivocated to pulling teeth.
"Trust me, it wouldn't work between him and I."
"What if I find someone for you? I know plenty of cute boys who'd be happy to be your escort," Bubbles continued to prattle naively.
"Look, I'll go!" Buttercup sighed, recognizing she was fighting a losing battle. "Just…don't bother with the date. I'm perfectly happy to go by myself."
Fed up with the talk of boys, dresses, and homecoming dances, Buttercup leaned in from the backseat and turned the radio knob.
"Come on, let's listen to some tunes before we get to school."
The stations sizzled with static, jumping back and forth between various genres of classical, country, and rock until they came across a channel that echoed a familiar piano riff.
"Wait! Wait! Keep it here!" Bubbles shouted.
"What? No! There's a punk channel a few numbers up."
"But this song is so fun!"
Vanessa Carlton's 'A Thousand Miles' entered its catchy verse with Bubbles singing along.
'Making my way downtown, walking fast
Faces pass and I'm homebound'
"This is such mainstream trash. Change the station!"
But Blossom blocked her from turning the dial.
"Lighten up, Buttercup. This song is great."
"Lighten up? Look who's telling who to lighten up."
Feeling a little extra giddy, she turned up the volume a bit more and joined Bubbles for the chorus.
'If I could fall, into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles
If could just see you…tonight'
Blossom and Bubbles sang the chorus while Buttercup's expression soured as she began sucking on her lollipop while folding her arms with displeasure.
"How come I'm the only one who has to compromise around here?" she grousled.
"You're a great singer, Buttercup. Don't be so grumpy, join us," Bubbles encouraged with a playful smile.
"Absolutely not."
This time, Blossom took Buttercup's side if only to avoid more complaining.
Someone's middle child syndrome is acting up today
"Leave it be, Bubbles," she advised. "Besides, we're almost there."
They soon approached a large, sloped, rectangular brick building which only showcased a small portion of the campus. In reality, Townsville High boasted six or seven different buildings, dedicated to a particular art or subject. This was to give the impression of an open space in which students didn't feel too cramped or boxed in. Typical of California and its general ethos, it gave off a distinct easy going vibe as gentle as a summer's breeze. To the right of the general office lay a gravel lot where those of driving age were allowed to park.
Making a left, Blossom quickly settled in as they prepared for their first day. As always, she needed to go over the itinerary. Going to school did not absolve them of their duties as Townsville's leading heroes. The radio went silent as the engine cut off and so did the soothing tone of Vanessa Carlton.
"Now remember, girls. No powers in school-"
"Yeah, yeah, we get it. We go through the same speech every year."
"Listen, Buttercup," she interrupted with a considerable tone of authority. "This is serious stuff. No powers in school. There's an emergency hotline in each academic building in case of an attack from a monster or villain. By law and mayoral decree we are allowed to leave the premises in a scenario of immediate danger. If one or more of us cannot be reached, the other has the ability to fight alone. In case of any emergency unrelated or related to crime fighting, contact the Professor. Understood?"
"Yes," came the unison reply from both her sisters.
"Good." She gave a more encouraging smile. "Come on, don't want to be late for our first class."
Bubbles reciprocated the gesture. Buttercup merely grunted and exited the car with a rather irritated slam. Blossom resisted the urge to chastise her for the gesture. In truth, the reminder was a mere formality. Bubbles' assertion of low crime rates and villain scarcity was not a fib. In fact, Townsville's protectors had not really been challenged for quite some time for a variety of reasons. But one always needed to be prepared. A few enemies yet remained.
I just wish my sisters felt the same way
Looking in the central mirror, she ran a hand through her long, silky, red locks, checked her white blouse for any stains, put on a little lip balm and adjusted the trademark bow that she'd worn since the day of her birth, never a centimeter out of place.
"Come on, Leader Girl! What are you doing in there?" Buttercup's muffled voice came through the car window.
Stepping outside and bouncing on her red ballerina flats, she took in the fresh late summer air and exhaled. This was her year. For all of them. Looking around, she saw many familiar faces- that of Robin Snyder, Mike Believe, Mitch Mitchelson, Harry Pitt, Lloyd and Floyd among others. Many waved and issued friendly greetings. They were the Powerpuff Girls after all. A staple of the city. The same heroes who'd saved their lives time and time again.
"Here's your bag," Bubbles said brightly, handing Blossom her tan backpack, filled with all sorts of textbooks, notebooks, or any other kind of book she could get her hands on. "Uh, sissy. What should we do if…you know…"
"We kick their butts," Buttercup responded as though the answer was obvious, punching a fist against her palm and tossing her chewed lollipop stick aside.
"Littering," Blossom chided as Buttercup vaporized the stick out of existence with her heat vision, which earned a scalding look from the Commander and Leader.
"What? Technically school hasn't started yet."
"Don't do it again. And no, we are not going to do any of that. We're at school, remember? No powers."
"But-"
"The teachers will handle it. That's what they're for. If they try to hurt anyone or destroy school property, we take them down."
But the green Puff continued to protest.
"They literally destroy shit every day with their powers! Even at school! What's the difference? You're always talking about catching them but we never do."
"It will happen," Blossom said without flag or hesitation. "One of these days, they'll slip up. However, at school we have a solemn obligation to-"
She never finished the lecture. A loud rumbling in the distance steadily grew louder, ruining any chance of intelligible conversation. Soon, the purring of a muscle car and squealing tires joined the chorus of rambunctious, noisy sounds drowning out all else within audible distance.
"Oh no," Bubbles uttered sadly into her hands.
"Here we go again."
Buttercup's bored tone almost betrayed the intensity of the moment veering on the absurdly comical. In the next few seconds, a vintage 1979 Chevy Camaro launched almost twenty feet in the air from the top of the hill and landed with gusto on the road below. The otherwise peaceful morning disappeared in a roar of ungodly engine revving and deafening rock music.
The Rowdyruff Boys had arrived.
For her part, Blossom said nothing and gave no visible reaction other than the rising of her left eyebrow but internally cringed at how numb she'd become to the boys' little stunts. Rowdyruff tradition dictated a big, bold entrance and this year proved no exception. She could only watch as the Camaro zoomed well over eighty miles an hour towards the school while Aerosmith emanated from the speakers.
'You gotta move
You gotta move
You gotta move
You gotta move
And when my God haaaa-gets ready!
You gotta move
You gotta move'
She could see the boys within the car itself, bumping and bobbing to the music, head banging away as the Camaro veered right and entered the parking lot.
'You may be high
You may be low
You may be rich, yeah
You may be poor
But when the good Lord, gets ready
You gotta move
You gotta move'
Indeed it was good advice. Numerous students rushed to get out of the way as the car furiously entered the parking lot, drifting, dipping, and darting in and around the gravel. It circled almost like a shark, except fish couldn't damn well do figure eights and leave skid marks everywhere. Using one of the speed bumps, the out of control vehicle launched into the air and for half a second Blossom felt compelled to intervene…
…until it landed safely smack dab in an empty space between two cars- one silver Honda and a Kia- causing no lasting damage whatsoever.
The screeching vocals of Steven Tyler desisted as three infamous boys exited the car one by one.
Boomer Jojo. Blond and blue eyed. Codename: Dumber than the Dumbest. A summoner of lightning and the fiercest linebacker on the football team. Current record holder for loudest belch and most painful wedgie.
Butch Jojo. Black haired and green eyed. Codename: Baron of Berserk. A title well earned. He'd been responsible for about 85% of property damage and vandalism in Townsville since the age of five. A violent, spiky haired rebel who's entire existence revolved around causing as much mayhem as possible.
Brick Jojo. Red haired and ruby eyed. Codename: The Bludgeoner. The self professed leader of the Rowdyruff Boys and by far its most dangerous member. Cocky, ill tempered, prideful, and something of a loner, his volcanic disposition was enough to incinerate the town were it not for three female heroines opposing such destruction. He tolerated no one aside from his own company and the two beings closest to him in relation.
The word 'Rowdyruff' became synonymous with 'bad boy' over the years and most students did their best to get out of the way, scurrying as ants might from a giant magnifying glass. All except members of the football team, who called for Boomer to join them…from a safe distance of course.
Blossom could feel the bowels of her hatred steadily rise as she observed those delinquent morons traverse school grounds as though they owned the place. No regard for any damage or injury they potentially could have caused by treating the school parking lot as their own personal racetrack. Good vs. evil. That's how she saw the never ending battle between the Puffs and the Ruffs. Elementary or high school. Brick merely represented the last domino to fall- the final villain in a long line that threatened the stability and security of her city.
Bubbles and Buttercup seemed to fade into the background as icy cold pupils met fiery red ones in a protracted, stubborn battle of wills. Her glare never faltered for a second. His expression quickly transformed into one of equal mirth; a devious, sneering, self satisfied smirk that she wanted nothing more than to smack it off and substitute with an orange suit.
He was heading in her direction…
She knew Brick. She knew those boys. And in contrast to her own doctrine suddenly felt ready to spring into action and rid herself of these testosterone loaded menaces.
Closer still….
"Sup, Puff princess."
"Brick."
They stood mere inches apart. Even at five eight inches tall, above average for a young woman, Brick's height surpassed her own. To the untrained eye it looked as though a teenage boy were trying to harass and intimidate a weaker teenage girl. But she knew better. They both did. Superpowers were the great equalizer. Contrary to those who claimed Brick's strength to be slightly above hers, she could take him in a fight any time, anywhere.
Just give me a reason
"You gonna let me pass?"
Boomer and Butch stood behind their eldest brother, the former looking unsure the latter had his trademark a manic grin. But Brick left no room for interpretation. He would blast her out of the way if necessary. Only Blossom wasn't giving him the satisfaction.
"That depends. Are you going to apologize for nearly running over a dozen people?"
"I don't see or hear anybody screaming or dying."
"Doesn't answer my question."
Brick's smirk only grew larger, the audacity of her challenge pathetic at first…or it would have been had he not known her capabilities. When she didn't budge, the smirk suddenly vanished into a vicious growl.
"Last chance, Puff. Get out of my way or I'll make you."
It was Buttercup's turn to join the fray.
"Back off, Red."
"Is that a threat, BC?"
Now it was Butch's turn as he cracked both knuckles in succession.
"More like a guarantee," he responded in kind, wild green eyes spoiling for a fight.
The collective pressure of the air skyrocketed as pulsating beams of red and green power began to glow from eyes and fists. Only the blues held back from the fray, not keen on joining a potential brouhaha but each prepared to back up their siblings if necessary. Some of the students began visibly panicking before the sound of a whistle broke through the wall of tension.
"Enough! Break it up, now!"
Miss Keene, a solid decade older but no less energetic or committed to her students, ran over as fast as her short legs would carry her. It was not the first, nor the last time she'd been forced to prevent a potential kerfuffle between the Puffs and Ruffs.
"Any powers used will result in a month's long detention, Brick. Or have you forgotten?" she warned sternly.
Brick took a glance at Blossom and then back to Miss Keene, putting his hands in the air innocently.
"Hey, I wasn't doing anything. Pinky here started it."
"Mhm, yes I'm sure. And how many times have I told you not to do any crazy stunts in the school parking lot?"
"At least eight…this one makes nine, I think," Boomer stated thickly.
"Zip it, you dunce."
"Enough. This is your first and only warning, boys. Now get to class. The bell is about to ring."
She gestured towards the crowd that had gathered to watch the irresistible drama.
"That goes for all of you. Go on."
Blossom couldn't resist a smug smile of her own as Brick adjusted his long time red cap, scowled and indicated for his brothers to follow. Honestly, there was a reason that woman had ascended the ranks of the public school system so quickly. Sandra Keene personified gentle but firm. Not even the Rowdyruff Boys crossed her.
"Thank you, Miss Keene. I was wondering-"
"Blossom Utonium must we go through this exercise every year?" her favorite teacher asked in a somewhat exasperated tone.
"But-"
"I know perfectly well these little confrontations are not one sided. As the leader of this city and school, I expect you to rise above such shenanigans."
Her words were directed at all three of the Utonium sisters but the disappointment that lingered in those penetrating blue eyes was enough to knock down Blossom's pride several notches. Within school walls, the same rules applied to the Powerpuff Girls. You did not cross Sandra Keene.
Gentle but firm.
"Yes, Vice Principal Keene."
A small bit of the old affection returned to those penetrating eyes stemming from years of tutelage at Pokey Oaks and beyond. They had a long history together after all.
"Very good. Now don't be late."
Blossom looked down at her cell phone and saw only a minute remained before the start of calculus. She'd have to run all the way across campus! It would break her perfect attendance record!
Noticing the wide eyed distress from the redhead, a small smile stretched across Miss Keane's kindly face.
"You may fly to class just this once."
Buttercup wasted no time in taking advantage.
"Hell yeah! Thanks, Miss Keene!"
Bubbles followed suit, her blue streak trailing behind lime green. Blossom smiled, warmth spreading as the California rays shined brightly against her beautiful, back length hair.
It was going to be a good year.
A soft pink streak joined her sisters in their patented multicolored flash.
Alright, that's a strong opener. I'm going to have the next chapter up very soon and it's a doozy!
As always, please leave comments/reviews/feedback. I am not afraid of constructive criticism!
Rock on!
Side Note: I got the negative Earth concept from DC comics lol. Don't sue me.
~The Wasp
