Blossom was in sooooo much trouble. It would have been bad enough if Ms. Keane had simply caught her in the act of vandalizing Princess's locker, but to be caught in that broom closet alone with a boy - with Butch, a known ne'er-do-well, no less - immediately afterward! Oh, Blossom's poor heart was trying to pound its way out of her chest right now. Her head hung, and she scuffed her feet against the ground. Miss Keane had sat her and Butch down in the front office and they were waiting for the principal to return and seal their fate.

My record is ruined, Blossom thought mournfully.

To make matters worse, the first class of the day had just ended when they were caught, so there was a hallway full of her peers to watch as she emerged from the janitor's closet with Butch and get hauled off to the principal's office. Goodness knows what they had thought about that! She could hear badly hidden whispers following after her as she and her companion were marched away.

Speaking of which, Butch was still occupying the seat next to her, chuckling under his breath. She shot him a dark look. The idiot was just sitting there, smiling away, as if he didn't have a care in the world. What had she been thinking! Had she really just - just -...oh gosh, there was no telling where his mouth had been. The sudden urge to brush her teeth overwhelmed her, and she scowled at the thought. How could she have been so foolish? And to lose her first kiss like that! Goodness, she would never live this one down.

Butch's eyes met hers all of a sudden, and a wide, toothy grin broke out across his face. Her own face flushed a deep red and she turned away as quickly as she could, but she knew from the renewed laughing that he had caught her blushing.

The door to Miss Keane's personal office opened, and the principal herself reemerged. Blossom and Butch stood and were pointed into the office, where the door was shut behind them and Miss Keane settled in at her desk. Her large blue eyes looked back and forth between the two students, and Blossom could see the disappointment lining her face.

"Well," Miss Keane began, "do either of you have anything to say for yourselves?"

"I DIDN'T DO IT," Blossom blurted out and then slapped her hands over her mouth. What the heck is wrong with you today, she asked herself. Butch snorted with laughter and sat down in the chair in front of the desk, leaning back smoothly as though he was spending time with friends and not in the process of getting into trouble.

"Mr. Jojo, I might have expected this of you, but Blossom! You, of all people, should know better!" Miss Keane was shaking her head, and Blossom felt her breakfast churning in her stomach. "You're the student body president. You're supposed to be an example for the other students! I never would have thought you capable of such blatant misbehavior."

"I'm sorry Ms. Keane," Blossom muttered. The room was starting to spin around her, and she grasped the arm of the nearest chair to try to keep herself together. Blossom hated getting into trouble.

"Right," Butch clapped his hands together and leaned his elbows onto his knees. "So, the usual, I guess, eh Keane? One week or two?"

"Mr. Jojo, I know you were smoking in there, I could smell it. No, this time I'm afraid it will be three weeks of detention." Butch shrugged. He hadn't been joking earlier, he really didn't seem to care at all about getting detention. Blossom, on the other hand...

"You as well, Miss Utonium. You will be joining Mr. Jojo here in detention, one hour after school every day for the next three weeks." Miss Keane narrowed her eyes. "I really ought to give you more, if you were doing what I think you were doing to Miss Morebuck's locker. Consider this a warning. You should know better. I will be speaking to your father about your behavior, you can be sure of that."

Blossom nodded lamely. Three weeks of detention and a lecture from the Professor. Ms. Keane might as well have sentenced her to the gallows. Her behavior had been deplorable. She was a vandal. A truant. A...a...ne'er-do-well.

"Well, as long as you both understand how serious your actions were, then I think we can be done here. Your first detention will be tomorrow immediately after school, room 104. Now get to class, both of you, and I better not hear about you loitering for even a second in the hallways."

"Yes Ms. Keane," Blossom whispered. Her eyes were misting up slightly. Not in front of other people, darn it, she told herself. She and Butch were dismissed from the office and given passes to get into class. Blossom's head was pounding and she felt sick to her stomach. She turned in the direction of her Biology class, but a hand shot out and grabbed her arm before she could walk away.

"Well, well, well, how's it feel to be one of the bad kids, Pinky Puff?" Butch wiggled his fingers for emphasis and Blossom rolled her eyes.

"Whatever, Butch. Let's just forget about this and agree to go out separate ways, okay?" The sooner I can forget about this, the better, she added in her head.

"Aw, but ya see Lil' Red, I can't just forget a kiss like that, now can I? I am a gentleman, after all."

Blossom's face flushed a deep red, far redder than the bow that was tying her hair up, she was sure. Butch merely chuckled and threw her a wink before he turned on his heel and strolled away.

"What did I say about loitering, Miss Utonium!"

"Sorry Ms. Keane," Blossom squeaked, and then she turned and fled to her next class.

Needless to say, Blossom's day was not going well. She was late for Biology and had tripped and fallen on the way to her desk. Princess had cornered her immediately after the class. Whispers were starting to follow her in the hallways, building in intensity with every class that passed. Bubbles had shot her a confused look when they had passed each other in the hall earlier. Blossom prayed that neither of her sisters found out about her being caught with Butch. The chances of that, however, were rapidly diminishing as the news spread. Voices trailed behind her as she made her way to the cafeteria for lunch.

Was she really in there with Jojo?

I thought she had a thing for the red one.

Butch can do waayyy better than her.

I heard they were making out when Keane caught them.

That's not what I heard. Mary said they were doing something else if you know what I mean.

Do you think they're like a thing or something?

Of course not.

Some girls just have all the luck.

Yeah, but why her?

Yep. There was no way her sisters hadn't heard about it by now.

She was jostled by the crowd moving past her and dropped one of her books. Great. Just peachy. Best day of her life. Before she could bend down to grab it, though, it was claimed by someone else and smoothly handed to her. An arm slung around her shoulders and she was jerked against the side of someone's body. Sure enough, she looked up to find Butch's forest-green eyes leering down at her. "Word travels fast, don't it, Pinkerpuff?"

"Yes, well, I doubt that this would help very much." She pulled at the arm that was draped across her, but Butch hung on tight.

"Ah, but ya see Pinkypie, I'm kinda likin' all the talk. Ain't no way Brick can say I didn't win our bet, ya know?" Butch winked at her again and Blossom glared up at him. How could someone so tall be so darn annoying?

"Yes, I'm just sooo glad that you won that." Sarcasm was dripping from her voice, but apparently Butch didn't catch on to any of it - or he pretended not to, at least.

"Aww, I knew ya cared about me." He cackled as she finally broke free from his arm.

"Really Butch, there's enough talk as it is."

He held his hands up in mock-defense. "Alright, alright, don't get your pretty pink panties in a twist." He smiled mischievously and added, "I can be your dirty lil' secret if you want me to be."

"You're not my anything, Butch. Seriously, let's just forget about what happened, okay?"

He looked her up and down, and her face warmed once again under his gaze. Slowly he leaned towards her and muttered, "Aw, but Puffy, what if I don't wanna." More heat rushed to her face. Why - why that...that...miscreant! What sort of game did he think he was playing?

His cackling cut through the hallway again. A few more looks were pointed in their direction. Fantastic. Just what Blossom wanted right now - more attention. Butch just continued to laugh boisterously. "Well, Puff, it's been fun, but I got some grub to grab. Guess I'll see ya later, eh?"

Yeah, I'll see you. I'll see you off a cliff, she thought angrily. It was a real shame that he could fly, or else she'd be considering that as a viable option right now.

The cafeteria was already filled by the time that she was able to enter, and it was difficult to maneuver her way to her usual table. And oh, look at that, there was Princess practically sitting in Brick's lap, just snogging away like a couple of snoggers! Seriously, Blossom gets three weeks of detention for what she did that morning, but those two could just go around macking on each other's faces, not a care in the world, and nobody would bat an eye? Just like that, what little appetite she had disappeared. How abominably rude. She really ought to write a letter to the administration explaining the grave injustice she was witness to.

Blossom had already written half of her imaginary letter by the time she reached her regular lunch table. Bubbles and Buttercup were already seated there with Robin and Mike, their lunch trays scattered haphazardly across the table. They went silent as she sat down.

Buttercup looked to the others seated around them before starting, "Look, Bloss, about this morning-"

"Ms. Keane didn't see you, so I don't think you're in trouble," Blossom cut her off. Perhaps if she just didn't talk about it, then maybe it never really happened.

"That's great, but no, what I -"

Cheers broke out from a nearby table. It seemed Butch had joined his athletically-inclined peers and they were, apparently celebrating something. Blossom saw gestures being made in her direction, and her face colored as she looked away.

"Disgusting," Buttercup growled. "It's like they really believe that stupid rumor! As if you would ever, in a million, even give that asshole the time of day." There was a dangerous look in her eyes. Blossom knew that look. That look meant trouble.

"Um, Buttercup-" Blossom tried to stop her sister before the tirade began, but she was having none of it.

"And to think he's goin' around saying he had his hand up your skirt. What a perv."

"BC, I don't think-" Bubbles had caught on and joined Blossom in trying to stymy the rising current of anger. Once again, Buttercup seemed to ignore the warning tones.

"And he's getting applause for it! That asshole. I oughta...I oughta...you know what. I WILL." Buttercup slammed her hand down onto her tray and grabbed a handful of what the cafeteria was trying to pass as mashed potatoes and launched it in the direction of Butch's head.

And Buttercup, being the fantastic sportswoman that she was, never missed her target.

The surrounding tables went silent as Butch turned slowly in the direction of the flying food. The look in his eye was deadly. Buttercup sneered in his direction.

The challenge had been issued.

Butch reached his hand out behind him silently, and an obliging jock from his table plopped a steaming handful of - was that corn? - into it. One swift motion, a perfectly executed launch, and the food went flying.

Yes, it was definitely corn. And now said corn was scattered across the lunch table, and - more importantly - all through Blossom's hair.

The challenge had been accepted.

All heck broke loose, and Blossom tried to shield herself from the onslaught of edible projectiles.

Well, it would appear that Buttercup would be joining Blossom and Butch for the next three weeks of detention. Ms. Keane certainly hadn't been all too enthused when she walked into the pandemonium that was the cafeteria. Twelve people had been marched to the front office immediately and, one by one, were all subjected to the wrath of an angry educator. Fury, thy name is Keane.

The Professor had received a second call for the day concerning one of his daughters, and Blossom had winced as she heard his voice sound faintly from the receiver. It wasn't the happiest that she had ever heard her father-figure sound. Not by a longshot. Sure enough, when he picked his daughters up from school for the day, his face was lined with stern indignation. The car ride had been a silent affair.

Bubbles was dismissed to her room the moment they got home and she ran off before the Professor's speech began, so it was just Blossom and Buttercup seated on the living room couch as the Professor paced in front of them. The lecture had been one of his longest, and it seemed he had prepared in advance for the rant since he pulled out a piece of paper that contained a rather lengthy bulleted list of points. He was sure to hit every single one at least twice before his final, "I'm very disappointed in you girls. You should know better by now." Buttercup mouthed the last phrase along with the Professor as he said it - this had been her second time this week hearing it.

A second sentencing was issued to complement Ms. Keane's detentions. A full month of house arrest, so to speak, and they were to take on Bubbles's chore load as well. Blossom hung her head in shame throughout the speech, while Buttercup just lounged back on the couch and picked at her fingernails as the Professor spoke. How could her sister handle the shame and disgrace of punishment that easily? Blossom was humiliated, but her sister seemed so nonchalant about the whole ordeal.

The Professor released them from their places on the couch but rested a hand on Blossom's arm as she passed him. He pulled her slightly closer to him before saying, "Now, just a minute young lady. There's one more thing we need to talk about before you go. Buttercup, you may go to your room now."

"No way pops, I wanna hear this one." Buttercup reclaimed her spot on the couch and stared at the two figures standing in front of her with interest.

"Buttercup-"

"You won't even know I'm here, Professor!"

"Well, okay, but, um..." The Professor cleared his throat. "Well, when I spoke to Ms. Keane earlier about your behavior today, she mentioned, well, uh...I'm not sure how to say this Blossom, but, uh, if you're going to be, um,...active...with a boy, there are really a few things you ought to know about first."

The snort from Buttercup was loud, and Blossom's jaw hung open as her face - for the hundredth time that day - turned a deep scarlet color.

"P-professor! NO, I wasn't...we weren't...it's not like that," Blossom stammered out. Buttercup was now howling with laughter.

"Even so, there are a few things you need to know about boys in general-"

"No thanks, I'm good. I'm in biology, I know what's going on, and I think I'll be fine! Boys are bad, no being alone together, yep, got it. Thanks, Professor." She tried to make a run for it, but an arm shot out to block her before she could.

"Now now, young lady, if you're going to go sneaking off with boys then you are going to have to sit and listen to me first." The Professor was all seriousness as he directed her to take a seat on the couch once more.

This lecture ended up being even longer than the first, and Buttercup was still chortling away at the end of it, more amused than anybody in their right minds ought to be in such a situation. If Blossom thought she had been embarassed before, then now she was utterly mortified.

Bubbles was waiting at the top of the stairs with open arms as Blossom was finally set free from her torment. At least one sister was nice enough to show some support. The blonde walked Blossom to her room and sat down on the bed. "So," she began, "should I say 'I told you so' now, or wait for later?"

"Go ahead and get it over with."

"I told you that you shouldn't listen to Buttercup! I'm the love expert! And now look at you, you've gone and kissed the wrong brother!"

"Wait, no, that's not what I-"

"I mean, he is pretty cute. And he's sooooo tall. And as long as it's not my Boomer then I don't care who you kiss. But Blossy, you can't change your focus that quickly. You'll get whiplash! This isn't square dancing, this is a matter of the heart!"

"Believe me, my 'heart' doesn't care about Butch Jojo."

Bubbles shook her head sagely. "Oh, Blossy, are you trying to make Brick jealous? That never works! Don't you remember what happened to Cassandra in Love Always Wins?"

"That's a tv show, Bubbles. And I really doubt I'm going to lose my legs in a car accident."

"Not that part! Ugh, whatever. Just listen to dear old Bubsy, okay? I am the love expert. Believe me, you're going about this all wrong."

"I'm not 'going about' anything! He had a stupid bet and I got roped into it! That's all."

What was that look on her sister's face. Was that pity? Oh no, Blossom was never going to be able to let this go. "Blossy, no. So the rumors are true? Oh, you poor thing! Having your first kiss stolen by someone you don't even like! And in a janitor's closet, too! Oh, that's so unromantic. I am so so sorry." The blonde flung her arms around her, and Blossom struggled to be released from the grip.

"Yes, tragic, but can we just forget about this?"

That earned a squeak from Bubbles. "Just forget? NO! As bad as it might have been, it was still your first kiss! You can never forget that!"

"But Bubbles-"

"No, what we need to do is get you a real one to replace it. Now, come, talk to the love expert. Who do you want it to be from?"

"We are not having this conversation."

"Yes, we are! Are you still interested in Brick, or have you changed your mind?"

"I was never-"

"Oh, don't even try that with me. You and I both know you were. But he's taken, so that's a no-go. Is there anybody else?"

"Bubbles, really-"

"You know what, don't even tell me! I have a vision, I can see it all so clearly now. But I have so much work to do! I need to get started right away. Don't you worry, Blossom, the love expert is on the case!" With that, Bubbles swept from the room. Blossom flopped down unceremoniously on her bed and groaned into her pillow. Great. Now the "love expert" was back. That title hadn't been used in years, and Blossom did not miss it one bit. Any plans her sister had did not bode well for the ginger.

Hey guys, it looks like I didn't abandon this story after all. To all those people who reviewed a few months ago when this first came out - THANK YOU SO MUCH! Really, you're all incredibly kind, and I really appreciate everything that was said. Sorry it has taken me a hot minute to get back to this, but come back I have.

I may be spamming this site a bit in the coming weeks. I plan on working on this story as well as a couple of other new ones for the next little bit, so sorry if that gets on your nerves. I have one particularly special surprise that I'm really looking forward to, a sequel to another story of mine. In reality, I'm just trying to distract myself from school for a bit.

As always, thank you so much for giving this story a chance. I really appreciate it! Commentary is, of course, always welcome.

I look forward to seeing you guys in the next chapter. Thanks again.

XOXO

-ICantThinkofanOriginalName-