Chapter Three:

Now it's haunting him, the memories like a ghost. He's so terrified because no one else comes close.

Tart sat in the park by a fountain, staring down at his new sneakers. He and his brothers had changed into earth clothes, having had an awkward time explaining to Yuebin about their Cynnth clothes.

Yuebin…

Tart frowned at the thought of the man. He had taken Pudding away, though Pudding had begged to stay since Tart had just arrived. Tart had a chance to whisper to Pudding to meet him in the park that evening, and she agreed. However, Tart wondered if Yuebin would let her come.

Tart rested his elbows on his knees and sighed. The bruise on Pudding's cheek worried him, especially when she got defensive about it. And the other Mew Mews didn't seem to like that Yuebin had come in…

Tart scowled. He was the first to admit he wasn't the smartest out of the three brothers (though would argue that he was smarter than Kish) but he could see that something was wrong in Pudding's relationship with her supposed fiancé.

Tart looked up and watched birds flutter around in the trees. He smiled as Pudding's smiling face came to mind. She was always sweet, and funny, and kind. She was always so full of energy and always ready to make a friend, even out of an enemy. He thought of the bruise that marred the sixteen year old girl's face again and he felt anger surge up in him.

Pudding would never say it—he knew she would feel that it was neglecting her duties to her family—but Tart knew that Yuebin was hitting Pudding.

"He doesn't deserve her." Tart said out-loud.

And you do? A little voice—that sounded remarkably like Pie—said in the back of Tart's head.

Tart's blood ran cold at that thought. He thought of all the times he had tried to hurt Pudding, the time that he kidnapped her and held her underground with a low supply of air, of all the times he tried to make her cry and how he regretted it when she finally did.

"I am a jerk," Tart admitted to the grasshopper sitting by his shoe. "I really am."

"No you're not, Taru-Taru." Tart looked up to see Pudding, smiling cheerfully at him as she sat beside him. "You're Pudding's best friend."

"I didn't always act like it," Tart mumbled, tearing his eyes away from her as he realized that she had put on more make-up to cover the bruise.

Pudding took his hand.

"But Taru-Taru made the right choice in the end," Pudding said, squeezing his hand. Tart smiled down at their hands.

"Remember what you told me the first time you took my hand?" Tart said. " 'We'll turn into fossils together.' "

Pudding looked surprised.

"You remember that?" She said.

"Yeah, and so much more," Tart said, blushing slightly.

"You're so sweet, Taru-Taru," Pudding said, kissing Tart's cheek.

Tart felt his heart race in his chest. In the five years since he last saw Pudding, many Cyniclon girls had tried to capture his attention. Occasionally, Tart would return the attention but it would lead to nothing but an empty feeling in his chest. And now, that emptiness was gone, filled in a way none of those other girls could have. No other girl—human or Cyniclon—could make his heart flutter like it was this second sitting beside this wonderfully amazing young woman.

And it was in that split second that the young alien realized something, something that would change his entire life.

Pudding stood up suddenly and tried to pull Tart up with her.

"Come on, Taru-Taru, we need to get to the candy store before it closes," Pudding said cheerfully.

Tart stood up and placed his hands on Pudding's waist. She looked up at him, confused as the serious expression on his face.

"Taru-Taru?" She whispered.

"Pudding Fong," Tart said softly. "I think, no, I know I am in love with you."

Pudding was speechless, her mouth opening and closing, searching for words as her eyes filled with tears.

"Taru-Taru," She whispered. "I… I…"

And with that she wrenched herself away from Tart…

And ran away from him.