Bubbles P.O.V.
"Thanks again Jack. I really appreciate this." I told him, with a smile.
"Don't mention it. I still owe you for convincing Nikky I was gay." He chuckled.
I laughed, remembering Nikky hitting on him every chance you got, "Well, you wear so much eye liner, I merely mentioned the possability."
He grinned, "I make eye liner work."
"Sure you do." I rolled my eyes.
We walked into his appartment and I gasped, "Is that a piano?!"
"Um, yeah. I bought it two years ago." He said, as I ran up to it.
I sat down on the bench and looked at the keys lovingly, "Do you mind?"
"Go ahead." He shrugged and walked to the kitchen.
My fingers flowed over the keys in a sweet and soft melody that was as farmiliar as my own name.
"Sweet love, sweet love... Trapped in your love." I sang lightly.
I stopped, frowning as I couldn't remember the rest of the lyrics.
"That's beautiful." Jack said from behind me.
I jumped in surprise, "My mother used to sing it to me when I was little. I can never remember the rest of the words though."
"Why don't you just ask her?" He asked.
I shifted to the louder keys, "That's not really possible. She died when I was six."
"Oh. I'm sorry." He apologized.
I shrugged, "I'm over it. I'm just glad I remember the sound."
"She wrote it?" He asked.
I nodded, "She was really talented. She taught me how to play it. She would say, 'This song is yours. You inspired it, you helped me write it, and now you will play it.' She made me feel special, and not just me. She taught Buttercup how to play the drums, and she tried to help Blossom embrace her changing intrests, but Blossom didn't want her help. Blossom used to go on and on about how mom was too controling, but I would say she just wants to be involved in our life. Buttercup would say I was right and then accuse me of acting too old. The Proffessor used to say I was too wise for words and I would just laugh. He used to laugh a lot too. Before mom died. Now he just sits in his lab all day, convinced one of his inventions will fill the void in his heart. Buttercup likes to pretend we never had a mother, I guess it makes it easier to let her go. Blossom turned into a cold-hearted brat when mom passed, I didn't understand it. I don't like to think of mom as dead, just out of reach, and she gets closer and closer each time I play that song. Silly, I know, but I think its better than acting like she never existed. Sorry, I'm rambling."
"Its good that you can talk about it. Holding it all in isn't healthy." He said.
I smiled sadly, "Tell that to the rest of my family, their sealed tighter than Fort Knox."
He shrugged, "Not everyone is as trusting as you." I sighed, "Yeah, I share a little too much."
"What makes you say that?" He asked, frowning.
I stood up, "To this day, I haven't had one person I've had a coversation with ask, 'Why did you tell me that?'."
He gave me a look that made me shiver, "Then your hanging out with the wrong people."
He leaned towards me and I lost myself in the intoxicating smell of his breath and leaned forward as well. Before I stopped and jumped a bajillion feet back.
"What are you doing?!" I demanded.
"I was just-"
He started but I cut him off, "Oh shut up! I'm so sick of not being able to go one place without a guy trying to get close. I'm out of here."
I ran out of the room, ignoring his calls and confusion. I needed... air!
"Tell Tess I quit!" I screamed before slamming the door in his face. I ran back out into the rain, refusing to cry.
No, it was time for me to... harden my heart.
"Cryin' on the corner, waitin' in the rain
I swear I'll never, ever wait again
You gave me your word..but words for you are lies
Darlin' in my wildest dreams, I never thought I'd go
But it's time to let you know...oh...
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna turn...and...leave you here...
All of my life I've been waitin' in the rain
I've been waiting for a feeling...that never, ever came
It feels so close, but always disappears...
Darlin', in your wildest dreams, you never had a clue...
But it's time you got the news...oooo...
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
I'm gonna harden my heart
I'm gonna swallow my tears
Harden my heart...harden my heart...
Swallow my tears
I'm gonna harden my heart..."