Buttercup's Point of View—
"Buttercup, I've been thinking on something."
I turned to Mitch curiously, watching as the warm, gentle breeze blew his soft mocha hair into his eyes. He flicked the fallen hairs out of his face and bit his full bottom lip. So precious.
"What have you been thinking about?"
It was nearly a month since I've talked to Butch. Well, anybody really. Mitch has consumed all of my time. If Blossom thought that my grades were horrendous, she should see them now. They were at an all-time low. I haven't had time to talk to even Hanna or Bella. I don't sit with them anymore. I don't go to the mall with them anymore. I call Hanna or Bella or maybe text Butch every now and then, but that's only when I'm not spending my time being infatuated with Mitch. This whole month has been spent playing video games at his house, going to the skate park, and going to concerts. I had never felt this way with any guy before. My sisters don't like it one bit. Bubbles can sometimes be neutral towards him, but Blossom hates him with a passion. Too bad everyone can't see what I see. And to think, I used to hate him not too long ago. I sighed.
"Running away from home. My mom wouldn't care, dad's dead…"
I gazed up at him and sensed the hurt and pain. I couldn't imagine having a family like that.
"If you're going, then I'm going with you."
He glanced up at me, surprised.
"Really?"
I hesitated for a moment as I listened to the voices inside my head whispering to me, telling me this was a bad idea. I remember Blossom telling me this was my conscience, and that I should most likely listen to it. Ah, screw it. What the hell did my conscience know anyway?
"Yeah."
He smiled and brushed my bangs out of my eyes.
"Pack tonight. Meet me at this stream at 6:00 a.m."
I returned the smile as a feeling of dread washed over me. We got up to go our separate ways when he turned around.
"Oh, and Buttercup…don't tell your sisters or anybody about this."
Before he turned away, I could have sworn I saw a smirk on his face. I shook it off, assuming that he was just happy, and turned to walk in the opposite of his direction.
5:50 a.m.—
I was already up and dressed, slugging my luggage over my back in the kitchen, when Bubbles walked in. The lights were still off, but I could see her clearly. She wore a baby blue and white striped camisole with nothing but her baby blue underwear and fuzzy blue socks. In her hand was her stuffed octopus Octi. She opened the refrigerator and grabbed a glass of milk, then fluttered to the pantry and fetched a package of cookies. She turned on the lights and sat at the kitchen table. She looked me directly in the eye, blinking in disbelief.
"Buttercup? Is that—"
"Shhh."
She wearily rose from her seat and sat down beside me.
"Why do you have luggage? Why are you already dressed?"
"Nothing, Bubbles, it's nothing. Just go back to bed."
"Tell me, first."
"Bubbles, no!"
She shook her head as tears flooded her eyes.
"You're not going away are you?"
I swallowed the dry lump in my throat as a wave of grief stirred in the pit of my stomach.
"No, Bubbles. Go back to bed," I lied.
She glanced at me, wiping her eyes. Good. She thought this was all a dream. Gazing back at me one last time, she grabbed Octi, her glass of milk, and plate of cookies and walked back into her room, turning the lights off. I cautiously unlocked the locks on the door and opened it, quietly slipping out into the still morning. I dashed to the backyard and through the trees until I arrived at the stream where Mitch was already waiting.
"Sorry I'm late. Bubbles came into the kitchen and-"
"You didn't tell her, huh?" he interrupted.
"No."
He let out a sigh of relief and gathered his backpack.
"Come on, let's go. I know a place—"
He glanced at me, his eyebrows furrowed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"Your cell phone. Give it here."
I gazed down at my iPhone in my hand then back up at him.
"Why?"
"Cause it's just gonna be the two of us and I don't want anyone interrupting our time," he said quickly.
"Oh, okay." I handed him my phone happily and walked on along, following behind him.
About at 7:30, we arrived at an old apartment. Sort of. It only had one bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room and small kitchen. He turned the key and we walked inside.
"Where'd you find this, Mitch?" I asked curiously, gazing at the room.
"Umm, it was my dad's."
"Oh."
"I'll go unpack my stuff, you stay here, okay?"
"Sure."
And with that, he turned towards the bedroom, but came back out.
"BC, you can sleep in the bedroom. I'll sleep on the couch. I'll just unpack out here, okay? You go in the bedroom."
I nodded and took my luggage to the bedroom and closed the door behind me, tossing my bags to the side as I plopped down onto the bed. I took out my lime green iPod and turned up the volume.
Butch's Point of View—
"Where's BC? Have you seen her today?"
I turned my head to Hanna and furrowed my eyebrows.
"She's probably with Mitch."
"No, I haven't seen Mitch today either."
"Then she's late."
She shrugged her shoulders and sighed.
I don't like talking about Buttercup. I still have the same feelings for her, sure, but I just don't like talking about her. It hurts too much. She never sits with us anymore. Barely even talks to us anymore. Even her sisters are beginning to notice. I always get to feeling like it was all my fault in some way. Which it was. I think.
Then, the bell rang. I was beginning to feel a bit worried. BC's usually here before the bell rings. I glanced over at the crew. They had the same look of fear and apprehension plastered over their faces. I looked up at the now gray sky as the wind swirled viciously. It was about to rain.
'I just hopes she's okay," I thought to myself before sauntering away moodily.
Blossom's Point of View (at lunch)—
I pushed the hair out of my face and sat down at Bubbles' table, Brick seated right across from me, Boomer beside Bubbles.
"What's wrong with you?" Brick asked, worried.
"We can't find Buttercup. I didn't see her this morning. Her or Mitch," I replied, wiping my eyes.
"Where do you think she could be?" Boomer asked, stuffing a fry into his mouth.
"I don't know…Bubbles? Do you have an idea?" I asked.
A look of guilt washed over her face as her cheeks reddened.
"I saw her this morning. Around 5:50 or something. She was in the kitchen…dressed…had her luggage packed…waiting by the door."
Bubbles burst into tears as Boomer gingerly rubbed her back.
I sprang from my seat angrily.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier? She could be anywhere by now, thanks to you!" I yelled.
"Calm down, Red! It wasn't her damn fault so sit your ass down. We need to think about this. Whom could she possibly be with?" Brick said, his chin resting on his hands in profound though.
Suddenly, Brick and I looked up at each other in unison.
"Mitch."
I should have seen it coming from the beginning. As a deep roll of thunder tore through the eerie silence and a streak of lightning lit up the sky, I grabbed Brick by the wrist and led him to the library. I plopped down in a chair in front of a computer and logged on to Google. I typed in the search bar:
Reasons why teenagers run away from home.
Brick did the same thing as I vigilantly scanned the screen, probing for any explanation of why she would even think of leaving home.
Butch's Point of View (after school)—
I gazed out of the window grimly and stared at the gray drizzling downpour outside. There was no hint of it letting up anytime soon. Brick had told me that they thought she ran away. I feel so miserable…hopeless…
"Hey Butch."
I turned to the doorway to see Boomer, then turned back towards the window somberly.
He took it upon himself to walk over to the windowpane and sit down beside me, his concerned expression unwavering.
"I know you think it's your fault. But Blossom and Brick said that she just felt bad about something. Or something like that," he assured, trying to soothe me.
"Gee, thanks, Booms," I replied sarcastically. He patted my back in a brotherly way and grinned.
"No problem, Butch."
Like he actually helped anything. The faggot. But at least he tried.
As soon as I heard the close behind him, I grabbed my phone and sent her a text message. It read:
'hey, BC, where ya at? Ur sisters and me and hanna and bella r worried sick about u! :('
I waited for ten minutes. No text back. I wiped away the tears that formed in my eyes and grabbed my iPod, not caring what song played. I turned it to the shuffle option and threw myself onto my bed.
[…Breakeven by The Script…]
I'm still alive but I'm barely breathin'
Fuck! Why the hell do I have all these damn love songs on here?
Just prayin' to a god that I don't believe in
Cause I got time while she got freedom
Cause when a heart break no it don't break even
Her best days will be some of my worst
She finally met a man that's gonna put her first
While I'm wide awake she's no trouble sleeping
Cause when a heart break no it don't break even…even…no
What am I supposed to do when the bets part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces
They say bad things happen for a reason
But no wise words gonna stop the bleedin'
Cause she's moved on while I'm always grievin'
I thought back to the sixth grade when she had a crush on me. I pushed her away. Her little heart was broken for a while—I was her first crush. After a while, she got over it. I never did. I've always had a crush on her. Now it's all fucked up.
Cause when a heart break no it don't break even…no
What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
I'm falling to pieces
(One still in love while the other one's leaving)
I'm falling to pieces
(Cause when a heart break no it don't break even)
Oh you got his heart and my heart and none of the pain
You took your suitcase, I took the blame
Now I'm tryna make sense of what little remains oh
Cause you left me with no love and no love to my name
Just prayin' to a god that I don't believe in
Cause I got time while she got freedom
Cause when a heart break no it don't break
No it don't break
No it don't break even, no
What am I supposed to do when the best part of me was always you?
And what am I supposed to say when I'm all choked up and you're okay?
(Oh glad you're okay now)
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
(Oh I'm glad you're okay)
I'm falling to pieces, yeah
(One still in love while the other one's leaving)
I'm falling to pieces
(Cause when a heart break no it don't break even)
Meaningless love songs. Stupid love songs. Dammit. I skipped to the next song and groaned in aggravation. Justin Bieber now? Really?
[…That Should Be Me by Justin Bieber…]
Everybody's laughing in my mind
Rumors spreading 'bout this other guy
Do you do what you did when you did with me?
Does he love you the way I can?
Did you forget all the plans that you made with me?
Cause baby, I didn't
That should be me holding your hand
That should be me making you laugh
That should be me, this is so sad
That should be me [x2]
That should be me feeling your kiss
That should be me buying you gifts
This is so wrong
I can't go on
Till you believe that
That should be me [x2]
You said you needed a little time for my mistakes
It's funny how you used that time to have me replaced
Did you think that I wouldn't see you out at the movies
What you doin' to me
You're taking him where we used to go
Now if you're tryna break my heart
It's workin' cause you know that
That should be me holding your hand
I turned off my iPod in frustration. Dumb love songs. Stupid Boomer who downloaded these dumb love songs to my iPod. I slammed it on the nightstand beside my bed and turned on the T.V.
Buttercup's Point of View—
"Are you about to go to bed?" I asked as I sat on the couch beside Mitch.
"Yeah, I'm tired. Are you?"
"I guess so."
"Okay. Night, babe."
He kissed me on my forehead before I turned to walk to the bedroom, his soft, full, wet lips on my now hot skin. I felt lightheaded for a second.
I closed the door behind me and plopped onto the bed, smiling like a goof. He just kissed me! Mitch Mitchelson kissed me! I turned off the light and pulled the covers over my head.
Author's Note: What'cha think is gonna happen? ;]