Townsville High

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Chapter Three - Can I talk now?


Buttercup didn't sleep that night.

She stayed up and watched her TV, trying to forget that not less than 4 hours before she had attacked a wall, and almost her sister. According to Buttercup, she was angry, but that was all. Nothing was wrong. Right?

A small part of her knew all was not fine, but she didn't want to admit that she wasn't fine either.

"Buttercup?" She looked at her door to see Bubbles. She was dressed in her blue nightdress. It looked like she couldn't sleep either. Buttercup faked a smile.

"Yeah?"

Bubbles walked in and sat down on the bed beside her sister. "Blossom told me what happened." Buttercup sighed.

"What about it?"

Her sister looked at her in concern. "You can't keep saying you're fine when you're not. We just want to help you, whatever is wrong..you can tell us." Bubbles said with a serious face.

"There's nothing wrong, blue. I can promise you that." Buttercup muttered the last part, looking down at the ground. Bubbles knew not to believe a word she had said. She knew there was most definitely a problem.

"I'm trying to help you. Ever since we moved back into this house, you've been..angry. Like you have this bottled up anger that you're only letting out now.." She paused. "Is this because of dad?"

Buttercup suddenly shot her head round to face her sister. "This is nothing to do with dad. I made my peace with his death a long time ago, I don't need you reminding me about it!" She screamed.

Bubbles looked at her sister helplessly. It looked like Buttercup was about to hit something. The blonde just shot her a disapproving look before jumping off the bed and walking to the door.

"You're not fooling anyone, Buttercup. If this isn't about dad, then you have a serious problem." Bubbles said before walking out the room. Buttercup took in what she had said and sighed. She turned her attention back to the TV and continued to watch like nothing had happened.


School passed by quickly the next morning.

Bubbles wandered into her last class, History. She shared this class with Boomer, Tyler-Jay, Maxine and Butch. Once she saw them, she walked over to the table they were sitting at, and took a seat in between Butch and Maxine.

"Hey." Greeted Boomer.

She smiled at him. "Hi."

"Where's Buttercup, she's in this class?" Maxine asked, looking around for the green eyed girl. Bubbles then noticed she wasn't here either. She looked about and shrugged.

"She was in my Maths class, she should be here." Bubbles replied. "Then again, she's been feeling a bit off so she probably went home after lunch."

Butch suddenly remembered how she was in pain after the boxing match with him, and so he turned to Bubbles with a slightly worried expression. "Is she okay?"

Bubbles smiled in surprise. "I hope so." She smirked cutely. "Since when do you care about Buttercup? I thought you's were still amazingly non civil with each other?"

"We are." Butch shrugged, acting like he didn't care. "But I can't have her ill when she's my sparring partner for boxing, can I?"

Bubbles smirked again, something that Boomer found very cute. "Sure, Butch. Sure."

He rolled his eyes at her assumption and kicked his feet up on the table. Maxine laughed at their conversation and turned to Bubbles, a smile tugging at her rosy red lips.

"Just so you know, there's this huge Halloween party happening on Saturday." Maxine said.

Tyler-Jay nodded. "Yeah, you better come."

She smiled at the pair. "Sounds like fun, I'll be there. Where is it?"

"Brody's house." Boomer said. "He has one every year."

"Oh, and there's one rule for this party. You have to come with a date." Maxine said smiling. "I'm obviously Brody's date. So you should find someone soon."

She looked at Tyler-Jay, who was smiling slyly at her. Boomer noticed this and rolled his eyes. Of course TJ was going to ask her. Boomer was starting to hate the fact that TJ was so desirable.

"Who do you think I should ask, Tyler?" Bubbles smiled.

Maxine glared at the blonde in shock. "Did you just call him Tyler?"

"..And he's not trying to kill her?" Butch raised his eyebrow.

Tyer-Jay chuckled. "She's the only one that can get away with calling me it." He turned to Bubbles. "And I don't know who you should ask, mabey you should wait for someone to ask you."

She smiled. "Mabey I will."

Boomer was having enough of all this flirting. He didn't understand why he was suddenly so mad about Tyler wanting to ask her out. At first he was mad at the thought of Tyler just using her, but now it seemed like he actually liked her, which was rare for Tyler.

It could be an act though..

Boomer didn't want to take any chances. He had to ask Bubbles before Tyler and hope she would agree. He spent the rest of the class thinking of a way to ask her that didn't seem like he wanted a romantic attatchment..that wouldn't be easy.


"Blossom?"

The red head spun around to find Brody. She smiled politely at him. Of course, she didn't expect to be friendly with someone that was best friends with Butch Jojo, but Brody was nothing like him. He was more like Brick, which meant he was more like Blossom too.

"Hello, Brody." Blossom smiled.

"We have Science next, I'll walk you." He offered.

Blossom nodded. "Thank you." The pair began walking to class. Blossom wasn't looking forward to this class, it would make it better if a friendly face was around.

"I'm not going to enjoy Science." Blossom frowned. "I got partnered up with Brick for the project."

Brody chuckled at her discomfort. He knew it would be weird for her considering their history. Of course it would be. Luckily he sat close to them so he could comfort her if needed.

"Yeah, I figured you wouldn't like that." Brody said.

Blossom sighed deeply. "I tried being civil, but he just isn't interested in being anything more than my enemy. I don't see why he doesn't just put the past behind him? I most certainly do not want to, but I am for the sake school."

Brody nodded. "Brick is just shocked that you are in his life again. He's a very stubborn boy, it won't be easy getting him to be civil." Blossom knew this, she just didn't think he would make things so hard.

"I guess I'll just have to wait it out." Blossom said. The pair entered the class room, where Blossom seen Brick waiting at their table, glaring at her from across the class. Brody noticed this and chuckled before patting her on the back, comfortingly.

"Good luck with Brick." Blossom smiled at him before walking over to her seat. She sat down and suddenly felt his eyes on her. She rolled her eyes and looked at him, a bored and tired expression on her face.

"I know we're partners for this project, but it would help if we could do it without saying a word to each other. So, if you have any bright idea's on it, write them on your book." Blossom explained bluntly.

Brick's face remained straight, as he grabbed his pen and book. He began jotting something down, causing Blossom to raise her eyebrow and glance down at his book. He finished and held it up in front of her face.

It read, I think we should base our project on the Big Bang. I heard it's the teacher's biggest belief, could cause us to get extra marks.

Blossom was impressed. Not only had he found out something that could get them extra marks but he already had an idea for the project. She figured he would be trying not to think about instead of..well, thinking about it.

"I like that idea, Brick." Blossom never thought she'd say those words. Brick forced a friendly smile, which soon faded. He began to write something else down, and then held the book back in front of her.

Good, I was going to do it even if you didn't like it.

Blossom rolled her eyes, already regretting this. She was just glad she didn't have to hear his mocking voice. She started getting to work, listing all the facts she already knew about the Big Bang, as did Brick.

After an hour of silent work, the bell rang. Blossom stood up and headed for the door, when she felt someone tap her shoulder. She turned around and saw Brick holding up his book again.

Can I talk now?

She sighed and nodded.

"Thank god. This pretty mouth doesn't like staying closed for too long." Brick said smiling charmingly. Blossom crossed her arms and gave him an annoyed look.

"You've been talking for five seconds and you're already getting on my nerves! How are we supposed to be partners for 2 months when I can't even stand you talking to me!?" Blossom yelled, gathering the attention of a few pupils. Brick grinned at the fact he was already getting on her nerves.

"That's your problem, Pinky." Brick said before walking out. Blossom groaned in anger before quickly running out after him, shouting his name like he had committed some kind of crime. Brick turned around grinning.

"Couldn't keep away, could you? What do want?" Blossom scoffed at his comment.

"Listen, Brick. If you want to get this project done and not fail, we need to find some common ground. We need to be civil."

Brick rolled his eyes. "I can't be civil with an ex Powderpuff girl."

"Powerpuff girl, and you don't have to be civil to an ex Powerpuff girl. You just have to be civil to me. How about we just pretend that we're meeting for the first time? No history, no past..just new acquaintances." Blossom suggested. Brick thought about it for a second before caving. He held his hand out to her and smiled.

"Brick Jojo, nice to meet you." He said with a hint of sarcasm, but the rest of his tone proved he was on board with her idea. She smiled and shook his hand, pretending that she was meeting him for the very first time.

"Likewise." She pulled her hand away. "I'll see you tomorrow. Get thinking new idea's for our project."

She began walking down the corridor when he heard him shout at her. "Didn't catch your name." She turned around and saw his smirk. She chuckled slightly at his comment and turned back around.

"You'll know it soon enough." She played along.

He smiled slightly as he watched her walk away. It wouldn't be easy pretending like their whole past never happened, but if Boomer and Bubbles could do it, he could. He hoped so anyway, it was the only way they were going to get through being science partners.


Buttercup viciously attacked the punching bag.

She had been doing so for hours now, not even stopping for a drink. Butch was glaring at her from his mat, raising his eyebrow at her anger. She looked like she was taking every bit of anger and energy out on that bag. She sure did show promise, but this seemed more personal than she was letting on.

"Buttercup, take a break already!" Butch called out. Buttercup turned her face to look at him, but didn't stop punching even for a second. She shot him a dirty look.

"You're not the boss of me, Twitch!" Buttercup yelled back.

"actually, in this class, I am. Coach wanted me to make a machine of you, I can't do that when you get tired out before the first spar!"

"Go away, Butch!"

Butch walked over, not listening to her protest. He grabbed her wrist, finally stopping her from almost breaking the punching bag off of its hook. She glared at him angrily before yanking her arm away from him with strength that shocked even Butch.

"Not until you tell me what's wrong with you. You're being even more annoying than usual." Butch smirked at her expression. She scowled at him and began to walk away, only to have him follow her.

"Leave it. This has nothing to do with you! We don't even like each other, so why would you give a damn!?" Buttercup yelled loudly, causing Maxine to glare at her shocked. She never yelled like that. Of course Maxine had only known her a few weeks but this was strange behaviour on her part.

"Fine. If you want to be an annoying cow, that's your problem."

Buttercup twitched. "What did you just call me!?"

Then all hell broke loose.

Butch went flying to the other side of the room, and Buttercup charged at him. He quickly used his power of forcefeild to protect himself, causing Buttercup to become enraged.

"You're forgetting that I still have my powers, Butters?" He mocked. Buttercup threw herself at the forcefeild, trying anything she could to get past it, but no luck. She groaned at his cockiness and gave up. As she began to walk away, Maxine went running for her.

Maxine caught up with her. "Hey, BC? You practically broke the wall back there! What is wrong with you?"

Buttercup spun around, looking like she was about to throttle Maxine, but the look on the brunette's face caused Buttercup expression to soften. She sighed and spoke.

"I'm just angry. I don't know why, I just am, Max." With that, Buttercup walked out of the room. Maxine frowned as she saw her friend leave, and soon found Butch beside her. He looked so stiff after being flung at a wall.

"I know she's meant to be my other half and all that crap, but she's like me times ten!" Butch commented. Maxine smiled and shook her head before walking away too, leaving Butch to stand wondering what had just happened.


Boomer sat back on his couch and kicked his feet on the table.

He was watching a football game on the TV with Tyler-Jay. They sat in silence until someone scored, then they began shouting at the Television. Boomer glanced at his best friend, frowning at the deceit he was about to cause.

As much as it hurt him to betray his best friend, Boomer couldn't let another girl get used by him. Even If Tyler was serious about Bubbles, he could never be sure. He knew she didn't deserve it.

So he had an idea.

He was going to do something to ensure that they would never get together, and he had to do it now before he could ask her to Brody's party. Boomer took a deep breath and began to speak.

"Ty?" Tyler turned to Boomer. He gave him a look saying 'continue'. Boomer had practiced what he was going to say more than ten times, but the words were now suddenly lost.

"..I need to tell you something."

Tyler smiled. "Sounds serious, Boom. Not your style."

"I spoke to Bubbles today." This grabbed Tyler's attention. "You can't ask her to the party. She said she was trying to be polite because you like her..but she doesn't like you. She said that I should encourage you to ask some other girl." Boomer lied. Tyler's face suddenly fell.

"She really said that?" Tyler asked in shock and sadness.

Boomer hesitated. "..Yes." Tyler sighed and looked into space. Boomer waited for a reaction, for him to say something. Tyler just nodded.

"I guess I'll ask someone else."

Boomer smiled. "That's the spirit! Oh, and can you not mention to Bubbles that I told you, she made me promise not to say anything, but I didn't want you making a fool of yourself." Tyler sighed but nodded.

It was hard to feel guilty right now, because Boomer was so happy that he had stopped him from asking. Boomer was a little confused on why he had done it though, it was obvious that Tyler was actually serious about liking her..so why did he do it? Boomer's worst nightmare had came true..

He liked her..more than a friend.

Boomer's eyes widened.


Next Chapter - Bubbles is shocked to find out that Tyler has asked someone else to the party. Blossom and Brick bond over their project, and Maxine tries to help a destructive Buttercup.

~Sorry it took a while but I hope you like it anyway! Please review.~

Allison Peirce