First of all: thank you SO much if you've reviewed/commented on the last chapter, and I'm so sorry if I have not responded yet! I cherish your inputs a lot, but it's just been a weird couple of months.
Second: At some point, I decided to write some kind of weird passages while I was writing it? Like in this one and in the new chapter for my other story? Like unhinged, unabridged diary passages. Enjoy I guess.
July 29th: Is anyone else aggressively siding with Blossom in More Than Human? "You're gonna miss homecoming for homework!" Robyn, by the end of the chapter you were missing your boyfriend. Social life is overrated.
Aug. 25th: weebs, what anime/manga would the Ruffs/Puffs be into? IMO, Butch: JoJo's Bizarre Adventure. Buttercup: One Piece. Bubbles: cute slice of life/magical girl (she'd start watching Madoka thinking it'd be cute, and realize she made a huge mistake). Boomer: KonoSuba. Brick: Berserk and Death Note because he had an embarrassing edgy phase in Middle School where he used to think he was "just like Light." Blossom: Attack on Titan (many mixed feelings towards Levi and Eren).
NOTE: I've never been to, nor worked at, a Hooters (important for this story).
Chapter 4: "Perhaps it takes courage to raise children." - John Steinbeck
She was a grown woman now.
Ok, maybe moving out at 18 to go to college hadn't worked out so well at first, but now Blossom was sure she'd gotten it right.
Yes, there had been some tumbling and fumbling on a bad relationship to get the gist of things, but that was in the past.
A smile on her face, chest out, back straight, and... Oh... Oh, those girls' stares did not look very nice...
The redhead slouched over as she walked by them, towards the only person she knew.
"Alicia!" She hissed at a bored-looking blonde popping pink bubblegum, with her arms folded over a tray.
"Heyyyy girl!" Alicia smiled, "So glad you took this shift!"
Blossom shrugged hugging her own tray, "It is family day, but you said tips are great on Sunday afternoons... I can Skype them when I get home."
Bless family calls. Professor was so happy that she was working and making her own money...
Where do you work again, honey? Oh, an assistant in a local office? It's so, so good you're getting ahead on your own.' He'd gush while Buttercup sighed with an eye roll, before making a joke at 'Little Miss Perfect/Goody-Two Shoes.'
Turns out Blossom's waiting tips paid much better than any office job, with just as much harassment, and a much more flexible schedule. She was still making less than some classmates, but that was the cost of not wanting to be on OnlyFans.
Alicia nodded, "I know a desperate college student when I see one."
The blonde was a handful of years older. They didn't have every shift together, were quite polar opposites but they just clicked. The blonde had had her run with creepy customers, unethical managers, and sneaky coworkers, she knew her ways.
"I'm not desperate," Blossom scoffed, crossing her arms, "It's just, hum, some tiny little things were out of my budget this year, like..." she trailed off, looking down at the floor, "...healthcare."
Alicia sucked on her teeth, "Ouch. Why? Did daddy cut you off?"
Blossom shook her head, "No, he'd never do that. It's more on the health insurance end, I can't be on his plan... My sisters and I, cant. With us being..."
"Super-powered?" Alicia's brown eyes stared into Blossom's, "Damn. Sucks that everyone is turning against Supernatural people."
"Tell me about it!" The redhead whispered, leaning closer, "You had to see the glares those girls were giving me."
Alicia glanced at the girls in question, and snorted, "Oh no, dear. No... That's not because you're super-powered. They don't even know the PowerPuffs, I think. It's just that..." She giggled, waving it off, "You're a freshly legal, natural redhead... a walking fetish, really, waiting tables at Hooters, and some regulars pick favorites so... Yeah. Haven't you noticed it?"
The redhead scowled, grimacing down at her horrendous orange and white uniform.
It really was a hit or miss: either the customer would ask for another waitress or become 'her' regular.
If I hear, 'I have a thing for redheads' one more time...
"But hey! Hey!" The blonde held her by the shoulders, "It's worth it! I mean, look at me! Remember my tips tripled the first time I bleached my hair?" Blossom considered it for a moment. Platinum Alicia made a lot more than 'mousy brunette' Alicia, the hair damage had been worth it, "You got it, flaunt it! Grab that bag."
Blossom shrugged with a sigh, "I guess you are right..."
"See!" Alicia beamed, "It's gonna be fine, baby. You're gonna be fine!"
She took a deep breath, and nodded, "You're right. It will be fine."
"Sure thing it will! You are off to a great start, too" The blonde nudged her, "Look at the group that just got your table."
Blossom looked over and yes, typical 20 year-something guys looking for a hangover meal.
Easy, no need to be anxious.
This was Philadelphia. Philly. Home of the prestigious University of Pennsylvania... not Townsville.
It was statistically impossible to run into a Townsvillian.
Really, what were the odds?
Blossom could always hide in the back if her ex or any of his friends walked in... and that was highly unlikely. Snobs did not mend well with chain restaurants.
Second worst scenario? Obnoxious frat boys from her classes.
The redhead welcomed the three men - not a crazy big group, but better than a single person taking a large table. Despite having her best pearly smile on, none looked her in the eyes.
As expected.
"Hm, excuse me?" She chirped, waving a little hand, "I'm up here, you guys!
They laughed, and Blossom forced herself to laugh along.
"Finally a chick with a sense of humor!"
Think about the tips.
Paid bills.
No student debt. No loans. No asking anyone for money.
"Ay babes," Hm, that's a word she hadn't heard in years, "we'll have a beer each. Our friend is in the way, so-"
"Oh, there he is!" Another guy interjected, waving cheerfully at the door.
Blossom mentally prepared to turn around and smile at a brain-dead hooligan...
Until...
"Calm down, idiots."
Her eyes widened. That voice. It couldn't be.
Of all people in the world...
She slowly turned around to see...
Oh, God...
"You're freaking out the lovely la... Oh, shit."
"Blossom?"
"What-"
The woman turned around to find Dylan, then to the window. The plane was flying over the rural regions of the state.
No coworkers, no patrons, no Alicia, no...
"Sorry. Sorry, Dylan," she sighed, "I zoned out for a bit."
Dylan grinned, "Sweetie, she's gonna be fine. Jacque's a big girl, and her dad is basically taking over the easiest part." He rolled his eyes with a scoff, "I mean, all teenagers do is roll their eyes, and stare at their phones."
"You're talking like you don't know Jacque," Blossom furrowed her brow.
"It's gonna be fine. I mean, the reunion was good, right?" Dylan watched his partner cross her arms and leg.
"Hm, yes."
"See? And that was supposed to be the worst part... But I have one question though," the man cocked his head, thoughtfully rubbing his chin. Blossom nodded, taking a sip of the economy class water, "How did he age, like wine or like milk?"
His question made the distinct, pristine Lawyer Utonium chock into a coughing fit, attracting attention from other passengers.
Dylan looked around, awkwardly raising a hand, "She's fine!" He chuckled, rubbing Blossom's back, "She's good! No worries... Just a little cough."
Blossom spluttered, "Dy... Dylan, why would... Why would you say that?"
"I'm curious!" Dylan's hands went up in the air, "I mean, judging from pictures... He was a hunk."
The redhead scowled at her partner, before rolling her eyes, "If you must know, he looks the same. I mean, I think he got a bit more muscle now."
Dylan's eyebrows nearly reached his hairline, "Oh, so he's hot-hot!" Blossom rolled her eyes, "I mean, must've aged like Domaine Leroy!" He chuckled, to which his partner silently crossed her arms, making his chuckle slowly dissipated.
"Dylan. We have an utterly important meeting in exactly," she checked her wristwatch, "5 hours, thirty-three minutes, and 20 seconds... Do you mind?"
Dylan brought his hands to his side, "Sorry."
"There goes the last of them," Butch stated, entering the flat with a smile as he dusted off his hands. Vinny was not hard to find, neither were the others, they hadn't had any problems up to this point.
Brick shook his head, looking down at his notes, "Still have one to go. Dimmy."
Butch rolled his eyes with a dramatic sigh, "Of course the idiot wouldn't show up."
Brick slumped on the sofa, running a hand through his hair, "He's on the run, leaving the country. Definitely will show up for his money. We gotta keep an eye out..." The man sighed at his notes, "Tell you what, I'll head out and look for him, usual spots, make sure he won't show up while Jacquotte is around. You stay here and keep an eye for her."
Brick watched his brother's eyes grow twice their sizes, "You're giving him the cash in broad daylight!?"
The redhead rolled his eyes, "Of course not, idiot. I'll let him know to not come around this weekend."
"Good luck finding him, boss. If he needs the money, he'll come here. You know how he is."
Brick just shot him a look, grabbing a jacket, and throwing the window a wary look. It was raining, which would make it harder than it should.
"Keep an eye out, I'll be back in a minute."
"Thought you weren't going to leave me in charge?" Butch snickered, to which his brother sighed with an eye roll.
"Just don't let anyone else come in. Got it?"
Butch slumped on the couch with soda and a bag of chips in hand, "You can count on me, boss."
Brick stared at his brother in three-day-old gray sweats, gorging in junk food, as he flicked through the TV channels.
Butch looked up.
"What?"
"Not. A. Single. Person."
Butch munched on a handful of chips, "Go off, daddy!" He rolled his eyes, waving away.
Pft.
As if he couldn't handle a thirteen-year-old. Excuse me? Butch faced big, burly mafia men every single day of work. He has stared death right into her eyes, danced with her, invited the babe for a drink, and a nice fuck.
Humph.
"Hey." Jacquotte walked in, still wearing pj's.
Butch raised his head, "Jackie!"
"It's Ja-"
"Kid, I have a very small brain, very impacted by severe head injuries, STI's, and long-term use of many, many drugs," Butch cut her off, pointing at his forehead "Jackie is all that fits in here. No space for made-up pirate names."
She snorted, "Wow, okay. Fiiiine... Uncle...?"
"Butch."
The girl nodded, scratching the back of her head - which resembled a rat's nest, much like Brick's used to.
"Got breakfast?"
Butch pointed over to the cupboard, "Cereal, and I think cookies? And juice in the fridge... There's more stuff," he gestured vaguely, "we don't know what kids eat."
A smile played on Jacquotte's lips as she floated to the kitchen, "What? Didn't you check Google...? Wait. Is it... Sour patch?" Jacquotte picked up the box, "Sour patch cereal!? That's my mother fucking favorite!" The girl beamed manically, grabbing a bowl, "Sick! Where's the milk? Thanks. Damn. Awesome. 'Cuz Blossom's always like, 'Jacquotte Floret this is an abomination for taste buds', and I'm always like, 'exactly'? If I didn't want to be grossed out by myself first thing in the morning I'd not eat something out of a box mixed with cow's pus."
Butch threw her a weird look, "Cow's pus?"
"Aunt Bubbles," Jacque stated, before gulping a spoon of her breakfast, "she thinks I should be vegan because milk is cow pus, and eggs are chicken menstruation."
Butch grimaced as he sat on the kitchen stool, "For real?"
The girl shrugged, "Don't know. Will never know ignorance is bliss." She stated, eagerly eating a cereal spoonful.
"Young age, wise words."
RING.
Butch froze.
This wasn't supposed to happen. That wasn't Brick, he had the keys. His gaze turned to the door. An eerie feeling creeping in.
'Not. A. Single. Person.'
RING.
They never had any guests over, and Boomer would only arrive in town next week... Who could that be?
"'Ay," Jacque gave him a funny look, her mouth full milk dripping down its corner, "you're gonna get it?"
Butch swallowed hard. She looked like a baby, damn, she was a baby. Brick's baby, his baby niece. If anything happened to her, he'd never forgive himself.
The pigs and most of the really bad guys had access to X-proof bullets.
RING. RING.
Why were they insisting? Why weren't they breaking in already?
...'Cuz they want to make sure they were in.
Oh, no, no, no. Shit.
"Hm, you okay? Do you want me to-"
He jumped up with a shout, throwing a palm up "No! No... No, I'll get it." Butch stated, solemnly.
Jacquotte carefully sat back down, "Ok...?"
RING.
"Then get it?"
The teenager watched her uncle slowly step towards the door. Butch held a breath, laying his hand on the doorknob, shutting his eyes.
1... His hand turned into a fist.
"Huh, uncle Butch?"
2... He took a sharp breath, turning the door key.
"Is this what the DARE program talks about-"
3... He opened the door, green energy coming out of his hand.
He had one chance to give his very best punch.
"...Butch?"
Without a second thought, the man swung the door open and threw his fist.
"AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
And, he felt nothing. Heard nothing.
Butch opened an eye and saw nothing. His jaw fell. Did he just punch air? Were the assailants down?
"Damn, good Saturday to you too, Sir," the small, freckled brunette commented, reaching for the hair strand that broke off from Butch's energy punch.
Jacquotte peeked from behind him, "Yo, Michelle!"
The girl smiled at her friend, "Hey, Jay! Hm..." She gingerly pointed at a dumbfounded Butch.
He could've killed that girl if she was an inch taller.
"My uncle," Jacquotte shrugged with a mouthful of cereal, "Damn, he could've killed you if you were an inch taller!"
"Word!" Michelle cackled, seizing the catatonic man up and down, "May I come in?"
The man slowly blinked.
"Huh, yeah... kiddo."
"Sick!" Michelle threw him a thumbs up, carelessly walking in, "Damn! This place is soo cool... Wait! Oh my God. Is that a skateboard?"
Damn it. No sign of the motherfucker, his gang members haven't heard of him, he was eager to leave the country. As if that would happen without money. Dimmy wasn't troublesome, just clumsy, and anxious - not extremely, but enough for it to be too much. Non-violent, "victimless" mob crimes could still either land you in jail or 7 feet underground, with a bullet between your eyes.
Brick steamed the rain off himself within seconds. Perks of special fire powers.
Time to get inside, figure out parenting 101, and deal with Butch. That was okay, he could manage things if no surprises came up-
"Who the hell is that!"
The question was mostly directed at Butch, but the pudgy, freckled brunette girl stopped inhaling the kid cereal to wave at him, "Michelle Mitchelson, nice to meet you too, Sir!"
Jacquotte simply sat at the couch, reading one of Brick's early 'Berserk' volumes.
Brick confusedly stared at the two, then at Butch, inquiringly. The brunette raised his shoulders with a nervous grin.
"Huh, Mitch is a dad! Crazy, huh?"
The redhead scowled, "And why's his kid in our living room?"
"Your security system sucks," Michelle responded, "and by that, I mean, the old lady from the second floor believed me when I made puppy eyes, and said my parents were not picking up the intercom."
Butch slumped on the couch with a 'see?' look on his face.
"We needed to have an emergency meeting," Jacquotte stated motioning to Michelle, "plus-"
"Your aunt broke up with my dad..."
"...again," The redhead added.
"And Mitch is going to spend the weekend blasting heavy metal." The brunette pursed her lips before slurping on more cereal.
Jacquotte glanced up with a raised eyebrow, "Does he still think you can't hear him cry-"
"Yup."
Butch's eyes darted from one teenage girl to the other, "Mitch and Buttercup?" The girls looked at him with a modicum of curiosity, "They are still going at it?"
Michelle shrugged, unsure. Of all the women her father had dated her friend's aunt was the most yo-yo one.
"Mister Uncle, hope you don't mind me," she furrowed her eyebrows, "but how do you-"
"Childhood friends." Butch smiled cheekily whilst Brick scoffed.
"By friends," he sighed, taking his jacket off, "Butch means Buttercup beat him up on the reg."
The girls briefly glanced at Butch, before nodding at each other.
"Fair."
"Can see that."
The man rolled his eyes, "I thought you were fun!" He complained to Jacquotte, "What do you two have to meet over anyway? Like, a TikTok dance-"
Michelle cut him off, cheekily staring at Brick, "Nope! Jacque's gonna need your presence, Mister Dad."
Brick squinted at the girl, "Elaborate on that."
Jacquotte rolled her eyes, "Brick... I know I'm coming on strong... but I deadass need to you to go to a dumb, boring parents party thing." She turned to Butch, "It won't hurt if you come."
A myriad of rich cougars came to the brunette's mind.
"Nice."
Brick suspiciously glanced from one girl to the other, "You need to elaborate more on that. A whole lot more."
Jacquotte sighed dramatically, floating to the kitchen stool next to Michelle, "I assume you're familiar with the Wicked Witch of the Wealthy, Morebucks." The man snorted. That was a new one. "She controls the PTA and sticks her nose in everything at school, and her nasty gossiping trickles down into everyone's businesses."
"Except," Michelle imperiously raised a finger, "Jay is screwed."
Brick furrowed his eyebrows, "Reason?"
Jacquotte dropped her eyelids, "I go to school with a bunch of prepubescent boys and catty girls, Brick."
He nodded, "Sounds about right."
She slumped her shoulders, "No. You're not getting it... It's just..." She sighed dramatically before groaning, "My mother is a MILF, ok!? My life's hard!
"That's true."
"Shut up, Butch."
"But no, really, having a MILF as a mom makes my life so hard, you have absolute noo idea." The teenager insisted, dramatically.
Brick leaned his elbows on the kitchen counter, rubbing his temples. He hasn't dealt with school bullshit in so long, he was starting to get a headache.
MILF?
He thought of Blossom dropping Jacque off earlier, in a pencil skirt and white button-up... Yeah, fine, but what did it have to do with anything?
Michelle pulled a tablet off her bag, "I told you he was going to have a hard time getting it, Jacque." The man scowled, but she paid no attention, showing him the screen, "That's why I made you this PowerPoint presentation! Works with my grandpa."
Brick grimaced at the audacity, "How old are you, again?"
"Great. Brick, here!" Jacquotte pointed at the pyramid on the screen, "You see that? This is the pyramid of respect for middle school boys. At the top, we have MILF's nobody mentions, the married, stay-at-home moms. Right under that, the MLM married moms, it's okay to call them MILF's but you can't say anything gross." At this point, Butch was fascinated and had joined Brick's side, "Right under them, we have the divorced MLM moms, boys can say some gross stuff about them... to others boys. Now, who do you think is at the very bottom?"
Brick slapped a palm on his forehead, "Come on..."
What was it, the 50s? Why couldn't he have an easy issue to solve? He was just starting, for God's sake.
"Yes! Exactly, single moms with no dads." Jacquotte sighed, picking up her phone and showing the lock screen, "What do you see, gentlemen?"
Brick sighed at the several pop-up notifications, "Well. You're popular-"
"Wrong! It's all links to redhead porn, and boys keep saying, 'haw haw found your mom' when they send it to me!" The girl shouted exasperatedly, "I swear. Teacher-parent conferences are Hell. Last year I saw Billy Bonanza pointing to Blossom to show his dad 'what a MILF looks like'."
Brick pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh.
"And you're letting me on all this because...?" He motioned confusedly at the tablet screen.
Jacquotte folded her arms, "Duh. Show up, bump Blossom's status to... 'single moms with dads', and make them shut up."
"Hey, do you think maybe Jacob Smith will stop calling you Stacy?" Michelle questioned her friend.
"Stacy? Stacy's mom?" Butch snorted, fully aware the boy must've heard it from his dad, "Sounds good! Free booze, hot cougars, right, Brick?"
"No."
The three sets of eyes fitted Brick. For the first time, he hated to be the bad guy.
"Secrecy..." He muttered to Butch, who didn't seem to pick up the clue. The man turned to the girls with a sigh, "Look. I can't. Butch can't either."
"What do you mean?" His raven-haired brother raised his shoulders, "It's a party with rich people, and we're hella cool, so-"
"Oh, yeah!" Michelle agreed, "Compared to the other losers? You two are super cool." Butch shot his brother a 'see?' look, "I mean, Jacob thinks he's all that because his dad is an FBI agent."
The statement made Butch widen his eyes, nervously turning to the girl, "Heh. Hum, say wha'? He's a what?"
Jacquotte rolled her eyes, "Ugh. Jacob acts like he's hot shit 'cuz his dad is in the FBI, but like... Susan's mom used to work for the CIA before she got pregnant, and she never brags about it." Butch darted his eyes at Brick, who shot him a look, "Now he's worse because his dad was on TV last week-"
"Ugh, that was so dumb." Michelle buzzed her lips, "'Oh, we're after art thieves,' who cares!"
Butch pursed his lips, considering their talk, "You know what. That is dumb. We think they really should let these guys go..."
"See! You get it!" Michelle stated.
"For real, Brick, just show up. Boom, done." Jacquotte dusted her hands off.
Brick groaned, wishing he just could've caught her smoking or something.
"Look, Jacque..." He rubbed the nape of his neck, "I have to be discreet."
The girl waved him off, "It's fine. You don't even need to stay that long. I mean, just ask Michelle's dad."
Michelle buzzed her lips, "Mitch stayed a whole fifteen minutes for my recital in third grade."
"See!"
Brick shook his head, "Look, why don't we wait for your mother-"
"You just pulled a 'talk to your mom' after 'I can't go to thing'?" Michelle chuckled, "Ha! Massive dad move."
Brick growled in annoyance whilst Butch raised his hand, "Hm, can I just say... I have nothing against beating up Middle Schoolers." He shrugged, "If you want them to stop, I can just-"
"I could beat up all of them on my own!" Jacquotte shouted defensively, "But this is much more effective, and I want their moms and dads to shut up, too."
Brick raised an eyebrow, "What, why?"
"Well, it all started when Beatrice's dad-"
"Shut up, Mich." The red-eyed girl threw her friend a glare, "Damn... Nevermind. I might go for plan B." She stated, turning her friend's tablet off.
Brick furrowed his eyebrows, "Which is...?"
Jacquotte took a deep breath, looking from one brother to the other, "Heh, nothing. It's not like you can smash a few kneecaps and make it look like an accident."
"Well..." Butch muttered, receiving a kick in the shin from Brick, "Ugh, I mean... We can come up with ideas!"
Jacquotte floated to the make-shift bed with a chantilly-filled mug of hot chocolate in hand. Lights out, although there was a thunderstorm about to go down later that night.
Fuck.
Not that she was scared. She just didn't like those, so much noise for what? Dramatic clouds.
That's why she barely jumped up when her phone started ringing in the pitch dark living room. The teenager picked it up, turning the TV on.
Video call from... Mother ship.
"Sup..." Jacquotte greeted, lazily scratching the back of her head.
Blossom was wearing the hotel's fluffy robe. She frowned, "Hi sweetie... Did I wake you up?"
"Nope," The teenager shook her head, "About to watch TV."
"Well," Blossom cleared her throat, adjusting her robe, "I am done for the day, and decided to check... Jacquotte Floret Utonium what is this?"
Jacquotte glanced at the mug, and smirked, "This?" She taunted, "This is a festival of pure sugar and fat, that's what it is."
She watched her mother's frown turn into a scowl.
"I can't believe it. What have I told you-"
"Relax!" The girl rolled her eyes, "What about my 'super-fast metabolism'? I have to put on weight anyway. Not my words, Papa's."
Blossom sighed, "Professor also said you eat enough crap to develop a liver disease before you turn 20. He said you should eat healthily."
"Well, I think Brick agrees with me," She smirked, "'Cuz guess what I had for breakfast..."
"Jacquotte!" Blossom growled, "Don't tell me it was that abomination of So-"
"...ur patch cereal!" She gleefully confirmed, making Blossom slap a palm on her forehead, "I swear, I ate so much I can feel a hole burning in my stomach."
Blossom sighed, and a burst of laughter was heard from the background, as the woman glared at someone in the corner of the room, "Really, Dylan? You think this is funny?"
The man's distant voice agreed with the girl, "Look... If you didn't eat crap for breakfast on a Saturday... Did you even have a Saturday?"
Jacquotte chuckled, "Thanks, uncle Dy-"
A pop-up notification cut the girl off.
Bitchy Beatrice: ''Reminder: your mom is a whore!"
One more notification. A picture? The girl growled lowly.
"Jacque...?" Blossom called out, "Sweetie, are you ok?"
Jacquotte gulped, "Oh, yeah. Yeah, I'm alright, all good!"
Blossom frowned again, "You looked... Is everything ok?" Jacquotte faked a grin and nodded, trying to come up with an answer, when her mom seemed to realize something, "Oh, sweetie... Is it thunderstorm night?"
"What!?"
"Is it thunderstorm night in Townsville?" The woman repeated worriedly, "I think I saw somewhere-"
Jacquotte buzzed her lips, "I don't know, I don't care, Blossom. I'm not afraid of anything."
Her mom threw her a knowing look, "Sure... Sure, I know." She smacked her lips together, "Do you want to stay up and talk?"
"No... Seriously, no. Thanks."
"I mean it! I'm feeling insomniac tonight." Blossom stated, suppressing a yawn as if she'd forgotten she was incapable of lying.
Jacquotte shrugged, "Well, I'm beaten." Blossom narrowed her eyes, but unlike her, the teenager was a good liar, "For real. We woke up at such an ungodly hour-"
"It was not even-"
"Weekend unholy, mom."
Blossom looked convinced. "Fine... But... I am insomniac, so just in case-"
The teenager shrugged, knowing very well her mother was exhausted, "Sorry, you'll have to stay up on your own."
Blossom suppressed another yawn, "Oh, well. Just so you know, if you can't sleep, just call me. Ok?"
Jacquotte winked, "Roger that, mother ship."
'Mother ship' rolled her eyes with a grin before waving goodbye. As soon as she hung up, Jacquotte's gaze turned into a glare.
Time to see what Bitchy Beatrice had to show...
Oh, look, a pic of her and her dumb friends showing the middle finger. The redhead rolled her eyes.
So edgy!
She knew where Beatrice lived. She could very well zoom into her house and destroy this dumb sleepov-
She shut her eyes close with another low growl.
Jacquotte (me):
"Fuck off, dumbass."
With that, she pressed the block button.
Dumb Beatrice, her dumb mom, her stupid dad, their pathetic family, and pathetic friends. These people's IQs were clearly in the negatives.
Thankfully, Blossom never heard a word of the drama. God knows she'd never let it go.
The teenager laid down, focusing on calming down. The TV's sound became clearer.
'...left him hunting for prey. He arrived at the house at 3 in the morning when one of the most brutal attacks in serial killer history happened.'
Jacquotte foggily remembered she'd turned it on to a documentary channel. Good for sleeping, even the gore ones.
'He picks up a wood log and walks to Bianca's room.'
Beatrice... Beatrice? No, Bianca.
'She was alone that weekend. He attacked her, strangled her, and killed her. When he left, he put the sheets up to her neck to look like Bianca was sleeping.'
Jacquotte's head bobbed.
Sleep. Sleep... over. Bianca... Beatrice...
The teenager tiptoed around her unconscious mind, her deepest thoughts floated up, up, up.
Attack...
A log... A log?
Strangle...
She didn't need one.
Ki-
KA-BUM!
Jacquotte opened her eyes, gasping for air.
What...?
She instinctively examined her hands, their palm, back... Nothing. No, no log. No marks, no...blood.
'...attacked, strangled, killed.'
The girl shook her head, looking at the TV to see a documentary about... Aliens?
She furrowed her brows.
Oh no not this again, not her thinking... No. She would never do that. She hated Beatrice, but she wasn't capable-
KA-BUM!
Jacquotte bit her lip down.
Stupid. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
Jacquotte growled, punching her pillow before angrily laying her back on the mattress.
Stupid thunderstorms.
Butch and Brick were the best bosses Dimitri ever had, but his time was up, and he'd hoarded enough cash to buy his family back home a nice house. That's why he was sneaking into his bosses' house during a storm, at night. He needed his cash.
Yeah, would probably get a smack or two on the back of his head, but you gotta do what you gotta do.
As Dimitri walked in, a flash of light in hand, followed by thunder that lightened the apartment for a split of a second.
KA-BUM!
He squinted, pointing the fleshlight at the couch, figuring out he was quite lucky. Brick had taken the sofa for the night. Maybe Big Red reserved the bedroom for lady visitors? So much for being the boss.
Dimitri put the light down and walked up to the figure with messy, thick red hair sticking out from under the sheets.
After taking a deep breath, he whispered, "Boss?" The figure shifted slightly, "Boss, hey! It's me! Dimmy!"
He sensed some movement under the sheets, and decided to gently land his hand on the figure, "Boss?"
A pair of red eyes slowly peeked from under the blanket. He felt the figure shiver as he pointed the light towards his face... in a way that did not exactly highlight his best angles.
KA-BUM!
Within seconds he found himself caught in a headlock.
"Who the fuck are you!"
This could've been the end of the line for the gangster, but for his luck, the living room's lights turned on.
Brick's eyes went twice their size as Butch appeared behind him.
"Dude, what-"
"Dimmy?" The leader growled, "What the hell are you doing in here?"
Jacquotte tightened her grip, "Dimmy? The fuck do you mean, Dimmy? This fucker was all up on me just now!"
Brick's eyes turned to the hardest glare the man had ever witnessed. And mind you, he'd witnessed many murderous glares from Brick, but not as hard as that.
"What the hell?" Brick growled dangerously.
The man's brain managed to register his assailant was a teenage girl, with orange hair, and-
Ooooh...
"No!" He tried to shout through the strenuous hold, "No, not like that! You! I thought she was you!"
"What the hell!?" Jacquotte looked up at the two men, seizing Dimitri by the neck, "The fuck he's talking about?"
Brick's murderous glare was fixed, "You mistook the 4-foot girl for me?"
Dimitri fought the best he could for survival, "It's night, man! Raining! I just saw the hair and eyes! I swear!"
Butch stared at Jacquotte's head for a moment before shaking his own with a sigh, "He got a point."
"What's going on!?" Jacquotte glanced from Butch to Brick confusedly, "You know this invading creep!?"
"I wasn't invading-"
The girl's hold grew tighter, "Well, were you invited in by any chance?" She growled, "As far as I know, you didn't! And that ain't your place, pal! Sounds like an invasion to me! I know shit, my aunt's a sergeant!"
"Fuck..." Brick slapped his forehead, "I forgot."
"Yup. Buttercup's a pig," Butch mumbled with a sigh, "So uncool."
The leader groaned, "Just go get his bag!"
"Yes!" Dimitri chocked, "That's all I want! That's why I-"
"Jacque..." Brick sighed, "Drop him. He's not invading, he's a moron..." The teenager's glare hardened and she showed no signs of letting go, "You know, your mother will ground you forever if you kill a guy."
That worked, but the girl did not drop Dimitri as much as she threw him on the floor.
"Ouch!" He yelped, gasping for air, "Brick!" He coughed, "I didn't know you-"
Brick crossed his arms, "Personal life? In this line of work?"
Dimitri looked up at his (now former) boss, panting.
"Ok."
"Work?" The voice made Brick remember kids could listen while adults were talking, "You work together?"
Brick cleared his throat, looking up at a dumbfounded Jacquotte, "Hum. No! No, obviously not-"
The girl narrowed her eyes.
"Then why did you just mention it!?" She asked, seizing Dimitri by his collar, "Huh!?"
The man, much to his own chagrin, cowered under her hold, "No! No, no, no! Please, have mercy!" He closed his eyes, lifting his hands up, "I just want my money! I swear! I need the money from the paintings we-"
"Here!" Butch zoomed back, with a leather bag in hand.
Brick growled, snatching it away, "What took you so long!?" He complained, "Jacque... Jacque, let him go..."
The girl squinted at him, "What's in the bag?"
"Put him down..."
Jacquotte floated up, "Not until you show what's in the bag!"
The man growled, "This is no child's play..."
"Then tell me!" The girl hissed, "Do you think I care if my mom grounds me for breaking his bones?"
Brick sighed. No, Blossom would have a psychotic breakdown before.
"Little girl..." Dimitri's hands were shaking as he raised them. The man nearly flinched when the girl snapped her head at him, "Please... Please. I have a family, moya doch'... Hum, a, a little girl, too... I need the bag to see her."
Butch nearly burst into laughter watching Brick give the biggest of eye rolls at the man, who was damn nearly begging for his life. Strangely, Jacquotte seemed to ease down.
"Money?" She mumbled, "There's money in the..." Her eyes moved to the bag in her dad's hands, before looking back at the man she had seized, "From... paintings? You work with..."
Brick slapped his forehead.
God fucking damn it.
"You're in the mob!" The girl yelled in realization, tossing Dimitri to the side.
For his luck, he fell on Butch's arms.
"Way to go, dude," Butch stated sarcastically as Brick tossed the heavy leather bag at the man.
"Scram."
Dimitri smiled, thanking the man and shooting terrified glances at a mortified Jacquotte, whose mouth was agape as she watched him nearly run out of the door. She kept blankly gawking at the door moments after the man left.
"Jacque..." Brick's voice was almost careful. The girl glanced up at him in confusion, "Look. It's not as bad as everybody says, ok? It's, it's just paintings..."
"We don't even keep them!" Butch stepped in, "The families keep them to bargain for a shorter time in jail when the FBI-"
"Butch!" The brunette glanced down at the rough hand slapped over his mouth, "How about I do the talking?"
"Families?" Jacquotte snapped, squinting at the men, "So, it's a mafia thing? You two are in the mafia."
Brick raised an eyebrow at her nonchalance, "We are not in anything."
"But you do have contacts, don't you." She grinned cheekily, "I watched The Godfather, Brick."
He cursed under his breath. Brick didn't have much room to talk, but Blossom was doing a really shitty job at monitoring the media their daughter consumed.
"Does Blossom know?"
And... there it is.
"...Does Buttercup know?"
"It's a secret," Brick firmly looked her in the eyes, noticing they looked... mischievous, "Nobody has to know. It's not dangerous, this apartment is a line to never be crossed by anybody. You can sleep in one of the rooms after tonight-"
Jacquotte grinned, "So that's why you freaked out earlier."
It was Brick's time to squint, "I don't freak out."
"Secrecy, huh. Well. What if I can't keep a secret?" The brothers exchanged a look as Jacquotte smirked, "I mean, I need some motivation."
It was Butch's time to stare at the girl, "Are you, are you going to fucking blackmail us!?" He laughed, "Oh no... No, no, no. This is a criminal bottom line, man."
The girl shrugged, feigning innocence, "It's a favor exchange! I keep a secret to benefit you, and you do something to benefit me..."
Butch burst out laughing again, mostly out of disbelief, while Brick pinched the bridge of his nose. Again, why couldn't he start with parenting on easy mode?
The brunette growled down at her clock.
"Way to not pick up the intercom, dumbass." Buttercup mumbled under her breath, "They're probably still asleep. Goes to show you're the only one who-"
"Oh no, Miss!" Bubbles protested, stepping inside the building right behind her sister, "Don't think you can get away from this!"
"Oh c'mon, it's like, minimal work-"
"You can't just kidnap a vulnerable kid!" The woman hissed, clutching the picnic bag in her hand, "You're a police officer. This kid should be in the care of professionals that look after kids who are-"
"Yeah, works so well he's always back to his mom as soon as she's released from rehab." The brunette scoffed, "Look, I'm just keeping the kid until she's out again. It was either this or leaving him with Ace. Foster care only steps up if there's absolutely no one there for him, you know that."
Bubbles shook her head exasperatedly. Buttercup refused to acknowledge she couldn't just make her home a temporary place for a child. He was not a puppy, he was a six-year-old. Six. That's a whole person!
Much less bring the kid down to their friendly visit mission of checking on Jacquotte and Brick! Thank God Mike agreed to babysit the boy.
She couldn't fathom to think of the trauma-
"Was this really necessary?" Buttercup changed the subject as she stepped into the elevator.
Bubbles followed suit, frowning down at the fresh brownies, "What? I made them! I mean, it's our first time visiting Brick, so-"
"It's not a visit, it's an inspection."
"And without any warning, too!" The mother seemed to not listen, "I just want to make sure the boys don't think we don't trust them, or that we are rude."
Buttercup sighed, "Number one, we don't trust them. Number two, I am rude. Number three, Boomer is abroad, so chill."
"Buttercup!" Bubbles gasped, "What, what do you mean, what does it have to do-"
"You won't walk through that door and see your childhood crush. Chill."
The brunette knew Bubbles was ('probably, only half, sort of, maybe, a little bit') hoping for as soon as she saw her sister in a pouf dress. The blonde tried to protest, but the elevator's 'bling' cut her off, so she just crossed her arms over her chest and followed Buttercup to Brick's door. It took a while until someone got it.
"Who the hell is it?" A voice groaned from inside.
Buttercup sighed, folding her arms as the door opened.
"Butch."
For a brief moment, the man froze at the sight of his counterpart.
"Sargeant!" He scoffed, before glimpsing at Bubbles, who beamed, holding up a picnic basket.
The blonde gingerly waved, "Hiii, Butch!"
"The fuck? Bubbles?" Butch sounded, and looked, absolutely outraged, "The hell you two doing here... ooh, brownies!" He cut himself off, sniffing the air.
Buttercup rolled her eyes, pointing her head to Bubbles, "Homemade."
Butch glimpsed at Bubbles, then at his counterpart.
"Wait, what do you want?" He squinted at the women, "Wh, what's the catch?"
The raven-haired woman groaned in frustration whilst the blonde one waved him off, "No catch, silly! It's just a visit! It's been so long, and-"
"Ugh, Jacquotte!" Buttercup tried to call her niece out before snarling at Butch, "Excuse me."
The man tried to block her, and failed, "Hey! Hey, hey! Hey! You can't enter, you don't have a warrant!"
The brunette looked back at him with a raised eyebrow, "It's a family visit! I don't need a warrant for that. C'mon in, Bubbles."
The blonde gingerly stepped in, sweetly handing a stunned Butch the picnic bag.
"This is for youuu!" She beamed in a singsong voice.
"Au'nt Buwe'cup?"
The adults glanced at a confused Jacquotte, still holding a toothbrush with a foamy mouth. She was quickly followed by a grumpy-looking Brick, still in his sleeping clothes. The girl blinked a couple of times before noticing Bubbles.
The blonde beamed, throwing her hands up in the air, "Surprise visit!"
"How the hell did you two get in here!"
Bubbles stepped down at the yell with a scowl, placing both hands on her hips, "Oh, how nice of you, Brick Jojo! Don't you see you are being a bad example? Don't you have manners?" The woman smiled at her niece, "Hi sweetie!"
Jacquotte slowly waved, whilst Brick glared at Butch.
"What the hell, Butch?"
The raven-haired man shrugged, picking up a brownie, "They were at the door, man, I mean... Huh, Bubbles made brownies! Not laced with weed, but... They taste awesome. Thanks, Bubbles!"
"No worries!" The woman giggled gracefully, "You guys really need to start answering your intercom. Luckily we met this nice lady from the second floor, and-"
Brick slapped his forehead, whilst Butch nodded, "Yeah, makes sense."
"C'mon, guys, what's the matter?" Buttercup stepped in with a mischievous smile, "It's just a family visit, Brick. Just checking in, if you're handling it well... all on your own."
The man squinted at her, "What is that supposed to mean?"
The sergeant simply floated towards her niece, seizing her up and down, "So, Jacque... How are you two doing? Does Brick suck too hard at being a dad?" Buttercup smirked at the man's growl, "I mean, it's okay if you are, Brick. You are new... Jacque can just tell me everything, you know?"
Bubbles turned to Butch with a sigh, "Buttercup is like, the cool aunt..."
"What!?" Butch shouted with a mouthful of brownie, "But I was supposed to be-"
"It's fine!" Jacquotte smirked at her aunts, then at her furious father, "Butch and Brick are alright."
Brick simply squinted at the teenager, then at Buttercup. The woman had always suspected he was up to illegal activities, she just never had enough evidence to charge him with anything. This was clearly a desperate attempt to acquire her precious evidence, not like they expected so little of Brick as a dad.
...Right?
"Yes, Brick, it's ok!" Bubbles chirped sweetly, "Being a parent is tough, it's totes okay to ask for help."
Jacquotte rolled her eyes, jamming her thumb to the bathroom, "Yeah, I'll go finish brushing my teeth-"
"Hard? You think I am having a hard time?" Brick's snapped as the teenager sighed, floating away, "First, the counterpart bit goes both ways. Anything Blossom can do, I can do. Second, your sister robbed-"
"Hold up!" Buttercup marched up to him, "You don't get to play the victim here. Also, being a dad is more than spending a couple of days together, you have to make sacrifices, so you better be ready." She warned, "Just ask Bubbles! She has to play nice with Morebucks and Harrington, for God's sake."
Bubbles sighed. Contrary to her sisters' beliefs, social pleasantries were nothing compared to potty training twins.
"Buttercup, I'm just civil-"
Brick scoffed, "The Mrs. PTA Witch? Big fucking deal."
"Hey!"
Buttercup narrowed her eyes, "How do you know-"
"I know shit. I can speak to my kid, and 'be cool', too." Brick air-quoted.
The woman angrily pursed her lips, "Whatever. It's not like you could do it. I bet you don't even know-"
"We know!" Butch shouted from the kitchen counter.
Buttercup kept glaring at Brick, "Fine. But it's not like you-"
"Will be there...?" Brick was nearly growling.
"Exactly!" The Sargeant barked, "You're as antisocial as they come, Brick Jojo, and you can't-"
"That's where you're wrong, miss Sargeant!" The man cut her off, "Because not only I can do boring dad shit, I will do boring dad shit!"
Buttercup finally broke her glare, "Y, you-"
Jacquotte zoomed towards the adults, sticking a confused head between them, "You will?"
"Yes, we will!" Brick doubled down, "Butch, I, and... Boomer..." He mumbled hesitantly, "If he's around by then, I don't know about him... But you can bet on the both of us."
Bubbles gingerly raised a hand, "Hm, Boomer? Is he coming back to Townsville? I mean, not that it matters! I'm married, anyway, I just wond-"
The blonde was cut off by Buttercup throwing her a look.
"Really...?"
"I, it's just a question!" She replied in defense, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, "You know, h, he's Jacque's uncle, too!"
"Well, you two can bet on this RowdyRuff not breaking a promise, that's for sure," Brick stated, jamming a thumb at his chest, to which Buttercup rolled her eyes, "Now, if you'll excuse me... I have a day full of parental activities to plan with my daughter," He announced, imperiously putting a hand on Jacquotte's shoulder.
Jacquotte shot him a weird look, "You do...?" She murmured, as she was dragged down the apartment hallway.
Brick took a couple of glimpses behind his shoulder until Buttercup turned away.
"I need a complete list," he whispered to the teenager, "of all the classmates you've ever had, their parents' current, old, and future jobs. All of them. Got it?"
The girl stared back at his firm gaze for a moment, and scoffed, "Why are you acting like I can't use social media?"
Brick's stare hardened, "I mean it, every single one of them."
"Again," the girl groaned with an eye roll, "social media. That shit's easy. I got all my classmates since kindergarten on Facebook, and every single working parent has a LinkedIn profile."
"That's present and past-"
"And it's so painfully obvious when they're about to be promoted, quit, all that stuff. For real. Secrecy is dead for people... Except if they're in the mob, I guess."
Brick glared into Jacque's cheeky, ruby gaze for a moment.
Smug-ass child.
That's what she was. Jacquotte was a brazen, smug, smart-ass child with an answer for everything at the tip of her tongue. Which was soo incredibly annoying... Brick was used to being the smug smart-ass with answers for everything, not the other way around.
"So..." She broke the silence, "Huh. I think you promised my aunt some... parental stuff... for today."
"Shit..." Brick muttered, glancing at an irritated Buttercup, pacing up and down his living room.
He turned to the girl. Jacquotte. Daughter. Must... think of... Sunday parental activity... with... his daughter...
Park? Playing... baseball in the park? Going to a stadium, and watching... sports? Hm... Movies? The mall...? All of these scenarios sounded too cheesy, too artificial, and too hard to imagine the girl cooperating in any of them.
Brick stared at her, and truly only one thing came to his mind.
"So... you wanna learn how to play pool?"
Dylan looked up the brick naked walls filled with LED screens broadcasting sports channels, and then down to the dark wooden tables by the Irish-style pub, although the place was more spacious than the authentic pubs.
"Typical gentrification shit."
Blossom threw him a dark look, "Seriously?"
"What?" He frowned, "Just saying how it is. There used to be a traditional-"
"Let's just go find them," She cut him off, happy that this place was a tad better than the last one.
The man whistled in awe, following his partner, "You were supposed to be in a good mood today! The investors from Atlanta loved us!"
The woman rolled her eyes. Yes, the investors loved them and seemed charmed from the second the meeting started. But that'd have to stay in the back of her mind.
She'd nearly tripped over her shoes at Buttercup's message.
The partners spotted Bubbles, Buttercup, and Butch from the jump: the blonde woman clapping happily over a pool table whilst the greens groaned in frustration.
It didn't take them much longer to find a floating, hyperactive teenager... and her red cap-wearing father.
"Ha!" The girl fist-pumped the air, "Take that, Gerald!"
Jacquotte's opponent sighed, running a hand through his salt and pepper combover, "It's Gerry..."
"Whatever, it's short for Gerald-"
"Jacque!" Blossom hissed, scowling at the girl with her hands on her hips, "Respect the nice gentleman's preference for what he wants to be called!"
The teenage girl nearly jumped into the air, "Blossom!? Holy shit!" She floated up, scanning her mom up and down, "How did you-"
"I saw your aunt's message as soon as the plane landed." The woman replied firmly, "Now apologize to the nice man!"
"Damn, babe..." Brick scoffed, "Always the buzz kill."
"Brick..." Blossom threw the man a hard stare, choosing to ignore the classic pet name as she crossed her arms, "I suppose you've been encouraging them to play nice."
The woman's rose gaze did not miss the quick exchange of glances between father, and daughter.
Gerald took the opportunity to carefully chime in, "Did you say, play nice...?"
Brick and Jacquotte snapped their heads, giving the man a warning look.
"Exactly." Blossom nodded at him, before turning to her daughter "Jacquotte... did you threat this man's well-being, or that of his families and loved ones, in any way, shape, or form?'
The girl gulped, shaking her head, "What? No way! C'mon, Blossom. We are just playing around... Aren't we... Gerry?"
Gerald fitted the girl with wide eyes, and swallowed, "Absolutely ma'am... Y, your daughter is a delight."
The teenager innocently turned back to her mother, batting her eyelashes.
Blossom pursed her lips, raising an authoritarian finger, "Be nice to Gerry... I'll be watching you... from the bar."
Jacquotte smiled innocently with a head nod, assuring her mom as the woman walked away, not before throwing Brick a knowing look. The dad simply grinned and decided he was thirsty and would go grab something to drink.
"Good luck-"
"Pleasedudecomebacksoon..." A terrified Gerald begged in one go as he left the man to Jacquotte's competitive nature - and very little resistance to using psychological warfare if needed.
Blossom sat on one of the wooden stools, gazing to the side. Brick looked the same way, to one of the waitresses giggling at a group.
"C'mon guys, my face is up here!"
The 'joke' elicited loud laughter from the patrons, who half-heartedly apologized, nudging each other.
"Missing your old career?" He asked, taking a seat by Blossom's side.
The woman merely shrugged, "Thought times would have changed by now..." She muttered, "How much damage did she do?"
Brick frowned confusedly, ordering a whisky, "Damage? We were just playing-"
"I meant psychological damage, Brick."
"Oh." The man promptly corrected his answer, "She scared an entire group of professional pool players away."
Blossom sighed with a nod, "And...?"
Brick frowned in confusion, "And what? That's it."
"That's it?" Blossom raised her eyebrows, impressed, "Wow. She must be having a great day."
Brick threw her a wide-eyed stare, "That's her in a good mood?"
The woman sighed, "She's competitive, Brick. I'll be glad as long as nobody is seriously wounded in the process..."
The man whistled, as he was served a whisky and Blossom, a glass of Bailey's.
"You dropped the bar... hard." He stated, "You were always such a stick on the mud, I used to imagine you were a super strict parent."
The woman buzzed her lips.
"Ask Mr. Keane about the time she joined the hockey team in third grade..." Blossom muttered over a sip, "The entire rival school was traumatized."
Brick chuckled, "The principal? Now I have to ask him about so many things..."
The woman rolled her eyes, "Parents-teacher conference will not take place any soon. I'm afraid you'll have a multiple-page list by then."
"I might see him before that."
"Oh no, don't even say that!" Blossom shook her head as she sipped on her drink, "She can't have the school calling-"
"Babe, I meant at Morebucks."
The name made Blossom go mute. She stared at Brick, who looked up from his glass.
"M, Morebucks?" The woman stuttered, trying to play it off, "What do you mean?"
Had one of her sisters mentioned her outburst last Sunday? Oh, they were gonna pay-
"I don't know, Jacque mentioned it..."
"She what?"
"And she wants to go, I think so, yeah-"
"Hold on." Blossom raised a hand, absolutely stunned, "You're telling me, Jacquotte... Jacque... the little girl traumatizing grown adults-"
"C'mon, Gerry is gonna be fine."
"...wants to-"
Brick shrugged, tried brushing it off, "She wants to socialize."
Socialize with the angel of death as she reaps the lives of boys beating their meat thinking of her mom.
Blossom pursed her lips, gazing at her daughter... who seemed to have scared poor Gerald so much, his hands were shaking as he held the pool stick.
Knowing her daughter, and her motherly instincts, it was safe to say Jacquotte was plotting something... But...
The woman sighed, turning back to her drink, "I'll be happy as long as she stays out of school trouble." She admitted, taking a swing of her drink, "Well done, by the way."
Brick looked up to her in confusion, "What?"
"She's playing very well."
For some reason, that made him smile, "Jacque's smart. Must've gotten it from her parents or something."
After High School graduation, he thought they'd only ever find each other again by absolute chance... but walking into her at a random place? At the Hooters where she was waiting tables?
Fat chance.
Last Brick had heard of Blossom, she'd waltzed to a top law school like the Little Miss Perfect she was.
That day, his voice trailed off when he spotted the back of her head. When she turned around, it was like High School all over again. Except now she was as pale as a sheet of paper, and he was frozen in place until a third voice broke the silence.
"Hey..."
The redheads turned to the table, to see Brick's buddy staring at her with a shit-eating grin.
"You know, I always had a thing for redheads..."
Blossom's eyelids fell. She curled her lips, and looked back at Brick, who unknowingly had a maniac smile on, and sighed.
"Excuse me..." she muttered, walking away.
Ten minutes later, a blonde waitress walked up to the table with the four beers in a tray.
"Hello... Huh..." The woman glanced at Brick confusedly, then at the empty seats, "hm, sorry, I must've-"
"They left."
The blonde raised her eyebrows, "Hm, oh? Your friends? Sorry about it, sir. Was there any problem-"
"I made them leave." The blonde's eyebrows nearly reached her hairline, "You can just leave those here. Thanks." Brick motioned to the beers in her tray, "And... another thing."
She was attending another table when her colleague walked up and giggled something, making her throw a glare in his direction before walking towards him.
Brick simply smirked.
If Little Miss Perfect had thought she could just slip away like that she was so very wrong.
Blossom stopped in front of him, crossed her arms with a hard glare while he kept smirking like a motherfucker. After a moment, her eyes caught something across the bar, and her demeanor changed.
"Hello, welcome to Hooters!" The redhead smiled as her eyes scanned the table, "Well, someone sure can handle their alcohol... What happened to your friends?"
Brick furrowed his brows in confusion, but answered nonetheless, "I told them to scram."
"Well, that's not a nice way to treat friends..." Blossom artificially smiled at him, then back at her notes as she pretended to be writing something down.
"They're not my-"
"Also, my manager can see me, so if you're looking for trouble, you'll have to wait until the end of my shift, RowdyRuff."
Brick cackled loudly.
"Noted... Damn, babe. Just wanted to catch up with a friend, since I've moved to this shithole and all."
"Don't call me... Wait. You what?" Blossom hissed, her fake smile failed for a moment, "You moved to..." she meekly pointed to the ground.
Brick shrugged, "My boss is in NY, but I can't be living around him..." He trailed off, "And I like women in push-up bras as much as the next guy, so I guess you'll be seeing much more of me around these parts."
This time, Blossom's smile stayed blankly fixed. She hadn't missed the first part, "Sounds shady."
"It is, babe," Brick nodded with a shameless smile, "What you gonna do 'bout it?"
He saw fire in the depths of Blossom's pink-colored eyes for a brief moment before she went back to the polite customer service smile. Must've caught glimpse of the manager.
"Are you gonna have anything else?"
Brick gave her a lazy smirk, "Cheese sticks. And another round of beer."
Blossom raised an eyebrow, "As in, four bottles?" He nodded, "Gosh, celebration or sorrow?"
"Working up some courage."
"You? Courage?" She scoffed, "That's new."
10 minutes later, she was back again with his order in hand, leaving a trail of stares as behind.
"Don't do that."
Brick raised an eyebrow, "What?"
"You're glaring at them, don't do that, you're gonna make them tip less," She commented, casually opening a beer bottle, "There are other women working here, you know."
"That's just my face," He justified, "Remind me how you're chill with that? What with you being a prude and all."
Blossom smiled cheekily, "I got used to it. Back in High School... there was this one dumbass who kept failing his tests on purpose," She stated, opening the third bottle, "just so he could stare at my chest during tutoring."
"Only one idiot?" Brick scoffed, "I wasn't taking tutoring just for that."
"I doubt there was more than one dumbass of such magnitude," Blossom scowled, blissfully unaware of how wrong she was, "Besides, boys didn't approach me, I was too frigid, remember?"
Her counterpart rolled his eyes, "You're so fucking clueless, my God," Blossom paused with a confused grimace, "That was me!" He pointed a hasty finger at himself, "No one approached you because I was scaring them away! Do you even know how much time and effort I spent doing that!"
Blossom froze with the last bottle in hand.
"What? Why the heck would you do that!?" She hissed in an estrangled voice.
Brick didn't miss a beat.
"Get rid of the competition."
He silently watched her face become as red as his hat. Within a second, the beer was placed on his table.
"Here you go..." The redhead clutched the tray for dear life. He was still staring wide-eyed at her, like a damn fool. "Hm, wow. I, I never. Yeah."
"Why? Would that have made a difference?"
He could hear his counterpart's heartbeat increasing as he gazed into her eyes.
"Bill?" She blurted out. Blossom's mouth was so dry that's all she could muster to say.
"Sure, babe." Brick grinned, watching her face become redder, as she hastily walked away. The same trail of stares following her way back.
It took fifteen minutes for the bill to come. In the meantime, she attended to other tables, clearly stalling as she constantly darted glances in his direction.
It arrived, how was he paying? Card. Ok, sure. He fidgeted in his seat. That was not how it was supposed to go, this encounter should've ended in another way.
She looked away while he slowly typed his password. Now, he was the one stalling.
"I, it's a good thing."
Brick glanced up, "What?"
"Huh, you know. You're over that whole school thing." He watched her ears become red, down to the nape of her neck.
The machine beeping was Blossom's cue to turn back around and take it back, but he didn't let it go.
"Over?" Brick scoffed, looking up at her startled, blushed face. He smirked, standing up, "Don't forget to check the receipt, babe."
She did, and surely enough, a phone number was written down.
That night, he got a call from an unknown number.
"Ay?"
"I'm calling to let you know, Brick," The voice spat from the other side of the line, "I'm making sure your tip is spent on textbooks for my criminal law classes. Whatever shady business you've been up to can be effectively deemed null."
Brick snorted, "Oh yeah?"
"Yeah."
"Good. Gonna keep that in mind when I take you out."
Blossom scoffed, indignantly, "Who said-"
"Babes, you called my number. Now, you either say where to pick you up or I'll start patrolling your workplace."
"You know what...!" Blossom hissed with a pause, "I don't need anyone picking me up. I'm not a child. I can show up on my own, thank you very much."
A/N: For some weird reason I thought that Harvard would be too cliche, and a part of me really wanted to make Blossom study in Pennsylvania.