Chapter 21: Heartbreak
It was morning... Ollie and June were in absolute pain. Getting hit by those lightning arcs still had effect on them. It was so bad, that all they could do was just sit on the couch without moving a lot.
''I don't understand! She predicted all our moves! It's like she knew what kind of gadgets and the plan we had!'' Ollie said, confused.
''Does this confuse you the most? She knew we were coming and everything about us!'' June said.
This was something only June noticed... How could the phantom know so much about them? She knew about their fight with Jinx, she knew Libby liked turtles, and she knew about Scratch's powers.
''I told you, guys, I could've helped!'' Samantha said, while she was playing a little blue bird.
''M-Maybe next time, Sammy... And from where did you get that?''
''Oh, it was sitting close to the open window. I tried to resist, but... It's too cute! Yes, you are! Yeeees, you are my cute little birdy!'' Samantha was baby-talking to her bird.
''Should we let her keep it?'' June whispered to her brother.
''No, she can have it, it's just a bird. She only needs a cage and everything will be fine... Anyways, I have to talk to Molly later...''
Ollie was getting tired of the way Molly treats him. Cheating? With girls?! Oh, this time she isn't getting away from this!
...
Molly and Scratch were in the kitchen. He was eating his breakfast with the most disappointed look on his face. They tried with everything they had, yet they still failed. He tried with everything he had but still failed...
''Still thinking about last night?'' Molly asked... With a grin smile.
Even after she was done with them, Molly still spent a few more hours as a phantom... Working on a trick she's planning to try soon. Then went back home, of course without sleeping.
''Don't remind me... I can't believe it! This thing was so fast, so... Teasing! UGH!''
''Awwww, don't think about her, pal!'' Molly said, as she hugged him... And gave him a friendly kiss on his head.
''It's just... What else do we have to do? Summon a whole demon to stop her?'' Scratch asked, relaxing in Molly's embrace.
The ghost phone appeared, reminding Scratch it's time for his shift. Molly released him and watched him open a portal... Which annoyed her.
''Uhhh... Aren't you forgetting something?''
''Huh? Like what?''
''Well... You know how many times I've kissed your head?'' Molly asked... With the same grin smile.
''Like... 3 or 4 times? Why?''
''Aaaaaaand, how many times have you kissed mine?''
''None? Why are you even asking me that?!'' Scratch asked, feeling weired out.
''Exactly! It's not cool from your side! I give you love, but you don't!''
''Wh-What more do you want from me?! Aren't hugs enough?!''
''No... Not anymore'' Molly said... As she got up and got closer.
''Molly, I'M NOT KISSING YOU! BYE!''
Before he could go in the Ghost World, Molly got the remote for the ghost shield around their house and pressed it... Causing Scratch to lose all his powers.
''HEY! WHY IS THAT?!''
''Scratch, until I don't get my head kiss, you're not going anywhere!''
''ARE YOU INSANE?! I'M NOT KISSING YOU!'' Scratch yelled, feeling deeply disguesed by his best friend.
''Well, looks like somebody will be late for work'' Molly said, keeping the same grin on her face.
''MOLLY, I'M ADULT!''
''So? Come oooon, just a friendly head kiss, I'm not forcing you to make out with me or anything!''
Okay... What the hell was the matter with Molly? Why... Why is she acting so ''playful'' around Scratch? Yes, she sure was acting spicy lately... But why is she doing this with Scratch, who is 35 years older than her?
''NO! NO WAY!''
''Scratch, kiss me!''
''NO, YOU PERV!''
''KISS ME!''
Scratch realized until she doesn't get what she wants, she won't release him...
''UGHHHHHHHHHH... fine...''
With so much regret and embarrassment, Scratch got closer to her... And kissed the top of Molly's head.
''Awww! See? Wasn't that hard, was it?'' Molly asked, as she pressed the button on the remote, turning down the shield.
''I'll have a real talk with your parents about this! Which reminds me, swoopy hair also wants to talk with you. Anyways, NOW I CAN FINALLY GO, BYE!'' Scratch said, opening a portal and going away.
Molly was enjoying ''playing'' with her ghost friend, even when she knew it was morally wrong. She also was annoyed with Ollie wanting to talk with her... But she didn't think much of him. She found it so cute how Scratch was grossed out, and even how he said he'll tell her parents about her behavior.
''Meh, it was worth it!''
...
Libby was in front of ''Johnson's toy shop''. She just needed answers about this phantom. Maybe, just something they missed last night.
She looked around the trees, which still had marks from the lightning arcs. She even saw her goo-gun she accidentally dropped when they ran away. No butterflies, no any tracks where this phantom might've went, nothing...
''Come on, there has to be something!''
Libby looked inside, but still nothing. Not that the phantom could hide there, very soon the mayor was planning to order the destruction of that abandoned shop. Clearly nothing that could've helped her, so she was planning to leave... But she saw something shiny on the grass.
Libby got closer. Something purple and round. She looked at it... And saw a little purple bracelet.
''What the?''
This looked like the exact same bracelet Molly wears. It couldn't be hers! After all, Molly didn't even come with them... Right?
Still, weird how that phantom was ''The Phantom of Joy'', when Molly's wraith is the one with the most joy energy... And weird how familiar this phantom looked to Molly. Even her hair was in a ponytail, just like Molly's.
Could this mean... No! Impossible! Molly wouldn't hurt her friends! More importantly, she can't just turn herself into a phantom... Right?
But... It really looked familiar to her. Also, why is that bracelet here? No evidence it belongs to Molly, but it really looked the same... Something wasn't right.
...
Samantha was playing with her bird, while June was writing in the kitchen. Because of all the lab mess she puts herself in, her mom wanted her to begin new safer hobbies. Good idea, because writing looked fun to June.
Someone knocked on the door, so she got up to see who it was... And saw Libby.
''Hey, June... Uh, can I come in?''
''Yeah, sure!''
Libby came inside and saw how Samantha was playing with her bird. She couldn't help, but smile and how innocent Samantha looked. Something as small as a normal bird was bringing her so much happiness, which Libby was finding cute. Because Libby has turtles, she knows how precious pets are.
''So, what's the matter?'' June asked, as she prepared a plate with cookies.
''I was looking around the toy shop. I couldn't find any clues or tracks, but... I found this...''
Libby placed the bracelet on the table. It was a little dirty, but still had that purple shine.
''This... This looks like Molly's bracelet. And you found it in the woods?'' June asked, confused.
''Yes! It was there! I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the phantom, but... Weird how Molly wasn't even with us, but this was there''
''I'm not sure if this actually belongs to her... But I sure will do some tests. Maybe it has a little bit of the phantom's energy on it'' June said, as she took it.
June actually realized how weird the whole situation looked. First, Molly defended this phantom with her life, and even tried to stop the hunt. Second, Molly was a no-show to their hunt. Third, how does the phantom know so much about them? Fourth, what's the chace a bracelet so identical to Molly's to be exactly where they fought the phantom?
All of this was starting to scare June. She still wasn't gonna accuse Molly, until she's 100 percent sure who this phantom is... But she was still thinking this strange possibility. What if Molly is hiding something?
...
Molly was at the park. Ollie called her, so she was waiting for him. He wanted to be a little late, so he would have time to mentally prepare for this. Just a few minutes after Molly arrived, Ollie came.
''Hey, Ollie. So, what ya want to talk about?''
He was frustraded at how dumb she was playing...
''Molly, I barely see you these days! You don't talk with me, you don't answer my texts... And guess what Scratch just told me!''
The moment he said this... Molly's heart dropped to her stomach...
''Wh-What did he tell you?''
''ABOUT YOUR FOREPLAYS! Seriously?! You and Libby... Behind my back?! He also told me about this new girl you started to see just after you and Libby stopped talking!'' Ollie explained, mad.
''I... Listen, I can explain''
''Well, go on! I'm waiting!''
She couldn't... She didn't know what to say or how to defend her actions. It was wrong to do those things, but she couldn't resist it...
''Ollie, I... Just... It's true. Me and Libby had a few foreplays...'' Molly said, ashamed.
''Mind telling me why?!''
''It's just... I was tired! I know we have so much in common with you, but... This relationship doesn't have any progress at all! I was tired of waiting, and waiting for you to spice things up!''
Ollie was shocked. He really never thought about this, because he was never feeling ready for ''that'' sort of relationship.
''And you had to cheat on me?! Why didn't you say something?!''
''What am I supposed to tell you?! ''Hey, Ollie, I love you, but you're not good enough in the bed''! I'm sorry, okay? I didn't want to come to this!'' Molly apologized... And saw how broken Ollie looked.
''Oh really? So what, you just... Decided to stop seeing me?! Leave me to wonder where I've been wrong, without even trying to tell me?!''
''I SAID I'M SORRY! Besides... I... I don't see us together anymore...''
This was the only sentence Ollie feared her to say... And she said it.
''Wh-What?''
''You see... It's not just that me and Libby were doing it just for fun, I... I'm bisexual! I was worried how you'd react, so I didn't tell you...'' Molly confessed.
''Molly... Do you honestly think I'll stop loving you just because you're bisexual?''
''It's not just that! That girl you mentioned... She's my previous girlfriend! I haven't seen her for years and she's finally here, and...''
Ollie was now on the verge to tear up when he realized where this is going...
''Please... Don't tell me you-
''Yes... I have feelings for her. I tried to deny them, but... I can't. I see myself with her...''
''B-But... What about us?!''
Molly took a deep breath. She really hated to do this, but...
''I'm sorry, Ollie... But we're done...''
Ollie's worst nightmare became reality... Poor boy was so crushed, he couldn't hold his tears anymore...
''T-Tell me you're joking... This has to be some kind of prank, right?!''
''No, I'm serious. I swear, it's not your fault... Well, not entirey, mostly it's me! Just... I'm in love with her. Sorry, but I can't continue with you...'' Molly said... As she was feeling sorry for him when he saw him tear up.
This day was a disaster. He was losing his girlfriend because he wasn't good enough... Not good enough for her.
''Molly...''
''I really try to see us in the future, but... It's just not happening. She is just... Everything I wanted. I'm sorry...'' Molly said... As she started to walk away.
Before she could go far, Ollie grabbed her hand... He was just desperate.
''No! P-Please! I can change, I swear! Molly, please don't leave me!''
''I'm sorry... But I already made up my mind... I'm sure you'll find someone better...'' Molly said, as she started to walk away again.
Ollie was just standing there, trying to process what just happened. She broke up with him... She left him... It was done... He lost her...
Molly was so embarrassed and ashamed of herself for breaking up with him, she started to scratch her right arm from nervousness... Only to realize her bracelet is missing.
Normally she'll be mad, but it was just a little bracelet... Not a big lost, right? Just one lost bracelet, she could always get another one...