Knock, knock.
She waited in the front of the door.
It's have been a whole week since the gala. Bubbles decided to not talk to her sisters about her meeting with a grandmother. She didn't want to be questioned and she knew she shouldn't be there, trying to talk to her grandmother. But she couldn't stop herself thinking about her and wanted to make sure everything was alright for her.
'Just once. Just once to make sure she is okay. I won't come back after this. And I won't skip classes...'
Her heart was beating faster, the anxiety taking control of her body but much more the joy to see her grandmother again, to hug her, to smell her scent and just spending time with her like before.
The door opened.
« Miss Bubbles, welcome ! » said Charles.
Her smile was froze, of course he didn't call her by her old name. She doesn't even exist here or existed. Her father decided to call her like this because... What was that name again ?
« Miss Giyoko was waiting for you. »
She entered, she recognized everything, the paints, the vases, the stairs she used to dash and fall. But she also see that the vase she once did is not there, the hole in the wall she once did while she was playing baseball with Charles disappeared too. All those memories, the marks she left was wiped out of this world or at least belong another universe. And how is it going for her real grandmother ? How did she feel after the... after what again ?
She followed Charles to the extent of the mansion, a traditional Japanese yard. Giyoko was waiting for her in the traditional Japanese yard, she built it many years ago. Bubbles remembered how they lay under the sun, or eating watermelon in the summer and having tea and watching the peach trees blossoming.
« Bubbles... » she smiled. « すわてください。»
She sat on the floor like grandmother and she served the tea.
« お元気ですか？ »
« はい、元気です。» they smiled to each other and talked. They talked as they always did before, and Bubbles was glad to hear the stories about her grandmother again.
***
Blossom was waiting for the science teacher to come in their class. During this time she was talking to Harry.
« I'm still glad you're doing this project with me. You always have been the one with the best grades. I'm still very surprised you don't have any late. »
She laughed at this compliment. She always had the best grades, of course...
« Well, it's nothing you know... » proud of herself.
Brick was not far from them. He was in the same class, he never talks to anyone or pair up with someone for the exercices, he even did make cry a girl who tried to work with him and he's always sitting next to the window. When she said that, he glared at her.
Blossom felt eyes on her and she looked up.
Him.
Always him.
Especially since the gala, it's the war between them.
Her face frowned, and she held his gaze. Even Harry was embarrassed, the tension could be feel in the class but mister O'brian arrived with copies and broke this « contest » of stares.
« Sorry for my late everyone. Please go back to your seats. » while everybody sits back down, the teacher was writing on the board 'science project'.
« You all know about the science project, if you don't know it, it's a big problem. For this project you can do it with someone else or alone. » he glanced a Brick since the last accident. « And for the competition some members of the Dexex laboratory will come and the winner or winners will have the opportunity to do an internship ! »
The murmurs started to fill the class. Dexex was one of the best laboratories of the city. Having an internship, could be a big opportunity for whoever wants to be part of this world and even be great for college.
Blossom frozen. 'Dexex... it can't be. Is it ?' The name was making her heart beating faster and a rush of stress, adrenaline and even anger started to fill her heart. Because...
« Good luck ! »
'Calm down, it's just because it's a big opportunity for you. Don't worry.'
« Oh and now I'm thinking about it, here is your last exam. » he started to distribute the copies. « Of course the best grades are for Blossom... » she smiled proud of herself, forgetting this panic moment as she heard the whispers of people congratulating her.
« And Brick. » she stopped smiling.
Brick ?! Really ?! She learnt how to use her X-ray vision and she focused her eyes on his copy. He didn't make any mistake too on his copy and had the best grade for this test, even the bonus questions. The teacher was still making his comments and distributing the copies.
For the first time since he's here. He smirked. He smirked at her as if he knew that made her upset. Some girls caught his smirk and blushed. Blossom blushed too not because his smirk was... something, not because of how his eyes were locked on her but because of her anger, not even because someone had better grades but because it was him ! And also because she used her X-ray vision to do this childish thing and he caught her. She decided to swallow her pride and her embarrassment and smiled to him.
She whispered to a frequency only him, could hear.
« Congratulations... » it sounded so hypocrite.
He didn't even answer, his smirk disappeared but on his eyes the pride to see this miss-I-know-everything in this state was present.
« Alright, let's get back to our last lessons. »
***
« And that's how Napoleon took a big part of Europe in few years. » miss Bridget was boring and everybody was fighting against the sleep. Buttercup already gave up and she's sleeping on her table. She started to return to the dojo, the one she used to go when she was a child and of course her training routine was a bit exhausting.
She was sitting in the back of the class, behind the twins, Floyd and Lloyd, they are now tall enough to hide her.
She felt someone pushing her... in her back.
« Hmm... I'm gonna kill you... » her voice was full of sleep.
She wakes up and turned back and see Mitch. The words blocked in her throat and she didn't say anything.
« Can you give this to the twins ? » it was a prospectus.
She took it and quickly read about a concert. His band will do a concert in few weeks. She gave it to Floyd.
« So, you're playing in a band ? » she knew the answer.
« Yeah. I do it for fun. »
« Cool... for how long ? » she already knew the answer, again.
« Few months only. The guys I play with are from the university, they needed a guitarist and I wasn't bad. »
« Pretty cool... you were a such brat before. I can't believe they can stand you.»
« Speak for yourself. But you're right I wasn't a good kid. » he chuckled a bit.
This laugh... it's have been a while she hasn't heard it. The eyes of the teacher staring at them. They stopped talking before she returned to her boring lesson.
« True but you grew so I guess now you're more mature now.»
« I am of course. » he was thinking a little while. « Eat with me today, I'll prove you. »
She raised an eyebrow and smiled a bit.
« Well... ok. »
'What did I exactly accept ? Maybe this time it will be different...
Different...
Different...
Different...
Of what again ?'
***
« I'm not nut. » he protested with a smirk.
« You definitely are. » she was laughing so hard.
In a corner of the cafeteria, Mitch and Buttercup were eating together. Talking about his band, how the last years have been and anecdotes he has. She loves to see him smile.
« And this gala ? I can't believe you wore a dress. You didn't do that since 5 grade or something. »
« Don't say that. I had to. » she shrugged.
« I should have seen that. And you even fought in your dress. Impressive. » he was laughing hard.
A slap on the back of his head made him stop laughing. The corner of her lips curled up.
« And Princess's father wants to be mayor... That's crazy... She was already a pain in the a*s but if her father wins... and it's has been a week and she's still talking about it.» he made a face of disgust.
« I know. » she sighed, in this world or the other, Mitch's feelings for Princess didn't change. People like him doesn't mix up with people like her. He knows that.
He tried to change the conversation, he didn't want to talk about this with Buttercup and tried to play it cool with her.
They glance at the table of Princess, of course she was in the middle of her « supporters » talking about the pictures she posted on her profile and the famous persons she met. Boring. Mitch rolled his eyes and keep his attention on Buttercup.
« So ? Do you come or you'll just keep saying I suck ? You can't judge me if you haven't seen me playing.» he asked with a smile.
« Hmmm, let me think of it... » she was definitely not serious. « Ok !»
« Oh and of course, your sisters can come. »
« If they want to... » she decided to not tell them. Or at least make sure they won't come. She wanted to keep for herself a link with her past... and with Mitch too.
« Ok... »
During a moment, they kept the silence. The other students covering the silence with their conversations and the noise of their dishes.
« So, with the boys ? »
« Elmer and the others ? »
« No, I mean, the Rowdyruff boys. I heard about Butch and you. »
« About this a*shole and me ? He's just a horny teenager and completely nut. Honestly, I can't with him. I don't know what does he want. But he's definitely trying to pick a fight. »
« And you haven't yet kicked his a*s ? » he said, half serious, half joking.
« I didn't... » the words of Blossom made her mad, she can handle this guy. She trained her body and control her powers. There is not any single day where she is not training at all. She has the control and can handle him.
« You seemed close, that's why I'm saying. »
« If being close means I want to kill him every time he breaths then yes. »
He laughed.
« They just came back from nowhere. No one was expecting their return or yours by the way. I'm glad you came back. I mean your sisters and you. »
Her heart started to beat faster and butterflies began to dance in her stomach.
He looked at his phone, the break is over...
« I gotta go. See ya. »
She looked at him walk away, when she received an instagram message, he asked to follow her. And of course she followed him back. She knows this time, she can't make the same mistake, she won't.
***
Bubbles flew quickly to the school for the music class reunion. This conversation with her grandmother was a quick break in this storm but also made her feel guilty. Guilty because she enjoys her presence even if she is not suppose to. But happy because that's just like the moments she used to have with her.
She opened the door and Boomer was sitting there, playing bass. He noticed her and his cheeks blushed a bit.
« The others are not here yet. » he mumbled.
« No problem. What were you playing ? »
« Just a song I wrote. »
« Let me hear it ! »
« It's not ready yet. »
« When you'll be ready, I want to hear it. » she smiled to him and he turned his face before he became completely red.
He didn't answer and she sighed, it's their new language.
After a moment.
« You look happier than the last time... »
« I do ? Is that a compliment ? »
« It's not ! Jeez...»
« I'll take it as a compliment then. »
« Whatever... » he said while he was touching the ropes of his bass.
« See, now you're the one making a small talk. » she smiled more.
« I'm not. We're stuck in this class together. That's different. »
This pouty face... she wanted to tease him even more.
« And you could have ignored me. » she said.
« I could but... » he raised his finger wanted to say something but he didn't find anything to say.
« Never mind... »
She smiled even more, she was thinking how cute he looked while he was pouting.
« Hi, Mitch ! »
« Hi. »
And with him the others joined them.
***
« Have you heard about the science contest ? »
The whole high school heard of it.
« Well to support the event, we will animate it. I want you to pick songs or create them and to play them. We will collect funds for an association who helps animals, an idea of Bubbles. I hope you're ready ?»
« Of course. »
« We got a lot of things to do. »
« What if we call ourself the magistic ? »
« You're kidding, right ?»
In this animated ambiance, the mood of the class let place to an euphoria for this event. And finally Bubbles could admire the smile of Boomer and how he easily gets into the organization of the event.
***
« Finally... the day I've been waitkng for years. Because the Powerpuff girls have ruined my life. But you, my sons, the boys I created, me, Mojo Jojo, the biggest brain of the city, I... »
« End it quick, Mojo, we don't have your time. » said Brick.
« How disrespectful and impolite are you my sons. This new generation... » Mojo Jojo shook his head. He was behind a glass window and his hand tight with handcuffs.
« He's still funny but I got a date tonight. Make it quick, monkey. » said Butch while he was texting.
« Monkey ?! How dare you to treat me as a simple monkey ? I have a biggest brain than human. »
« They're right, what do you want ? » added Boomer exhausted of this conversation.
« Get me out of here. I have a revenge to take. You stole me the last battle, but I will repair this fault. »
They didn't say anything before they laugh until their stomach hurt.
« He thinks he has a fu**ing chance. Mojo, you're fu**ing funny ! » said Butch.
« You're an old monkey, that doesn't work like this anymore. » added Boomer.
« Make you out of here... and why would we do that ? » he won't give him what he wants if they don't have anything back.
« You want your revenge, right ? Walk with me my sons and together we will... wait where are you going ? »
During his eternal speech they left him, Butch yawned and Boomer was completely bored.
« Wait, I know what do you want. »
Here they are, Brick smirked and face his father-creator.
« What do we want ? »
« Freedom. Like all of us. Your under his control, right ?» Mojo Jojo smiled deviously, thinking he's threatening his sons.
« Yes. »
Mojo nodded and laughed a bit.
The Rowdyruff boys glanced at his others and they accepted.
« Fine. You know what we want. If you dare to fool us... »
« We can fry him and eat him. » smiled Butch, he can't be serious, right ?
« Or sending him back to the zoo. » added Boomer with a grin.
« Or just telling to Him about you. »
« Worse than being fried... good luck, monkey. »
Mojo rolled his eyes.
« What do you plan to do ? »
« Right now ? Nothing. We're coming back soon.»
« Wait ! Wait ! »
The guardians knocked out and the security cameras were out of order too, seems someone disconnected them.
« See you, monkey. »
***
Buttercup and Robin went together to the dojo. This is where they met for the first time. After their first fight, they became best friends. In this universe or the other, they still friends. And they always trained together.
They were talking like they always did.
The sound of people fighting, the punch splitting the air and the bodied falling on the ground. She smelled this air, she was definitely in her element.
They took their kimono and start to stretch. It felt good, to fight like this, like her father taught her. And do to this in a familiar place even more.
After her seance, she was waiting for Robin outside and the professor was supposed to take them. The fresh wind blowing in her face, suddenly someone touched her shoulder.
« I'm sorry but you're Buttercup ?»
She froze. This voice. Brandon ? She was too stunned to speak. She immediately recognized her brother. He didn't have his braids anymore, even his nose changed. She broke his nose when they were younger.
« You practice Judo ? I can't believe it. I practice Takwendo usually, but I like Judo too. What a coincidence... my family is going to hallucinate. »
His family... their family.
She doesn't say anything, but Brandon is too excited to acknowledge it.
« Oh, I have to go. Study for exams you know. But one day I want to train with you. » he waved at her and got into his car.
She was too stunned to speak and her eyes followed the car until it disappeared on the horizon. She forgot her first goal. Going back home. Her fists clenched and she didn't even acknowledge Robin was behind her.
« Are you listening to me ? What's wrong ? »
« Nothing.»
« Ok... »
Fortunately, for the teenagers the professor came and they get into the car in silence.
« So ? How it was today ? »
« Good. » she crossed her arms and doesn't want to develop it. An embarrassing silence invading the car until they get home.
***
« As you know the campaign for the election of the city will start soon but two candidates are the favorite. Mister Morbucks and mister Mayor Mayor. And as you know... »
And the TV turned off. Laying on the couch Bubbles turn it off.
« Why did you turned off ? » said Blossom trying to cook. Trying was not the good term, killing the food was better.
« I don't want to hear any of this. »
Blossom didn't add anything. They already know what to think about those elections.
The door opened on the Professor and Buttercup.
« Blossom, what are you burning today ? » said Buttercup while she threw her bag on a corner of the room.
« I'm not burning anything... »
She looked at the strange and burned mixture she created. « It was supposed to be eggs... »
« I already ordered the pizzas ! » said Bubbles.
And once again the dinner was saved thanks to Bubbles.