I shouldn't be as nervous as I was, but for some reason I couldn't help rubbing my sweaty hands on my pants constantly.

I just couldn't allow Mojo to mess this up for me. He was suppose to be out of the house or evil lair or whatever he called it! He was just supposed to be gone but Butch and Boomer are apparently useless.

"Brick? Why are you driving past your house?" Blossom asked as she twisted in her seat to look out the back window.

I held back my groan, "It's, uh, a little.. tradition! Yeah a little tradition we do whenever we bring someone over for the first time. Gotta drive around the block and then some before going home! You know..."

"But.. isn't that a big waste of gas and bad for the environment. Using the extra fuel that you don't need to use?"

I rolled my eyes, "You're such a tree hugger, Red!"

"Caring about what happens to our only habitual planet, isn't a bad thing. Just because it seems fine now, doesn't mean it will be in 20+ years!"

I sighed, rolling my eyes, "Yeah, yeah whatever you say, Bloss."

I eventually parked and glared at my volcano home. Mojo had just came out of the house, glaring at the people in the park before locking the front door and slowly walking down the long staircase. I could feel Blossoms eyes on me as I glared at Mojo.

"We didn't have to come here, especially if it would cause too much trouble." She spoke, her voice going soft.

I closed my eyes and let the tension leave my shoulders before opening my eyes and turning them to hers, "I said I was going to show you a good time and I plan on doing just that."

She stared at me, her eyes studying me for a minute before she let a small smile slip on her face.

Her smile--though so small, most wouldn't even notice the light upturn of her lips--had this deep warmth behind it, I quickly looked away, deciding Mojo was better to look at. I felt a small ickyness crawl up my back and softly pierce my heart. Why'd she have to look so genuine and open at me?

I had this heavy feeling fill my stomach and I wished nothing more than for her to see through my facade..

'Wait! Slow your roll, Bricky boy. Blossom doesn't deserve sympathy and my guilty conscience. Plus, there's money on the line. I had to get myself under control if I wanted to win this thing.'

"Looks like the coast is clear, let's head inside." I announced, trying to shake my thoughts.

Once inside, her eyes seemed to widen as she looked as the set up of blankets, pillows and chairs. "Aren't pillow forts a tad bit childish."

I suppressed the urge to groan very loudly and glared, she was way too mature sometimes, "Childish things are usually the most fun."

She stared at it uncertainly and I could feel the beginning foundation of the bet began to shake.

I chuckled nervously, "Just wait till you see inside.." I reached for her hand, which was surprisingly very soft. I ignored that thought and guided her inside, crawling down.

She looked around before looking cautiously at me, "Sooo, what now?"

I turned, reaching for an over sparkly baby blue make up box, "Well," I flicked the latch opening it to an assortment of nail polishes, "I could help you paint your nails?"

The whole situation was awkward and I mostly wanted to hit Boomer for these suggestions. But if Blossom was like Bubbles then I had to plan it this way.

Except her eyes told a different story, her brows were furrowed and I could feel a strong wave of embarrassment creep up on me. "Is this what you do for your other friends?"

"I-I, well, I," I wanted to scream, Blossom had reduced me to stuttering, I've officially reached level: pathetic, "Well no, I don't really do this with them but I thought maybe this would be something you'd be into..."

She still stared at me questioningly before looking down at the nail polish container, "Doesn't this belong to Bubbles?"

"I, uh, I asked Boom if I could borrow it.." I need her to stop asking so many questions and just relax or I'd be back at square one, "But I can see that this isn't something you wanna do, so we can move on.."

I closed the box and moved far away before scooting towards the t.v.. Blossom followed, sitting next to me, a nervous look in her eyes. I handed her a controller after hooking up the video game. It loaded itself up and I could only hope it wasn't too lame but I only hoped in vain as a group of kittens in a basket popped up on screen. I scrunched my eyes tightly and I was really starting to question Boomer and Bubbles relationship.

The story of the "game" played out; a basket of kittens was left on a door step in the rain and it was your job was to take care of them with a little amount of money and space. And of course all of the kittens were little shits who ruined everything but the character didn't have the heart to get rid of them.

"So, you play this game often?" Blossom questioned, a playful smile on her lips, as she fed one of the kittens a treat.

I took off my baseball cap and ran my hand through my hair and chuckled, "It's in my top 5 favorite kitty games out there."

She giggled lightly, "You know I'd believe you, if I wasn't the one who bought this game for Bubbles last Christmas."

"It was worth a shot." Maybe I was wrong about her being more like Bubbles.. But then what? She was more like Buttercup? "Come on there's more stuff planned."

I lead her out of the pillow fort and into the kitchen to grab the basket left on the counter.

"Is that a picnic basket?"

I sighed before nodding and guided her outside, into the park. I laid down a stereotypical checkered blanket down next to a fountain before sitting down. I glanced at Blossom, she was bitting her bottom lip as she surveyed the scene.

"You gonna stand there all day or are you gonna join me?" I stated loudly, stirring her from her thoughts. She jumped before blushing in embarrassment and sitting next to me.

I nodded before taking out all the food and two bottles of pink lemonade. "Heart shaped sandwiches and chocolate strawberries?"

This was the last time I asked the Blues to help me make picnic food.

"Sorry is it too much?" Hell, it was too damn much for me. I'm surprised she's being so nice about it.

Or so I thought.

"Brick.. why did you go to Boomer for advice?" Her face took to a frown as she seemed so lost in her thoughts. It didn't matter what lie I thought up, she never gave me a chance to speak, "I'm not my sister, Brick!" She demanded, standing up, "I'm not Bubbles and I'm not Buttercup. I'm my own person and you can't just assume that I'd be one or the other. I have my own interest and opinions, things that differ from them."

I quickly stood up and moved forwards toward her, "I'm, I didn't- I'm not comparing you to your sisters!" That was a straight up lie though, I was hoping she'd be just like one of them and make this easier on me.

"Then explain why you used all of Bubbles favorite things! I don't compare you to Butch or Boomer!"

I went to move closer to her but that made her move backwards, forcing her to fall into the fountain. She screamed and I swear my heart stopped beating and the world stopped turning.

She glared at me before flying off.

One step forward, two steps back, fan-fucking-tastic Brick.