Buttercup pumped her legs forward in front of her as the plastic swing rose in the air. She pulled them back behind her as the direction changed, descending in a low slope before rising again. Her fingers gripped numbly to the cold metal chain that held her up as she continued that pattern. Her cheeks were red from the wind and cold and goosebumps lined her arms beneath her black coat. A cool gust of autumn air blew by, carrying tumbling leaves of orange, yellow, red, and some faint greens with it. They hit Buttercup's feet as she sloped, being pulled off by another gust of air. Her nose felt runny and her ears hummed from the cold. She regretted turning down the offer of a hat, but what was she to do now?

She blinked away cold tears from the force of the wind and began to settle back onto one bar. Now at the swings maximum height she stopped pumping and allowed herself to fall into the force of the momentum instead of pushing against it. Her legs were sore from tirelessly working and it felt as if a huge weight has been lifted off them to let them dangle freely. They scraped lifelessly at the dirt slope, her toes just glancing on the dry, leaf strewn, mud before lifting off again.

Buttercup knew that spending time at an old shut down preschool could be considered weird or, as the kids called it now, emo. She didn't care for the name, not only because she had been referenced under it a multitude of times, but it felt like a race. She considered it racist when she overheard someone called another emo or made fun of it. What if they created some stupid name for jocks and talked about it as if it were a disease? But Buttercup ignored them anyway and continued to spend time in the isolated place. It was one of the few places she still felt safe, maybe even comfortable.

Her father, a big time wrestler, had been transferred out of Japan to America where he was supposed to finish out his career. Of course Buttercup couldn't leave, and so she was forced to stay in her old apartment all alone. At first it hadn't been too bad. She got to stay up as late as she wanted, watch whatever she wanted, go out whenever, but that was before the sickness set in. She missed her family which could only afford to meet for a few holidays such as Christmas, Thanksgiving, and a few select weekends. It didn't help to know that all of those choices were as far from her as the sun was to earth.

And just to top the cake Blossom and Bubbles were never around. Bubbles had made head cheerleader in school and was always busy with before and after school practices, her jock boyfriend; Sam, and her new lead part in the play. Blossom was too busy studying and doing homework or hanging out with the Professor's new assistant; Jack. Buttercup just had volleyball which was off for the winter. She missed football try outs with seeing off her family and there was no way she was going to do cheerleading. So she was stuck with boredom, listening to Jack and Blossom gush it up, or Bubbles singing. Her choices were limited and, to be honest, sucked.

A vibrating from her pocket distracted Buttercup. She found herself at a still, the swing no longer moving at its steady back and forth. She looked down and pulled out her phone, clicking it on to see a message from Blossom. Her hopes lifted slightly as she opened it. Maybe she wouldn't be stuck in seclusion for the rest of the day after all.

We're going to Mew Mew Cafe for a drink. Wanna come? -BlossomZ

Buttercup raised an eyebrow at the text and reviewed her options. She could say yes and spend the whole afternoon listening to Blossom and Bubbles talk about their wonderful lives or she could say no and sit on a swing until it got too dark to even see her own hand. With a resentful sigh Buttercup accepted the proposal and hit send, alerting her friend.

Great! See you soon! -BlossomZ

Buttercup closed her eyes lightly and suppressed another oncoming sigh. Instead she let out a long breath from her nose and got up. She replaced her phone in her pocket and headed across the park, old wood chips cracking beneath her worn sneakers. With one last sad look over her shoulder at the comforting swing she stepped off the property and headed towards the ever so far Mew Mew Cafe.

_______________________

Before going to the cafe, Buttercup stopped off at her home and grabbed a green bean hat and a thicker sweater. She walked to the cafe, her hands buried in her pockets. She wanted to be happy to spend time with her friends but the truth was she didn't know how to feel. They hadn't officially hung out since seventh grade, just after the Ruff's disappeared with the rest of the villains. Since then the crime has been limited to local robbers and car thief's that really only required one of them. Now they were Juniors, all off on their separate ways. This reunion could end pretty badly.

The bell gave a happy ring as Buttercup pushed on the door to the cafe. People talking and laughing milled around the small area, sitting at tables and booths. Everything from children with parents to teens were in the store, causing quite a muck of noise. Buttercup hid her cringe with a shake of her shoulders as if she was shaking off the outside cold. In some ways she felt that she was. Her neon green eyes searched the small store, landing on a booth where Blossom was visibly taking to someone. Buttercup could only assume it was Bubbles, and by the high pitched laughter that came from that direction she accepted her suspicion.

With a small sigh Buttercup picked herself up and headed towards them, her nerves gaining as she approached. She didn't know why she get so nervous, they were just hanging out after three years of practically ignoring each other...easy.

Blossom's eyes lifted away from Bubbles and spotted Buttercup. They lit up, adding to her olive complexion and she smiled largely, revealing her perfect white teeth. She waved over to their booth, scooting over to offer her room. Buttercup have her a small smile and say dink, sinking into the seat with a soft plop.

"Buttercup!" Bubbles squealed, reaching across the table and enveloping her old friend in a hug. Buttercup stiffened beneath it, cod to the once familiar grip of her young friend. She could even still smell the sweet scent of blueberries that always seemed to linger around the blonde. Bubbles released Buttercup and returned back to her seat, giving off an award winning smile.

Buttercup had noticed changes in her friends appearances over the years, but now looking them straight in the face put her slightly on edge. Bubbles had ditched the kiddy pigtails and was keeping her hair down and curled, framing her angular face perfectly. And her beautiful baby blue eyes only seemed to add to it. Blossom had traded from keeping her large now to a pink headband that kept her bangs out of her face. A light layer of mascara framed her pink eyes, making them pop against her olive hue. Both girls seemed skinnier and incredibly fit.

"It's so good to see you," Blossom assured her, smiling gently. Buttercup managed a thin smile in response.

"Well we see each other everyday," Buttercup reminded her, instantly regretting it by the tone. It had a spiteful mess that made Blossom's smile slide away. Bubbles coughed lightly, breaking up the awkward moment and gives a small, thin smile. The happiness seemed to have dropped a few hundred degrees.

"How are you, Buttercup? It's a shame that we haven't met up sooner," Bubbles said with a tight, teeth showing smile. Buttercup didn't bother to copy her, already knowing it would reveal just how she true my felt about the situation.

"I'm alright," Buttercup insisted, nodding her head. A small lull came over the group and Blossom looked at the table while Bubbles looked out the window. No one knew what to say because the truth was they were all nervous about this. The departure between their friendship had been sad on all of them, leaving the moment as awkward as it was a relief.

A girl in a waitresses uniform approached them with three drinks on a tray. Bubbles perked up and Blossom regained her smile. She set them on the table and walked off. Blossom reached forward to grab a red one and Bubbles snatched a blue one, nudging a green one to Buttercup. She instantly recognized it as green apple, a flavor she always used to get when she was young and they came here.

"I figured we'd get these, you know, for old times sake," Blossom said with a light laugh. She took a straw and stuck it in hers, taking the straw between her teeth and taking a quick sip. Buttercup looked down at the green one, seeing a faint outline of her face in the reflection. She didn't know what she found so delicious about Apple when she was younger, as the taste repulsed her now. She glanced up and saw Bubbles and Blossom watching her, smiling. She hid a grimace in a smile and quickly took a sip. The sour filled her mouth, making her mouth pucker. She forced the liquid down and made a good hum. Bubbles smiled largely and sipped hers. Buttercup turned and made a face at no one before turning back to the table. She played with hers as the others drank, watching her reflection be toppled by a movement of her straw.

"It's been a long time," Blossom said, drawing the others eyes to her. Her face is bent, staring down at her empty smoothie cup. She clearly wasn't going to say anything else so Bubbles took over, letting off a loose laugh.

"It has, this was long overdue," she agreed, finishing off her own smoothie.

"Yeah," Buttercup agreed lamely, turning back and taking another repulsive sip of her smoothie. She still didn't understand how she once found something so vile delicious.

"So anything new?" Blossom asked suddenly. She was desperate to keep the conversation going, already sending Buttercup's resistance to the subject.

"Just got the lead in our new play! Romeo and Juliet," Bubbles said cheerfully. Blossom nods, turning her head to look at Buttercup. The green eyed girl shifts under her jacket, suddenly feeling stuffy in the small corner.

"I'm, you know, going with the flow and stuff," Buttercup murmured.

"I hear your dad is playing in America," Bubbles said softly. Buttercup suddenly felt awkward and bad. She didn't want to talk about her family and by the looks on her friends faces she felt bad about not telling them.

"Yeah," Buttercup murmured, sucking up the drink. She didn't care that it burned her throat, she actually appreciated the distraction.

"Do you want to...talk about it?" Blossom asked curiously, wondering if those were the right words to say. Instantly Buttercup shook her head and coughed lightly.

"Look, this has been great but I better get going," she said, glancing out the window. It's late afternoon now, the sun just starting to set.

"Right, of course," Bubbles says, smiling. "Good night, Buttercup."

Buttercup grabbed her beany and stick it back on her head, giving Bubbles a nod. Blossom remained silent as she left, the bell letting off a ring as she pushed past. They say awkwardly at the table that should still be holding a third person.

"Buttercup's right, it's late and I have practice tomorrow," Bubbles said, getting up and pulling on her jacket. Blossom nodded and got up, giving Bubbles a smile. The blonde returned it before giving a small wave and heading out. The door rung once again as she left, leaving only one at the table that held three. With a sigh she pulled on her own jacket and hat and headed towards the door. She looked at the table and silently promised herself that they would come back and sit there again, this time as friends. She pushed past the door, listening as the bell rung for the last time that night.