Disclaimer for the whole story since I feel obligated because everyone else writes one, even though I told myself I wouldn't write one... sorry, run on sentence...
The plot is mine. The character's aren't.
A/N: Just keep reading - it'll get better, I promise!
"Bye mom! I'm going to pick up Goku and head out," she shouted toward her mother as she rushed passed her, grabbing a piece of buttered toast and running through the back door.
"Don't forget your lunch, dear!" Bunny Brief said, but Bulma was already gone.
Bulma raced down the road in her hover-motorcycle, trying to get to Goku and still be on time to school. As she approached the small house near the woods, Goku's grandfather was tending to his garden.
"Hi Grandpa Gohan! Is Goku ready? We are extremely late!" she called out, startling the old man.
Grandpa Gohan smiled at Bulma and opened his mouth to respond, but at that moment Goku rushed through the front door, with a plate of eggs in hand and a napkin tied around his neck, "Bfy Bampbah!" he tried saying, but Bulma was already back down the road in a flash. Grandpa Gohan shook his head and mumbled, "Kids."
As they approached school Bulma told Goku to jump off. As his weight was lifted off the seat, she skidded to a halt in front of the doors and hopped off, pressing the "capsulate" button at the same time. Her feet touched the ground at the same moment the now-capsulated motorcycle hit her palm. Goku held the door open for Bulma as she entered the school.
They turned the corner, and a green, looming figure halted their progress. "Principal Kami!" Bulma wheezed, nearly out of breath. "We-*inhale*-were-*inhale*-just*inhale*-"
Principal Kami cut her off, saying, "You two had better be going. You only have moments before you're late!" He smiled at them and stepped aside.
"Thanks!" Goku said and grabbed Bulma's hand, running with her through the halls to their homerooms. Goku released her hand as they stopped in front of two side-by-side doors. "You're lucky we have homeroom next to each other, Bulma, 'cause you're not a very fast runner," he stated, and entered the door on the left. "Maybe you should eat more to get stronger," he whispered, and closed his door.
Bulma rolled her eyes and opened the door to the right. All eyes turned on her. "Well, Ms. Brief, you are late yet again. I think that deserves a detention after school tomorrow. Don't you?" She turned her head to the front of the classroom. Mr. Piccolo looked very cross. However, he was not the obly person that caught her attention. A boy stood in the front of the class, and if possible, he looked even more upset than the teacher. She stared into his eyes, the blank abyss jogging her memory.
Months ago, she was sitting in the bleachers amongst a crowd that had nearly every person in the East and West Side Districts. Two undefeated champions stood facing each other in the middle of a circle, holding everyone's undivided attention. Bulma watched Goku, praying he would be okay. His opponent was bulkier and shorter than him, but the height of his hair relieved some of that difference.
The referee announced the other boy first. "Weighing in at 120 pounds, at a height of 5 foot 3 inches tall, from East Side High School, the undefeated, Vegeta!" The crowd on the opposite side of the gym went crazy, while Bulma's side began booing. The ref continued, "And on the opposite side of the mat, weighing in at 127 pounds, at a height of 5 foot 5 inches tall, from West Side High School, the undefeated, Goku Kakarot!" This time, Bulma's side began cheering as the other booed. "Today, these two men shall be competing for the Central City Cadet Wrestling Championship. Gentlemen, shake hands and take your places."
Bulma's mind skipped ahead and replayed to after the match.
The celebration had started as soon as the ref announced Goku victorious. Everybody sitting on West Side's bleachers ran on the mats and congratulated him. East Side cleared out quickly, not even bothering to stick around to wait for Vegeta. Bulma noticed him going to the back of the gym alone, but her attention was stolen away again as her best friend called for her. "Bulma! Bulma! I won!" Goku yelled over the noise. His huge smile forced a grin on her lips. "I just tried my best, and I did it! He was a really difficult opponent, though."
Bulma gave Goku a hug and offered her congratulations. "Hey everyone!" she called over the crowd. "Let's celebrate at my house in an hour! Everyone's invited, and we're going all night!" The crowd went wild and lifted Goku up in the air, walking with him to the doors.
"Bulma!" Goku yelled again. "Grab my bag, will ya?" he barely got out as the crowd brought him ouside.
Bulma shook her head, laughing, and ran over to the coaches. "Coach Kai? Where's Goku's bag? He asked me to grab it for him."
Coach Kai gave her a quizzical look. "I will only tell you where it is if you make me laugh," he said, then snorted.
Bulma screwed up her face and tried to remember a joke that her father attempted to tell her the other day. "Okay I got one. Knock, knock."
"Who's there?"
"Tank."
"Tank who?"
"You're welcome!"
Coach Kai furiously snorted and covered his hands over his mouth. Then he burst out laughing, barely keeping himself from falling on the floor. "Okay, okay, you got me!" He kept laughing. "It's in the locker room."
"Thanks!" Bulma jogged over to the double doors on the far side of the gym and ran down the stairs to the locker rooms. She pushed the door open but stopped just inside the entrance. Sounds of grunts and of shrieking metal filled the room. Quickly remembering the other boy had headed to the locker room, she tip-toed to the corner, after spotting Goku's bag. Bulma poked her head around the wall and saw the flame-haired boy pounding a locker, blood oozing down his wrist and arm. He had changed out of his singlet, into a pair of sweatpants. Bulma noticed his naked back looked more muscular up close than from the bleachers. His muscles flexed and tensed with every bang she heard.
Bulma shook her head, clearing it, and reached out to catch the strap. She missed. She tried again, this time successfully. She pulled up on the strap, bringing it toward her, but her arm misjudged the bag's weight and dragged the side along the floor. The boy spun around on heel, instantly finding the source of the disturbance. He glared, never breaking eye contact as he stalked over to her. Bulma was frozen in shock, believing these were her last moments alive. She backed up, but her back hit the stone wall. Another wave of fear washed over her as he stood within inches of her, so close she could smell the stale sweat from his body.
"Give me my bag," he hissed.
Bulma's eyes widened. "I-I-I th-th-thought it was G-Goku's bag," she stuttered.
His eyes widened as a fierce snarl ripped from his throat. "Never say his name in front of me again."
"S-s-sorry," she said then dropped his bag on the floor, releasing it from her grasp. Upon impact, he bent over, picking it up from the handles, and walked to the bench. Bulma scanned the floor for Goku's bag, spotting it on the other side of the room. She speed-walked to it, grabbed it, and made her way back to the door without looking at the boy again. Just as she was passing him, a feeling of guilt weighed in the bottom of her stomach. She turned her head. Her gaze returned to the back of the boy, who was obviously listening to her footsteps. "I'm having a party at my house tonight. You're more than welco-"
"Do you honestly think I'd come to a party for him - the reason I lost? Get out."
"I was just-"
"Get OUT!" he yelled.
"Snap OUT of it Ms. Brief!" Mr. Piccolo yelled a mere inches away from her.
Bulma refocused her glazed-over eyes, finding herself staring at the boy in the front of the room. "Sorry Mr. Piccolo. Detention sounds marvelous," she said sarcastically, breaking eye contact and moving to her seat. Vegeta did not stop looking at her.
Mr. Piccolo frowned at her and then resumed his announcement. "As I was saying, we have a new addition to our homeroom. This is Vegeta." Mr. Piccolo glanced down at a sheet of paper. "Do you have a last name?"
Vegeta's eyes moved from Bulma, who was looking at anywhere but Vegeta, to Mr. Piccolo. "If it does not show up on the records, then you can assume I do not."
Piccolo looked offended for a moment but recovered quickly. "Well, Mister Vegeta, you have just earned yourself a detention with Ms. Brief tomorrow after school. How marvelous," he added with a growl, right as the bell rang.