HELPLESS
It was six in the morning when Goten was up and starting his daily routine. He was in the bathroom shaving, not really knowing why since he didn't have a bit of hair on his face. He figured he just wanted some hair. Goten put the blade down on the counter and stared at his own face in the mirror.
"Hey you. How'd you get so handsome? Oh wait, that's me! I gotta be the best looking guy in this family," said Goten.
"I beg to differ, little brother," said Gohan as he entered the bathroom.
"Gohan? When did you get here?" asked Goten.
"In the middle of the night. Mom and Dad let me sleep in my old room and..."
"Videl kicked you out the house again, didn't she?"
"...maybe."
"What did you do this time?"
"Oh, I just blew out the wall to our bedroom when I was training outside. It's not my fault, I tell you!"
"Whatever you say, bro...."
"Goten...did you put on cologne?" asked Gohan as he sniffed the air.
"Yeah. You like it?" asked Goten.
"No comment. What's the deal? You never put on cologne."
"Sometimes a Saiyan just wants to smell his freshest, that's all."
"What's her name?"
"Excuse me?"
"What's the girl's name?"
"What makes you think it's about a girl?"
"Because you're shaving, and there's nothing to shave."
"....I hate you. Well if you must know it's this girl named Tina. She's pretty cute, and very nice. I was just thinking maybe I could ask her to the senior prom or something."
"Goten, the senior prom isn't for two more years."
"Well I don't have a date for it! Besides, no woman can resist my charms."
"Yeah, whatever you say. Well, good luck. And get out. I gotta go." Gohan pushed Goten out of the bathroom and did his business. Goten just stared at the door from outside.
"Well at least the girl I like isn't throwing me out the house!" yelled Goten.
Two hours later, Goten was in his homeroom chatting with a few friends. Trunks came in a few minutes after Goten and sat next to him. He tried to talk to Goten, but at that moment Tina came in and Goten was in a trance. Trunks snapped his fingers and brought Goten back to the real world.
"Hey, what's with you? Have you been smoking or something?" asked Trunks.
"Not lately...I mean no!" snapped Goten.
"It's Tina, isn't it?"
"What?! How did you know?!"
"You're my best friend, Goten. I know everything about you. So go talk to her. I bet she likes you."
"I wanna wait until just the right moment."
"What? Three minutes before we graduate? Goten, seize the moment! Go talk to her while you have the chance! I'll tell you what: I'll go see if she likes you, but I won't directly ask her. So she won't know that you like her unless you tell her so. Alright?"
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Okay, I'll wait right here."
Trunks got up and walked across the room to where Tina was sitting. She was sitting alone, staring out the window, at the horizon. She wiped a tear out of her eye, but Trunks didn't see it. He tapped her on the shoulder and sat beside her. She looked at him and smiled politely.
"Hi Trunks. What's up?" asked Tina.
"Nothing much. Hey, only a couple weeks until we're out of school. You excited?" asked Trunks.
"Yeah, it'll be great to forget all this school work and stuff."
"You got anything planned for the summer?"
"No, I'll just hang around my house and play with my cat or something."
"Well Goten and I are planning on going to Hydro Island as soon as the break begins. You wanna come with us?"
"I'd love to, but I'll have to ask my parents first."
"Okay. So...what do you think of ol' Goten?"
"Oh, he's a nice guy. Really funny, too. A little goofy, but funny."
"Yeah, that's my buddy. You think you would consider going out with him one time?"
"Well...I wouldn't mind going out with Goten. It could be fun."
"That would be interesting. Well, I just wanted to come and say hi. Make sure you ask your parents about the theme park."
"I will. Later, Trunks."
Trunks walked back to Goten and sat down. Goten was sweating bullets by the time he got back. He grabbed Trunks by the shoulders and shook him.
"Well, what did she say?! Oh, she laughed, didn't she?! How could you do that to me?!" yelled Goten.
"Goten, shut up! And calm down!" yelled Trunks.
"But...but...but...wha...?"
"Listen...you have a chance. But you have to take your chance soon, you got me? Don't wait too long."
"Yes! Thanks, Trunks! Maybe...after school today."
"Yeah, that's a good idea. Good luck, Goten."
Goten spent the rest of the day thinking about Tina. It was an odd feeling to him, but a good one. He just wanted to talk to her, but at the moment his heart was choking him from his chest to his throat and he just couldn't say a thing. He just waited until the end of the day, and when it finally came, he made his move.
"Alright Goten. Now's your chance. Do your thing," said Trunks.
"Alright, I'm ready," said Goten.
Goten walked through a crowd of people to Tina, who was walking by herself, as usual. After all, none of her friends lived anywhere near her. Goten trailed behind her for a second, then he moved up so that they were walking side by side.
"Shake Ya Ass, But Watch Yourself! Shake Ya Ass, Show Me What You're Workin' Wit!" Goten sang.
"Goten, how'd you know I liked that song?" asked Tina.
"I didn't. I was just making a request," replied Goten.
"You're too much. So what's up with you?"
"Well, I wanted to ask you something. Uh...ah crap..."
"What's wrong?"
"Well...I just wanted to know...if you want to hang out...or something."
"Oh sure. I'll hang with you."
"Great!...I mean...That's cool. So, can I walk you home?"
"Um...I'd rather not go home right now. Can you show me your house?"
"Oh, sure. Anything you want."
Goten held out his arm and Tina took it. They walked arm in arm away from the school and toward Goten's house. Goten looked over his shoulder and saw Trunks grinning. Trunks motioned for him to leave with his arm. Goten chuckled and waved at his friend, then he and Tina kept walking.
Neither of them said a thing the whole way over to Goten's house. Goten realized right there that it was a hell of a walk to his house. He was used to flying, and when he did that, he could make good time. But he wasn't about to let this girl see him fly. That would raise too many questions. She didn't seem to mind all the walking, though. In fact, she seemed to enjoy it. Goten and Tina walked along the long path and eventually made it to the house.
"Well, here's the dump I call home," said Goten.
Goten opened the door and ushered Tina in. Tina was shocked at how clean the home was. Apparently his mother liked to keep a tidy household. Tina noticed a bunch of Gohan's diplomas and awards hanging on a wall, then she saw a shelf that was packed with martial arts awards that Goku and Goten had both earned.
"So, you're a martial artist?" asked Tina.
"Well, I do a little of that stuff. Nothing too serious," Goten blatantly lied.
"You have a beautiful house, Goten. Your mom must clean every day."
"Thanks. And she does. Believe me, she does."
Goten suddenly heard a strange noise upstairs. He had no idea what it was, but it seemed to come from his bedroom. It sounded loud. Goten slowly walked upstairs with a little ki charged in his body.
"What's that?" asked Tina.
"I don't know. Wait here," said Goten.
"No way. If it's burglars, I can't let you go up there by yourself."
"Well...alright. But stay behind me." Goten figured she would be safe, since whoever was up there couldn't be a challenge to him.
Goten continued walking upstairs and stopped in front of his room. He crept up to the door, grabbed the knob, and opened the door really fast. His jaw dropped when he saw who was in his room. Goku was sitting on his bed and playing his Dreamcast.
"Move, you damn hedgehog!" yelled Goku.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" asked Goten.
"Oh I'm sorry, son. Your mother went to the store and I got bored so I started playing your game. Hey, is this two-tailed fox gay or something? He's always hanging around the hedgehog and touching him," said Goku.
"Dad..."
"Oh hello there," said Goku to Tina.
"Hello. My name is Tina Samson. I'm Goten's friend," said Tina.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Goten's father, Goku."
"Yeah, Dad should be training right now, but..." said Goten.
"Well, I'll leave you two alone. You probably want to elope or something," said Goku.
"Dad!" yelled Goten.
Tina just giggled.
Goku walked out of the room and to the kitchen, where he proceeded to raid the fridge.
"Sorry about that. My dad is...odd," said Goten.
"It's no problem. My parents are hard to deal with, too," said Tina.
"Really? Is it a serious problem?"
"Well...no. No, it's alright. They're just parents, you know what I mean? They really do love me though. I know everything they do for me is for my own good."
Goten was a little surprised. Tina's voice seemed to break on the last few words. Goten decided to change the subject. She never mentioned her parents before, so he guessed it was a touchy subject.
"So, you want to listen to some music?" asked Goten.
"Sure. What do you have?" asked Tina, her voice sounding more relaxed now.
"Well," Goten shifted through his CDs. "Mystikal, Lauren Hill, Outkast, Jill Scott, Eminem, and KC and Jojo."
"Oh, I love KC and Jojo!" said Tina.
"Okay, as you wish, my lady." Goten popped the CD in the player. Goten and Tina sat on the bed and listened to a few tracks. Eventually, Tina lay down on the bed. Then she rested her head in Goten's lap. A tear seemed to be forming in her eye.
"Goten," said Tina, "I don't want to leave. I wish I could just stay here."
"I know how you feel. I don't want this song to end," said Goten.
As if on cue, the song "All My Life" by KC and Jojo came on at that moment
"Goten, what if the song does end? We can't stop that from happening," said Tina.
"Our song will never end, Tina. I won't allow that to happen," said Goten.
All my life, I've prayed for someone like you...the song played on.
"You promise me? Our song will never end?" asked Tina.
"Not as long as we keep it going," said Goten.
And I thank God that I...that I finally found you...
"I love this song. It's like it plays for us. You're right, we can keep it going," said Tina.
All my life, I've prayed for someone like you...
"Yes, we have to cherish this song. That's what will make it special. It's our song, and we cherish it," said Goten.
And I hope that you feel the same way, too...
Tina sat up in Goten's arms. Goten leaned over and met her lips with his own. He caressed her back with his hand and held his other hand in her hair, stroking it occasionally. Tina stroked his hair as well, and they sat kissing as their song played on.
Yes, I pray that you do love me too...
"Thank you, Goten, for playing my song," said Tina.
"Our song, Tina," said Goten, "Our song."
All my life, I've prayed for someone like you.
And I thank God that I...that I finally found you.
All my life, I've prayed for someone like you.
And I hope that you feel the same way, too.
Yes I pray that you do love me too.
And the song played on...
END OF CHAPTER ONE