NOTE: Bura and Pan are about Marron's age (18). The boys are a bit older.

THE NEW YEARS DEBACLE

PROLOGUE

"My New Years Resolution. . .

I will stop all excessive drinking.

2. I will tell Mom that it was me who left that stain on her favourite red dress.

3. I will become an excellent student. . . I hope. . . after all, I'm starting freshman year at college next year.

4. I will help out more around the house.

5. I will. . ."

She thought for a moment, baby blue eyes cast down at the white pad of paper before her. She chewed thoughtfully on the end of the pencil before sighing and replacing the tip on the paper to write, ". . .think of something more interesting for my new years resolution."

This had always been a personal tradition for Marron. She always wrote a resolution for herself, it helped put any problems in perspective and it actually made her look forward to the year ahead. One year, she and her friend Goten had written resolutions for each other, which turned out to be so completely outrageous that not one of the items on the list ever got ticked off. They ranged from "Marron will take her top off for me as soon as possible" to "Goten will eat nothing but shaving-cream for the entire up- coming year."

But right now, she was completely stumped. She didn't want to write herself a funny and unobtainable resolution this year; it had to be a serious one. She was going to be a college girl. She needed to start being serious about her life and where it was going. This year needed to be planned carefully to ensure it be stress-free.

Then Marron remembered the last New Year's resolution she'd written. She'd gotten partway through it when she'd given up on ever completing the list. She could barely remember what she'd written in the first place. Maybe she could find some inspiration for this resolution from her old one.

Marron jumped away from her perch on the windowsill of her second floor bedroom at the Kame House and dashed over to the bottom drawer of her chest of drawers. This particular drawer was reserved for all the little bits and pieces that Marron collected throughout her life. There were some programmes from school plays she'd been in, some baseball cards, a birth certificate, and a menu from the restaurant she'd gone on her first date to. She rummaged through all this until a familiar pink diary popped into view. She smiled as she flipped through until she found what she was looking for.

Marron's eyes bulged. Now she remembered. . . There had been only one thing on her old resolution left to do but she had given up. She remembered thinking that it was unobtainable and had given up.

It read: "I will sleep with some one by the end of the year."

Marron stared at that single line for a while. She'd only written it because she didn't want to go to college as a virgin. She still hadn't found anyone worth losing her virginity to.

Marron frowned. She'd been so close to completing the list. . . why hadn't she just plucked up the nerve and done it? Marron sighed, "I never finish anything I start." Then Marron blinked and thought about what she'd just said.

'If I never finish anything I start, how can I hope to be a good college student?' She wondered. "That's it!" She cried out of frustration.

That was the old Marron, the careful, wistful one who never finished what she started. The new Marron was an excellent college student who was powerful, intelligent and took what she wanted. And the new Marron always finished what she started. 'If the new Marron wanted to lose her virginity, then that's what the new Marron would do,' Marron resolved mentally. Now if only she had a boyfriend. . .

Then another thought struck her. Tomorrow was New Years Eve. She only had until midnight tomorrow to lose her virginity. Marron remembered her mother saying that the family was going to the Briefs' New Years Party at Capsule Corp. tomorrow evening. . . surely there would be heaps of attractive, smart science-type lab boys for her to get close to. . .

Meanwhile, over the ocean, on a busy street in West City. . .

"Mmm. . . I love Chinese food. . ." Goten mumbled vaguely through a mouthful of noodles, all but spraying it all over the table.

His best friend, sitting across from him in the café, eyed him. "Goten, It's called 'dignity'. Look it up," Trunks said before pick up his chopsticks. It never seemed to bother Goten that people would stare at them for the large amounts of food they consumed when they were eating in public. Trunks on the other hand could feel a little self-conscious.

Both of the young men had virtually eaten everything that was edible in the café by now. The manager was in one of the backrooms experience a severe breakdown. Customers and kitchen staff alike were beginning to wonder if perhaps the two boys were visiting from a local circus, it was that surprising.

"So, things are getting pretty hot and heavy between you and Pan?" Goten asked after he'd finally stopped eating. Trunks paused to see if he could detect any hidden animosity in Goten's tone. He knew Goten was very protective of his only niece.

"Guess so," He responded carefully.

"You bringing her to your folk's New Years party tomorrow?" Goten continued.

"We were thinking about it. How about you and my sis'?" Trunks countered.

Goten leaned back in his chair with an innocent grin. "Aw, you know Bura. She's a traditional sort of girl. She'd drag me there kicking and screaming if she had to."

Trunks nodded absently as he cracked open his fortune cookie. Removing the paper, he read aloud: "Peril awaits you and serenity is your reward." Trunks tossed it away without a second thought. Goten watched.

"You don't believe in fortunes?" Goten asked.

"Do I look ten years old to you?" Trunks asked incredulously. "No one in their right mind believes that crap."

Goten construed this before reaching for his own fortune cookie. He ignored the remnants of the cookie as he removed the paper to read aloud. "Your girlfriend will end up in bed with an attractive blond." Trunks and Goten paused before Trunks came right out and laughed. Goten on the other hand was completely stunned.

"That's awfully specific, don't you think?" Trunks laughed. "I've never heard a fortune like that before!"

Goten didn't say anything, he just kept reading that single line over and over. "Do. . . do you think it's for real? Do you really think Bura would. . . cheat on me?"

Trunks just laughed. "Of course not Goten! I already told you, those fortunes cookies are bogus. Someone with way too much time on their hands has made it up! I really don't think you should feel threatened by your desert."

"But Trunks, what if. . ."

"Speaking of feeling threatened, I've got to go." Trunks said as he stood and shrugged on his jacket. "Pan wants me to sleep over at her place tonight so I can get to know her olds. Your brother has been coming down on me pretty hard lately."

Goten finally recovered and smiled. "He'll loosen up eventually."

Trunks nodded. "I hope so. I'll see you at the party tomorrow."

Goten waved goodbye before Trunks left the café and disappeared down an alleyway where he could take to the air without startling so many people. Goten sat staring at the single line on the small stretch of paper for a moment longer before stuffing it into his pocket and pulling his jacket on. It was only then, as he stood to leave, that he realised he'd been left with the check, again. 'Oh man, Trunks owes me one for this,' he thought seeing how large it was.

After paying the hefty bill, Goten left the café and headed for an alleyway himself so he could take off unnoticed as he headed for Capsule Corp.

"No! That sign needs to go over the staircase!" Bulma directed the milling workers around her living room. "And leave the fireworks by the backdoor, Carl. Louise, have you heard from the caterers. . .?"

This was the chaotic scene that Goten happened upon as he arrived out of the freezing weather. "Make yourself useful, son, or beat it." A worker growled as he thrust a box of decorations into Goten's arms. In a daze, Goten stumbled after the workers and dumped the box on a pile with the others. Spotting Bulma in amongst the scurrying workers, Goten picked his way over to her.

"Hey, Mrs. Briefs! Is Bura around? I need to talk to her about something. . ." Goten started.

". . .Just leave them there please. . . Uh, I think she's in her room. Go right on up, Goten." She said absently, stress evident on her pale features. Goten vacated the area as fast as he could before someone caught him again and forced him to hook up the lights or something for tomorrow's party.

Hiking the stairs to the second level of Capsule Corp.'s living quarters, Goten made his way through the familiar labyrinth to Bura's room. He knocked politely on her door and entered.

"Bura?" He asked softly. The room was empty. The stereo was playing quietly and an assortment of magazines and underwear was strewn across the floor, but there was no Bura in sight. "Bura?" He asked again.

A pair of legs encircled his waist from behind and two hands effectively covered his eyes within seconds. "Guess who." Bura purred in his ear, pressing her breasts into his back.

Goten chuckled as he caught his balance. "Mmm. . . Satan?"

Bura detached herself from him and turned him to face her. "How did you know?" She smirked before embracing him and giving him a light kiss. "Come on! There's someone I want you to meet!" She giggled as she grabbed his hand and bounced away.

Talking him a few rooms down from her bedroom door, Bura stopped and knocked on a door marked 'Guest Suite'. "Come in," an accented male voice answered immediately. Bura lead Goten in and smiled upon seeing the room's occupant. "Sven, I'd like you to meet someone. This is my boyfriend, Goten."

Goten found himself staring into the handsome face of a young man about his age with a shock of blond hair and two crystal blue eyes. The man was so well built and ruggedly attractive that Goten was suddenly a little worried to have this man staying in the same house with his girlfriend. Sven rose from the bed to shake Goten's hand.

"Goten, this is Sven Lagerkvist from Stockholm in Sweden," She said with a little difficulty. "He's staying here over the Christmas break."

"Hi," Goten mumbled numbly.

"I hear so much about you Goten," Sven smiled. "Your girlfriend speaks very highly of you."

"Sven has been my 'Pen Pal' since I was ten! And then one day, eight years later, surprise! He turned up on our doorstep a few days ago! He came all the way from Sweden for a visit! Isn't that sweet of him?" Bura was being a lot more cheery that usual. She had obviously gotten very attached to Sven in the past few days.

"The sweetest," Goten forced a smile. Bura didn't seem to notice his unease at all.

"Wow, it's getting really cold outside." Bura commented as she glanced out the window. "You boys want some hot chocolate?"

"Sure. I'll give you a hand." Sven said gentlemanly. He followed her out, perfect chin-length blond hair flowing behind him. Goten was about to follow when he remembered something. Fishing the thin line of paper out of his jacket pocket, he re-read his fortune, 'Your girlfriend will end up in bed with an attractive blond.'

"Uh-oh."