Versus 2: The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret
--Begin the Begin--
Bra couldn't help being a little jealous when Paris came to visit Goten's classroom on Monday morning. He told Bra that he had broken it off with Paris, yet the counselor visited his classroom after class anyway. Like now, for example. There they stood—Bra, Goten, and Paris—an eerie silence filling the room.
Maybe there was something Bra had missed somehow. The entire night of the gala seemed like a dream to her. Goten had told Bra how he felt about her when she should have been the one to confess her feelings to him. She realized now that they wouldn't be where they were if he hadn't done that. And she never would have told him that she had feelings for him if he hadn't told her first. That upset her a little. She never had the nerve to tell him how she felt. He had to give her a reason to do it.
And now, on top of all they had been through, they had to keep their feelings a secret from everyone they knew. So even though she and Goten made so much progress with their feelings for each other, it would be like it never happened. They would still have to pretend they had no special emotions for each other. At least for as long as they were around other people.
Man, this sucked!!! And this smug, witless counselor was standing there waiting for her to leave so that she could be alone with Goten. It made her crazy to even see the two together. But she kept her poker face on.
"Bra, you should probably go to your next class," Goten reminded her. "If you have a question, you can just ask me at our study session after school. Okay?"
Yep. This was slowly going to kill her. But she would try her best to keep her cool in situations like these. They had to be as inconspicuous as possible. It took all of her self-discipline not to turn and place her fist ever so gently across the counselor's face. Instead, she smiled. "Okay."
And so she left that place. Cold of heart and unaware of what might be happening between Red and the love of her life. She would just have to keep images of the two alone together out of her head. Besides, she already knew that Goten shared in her feelings. She had other things to think about now.
After getting to school late this morning, Bra really hadn't had a chance to talk to Pan. So in her next class, she would question Pan to no end about the gala.
When Bra got to her next class, Pan was already seated and was now yawning. History and science back-to-back was murder for poor Pan.
"Well, Bra. What's the deal with you and Randall?" Pan asked. "Why wasn't he in class today?"
Ah, Randall. Her date for the gala. The one she'd basically used and tossed aside. She felt really bad about the way she'd treated the poor guy. He was so nice to her the whole night and she was only using him as a cover-up for her feelings for Goten. It was a real shame too. If she wasn't so in love with Goten, Randall would have been an alright pick.
"He transferred. That's why he wasn't in class. So there is no 'me and Randall'," Bra said plainly.
"Oh. Sorry to hear that. You two made an interesting couple," Pan told her.
Bra wondered what her friend meant by using the word interesting. It wasn't what most people said about couples. The couple was usually described as perfect, cute or hideous. Maybe even odd. But interesting was the description that Pan had picked.
"Speaking of interesting couples, you and my brother went AWOL for a while at the fashion show. What was up with that?" Bra questioned.
"Oh, that. Well, you remember I was telling you about having a little fun at the fashion show? Well, I set up some fireworks all around the perimeter of the garden center. Then when the time was right, I went out to set them off. Lucky me, I had a date that night. So I asked him if he wanted to help me pull off my little prank. Trunks was more than happy to do it."
Pan was blushing. It was easy to see. And Bra wasn't gonna hold back. "Well, what's with the red?" Bra asked, pointing at Pan's face.
Pan swatted Bra's hand away. "It's nothing. You know how I am when it comes to the subject of relationships."
Bra thought for a moment. It was true. If Bra brought up any potential relationship for Pan, she would break into a blushing extravaganza. It just so happened that the only male Bra usually brought up in Pan's presence was her brother. To be a socialite tomboy, she sure was shy when it came to guys.
"So, you're not interested in my brother?" Bra asked.
"Of course not. That's sick. We're like family," Pan told her.
Even though Pan could be considered the Great Deceiver, Bra had learned to trust MOST of the things that Pan said. Then again, she WAS considered the Great Deceiver, so there was no telling whether what she said was truth or fiction.
"Like how you and my uncle are," Pan continued.
It may as well have been a blow to the chest. Unrelenting. Bra felt her heart sink 100 fathoms.
"Well, not exactly like how you and Goten are. You two are weird," Pan added. "It's like he's the only person in the world who has some kind of control over you. And that's the difference between you and me. NOBODY controls me. I'm a wild-child." That stupid grin was inherited right from the Son side.
Bra wanted to wipe that idiotic smile right off her face. How dare she suggest that someone had control over her? She was Bra. She was of noble blood. She was the daughter of the great Prince Vegeta. There was no one in existence that could control her....
"What makes you think Goten has control over me?" Bra questioned. She probably should have let it be.
"Well, it's just the way you are around him. You act differently. Like at the fashion show when I sent him in to find out what was wrong with you. Besides, I know you've got feelings for him," Pan explained.
Bra's face reddened, but her expression remained the same. She hoped that Pan had somehow over the past couple of seconds gone color-blind.
Pan smiled. "I knew it. I've known it all along. And he's weird with you too. Don't be fooled. Just because the males in my family are dunces doesn't mean I can't see what's right in front of me."
Oh, crap! Was Pan really gonna put all this together so soon after the two had made their confessions?
Bra started laughing. "Pan, you're so silly!" What could she say to make this girl think that she was wrong about the whole situation? "Goten and I may as well be brother and sister. And I don't know what twisted universe you're living in, but I'd never have those kinds of feelings for Trunks." All truths. She hadn't lied once. Now, the question was: Would Pan pick up her meaning? Or would she take to statement at face value?
"Gross, Bra. You're the sickest person I know," Pan said, turning up her nose.
Just then class began and Bra noticed that what Pan had said was a statement that could have been taken either way. But Pan seemed to have let the matter go. So the secret she and Goten shared was still safe...for the time being.
--End Begin the Begin--
--Welcome to the introduction of the sequel to Versus. I know it's been a while, but like I said, I was doing some very necessary computer changes (not to mention finals are here). I've also come across some very irritating problems with my equipment, so there's still gonna be some time between these episodes. I'll try to work on this story as often as I can. So please let me know what you think. If you hated it, say so. If you think it could use some work, tell me. If you want me to stop writing altogether because I suck at it, say that too. I don't mind.
--I'm also gonna be working on Versus some more because someone was kind enough to tell me that I should think about making some more changes. So I'll let you know when that's done.
--Thank you for reading this episode of The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret. Hope you enjoyed it.
--Oh, yeah. I should probably include a disclaimer for at least this first episode....
--Begin the Begin--
Bra couldn't help being a little jealous when Paris came to visit Goten's classroom on Monday morning. He told Bra that he had broken it off with Paris, yet the counselor visited his classroom after class anyway. Like now, for example. There they stood—Bra, Goten, and Paris—an eerie silence filling the room.
Maybe there was something Bra had missed somehow. The entire night of the gala seemed like a dream to her. Goten had told Bra how he felt about her when she should have been the one to confess her feelings to him. She realized now that they wouldn't be where they were if he hadn't done that. And she never would have told him that she had feelings for him if he hadn't told her first. That upset her a little. She never had the nerve to tell him how she felt. He had to give her a reason to do it.
And now, on top of all they had been through, they had to keep their feelings a secret from everyone they knew. So even though she and Goten made so much progress with their feelings for each other, it would be like it never happened. They would still have to pretend they had no special emotions for each other. At least for as long as they were around other people.
Man, this sucked!!! And this smug, witless counselor was standing there waiting for her to leave so that she could be alone with Goten. It made her crazy to even see the two together. But she kept her poker face on.
"Bra, you should probably go to your next class," Goten reminded her. "If you have a question, you can just ask me at our study session after school. Okay?"
Yep. This was slowly going to kill her. But she would try her best to keep her cool in situations like these. They had to be as inconspicuous as possible. It took all of her self-discipline not to turn and place her fist ever so gently across the counselor's face. Instead, she smiled. "Okay."
And so she left that place. Cold of heart and unaware of what might be happening between Red and the love of her life. She would just have to keep images of the two alone together out of her head. Besides, she already knew that Goten shared in her feelings. She had other things to think about now.
After getting to school late this morning, Bra really hadn't had a chance to talk to Pan. So in her next class, she would question Pan to no end about the gala.
When Bra got to her next class, Pan was already seated and was now yawning. History and science back-to-back was murder for poor Pan.
"Well, Bra. What's the deal with you and Randall?" Pan asked. "Why wasn't he in class today?"
Ah, Randall. Her date for the gala. The one she'd basically used and tossed aside. She felt really bad about the way she'd treated the poor guy. He was so nice to her the whole night and she was only using him as a cover-up for her feelings for Goten. It was a real shame too. If she wasn't so in love with Goten, Randall would have been an alright pick.
"He transferred. That's why he wasn't in class. So there is no 'me and Randall'," Bra said plainly.
"Oh. Sorry to hear that. You two made an interesting couple," Pan told her.
Bra wondered what her friend meant by using the word interesting. It wasn't what most people said about couples. The couple was usually described as perfect, cute or hideous. Maybe even odd. But interesting was the description that Pan had picked.
"Speaking of interesting couples, you and my brother went AWOL for a while at the fashion show. What was up with that?" Bra questioned.
"Oh, that. Well, you remember I was telling you about having a little fun at the fashion show? Well, I set up some fireworks all around the perimeter of the garden center. Then when the time was right, I went out to set them off. Lucky me, I had a date that night. So I asked him if he wanted to help me pull off my little prank. Trunks was more than happy to do it."
Pan was blushing. It was easy to see. And Bra wasn't gonna hold back. "Well, what's with the red?" Bra asked, pointing at Pan's face.
Pan swatted Bra's hand away. "It's nothing. You know how I am when it comes to the subject of relationships."
Bra thought for a moment. It was true. If Bra brought up any potential relationship for Pan, she would break into a blushing extravaganza. It just so happened that the only male Bra usually brought up in Pan's presence was her brother. To be a socialite tomboy, she sure was shy when it came to guys.
"So, you're not interested in my brother?" Bra asked.
"Of course not. That's sick. We're like family," Pan told her.
Even though Pan could be considered the Great Deceiver, Bra had learned to trust MOST of the things that Pan said. Then again, she WAS considered the Great Deceiver, so there was no telling whether what she said was truth or fiction.
"Like how you and my uncle are," Pan continued.
It may as well have been a blow to the chest. Unrelenting. Bra felt her heart sink 100 fathoms.
"Well, not exactly like how you and Goten are. You two are weird," Pan added. "It's like he's the only person in the world who has some kind of control over you. And that's the difference between you and me. NOBODY controls me. I'm a wild-child." That stupid grin was inherited right from the Son side.
Bra wanted to wipe that idiotic smile right off her face. How dare she suggest that someone had control over her? She was Bra. She was of noble blood. She was the daughter of the great Prince Vegeta. There was no one in existence that could control her....
"What makes you think Goten has control over me?" Bra questioned. She probably should have let it be.
"Well, it's just the way you are around him. You act differently. Like at the fashion show when I sent him in to find out what was wrong with you. Besides, I know you've got feelings for him," Pan explained.
Bra's face reddened, but her expression remained the same. She hoped that Pan had somehow over the past couple of seconds gone color-blind.
Pan smiled. "I knew it. I've known it all along. And he's weird with you too. Don't be fooled. Just because the males in my family are dunces doesn't mean I can't see what's right in front of me."
Oh, crap! Was Pan really gonna put all this together so soon after the two had made their confessions?
Bra started laughing. "Pan, you're so silly!" What could she say to make this girl think that she was wrong about the whole situation? "Goten and I may as well be brother and sister. And I don't know what twisted universe you're living in, but I'd never have those kinds of feelings for Trunks." All truths. She hadn't lied once. Now, the question was: Would Pan pick up her meaning? Or would she take to statement at face value?
"Gross, Bra. You're the sickest person I know," Pan said, turning up her nose.
Just then class began and Bra noticed that what Pan had said was a statement that could have been taken either way. But Pan seemed to have let the matter go. So the secret she and Goten shared was still safe...for the time being.
--End Begin the Begin--
--Welcome to the introduction of the sequel to Versus. I know it's been a while, but like I said, I was doing some very necessary computer changes (not to mention finals are here). I've also come across some very irritating problems with my equipment, so there's still gonna be some time between these episodes. I'll try to work on this story as often as I can. So please let me know what you think. If you hated it, say so. If you think it could use some work, tell me. If you want me to stop writing altogether because I suck at it, say that too. I don't mind.
--I'm also gonna be working on Versus some more because someone was kind enough to tell me that I should think about making some more changes. So I'll let you know when that's done.
--Thank you for reading this episode of The Lost Art of Keeping a Secret. Hope you enjoyed it.
--Oh, yeah. I should probably include a disclaimer for at least this first episode....
