Author's Note: Keep reading and reviewing! You guys have been incredible!

Chapter 2: Double Dog Dare Me

Cause I can belch the alphabet, Just double dog dare me.

I sighed deeply squeezing my body pillow tightly. I blinked at my black pillow and nuzzled my face in closer. "Mmm…" I pulled my knees in closer to my chest. Why was my room so cold? I reached for the blankets behind me trying to find them to pull them up higher. I aimlessly touched the plush sheet underneath me looking for them. I gave up completely exhausted. I loosened my grip on the body pillow and let my hands fall to the bottom of it. My hands felt their way to the bottom and my body pillow interlocked fingers with me. It groaned and stirred beneath my grip and wrapped its arms around me. It felt so amazing to have my pillow hold me. I shifted slightly trying to get more comfortable.

"Stop moving…" It grumbled. Stop moving?

I shot up and let the arms fall to the floor. The body beside me flipped over mumbling quietly. I looked down and took great relief that my clothes and its clothes were still on. I peered over at the body's face noting its spiky black hair. Gohan…He flipped over on his back exposing his face. His mouth was slightly open and he was snoring softly. I looked around at all the trees and rose bushes surrounding us. Rose bushes.I looked down to find the corner of our blanket covered with an open poetry book and a few scattered papers with our notes on them. I closed my eyes tightly trying to remember last nights events.

There was the rose bush and thorn, and I knew we stayed up late discussing the poem... I looked at the flickering lantern beside the sheet. We must've fallen asleep. I heard a muffled phone ring and felt it vibrate. I looked over at Gohan as he reached into his pant pocket and the ringing ceased.

"Hello…" He answered in a gruff voice that I couldn't help but find extremely… I shook my head. Gross.

"What?" He snapped me out of my thoughts. "It's already ten! Ah, geeze, I'm sorry Krillin. Yeah, I'll be right over as soon as I can." He paused. His back was turned to me and I couldn't see the expression on his face. "What? You called my house?" Another pause. "My mom said what?No, no, no Krillin!" His voice gained more tone. "I wasn't sleeping with a girl. No. You don't understand. Stop saying that!" He urged. He started turning around. "I was working on a project with a girl and she-" His eyes met mine. He stared at me slightly shocked. He jumped slightly to the voice on the other line. "-No, well we fell asleep and-" Gohan ran a hand through his messy hair. "Shut up Krillin. Wha-?" A pause. "Yeah, if you want. She'll be gone." Pause. "Alright see you then." He shut his phone and looked pleadingly at me.

"I'm sorry. I didn't know we fell asleep. I thought you were Goten." He rubbed the back of his neck and messy bed head. His clothes were twisted and his hair lay slightly flat on one side. "Goten kicks a lot in his sleep and he talks too. He has nightmares sometimes. I just thought…" His voice trailed. I felt myself go red. I wanted to protest that I didn't kick in my sleep, I didn't talk; I wanted him to know that I was perfectly normal, but I couldn't find my voice. "Videl, are you okay?"

I stood up and brushed myself off. "Yes I am." I could hear my voice crack slightly. I hadn't spoken yet since I had been up. I cleared my throat. "Why wouldn't I be okay? Who was that on the phone?"

"Did you sleep well?" He ignored my last statement.

"I slept fine thanks." I stated absentmindedly picking up my things. "I didn't mean to fall asleep… I was just tired from training." I stood straight. "You wouldn't understand."

"No, I guess I wouldn't." He replied cheerily. I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he being sarcastic? Was he trying to be a smart ass?

"You're a morning person." I said bluntly putting my books into my book bag. "That's irritating." I grumbled heaving my book bag up.

"Life's too short to be irritable and grumpy all the time." He grunted standing to his feet.

"Okay, Gandhi." I groaned stretching.

"Although I must say," He continued folding up the blanket we had been sleeping on. "You make it quite hard to neverbe irritated with people." He casually walked away and hung the sheet on a clothes line.

"Did you just say something mean to me?" I followed him into his house. "Do you have a problem with me, Gohan?" I crossed my arms as he fumbled with loose papers on a messy coffee table.

"You're fighting a lost cause if you're trying to get everyone to like you, Videl." He found what he was searching for. He picked up his gasses and straightened them over his eyes. I blinked at him. He was such a nerd.

"I should go…I'll see you later." I made my way to the door.

"Right." Gohan thumbed through some papers and peered up at me over his glasses. "Smart move leaving before my mom gets back from the store. She'd harass you again." He looked back down at his papers. "And Goten will want to play as soon as he gets up. I'd get out while you can. I'll see you Monday then?"

I inwardly groaned. "Right…Monday."

/

"Okay, so what's the big deal Videl?"

"The big deal Erasa is that the way he was talking to this guy was suspicious!" I protested. "They were meeting up later and he said something like, 'She'll be gone by then' and I think they were talking about me!"

"So what if they were talking about you?" Erasa flashed the 'free everything' pass my father gave us for Satan's Spectacular Land. She smiled and began to walk away with her snack. "Tell me again why you were at Gohan's this morning. I thought you were working on the project yesterday." She narrowed her eyes suspiciously.

"That doesn't matter!" I argued. "What matters is that he's hiding something Erasa! And I have to know what it is!"

"Ugh Videl." She stopped and took a bite of her cotton candy. "Listen, we're at SSL and we're hanging out with Mark and Sharpner, okay? And we're going to have a greattime withoutdoing something crazy okay, V?" She waved the pink sugary puff in my face.

"But-"

"Stop!" Erasa glared at me. "I know you like Mark and this is your chance with him. So no arguing."

I grunted.

"Good." She took a satisfied bite of her cotton candy.

"Videl come on! Come, ride this rollercoaster! I heard it's crazy!" Sharpner called to me. We jogged towards him in line. "Hey Erasa, let me have a bite." She held it out to him and he tore a piece off.

After riding the rollercoaster three times in a row using our 'Satan passes' we nauseously got off and headed towards the carnival section.

I groaned clutching my stomach walking reluctantly to the carnival games. "Wait!" Shouted Erasa. "Let's ride the Ferris Wheel instead. Just one more ride before we leave." She insisted grabbing my arm.

I groaned again. My mind began racing with excuses to skip the awful Ferris Wheel ride. "That's a great idea." Sharpner agreed as they trotted down to get some more cotton candy. "Are you two coming?" Sharpner put an arm through Erasa's. I smiled at the look of shock on her face. She broke out into a grin, looked up at him and rested her head on his bare shoulder. He was always in a tank top showing off those ridiculous muscles of his.

"Na, you two go on ahead." I jumped at the sound of Mark's voice. "I think me and Videl are still pretty wiped from that roller coaster. We'll meet you down at the pier okay?"

"Sure thing. Call or text us if your plans change." Sharpner stated absentmindedly tugging on Erasa. She flashed me a thumbs up and clutched onto his arm.

"Let's go V." I smiled. V. I never really liked that nickname, but I could get used to it.I grinned as we headed towards the exit and to the boardwalk. We walked in silence to the exits pushing through the crowd. We slowed our pace once we came to the beginning of the pier. "How's the training for the tournament going?" He pulled his jacket closer to him and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

I shrugged rubbing my arms suddenly aware of the cold night air. "It's going. How about you? Two more years… are you nervous?"

"I'm not too worried." He put his hands behind his head. "I'm pretty sure I'll do great. How's the poetry project going with that nerd Gohan?" He nudged me and chuckled haughtily.

"It's not that bad…" I reasoned. My eyes lingered longingly at the shore. It'd been so long since I'd been to the beach. I faced back towards the end of the pier. The long wooden path was empty except for a few straggling couples cuddling up together avoiding the cold air. I turned my gaze back to the sea.

"You like the beach?" I looked over at Mark alarmed at how close we were. He wasn't much taller than me maybe only by an inch or two. His voice seemed misplaced in the still air.

"Yeah, I do. A lot…" I smiled remembering beach days with my mother. I looked into Mark's eyes opening my mouth to tell them to him and suddenly I didn't want to. I wanted to keep them to myself. I wanted to share them with someone who deserved him. I turned my face back towards our destination that was getting closer and closer.

"I don't really like the beach." He didn't look at me when he spoke. His eyes were focused on the end of the pier also. "The sand in your feet…bleh. I hate it." I felt slightly disappointed but didn't let it show. I finally reached my hand out and touched the wooden fence at the end. "You know, it's beautiful out here, Videl."

He placed a hand on the fence and faced me. I looked down at the wooden planks. "Yeah…" I felt the grin on my face. "It is…" My voice seemed distant.

"Look at me Videl." Mark demanded. I obediently locked eyes with him. He put a firm hand on the small of my back and pulled me closer. A million thoughts ran through my mind, but I couldn't keep them straight. I felt my chest swell. The gap between us was closing…This was it. I wanted to kiss Mark… I did. "Videl…" He mumbled.

"Videl stop!" I jumped back from Mark. My eyes darted around for the source of the interruption to the perfect night… I froze. My gaze slowly turned upward to the Great Saiyaman."Ahh…I mean…there's trouble!"

"Trouble? If there was trouble the chief would have warned me. Besides, I really don't want to go anywhere with you. Don't think I've forgotten about my copter Saiyaman." I glared up at him. "What's the trouble-"

"Miss Videl…cccssczh…Miss Videl." I tapped my watch looking down at it. "There's trouble at the bank a few miles from the city. Get down here as fast as you can please."

"I'll be there chief." I shut my watch and threw my capsule down emitting my copter. Saiyaman was still looking down his helmet facing Mark. I looked over at Mark who was coming towards me.

"You'll do fine Videl. Be safe and stuff, okay?" He looked slightly agitated. "Call me later?"

I nodded still slightly breathless from our almost kiss. "Okay..." I lingered slightly.

"Okay, Miss Videl… It's time to go!" Saiyaman called irritably.

"Kami, what is your problem tonight?"

"Problem?" He growled. "My ah…my problem is that you're just taking your time to help your police force friends. They could be in danger."

"Then shut up and let's go!" I shouted up at him. Mark gave me a soft punch on the shoulder and I took off.

/

"I'm not sure how it happened." The chief fiddled with his mustache. I stared past the caution tape across the bank of Hercule. Saiyaman was chatting animatedly with a few employees and some civilians. "There was no sign of struggle, no injuries, nothing broken…" He took a puff of his pipe and sighed deeply. I noticed the gray in his hair that seemed to be accumulating over the years.

Saiyaman came jogging towards us. "Well, I talked to several of the people and they all told the same story. The bank was closing in an hour and around ten till closing the lights went off. They all screamed and started talking so any noise couldn't really be heard. They were only off for around five minutes' tops when it came back on. All the money is accounted for. The only thing that's missing is a single carat diamond. It was supposed to be mounted in an antique ring for…ahh…" He fidgeted slightly. "Well…ahhh…I can't really um…remember… mm they didn't say, but I'm going to find out don't worry." I looked at him skeptically. I felt like he was hiding something. But I guess in retrospect he was always hiding something.

"Well," The chief spoke up watching his men searching the bank. "There's not much you guys can do tonight. So, why don't you guys go and get some rest." He ran his hands through his graying hair. He sighed deeply again. "We'll notify you if we hear anything." Saiyaman tilted his head slightly and I suddenly felt myself blush. It was so…well…cute. I inwardly chuckled. Where had I seen that before? I shook my head trying to clear my head.

"Will do chief." Saiyaman replied. He seemed hesitant at first. Then he abruptly turned his heel and walked away.

/

I stretched in my cushiony seat at the library. We were finishing the last of our Robert Frost poem. I looked up at the high plain ceiling. What was Mark doing right now? I glanced down at Gohan. Probably having more fun than me. Gohan stretched and continued writing our paper about the poem. I stared back up at the ceiling and closed my eyes. How dare Saiyaman interrupt what could have been the beginning of me and Mark. I felt my face scowl. I clenched my fist. He had it in for me, but why? Was I too close to discovering who he was?

"What's on your mind, Videl?" I snapped out of my thoughts and looked down at Gohan. He continued typing on his laptop and his glasses were slightly askew.

"What are you talking about?" I asked quietly coming eye level with him.

"Something's obviously bothering you." I rose an eye brow skeptically at him. "The tension your giving off is radiating." I felt my face grow hot. "I was just asking Videl no need to get angry." How did he know all this if he wasn't even looking at me?

"Don't think just because we're working on this project together that it means we're friends."

"Did I ask to be your friend?" I blinked at him. "If you don't want to tell me that's fine." He removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes tiredly. "I'm just telling you instead of fuming at me it might be easier to talk to me." He blinked a few times and put them back on. He carefully shut the book beside him rubbed his hands together, placed the laptop on the table and finally turned to face me.

I inwardly debated whether or not I could talk to him about it. I mean, what were the odds in him telling Erasa and Sharpner what happened. I didn't know where to begin. "I hate Saiyaman."

I expected Gohan to freak out and tell me all the reasons why he's so great and noble and blah blah because he was Saiyaman, but when he didn't… "Has he harmed you or anything?"

I looked down disappointingly. "Well no…" I paused. "But he did ruin something for me."

"And that was…"

"Well you know Mark Dryer right?" I couldn't help myself. The words started spilling themselves out of my mouth. "Well we were kind of on this date thing and he was going to kiss me when Saiyamanshowed up and-,"

"You were going to kiss him!" Gohan shouted. Everyone in the library looked our way. I put a hand over his mouth to quiet him. He pried away my fingers and I was surprised at his tight grip. His glasses had fallen to the floor. "Why would you kiss him?" He whispered harshly scooping up his glasses and placing them back on the table.

"I don't know." My voice felt quiet. "Because I like him." He stared at me. "Let's talk about something else." I demanded. He scrunched his nose up at me and scowled. I scowled back. He broke my glare by reaching into his messenger bag and pulling out a bright green apple.

I watched him. "I always bring a green apple you know." He stated. "They're my favorite fruit besides strawberries, but they're too messy to pack into a lunch."

I chuckled at how easily he dropped our previous…discussion. "Strawberries are my favorite fruit too." I could see his cheesy smile as he turned back to his book.

I guess in a weird way we were friends.

/

"I hated those presentations." Erasa squealed as we sat down for lunch. "That was the worst. Sharpie we were awful." She buried her face in her hands.

"Relax it was just English." Mark tried to encourage her.

"I know!" She wailed. "But Gohan and Videl did such a great project. I couldn't believe it."

"That's because Gohan is a nerd Erasa." Sharpner rolled his eyes. "I don't see why you even talk to him. He'll ruin your social status." Erasa huffed and hopped to her feet.

"Because he's not an ass like you Sharpner." She took her lunch and walked over to Gohan who was sitting lazily under a tree reading a book. He looked up at her and a broad smile found its way across his face. He patted the grass beside him and she sat down…close. I cringed.

She giggled lightly and playfully hit his shoulder. I couldn't help but notice that despite the heat he was always in long sleeves.

"God she's so stubborn." He glared in their direction. "Hey Videl." I reluctantly met Sharpner's eyes. "I bet you I could toss an orange from here to that waste basket over there." He pointed towards the one a few feet from Gohan and Erasa. "And I bet you, you can't." He challenged. I knew he was just trying to catch their attention.

I raised an eyebrow. "I'll take that bet. Let's go." He tossed the orange and it banked off the opposite end of the inside falling in. Sharpner and Mark high-fived and I rolled my eyes.

"Your turn." Sharpner challenged as Mark reached into his lunch and pulled out another orange.

I got into position and aimed towards the trashcan. "Gohan!" Erasa squealed flirtatiously. I faltered slightly with my position and hit the edge of the trashcan.

"You missed!" Sharpner shouted. He laughed loudly. "You know what that means!"

I rolled my eyes. "What's it mean?" I sighed reluctantly.

"I double dog dare you…" He paused and a smirk appeared across his face as he glanced over at Erasa. "…to kiss me."

I blinked at him. Mark laughed. "Oooh…" He teased.

"Sharpner that's so stupid. I don't want to kiss you." I crossed my arms.

"But you lost a bet Videl Satan so you have to." I bit my lip and looked towards Erasa and Gohan whose eyes were in our direction. Erasa turned away and began talking to Gohan, but his eyes never left us.

"Just do it, Videl." I was slightly annoyed that Mark would let this bet happen. If he really liked me, then he wouldn't want me kiss Sharpner right? Sharpner moved in slightly.

"You know you want to." He mumbled. "Just do it Videl or I'll tell everyone what a wuss you are." I leaned in slightly. I glanced back at Gohan trying to read his face.

"Let's get this over with." I felt his warm breath close to mine.

"Ouch." I opened my eyes just in time to see Sharpner rubbing the side of his head. "What was that?" He reached down and held up a shiny green apple. I looked over to where Gohan was sitting, but he wasn't there. Erasa was heading towards us.

"God Sharpie you're so gross." She said disgustedly.

"Did you throw this at me?" He thrust the apple towards her face.

"What apple? I didn't even see someone throw an apple at you." She scoffed. "I was standing like a foot away when I heard you harassing poor Videl."

"Was it Gohan?" He growled looking around for him.

"No he left a little while ago. I was talking to Dean." She put her hands on her hips. "Come on Videl. Let's go."

We pushed our way through the hall as the class bell rang. As we took our seats my eyes found Gohan who was talking to another student. He looked up and met my gaze smiling mischievously. I could have sworn I saw his eyes flash teal. I blinked and shook my head but when I saw him again he was already making his way to his seat by Erasa.

Mark came in and sat beside me. "Sorry about Sharpner. He was just having fun that's all. I should have stopped him." He apologized. I studied Mark a second.

"It's okay." I looked over at Gohan who was pulling books out of his messenger bag. "Sharpner got what he deserved." Mark nudged my shoulder playfully and I smiled in return. He went to put his arm around me and nonchalantly pulled away.

A/N: Thanks you guys! I'm hoping you love this!