Stay a while. Chapter 002. Always the quiet one.

Disclaimer: Do not own DBZ. ):

They arrived at Capsule Corporations too early for Gohan's liking. He could feel Vegeta's energy spiking from the Gravitational Room as explosions sounded in the distance. The students whispered to themselves in curiosity, each trying to figure out what was possibly making all that noise.

Before anyone could say anything more, a blue-haired woman stepped out of the main dome. Gohan could barely suppress a snicker as he saw her. She was dressed in a one-piece jumper with the CC logo smeared with grease. Her hair was pulled back in a messy bun. "Welcome to Capsule Corps. My name is Bulma and I'm so excited to have you all here."

The class stared at her with mouths agape. This was Bulma Briefs? Her general description certainly fit well enough. They weren't sure what they were expecting, but it certainly wasn't seeing the genius looking like she just crawled out from under a hovercraft. "Miss Briefs, I'm Jyou Yamamoto, the science teacher at Orange Star High. On behalf of the Director, we would like to thank you for giving our students such an opportunity." The white haired old man said with a low bow.

Bulma chuckled as she placed a hand over her mouth. "It's not a big deal. Life has been so boring lately. I thought this would be fun." Her smile widened as she saw a familiar face in the crowd. He didn't look very happy about that little revelation. Oops, she thought as she composed herself and openly looked over the students. "Now, if you'll all follow me, I'll show you the dorms so you can change. You guys are here to learn and you won't be able to do that in those." The class didn't need to be told twice as they hurried off after her.

"You guys are actually the first to enter this dome," she explained as she led them to the next building. "This is the first time we're having a program like this so I hope you guys understand if things don't quite pan out as planned. You're kind of my guinea pigs." The class was in awe at the size of it. "This is the lounge or common area. Down that hall is the gym and the other hall is the pool. Upstairs are all your rooms."

A robot wheeled into the room, carrying a box. Each student silently accepted a card from the robot, turning to Bulma for an explanation. "Those are your access cards. Your room number is printed on it. Don't lose these. The cards give you access to this area as well as the lab." She demonstrated by sliding the card through the scanner next to the door. "There will be areas that you won't be able to enter without supervision, like for the first week when we'll be touring the facilities. I don't think I need to tell you that whatever you see here will be for you only. We've got our reasons for keeping our secrets as we do. Now, any questions?" Hands immediately shot into the air.

"What are we doing for the month?"

"What were all those explosions earlier?"

"How big is the gym?"

"Who does your hair and where do you buy your dresses for those parties?"

"Who was that short guy you were with at that last event?"

Bulma laughed at the range of questions and raised her hand to stop them. "Okay, okay. Slow down. Most of those questions will eventually be answered. I'll explain what you'll be doing here for the next month after lunch. Those explosions were coming from one of the machines here. Don't worry, it's safe." She quickly added at seeing the panic flitter across the young faces. "You guys can check out the gym yourselves and decide that. My hair and clothes is not a topic for discussion. And that guy from the last event is my husband."

Silence filled the room at the last answer. Bulma Briefs was married? There were rumors circulating for a bit but no one could confirm it. Any reporter that tried was chased off the property before they could even get to the door.

"So, does everyone have their key cards?" She asked when no one said anything more.

Gohan stood quietly in the back and wasn't surprised when the robot didn't hand him a key card. He had one sitting in his pocket. Of course, this didn't go unnoticed. He nearly groaned when Videl's hand shot up. "Gohan didn't get a key card," she announced when Bulma acknowledged her.

Bulma looked at her best friend's son. Before she could say anything, Gohan held up his own key card. "I did," he mumbled under his breath, making sure to only show the side with the black strip. His own card had a different design than the rest. Videl's eyes narrowed at him suspiciously. She was positive that the robot didn't stop at him. As if sensing her doubt, Gohan gave her a sheepish grin. "Thanks for the concern?" He asked and sighed when she huffed and turned away.

"Okay, now that everyone has their room assignments. What about you all go ahead and get settled in? I'll call you all down when lunch is ready. Feel free to explore this dome. After all, it'll be home for the next month. Just don't venture too far outside yet."

The students excitedly agreed and bunched up in their cliques to compare room numbers. Gohan found himself standing with Erasa, Videl, and Sharpner. "So, who's where?" Erasa asked excitedly as she linked arms with Videl. "I'm at 204."

"205," Sharpner stated, holding his own card up.

"I've got 203," Videl added with a shrug. "So I guess we're all next to each other." She turned her gaze to the black haired boy next to her that had yet to speak. "Where's your room, Gohan?"

He shrugged. "202." He didn't need to look at his key card for that. Bulma had shown him the room assignments the day before. He'd been given the end room that actually took up both 201 and 202. With that, the group made their way upstairs. All the rooms had one bed, one closet, a dresser, a desk area, as well as a bathroom. It wasn't much, but it would suffice.

They parted ways at their doors, each deciding to meet up once they were all settled in. Gohan sighed as he laid back on the bed. He unpacked the other night when his mother demanded to go over to CC to make sure everything was settled for him. Bulma, of course, humored her best friend. Because of that, Gohan had a set of his clothes that his friends were used to in 202 and a set of training clothes in 201. Granted, he did have his other room in the main dome with more training clothes as well. One couldn't have too many gi, especially with the Prince of all Saiyans around. A month at CC meant he probably would not be able to escape Vegeta all the time and he would have to spar every so often. If Videl so happened to stumble into those, he didn't know how he would explain it.

Fifteen minutes later, the half-saiyan was asleep and that was how his friends found him. "Gohan?" Videl ventured into the room first, followed by Sharpner and Erasa. He was sleeping. The three shared a look before heaving a tired sigh. If there was anyone that was nearly impossible to wake, it was this idiot. "Gohan Son!" She yelled next to his bed. He groaned but didn't wake.

Sharing a look with her two friends, Videl determinedly jumped on the bed. "Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!" She bounced on the bed next to him, hoping to wake the boy. It worked, but not quite how she planned. In a flash of movement, Videl suddenly found herself pinned to the bed under her dark haired friend.

Gohan blinked drowsily before a wide pair of cerulean eyes focused in front of him. "V-v-videl!" His eyes widened in surprise and he hurriedly moved off of her. "Sorry. I ... uh ...sorry," he murmured, a blush forming on his cheeks. The girl sat up, still speechless, and it seemed like the two blondes a few feet away were in a similar state. Where did Brains get speed like that from anyway?

"Woah, Gohan, moving a bit quick there, aren't you?" Erasa was finally the one to break the silence as she grinned devilishly at her friends. Turning to the girl, she winked. "It's always the quiet ones you gotta watch out for, Vi."

That brought a mad blush to both teens on the bed as they scrambled away from each other. "Erasa!" Videl glared at her best friend before crossing her arms over her chest. The response was a snicker from the blonde. "Anyway, let's go explore," she grumbled, stomping on ahead of her three friends.

"This place is amazing," Sharpner stated in awe as they entered the gym. After walking through the pool area and lounge, they finally decided to check out the gym. "I think I just died and went to heaven." The other guys were examining the machines in a daze. While Orange Star High wasn't lacking in facilities, it paled in comparison to the equipment at Capsule Corporations.

Some of the guys were already trying out the different machines. Metal clanked together as they tried their hands at lifting. There was a steady beat as some went at the punching bags. Gohan sighed and took a seat next to Erasa at the edge of one of the mats. None of this equipment was really Saiyan proof. Bulma didn't bother to add the weights used by the boys in their normal training for fear of some guys in the class hurting themselves. "Besides, it isn't as if you use those things anyway," she'd remarked off handedly with a wave of her hand when Gohan pointed it out.

Noticing the pig-tailed girl of their group missing, Gohan's eyes quickly sought her out only to find her at one of the punching bags. He was surprised at her determination and focus. Not very many people had that kind of dedication anymore. Hell, he knew her father certainly didn't.

"She really is something, isn't she?" Erasa asked, noticing her friend's attention on the oblivious fighter. Gohan nodded before realizing what he agreed to and a blush formed on his cheeks. The blonde let out a delightful chuckle. "Oh, Gohan, you're so cute." He was certainly unlike any other guy they knew. It was rare for a guy to be so innocent and genuine these days.

The statement only served to brighten his cheeks even further and the group of students around them started whispering in speculation. Videl frowned as she caught wind of what was being said. Erasa and Gohan? She scoffed, her punches becoming sharper and harder against the inanimate object. Annoyance passed through her features. This was getting ridiculous. What did it matter if Erasa got with Gohan? Her best friend happened to think the boy was cute and smart and all around perfect. She should be rooting for them, but she couldn't.

"He's hiding something. I know it," she mumbled under her breath as she switched from punches to kicks. Erasa was her best friend and Videl had to look out for her. They knew nearly nothing about the guy. She couldn't trust Gohan Son with her best friend. That was why she wasn't happy to hear about them. Yeah, that was it.

Growling in frustration, she quickened the speed of her combinations. He was such a mystery. For every answer she managed to dig up, more questions seemed to pop up. With a yell, she mustered all her strength to take a final swing at the bag.

"Woah, Vi, calm down. I don't think you want to be breaking equipment here on the first day," Sharpner commented, pulling the raven haired girl out of her daze. He was practicing at the punching bag adjacent to hers but stopped when he noticed the tension in his friend's stance. "You okay?"

She blinked at noticing the suddenly worn material that took the brunt of her attacks. "Oops," she murmured quietly before taking deep breaths to calm herself. Why was she getting so worked up anyway? With a scowl, she marched over to her friends. Erasa was giggling and leaning towards Gohan as the boy did nothing but blush. "Oh grow some balls," she growled then stormed out of the gym, leaving her shocked classmates behind without a second glance.

Gohan turned to the blonde next to him in confusion. "What's with her?" He asked, letting a sigh pass through his lips. What was it he did this time? As much as he hoped she hadn't been talking to him, he was fairly sure it wasn't Erasa that she demanded to grow balls.

Erasa was smiling brightly as she looked in the direction her best friend stomped in. "Oh, don't worry about it, Gohan. Vi is just a little frustrated. She'll get over it soon," she reassured him.

He nodded solemnly before giving the girl a small smile. "All the same, you should probably check on her." She did look genuinely peeved. Then again, Videl always seemed to be angry. He sighed, shaking his head as they walked towards the door. "I'm going to head out." With a wave, they went their separate ways.

"What in the world was that about?" Erasa demanded as she stormed into her best friend's room. Her hands were placed at her hips in what she hoped to be an intimidating pose. "Gosh, Vi, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous down there." The raven haired girl spluttered but was cut off by a glare from her usually bubbly friend. "That was uncalled for. Poor Gohan hasn't done a thing to warrant you snapping at him all the time. That boy is such a sweetheart."

Sweetheart? Videl frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well, if you think he's such a fucking sweetheart, why don't you go out with him already!" She growled out.

Erasa rolled her eyes. "Because that boy is too smitten with you to even notice another girl," she stated matter-of-factly, enjoying the look of disbelief on the Satan girl's face. "And you like him too, Vi. Don't deny it. You're curious, I'll give you that, but you've never been so persistent with getting answers as you have with Gohan."

"Because I know he's hiding something from us, Erasa!" She defended with a huff. How many times did she have to explain to her best friend that her interest in Gohan was simply because of her suspicions? "There's just something off about him."

"Oh, whatever, Vi. You go ahead and keep telling yourself that," Erasa conceded, throwing her hands up in mock defeat. "But don't come running to me when you realize I'm right and you're too late." It was no secret that the girls had their eyes on Gohan. He was smart and sweet and not too bad on the eyes. Who wouldn't want him, right?

First of all, thanks for reviewing, guys. (: It's always nice to get input. Second, I know I said I probably won't be updating daily and that isn't going to change. Updating is just quick right now because I do have a few chapters fully written out already. Everything else is still in the form of index cards on my desk at home. xP

Reply to reviews:
lancecomwar: What do you think I could do to make it better? I know you said my writing wasn't horrible, but you also said it wasn't noteworthy. I won't argue with that, though do you have any suggestions for improving my writing style?

ultranx: Thank you! (:

Eikyuu Sonomi: I don't blame you about that idea. I'm not going to lie. This is definitely a Gohan x Videl fic. The only thing I can say, though, is that I have a tendency of torturing my characters before actually giving them a (somewhat) happy ending. Gohan and Videl will be together, but it won't happen immediately. After all, this is supposed to be a month long trip. It's no fun if they suddenly get together, yes?

- Skye