Chapter 4

Finally, it came time go to gym class. This was one of only two times a day the students got to leave their seats. The school had a policy of having the teachers move and not the students. This cut down on any possibility of a student being late to classes, as well as cutting down on hallway traffic. So the students were practically running out of the class room.

Gohan and the rest of the male students filed into the locker room, where their names were written on masking tape, which was then stuck to lockers. Gohan found his and tried to change and stuff his clothes into his locker before anyone could see him. He locked his clothes up and quickly left the locker room. He ventured out into the gymnasium and tried to find a place where he could make himself less than noticeable. The day was nearing its end and having people stare at you and talk about you all day long had exhausted Gohan more than he thought it would. As polite as he had always been taught to be, he could tell that it wasn't going to take much more to make him angry.

The rest of the class filtered in, followed by the gym teacher. He was a large man. Someone who looked like many years ago they were fit and lifted heavy weights, but let themselves go. He called the students to attention and began his spiel.

"Welcome athletes. My name is Mr. Gibson; you can call me Coach though. We are going to start with a quick warm up before we get into our first unit of the year. So the faster you all get through this, the sooner we can start. I will be watching for proper form and any attempts at cheating yourself out of the warm up. If I see anything like that, you and those standing around you will have to do it all again. Now I want you all to do 25 push-ups, sit-ups, jumping jacks, squats, toe touches and 10 quad stretches, then run a lap around the track."

The class all took off to get started. Gohan just wanted to get it over with. He wanted the entire day to be over so he could go home. Suddenly, he remembered he wasn't going home. His mom asked him to meet him at Bulma's. Bulma was excited to hear about his day as much as his mother was. This was going to mean his night would be spent sparring with Vegeta or answering pointed questions about any girls he had met and what their wedding plans were.

As Gohan's mood descended, so did his control over his speed and power. Other students around him and eventually the teacher, all caught sight of Gohan powering through the entire warm up routine except the run in around 3 minutes. Coach Gibson came over to him.

"Whoa slow down Mr. Son. You don't want to wear yourself out before we actually start doing the day's activity."

Gohan realized quickly he was doing things much faster than the other students. "Yes sir. Sorry about that. I'm just anxious to get started today."

He took off to do his lap at a much slower pace.

Videl on the other hand noticed Gohan had already started his run. He was being watched by Mr. Gibson, so she knew he hadn't cheated. Not to be outdone, she picked up the pace. Before Gohan had made the first turn, she took off after him with Sharpner nipping at her heals. The two of them had always been considered the top athletes at the school and they weren't about to have the new guy take that away from them.

Because Gohan was going at such a slow pace, Videl and Sharpner caught up with him almost immediately. As Sharpner passed Gohan though, he reached out and slapped his back unnecessarily hard and told him pick up the pace, while calling him a nerd. While the strike barely registered with Gohan, he could tell that Sharpner had put as much as he could into it. That combined with being called nerd all day, pushed Gohan over the edge.

Gohan began to sprint at what he knew to be the fastest normal human pace possible. He figured at the speed he was going, he was traveling around 40mph. Sharpner felt Gohan breeze by him and looked at him dumbfounded. Gohan rapidly caught up to Videl as well. Videl could hear the foot steps behind her. She refused to be outdone, so she pushed herself into a sprint.

Despite her moving at her top speed, soon Gohan was next to her, slowly passing her. She risked looking over at him and noticed he wasn't even breathing hard and looked like he was just in a light jog. She had been pumping her legs for all they were worth and was starting to see spots from the exertion and she was having to ignore the sweat pouring down her face.

Gohan finished his lap and walked back over to his out of the way spot. Videl finished her lap and had to walk around with her hands on top of her head for a few seconds to keep from passing out. She noticed Gohan leaning up against the wall with his eyes closed, still not breathing any harder than normal and there didn't appear to be even a bit of sweat on him.

She walked over to him furious that he had beaten her. She needed to find out how he did it. But as she got closer, she noticed that his face was contorted in an odd mixture of anger and intense sadness. When she was within a few feet him, his eyes snapped open. His black eyes instantly captivated her blue eyes.

This was the first time she had looked into his eyes. She had never seen eyes like that. It almost looked like he had no iris at all. More than that though, she saw something in his eyes that she had seen many times before. She had worked with the police long enough to recognize the self-loathing in someone's eyes. It caused her to step back a couple of steps.

Gohan pulled himself together and the façade he had been working hard to keep in place all day was back up.

"Oh hey Videl. What's up?"

Videl watched him closely. She saw the mask go back up. She was a little bit alarmed that she couldn't tell he was wearing this mask all day. She can usually spot that type of thing. This kid was good at hiding his emotions. Not only that, but she instantly felt worse about her treatment of him. As poorly as her day had been going, it looked like Gohan's life, at least for a while, had been even worse. She decided to take Erasa's advice and be nice to Gohan, so she tried talking to him.

"Nothing. I just wanted to say I was surprised about how fast you are, is all."

"Oh thanks…"

"Is everything OK? You looked kind of…upset over here."

Gohan deeply sighed. He had had enough of everyone staring at him. This was the whole reason he didn't take credit when he beat Cell. He enjoyed his privacy. He liked living his quiet life. He didn't want to be under a microscope all day, every day. He was starting to think about quitting and just dealing with his mom's disappointment.

"It's nothing. Really. It has just been a long day."

He could tell from her look she wanted him to go on.

"I'm not used people watching everything I do or whispering about me. I'm especially not used to people openly talking about me and pointing at me."

Videl laughed at this and leaned up against the wall next to him. "Believe me you aren't alone there. Imagine being the daughter of the strongest man on the planet. I have people following me and watching me all day every day. If I wear a dark color, there are news stories about me being depressed or becoming Goth or Emo. If I wear a bright color, I have stories about how I am happily in a secret relationship. At least when you leave school people ignore you. And at least in another couple of weeks everyone will get used to you and stop staring and pointing. I am pretty sure I am in it for life."

Gohan looked at her in awe. Here he was complaining about one day of this, when she had to endure it every day. "So how do you deal with it?"

"Well, to be honest, I probably don't deal with it as well as I should. Which is why I sort of take a negative view of everyone I meet. Sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable this morning."

"It's OK. Don't worry about it. I'll just have to remember to steer clear of you until you are fully awake." He said with a slight smirk.

She smiled at him genuinely and winked at him before she continued on. "But the thing that helps me the most is helping others. I volunteer for the police. They call me in when they can't handle something on their own. I feel a lot better about my life when I am able to save another person or able to stop someone from hurting others. Plus, I get to let out a lot of the aggression I build up on some bad guys. Most of them don't think much of me because of my size. I mean honestly I'm 5'4", 110lbs and have bright blue eyes. Not exactly the most intimidating sight to your average criminal. But that just means they let me get close enough to wale on them." She laughed about her most recent memories of this happening.

"The police call you for help?"

"Yep."

"But what if you were shot, or killed?"

"Don't worry about it. I know how to take care of myself." She was a little miffed by Gohan's lack of faith in her ability to not get hurt.

Just then the teacher blew his whistle and called the class to attention. "Gather around me. If you didn't get a chance to finish the warm up, don't worry about it. There will be other chances for you every day for the rest of the year since that is how we will be warming up from now on. For now, though, we are going to start the first game of the year, baseball. Everyone line up by height and count off by ones and twos."

They did so and separated into the groups.

"OK Ones in the outfield, twos are up to back first."

Videl looked around and noticed that Erasa and Gohan were both put on her team with the rest of the twos and Sharpner was put with the ones. 'It's probably for the best. I don't want to have to listen to him complaining about being put on "Nerdboy's" team.' She thought as they all took their places. 'He is fast though. Maybe he's more athletic than he looks.' She watched as Erasa made her way over to Gohan, who was sitting on the bench, leaning up against the wall with his arms crossed and his eyes closed again.

"Wow Gohan you are really fast!" Erasa said bouncing over to him.

"Thanks Erasa. I appreciate it." He put a big smile on for her. Between her and Videl, they had somewhat improved his sour mood.

"So do you know how to play baseball?"

"Of course. Actually a friend of mine plays in the major leagues. He taught us all how to play and we sometimes go to see his games."

"Oh really? Anyone I would know?"

"Maybe, his name is Yamcha."

Erasa and several people around her all stopped and their mouths dropped. Gohan didn't realize what was happening.

"What's wrong? Have you guys heard of him?"

"Of course we have! He is the best player in the world right now! Actually, he is the best player EVER!" said jock sitting next to Erasa.

"Oh. Well anyway, he was the one who taught me how to play. He's a good guy." Gohan said obviously embarrassed. He reached up and rubbed the back of his neck out of habit.

Meanwhile, Videl, who hadn't heard the conversation, was captaining her team and had gotten the bases loaded with only one out. She decided to see what Gohan could do and put him up to bat. She figured if he struck out, she could at least bat a couple runs in before Sharpner's team came up to bat. "Hey Gohan! You're up!"

Gohan looked to where he was being called from and trotted over. He grabbed a bat on his way and stepped up to the batter's box.

Sharpner was pitching and decided it was time he put Gohan in his place. Gohan was about to either duck like a sissy and be laughed at, or he would get hit and take that as a warning to stay away from his girls. He wound up and threw the ball with everything he had straight at Gohan's head. What he didn't expect was for Gohan to quickly and easily dodge the ball.

Gohan simply moved his head backwards slightly. He looked over at the radar gun and noticed the ball had been traveling at 110 mph. If he had been normal and hadn't dodged it, that could have cracked his skull. All the good Erasa and Videl had done to improve his mood was ruined in that instant.

"Watch it Sharpner! You could have taken his head off!" Coach Gibson yelled at him.

"What's your problem Sharpner?! Whatever it is, I can come fix it for you if you want?" Videl said in a voice that left no doubt that she would attack him without a second thought.

Sharpner decided to just pitch normal after that. He still wasn't going to let Nerdboy get a hit off of him though. He wound up again and threw with all his might. A perfect fast ball, right down the middle. However, before the ball could land in the waiting catcher's mitt, the bat connected with it.

Sharpner watched in shock as the ball he had just thrown, nearly disappeared along with the bat that hit it. The bat exploded into dozens of small pieces. The only part of the ball that still had a ball shape was the round cork center, which flew past the bleachers. The leather, cotton and rubber of the ball were strewn all over the infield.

There were a few seconds of silence from both teams. Sure they had seen people break bats before. They had even seen people break baseballs before. None of them had ever seen that level of destruction brought to both the bat and ball at once. The only thing that was left of the bat was the piece that Gohan was holding and had just thrown aside as he got ready to run around the bases.

"Shouldn't everyone be running? I am pretty sure that was a grand slam right?" Gohan said this was a slightly smug smile directed at Sharpner.

Videl snapped out of it quickly at the sound of his voice. "What's everyone doing? GO!"

It took a second, but everyone finally decided enough was enough and started to circle the bases, Gohan bringing in the final run. When he arrived Videl reached up and gave him a high five and then punched him lightly on his arm. 'That's weird, is he wearing shoulder pads? That felt too hard to just be an arm.' "Good job Gohan."

After Videl was able to get a double, Erasa struck out followed by one of the jocks. With that, the teams switched it up and Videl's team took the field.

As tough and confident as Sharpner may have been, he was also a show off and couldn't allow anyone to go before him. Now that he had a large wooden bat in his hands, he felt more comfortable. Videl was pitching for the twos. Videl wasn't nearly as good as Sharpner at it, but she couldn't entrust it to anyone else.

After getting two strikes, Sharpner was finally able to connect with one. He watched as it sailed well into the outfield. He started trotting towards first base, only to stop when he saw it land perfectly in a gloved hand. Gohan had jumped 35 feet straight up and caught the ball just before it hit the scoreboard. He landed and threw it to Videl, skipping the relay man entirely. It went straight to her glove, but she made sure to catch it with the net part. There was no telling how badly that throw would have hurt if she let it land in her palm.

Videl's team quickly finished that inning between her throwing strikes and Gohan catching everything that made it into the outfield. The teacher decided to call it after that inning and sent everyone off to change. Gohan did his best to change as quickly as he could and bolted out. He had no desire, what so ever, to have to speak with Sharpner or any of the other jocks he had embarrassed today.

Since it was the end of the day, all he had to was get out of the door and get far enough away from the school so he could take off. Videl and Erasa were quicker though. Videl sped through changing so that she could get some answers out of Gohan. Erasa wanted to spend more time getting to know him. He seemed to know everyone who was anyone.

As Gohan rounded the corner where the main exit was, he had to skid to a stop so he didn't plow over the two women standing shoulder to shoulder in his way.

"Hey Gohan!/." They said in unison. Of course Erasa said it a lot more enthusiastically.

"Uhh hi!" Gohan said nervously rubbing the back of his neck.

"So Gohan, what are you up to tonight? Want to go to the mall with me?" Erasa said as bubbly as ever.

"Maybe some other time. I have to head out to West City tonight."

"Heading out to see the Briefs huh?"

Videl's eyes widened and she looked between Gohan and Erasa. Erasa's eyes also widened as she realized that Videl didn't know about that and it wasn't really her place to say anything about it.

"You know the Briefs? As in the owners of Capsule Corporation?" Videl stammered.

"Yeah. I didn't realize it was such a big deal honestly. Would either of you mind not saying anything to anyone please? If I had realized what a big deal it was that I knew them, I probably wouldn't have said anything to begin with. I don't need another reason for people to stare at me."

"How could you not realize it would be a big deal?"

"Well I never thought of them that way. They've always just been Bulma and her family to me."

"Don't worry Gohan, you can trust us. We won't say anything." Erasa chimed in.

Videl looked incredulously at her best friend before remember her conversation with Gohan earlier. She forced herself to relax.

"Yeah. Like I said, I understand you not wanting people goggling at you constantly." Videl affirmed, even though she still had the urge to goggle at him too right now. She had to admit it; he's insanely cute, smart, incredibly fast, based on his jumping and hitting ability he was incredibly strong, a genius and now she found out he was well connected too. 'I guess I don't need to worry about this guy only going after Erasa to get to me or for popularity. He doesn't seem to want the attention popularity brings, and since he knows the Briefs, he is better connected than I am. I still need to figure out more about him though. I know he is hiding something!'

"Thanks girls. It's sort of a relief to have a couple of people here I can sort of trust and be more open with. Well I have a long way to go. I'd better get started. Have a good night!" He said as he started to walk away.

"Bye Gohan. Have a good night!" Erasa sang at him. She practically had hearts in her eyes.

"Later Gohan." Videl said and both girls watched as he walked outside.

"So what's going on with you two?" Videl instantly said to Erasa.

"What about you? I've never seen you actually say goodbye to anyone other than me! And I've been watching you all day. You have been ogling him since the minute he got here. Not that I blame you, he is a unbelievable hottie. Too bad he wears baggy clothes to class and gym…"

"Well as cute as he might be, he is still a nerd. I'm sure the only thing he's hiding is a pasty, scrawny body." Videl said with a small amount of blush coloring her cheeks.

"I wouldn't be too sure. He said he does two hours of martial arts training every day."

"What? When did you find out about that?"

"At lunch. He told me about what home schooling for him was like."

"What else did you guys talk about?" Not being able to stop the curiosity that crept into her voice.

"Curious huh? Finally taking an interest in a boy?"

"Of course not!" Videl stammered in defense.

"So you wouldn't care if someone else took an interest in him then huh?" Erasa's voice was strongly laced with implications.

"Why? Are you looking or did someone else say something?" Videl was just hoping that her very observant and closest friend couldn't hear the small amount of jealousy in her voice.

"Well I haven't been on a date in a very long time and I overheard Angela saying SOMETHING about wanting 'go after the new kid'. But I suppose I could step aside if you told me you were interested in him…"

"Well I'm not! He can do whatever or whoever he wants!" Videl's face was beet red at this point.

"Glad to her it." Erasa said in her normal, bubbly voice.

They walked in silence for a few moments until Videl realized something. "Hey you never answered my first question though. What else did you guys talk about today?"

Erasa gave her friend a very brief knowing look that Videl didn't notice because she was determinedly avoiding looking at her friend so as to keep her face hidden somewhat.

"Since he said he could trust you, I suppose there wouldn't be any hard in telling you that our new friend is a bona fide prince!"

"WHAT!? Are you kidding me?"

"Nope!" They walked to Videl's house while Erasa relayed what she had learned about Gohan throughout the day.