"It All Takes Time" Chapter 4
Trunks was determined to find Bridget once he got to school Monday. He made a point to be early to catch her after the dance club's morning practice Goten had told him about. He made his way into the gym and stared in awe at all the people that were actually in this club. There had to be seventy of them, at least, crowded on the gym floor.
"One, two, three and four." Trunks heard a familiar voice finish chanting as they ended their routine. It was Bryant. He looked nothing like he did when he answered the door Saturday.
"Okay, guys. Let's do the feature one last time and then we'll be done for the morning." Bryant ordered the club members. Everyone went to their set positions and waited for the count off.
"And one, two, three, and four." Bryant chanted again, then music began to play.
Trunks watched the performance closely, intrigued by what made this club so special that only certain people could make the cut. Then, his eyes caught a glimpse of her in the middle of the sweating crowd of dancers.
Bridget had her golden hair tied up to keep it out of her face, and her eyes were focused into space it seemed. She was so concentraded on every single movement her body made. Suddenly, one of the boys next to her had grabbed her by the waist to lift her up, then she screamed out in pain.
"Cut the music!" Bryant called over his shoulder as he walked over to where Bridget and her partner were standing. "What happened now?"
"Nothing. Just do the set again." Bridget brushed her brother's hand off like nothing had just happened.
Trunks squinted his eyes to see if his eyes were playing tricks on him or not. There was a dark mark on her left side. Broken rib. He frowned and folded his arms, watching her closely.
"No, that's enough for now." Bryant called out to everyone. "We'll have another rehearsal after the basketball club finishes with their practice this evening."
As everyone dispersed, Trunks walked down from the seat he was at and walked over to Bridget, who was wiping the sweat off of her arms and torso, being careful of her side.
"What happened out there?" He asked, causing her to jump.
"What are you doing here?" She glared over her shoulder, causing him to slightly step back.
"I wanted to apologize to you about the other day." Trunks frowned. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just fine." She huffed, picking up her bag and tossing it on her shoulder. She whinced from the swift movement she did.
"What's up with that bruise?" He continued to question her.
"It's nothing. Don't worry about it." Bridget replied, walking away from him.
"Look, if there's something going on, you can tell me." Trunks followed her with ease.
"Nothing is going on, Trunks!" She suddenly stopped and glared up at him. "So just drop it and quit stalking me, okay?!"
"I'm not stalking you, Bridget." He frowned. "I'm worried about you and Bryant."
"Then why aren't you bothering him in stead?" She huffed and walked into the girl's locker room, swiftly pushing the door closed behind her.
Trunks crossed his arms and stared at the door, waiting for her to come back out. Then he remembered there was another door in the locker rooms that lead to the school. She'd probably use that one to try and avoid him.
He sighed and looked down at his feet as he turned and walked away.
"Hey, what brings you here?" Trunks looked up and was met face to face with twin number one, Bryant.
"Nothing." He said with another sigh. "I just came to apologize to Bridget about the other night."
"Oh." Bryant frowned, his face suddenly looking grim.
"Everything okay?" Trunks asked, hoping to get somewhere with the brother than what he got with the sister.
"Yeah... Bridget just... Fell and bruised one of her ribs when she was... diving off the high dive Saturday night." Bryant gathered a story in his head.
"Look. You and I both know that's not what happened." Trunks crossed his arms. "I know your dad hurt you the other day, and that doesn't go over well with me in the least."
"Dude, it's nothing. I deserved it." Bryant shrugged. "I shouldn't have taken Bridget to the party. Dad doesn't like my 'Bad influence'."
Trunks sighed. "Please, Bryant. Just let me help you guys out." He put his hand on Bryant's shoulder, looking him in the eye.
"Man... You're so hot right now." Bryant said, busting out laughing. "Which is bad for me because it's obvious you're straight."
"Quit trying to change the subject." Trunks said, face-palming. His face began to turn red from embarrassment.
"I'm not." Bryant looked over at his friend with all sincerity in his face. "You're not chasing me down just for me. You're chasing me down for me and Bridget." He sighed. "Don't get close to her. It's better on the both of you if you don't."
"And why is that?" Trunks questioned him.
"Doesn't Saturday answer your question?" Bryant looked at him, pain evident in his eyes.
"Just tell me what happened." Trunks practically pleaded with Bryant.
"Okay." The blond sighed. "But not here. Meet me after school, and we'll go somewhere and talk before I have rehearsal."
"Fine." Trunks nodded.
"Hey, where were you this morning? Your mom said you went to school early." Goten asked his best friend when he got to his locker later that morning.
"Taking care of some stuff." Trunks sighed, shutting the metal door.
"What kind of business?"
"Just stuff, Goten." He glared over his shoulder at his friend.
"Dude, chill. It was just a question." Goten sulked, looking away from Trunks's icy gaze.
"Sorry. It's just some real deep things I've gotten myself mixed into." He sighed.
"Stuff like...?"
"Okay, if I tell you, you can NOT tell anyone." Trunks stopped and glared Goten in the eyes.
"Not even-"
"Not even Felice, Goten." He crossed his arms.
"You're only saying that because you don't like her." Goten whined.
"No... And when did I ever say that?"
"You just seem like you don't." He puffed his cheeks out and crossed his arms as he began walking again.
"Felice is a nice girl... I just think you can do better is all." Trunks tried to put it as gently as he could.
"Great. Now you sound like my mom." Goten rolled his eyes and opened the door to the class room.
"I just think you would be happier with someone a little... I don't know... Brighter?"
"Just quit talking while you're ahead." The demi-Saiyan glared at his best friend.
"Sorry..." Trunks mumbled, sitting in his seat.
"Good morning." The teacher addressed her class after the bell rang and everyone quieted down.
"Good morning Mrs. Thali." The geometry class replied back.
"Now, I have some news for you all. We have a new student here."
The class began buzzing at the news of this.
"Quiet down, quiet down." The young teacher called to the students. "Now, with it being the middle of the second semester, I know it'll be hard to make friends. So I hope that you all will make her feel comfortable and help her out when she needs it."
The slender teacher walked to the door and opened it, letting a dark-haired girl come in. She stood in front of the class and bowed to everyone. "Hello. My name is Skyler, but please call me Skye." She stood straight and Goten and Trunks had to blink a few times to see if they were seeing right.
"Dude... She looks like Videl." Goten whispered to his friend.
"That's what I was just thinking."
"Skye, go and take a seat up there next to Goten and Trunks." Mrs. Thali pointed her in their direction.
"Yes ma'am." She picked up her book bag and made her way to her seat. She smiled slightly at the boys then made a weird face. " I feel like I've met you before."
"I'm Trunks Briefs." Trunks said, holding out his hand and shaking her's. "And this is Son Goten."
"That's it!" She snapped her fingers and crossed her arms, looking at them cockily. "The wedding."
"Wedding?" The two Saiyans looked at her confused.
"Yeah... My cousin's wedding. Videl Satan? Well, Son now."
"You're Videl's cousin?" Goten looked at her wide eyed. "You look more like her twin."
"I get that a lot." She smiled. "But nope. We're fourteen years apart."
The boys sat there, gawking at her with wide eyes and the Videl look alike rolled her eyes.
"You know, if you take a picture, it will last a whole lot longer."
"Sorry." Goten said, scratching his head and looking away.
"Dude, how could we have missed her at the wedding?" Trunks whispered to his best friend. "This is just too creepy."
"I don't know. Maybe we weren't paying much attention. I fell asleep during the important parts." Goten admitted.
"You were the best man."
"Like I said... Important parts."
Trunks rolled his eyes and focused back to the lesson as much as he could. Something wasn't sitting right with him. It wasn't just Bridget or the Videl doppelganger, either. He knew that high school was going to be a challenge, but this was just... too weird.