"Could You Love Me?"
Chapter 4
Pan, Bra and Marron left the cafe and headed back to the Capsule Corp. tThey dumped their bags in Bra's room and headed to the kitchen for a snack.
"Trunks sure has been quiet lately," said Pan.
Marron looked up from her apple at the mention of Trunks' name.
"Dad has kept him busy with training," replied Bra.
"Yeah, but he's always managed to get away before and drive us crazy with his and Gotens jokes," said Pan. She looked thoughtful. "Hmm, it's as if he's deliberately avoiding us." Pan turned andl ooked at Marron. "You wouldn't have any idea why he would be staying away from us, would you?"
Marron gulped. "Err... no. Should I?"
"It just seems strange that you hurt your ankle and suddenly Trunks is avoiding us like the plague," said Bra.
Pan raised a quizzical eyebrow.
Bra folded her arms across her chest and resembled Vegeta in her stance.
"So.. come on then. Just what did happen between you two?" said Pan.
Marron stared at the floor. "Nothing happened. I already told you that," she said.
"Now why is it that I don't believe you?" said Bra with a Vegeta like smirk.
"Seems there's more to this than we know," smiled Pan.
Marron looked from one friend to the other. "I'm telling you the truth. Honestly... nothing happened between us." she began to blush, then whispered "That's the problem..."
Pan put her hand on Marron's arm. "Do you mean to tell me that the two of you were alone all that time and nothing happened?"
Marron looked up and met Pan's gaze. "That's exactly what I'm telling you," she sighed sadly.
Bra laughed. "You know, that doesn't suprise me one bit," she said.
Pan and Marron stared at Bra. Bra jumped up and sat on the bench.
"Think about it. Our father is Vegeta. When have you ever known Vegeta to show any emotion?"
"Good point," said Pan.
"There's sometimes when I wonder how on earth Trunks and I were ever conceived," said Bra.
"Still doesn't solve the problem though," sighed Marron.
"I thought you were keen on him?" said Pan.
Marron stared into space, "Strange, but until now I'd never thought of him in any way other than a big brother. Since coming home from college though I see him in a different light."
Bra looked at Marron. "I suppose we have all changed these past few months," she said.
"We're not girls any more... we're women!" stated Pan.
Bra rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Pan strutted around the kitchen singing: "I am woman hear me roar..."
Marron dissolved into fits of laughter. "Cut it out, Pan!" she giggled.
"Ahh, but it's true," said Pan with a wink.
Bra jumped down, "Well that may be but we still have a problem on our hands," she said. "Just how do we get these two together?"
"Are you sure that Trunks likes you?" asked Pan.
"Well, I think so. He made a pretty long speech about feelings at Bra's party before he shot through," said Marron.
"Hmmm. How are we going to do this without arousing suspicion?" said Bra. Her eyebrows furrowed as she thought hard.
"Dont you dare go and tell him will you?" said Marron, a look of panic crossed her face.
Pan passed the back of her hand across her eyes. "Now heaven forbid... would we do anything like that?" she said cheekily.
"I hope not," said Marron.
" Hey, don't sweat it," said Pan "When you think about it though the pair of them have changed these last few months. Their bodies have both matured... Its just a shame that the brain didn't," said Pan, laughing.
"You're right there!" replied Marron.
Marron's mind wandered as she pictured Trunks' body. He had certainly changed. Her heartbeat quickened as she thought about his face. How she longed to feel his arms around her, to rest herself against that muscular chest, to feel those soft full lips...
"Anyone home?" Bra waved her hand in front of Marron's face.
"What? Oh sorry, I was miles away," said Marron, blushing.
"Spare me the details," said Bra. "Look I have an idea..."
# # #
* 2 weeks later *
Christmas was just around the corner and everyone was getting into the festive spirit. Marron especially loved this time of the year. A big party was being held at the Capsule Corp and Marron was excited. Bra andPan had come up with a very simple idea, so simple that Marron wondered why they hadn't thought about it before. Tonight they would put the plan into action, then she would know if Trunks cared for her or not. She hugged herself as she thought about Trunks. It would all work out... It had to work out. She wouldn't let herself think anything else. She put on her favourite jeans, pulled on a sweater over her shirt and grabbed her jacket. She put her boots on at the door.
"Warm enough?" asked her mother.
"Yes, thanks," she replied.
"All ready? Let's go then," said Krillin and they went out the front to Krillin's car.
It was too cold to fly, besides Marron still hadn't mastered the art of flying and a cold night such as this wasn't the best time for a test run. The heater was working well and Marron curled up on the back seat enjoying the warmth and listening to the radio. Before long they pulled up outside Bulma and Vegeta's home.
Bulma answered the door,
"Come in... Come in," she said.
Vegeta stood in his usual pose.. arms folded, smirking and nodded as Marron, Krillin and Juuhachigou moved past him and on to join the party. Vegeta still didn't understand why these humans celebrated all these different holidays. It just meant a missed day's training for him. Goku on the other hand embraced the festive season and enjoyed it to the full. He was wearing his familiar Gi but this time it was red andwhite instead of orange and blue and it had a Santa for the emblem.
"Merry Christmas," his deep voice rang out and he gave Marron a hug.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Goku," she replied.
Marron looked around for her friends.
"Gohan, Videl and Pan aren't here yet," said Goku as if reading her mind. "Goten is off with Trunks somewhere and as yet I haven't seen Bra."
"Thanks, Goku," she said and wandered off to get something to drink.
"Try the egg nog, dear," said Bulma. "Its really nice."
"Thanks. I will," said Marron and helped herself to a glass.
"That stuff is lethal," said a voice behind her.
She turned and came face to face with Goten and Trunks. Her eyes opened wide and the corners of her lips began to curl. She burst out laughing.
"What's so funny?" asked Goten.
"Ohhh ... just look at you two," she giggled.
They both had on black jeans and a red t shirt with 'Frosty The Snowman' printed on them. They each wore a belt of interwoven tinsel and a row of sleigh bells attached to the top of their boots. To cap it all off they wore a pair of reindeer antlers on their heads and a bright red, plastic nose.
"Its called getting into the Christmas spirit," said Goten as he did a pirouette.
This only served to send Marron into hysterics.
Bra appeared from nowhere to find out what was going on. When she saw the two guys she also dissolved into fits of laughter. She gave Goten a friendly punch.
"Trust you two to do something like this," she said.
Marron caught sight of Gohan and Videl.
"Pan must be here," she said.
Pan made her way over to her friends, her eyebrows shot up when she saw the boys. "Oh my," she giggled. "Love the outfit, Rudolf," she said to Trunks.
"At least its better than Bra's get up," smirked Trunks.
Bra was wearing a red, long sleeved top with matching red skirt, both were trimmed with white fur. She wore a Santa hat on her head.
"Ohh, I don't know about that," grinned Goten. "I'd definitely say she's better looking than you," and as if to prove his point he grabbed Bra around the waist and twirled her around.
"Come and give Santa's reindeer a kiss," he said.
Bra planted a big kiss on Goten's lips much to his suprise.
"There you go, Prancer," she said and giving him a wink she flounced off.
Pan and Marron were having to hold each other for support they were laughing so much. Even Trunks was finding it hard to keep a straight face. Goten was standing, mouth open, stunned from Bra's kiss.
"Wow," he finally managed to say. "Maybe I should dress as a reindeer more often."
Pan sidled over to him and lowering her voice said " Maybe it's those antlers of yours, you could say they make you look ummm... horny." Pan began to giggle again.
The tears ran from Marron's eyes she was laughing so much. She moved and lost her balance, She felt a pair of strong, muscular arms catch her. She stopped laughing and looked up into Trunks' eyes.
"Hey guys," said Bra. "Look where you are."
Marron and Trunks both looked up to find themselves standing under a sprig of mistletoe.
Pan and Bra melted into the background.
"That wasn't there before," said Trunks. He raised an eyebrow.
"I wonder how it got there?" said Marron trying to keep a straight face.
"Hmmm... I wonder," said Trunks looking at her.
She felt herself being drawn deep into his eyes.
Goten walked up and gave Trunks a punch in the arm.
"See mate, I told you it would work, Now you have her where you want her," he whispered.
Unfortunately Marron heard. She looked from Trunks to Goten and back again. She swallowed then spoke.
"So, you two cooked this whole thing up between you?" Amazingly she managed to keep her voice level. Anger flashed through her eyes. Goten took a step backwards.
"Uh oh. I think I'm being called," he said and took off through the crowd.
"Why, Trunks?" Her voice was tinged with sadness. "Why do you two insist on playing these silly jokes?" her shoulders slumped forward slightly. "I give up. I really thought that maybe your brain had matured along with your body and that there may have been a chance we could get to know each other on a more adult level, but obviously I was wrong. You need to learn how to become a man before this relationship has a chance of going any further," She looked at him, her eyes full of sadness. She turned and walked away.
Trunks watched her go. He didn't know what to do, what to say. Their plan had misfired... badly. Instead of having the only girl he cared about in his arms, she thought he was going to play a joke on her and had left him. Damn! Now what was he going to do?
Tbc...