Chapter 6: A New Challenge-The First Date?

3 YEARS LATER

Bulma inserted a screw underneath the time machine.

"People thought your grandfather was crazy too, and he turned out to be one of the greatest inventors in the world," Bulma explained.

Trunks laughed ,"Yeah, but he wasn't trying to go back in time."

Just then, Sarene entered the room. Her hands were inside the pockets of her white sweatshirt. She wore knee length black shorts and black tennis shoes. Her curled ebony hair was a couple of inches past her shoulders, and the blue streak in her hair was now pink. It changed colors about a year ago when she reached another power level.

"Are we training together today?" she asked.

"Well, I actually had something else in mind".

"What's that?"

"Do you want to go somewhere with me?"

Sarene smiled. "Sure, why not."

"Are you going to wear what you have on ?" he asked after taking another look at her outfit.

Sarene frowned, "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Uh...nothing. You look great," he said before kissing her on the cheek. "Let's leave in about a half an hour, ok?"

"Alright, sounds good to me,"Sarene replied right before Trunks left out of the room.

Trunks slowly sipped the water in his water bottle as he sat on a chair in the living room. He was trying to relax, because whether he wanted to believe it or not, he was beginning to feel a little nervous. What's wrong with me? Trunks thought. Why am I so worked up about this?

"So, where do you plan on taking Sarene for the first date?"Bulma asked as she sat down on the couch across from him.

He looked up at her feeling a little startled. He didn't hear her come in.

"Oh, hi mom. To be honest, I didn't exactly plan out where we would go". Trunks laughed then scratched his head. "Maybe I should call this whole thing off".

Bulma frowned. "You can go off and fight the androids, but you can't take a girl out on a date?"

Trunks just stared at her for a moment.

"Sure it's frightening at first, but if you really like her, then you will put all of that aside". Bulma laughed, "This could be your biggest challenge yet. Besides, she's probably looking forward to this as much as you are are, " commented Bulma as she headed back to the tech. room to work on the time machine.

As she left, he heard someone else's footsteps approaching from the hallway.

"Sorry you had to wait on me," Sarene replied as she entered the room wearing a white and gold sundress with white strapped sandals.

Trunks examined her from head to toe. "You look...beautiful. But, I thought you weren't going to change".

Sarene blushed. "I guess, I changed my mind".

Trunks smiled. "Ready to go, then?" he asked. She nodded. He opened the door for her and she thanked him.

They walked outside, and as they went further into the city Sarene noticed a park nearby.

"Hey, that's Sen-si Park! Let's go!" she exclaimed while grabbing Trunks' hand. "Wow, I can't believe that it's still here. I thought they were going to tear this place down years ago, " Sarene explained as she she positioned herself on one of the park swings. A cool breeze came through the park and she closed her eyes as the wind brushed against her face.

"My mom used to take me here all the time before she died, my adoptive mom. When I was little, I would swing for hours". Sarene laughed. "I used to beg her to let me stay, but as I got older we would go jogging along the lake over there,"she said nodding towards Sen-si lake. "Yeah, this place brings back so many memories".

A smile formed on Trunks' lips.

"I'll be right back".

"Huh? But, Trunks..." Before she could finish what she was about to say, he was already gone.

Trunks returned to the park a few minutes later and found Sarene in the same spot that she was in before.

"Here you go," he said handing her a hot dog and a water bottle.

"Aww, thanks. I love these. This city always has the best hot dogs".

Sarene took a big bite as Trunks sat in the swing next to her holding his food and a bottle of water. A smile spread across his lips as he watched her eat.

Sarene swallowed."What?" she asked feeling somewhat embarrassed.

"Nothing, I'm just glad you like it," he said beaming at her.

Once they both finished eating. Trunks took Sarene to an ice cream shop about a block away. Sarene ordered a medium strawberry vanilla swirl cone and Trunks a large chocolate vanilla swirl. Each had a cherry on top.

"Let's sit on that bench near the lake," Trunks said taking Sarene's hand.

As they ate their ice cream, the sun was beginning to set. Trunks noticed Sarene shivering next to him, and he took off his blue jacket and set it across her shoulders.

"Thanks, Trunks". She then looked up at him noticing some ice cream on his cheek. She smiled, "You're sort of a messy eater, aren't you?' she asked as she wiped his face with a napkin. Then she stood. "Let's go for a walk."

As they walked along the side of the lake Sarene noticed a young man playing acoustic guitar . "Wait, I know that song." She hummed the familiar tune as she continued to listen. Then she looked at Trunks with a smile that lit her face "We should dance."

Trunks looked shocked. "But, I don't know how to dance."

"It's simple. Here, I'll show you," she said as she clasp her hand with his and placed his other arm around her waist. She slowly moved her feet and Trunks followed. "See," she said with a smirk on her face. "You're not as bad as you thought. You really should give yourself more credit," she whispered.

"Maybe it's because you're such a good teacher."

Sarene laughed, "I don't know about that. But it is kind of nice to teach the mighty Super Saiyan for once". She rested her head on the side of his neck.

"Tired?" he asked.

"A little".

"Do you...want to go home?"

"Not yet."

Trunks then let go of her hand putting both arms around her hugging her close.

"Thanks for hanging out with me today."

"Thanks for taking me along. I had a great time". Sarene then felt something being clasped at the nape of her neck. She then looked down at the gold rose necklace. The leaves on the stem of the rose were made of diamonds and in the middle of the rose itself was a light pink stone.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Just a little something to show my gratitude. You're my best friend, and a very important part of my life," he said taking the ends of part of her hair and putting it to his lips. "I'm glad that you decided to stay with us. You don't know how much you have helped my mom and I. So...thank you," he said before placing his hand on her cheek and kissing her on the forehead.

She smiled, "Thank you, it's very beautiful. I love it Trunks".

"You're welcome. Are you ready to go back?"

Sarene nodded, "I need to be well rested for when I kick your butt tomorrow in training practice," she said touching the tip of his nose.

Trunks smirked."Yeah I doubt it," he said before they headed home.