VII
School has started again that following Monday with the spring breeze casting leaves to dance across the sidewalks near the school. Vegeta had been dropped off by his father before he simultaneously walked into the entrance of the school next to Bulma. He didn't notice her until he looked up at his phone to pull the door open for himself. That's when Bulma greeted him with a bright smile as she walked into the school first, thanking him for holding the door.
Vegeta's heart stopped for a second when he caught eyes with her. She continued to walk as he froze, unable to reply to her appreciation. He just swallowed it down as he looked to the corner of his eye walking into the school. The blush didn't go away until he arrived at his locker. He didn't realize he was holding his breath until he let out a big sigh and reached to grab a book for his first class.
Vegeta stood there in thought. Images of Bulma's smile replayed in his head as his heart began to pump hard against his chest. Perplexed by these feelings that came to him every now and then, he closed his locker to be greeted by Cauline who opened hers.
At lunch, the crew sat there discussing local news and online interests. Vegeta would every now and then glance at the table Bulma sat at especially when the table erupted in laughter. His thoughts were interrupted when Raditz nudged him, asking about his bread roll.
"Huh?"
"Bro, do you want your bread roll?" Raditz asked smacking his lips with whatever he was eating.
"No," Vegeta sneered, grabbing it before Raditz tried to snatch it from his plate. Then Turles asked before Goku did the same, "What makes you guys think I would want to give my bread to one of you when I already said no to one of you guys?"
Goku shrugged, "It was worth the shot."
Vegeta shook his head as he said under his breath, "Dumbasses, I swear, " before he took a bite of his bread.
...
Last class of the day came around, and the three Saiyans were playing Egyptian Rat Screw with Vegeta in the lead. Turles was weary as his hand began dwindling with every turn to the point that he didn't have any cards left. Goku and Vegeta were pretty competitive with this game since they have been playing it since they were young. However, they had to relax a bit since the tables can only handle so much. Turles knew that he wouldn't be able to get back into the game with the way they were slapping the cards down, however, he still gave it a try. Then he felt someone tap his shoulder.
Cauline.
He turned to see her standing beside him with a note in hand. He greeted her, but she just smiled back as she placed the note in his hand before walking back to her table. Confused by what just occurred he looked down and opened the folded paper.
It read that she wanted to meet with him outside the classroom, under the nearest stairway that led to the 2nd floor. Without questioning it, he looked back to where she sat but she wasn't there anymore. She must have already left. He then looked back at Vegeta and Goku but they were so focused on the game that they wouldn't notice if he left for a bit.
Asking for a pass, he did as he was told to see Cauline standing but her back was facing him. She then turned around to the sounds of his footsteps.
"Hey," she said quietly with a small smile before looking down at her feet again.
"Hey, yourself," Turles replied, placing his hands in his pocket with one hand while messing with the note she gave him. As usual, a small frame of silence stood in-between them, "So... What did you want to talk to me about?"
He noticed Cauline fidgeting with her fingers as she held them, having some hesitation in answering.
"Um, I-I want to apologize," Cauline sheepishly answered, looking up before glancing away to avoid eye contact.
"Apologize?" Turles questioned, taking one hand out from of one of his pockets.
"Y-Yes. I," she swallowed before making complete eye contact with him, "I think I haven't been treating you very nicely," she admitted, with her voice descending as the guilt grew in her.
"What do you mean? I don't think you've been mean to me or anything." Turles asked concerned. Yeah, she has been avoiding and ignoring him. It kind of ticked him off.
"Hiding myself from you. From all of you," she sighed before continuing, "Like all of last week at Vegeta's house, in class this morning, and even at lunch today. I didn't mean it out of hate or dislike, I just," she then glanced down, rubbing her shoulder thinking how she should appropriately answer, "don't know how to manage friends with distance and all."
Turles let out a sigh of relief to hear that she didn't hate them or anything of that sort. Before Cauline was able to finish her sentence, he gave a soft punch to her shoulder, "Hey, don't sweat it. It's cool," while giving a grin.
Cauline slightly flinched as a reaction but followed it with a chuckle and nod, "Yes, cool. Thank you for understanding."
Cauline took a step to the side to start heading back to class, but Turles caught her arm, making her return to the shadow the staircase casted from above.
"How are you? Is everything okay?" Turles asked eyebrows while still holding onto her arm.
Cauline slightly froze at the sudden odd question, wondering why he asked that, "W-What do you mean?"
"With you fainting last Friday. I just want to know if it's not reoccurring."
Cauline relaxed a little. Turles was concerned about her fainting again not what she initially thought he was asking about.
Her father.
She nodded her head in response and explained that it could've been the lack of energy she had when she concealed both hers and Tarble's energy simultaneously when they played hide-n-seek that day. She then told him that she appreciated his concern. Cauline noticed that his face lightened up with a smile after hearing that response.
As they walked back to class, Cauline suggested that Turles go first, and she should wait a few minutes so it doesn't look weird if they both walk in right after the other. Turles walked to his seat and noticed that Goku and Vegeta were still going at it with the game, but Goku was at a bigger advantage. He sat there thinking to himself and the private conversation he had in his head, replaying their conversation and making his chest elevate at ease.
Turles then turned his head to see Cauline arriving at her table, taking a seat, fixing her skirt and sweater before reaching into her book bag to pull out a journal. A thought crossed his mind as he watched her, scribbling into her notes. Why didn't they just talk at that table instead of going out in the hall? He didn't mind at all at the time but now it bothered him.
Maybe she does hate him.
No, Turles she just said she does not not hate them, but what else could it be. Lingering with this thought, his foot began to shake terribly. Out of impulse, he stood up and quickly took a seat next to Cauline which caught her off guard as she slammed her journal shut as a reaction.
"H-Hey," Cauline spoke, startled by his sudden appearance.
Stammering to get the right words to come out, he looked to the board to say, "I know we just talked, but..." he changed his expression when his eyes met hers before continuing, "why couldn't we have talked here? I mean no one's sits at this table so our conversation could have been private."
Before he could get an answer out of her he added, "Are you embarrassed to be seen by me? Is that it?"
No response.
He glanced away after seeing Cauline's red face, and sighed, "You are."
"N-no!" she spoke rapidly to defend herself waving her hands, "No. No. I am not embarrassed to be seen by you. I," she paused, to regain her composure. The question threw her off guard. She then closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry if you thought that, but I'm not."
"Then why did you want to-"
"Because of that," she whispered glancing past his shoulders.
Turles noticed the direction and looked over his shoulder to see Vegeta and Goku staring at them, "Oh..." he turned his head back to see her look down at her hands.
"I don't like the attention, and I didn't want them to hear what I had to say since it didn't really involve them or what if they thought I was talking badly about them. And..." she started before glancing from the corner of her eye to her hands on her lap, "Out of the group, I realized you're the one I have talked to the most...and I figured that I can comfortably speak to you without...stuttering so much."
All Turles could respond with was a "Oh..." before rubbing his neck and giving a small chuckle, "I don't know what I was thinking. Sorry, for bothering you I'll just head back to my table."
Before he got up Cauline grabbed his hand to sit him back down.
"Wait."
Turles eyebrows shot upwards, surprised by her action. She then gently let go of his hand, leading it back to her lap and stated, "To prove that I am not embarrassed by you, we can walk out of class together." She paused before she looked up at him to ask, "I-Is that okay with you?"
Nodding his head, he replied, "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that," as the corner of his mouth grew into a smile.
Cauline smiled as a response before she turned to place her journal in her book bag. Turles watched her before glancing at the clock. There was only a good chunk of minutes left of class. He decided to start small talk to make the minutes go by a bit faster.
Vegeta and Goku stopped the game. Well, Goku had won, but they were curious. What were Cauline and Turles talking about? Goku had an idea, but Vegeta couldn't come up with anything other than Turles asking to be tutored by Cauline, too, but in other subjects. They stopped looking at them once Goku began to explain what happened on Friday and the conversation he and Turles had. Vegeta furrowed his eyebrows in thought and took that into consideration before making up his own conclusion about Turles.
Vegeta smirked. Why would Turles be worried about what someone thinks of him unless he cared?
Then the bell rung for dismissal. Goku and Vegeta watched as Turles and Cauline got up and appeared to be in a middle of a conversation. They followed but noticed that they walked in the opposite direction that Vegeta's locker was located. Goku and Vegeta stopped in the middle of the hallway debating whether they should go and follow them.
"Maybe Turles needed to get something from his locker?" Goku suggested, "It looks like that's the direction they're headed."
Vegeta nodded his head, skeptical. However, he shrugged it off and began to head for his locker. Goku did the same as he took a step to turn around, however, he didn't turn his head in time to see who walked into him.
"Oh, I'm so sorry," Goku apologized almost falling back before he grabbed a hold of the person. Then his eyes widened as his hands and ears began to heat up. "Chi-Chi."
"Goku! Oh my gosh, sorry," she sheepishly chuckled while she pulled a string of hair behind her ear. Then she noticed Goku's hands still holding on to the side of her shoulders. "I-I didn't see you there. I was looking through my notes for Current Events after school while walking. Silly me."
"No, it's fine. I wasn't watching where I was going."
"Well... I better go," she stated, glancing away trying to hide her blush, "I can't be late."
Goku then quickly let go of her laughing nervously, "Yes, sorry about that."
Chi-Chi began to take off but before she disappeared, she slowly turned around and waved, "See ya around, Goku," with a cherry smile.
Goku grinned as a response and waved. Once she turned her back he began to feel giddy inside and looked at his feet. Then he noticed a piece of paper on the ground. It must've fallen out of her hand when they bumped into each other. Goku decided to go chase her down. It could've been important.
At Turles' locker, Cauline was standing there beside him as he got a few things that he possibly needed. Turles tired to rapidly gather the things he needed. See the thing was, Turles wasn't the most organized person in the world especially when it came to things he didn't care about. His locker was a bit on the messy side which he felt embarrassed about if Cauline saw it even though he doesn't fully believe that Cauline will judge him for it.
Would she?
No, of course not. She hasn't so far, well from what he can concur. Stepping back from his locker to close it, someone wrapped their arms around him and began messing with his hair with a fist in a noogie fashion.
"Get the hell off me, Raditz!" Turles grumbled trying to loosen the older Saiyan's grip off of him.
"Boy, you ready to rumble tonight?" Raditz ecstatically bellowed that was then followed by a laugh. Still rough playing with Turles, Raditz didn't notice the greeting said to him until he looked up, "Oh, what up, Cauline?"
The emphasis on her name was to express his surprise and to mess with Turles before letting him go. Cauline responded with a shrug displaying that there wasn't anything, in particular, to be discussed. She noticed that Raditz gave Turles a look in which he looked away, sheepishly annoyed.
"So, what brings you down this side of the hall. Isn't your locker like way over there?" Raditz asked, instigating a conversation to perpetuate an idea that this was all Turles' doing to hang out with her more.
"Yes, but Turles and I were having an interesting conversation, and he needed to get something from his locker," Cauline said, not trying to state the fact that originally it was to prove that she wasn't embarrassed to be seen around Turles.
"A conversation about what?" Raditz asked, not actually intrigued, but hoping to get something out of it.
"Bofa." Turles quickly said before Cauline could've answered. She was very confused by his answer since that definitely was not what they were talking about.
"Bofa what?" Raditz asked like as if it were of a foreign language.
"Bofa deez nuts," Turles finished, by taking a step in front of Cauline so she wouldn't see him gesturing his lower regions at Raditz's direction.
Raditz punched his shoulder as a response but followed it with a chuckle, "Dude."
Turles just shook his head as he placed a hand on Cauline's shoulder, "Come on Cauline let's head over to your locker."
Cauline nodded and made the first few steps as Turles walked beside her. Raditz quickly caught up with Turles and walked slightly behind him.
"I'll leave you two alone," Raditz said, slowly taking his steps as he faced Turles giving him a wink and nudge.
Turles gritted his teeth embarrassed by Raditz's actions. Cauline noticed that Turles looked a bit annoyed so she asked him if everything was okay. He just chuckled and stated that Raditz can be an idiot. Cauline nodded her head in response as she opened her locker, unsure if there was something more to Raditz and his participation with Turles in their last conversation.
Outside, the two Saiyans walked up to the sidewalk to hear other students hanging out. Cauline glanced around and noticed very intimate students and others who were passing time by consumption. Turles also noticed those intimate students and glanced at Cauline before looking away.
"I guess, I'll see you tomorrow?"
Turles snapped out of his thoughts and nodded his head, "Yeah."
He watched as Cauline turned around and took a few steps. Then a thought struck him. Out of his impulsivity, he spoke out her name, but not knowing what his intentions were at first.
She stopped. Turles caught her eyes when she turned around, responding to her name.
"Do you want to hang out at my place sometime after school?" he blurted, "I mean, you did say that you're not comfortable having people over at your place so why not... my place?"
The seconds of silence killed him as Cauline stood there tilting her head, thinking. Doubts rushed in his head.
"We could study or you could help me with some things or I don't know, anything really."
"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that-"
Turles let out a huff of breath that he didn't realize he was holding.
"but...maybe sometime next week? I, I need to sort out some things at home first."
Turles nodded his head, agreeing with her statement before she changed her mind.
After exchanging goodbyes, Turles began walking to the parking lot with his hands inside his pockets feeling his chest elevate with the conversation playing in his head. His smile soon faded once he realized that he invited Cauline to his place at the orphanage.
No one has visited him there in a while. He usually hangs out at everyone else's house, but they don't hang out at his place. He didn't blame them though.
Everything was limited. Phone use. Guests. Fun. Everything.
Shaking those thoughts away he got into a red truck that was vibrating with the sound of drums pounding through the chorus. Turles slumped down in his chair as Raditz in front of the wheel was imitating the drum solo.
Turning down the music, Raditz spoke, "Yo, didn't notice you got in."
"Where's Kakarott?" Turles asked, folding his arms against his chest, staring at his reflection.
"I got a text from him. He said he's staying after school. Something about accidentally joining Current Events. Pft, nerd," Raditz replied starting up the truck.
As the car left the parking lot, Raditz smirked, "So...," he paused to glance at Turles before saying, "Cauline."
Turles didn't say anything. He stared through the window, pretending like he didn't hear Raditz even though hearing the name made his chest warm.
"I know you heard me. Dude?" he punched Turles' shoulder and continued to do so to provoke a reaction.
"What?! What about her?!" Turles turned to him, sitting up from his seat, frustrated by Raditz's antics.
After a second of silence, Raditz let out a soft laugh, "Bro, I'm just messing with you. Chill."
Regaining his composure, Turles slumped down into his seat thinking about the conversation he had with Cauline earlier. It was a quiet ride beside the music from the radio playing in the background. Then the car stopped after parking in front of a burger joint.
"Raditz?"
"Yeah?"
"When you have a girl come over to your place, do you clean up your room or rearrange anything?"
Raditz scrunched his face, bemused by his question, "Yeah, of course. No girl likes a dirty room. Especially when you have your underwear around. Trust me."
While turning the ignition off he asked Turles why he asked such a question. Turles did not respond but just left the car. Raditz with an amused face quickly got out of his car and ran up to Turles, nudging his shoulder.
"You asked Cauline to hang out with you at your place, huh? Didn't you?"
Turles just gave him an eye roll while looking away, embarrassed, "I should have never asked you an obvious question."
As they headed inside to eat, Raditz began discussing details of do's and don'ts along with tips to make sure things go smoothly. Turles brushed a few things off stating that it shouldn't be that hard. It was just hanging out.
Raditz then began to exaggerate one of his stories again and how this one girl exposed him at school for having Batman underwear. Then another girl came over looking for it when he left to go check on the phone just to see if it was true. She couldn't find them, but that was because he was wearing them that day.
"And then this one time-"
"Dude, I get it," Turles interrupted before Raditz could finish, "Let me finish my fries, will ya?"
Raditz just sat back, "Okay, I'm just saying be careful. "
"Cauline isn't like that... I think."
"You never know," Raditz replied before sitting back into his seat, taking a bite of his burger.
...
At school, Goku left the classroom with Chi-Chi overwhelmed by the information that was given out about current domestic and foreign events.
Chi-Chi gave him a worried smile as they walked down the hallway, "Are you sure you want to join? It can a bit too much around this time of year for newcomers."
Goku looked at the papers then at her, "I guess I didn't know what I was getting into," he chuckled nervously.
She paused and placed a hand on his arm, "I can tell Mr. Hoski that you just wanted to scoop out the club."
"Thanks, Chi," Goku grinned letting out a sigh of relief, "Don't get me wrong, the news is interesting but I barely check the weather report!"
Once they both stopped laughing at the comment Goku made, Chi-Chi thanked Goku for bringing her the papers she dropped earlier. She told him that it was sweet of him. Goku blushed and grinned in response trying to be modest about it, placing his hands in his pockets, bashful.
Outside, Goku walked Chi-Chi to the nearest bus station. Expecting to watch Chi-Chi get on the bus he received something else. A hug.
It caught him off-guard since it happened so quickly he didn't have time to blink before Chi-Chi was already on the steps of the bus. He then watched her wave from the window as the bus started up, leaving the premises.
Goku stood there awhile feeling the warmth Chi-Chi left behind after she let go of him. He kind of yearned for another hug after the warmth left him.
It felt different. A good kind of different. Slowly, he took his phone out to text her, to get home safely.
He hesitated. Would that be weird to text somebody? After pondering the thought, he shrugged it off and sent it. Not even a second flew by when he received a reply from Chi-Chi with her sending a text appreciating his concern and stating that he should call her when he gets home. He replied with grinning emojis along with a promise.
"Dam, playa! I see you!"
Shooting his head quickly in the direction of the familiar voice, Goku noticed Turles and Raditz standing there grinning. Goku's blood rushed to his face as his eyes widened.
"Y-You guys were standing there the whole time?"
Turles and Raditz had their arms around each other as they laughed and nodded their heads in response. Goku nervously laughed along with them.
"Ha, maybe you could teach him some of them moves, Kakarott," Raditz said as he pointed at Turles.
Turles then stopped laughing and pushed Raditz hard enough to cause him to fall on his butt. Raditz looked at Goku then back at Turles before rolling over, laughing so hard at Turles' upset face.
Goku watched as Turles began walking away from them before turning his head to his brother laughing hysterically. He walked up to him lending his hand out as Raditz was trying to stop laughing. He wiped a tear away as he reached for Goku's hand to pick himself up.
"Dude, I haven't laughed this much since Vegeta dropped his plate at lunch in front of everybody on gumbo day. That shit was everywhere and he was so pissed."
"Haha, yeah I remember."
Goku and Raditz hopped inside the truck with Turles already waiting inside glancing at his phone. As the vehicle started up, Goku looked over his shoulder to see Turles staring out the window. He still looked upset.
"Hey, Turles. Do you want some of my fries?" Goku asked, handing him the bag to try and cheer him up.
"Nah," Turles shrugged, still staring out the window, "I already ate, and you haven't."
"You sure? I don't mind."
Goku watched him shake his head in response. As Goku sat down in his seat, Raditz piped in, reaching for his fries.
"I'll have some."
Goku then snatched the bag away from him and gave him a look. Raditz caught on and looked up at his rearview mirror to see Turles in the back seat still staring out the window with a sigh. Turles doesn't talk much around others, but he doesn't shut up sometimes around them so they knew something was up.
"Yo, Turles, trust me, once we get our training going, you will think better and feel better once your head is cleared." Raditz glanced up again expecting a response but Turles did not move one bit.
Soon enough, they pulled up to an isolated white building and began their sparring.
