Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ/GT nor the characters in the story.
Chapter 8: Jaded
A few day went by
Valese went to Goten's and watched a movie with him. After the movie ended…
Valese: hey Goten, there's something I've been trying to tell you for about a week now.
Goten: what is it? –smily.
Valese: well, see, my father was promoted.
Goten: wow, that's terriffic news!
Valese: yeah, the thing is he has been transferred.
Goten: really? Where to? –exited.
Valese: Out of the country
Goten: oh well that's great V!
Valese: yeah, he's taking the family as well.
Goten: eh? Then, you...
Valese: I really wish I didn't have to but, this is such a great opportunity for me and my father as well. I'll finally model outside this country and dad's business will grow –excited.
Goten: and what about us? -arching his eyebrows.
Valese: -grabbing his cheek- I was thinking you could come with me
Goten: -astonished- I…
Valese: but, I know you wouldn't leave this place. Besides, you were never much of a traveller anyway.
Goten: but then, we won't see each other in a looong time.
Valese: I know, that's why I think I speak for both of us when I tell you we should end it here.
Goten: how can you say it that easily?
Valese: Let's be honest, someone had to.
Goten: …
Goten arrived home at 3 pm and let himself drop on his couch. His phone ringed twice and he looked at it, realizing he had a new message.
Valese: I hope you trust your own feelings and realize the one you want is no longer me but the one you give such a sincere smile to.
Why would she say that?He didn't know why he was feeling like that, so blue and empty. Did he actually loved Valese?, he never really though of that word, love, what did it mean to him?, Goten started to think of people he knew he loved. Her mom, her dad, his brother, Trunks and even Pan, even though she was too much for him sometimes. All of them were always there for him. When he remembered each moment spent with them, he noticed there was someone else in the memories, Bra. Then, he pictured everything they had been through since Goku left and even before, when they were just kids. Maybe they weren't that close at the time but she was still in his iportant memories. A smile appeared on his face, maybe the reason he felt so empty was… he looked at the message again, focusing on the last part "sincere smile", who did she mean? Wasn't his smile sincere for her? what other girl could he smile to like that?. The new year's eve party! She had probably seen Goten talking to Bra that night. Was she referring to her? Images of Bra's face came to his mind like Fireworks. Then everything clicked.
Goten: Is Bra… the one I want?
He didn't feel happy around her it was far more than that. She would get him angry, uneasy, nervous and… excited all at once. All he ever felt with Valese was happy and even comfortable but because he knew what kind of girl she was, because he always knew how she'd react and because he was more experienced than her in almost everything. But with Bra, he never knew how she would react to anything. Her mind was harder to read than his own. She was the opposite of his ideal girlfriend. Then, wy did he thought about her so much? After their "second" night together, he no longer felt guilt, he felt an unexperienced kid again and he liked it. He liked not being the "mature" one now. He liked being himself and finally expressed what he thought of.
Goten: but even if I… she's like a little sister. Oh, who am I kidding? –he got up off the couch and out of the apartment.
Knock knock
Trunks: I'll go. –opening the door- oh, what's up Goten?
Goten: Hi Trunks –smiling- hey uhmm, is your sister around?
Trunks: my sister? What do you want her for?
Goten: uh nothing much, I just needed to tell her something.
Trunks: well, that'll have to wait. She went out with her "friend".
Goten: "friend"?
Trunks: I don't know, she's probbably on a date but knowing my dad she sayed it was just a friend. She's been going out with him since the party.
Goten: -uneasy- Oh , ok. Then, I'll come some other day. –smiling at him- Bye –he went flying back to his house.
Trunks: wait! What's with him?… that ass, he didn't even say, "how are you? I've missed you." –closing the door.
Goten arrived at his apartment and closed the door.
Goten: that kid! She must've done it to make me feel bad again. What a childish thing to do! –he walked from one side to another.
Bra arrived home.
Trunks: hey, how was your date?
Bra: what date?
Trunks: oh, right –winking-
Bra looked at him strangely and went up to her room.
Trunks: by the way, Goten came earlier today and he was looking for you.
Bra: -turning around- Goten? What for?
Trunks: I don't know but you should call him.
Bra went to her room and called Goten.
Goten: hello? –perky.
Bra: Hi. Trunks told me you were looking for me.
Goten: oh Bra, hey! Yeah I came looking for you but you weren't there. How was your date by the way? –hypocritely.
Bra: why's everyone speaking of dates today? I didn't…
Goten: Come on, I know you went out with someone today. There's no need to hide it from me.
Bra: hide? Even if I had, what's your interest in it? –winner face.
Goten: -surprised- uh I…
Bra: is the green monster visiting your head? –picking on him.
Goten: what? Of course I'm not jealous! –debating.
Bra: what is it then? –irritated.
Goten: I'm wondering why you were so childish to do it out of jealousy or…vengace.
Bra: -angry- vengeance? jealousy? Of what?
Goten: me and Valese of course.
Bra: You and…? As far as I care, you and Valese can spend the rest of your perfect innocent lives together. You liked that about her, didn't you? Her innocence? And if it was any of your concern, I've BEEN going out, with my best male friend! –hangs up.
Goten: you…-frusted grunt- best friends? oh Kami –face palm-
Later at night in Bra's room
Bra was already on her pj's and was coming out of her bathroom when she heard a strange noise on her window. She ignored it and went to sit on the couch in front of it when she heard a knock. She turned around and found Goten floating outside her window. She looked surprised but then she quickly stood up, came closer and closed her curtains.
Goten: you leave me no choice –breaking in.
Bra: hey! What's wrong with you?
Goten: I'm sorry but I really had to speak to you.
Bra: about what exactly? You've spoken enough already. –turning her back.
Goten: I'm!...really sorry ok? –taking her hand. She tries to sneak away but he holds her tighter and turns her around so she would face him.
Goten: Valese moved to Europe. –somewhat happy.
Bra: well, I'm really sorry Goten, I'm sorry now I'm the choice you're stuck wi…
Goten: no, we both ended it. I realized you meant more than just a fling, you...
Bra: don't you see it was all a big mistake from the very beginning? You sayed so yourself. This you think you realized is nothing but a lie.
Goten: –caressing Bra's neck mark - Was this a lie?
Bra: it's just a scar Goten, it'll fade eventually. –grabbing the arm Goten was using to touch her neck.
Goten: it meant more than that, this scar is deep you know? It won't…
Bra: -concerned- why are you saying this things all of a sudden? –breakig free from his grip and dissenting with her head.
Goten: I don't know! –somewhat smiling- The only thing I do know is that for the first time, I'm certain about something I hadn't planned beforehand. We have been through so much together but we just hadn't realized it. We've always been there. And now everything is so clear, all our similarities and even our differences, it's like they fill each other's gaps. –smiling at her sincerely.
Bra's eyes started getting watery but she didn't want to show it so she got her head down.
Bra: age difference, your best friend's "little" sister, against family, what about those?
Goten: as long as you don't care, I won't either, not anymore. –looking for her eyes.
Goten pulled her chin up. Bra looked the other way while Goten tilted his head smiling, until she finally looked at him in the eye and Goten approached to kiss her.
Author's Note: Finally! They decided to face their feelings! Hope you've liked it. :) Please RV.