Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't uploaded anything in a few days, I've been busy wrapping up the school year. Now that it's Summer, though, I'll be doing a LOT of writing. So, on that, note, it's time for Trunks' graduation! Enjoy!


"Goten, you came!" Bulma cheers. "I'm so glad!"

I blush, rubbing the back of my head sheepishly as all Sons seem to do. "Yeah, well I figured Trunks would at least want to know I showed up."

"You figured right," she jokes. She throws her arms around me in a hug, smiling. She takes a step back, looking me over from top to bottom. "And I must say that you look fantastic!"

"Thanks to you," I joke. "Anyway, when does the ceremony start?"

Bulma looks down at her watch. "Umm, I think in about five minutes. Let's go ahead and take our seats."

I follow Bulma to meet up with Vegeta and Bulla, and then we follow them to our seats. We're in the second row, only feet away from where Trunks will be walking to get his diploma. I wonder how he'll react to see me again.

"So, Goten..." Vegeta grumbles. Bulla is talking to someone I can't see, so Vegeta actually has some room to breathe. For whatever reason, his breath is down my neck.

"What is it, Vegeta?"

"Where has Kakarot been?" he asks.

I shrug my shoulders. "I dunno," I admit. "I haven't seen him in a long time. He's off training Uub or something."

"Uub?" Vegeta asks. "That imbecile? I don't think he's worth training."

"Whatever Goku sees in him, he thinks it's worth spending a decade of his life on," I explain.

"Hmph," Vegeta grunts. "I think the damned ceremony is finally starting."

The principal of Orange Star High School steps onto the stage, behind the podium. The auditorium falls silent, all eyes fixed on the principal. He says a few kind words before introducing the Valedictorian: Trunks Briefs.

"Hello students, friends, family, and of course the faculty," Trunks greets. "As you're all well aware, tonight is the night that we step away from our lives as High Schoolers and into the real world. We'll go to college, get married, have families, and all of the other joys that accompany life outside of school."

I can't even force myself to smile. He says all of these things, but I know that he won't be doing all of these things with me. It makes me sick to my stomach.

"People change as time passes," he starts. "Just this last week, I've been having an argument with my best friend. We've been friends since...well, I don't even know how long. But suddenly, we just don't get along. I don't even know what it is that changed. But I know that, the faces you see of your friends today, might not be the same in ten years. People do change."

There's a long silence at his intense words. People stare at him, amazed at his maturity and true sense for the reality of things. To be honest, tons of jaws were dropped.

"But change isn't always a bad thing, is it?" he says. "Sometimes, change is something that needs to be made. Change is necessary. And I think a change from High School is one we've all been wanting, am I right?"

The crowd busts out in laughter. Again I can't even fake a smile, because I know what he just said: he wanted a change. A change that would mean the two of us aren't friends anymore. It makes my stomach turn.

"Change is the only way we'll get through these interesting times," Trunks says. "It's in our nature."

I sink down in my chair. The crowd claps (excluding Vegeta and myself). Again the principal steps behind the podium and begins announcing names. Trunks is the third one to be called. As soon as he steps off the stage, however, I stand.

"Goten, what are you doing?" Bulma whispers.

"I'm leaving," I tell her. Bulma's face is confused, but I don't feel like talking right now. I shuffle my way out of my seat and into the isle, where I all but run outside. As soon as I burst through the doors and into the cool air, I fly into the air. Tears stain the pavement below as I shoot into the sky.

I shoot into the forest, going as deep into the woods as I can. I need to find somewhere quiet I can blow off some steam. If I don't, I may just unlock Super Saiyan 3.

"HAA!" I yell, not even waiting to get on the ground. I jump to my Super Saiyan form, blasting a row of trees to oblivion with one blast. I send another volley of attacks on some nearby bushes and trees, flattening them in seconds. I turn to Super Saiyan 2, continuing demolishing the forest.

Half an hour later, a good bit of the forest is gone but I'm still boiling mad. Why isn't this working? Beating the crap out of trees usually lets out the stress.

Then it hits me: I'm not feeling anger. I'm feeling pain right now. Pain that Trunks may not want me in his life anymore. Pain that, no matter how hard I try, Trunks will never be mine. The thought makes me want to curl up and die where I stand.

I rack my brain for anything I could do to ease the pain. My list of friends is less than extensive (when I say I spent all of my time with Trunks, I mean it). But one person does seem to come to my mind, for some reason.

Bailey. The girl from the club.

I flip my phone open, flipping through my contact list. Luckily, her number is there. I guess, at some point that night, she did put her number in my phone. I press call without hesitation, pressing the phone to my ear.

"Hello?" she answers after only two rings.

"Hey, Bailey," I say awkwardly. "It's Goten."

"Goten?" she asks. "How've you been, Goten? Honestly, you run out on me last week and haven't called since! We should hang out, meet me at the club!"

She hangs up without another word. She really does have an...interesting personality, doesn't she?

I leap into the air, flying off towards the club. It seems like an eternity ago that I was there, even though it was just last week. Odd how time flies when you're drowning in misery, huh?

I touch down outside the club. There isn't a line this time, so I flash my fake ID to the bouncer and walk straight in. Bailey is already waiting for me at the door. She wraps her arms around me, hugging me and spinning as I approach. She pulls away, smiling, and leads me to the couch.

"Wow Goten, you look so different," she comments. "When did you dye your hair?"

"Wha—" I stutter. Oh shit, I'm still in my Super Saiyan form. If I drop it now, though, she'll know I'm different. "Oh, that, yeah. Just a couple days ago, actually. Do you like it?"

"Yeah, actually," she says. She stands up, brushing her skirt down. "I'll go get us some drinks."

I thank her before she walks away. I flex my power level a bit to make sure I'm not a Super Saiyan 2 right now (thankfully I'm not, though the small flex did manage to shatter a glass on the table). Bailey returns a few moments later, handing me the same drink from last week.

"To our friendship, no matter how awkward the beginning was," she jokes. I laugh as she clinks her glass against mine. I take a deep drink from the small glass, letting my mind wander as the alcohol flows through my body.

"So, how's Trunks?" Bailey asks. "Dana's been asking about him."

"He's graduating from High School right now," I sigh. I set my empty glass on the table.

"And why aren't you there?"

"Because of the last time I was here," I explain. "We've been fighting ever since."

"Really?" she asks. "That's a shame. You two seemed really close."

"We are. Well, at least, we were," I admit. "Trunks has been my best friend my whole life. Our parents have always been close, so it's only natural that we be friends."

Bailey scoots closer to me. Not in the way she did last time, leaning against me and setting her head on my chest. She just sits there, watching me while I give her my life story.

"So, what is it you were fighting about?"

"It doesn't matter," I conclude. "All I know is that he doesn't want anything to do with me anymore."

There's a long silence between us. Bailey just watches me, eyes brimming with real concern. I smile. "I want another drink."

Bailey smiles, grabbing me by my hands and pulling me towards the bar. She buys three drinks: one for her and two for me, and leads me to the dance floor.

I down the drinks almost instantly. All I want right now is to forget my troubles, to let go of any stress I've ever had in my life. Right now, even though I suck at it, I really just feel like dancing.

I try to think of the name of the band that's playing over the loudspeakers. Linkin Park? No, it's harder rock than that...Three Days Grace, that's definitely it. Time of Dying by Three Days Grace. Amazing song choice.

"You dance, Goten?" Bailey asks. I set down my empty glasses as we step onto the crowded floor.

"Well?" I joke. "No, not really."

Bailey laughs, brushing her brown hair out of her face. "Alright. Just follow my lead."

Bailey raises her hands in the air, twirling slowly despite the speed of the song. I stand there, just swaying back and forth awkwardly. Girls glance at me across the floor, giggling as they see my "dancing". It's nothing that really could be considered dancing, but I don't care. I'm just glad I'm here with someone besides Trunks.

Someone hands me another drink. I look to my left and see Dana, the girl who was screwing Trunks' brains out last week. I take the drink, despite my hatred for her. To be honest, I really just want to punch the shit out of her right now. But I'll restrain myself. For now, anyway.

"I like your hair," she tells me over the noise. "It's really cool!"

"Yeah, thanks," I mutter. I take a deep drink from the glass, already halfway empty. I stagger slightly, the four glasses of alcohol finally starting to affect me. I turn my attention back to Bailey, who is really getting into her dancing now. I scoot closer to her, and actually start dancing with her. It's really fun, too.

The two of us dance, side-by-side, for four songs. Then, breathing heavily, Bailey all but begs me to sit down with her back at the couches. Eventually I oblige, and the two of us walk back over to sit down and rest.

"I'm really glad you called, Goten," Bailey says. "I never knew how fun hanging out with gay people is."

I choke on my drink. What the FUCK did she just say?

"What are you talking about?" I ask hastily.

"It wasn't too hard to figure out," she jokes. "Don't want to have sex with me, running out of the club when you see Trunks with Dana, you've been arguing with him ever since. You're mad at Trunks for being with Dana because you like Trunks."

I can't breathe. Hell, I can't even blink. She is really freaking smart. How did she manage to piece that all together in an hour? Now what the hell do I do? Tell her she's right? Deny it? I don't—

"We're here to party!" someone yells as the front doors of the club swing open. A tall man with straight brown hair walks into the club, chin held high as he walks right up to a girl and grabs her by the waist. A few others walk in behind him.

"What the hell—?" I ask.

"That's Tano, some jerk who runs what he calls a 'gang' here in the city. He thinks he's tough shit, but he's nothing. He's also—"

Tano approaches the couches, ridiculous hair flowing behind him as he walks straight up to Bailey. He flips his hair, obviously flirting.

"—my stupid ex-boyfriend," Bailey sighs. "What do you want, Tano?"

"Oh, nothing much, Bailey," he replies curtly. "Just wondering who your new boyfriend is."

"I'm not dating anyone," she says. "This is Goten, he's a friend of mine."

"Friend?" Tano asks. "Give it a week, kid. With a slut like Bailey, you'll be screwing her by that time."

I jump to my feet, standing right in Tano's face. "Back off. Now," I order. Tano looks me over, trying to see if I'm easy prey or not. Oh, if he only knew...

"Look kid, I don't know who you think you are," Tano snaps, waving a finger in my face with each syllable. "But if you mess with the—"

I grab his finger as hard as I can, feeling the crunch of bones beneath my strength. Tano squeals like a baby, trying to pull his mashed finger from my grip. He reaches into his back pocket with his free hand, pulling out what I think is a knife. Metal slashes through the air as he aims for my gut.

I grab his wrist, stopping the knife and flipping Tano over my shoulder. Grabbing him by one of his arms, I flip him over, slamming him down on a coffee table positioned between the couches. The glass table shatters beneath him, sending him tumbling to the ground. The knife is still clutched in my hand.

"G—Goten?" Bailey asks. I turn to her, seeing the panic-stricken expression on her face. "Stop what you're doing. Please, don't."

I look down, finally realizing exactly where I am. At some point, I knelt down to Tano and am currently holding the knife to his throat. When did I...?

"Get out of here," I spit at Tano. "Now."

Tano nods hastily, scrambling to his feet and out of the club faster than I can even blink. His girly cries can be heard for miles as he runs away from the club.

"Goten, that was—" Bailey pauses. "That was awesome. I've never seen anyone fight like that."

"Whatever," I reply. I kick myself on the inside for being so mean to her with no cause. Right now, tough, the incident with Tano made my mood drop big-time. I just want to go home now.

"How about I take you home, Goten?" Bailey offers.

"No thanks. I live all the way back at Capsule Corp., remember? It'll take forever to get back in a car."

"Then how did you get here, Goten?" Bailey laughs. "Did you teleport or something?"

I laugh. "Don't be ridiculous. Come on, I'll show you."

I grab Bailey by her hand, leading her outside the club. When we're outside, I look around to make sure there aren't a lot of people watching. Luckily, the streets are deserted. I focus my energy beneath me, hovering a few inches off the ground. Bailey watches me, jaw dropped.

"You...can fly...?" she asks. I nod, shooting up higher into the sky. I fly above the clouds, then releasing the energy and letting myself free-fall to the ground. Only inches from splatting onto the concrete, I stop myself right in front of Bailey. She and I both laugh wildly.

"Can we, you know...go for a spin?" Bailey asks. I nod, letting Bailey jump on my back. She loops her legs under my arms, getting a firm grip around my chest for support.

"Hold on tight," I tell her. As she holds on just a bit tighter, I shoot into the night sky. The cold wind rips through my hair as I sail across the clouds like a comet. Bailey can do nothing but scream or laugh. I slow down a bit as we pass the beach, flying just above the coastline. Bailey and I skip the top of the water with our fingertips for no real reason, just enjoying the flight. When's the last time I had this much fun flying?

I slow down as we fly over the city again. Bailey hugs me tighter, holding on as I spin around aimlessly.

"Goten, are you sure you aren't straight?" Bailey questions.

I hesitate, but I know she isn't gonna let this go. "I'm sure."

"That's a shame. You're such a great guy," she says, holding me closer. "Trunks will be happy when he realizes just how much you care about him."

Just the mention of Trunks makes me want to burst into tears, but I stifle them. At least let me hold them until I get home.

"I'm not so sure," I admit. "He's as straight as a toothpick."

Bailey lays one comforting hand on my shoulder. "It's worth a shot, though, isn't it?"

I smile, holding Bailey's hand against my shoulder snugly. The two of us fly all the way back to the club, where I drop her off at her car. She gives me one last hug before driving away in her car, and I fly home.

Even after such a fun night, all that awaits me at Capsule Corp. is a pillow stained with my tears. Because I know that, only just down the hallway, is a man that wants nothing to do with me.

A man I'll never get over.


Thankya for reading :) I love this chapter, but mostly because I love Bailey as a character. I came up with her on-the-spot when I was writing the first club scene, but never imagined I would make her important. The quickest decisions really seem to make a difference with me lol. As always, remember to leave a review so I can improve my writing, and expect a new chapter in the next 48 hours!