It is the morning now, and Videl is taking Pan and I to school. All night I dreamt about school, and Pan, and Tendle. All night I thought about what I should be like today. What I should act like. Goen told me to give Tendle a chance-so I will. Pan told me that it was a good thing Tendle helped me. And also, Gohan and Videl think I am changing as well. All of these thoughts are mixing up in my head. I want to be different….I want to be liked and accepted… I am silently looking out the window preparing for school and concentrating on what is important.
Once we get to school and say good-bye to Videl, we walk inside.
"I wonder how Tendle and Goen's basketball practice went yesterday," says Pan.
I hesitate to have a bad attitude-but then I change my mood. "Uh, yeah….I wonder too," I say.
After a small-talk conversation and after getting our books from our lockers, Pan and me depart. We leave each other to go to first period-again.
I don't need a map this time to get to class. I remember where Tech class is. On the way I think about Tendle some more. I just can't stop thinking about these questions that keep comming up in my mind. Why was he in Tech class in the first place? Why is he going to a public school? Why did he help me yesterday?
Luckily I wasn't late to class this time. I walk in and everyone is talking. Couple people aren't there yet, but Tendle is. I look at him, while he is gazing down at his binder. He looks kind of lonely. But he is in a class full of smart kids who like Technology. I am feeling guilty right about now. I should have said thank you yesterday to Tendle for helping me. I walk over to my seat just as the bell rings. Some more people just walk in. As I sit down Tendle looks at me in surprise.
"Uh, ya know you got here early today and you don't have to sit with me cause there are a lot of other empty seats in the house," he says.
"I know." I say with a smile and just look back at him. I am trying to get the courage to tell him. "Tendle, I am sorry about yesterday. I just wanted to tell you thank you for helping me. I just never did yesterday cause I was embarrassed," I confess all my sins to him. He just smiles.
"Your welcome!" he says with a smile.
"Okay class now you will start your new project for this semester," Mr. Ride says. He begins to hand out rubrics. The class gives this big sigh that fills the room. "You will pick any partner of your choice and together you will create a small invention of your choice," he says. "But you must work together. And if I ketch any of you cheating both of you will get an F," he lectures.
"Hey, Tender Foot want to be my partner?" Tendle turns to me and asks. I knew he was going to ask me.
"Uh, sure." I say, swallowing my pride and giving in to him.
After class we left the room together and began to talk while walking down the hall.
"So, did you have fun with Pan last night?" he asks.
"Well, yeah, kinda. If it weren't for me being a pussy and wanting to go home before we got any shopping done. I ruined everything. Oh, and apparently Goten has a new girlfriend." I say trying to draw the subject away from me spoiling the night.
"Dude, that guy is a player! I knew a new chick would end up goin' out with him before I knew it," he says.
"Yeah, and I know this juicy information will make Bulla absolutely jealous! I love it! Hey, we came to Goen's house last night to pick up some cookies on the way to Pan's. Chi Chi said you guys where getting senzu beans for Piccolo," I say.
"Oh, yeah you just missed us," he says.
And right before I was going to ask Tendle those questions I was wondering about, I heard that dumb voice I hate the most. It interrupted us like a screaming storm.
"Valtra! Or should I say, "Banana Peel". Dad is sooooo pissed at you! He is so pissed at you it makes me laugh! He says when you get home you are so grounded from everything; that means the Gravity Room!" she laughs for a couple of seconds as she and Marron begin to walk closer to us. "Oh, and your never aloud to go to Pan's again," she torments.
"What? All I did was sneak out and go to Pan's. That's all. I shouldn't get this type of punishment. I will have to talk to Mom about this!" I say furiously.
"Oh really? Cause Trunks said he saw you and Pan around the stores. He also said you where a bitch to him and told Daddy what you said," she taunts.
"What? Traitor! Why is everyone trying to ruin my life!" I yell at her.
"Well what do you know? Looks like Valtra has made a new friend!" said Marron. She is usually the one who changes the subjects.
Tendle just looks at them for a minute. I can tell he is a little confused with everything. I know he doesn't know what to say. Then I look at Bulla. I know she is jealous. I know she is probably wondering tons of things. She probably wants to know why he helped me yesterday and why he is standing here with me right now. This kind of makes me feel a lot better. Maybe Tendle helping me yesterday was a good thing after all. Cause now Bulla will be so jealous!
"Yeah, what of it?" I say like being with Tendle is no big deal.
"Tendle, don't pay any attention to my stupid sister. Your not going to get anywhere with her at all. Whenever you feel like chilling with Marron and me just give us a holler. No one wants to hang out with a Virgin Mary," she says with a snobby grin and attitude. Then, her and Marron do the hair flip and walk away.
I just look at Tendle hopelessly. Then I sigh and begin to power walk away from Tendle ashamed of myself. I am walking really fast. Then Tendle begins to run after me.
"Wait, Val!" he ketches up to me and touches my shoulder. I turn to look at him. "Do you actually think that I would listen to that bitch? Bulla is just the kind of girl that no one-not even the jocks want to be with. Besides, I can pick the people I hang out with for my self," he says and looks at me with hope.
"Thanks, Tendle," and I look down to the floor in silence. I want to ask him "why" so badly to all of the questions I am wondering about. But, I just cant yet because I am afraid to here the answers.
"By the way, what did she mean by your old man being mad at you? Did you do something wrong?" he asks in a concerned way.
"Uh…long story. Don't worry about it, Vegeta is always pissed at me," I say.
Then the bell rings. Oh great! We are tardy! Damn! Hopefully they wont count it because it is the second day of school. Tendle just gives a hilarious grin like he doesn't care. And I have a worried look on my face.
"Well, I guess it is time for us to get going. I will see you at lunch right Valtra?" he looks at me and asks.
I hesitate…I look at him for a while. "Yeah…..I will," I say. Then he smiles and walks away. I just stand there watching him walk away for a while. Wow, have things changed so much.
I never thought I would be doing this. Being nice to Tendle and Pan. It is very weird. But I think I will get used to it. Now, all I have to worry about is getting to class. Oh, and the horror of Vegeta when I get home.
At lunch I get the same thing I had yesterday. Pizza. Hopefully I will get to eat it this time. After I get my food I face my worst nightmare once again. I face the whole school in the cafeteria, looking for a desperate place to sit. Then, I see in the corner, Goen, Tendle and Pan sitting together. I take one sigh and begin to walk over.
I come to the table unnoticed. They are deep in conversation. Then I set down my tray and sit down. Then they notice me. Pan is smiling, Tendle is looking graciously at me, and Goen is shocked.
"Uh…. Hi, Valtra! It is good to see you! Uh, Wow….uh…" he is surprised.
I just smile. "Hey Goen," I say.
"Goen, Valtra came over to my house last night. We ended up going to your house to pick up some cookies, but you weren't there. We had a blast!" she said, giving the juicy information of the day. That is so Pan.
"Yeah, after I got back and Tendle went home from giving Piccolo some senzu beans-my Mom told me you guys came by," he says to check with us to see if his Mom was lying or not. He really couldn't believe it.
"Are you going to eat that?" asks Tendle pointing towards my salad. He said it in sort of a "relaxed" way.
"Oh, no. You can go ahead and have it," I say a little too gently than I intended.
Then Pan looks at me with an "Tendle and Valtra sittin' in a tree" look. She puts one eyebrow up like she knows all.
Then all three of us just look at each other and grin.
"Uh, did I miss something?" asks Goen while he is scratching his head. He is confused to see me sitting by Tendle and actually conversing with the group.
Tendle, Pan and me just look at each other and begin to laugh. We laugh for a while. We laugh like it is an inside joke that Goen wouldn't understand.
"What?" he says. We just continue laughing. I haven't laughed so hard since Vegeta grew out a mustache and Bulla called him a geek and told him to shave it off!
A/N: There is some GREAT stuff coming up I swear! In my opinion- Chapter 8 will be the best. It will have friendships blossoming, and more character development. The story is almost ready to climax. But, there is still a plot developing within the story. Thanks!
