Author's Note: Just so you know... I'm doing this instead of homework. (: haha.
Chapter 9: Not one of the Boys
Pretty in pearls and not one of the boys
"Videl please stop crying. Come on…" He took a gentle hold of my arm and lead me into the house and sitting area. "Sit." He nudged me down and I fell back onto the couch. I watched him walk into the kitchen my eyes never leaving his figure. He disappeared a moment getting something out of the pantry and I saw his shadow from the dim lighting of the kitchen. Something about him was so comforting.
He returned with two mugs of hot chocolate handing one to me. We sat in silence for a few minutes. I allowed the warmth of the hot chocolate to consume me. I continuously stole glances up at Gohan. I silently set my mug on the table and fiddled with my hands. I stared up at him. A million emotions were swarming inside me. "Videl." I jumped slightly at the sound of Gohan's voice. "Where did you get this crazy-,?"
"It's not crazy!" I shouted rising to my feet. "I saw it Gohan! You were only eleven! I watched my father's old video of the Cell games!"
"Videl please-," Gohan stood up with me.
"He told me!" Gohan took a slight step back. "I know. My father told me it was you." I clenched my fists my voice becoming lower. I suddenly had no energy to shout. I looked at him my eyes never breaking from his. "Everything I've known has been a lie." I forced myself to continue staring at him. "Whenever I was scared, whenever I thought I was in danger I saw my father's face. I felt secure. He saved earth. I knew that regardless of what I was capable of, he was capable of more. He would always protect me. Every time I saw the face of Earth's hero it was his, but now when I close my eyes I just see you." I swallowed hard.
"Videl…" He flinched forward slightly.
"I just don't know what to do." I suddenly broke out into a sob that I couldn't fight back. The moment I stumbled out those words I felt giant arms enveloping me. My heart was pounding in my chest. "Please just tell me everything…" I cried pathetically. "I don't know what to do with myself. I'm tired of being lied to."
"Videl, I-I…" I felt his grip on me tense. There was a long silence after my crying had halted and finally he continued. "I beat Cell." He whispered in my ear loosening his grip on me.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I whispered back into his chest. "Why didn't you tell anyone?"
"I didn't care. It wasn't important to me."
I bit my lip. "Start from the beginning." I demanded pulling away from him.
"Videl-,"
"Just the beginning of the Cell Games!" I insisted.
He looked thoughtfully at me for a moment before sighing. "A group of us went to fight Cell, my father included." He paused. "After I watched my father die fighting him I…" His eyes were distant. "I just snapped." He shook his head. "The battle ended. We left. I went home. I continued living life without my father, taking care of my mother and raising my little brother. I did independent study until it was time for high school and I started attending Orange Star High." He shrugged. "Nothing special."
"But- you fly. And your fighting skills…" I felt like I was in the presence of an incredible fighter. "You beat Cell. You are an amazing fighter. You should be so proud."
He shrugged blushing. "Nothing compared to my dad. He's incredible."
Suddenly my phone rang. I looked down and found Mark's name flashing across the screen. I hesitated just a second before answering.
"Hello?" I offered up uncertainly.
"Hey…V… Is everything okay?" He asked. "You weren't at school today. I missed you."
I looked up at Gohan. We locked eyes for just a moment before he turned away. "Yeah, Yeah I'm fine Mark. I just wasn't feeling well today."
"Well how do you feel about Friday?" He questioned.
"What about Friday?"
"I was thinking we could double with Erasa and Sharpner." He suggested. I bit my lip as thoughts of the night of the club came flowing back to me. "It would give us a chance to redeem ourselves Videl. I feel terrible about the rep I've given you. We can fix it okay?"
"Mark I don't know…"
"Trust me V." He cut me off. "It's all going to work out okay? I swear."
"Okay. I'll see you later okay?"
"Alright V."
I shut my phone and looked over at Gohan. He cleared his throat. "Is everything okay?" He questioned me.
"Yeah, it's fine." I smiled slightly. Problem one solved."But Gohan…" Thunder and lightning blared outside and I shut my eyes trying to will it away. "I want you to tell me the truth. Who are you? How do you know how to fly?"
"Videl you know who I am." Gohan laughed slightly.
"Really?" I started raising my voice. "Because I didn't know you could fly! I didn't know you could fight! I didn't know you were the son of Goku Son."
"Videl…" He shook his head. "I'm sorry."
"Can you at least tell me something more?" I inquired.
"After-," He hesitated. "After he killed my father…" He continued. "I snapped." He looked down sighing. "The cameras didn't see that part. They only saw Mr. Satan emerge from all the rubbish." He must have noticed my slight aggravation at the mention of my dad's name as he added, "It's okay though. We don't really live for the attention." He looked down at the floor and then back up smiling at me. "Please Videl. Can we drop this?"
I laughed defeated. I could feel the tension in me lessening. "One more thing…"
"Videeeelllll." He whined playfully.
I laughed again. "I just wanna know how you learned to fly." He let out a relieved sigh.
"I learned to control all of my ki in one area. I slowly release it and focus completely on releasing my ki and flying." He closed his eyes trying to explain it to me.
"How do you know when you've had enough err ki…or whatever?" I questioned.
"Well…for starters you start levitating. You also feel a warm sensation spread throughout your body. It's tough to explain."
"Can you show me how you fly?"
He bit his lip as if debating about something. "Come outside." He offered. I followed him outside. The train had momentarily ceased. He positioned me to stand across from him. He easily hovered above ground. It was almost like someone was pulling him upward. I shook my head. To see him do it right there was incredible.
"Wow what's it like?" I asked.
A wild look flashed across his face. He dove down swooping me up in his arms and taking off into the sky. I screamed as he moved at an increased speed. "Gohan slow down!" I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck.
He laughed playfully. "I thought I was going slowly. I'm sorry Videl." He apologized.
"I'm just not used to it, okay?" I laughed back. He slowed down for me and I loosened my grip on him letting one hand fall to his chest. I looked out into the open sky. I felt us descend as he touched down onto a small clearing near a river. I slid out of his arms touching the ground with my feet. "Wow Gohan it's amazing here."
The river ran steadily and tons of fireflies danced across the water. I slowly walked across to the water, a soft glow illuminating the water. "My dad used to take me here when I was young. We would train at night sometimes when the summer heat would become unbearable."
He sat down in the plush grass stretching out his legs. I sat down beside him stretching out my legs as well. It was silent between us. I instantly remembered our talk on the beach about my mother with Saiyaman…with Gohan!
"You're Saiyaman!" I declared looking over at him.
He threw his hands up. "Videl you have no proof." He laughed at me.
"But you can fly. How many people can actually fly?" I protested.
"Well I can…so it's possible that other people can fly right?"
I blinked at him. "Well I guess that's right…"
He nodded. "Right." He agreed. "I mean do you really think me and Saiyaman could be the same person? When you're off fighting crime I'm at school Videl. Besides, I'm not really a fighter. I like to train but it's only for fun. That whole thing with Cell... I just sort of blacked out and it happened. I don't think it necessarily means I'm a good fighter."
"Well I guess that makes sense…" My voice trailed. "But the flying thing-," I continued.
"Right. I can fly. Saiyaman can fly. My father can fly. I can name plenty of people that can Videl. Even if I wanted to be a super hero I wouldn't look as lame as Saiyaman. I know who he is. And believe me..." He looked away distantly. "We're not the same person..."
"Okay…" I consented. I was silently relieved that Gohan wasn't Saiyaman. I mean after the talk about my mother…the kiss… I couldn't face him. Besides, I had no feelings for Gohan. All of my feelings were for Mark now that there was nothing between me and Saiyaman. I looked down at the grass. I had to give up Saiyaman… I sighed. I ruined things between the two of us. "So." I broke the silence trying to will away my thoughts. "Does this mean you could teach me how to fly?" I inquired.
He chuckled as though I had suggested something outrageous. "Videl really?"
I shoved him roughly and he hardly moved. "Gohan!" I tried to push him again and he didn't budge. "What are you? Made of stone?" I shouted. He was in long sleeves again.
He shrugged. "Nope. Skin. Muscles. And Bones." He laughed again and this time I caught him off guard pouncing on him and knocking him fully over throwing my body weight into it.
"Gohan! Quit messing with me!" I declared. He surprised me by turning me over and throwing me on my back. His eyes were intense and burning into me.
They suddenly softened. "I'm sorry Videl." He said quietly. "It's instinct and you caught me off guard." He looked down at me rooted in that spot. His face was close to mine and I swallowed hard.
"So this is what you've been doing instead of training I see." A voice boomed in the sky. We looked up. All I could see was a silhouette of a tall man hovering the sky wearing a head piece of some sort and a cape.
"Piccolo!" Gohan exclaimed scrambling off me. His cheeks were burning pink as well as mine. I looked down. "It's not what you think!"
The man chuckled lightly in the sky. "I think it's time we do some training." Gohan's face beamed. "Tonight. Meet me in the plains several miles from here. I'll be meditating. I'll wait for you to finish your… stuff…" He trailed off uneasily taking off into the distance.
"See Videl…" Gohan coughed. "Plenty of people can fly."
"Then you'll teach me!" I declared.
He laughed. "Fine Videl I'll teach you."
"Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday after school okay?"
He smiled and nodded. "I'll teach you." I clapped my hands.
"Great!" He picked me up in his arms.
"Come on. Let's take you back to my house." He took off slowly into the sky holding me tightly. The wind was picking up and I involuntarily yawned. "Are you ready for bed?" He laughed softly.
"Yeah kind of…" He touched down at his house and we entered. My eyelids were growing heavy. I felt him begin walking up the stairs. He gently laid me down on a bed pulling covers over me. "Gohan."
"Yeah Videl?" He offered up tucking me fully in.
"Why do you always wear long sleeves?" I questioned curiously.
He shrugged. "I-I don't know..." He crinkled his nose.
"You should wear short sleeves." I insisted.
He chuckled. "Get some sleep okay." I nodded and closed my eyes and for a brief moment I thought that Gohan may have kissed my forehead, but when I opened my eyes no one was there.
/
I opened my eyes as sunlight fell into the room. I groaned turning over to face away from the light. Gohan was asleep beside me and my heart began racing trying to remember the night before. As memories came flooding into my mind I eased. I smiled lightly at Gohan's rhythmic breathing and turned over trying to fall back asleep.
I looked over at the clock noticing that it was slightly passed nine. I sighed. School started and hour ago. I closed my eyes. It wasn't even worth going anyway. I turned back over facing Gohan again staring at his back. I reached over for Gohan's nightstand grabbing my phone. I opened it sending a text to my father. "Hey dad, I'm sorry for running away last night. I'm safe and at a friend's house. I need you to call my school today and let them know that I will be taking the next few months off for the World Martial Arts Tournament. I'll only be in a couple days a week. I'll be home soon. I just need some time. I love you. Love, Videl."
I closed my phone putting it back. I sighed again. "Videl what's wrong?" Gohan asked gruffly. His voice was still hoarse from the early morning air.
"Nothing…I was just texting my dad."
He turned over and faced me rubbing his eyes sleepily. "Is everything okay?"
I smiled and he smiled back. "Everything is fine. I just wanted him to pull me out of school for a while to train for the tournament coming up."
Gohan laughed. "Yesterday was my last day of school. I thought I would enter this year." I chuckled lightly. "Listen Videl…" Gohan's voice got serious and my face instantly dropped. "I'm sorry for intruding last night and sleeping in this bed too." I squinted trying to figure out if he was blushing. "I didn't even think I might be making you feel uncomfortable. I was just exhausted after training with Piccolo. I assumed you wouldn't mind-,"
"Relax it's no big deal." I reassured.
My phone vibrated and I looked down at it. My father had gotten the message, sent an apology, called the school and told me to take my time coming home. I sighed. I was spent from the previous day's activities. I was emotionally exhausted and wanted to go anywhere but home. The only way to sneak into the house without having my father convince me to stay was to sneak in through my second story bedroom window. That would be easy of course if I could fly. I blinked. Fly!
"Gohan!" I shouted excitedly. I froze when he looked at me. Should I really ask Gohan for help? He blinked at me again. Where would I even stay? Why shouldn't I go home? I looked down defeated. Yup…this was pointless.
"What's up Videl?" Gohan finally asked when I didn't continue.
"I was wondering if you would help me sneak home and take me up to my room so I can get some stuff without my dad seeing me." I looked down slightly embarrassed.
He looked over at me processing it for a moment. "Where are you going to go?"
I was dreading that question. "Well I'm not quite sure…" I paused. "Away?" I guessed. I shook my head looking down. "I guess it's a lame idea isn't it?"
Gohan stared hard at me. I looked directly in his eyes and turned away. I knew he was looking at me from the corner of his eye but I was trying so hard to not look back at him. "You could stay here." He suggested softly. "We have an extra room. If you think you can put up with my mom and Goten then please stay."
"I don't know-,"
"You'll always have a home here." Gohan reassured. "Besides, do you really have much of a choice?"
"Okay I'll stay." I smiled and he smiled in return.
My phone vibrated for the second time this morning and I looked down to find that it was a text message from Mark about our date. "It's Mark." I told Gohan. "We have a date Friday…I don't know what time I'll be back…"
"It's not a big deal." Gohan smiled mysteriously. "We don't lock the door so you'll have no trouble getting in. When you get home just make sure to check in my room and see if I'm there and if I am check in with me, okay?"
"If you're home…?" I questioned.
He ignored my question raising to his feet. "Let's go get your stuff okay?"
He stood to his feet and I followed standing close by beside him. I looked up and noticed his towering figure over mine. His hair was messier than usual. I lifted my hand. His hair was always a mess of spikes and always so inviting. I hesitated slightly but my hand continued. I wanted so badly to- I rose to my tippy toes to reach the top and gently ran a hand through his hair. I took a handful and pulled slightly. I let my hand slide down his neck rubbing it gently and then fall down to his chest. His button up was slightly opened and my hand rested on his bare chest. Suddenly he gripped my wrist firmly and softly. I looked up at him and he looked down at me. Our bodies were touching and my heart was pounding. He cleared his throat. "I uh- I think we should get going to your house."
I continued to look up at him. I blinked. Were his eyes teal? He stared at me hungrily. "Gohan!" I gasped. He shook his head and closed his eyes tightly.
"I'm sorry. I was staring." He rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Why don't we shower and stuff?" He suggested. "I'll look through mine and my mom's drawers and find you something to wear okay?"
He let go of my arm and I couldn't help but wonder if that was a reluctant look across his face. He took a step back and we walked out of the room. "The bathroom's the last door on the left of the hall and the towels are under the sink."
A.N: I'm starting to get flooded with ideas. Let me know what you think. Signing out