A/N: I thank you again for all the positive reviews. Just a heads up I like to write cryptic, meaning you don't know what's really going on until I explain it. So just be ready for some unexpected twists. On to the most anticipated chapter so far, I hope you like it.
Disclaimer: C1
Someone to Lose
Wednesday Morning
The halls of school were filled with kids as they went through their early morning routine. Small talk and rumors fluctuated as the kids gossiped about the latest news. However most of it revolved around the boy who wasn't there.
Vegeta was almost the subject of everyone's discussion. All the girls talked about how hot and cool he was for getting arrested and thought of fantasies of being with him alone in a jail cell. The guys talked about how stupid he was and he deserved to go to prison. But one group talked about neither, instead they had other ideas.
"So the big day is tomorrow." 18 said standing next to Bulma's locker. Bulma was getting the books she needed for class.
"It is just a trail hearing not the actual trial, but unfortunately he goes to prison after tomorrow." Bulma said shutting her locker.
Chi-Chi standing with the two decided to get in the conversation. "I thought he was in prison."
Bulma shook her head. "No he is in jail, there is a difference."
18 folded her arms. "What difference is that?"
"Look I am not saying that jail is better than prison, but jail is better than prison." Bulma said confusing the two. She rolled her eyes and continued. "Jail is where you go when you are arrested, you stay there until the judge convicts you and sends you to prison. Prison is where all the criminals are and it is worse."
The two nodded. Not that they understood but because they were confused as hell. "So, how long until his real trial?" Chic-Chi asked.
"Two weeks after tomorrow." Bulma said walking with the two down the hall. "But I think his lawyer will get a sooner date. After all I did get him the best." Bulma said braggingly.
18 rolled her eyes and opened her mouth to say something when she was interrupted by another voice.
"Get who the best?" A voice said behind them. The three girls spun around to see Freeza smirking at them. "And the best what?"
Bulma narrowed her eyes at him. "Why are you interrupting our conversation?"
He chuckled a little and took a step towards her. "I am just asking a simple question."
Bulma glared at him refusing to back down. "Well if you must know I got my BOYFRIEND Yamcha the best tutor money can buy." She spun on her heel and turned around walking off. "No use in him being a great football player if he can't keep his grades up." She scoffed and walked away with her head held high. 18 and Chi-Chi followed not saying a word.
Freeza's smirk disappeared. Two figures came up behind him. "Forget looking for another recruit. Keep your eyes on her."
Piccolo was watching the whole thing from across the hall. He watched as the two followed the girls and the leader stood there watching. Piccolo folded his arms and thought for a moment. 'Now things are getting interesting,' he thought. 'The girl was smart and didn't give anything away, but the creep didn't buy it. Too bad.'
He turned his head and saw Goku show up to school for the first time in a week. He smirked as his plan took an unexpected turn.
Goku sat in class and received a number of weird look and glares. He had returned to his overly happy self with a smile always on his face. He couldn't help it if he was naïve and clueless, that is just the type of person he was. As hard as he tried, though, he could not pay attention in class. All this stuff was boring and made him want to fall asleep.
He came back to school as if nothing happened and he didn't hear the full details of the past week so everything was all new to him. He took a second and looked around the room seeing a number of eyes staring at him. 'Man,' he thought. 'You leave for a week and they act like you were dead.' He shrugged and looked back at the front of the room.
After a minute he realized one set of eyes weren't looking at him. He turned back around and saw Chi-Chi looking angrily at her book obviously ignoring him. 'What's that about?' He thought confused.
"Mr. Son, I realized you have been gone for a week but do you think you can keep your eyes on your own work." The teacher scolded him.
Goku turned around quickly. "Yes ma'am." He said looking back down at his book. He thought it would be best to talk to Chi-Chi after class. After all he hadn't talked to her in quite some time. And after being friends with Bulma for a long time he knew how girls got when they weren't getting attention.
After class Goku waited by the door for Chi-Chi to come out. When she did he stepped in front of her with his famous Son grin.
"Hey Chi, long time no," she started to walk away from him. "See…?" His grin disappeared and he stood there scratching his head. He then ran to catch up with her. "Hey Chi-Chi wait up."
She stopped and turned around glaring at him. "What Goku?"
He held his hands up. "Whoa what is wrong? Is it because I wasn't paying attention to you?" He asked innocently.
Chi-Chi shook her head and turned to leave only to be stopped by Goku in her way. "Whoa Chi, come on. I'm sorry okay. Look I got you this." He pulled out a large chocolate bar from his pocket. "Here I know Bulma used to love this whenever she got mad at me." He handed it with a big grin on his face.
The grin disappeared when she snapped the candy bar in half. "Well you could open it then break it apart but that works too." He said staring at the crumbled candy in her hand. She dropped it then turned and left.
Goku cocked his head at her walking away then back at the candy bar. "AHH, five second rule!" He said quickly picking up the chocolate. He looked back over at where Chi-Chi walked away and started eating the chocolate. "I guess she doesn't like chocolate." He said shrugging and walking over to his locker.
He kept eating the chocolate and stepped in front of his locker. He was about to open it when a familiar shadow cast itself on his locker. He turned around finishing up the candy and smiled. "Oh hey Piccolo." He greeted his friend.
Piccolo smirked at him. "Goku, nice of you to show up."
"Huh? Oh ya well I had a rough week but that is all fixed now. So what's up?"
Piccolo looked from side to side. "What have you heard about Vegeta?"
"That he got arrested for something. I don't know I haven't talked to anyone since I got back."
Piccolo rolled his eyes and turned to leave but looked back at Goku. "Lunch time meet me in the library, we have things to discuss."
Goku watched Piccolo leave and scratched his head. This day just kept getting weirder and weirder. 'What is going on?'
Later that day.
Bulma decided to see Vegeta again before his trial. She wanted to see him more often but he didn't want her to be under any suspicion. He had used his one phone call to call her earlier that week.
Flashback (A/N: I hate putting that.:) Sunday morning.
Bulma sat on the couch reading the newspaper. She never did read the newspaper but one article had caught her interest. It was about Vegeta.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT BUSTED FOR TWO POUNDS OF COCAINE
The article read. Of course it stated how the evidence against him was overwhelming and he would be going to prison for sure but something further down caught her interest.
THE STUDENT: VEGETA, HAS A HISTROY OF TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE. HE WAS MOVED FROM TWELVE DIFFERENT FOSTER PARENTS DURING THE AGES OF 7 TO 13. AFTERWARD HE WAS REPEATIDLY SUSPENDED FROM SCHOOL FOR GETTING INTO FIGHTS. HE WAS EVEN SENTENCED TO PRISON WHEN HE WAS FOURTEEN FOR BEATING UP HIS TEACHER IN THE MIDDLE OF CLASS. HIS OWN FATHER MADE A STATEMENT ON HIS VIOLENT BEHAVIOR.
MR. VEGETA SENIOR: "MY SON WAS ALWAYS VOILENT AFTER THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER. IT HAD IMPACTED HIM GREATLY AND SPUN HIM OUT OF CONTROL. HE EVEN BEAT HIMSELF WHEN HE WOULD GET HOME. I HAD A HARD TIME OF CONTROLLING HIM SOMETIMES AND NOW SEEING HIM GETTING ARRESTED FOR DRUGS JUST CONFIRMS MY SUSPICIONS."
Bulma didn't want to read anymore. The paper basically praised his father while saying that Vegeta was a bad kid. She crumpled it up and threw it across the room. She was about to turn on the television when the phone rang. She picked it up and answered it.
"Briefs residence."
"Bulma?"
Bulma sat up in shock. "Vegeta?"
"Yeah, I am using my one phone call."
"Well you didn't have to I was going to come by and see you later today."
"No that is why I called, I don't think it would be a good idea."
Bulma felt a slight pain of sadness. "You don't want to see me?"
She heard him sigh on the other line. "No I do that's why I don't want you to come down here."
"I don't follow."
"Look I don't want anyone getting suspicious if you come and see me more than once."
She rolled her eyes. "Vegeta what did I say? I can take care of myself."
"I know but please just trust me on this. Only come and see me once in a while, it will eliminate any suspicion of you helping me if it is like once a week or something."
Bulma sighed. She wanted to put up a fight but she knew in the end he was right. "Alright fine I will only see you once a week, and hopefully that won't be for too long. I got you the best lawyer I could find and he said he could get you out of this but it will take some time."
"As long as I get out I don't care how long it takes. Thank you."
She smiled at hearing him saying thank you. It was a rarity and she thought she should savor the moment. "So how are you doing?"
She heard a sound like he put down the phone for a second to think. "I'm fine, don't worry about me."
"You know that is impossible." She said smirking.
"Yeah I suppose."
There was a brief pause before she continued. "I will come and see you Wednesday okay?"
"That is fine."
She hesitated before going on. "I miss you Vegeta."
She heard the sound of him putting down the phone again. This time he didn't pick it up as quickly. When she almost regretted what she said she heard him speak again.
"Yeah I miss you too."
She smiled a little and was about to say something when she heard talking in the background.
"Okay, sorry but my time is up."
She let out an uneasy sigh. "Okay I will see you Wednesday."
"Okay, bye."
"Bye."
Bulma smiled back at the phone conversation. She had enjoyed it and liked that he actually use his one phone call to make sure that she stayed safe. She walked into the building and walked up to the front desk.
"Can I help you miss?" The lady at the desk said.
"Yes I'm here to see someone."
"Okay have you been here before?"
"Yes, I was here Friday."
The lady stood up and pointed at a clipboard. "Okay just sign in, who are you here to see?"
Bulma signed in on the clipboard talking to the receptionist. "Vegeta."
"And may I ask who is here to see him?"
"Bulma Briefs."
"Oh miss Briefs I didn't recognize you, yes just one minute." The lady quickly rushed to the back room.
Bulma smirked and stood there waiting. They did the same thing last time she was here. All she had to do was drop her name and they gave her everything she wanted. 'One of the positives of being the richest girl in the world,' she thought.
She watched as the receptionist came back in. "Wait one moment while the guard brings him out."
Vegeta sat staring at the wall like he had done the past few days. He hadn't realized how boring solitude was. Even though he had always enjoyed it he never realized how much he liked it when someone burst his bubble by breaking his solitude previously. 'Especially the woman,' he thought smirking. She was being so kind and caring through all this. She had even gone out of her way to get him a lawyer. 'Thank you mom,' he thought. 'I promise I will try my best to not screw this up, this time.'
It was amazing how much Bulma reminded him of his mother. They were both smart, beautiful, innocent and so much more. But there was something different that he felt for Bulma. It was obvious he was attracted to her, after all she was beautiful and hot even. He couldn't wait to get out of this mess and hold her for the first time. He shook his head out of those thoughts and let reality sink in.
'What would someone like her want with someone like me?' He thought to himself. 'She is perfect and I am nothing but a broken mess.' He remembered back to his mom who cared for him and his father so much even though they were both not worthy of her kindness. 'Maybe Angels do exist.' He thought.
But whatever the reason he knew that history would NOT repeat itself. He would not be the man his father was and throw her kindness to the side like it didn't matter to him. He would try his hardest to return her feelings but it wouldn't be easy for him. This was the first time in eleven years he had actually felt happy being around someone. He shook his head. 'This might take some time.'
He looked up at the guard approaching his cell. "You have a visitor." Vegeta stood up and held out his wrists as the guard opened his cell and cuffed him. He put him back into the visitor's cell and Vegeta sat down. He watched as the guard left and Bulma walked in.
His heartbeat quickened and he felt his breathing become shallow. 'What is going on with me?' He thought. He looked up at her as she sat down and smiled at him.
"Hey Vegeta, how have you been?" She asked sweetly.
He held up his shackled wrists and smirked. "Been better."
She giggled a little. "Yeah I know, but seriously you think this is worse than what your life was before?"
He frowned and looked away. "You don't know the half of it."
She grabbed his hand smiling kindly. "I would if you told me."
He looked back at her and found himself getting lost in her eyes. Seeing her again reminded him how much he truly liked her. Yes Vegeta likes her, a lot in fact. He has had plenty of time to think about it after all.
"There is another time for crying over my pitiful life." He said not wanting to continue.
She folded her arms and glared at him. "Vegeta stop that, your life isn't pitiful. Now stop trying to act so tough and just let it out."
Vegeta mirrored her glare. He didn't want to go any deeper into this. "Why do you want to know?"
"Because I care about you and what has happened to you." She took a look at the bars surrounding him. "And what IS happening to you."
He continued to glare at her. "Trust me it is best if you don't know."
She softened her glare. "Why? What is so painful you can't tell me?"
Vegeta dropped his head and took in a deep breath. "I won't think any less of you for it. You can tell me anything."
He slowly raised his head and looked back at her. "My father…" Vegeta didn't want to tell her but something was forcing him to do it. 'Mom,' he thought. "My father beats me, daily. Along with that little bitch Freeza. I have tried to escape all this but unfortunately I am stuck in this." He didn't realize that tears had started to fill his eyes. He blinked them away and continued, not looking at Bulma. "My father is in the drug business with his father. But Freeza's father has more power, so Freeza can do anything he wants with me and I can't fight back." He returned his gaze to the ground. "I hate my life." He whispered.
Bulma had put a hand over her mouth and gasped after hearing this. It wasn't bad enough that his mother had died but he also had to deal with all this? 'How could he keep going?' She thought to herself. She felt liquid coming down her cheeks after hearing his confession. She opened her mouth to say something but he spoke before her.
"So if I get out of this unscathed I will have hell to pay for it." He admitted. Bulma didn't need to ask why to know. If Freeza had set him up knowing that he would for sure go to prison, then what would happen if he got out of this?
"Vegeta I…" She began but words failed her.
"I don't want to go back to that." He admitted. Sadly, he had to admit going to jail was the best thing that ever happened to him. He laughed uneasily at that and hit his head on the bars. "You know your life is sad when you are happier to be in jail than at home."
Bulma reached up slowly and gently touched his cheek. She brought his gaze back to her. "Vegeta, I know I don't have much to offer but I can make things better for you."
He looked into her tear filled eyes. "All I want is your kindness that is all I will ever need." Bulma smiled when he said that. 'This boy is so different,' she thought.
"Then you got it." They both smiled and shared a moment of silence. "So I talked to your lawyer and he said he can get you off with a low set bail, but you will be under house arrest."
Vegeta shook his head. "Great. When is the trial date?"
"Well the judge will decide that tomorrow."
Vegeta cringed at that. "I hate judges."
She nodded. "I bet you do."
"Okay so if everything goes according to plan what will happen?"
"Best case scenario? You get off clean with nothing on your record. And you get to go back to school."
Vegeta rolled his eyes at the last part. "And what of the worst?"
Bulma took a deep breath. "You get kicked out of school and you are on parole." Vegeta nodded and dropped his head. "But hey you won't go to prison no matter what."
Vegeta shrugged and looked back up at her. "Thank you for doing this. I can never pay you back…"
Bulma shook her head. "Don't worry about it. I already said I care too much about you to see this happen to you."
He smiled and looked at the clock behind her. "You should probably go."
Bulma looked off to the side. "Yeah, I know." She looked back at him. "You going to be okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine; just take care of yourself until I get out okay?" He said bringing his hands up and pushing a few strands of her blue hair back. She blushed at feeling his touch on her cheek. She looked into his eyes and time seemed to stop. They sat there staring at each other for what seemed like forever until Vegeta tore his gaze away.
"I will see you tomorrow I guess." He said looking off to the side. Bulma smiled and stood up and leaned up to the bars. Thankfully he had placed his cheek on the bars so she could reach in and kiss him on the cheek. She smiled turned and left, satisfied with the look on his face.
Vegeta sat there with his mouth slightly open after she left. He felt all the blood in his body rush to his face. He couldn't believe how that woman made him feel like a little kid with his first crush.
Bulma couldn't get rid of her smile on the way to her car. It was now dark and she walked into the parking lot and over to her car. She lifted her keys to unlock her car when a chilling voice behind her made her blood ran cold.
"Well what are you doing here? Visiting Vegeta?"
Earlier that day
"You want me to do WHAT?!" Goku yelled, as him and Piccolo talked behind a bookcase.
Piccolo slapped the back of Goku's head. "Shut up! This needs to be only between me and you."
"Okay but I don't get what joining Freeza's crew is going to do." Goku said rubbing the back of his head.
Piccolo shook his head. "Look I would do it myself but after tonight I doubt they would take me. And you, from what I heard he is actually afraid of you."
Goku tilted his head. "Freeza is afraid of me? Why? Probably because my father is in the government." Goku kinda rambled on.
Piccolo rolled his eyes. "Yeah sure, whatever. But do this and don't screw up, got it?"
Goku shrugged and nodded. "Alright Piccolo I'm in let's do this."
Back to that night
Bulma spun around indecently dropping her keys. She looked up at the two guys that always followed Freeza around. She felt a large lump in her throat as she stared at them panicking.
The two started to laugh at her reaction. "Well it looks like we caught you by surprise." Dodoria said smirking.
"Yes it was really smart of you hiding the assistance you were giving Vegeta but I think he would have found out eventually." Zarbon said as they walked towards her. "It's too bad, you really were a hot one. I guess I can't blame Vegeta in his taste of women."
They stood two feet from her smirking. Bulma looked on the ground frantically for her keys. It was too dark and she couldn't find them. She looked back up and gulped. "Vegeta…" She whispered.
Vegeta sat in his cell staring at the very familiar wall when something pulled at his mind. He looked from side to side and saw the other people in their cells sleeping. He shrugged and laid down looking up at the ceiling.
He started to close his eyes when something spoke in his head. 'Go to the window.' He sat up and looked around. He thought he was going insane and went for the flask in his pocket. He stopped when he thought for a moment. 'The window?' He stood up and walked over to the window in his cell. He could barely see out into the parking lot.
His eyes widened as he saw Zarbon and Dodoria standing in front of Bulma. "No," he whispered. His blood boiled inside of him. His grip tightened on the bars covering the window. He was starting to see red thinking something was going to happen to her. "No!" He said louder.
He tried to pull the bars with all his strength but it was no use. They wouldn't budge. "NO!" He screamed in pure rage and anger. He punched the wall with all his might and the brick wall was no match for his rage. He punched a hole right through the six inch thick brick wall. But it still wasn't enough he couldn't get out.
Bulma could have sworn she heard Vegeta yelling but she was too busy worrying about her own life to notice it. She held her hands up and closed her eyes. But nothing ever came. Instead she opened her eyes after the sound of fight happened in front of her.
There stood Piccolo strangling Zarbon while he had his left foot on top of an unconscious Dodoria. Piccolo stared deathly at the man in his hands and slowly started to squeeze. "Now listen before I knock you out too. You will never speak of this night, or of the woman's assistance of Vegeta. You will crawl back to your "boss" and say that she has nothing to do with this. Got it?"
Even though his windpipe was getting crushed Zarbon still managed to choke out words. "Do you know who we work for?"
Piccolo smirked. "Yeah but do you? Do you think he would care if something happened to you? Like if you went to prison for trying to assault this girl? Or if somehow evidence was planted on you and someone called the cops." Piccolo saw the realization in his eyes and smirked with satisfaction. "I thought so." He released Zarbon and let him drop to the floor. "This night never happened got it?"
Zarbon held onto his neck and looked up at Piccolo. After he nodded Piccolo kicked him in the head knocking the lights out. Piccolo looked up at Bulma.
"You too, this never happened. Just keep helping Vegeta, and let Goku know when the trial date is other than that, don't talk to him until that date understand?"
Bulma was shocked and confused. "Wait what is going on? Why are you helping me? Why are you helping him?" She gestured over to the jailhouse.
Piccolo rolled his eyes and turned around. "I will take that as a yes. And as to why I am helping him, school is boring as hell. I gotta have some fun once in a while." And with that he left an awestruck Bulma.
Vegeta watched Piccolo walk away and Bulma leave with a relieved look on his face. He walked away from the window and sat back down. He thought why was Piccolo going to help him? And what did this have to do with Goku? Many questions that needed answers.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out the photo of his mom. He stared at it for several minutes thinking about the past week. He smiled looking at her. He could never measure the amount of love he had for his mother. The memories of her were the only thing he held dear in life. That is until he met Bulma. Seeing her on the first day of school was like the first time he was awake since his mother passed away. She was the only thing he saw in that hallway on the first day. He remembered freezing when she walked by him then helping her with her books when she fell she seemed to be stunned by him too.
He felt a touch of happiness flow through him as he remembered the woman. Just like when he thought of his mother thinking of Bulma made him smile. When he would get out of here he was not going to screw this up.
Fin.
A/N: So how do you think it is going? Well writing this chapter was not easy. And besides it is going to be fun to write the Bulma/Vegeta relationship now. That's right if you haven't caught on yet they are basically together. Well let me know what you think!