This is my chapter from last weekend, there will be another new one up this weekend coming, promise.

Cilvanti - This one is more happy, I promise.

Morgain Croix - Trouble and angst is done for now, maybe some more in some later chapters. ; )

Jarell - There will be definite ass whooping, just no guarantee this chapter.

Yari - Thanks for the compliment, glad you enjoyed.

Shades of Crimson - They were once supposed to be main characters but the focus changed a little. Oh well, it's probably a lot better now then it would have been.

Dragonballgeek101 - Stop tackling me, lol. throws all her pancakes

TheDemonLord - Actually, I do believe you, I'm the same way. I only log in to review when I find a really outstanding story. So glad you like this story so much.

Lady Dark Angel - There will be someone getting creamed soon enough, no hints as to who though and when.

DBZ Maineak - Thank ya.

Chapter 11 : Respect

Bulma had called Launch Wednesday night and the purple haired girl had suggested a girls night that following night to try to lift her spirits. Launch had even agreed to let Chichi join in as well which touched Bulma, as she knew that Launch despised the thought of hanging around with the 'lower social class'. Bulma had thought over what Launch had said and she knew that her old friend was right. Marron had been the one that flirted with her boyfriends and stabbed her in the back, not Launch. Just because the two girls were almost inseparable was no reason to stop being friends with Launch.

The three teens sat in the food court of the local shopping mall sipping on weird smoothie concoctions that they had ordered. Bulma giggled after taking a sip from hers, "oh my God, this is so horrible."

Launch laughed at the face Chichi made after taking a sip of hers, "I told you it would be fun."

"Getting the server to throw random fruits into a blender is not what I call fun," Chichi said, but couldn't hide her smile.

"You're just bitter because of the lemons," Bulma told her with a smile.

"Lemon, mango, banana and cherry smoothie doesn't even sound half as bad as how it tastes. You guys have no idea," Chichi said, pushing the cup away from her.

Launch giggled, "I guess I lucked out, mine's delicious."

Bulma rolled her eyes and grabbed the cup from Launch and took a sip out of it, she gagged and just barely managed to swallow it, "that is even worse then mine! You're nuts if you think that's any good."

Launch just shrugged and took her drink back, "so, ready for the experience of hardcore shopping with us, Chichi?"

Chichi rolled her eyes, "I guess, I don't have much of a choice."

"You really don't," Bulma agreed and got to her feet, grabbing Chichi's arm to haul her up at the same time. "We have to find new outfits for tomorrow night," Bulma stated, pulling Chichi away from the table and leaving the horrid drinks sitting there.

Launch followed happily a couple steps behind, her drink still in her hand. "So, you decided to go then?" Launch asked.

Bulma nodded, "I'm not going to sit home and feel sorry for myself when I could be out having fun."

Chichi frowned, "but what about Marron and Vegeta? They'll be there too."

Bulma shrugged, "if Marron doesn't heed my warning then I can't be held accountable for what happens to her."

"You're psycho," Launch stated with a giggle, "but Marron deserves it."

"You need backup, I'll be waiting," Chichi said with a nod of her head.

"And I'll be standing on the sidelines trying not to giggle," Launch added.

Bulma rolled her eyes and walked into a shoe store, "chatting time is now officially over," she announced.

An hour later, Chichi was leaning against one of the display shelves watching as Bulma and Launch paid for the one pair of shoes they had each bought. Bulma had opted for a sling-back stiletto heel in a deep burgundy while Launch choose a closed toe, more classic high-heeled shoe in navy blue. Chichi had chosen to stand on the sidelines and get more and more bored as the two teens tried to find their perfect shoes. She was quickly running out of ways to entertain herself and the mall didn't close for another four hours.

---

Bulma dropped Chichi off at her house then drove herself and Launch back to her place. They entered the mansion and went directly up to Bulma's room. Launch walked over to Bulma's bed and plopped herself down on it as Bulma walked over to her television and DVD player. She pulled out her favourite movie, "Pretty Woman", and popped it into the DVD player before going over and joining Launch on her bed. Anytime her, Launch or Marron ever had a broken heart the three of them would sleep over at Bulma's place and watch "Pretty Woman". It was a tradition.

By the time the scene at the Polo match started to play, the teens were heavily into the movie. They had popped popcorn to eat and piles of it sat in front of the television, having been thrown by the pair on the bed. They had a mutual hatred for the lawyer in the movie. When the lawyer approached the leading female role to solicit her, the pair on the bed started screaming at the television and cursing at the man. It wasn't until the scene ended that Bulma noticed the glaring man standing in the doorway of her bedroom.

Vegeta was not very pleased at having been woken up just past midnight by giggling, screaming women. He had been standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest for over a minute before the girls noticed him. He was wearing nothing but navy blue pants in a light fabric and was not enjoying the once over he had received from Launch.

Bulma swallowed hard when she saw him and couldn't pull her eyes away from his face. She sat up on her bed from her once laying position, "something you wanted?" she asked quietly.

"Silence would be nice," Vegeta growled in response.

"We'll try," Bulma told him and turned her attention back to the movie that was still playing.

"You will not try, you will do," Vegeta snarled, "you do not want to make me come back here." With the final snarled comment, he turned on his heel and returned to his room.

Launch rolled her eyes as Bulma got up to go shut her bedroom door, "he's got some definite anger issues."

Bulma came back and laid down on her stomach on the bed again without saying a word.

"Bulma, please don't let him get to you," Launch said soothingly, "he's just being a jerk to try to get some little piece of revenge on you. You shouldn't let him punish you because you didn't want to be with him anymore."

Bulma turned on her side to face her friend. She propped her head up on her hand and gave Launch a sad smile. "You want to know a secret?" she asked. At Launches nod, she continued, "I only broke up with Vegeta so that his and Juu's friendship would heal."

"Are you serious?" Launch asked, completely forgetting the movie playing in the background, "tell him that."

"I can't," Bulma replied, "he wouldn't believe me anyway. I've already lost him so there's no sense bothering to even try to get him to listen to me." She sighed and pouted slightly. He had barely spoken to her and when he had, his tone almost nasty enough to bring her to tears.

"Poor Bulma," Launch said, mirroring her friends pout, "it'll all get better soon."

---

Bulma looked at herself in the full length mirror in the corner of her bedroom and smiled, she looked perfect. She was wearing the same shoes from before and a short black dress in a light fabric with a low v-neck. Her hair was in waves and she had the front pinned back with just a few loose strands left to fall in front of her face. She was wearing small ruby stud earrings and a white gold chain around her neck.

Bulma let out a sigh and left her room. She had to pick Launch up in ten minutes and she was running a little late. As she pulled out of her driveway she noticed that Vegeta's car was already gone. With yet another sigh she took off down the street to Launches house.

---

Bulma and Launch walked into the school gymnasium. The lights were dimmed and there were two big screens playing music videos with large speakers lined up in the middle. Bulma said her goodbyes to Launch and walked over to the bleachers to find Chichi and Goku sitting on the bottom row. She sat down beside Chichi and looked around the crowded room. "Did you know this is my first high school dance that I haven't had a date for?" Bulma stated.

Chichi grinned as she looked at her friend, "don't be so pessimistic. You look great."

Goku nodded, "yeah, really good, Bulma. You shouldn't have any problem finding a guy here willing to dance with you."

Chichi turned her head to give her boyfriend a sharp glance before looking back to Bulma. "Vegeta and Marron are here already. Just a heads up, she's been hanging off of him all night."

Bulma shook her head, "whatever, I'm here to have fun." She turned away from Chichi and started looking through the crowds of people. That's when she noticed Juu dancing with Goku's older brother. "Why is Juu here with Radditz?"

"She brought him," Goku stated, "they've been really friendly lately."

"Excuse me," Bulma said and got to her feet. She walked over to where Juu was and grabbed her arm. Without giving her a chance to react, Bulma pulled her out of the room into the hallway where it wasn't so loud and there wasn't as many people around.

"What do you think you're doing?" Juu asked, when Bulma had let go of her arm.

"What do you think you're doing with Radditz?" Bulma replied, "Vegeta is going to freak out."

"So what? Why do you care anyway?" Juu asked, crossing her arms over her chest, "you're not with him anymore. Neither him nor I am any of your business anymore."

"You're more my business then you think you are," Bulma replied. "You have to stop being such a bitch and forgive him."

Juu raised an eyebrow in curiosity, "why do you care so much?"

"I just, do, alright?" Bulma told her, "never talk to me again if you want, but at least forgive him."

Juu shook her head. "Just stay out of it," she told her before turning on her heel and walking back into the crowded gymnasium.

Bulma followed her back in slowly and took her prior seat on the bleachers. Unfortunately a slow song had come on while she was talking to Juu. Chichi and Goku were dancing which left Bulma with no one to talk to. She looked around the gymnasium trying to pull out faces of people she knew when she caught her first glimpse of Vegeta and Marron. He was leaning against the side wall and she looked like she was trying to convince him to dance with her. Bulma couldn't help the small smile she got at the knowledge that he wouldn't lower himself to dance with Marron. He looked good though, wearing baggy faded black jeans and a navy blue button up top with the top half of the buttons undone.

Vegeta had been putting up with Marron's nonsensical chatter, flirting and sexual innuendos all night, but he drew the line at dancing with her. As attractive as she was, the fact that most of the male population of the school had had a turn with her disgusted him more then words could describe. He truly wanted nothing to do with the woman other then a tool in his revenge. His anger and hurt had mostly faded, but he couldn't forgive himself for giving Bulma the chance to make him feel those emotions. He had been as big of a jerk to her as he could manage which made her keep her distance, that's why he couldn't help the surprised look on his face when he noticed her walking from the bleachers towards him and Marron.

Marron followed his gaze and turned towards the approaching Bulma. She crossed her arms over her chest and placed a snotty look on her face. "Uh, hello, what do you think you're doing over here?" Marron asked when Bulma stopped beside them. "it's called 'personal space', now move along."

Bulma gave Marron an amused look before turned her head to the right to look at Vegeta, "one dance, please?" she asked, almost too quietly to be heard.

Vegeta couldn't help wanting to go to her, she looked so beautiful and fragile in the dim light. Her tone was so quiet but pleading still the same. "Song is almost half over," he replied, careful to keep his voice neutral. Her having the courage to approach him made him regain some of his lost respect for her.

Marron blinked a few times, trying to catch up to what was going on, "Vegeta is so my date, Bulma, get lost," she told her, placing her hands on her hips. "Why would he want anything to do with you, when he could have me?"

"Maybe because I haven't spread my legs for most of the senior class," Bulma replied to her before turning her attention back to the man in question. "the longer you wait to reply, the shorter the song is getting."

Vegeta glanced at Marron who was giving him a 'don't you dare' look. He smirked at her before leading Bulma out to the middle of the floor. He put his arms around her small waist as she looped hers around his neck. She wouldn't let him keep space between their bodies when he tried as she moved hers right up against his.

"You're a complete jerk, you know that, right?" Bulma murmured contentedly in his ear.

Vegeta chuckled slightly, "and you're a spoiled brat," he replied.

"I know you want to hurt me and you have every right to, but can you promise me one thing?" Bulma asked after staying silent for a moment.

"Which is?" Vegeta replied, relaxing into the feel of her body.

"Don't have sex with Marron," Bulma stated bluntly.

"You have nothing to worry about," he replied, "I'm one of the few who don't want a turn."

"Good," she replied quietly, letting the one perfect moment of the night wash over her. Too soon for her own liking, the song ended and Vegeta pulled back slightly from her. Without thinking she moved to close the space again and pushed her lips to his, rejoicing in the lack of hesitation on his part. She moved one of her hands up into his thick black hair as he swept the tip of his tongue over her bottom lip, encouraging her to part them. Just as she did, Bulma was forcibly pulled backwards away from him and Marron stepped into her face.

"What the hell do you think you're doing? You had your chance and you blew it, you spoiled little bitch. It's my turn now," Marron told her, her voice as stern as possible.

"Oh, so it's alright when you're trying to get with my guys, but when I turn the tables on you, it's not fair?" Bulma pointed out.

"It's not my fault your men run to me because you can't satisfy them," Marron replied with a cocky little smile.

"You are a complete, fucking bitch," Bulma seethed.

"And you're just as bad as I am, princess," Marron returned, the cocky smile still in place.

"I am nothing like you," Bulma stated and pushed Marron backwards. She wavered slightly, but stayed upright.

Marron reached down and slipped her shoes off, placing them to the side slightly, "if you think your disproportionate butt can beat me, bring it on."

Bulma stared at her for a second, before taking a step back and shaking her head, "you're not worth it," she told her before turning around and slowly making her way through the forming crowd towards the exit.

---

Bulma went straight home after the incident with Marron and changed into a comfortable black tank top and short maroon silk shorts. She curled up on her bed with another book for her English literature class and started reading it. A hour had passed before she heard a knock at her door. She yelled out for them to come in and was slightly surprised when Vegeta entered and closed the door behind himself. Bulma sat up on her bed and leaned back against the headboard.

Vegeta walked over and sat directly beside her, "Marron was less then thrilled when I dropped her off."

"That's a shame," Bulma replied with a role of her eyes.

"I just came to make a truce," Vegeta told her, "I got all my anger out and I know I've hurt you, which actually makes me feel pretty good after what you did," Bulma rolled her eyes at this, "so I have no more need to be a 'jerk' as you call me. So, truce?" He asked.

Bulma smiled and pushed his shoulder playfully, "how about friends, at least?"

Vegeta smirked at her and pushed her back, "you, more then anyone else should know my answer to that."