Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ or the characters.
Thanks to everyone who reviewed. I replied to some through PM, but I got some anonymous reviews. I also got a lot of reviews for the chapter and I want to take time to review all of them here and now. I think I might do that from now on. Thanks for all of your support.
starchilds: Thanks for the review. I appreciate it.
WildVegeta (): I'm glad you like it. I hadn't really thought about including a lot about his past with his father…at least not yet, but I may find a way to incorporate it sooner rather than later. Thanks for the idea.
vidami12354 (): I was being a little extreme when I said "every" but there are a lot. One that I like is called Love, Hate, and Magic. It's interesting. There's so many others that I read, but I can't remember them all. There's another one called Slacker that I really liked but that story was posted like years ago. I hope that helped.
saiyansweetheart: I'm glad you thought it was good. The chapter I posted was actually ten times better than the one I had written that seemed to drag on and had no flow. I didn't know how to start the calm before the confrontation. Thanks for the review
Lilly Moonlight: XD Yeah, I like longer chapters too, but just think, the shorter the chapters are, the quicker I can actually make the updates. Just don't be too mad at the length. Lol, jk
Cara2012: Thanks! ^_^
preciousjade76: I haven't figured out what I'm going to do with Dr. Briefs character yet, but I'll try to get him to warm up to them eventually. Also, thank you for the well wishes on my exams. I think I'll need it XD
Mrs. Briefs dropped Bulma and Vegeta off at school after serving them a big breakfast. Everything felt so surreal to Vegeta. Just yesterday, on his eighteenth birthday and eight year anniversary of his mother's death, his dad had beaten him to a bloody pulp. Today, although sore, his wounds were covered up; he was living with people who cared about him (minus Dr. Briefs, but he took no offense); and nothing could bring down his mood.
They ran into Goku and Chi Chi at Bulma's locker. Goku had obviously known about Vegeta staying at Capsule Corp. and the look on Chi Chi's face told that she knew too.
Blabbermouth, both Vegeta and Bulma thought simultaneously.
Vegeta decided to chat with Goku while Chi Chi bombarded Bulma with questions that started making her feel uncomfortable. She kept asking why Vegeta was staying with her, and thinking back to how hurt Vegeta had been locked in that closet…she couldn't bear reliving it.
Vegeta noticed her discomfort and excused themselves to go to class. Upon entering, many pairs of eyes were on them.
Oh, what now? Vegeta whined in his head when everyone grew silent with a few occasional whispers. He turned to Bulma when he felt her tense up. It felt like the day after the bridge all over again. "Whatever happens," he whispered in her ear, "I am here for you. Don't let those idiots upset you."
Bulma relaxed and smiled up at him. "Thank you, Geta." She gave him a half-hug and they took their seats.
Class was seemingly uneventful until the end of the period. A note came flying onto her desk and she couldn't tell from which direction it came. Way back when, her first adoptive mother told her never to read notes passed in class unless it was from a close friend; however, curiosity got the better of her and she decided to open it. She gasped when she read the "hate mail." She caught the attention of both her teacher and Vegeta and heard a few snickers amongst the class (she assumed them to perpetrators).
"Miss Briefs, is everything alright?" the teacher asked.
"Um, yes sir," she replied hesitantly. She looked over Vegeta who had raised an eyebrow at her.
Bulma passed him the note that said she was "full of herself" and shouldn't be "sleeping around with the first guy she sees." Vegeta's expression became angry and he tore the note up. He took out a sheet of paper and wrote something to her (he didn't want to draw attention from the teacher again).
"They don't know anything. They're just jealous and it's pathetic. You are so much better than them, so don't even pay these rumors any mind. The rumors will die eventually. They always do, especially when these idiots have nothing better to do then make shit up."
Bulma tried to suppress a giggle. Leave it to Vegeta to insult them with his honesty like he had done with Dr. Briefs that morning. She turned to him with a wide grin plastered on her face. He returned her grin with a smirk, happy that he made her smile.
They didn't notice the look of disgust from some of the other guys and girls of the class, eyes green with envy.
A/N: So I added the annoying high school drama. You can't have a high school fic without the annoying high school drama. I remember a little bit of that kind of drama from high school, which is so sad. Don't worry though, I won't harp on high school drama. There's deeper issues that are more important than (and I'm sure this is something Vegeta would say) pathetic high school pettiness XD I'm sure you all agree.