A/N: Hey all!* Here's a new Chapter for you all!*

Hope you enjoy!*

Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ! But this story is inspired by Charismatic Beauty

Chapter 36

Sunday night...

Trunks decided to go to the bar to relax and drank beer to clear up his crazed thoughts. His mind was entangled with Cindy, his former off-again-on-again girlfriend and his current love interest, Laura. He made it quite clear that he didn't love Cindy and doesn't want to be with her.

He made his feelings to Laura quite clear and gradually Laura seemed to be falling for him too. Things were going great until trouble showed its ugly head again and this time, it was Cindy. Oh how he despised her.

She was the main problem between Laura and him, aside from him shallow past. If Cindy would mind her own business and stay out of his life, then everything would be fine. On the other hand, Laura would have to let go of the past and just trust him.

Trunks was suddenly interrupted when he heard someone standing beside him. He glanced back at the figure and noticed it was Goten who cleared his throat. "I heard what happened last night" He said and sat down to join his distressed friend.

"I can't do this anymore. I just..." Trunks let out a heavy sigh as his shoulder slumped. He ran his hand through his hair while his other hand played with the glass filled with beer in front of him. He was dispirited.

"Come on, Trunks, don't give up! Yes, at first, she was difficult but you were always persistent. You can't back down now, not after everything you two have been through." Goten tried to persuade and motivate his friend.

"You guys have grown so close and Laura's really coming around. She even went out to dinner alone with you. That's a big step in your relationship, Trunks" Goten pointed out but his lavender haired friend was stubborn.

"Look, Goten, I know. But my patience have run thin. Sure, it was difficult at first. It took a while for me to actually grow on her and she finally started to loosen up and come around. Laura is now the main problem." Trunks said.

"I can't control Cindy no matter how many times I tell her to get lost and leave me alone. I just pray to Dende that she'll finally find something else to do with her life and leave us alone. I can only control my actions" Trunks let out a sigh again and looked at Goten.

"The bottom line is, Goten, Laura has got to let go of the past and just trust me. I'm not going to have my heart dumped over and over again just because some woman has trust and insecurity issues!" Goten gave him a sympathetic look and hoped that Trunks could see past his stubbornness.

Meanwhile at Laura's house...

After Laura gave Sara a call to tell her about the dinner disaster on Saturday night, her friend came over in hope that she could comfort Laura. They both sat on Laura's porch while drinking lemonade as Laura spoke.

"I'm done, Sara. I'm never going to see Trunks ever again. I should've trusted my instincts in the first place and stopped myself from getting involved with him in the first place" Laura said in a bitter tone and Sara shook her head.

"No, Laura, you can't do that!" Sara grabbed Laura's hand as she tried to convince Laura. "Listen, I know that you love Trunks very much and I know that he loves you very much. Can't you see that you two are meant to be together? I can see you two married and with a beautiful baby!"

Laura shook her head at her friend's silly fantasies and a small frown came onto her plush lips. "Sara, your head is in the clouds again. Trunks and I won't ever be together, now even more so" Laura said and Sara groaned.

"Oh, Laura! Stop fighting this beautiful reality and admit that you live him before you lose him! You don't want him to reject you again, do you?" As soon as Sara said those words she knew that it hurt Laura but the redhead tried to keep her face impassive.

"How can he reject me, if I reject him first?"

Monday Morning...

Trunks sat at his desk in his office trying to work as hard as he could but he found that it was impossible to get any work done. He was distracted. He couldn't concentrate because he was still troubled by the weekend's events.

How can one weekend end in a disaster?

Trunks was so deep in his thoughts that he didn't even notice his mother's presence when she stepped inside his office. "Hey, Trunks. How are you doing? You look a little bit distracted" Bulma's voice spoke up and Trunks looked back at his mother.

Trunks felt reluctant to tell his mother what happened because it includes his ex Cindy and her coming onto him at the restaurant with Laura as a witness. It would just make him look terrible and he knows that Bulma would be pissed despite it not being his fault.

"Come on, Trunks, tell me. Is it about Laura? Is everything okay with you guys? Trunks?" Bulma urges him to tell her in a serious tone. Trunks sighed heavily knowing that there was no way he'd get out of this one.

He got up and sat down on his desk while Bulma sat down on the chair in front of him and she folded her arms across her chest, prepared to hear his explanation. She was sure that this was not going to be good news.

"Alright, for the record, it's not my fault" Trunks quickly added and Bulma gave him a look that made him continue. "Laura and I were at a restaurant last Saturday on our first official date. In the past, Laura had been reluctant to have dinner with me.

"However, she finally became comfortable with the idea, much to my delight. I was overjoyed that she finally accepted because this was another good step in our relationship. I felt that we were finally becoming a couple" Trunks said.

Bulma smiled as she listened to Trunks who continued. She was happy that Trunks and Laura's relationship finally seemed to be heading in the right direction. She knew how much Trunks had wanted to have dinner, alone, with Laura.

"Everything was going well. We ate and danced a little. Then Laura went to the Ladies room. This was where things started to go wrong. All of the sudden, Cindy comes out of nowhere!" Trunks said with a tone of both anger and annoyance.

"Wait a minute, Cindy? As in your ex Cindy?" Bulma exclaimed in complete shock and Trunks meekly nodded. "Trunks, I thought you stopped seeing her for good this time. I can't believe that you'd trash Laura like that. I thought you were head over heels in love with her"

Bulma was angry and disappointed. She didn't think Trunks would go back to his on and off again relationship with Cindy. She honestly thought that Trunks was finally done with her and that he moved on towards a better relationship with Laura.

"I am, Mother! I don't love Cindy anymore and I made that very clear to both women! Cindy has been stalking us, Mom. I know she probably saw us at the Coffee shop. I was so careless and focused on my conversation with Laura that I didn't even realize Cindy and Vicky were spying on us" He said.

"They purposely came to Riku's party knowing that I would there with Laura and then Cindy came to the restaurant where Laura and I were. When Laura went into the Ladies room, Cindy came and kissed me right in front of everyone!" Bulma's eyes widened in shock once again.

"Moreover, Laura just happened to come out of the Ladies room at the exact same time witnessing the whole scene. That was humiliating. I feel terrible. I had no idea that Cindy would show up. She even came to my job to convince me to go back to her. She's obsessed Mom" Trunks finished.

Bulma shook her head at the news. She didn't know what to think of the new predicament. She was torn between believing her son and knowing how Laura felt. Deciding that Trunks was telling the truth and she knew that there was no reason for him to lie, Bulma looked back at Trunks.

"Have you apologized to Laura?"

"Yes, I did. I tried to explain the situation to her and that I never meant to hurt her. I told her that I didn't know that Cindy would be there at the restaurant and that it wasn't planned. But Laura was too stubborn and threw guilt trips. It wasn't even my fault" Trunks replied.

"Well, you have to look at it from her perspective too. What if you saw your boyfriend kissing another woman? You'd jump to conclusions too" Bulma pointed out but Trunks wasn't hearing any of it.

"But I didn't kiss her back, Mom!" Trunks yelled in frustration as he slammed his fists on his own desk. "I tried telling her that but she didn't listen!" He was irritated that no one listened and believed that it wasn't his fault.

"Trunks, calm down"

"No! I even told Laura a few things that she also needed to know about herself! I'm not the only one who is the problem!" Trunks said and Bulma gave him a blank look for a few seconds before she raised an eyebrow.

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

"I told her that she was naïve and shallow too in High School. She only liked me because of my appearance and that you were my mother. I think Laura was being really shallow and then trying to make me look like a jerk for not liking her in High School" Trunks answered.

"What a hypocrite! I also told her that she needed to get over the past and her little insecurities. She's not the only woman who's been rejected. I also told her that I'm tired of everyone making me feel guilty because of her. I'm tired of apologizing for the same thing over and over again. I said I'm sorry and I meant it, Jeez! Now she won't trust me" Trunks finished.

"Trunks, that was harsh. Did you really say all that so her?" Bulma asked as she looked at Trunks with a bit of disbelief. She was surprised that he would say all those things to her but then again, he had a terrible temper at times.

"Yes, she needed to know and I had to get it off my chest"

"The truth hurts but you brought up a lot of strong points. Perhaps she was just as shallow as you. So what are you going to do, Trunks? Do you think you did the right thing? I don't want her to never return to our home again. I adore her and I think she'd be good for you" Bulma said with a sigh.

"Goten told me the same thing. If we're ever going to work she needs to get over the past and her little insecurities and just trust me already. She needs to stop punishing me. I've already suffered the consequences and now I'm suffering for something I didn't even do" Trunks stated.

"Well, tell her that in a less harsher way"

"I don't know, Mom. I mean, she's pretty stubborn when she wants to be and she said I'm relentless" Bulma shook her head at this and resisted the urge to tell him that he was indeed relentless at times.

"If she really loves you, then she'll forgive you for the past and for the little 'dinner disaster'. Come on, Trunks, give it a chance" Bulma tried to persuade her son and Trunks let out a sigh. If he tried then it would be his last time.

Here goes nothing...

Tuesday Morning...

Laura sat at her desk while debating with herself whether or not to end everything with Trunks. Earlier on, she had made it quite clear to Sara that it was over but something that Sara said about them having a future together made her feel strange.

Laura couldn't bring herself to tell Trunks that it was really over. Did that mean that she actually loved him too? The though did cross her mind. Part of her couldn't bear the thought of rejection again. Especially since, it reminded her of her rejection in High School.

Laura's cell phone suddenly went off and she yelped slightly in surprise. She checked the caller ID and swallowed thickly. It was Trunks. She didn't want to answer it out of fear that he would reject her again.

On the other side

The phone still rang and Trunks was starting to grow impatient. "Come on, Laura, pick up. Why won't she talk to me?" Trunks said with a groan. The phone then went on voicemail and Trunks decided to leave her a message.

"Look, Laura, I know you're still mad at me but I'm really sorry. I'm sorry I came off harshly the other day. I want to sort things out and please talk to you. I don't want to do this over the phone. Please come by my house when you get off work" Trunks finished and closed his phone.

He only hoped that it would work.

Later that night...

Laura finally returned home after a long day but she was still debating with herself whether or not she should go to Trunks's house. She was afraid that he would reject her. She wasn't sure what exactly would take take place and it was making her nervous.

Sara grabbed her phone and with a few clicks, she called Sara. She would know what to do. It wasn't long before Sara picked up and Laura took a deep breath. "Sara, I need your advice" She said and then continued.

"Trunks left a voicemail on my phone saying that he wants to talk things out tonight. He wants me to go to his house but I don't know if I should go." I don't want him to reject me...again. Laura silently thought the last part to herself.

"Laura, there's nothing to be afraid of. I think you should to go Trunks's house. I don't think that he'll break up with you. He loves you too much and you should know by now how relentless he can be whenever you are concerned" Sara replied and Laura rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I know. He never takes 'no' for an answer"

Laura parked her car in Trunks's driveway and resisted the urge to swallow thickly. She was actually doing this. She picked up her last nerve and walked towards Trunks's front door before she rang the bell.

Trunks came to the door and opened it only to find that Laura stood there making him gasp. She actually came. "Laura, you came. I'm so happy" He said in a happy tone. He was surprised that she came. He was still dressed in his shirt and dress pants while Laura was dressed in a simple blue dress.

"So, what did you want to tell me?"

Trunks watched as she stubbornly folded her arms and stood to the side. "Come inside" He said as she followed him to the living room area. They both sat down and Trunks made sure he was ready before he spoke up.

"Laura, I know I came off a little harsh the other day but if we're ever going to work out you really do need to get over the past and me being a jerk. I'm sorry that I didn't see things in a less shallow light but you were also being shallow and naïve" Trunks saw her give him a disapproving look.

"I think we both were and you also need to trust me. Forget about Cindy. I told her to leave us alone and I made it clear to her that I no longer love her. That's another thing you need to get over and forgive me for being a playboy. Yes, I have a lot of ex's and I can't change that" Trunks said.

"They've not important to me, you are!" Laura gasped at his words and turned away. Sara was right. He was serious about her and here she thought that he would reject her AGAIN. "Laura please look at me" Trunks said and she looked back at him.

"I love you!" He exclaimed and then pulled her into his embrace. Laura gasped once again and started to breathe heavy. She couldn't believe this was happening. Was she really ready for this? He was telling her his feelings again. Why did he do this to her every time?

So relentless...

Trunks slightly pulled away from Laura and lifted her chin up to that she would look at him. Then he kissed her. Her eyes and mouth widened slightly in shock. The kiss was warm and tender. Trunks tried not to put too much force into the kiss out of fear of scaring her off.

They had come this far. He didn't want to ruin it now. To his surprise, she slowly but surely started to return the kiss. He was surprised and shocked. Did this mean that she loved him too? He moved his hands from her waist and caressed her soft hair.

He then released her and she panted slightly. By now, she had tears forming in the corner of her eyes. "I love you, Laura. Don't stand there and tell me you don't love me because I know you do. I felt it in your kiss" he said seriously as he still held her in his arms.

"Trunks, let me go" Laura pointlessly said.

"No" He countered back and Laura's brows twitched. She could feel that her entire body heated up at that kiss and even now in his embrace, she felt warm. Her heart was still beating loudly against her chest and she was sure that her face was heating up.

"You're really relentless"

"So are you" Trunks countered back and Laura wanted to groan. No matter what she tried, she had a feeling that he wasn't going to let her go. She was stuck in his embrace until she said the words he wanted to hear.

"If I tell you 'yes', will you let me go?"

She wasn't smiling but she had a slight gleam in her eyes and that was enough for Trunks. "If you tell me 'yes' then I'll never let you go" He said and gave her a smirk. However, Laura wasn't giving in just yet.

"Then what if I tell you 'no'?"

She wanted to see how far he would go to win her affections and then decide what her answer to him would be. "Then I'll keep trying until you say 'yes'" Trunks stated seriously. He wasn't going to give up either.

"Well then..."
"Well then, what?"
"Well then, yes"

"Yes, what?" Trunks continued to urge her on but even he was getting a little bit impatient. However, he was not going to give in. She just had to say it already! If only she wasn't so stubborn, but she was one of the most stubborn people he knew.

"Yes, I love you, fool!" She finally blurted out.

Trunks gasped and his eyes widened. Wow. He wanted her to tell him that for the longest time and now she finally said those words that he wanted to hear. He leaned in again and kissed her. The kiss was long and passionate.

It was love of two young adults.

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