We're Just Roommates
Part 2
By Presea
Later on in the afternoon, when Bra and Pan were getting ready for their graduation ceremony, Bra questioned Pan.
"What EXACTLY did you mean when you said that by tomorrow I would change my mind?" Bra demanded to know.
"Well, what I MEANT to say was, I know that you've ALREADY decided that you would like the idea... but I couldn't very well say that and embarrass you in front of Uncle Goten, could I?"
"What... what do you mean?"
"Drop the act, Bra-chan. I know how you feel about him. You can't hide it from me," Pan said.
Bra turned redder than a tomato. She couldn't deny that she had feelings for Goten. "I guess I can't hide anything from you, can I?"
"Guess not. But I wouldn't have figured you out so easily if I didn't have those feelings myself," Pan sighed.
"What... do you mean? That you like someone? WHO?!"
Pan's face grew somber. She hadn't told anyone about her feelings for Trunks, and she didn't want to tell Bra, either. But Pan thought if she knew about Bra's feelings for Goten, then it was only fair for her to tell Bra. However, Bra surprised her by figuring it out for herself.
"Oy, Dende-sama! It's Trunks, isn't it? You're in love with him, aren't you, Pan-chan?" Pan only nodded quietly. 'Uso!' Bra thought. And here Bra thought SHE had problems...
"I've loved him for as long as I can remember, Bra-chan."
"How come you never told me?!"
"For the same reason you never told me about Uncle Goten, I guess."
"So... is this why you want to move in with them, then? If we do, maybe we could get them to fall in love with us?" Bra asked her in disbelief.
"No! I mean, not really. It just seemed almost like... it was Fate."
"Fate?" Bra asked in confusion. "NOW you're talking stupid."
"No, I'm serious. I mean, don't you think it's weird, how all of us decided right about the same time that we wanted to move out? I swear, when Trunks told us he was getting a place of his own, it almost gave me chills."
Bra sighed. "I don't know, Pan-chan. I mean, I want to do this, I really do. But still, our parents..."
"Bra-chan, we've been through this!"
"I know! But saying it is a lot different from having to do it. We can say that it's none of our parents' concern, but how easy is it going to be saying it to their faces?"
Pan sighed. "Yeah, I suppose you're right. But it HAS to be done, Bra-chan. One way or another."
~*~
Their graduation night was quite memorable, to say the least. Pan was valedictorian* and her speech had been very moving and heartfelt. Afterwards, Capsule Corporation was holding a special graduation party for all of the students. Bulma had done the same thing when Trunks graduated from high school. All of Pan and Bra's friends were there, even Marron and Uubu showed up with their daughter, Ling.** There was food, dancing, reminiscing, and yearbook signing all night long. Pan made Trunks promise that he would dance with her, and when they announced the final slow song of the night, she grabbed him and took him out to the dance floor.
"My, you're persistent tonight, Miss Valedictorian," Trunks said with a laugh.
"It's my graduation night, Trunks. Can't you spoil me for a change?" she asked, frowning.
"Well, I suppose I could, just for tonight."
"Thank you!"
"Do you still have your heart set on being a doctor, Pan-chan?"
"It's all I've wanted to do ever since Marron had Ling, " Pan told him. Pan had been at the hospital the night Marron had gone into labor, and watched Ling being born. Ever since then, Pan wanted to be a doctor that delivered babies.
"I know you'll make a great doctor, Pan-chan."
"Thanks, Trunks. Oh, and by the way... Bra-chan's agreed to our little living arrangement," Pan told him.
"Has she? Well, I guess you were right. How did you know she'd change her mind?"
"I'm her best friend, Trunks. I know everything about her. Not only that, but she wants to get out on her own as much as I do. Now you're the only one that needs to decide, Trunks," she said.
"I don't know about this, Pan-chan. I..."
"Well, I should let you know that even if you decide not to go along with it, the rest of us will anyway."
"What do you mean by that?"
"What do you think I mean? Me, Bra-chan and Uncle Goten will live together."
"No way! No way am I gonna let Bra live with Goten without me there!"
"What's the matter, Trunks? Don't you trust your own best friend?" Pan asked.
"I don't mean it like that. I just..."
"Well, I hate to this, but if Bra-chan doesn't care what your father thinks, then she sure as hell isn't going to care what you think either."
Trunks couldn't believe this. Pan and his sister just graduated from high school and they already considered themselves "mature" and "grown up."
"You two are impossible! You know that?"
"So does this mean you'll do it?"
He sighed. "All right. If you're going to be like that, fine. I'll do it. But only because it'll be cheaper for all of us if we do it that way."
"What do YOU have to worry about? You're rich, Mr. CEO!"
"So? If you think I'M going to be paying all of your bills, you're crazy!"
~*~
A few days later, Pan, Trunks, Goten and Bra called a meeting with their families.
"What's this all about, kids?" Bulma asked them.
"We'll tell you in just a minute, Mom. Is everyone here?" Trunks asked.
"Yep, all present and counted for," Pan said.
"Good. Okay. Well, then..." Trunks took a deep breath. Man, this is going to be hard! he thought. "Um... well, it's like this. Well, you see... Pan-chan, Bra, Goten and myself, we... well, we want to... um... well, we just thought..."
"Come on, Trunks, just spit it out!" Pan cried. "Must I do everything? This is what's happening, everyone. Me, Uncle Goten, Trunks, and Bra-chan are moving out and we're getting a place together."
Silence. All of the parents were so shocked at this announcement that they just stared at their children as if they all grew an extra head. But it wasn't to last for long.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!" Vegeta growled.
"THIS IS ABSURD, SON GOTEN!" Chichi wailed.
"Mother! I'm 30 years old! 30 years old and STILL living at home! THAT is what's absurd!" Goten said.
"And I'm 32, which is even more absurd!" Trunks added.
Bulma seemed like the only one keeping calm. "I can understand why Trunks and Goten would want to move out, but... Bra-chan, Pan-chan, why?"
"Because we don't want to end up like THEM, that's why!" Bra said, pointing to Goten and her brother.
"Pan, sweetie, think about this, please. Couldn't you wait until after you finished college?" Videl asked.
Pan shook her head. "I'm sorry Mom, but this is something I really feel I have to do. I want to learn to be an adult and I won't be able to accomplish that by living at home," Pan said.
"But living with two men in their thirties?! I don't see how that's going to benefit you!" Gohan protested.
"One of who is my UNCLE, Dad," Pan reminded him. "And Trunks is Bra's BROTHER. I think Trunks has been friends with our family long enough for us to trust him, Dad. And the same for Uncle Goten. Besides, how often is Trunks at the office? Every waking moment, I would say. Bulma-san, honestly, how often do you even see Trunks at home?" Pan asked.
"Not very much," Bulma confessed. "It seems like he comes home to sleep, and that's it."
"There! You see? So it really wouldn't matter a whole lot anyway," Pan finished.
"And what about Goten? He doesn't even work! Do you realize you're going to have to get a JOB if you live away from home?!" Chichi told him.
"Oh, we've worked that out, too, Chichi-san," Bra said. "Goten is going to be the maid, as well as the cook and the handyman."
"Trunks, Pan and Bra are going to be paying most of the rent, and in return I'm going to do everyone's laundry and all the cooking and housecleaning."
Everyone began to laugh hysterically. "You, cook and clean?" Gohan laughed. "You must be REALLY desperate to get out, bro!"
"Believe me, I am," Goten muttered.
"I don't like this! Not at all!" Vegeta said.
"Well, we've already decided on this. Trunks has already started looking for a place for us. So there's no turning back now," Pan said.
The parents were silent again and looked at each other, then back at their children.
"You've grown up too fast for me, Pan. Sometimes I wish you were a tiny baby again. But I knew sooner or later this day would have to come. However, I'm going to trust you to do what's right," Gohan said.
Pan smiled and hugged her father. "Thanks, Dad. You're the greatest!"
Well, that wasn't too bad, Pan thought. However, little did Pan, Bra, Trunks and Goten know of the chaos that awaited them...
NOTES:
* Do they even HAVE valedictorians in Japanese high school graduations???
** Both Kuririn and Marron's names mean chestnut (Kuririn's in Japanese, Marron's in French) so I decided to name Marron's daughter Ling, which is the Chinese word for water chestnut.
I hope you guys liked it! I want to thank everyone for giving me such nice reviews on Part 1, even WYLTK, I was rather touched to read such a surprising review. =D Again, I don't know when I'll have the next chapter done. And for all of you T&P fans I've opened my new website, at http://geocities.com/tparchives/ if you're interested. It's just starting out but I have high hopes for it, if anyone has any fics, poetry or fanart of T&P please email it to me at presea@starmail.com and I will add it to the archives! Luv ya!
And as always, please R&R!
- Presea
