It had been a couple of weeks since the sleepover at Marron's house, and now there were only two days of school left. Grades had already gone in, so everybody who showed up basically got to have fun for the last couple of days. Some people watched movies, some people brought video games, some people listened to music, and some people just hung out. Goten and Trunks were playing basketball in the gym. Tina and some of her friends were sitting on the bleachers talking and watching the boys play ball.
"Watch out, Trunks! You might as well call me Allen Iverson!" said Goten.
"Whatever you say, Goten. But didn't the Lakers beat the Sixers?" asked Trunks.
"That was a fluke! The Sixers are gonna get 'em next season!"
(Author's Note: That's absolutely true. Anybody who knows me knows I'm a 76ers fanatic! Representin' Philly, baby! Oh sorry, back to the story...)
"Just call me Shaq, Goten! You know why?" Trunks shot the ball and missed. Goten caught it in midair, ran to the opposite end of the court, and delivered a beautiful layup.
"Because you keep laying those bricks? What, are you building a house or something?" said Goten.
"Now that was a fluke. Gimme the rock," said Trunks. Goten checked the ball to Trunks. Trunks put his back to Goten and dribbled the ball. He turned, faked, then turned in the opposite direction, and ran toward his basket. Goten raced after him and reached for the ball. Trunks twirled the ball behind his back and to his other hand, then he soared into the air and dunked the ball. He hung from the rim and grinned down at Goten.
"Lakers style, baby!" said Trunks.
"That's alright. I can bounce back from that," said Goten.
"Hey, you guys have twenty seconds left in the period! Get ready for your next class!" said the gym teacher.
"Alright, let's make this quick so I can embarrass you in time for my next class," said Trunks.
"Whatever, Trunks. Pass me the ball," said Goten.
"You can do it, Goten!" said Tina from the bleachers.
"I just want to dedicate this to my future baby's mother," said Goten with a smirk.
"Aww, he's dedicating it to Trunks," said Tina.
Goten dribbled the ball and circled around Trunks. Trunks reached for the ball a couple of times, but Goten moved the ball too quickly for him. He darted down the court as fast as he could. Trunks ran after him. Then, in a split second, he grabbed the ball as it bounced off of the floor and ran back to his basket. Goten's feet screeched across the floor and he ran back to Trunks. Trunks stopped at the three-point line and shot the ball. The ball hit the rim, bounced, and came back out. Goten jumped up, got the rebound, and ran back down the court. Trunks ran extra fast and was at the three-point line ahead of Goten. He crouched down to block Goten, and before he knew it, Goten performed a beautiful, Allen Iverson-style crossover that confused him. He circled around Trunks, jumped into the air, and slammed the ball into the net. Goten hung from the rim and grinned down just as Trunks had done.
"Sixers style, baby!" said Goten.
"Time's up! Move on, people!" said the gym teacher.
"That's right, Goten. Show Trunks that Sixers style!" said Tina.
A few periods later, it was lunch time. Goten, Trunks, and Marron were sitting at the same table, as usual. Tina walked up to their table and tapped Goten on the shoulder.
"Goten, can I talk to you for a second?" asked Tina.
"Sure, Tina," said Goten. He got up and walked away from the lunch room and into an empty hallway with Tina. "What's up?"
"Well, since tomorrow is the last day of school, there's no real rush to get home. So I was wondering if you would want to come to the mall with me tomorrow so we can look for bathing suits," said Tina.
"Yeah, I'd love to. In fact, Trunks and Marron are already going."
"Cool, we can all go. One more thing. I noticed today when you were playing ball with Trunks that you were moving really fast."
"Yeah, I work out a little..." Goten flexed his muscles like a big show-off.
"I've never seen anybody move that fast before. How do you do it?"
"Well, you gotta take your vitamins, say your prayers, and eat your vegetables like a good little Hulkster," said Goten in a bad impersonation of Hulk Hogan.
"I'm serious. Nobody in this school moves that fast. Nobody who races moves that fast! Is there some kind of secret to it?"
"Not really. I just try hard, I guess."
"There's a lot I don't know about you, isn't there, Son Goten?" asked Tina as she moved closer to Goten and closed her eyes. "I kinda like that about you." Goten and Tina stood and kissed in the hallway for ten minutes, and there were no interruptions the entire time.
*******
Goten got into the house at about 3:30 in the afternoon. Goku was in the kitchen, raiding the fridge as usual. Goten walked into the kitchen, grabbed a can of soda, and sat at the kitchen table with his father.
"Hey, son. You seem happy," said Goku.
"Yeah, a little. I guess it's because it's the end of the school year," said Goten.
"Goten, I may not be the smartest man in the world, but I don't think the summer vacation is the only reason you're so happy."
"What do you mean?"
"I think you like this Tina girl even more than you let on. Probably more than you know. Have you taken my advice?"
"I sure did. And it seems to be working. We're just having fun every time I see her. But..."
"But what?"
"I have this feeling, Dad. I just have this feeling that something is wrong. I have this feeling that something is happening with Tina and she wants to tell me but can't."
"Something like what?"
"Well, when we were at the movies, there was this scene where the main character is being abused by her father. Tina seemed a little upset, and then she wanted to leave."
"So you think there's trouble at home?"
"Yeah. And if there is, I can't just let it happen. But I'm no hero. If Tina wants to open up to me, I want her to be able to. What should I do?"
"Well, you definitely don't want to pry. If there is something wrong, then Tina will let you know. But only when she's ready to. It might not be easy for her to open up about it."
"You're right, Dad. I'll just leave it alone. How did you get so deep?"
"Son, when you have to sit and listen to Chi Chi talking about all of those romance novels for so many years, you learn a thing or two."
"Well I'm glad you learned some things. And I'm glad you're passing it on to me." Goten got up and hugged his father. "Now I can pass it on to my kids," he said as he left the kitchen.
"Kids?" Goku scratched his head.
*******
The next day, Goten, Trunks, Marron, and Tina were all sitting in their homeroom, waiting for their report cards. Tina and Trunks were calm about it, but Goten and Marron were chewing their fingernails and sweating bullets. The teacher walked around the room passing out the report cards. When Trunks got his, he looked at it and smiled.
"Hm, A's and B's. Not bad," said Trunks. Marron got hers next.
"Alright! B's and C's!" said Marron. Tina got hers next.
"All A's! Perfect! What did you get, Goten?" asked Tina. Goten got his next.
"All...something else..." said Goten. Trunks leaned over and looked at Goten's report card.
"Man, I haven't seen so many of those since we were listening to Marron's Eminem CD," said Trunks. Tina looked at it.
"Goten, these are B's and C's!" said Tina.
"Got ya!" Goten and Trunks high-fived.
Everybody was dismissed a few minutes later. The four friends walked a few blocks and got on the bus. Everybody sat way in the back, with Goten sitting next to Tina and Trunks sitting next to Marron. They were talking about fun times they had over the year, and at that moment Goten appreciated just being a young man and hanging out with his best friends.
"Goten, remember that time we were doing that project in chemistry, and we accidentally blew up the beaker, started a chain reaction, and blew up every beaker in the room?" asked Trunks.
"Yeah, I remember that! Hey, remember the time that freshman grabbed Marron's butt and she beat him up in front of everyone at lunch?" asked Goten.
"That was hilarious! Oh...sorry Marron, you still seem a little mad about that," said Trunks.
"That little pervert had no business touching my butt!" said Marron.
"Here's the one. Do you remember the Halloween Party, when Goten came in a bum costume?" asked Tina.
"I remember that! We all had a good laugh!" said Trunks.
"He had flies swirling around him and everything!" said Marron.
"Guys, what are you talking about? I didn't wear any costume to the party," said Goten.
Everybody kept laughing and joking until the bus stopped in front of the mall. They all got off of the bus and walked into the mall while looking for a swimwear store. Eventually, they came across a good store and went in. Tina and Marron walked toward the ladies swimwear section, and Goten tried to follow them. Trunks grabbed Goten's ear and pulled him toward the men's section.
"You find yourself some suits, boys. We'll be fine by ourselves," said Tina.
"Goten, did you lock your mind in the gutter or something?" asked Trunks.
"But...but...but...but..." stammered Goten.
"That's exactly my point. Now come on," said Trunks.
Tina and Marron looked through all of the bathing suits on display. All of them were good, but they couldn't decide upon anything. Marron found a one-piece pink bikini and decided to go with that. Tina kept looking, and eventually she found one that was perfect. She held it up and showed it to Marron.
"What do you think of this one?" asked Tina.
"That one? Wow, that one's great! You'll knock Goten out with that one!" said Marron.
"You think it's a little too revealing?"
"Nah, it's fine. Besides, I want to see the look on Goten's face when he sees it."
"Okay. Yours looks good too. Trunks is really going to like it. No wonder he likes you so much."
"Say what? Trunks? Oh, we're just...yeah I like him too..."
"I knew you did! You finally admitted it!"
"Okay, now you have to make a confession, too. Do you like Goten?"
"...Yeah. Yes, I like him. You happy?"
"Very. Well let's go pay for this stuff and find the guys."
Over in the men's section, Goten and Trunks were busy looking at the selection. Trunks found a pair of black and purple swim trunks that he liked. He decided to get those. Goten was still looking through all of the trunks.
"Find anything good, Goten?" asked Trunks.
"Nah, I can't find any good trunks, Trunks. Hey I said Trunks twice..." said Goten.
"Very funny. You should do what I did. Get something to match your hair."
"That's too easy for a guy with black hair. Unless...of course! Trunks, I have an idea!"
"I thought I smelled something burning..."
"Look, this is perfect." Goten grabbed a pair of black and gold trunks and held them up. "Ta-da! You get it?"
"Uh...no..."
"Look, I can wear these trunks and go to the park as a Super Saiyan! I'll just tell Tina I died my hair, that's all."
"That's a good idea, but can you control your power enough to do that? I mean, one hug could kill her."
"It's fine, Trunks. My dad taught me how to control my power. Besides, it would be really romantic to be with Tina as a Super Saiyan, don't you think?"
"Romantic? Goten, you're scaring me."
"This is gonna be perfect, Trunks. I can't wait."
Trunks and Goten walked up to the counter and saw Marron and Tina paying for their swimsuits and putting them in bags. Trunks and Goten payed for theirs and walked up to the girls. Marron and Tina purposely hid their bags.
"So, did you ladies find good suits?" asked Trunks.
"We sure did. How about you?" asked Marron.
"Oh yeah, we found some great ones," said Trunks.
"So Tina, can I see your swimsuit?" asked Goten.
"Nope, not until the day we go to the park," said Tina.
"Aww, no fair..."
The four friends made their way out of the mall and back on the bus. They all sat on the bus and talked about the past school year just as before. The bus stopped around Tina's house first. Tina kissed Goten on the cheek, said goodbye to everyone, and got off. Goten, Trunks, and Marron got off at the next stop. They all said goodbye to each other, waved, and flew off toward their respective homes. Goten thought as he flew home. He thought about Tina, and what he and his father had spoken about the day before. If something really was happening to her, he would be there for her. But until the time came, all he wanted to do was have fun.
END OF CHAPTER 5