TITLE: Chapter Three - That Thing You Do
NOTE: So sorry! I know I've been neglecting this fic lately and I'm really sorry. I just wasn't feeling very inspired to write it. Hehe. Anyway, this is my take on how B/V got together. This song, if you don't know, is by The Wonders (from the movie 'The Wonders'). I cut out some parts, like repeat choruses, so that the fic would flow better. I got these lyrics from some web page or other so please don't blame me for any mistakes in the lyrics. Hope you enjoy.
DISCLAIMER: I make no money from these fics. I am in no way related to the creators of DBZ or the composers/singers of these songs. If I were, I wouldn't be so broke all the time. ^_^





*****

Vegeta gobbled down his third bowl of rice as he re-stocked his energy for training. He had been back on Earth for a week now and hadn't really said anything to the woman. He didn't know why but every time that he was around her, he could never express what he truly felt but when he was alone, all his emotions tumbled around, begging to be unleashed. He sighed, the answer popping up in his mind. Pride. It was all about pride. His pride wouldn't let him admit that he love...that he cared...that she meant something to him.

Bulma came floating into the room, completely ignoring him as she had been doing since his return. She didn't even look in his direction or acknowledge his presence. She merely walked to the fridge, grabbed a couple slices of bread and began to make her sandwich. When this task was completed, she cleaned up her mess and walked out. To her, it was as if Vegeta were invisible, not there at all.

As soon as he was sure that she was gone, he sighed. Had she indeed found someone else while he was gone? Why did she have to be so cold around him? When she was around other people, she was still her happy, cheerful self. So why was she giving him the cold shoulder? Was she just doing to him what he had, for so long, done to her? He shook his head at the thought. Him, the Prince of all Saiyans, getting a taste of his own medicine.

*****

'You
Doing that thing you do
Breaking my heart into a million pieces
Like you always do'

Bulma barely made it to her lab, tears trickling silently, and unchecked down her cheeks. Still the same old Vegeta, if not colder and less caring. Why couldn't he at least say something to her? Anything! In the past week, he had barely uttered a word to anyone. He continued to lock himself up in his gravity machine, acting as if nothing had happened.

That's what upset her the most. Something had happened and he was ignoring it. She had all but told him that she loved him and he had run. He was such a baka. Sometimes she wished he were more like Goku. She laughed at herself for thinking such a thought. True, Goku was innocent and sometimes sweet, but if Vegeta were like that, would she still love him? Probably not. He wouldn't be Vegeta anymore.

Confused and hurt, she sat down and tried to force herself to eat. Why did she have to fall in love with someone so heartless?

*****

'And you
Don't mean to be cruel
You never even knew about the heartaches
I've been going through'

Vegeta stood in the shower, letting the water cascade down his muscular body. The woman had been on his mind all day as she had been for awhile. He just wished that he could leave this mud ball of a planet and never return. But deep down, he knew he couldn't. He could never leave her, even if she said she didn't want him. He would always stay, always make sure no one hurt her.

"What is the effect you have on me woman?"

He knew that she had no idea what she was putting him through, but he still needed to blame someone and who better than her? He finished his shower and dragged himself off to bed. It had been another day of tough training and he was exhausted. The moment his head hit the pillow, he was out cold.

*****

'Well I try and try to forget you girl
But it's just so hard to do
Every time you do that thing you do'

Vegeta woke up bright and early the next morning. So early, in fact, that the sun wasn't even up yet. He couldn't help it. The woman had haunted his dreams all night long. Her beautiful face had lingered inches from his, daring him to fold to his desires and kiss her. So close yet so far, even in his dreams. He hated these dreams. They reminded him of how much he cared for her, how much he loved her.

Trying to block such "weak" thoughts from his mind, he wasted no time slipping into his training clothes and rushing out to the gravity machine. He didn't want to run into anyone on his way out even though he doubted that they were awake. He didn't feel like talking to anyone at the moment. The Briefs seemed to know nothing of his emotional struggles and he preferred it that way.

He nearly tore the door off its hinges as he hurried outside into the early morning dawn. He needed to start training as quickly as he could. Training was the only way to keep her out of his thoughts, even if it was only for a few short minutes. He wanted some time to think sanely and as long as she was lingering in his mind, he couldn't think of anything but her.

*****

'I
Know all the games you play
And I'm gonna to find a way to let you know that
We'll be back someday'

The phone rang causing Bulma to grumpily awaken from her restless sleep. Turning onto her side, she stretching out her arm and picked up the phone which lay on her bedside table. Lifting her head slightly off her pillow, she brought the phone to her ears.

"Hello?" She smiled at her own, groggily, sleep-filled voice.

"Hi. Did I wake you Bulma?"

Bulma's eyes popped open as she recognized the voice at the other end of the line. "Yamcha." She hated the surprise that overcame her. They had, after all, promised to remain friends. So why should she be so shocked to hear from him? "You woke me up, but that's okay. I have to get up anyway." She heard him laugh nervously and imagined him scratching his head as he always did when nervous.

"Sorry to wake you, but I was wondering if you wanted to go to a party with me...as friends." To Bulma, the last part sounded like an afterthought more then anything else.

"A party?" She sat up on her bed, back leaning against the headboard.

"Yeah. I thought you might have heard about it already since it is today. Chi Chi's birthday party. Remember?"

Bulma felt like beating her head repetitively against the headboard. How could she forget? Chi Chi had told her almost a month ago and she knew Chi Chi's birthday was coming up. Reminding herself that she still needed to buy a gift sometime today, she turned her attention back to Yamcha.

"Sure. I'd love to go with you. Pick me up at 7:30 okay?"

"Yeah. Sounds great."

Hanging up with Yamcha, she unconsciously wondered if Vegeta was going.

'Cause we
Could we happy can't you see
If you'd only let me be the one to hold you
And keep you here with me'

*****

'Cause I try and try to forget you girl
But it's just so hard to do
Every time you do that thing you do'

"Come on Vegeta. Please?"

Vegeta gave another irritated look in Kakkarot's direction. "No."

"Why not?"

Vegeta wanted to knock Kakkarot out. No Saiyan had ever whined so annoyingly or so much, but then again, no Saiyan had ever been as strong as the fool in front of him was. "Because."

"Please? It's only Chi Chi's birthday once a year."

And how many more will she have, Vegeta thought to himself. "Leave me alone."

"Just say 'yes' and I'll leave you alone."

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Come on!"

"No."

"Why not?"

Wanting to rid himself of Kakkarot, he threw his hands up in desperation. "Fine! I'll go."

Kakkarot jumped into the air, pumping his fists like a child. "We'll have lots of fun and there'll be lots of food Vegeta! You won't regret it."

With that, Kakkarot instantaneously transported himself from the gravity machine, his new destination unknown to the Saiyan prince. Grumbling to himself, Vegeta wondered exactly what he had done by agreeing to this stupid idea.

*****

Vegeta sat alone in a dark corner of the Son house, appearing bored and annoyed. Piccolo was doing the same thing not far from him as the both of them watched everyone else chat up storms. Both wondered what they were doing at such a place when they could be training and preparing for the androids.

'I don't ask a lot girl
But I know one thing's for sure
It's the love I haven't got girl
And I just can't take it anymore

Cause it hurts me so just to see you go
Around with someone new
And if I know you you're doing that thing
Everyday just doing that thing
I can't take you doing that thing you do'

A sudden movement near the front door caught Vegeta's attention as Bulma and Yamcha walked in, arm in arm. A flock of women that Vegeta did not know went to greet them, some gushing over Yamcha while the others dragging Bulma into their conversations.

Vegeta felt himself grow weak as he gazed at her. She was beautiful, undoubtedly the prettiest one there. Although she had been wrenched away by the other women, the memory of how she had her arms around Yamcha's made something stir in Vegeta. He felt uneasy and had a growing urge to kill Yamcha.

Striding quickly over to her, he dragged Bulma away from the group of protesting women and ignored her protests of anger. Krillen stepped in his way asking what was going on but Vegeta quickly and effortlessly pushed the little man out of his way. Unsure of what he was doing or why he was doing it, Vegeta rushed the both of them out into the chilling evening and away from the Son house.



Author's Note: Okay. First and foremost, I'm sorry this has taken so long to post. I've actually had this sitting around for awhile, but I wasn't sure if I liked where it was going. Heh...sorry. Anyway, hope it was decent. *looks nervous*

*hopes there is still someone reading this fic* If you are reading this fic, please leave a review (questions, comments, advice, flames, anything) to let me know that someone is actually reading. You do that in the little box below this fic. Hehe! ^_^ Thanks! It'd be greatly appreciated.