Break- Chapter 6
By Tanyaneko
Disclaimer: Tanyaneko owns nothing. Not even a muse. *Sigh* Oh, well…
A/N: People who review are nice!
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The Christmas Party….
"Argh!" Pan complained. "This dress is too clingy! And they wouldn't let me wear my bandana!"
Bra just giggled at how similar Pan's comment was to the one so many years ago. I just hope the dragon doesn't get broken this time.
The black-haired girl tugged at the hem of her dress in a futile attempt to get it to reach lower than mid-thigh. "And it's riding up my butt!"
"No, it's not. Turn around and I'll prove it to you."
Pan glared. "Fine, he just better appreciate it."
"Who?"
"Tr-…uh… I mean, my boyfriend, of course. Who else?"
"Oh, I don't know… a certain lavender-haired brother of mine who happens to be walking in the door at the moment, perhaps?"
But Pan wasn't listening anymore, her attention focused instead on the sight of Trunks in the tux he was wearing in accordance with his mother's formal party code.
He walked towards her- that cocky, self-assured walk of his- with the inherited smirk that she still found so sexy on him, even after all the years she'd spend trying to forget. It amazed her that after all that time, she still felt weak around him. But she had a boyfriend now. And tonight, she resolved, I end this.
"You look gorgeous, Pan."
She smiled, and felt her cheeks heat up. He still got to her like that. No, no, no! He can't… he can't!
Then he revealed a perfectly wrapped package from behind his back, and presented it to her with a flourish and a heart-melting grin. "Merry Christmas, Pan."
"Trunks, I have to tell you something…"
"Open your present first, then you can tell me, okay?"
"Okay…" She ripped off the wrapping paper, opened the box, took out the tissue-covered object, unwrapped the tissue, and gasped when she saw what it was.
It was undoubtedly the same dragon she'd made- of that she was positive, but she noticed the small changes. There was a new glossy finish, and she could see that special care had been taking in the restoration of the inscription. The words were now inlaid with what was obviously genuine gold. The heart- ah, so that's where my necklace went- was covered in small diamonds and rubies.
"Pan, if you can't tell already, I…" He gave a short, nervous laugh, before continuing. "I love you." See? That wasn't so hard, he thought to himself, but it wasn't over yet. What was she going to say? "Um… so what was it you were going to tell me?"
She lifted her head to look at him then, and he was shocked by the expression in her eyes- anguish, indecision, and confusion. "No, Trunks… why? Why'd you have to go and do this now? I thought I was over you, but you had to go and bring it all back… Trunks, I have a boyfriend. He… he asked me to marry him."
"What did you tell him?"
"Oh, I… I…"
"What did you tell him?" he repeated, his voice sounding depressed, hollow, and almost plaintive.
"I told him I didn't know. But I was thinking about saying yes…"
"Pan, I-" The doorbell rang, cutting him off.
"That should be him." Pan turned around and walked to the door.
Had you been at dinner that night, you would have noticed several things. Trunks, a half Saiya-jin, was only picking at his food. Pan looked like she was about to cry. Bra, Goten, Bulma, and even Vegeta were sullen. Somehow, Trunks' project had become theirs as well. And Pan's boyfriend was confused. He just couldn't understand why none of them were talking to him. He just assumed they were a quiet bunch of people.
In the middle of their meal, Pan stood up. "I have to go to the bathroom." She walked, and as she passed by Bra's chair, she pulled her friend along with her, giving the excuse of "she's going to retouch my makeup for me."
As soon as they entered the bathroom, Pan locked the door and broke down in tears. "Bra, what am I going to do? I don't know what I'm feeling anymore!"
Bra looked at her friend, and she answered with all she could think of. "Here, take a tissue. And Pan, it's hard, but simple. Who do you love?"
"I don't know anymore, Bra! I left to get over your brother, and I thought I was over him, but now that I'm here again, everything comes rushing back. I don't know if it's just a serious crush or a sick obsession or maybe it's just residual affection, I don't know! And my boyfriend's wonderful, and sweet, and funny. He should be perfect for me!"
But Bra just shook her head. "You're not allowed to think when it comes to love, Pan. You don't know with your mind first. You know with your heart. And you can't choose who you fall in love with. It doesn't matter who should be perfect for you. It matters who is."
Pan nodded. After a while, she got up, dried her tears, and smiled. "Thanks, Bra. I know what I have to do."
Okay, people. Do you think I'm being evil? I had to leave it with a cliffhanger. I just had to! Wait up for the epilogue. I promise I'll have it done some time on the 23rd. But until I get it out, review, review, review! Please?
~Tanyaneko
