Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine… just the plot!
Babysitting
I'm your average teenage girl. I go to high school, I gossip about boys, I hang out with friends, and I get grounded for abysmal grades. During the summer I like to do normal things with my friends. Shopping, guy scooping, hanging out, going to the movies… these are all practical things that I love to do! That was until my wonderful 'FRIEND' Ami decided to disrupt My Life Cycle. She RUINED a perfectly good Friday Night that I could have been spent at Rei's or Minako's watching movies and gossiping about boys.
Maybe I should start at the beginning. It all started one day while Ami was at work…
oOo
Ami sat back in her chair massaging her temples. She glared at the evil computer sitting in front of her. She worked as a technician's assisstant in Capsule Corp. And was hoping that if she did a good job on this project, she would be promoted. After all, a sixteen year old should always be at the top, right? But she was at the bottom of the food chain. And her boss often made her do his work on top of her own. Bulma Briefs, the owner of Capsule Corp walked into Ami's office… err, cubicle. (Ami only WISHED it was an office) She looked down at the Dark blue haired girl that was glaring at the computer screen.
"Uh… Ami?" She asked pushing her glasses up her nose.
Ami shot out of her chair. "Ms. Briefs! Hi!" She exclaimed blushing.
"Ami, I need a favor, actually, I need a babysitter. Do you know anyone that is a reliable sitter?" Bulma asked her youngest worker. "My husband and I are attending a party with our friends, but we can't bring our younger children."
Ami thought quickly. 'C'mon Ami, you have to come through for the PRESIDENT of Capsule Corp. She holds your professional career in her hands!' "Well… I'm sure my friend…" 'Think Ami, THINK!' "…Usagi! Yeah! She can baby-sit. She has a younger brother that she's always looking after." Ami told her. Usagi is going to kill me for this!'
Bulma smiled warmly. "Wonderful! We need a babysitter tomorrow night for my son Chibi Trunks and his best friend, Goten. We'll only be gone from six to a little after midnight." Bulma told her the information.
Ami smiled weakly and took the address Bulma jotted down. "Usagi will be there." She told her weakly wondering HOW she was going to convince Usagi to do this, on a Friday night during summer break…
oOo
I was at the park on this 'joyous' Thursday afternoon. It was Makoto, Minako and I. We were waiting for Ami and Rei to join us for a picnic. Of course, I was already eating. Don't you just love strawberries? The are one of the best fruits ever! Succulent... Juicy... Delicous. That's when Ami came up to me… I was eating strawberries like they were going out of style enjoying every juicy moment when I saw Ami approaching us. I was lying on my back staring up at the blue sky when Ami walked over to us. She greeted us calmly and then looked down at me.
I should have run when I saw that look in her eyes. The look Makoto gave me when she wanted me to try roller blading. The look that Minako gave me when she wanted me to gowith her to a nude beach. The look that Rei gave me when she wanted me to buy three-inch platform sandals. These experiences that all ended in horror… well, the nude beach was morelike, whoa!
"Usagi, I need a favor. A BIG favor." Ami began.
I began to worry but this was Ami, not one of the other Senshi… that's where I made my mistake.
"What's up Ami?" I asked rolling over and tossing the top of the strawberry with my growing pile.
"Well, my boss needed a babysitter… and I told her you would baby-sit for her… tomorrow night." Ami muttered the last part.
My eyes grew big like pies. "WHAT? ME? BABY-SIT? I can't even take care of a pet GOLDFISH!" I screeched. "And on a FRIDAY night? AMI!" I wailed knowing my plans of Minako and I going to see 'Tomb Raider' were squashed.
Ami's eyes began to fill up with tears. She's been hanging out with me too long. "But, but, I TOLD her you would show up! I can't call her and tell her you cant. She'll think I'm irresponsible! Or worse! I'll be demoted, or even, even FIRED!" She wailed in a true imitation of me. Damn, she was good.
"Usagi! Cut the wails!" Rei hollered. She had arrived moments before. She turned around to give me a piece of her mind when she saw Ami wailing. "Ami?" She cried shocked. I sighed. Those wails WERE annoying!
"Ami, I'll do it, just stop wailing! I mean, it can't be that long." I signed in defeat.
"Actually, it's from six p.m. to midnight." She told me meekly.
"WHAT?" I screeched again. This was getting WAY out of hand.
"Please Usagi?" Her eyes were beginning to well up with tears and her voice trembled. And people think I'M bad.
"Okay, okay. You win Ami." I mean baby-sitting can't be too hard, right?
WRONG!
oOo
So this leads me to the doorstep of the Briefs house… err, mansion. At least I'll be getting paid well! I straightened my jeans and pink tank top before pushing the doorbell. Ami told me (while I was glaring evilly at her) that if I did a good job that she might be promoted. I pushed the doorbell and heard Beethoven's Fifth as the ring.
The door opened to reveal a niiiiiiiiiice looking guy a few years older than me. (No no, I'm not with Mamo-chan anymore. Praise Selene! …future? Future? SCREW THE FUTURE! Actually, when I said that to my mother, she wasn't too happy…) He was wearing a black tank top that showed off his muscles VERY well and gray pants. His light purple hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He looked me up and down before talking. "Usagi the babysitter?" He asked.
I nodded. That was all that I could do at the time.
"Come on in. I'm Trunks, my mother would have liked to meet you but she's at a party withmy dad and their friends, Goku and Chichi. They are the parents of Goten." He rambled on. I simply nodded and smiled, best technique when you don't really care what he's talking about. "My friend Gohan and I are going out tonight, we'll be back at midnight. The boys are really easy to take care of, just give them food and they'll be happy. Their bed time is ten o' clock, and they like to have a story read to them while they fall asleep." I followed Trunksthrough his mansion wondering how I was going to find my way around. "The boys are watching 'Scooby-doo' right now, it's their favorite cartoon."
I cleared my throat to get his attention. "Excuse me, but, isn't Trunks the name of the boy I'm babysitting?" I questioned. Or was Ami trying to set me up? If she was I would have have been the happiest girl in the world. Alas, it was not so.
He paused. "Well, um, he's my little brother. Yeah, and our mom loves the name Trunks! It's like the family Heirloom." He said quickly ushering me to a door. He was strange, but cute.
We walked into a family room. There was a big screen TV with Scooby-doo running from a ridiculous looking ghost. Two boys sat on the couch staring blankly at the screen with their mouths slightly open. I was surprised when they didn't start bowing to the brown Great Dane calling him master. The older looking boy looked like a younger version of Trunks, with a bull cut instead of a ponytail. The other little boy had black spiky hair shooting in everydirection.
"Chibi, Goten, this is your babysitter, Usagi. Be good, Gohan and I will be back tonight." He called. Goten and 'Chibi' Trunks didn't even look away from the screen. They gave little nods. Trunks rolled his eyes and turned back to me. "How much do you charge?" He asked.
Hmmm… It was time to make sure I got money! "One thousand yen an hour." I replied. "Five hundred yen a kid."
Trunks nodded. "All right." He walked out of the room and I followed. "GOHAN! C'MON! WE CAN'T BE LATE! VIDEL WILL KILL US!" He hollered. I winced at his voice that rivaled mine in a full-blown wail.
A guy similar in age to Trunks came bursting out of a hallway and ran past us. "Can't be late for Videl, she's like the devil!" He yelled and pulled Trunks with him.
"Bye Usagi, have a great night." Trunks called before vanishing out the door. Great. Six hours of baby-sitting. At least I would make sixty bucks! Maybe tomorrow Minako would go to the Mall with me...
I walked back into the room where the kids were glued to the TV. "Hi." I called cheerily.
They kept staring at the TV.
Okaaaaay, this was going to be interesting.
"I'm going to take a look around, I'll be back!" I called walking out of the room. The boys never moved or acknowledged me. I was determined to find my way around. Later, I would find this move to be a BIG mistake.
After I located the kitchen, bathroom, and a staircase, I walked back to the room where thetwo boys were watching TV. (WERE is the key word here) I ambled in expecting to see the two as I left them, but I was gravely mistaken.
On the couch, where I had left the two boys, was nothing. Nobody. Nada. Zip. No Goten and no Trunks, err, CHIBI Trunks. The first fifteen minutes and I lost them.
This was going to be a long night. VERY long.
"Trunks? Goten?" I called out turning around and looking into the hallway. "C'mon guys, where did you go?" I called a bit louder.
I slowly started down the hall towards the kitchen to look for them. I walked into the kitchen and began to look around. Under the table? Nope. In the fridge? Nope. In a cupboard? Nope. In the dishwasher? Nope.
I walked into the next room, the dinning room. Under the table that seats forty-eight? Nope. In the china cabinet? Nope. Behind the wine rack? Nope.
I was getting tired of this game.
"TRUNKS! GOTEN! GET DOWN HERE NOW!" I yelled.
Silence. Did I mention this was going to be a long night?
I did find them seventeen minutes later. Actually, they found me and tackled me to the ground yelling, "USAGI! THERE'S A SPIDER ON THE WALL!" Well, if there is any creature on this Earth that I absoluetly cannot stand, it's beetles. And then Mosquitos. And then Spiders. So, naturally, I screamed in utter terror.
And, of course, they burst out laughing. "GOTTCHA!" Chibi cried out.
I sighed, "Well, what do you want to do now?" I asked while checking my watch. 6:32. Oh boy.
"We're hungry!" Goten cried rubbing his stomach. Much later I would learn that his father eats A LOT also.
"Yeah!" Trunks cried pumping his fist in the air.
"All right, let's go to the kitchen." I said in a (false) cheery voice. Goten grabbed one hand and Trunks grabbed the other and they RAN to the kitchen dragging me behind them.
Next, I fixed each of them eight grilled cheese sandwiches, three bowls of tomato soup and four glasses of milk. And people think I eat a lot?
The boys ate their sandwiches VERY fast, gulped down their milk and drained the soup. "ALL RIGHT!" They cried bouncing up. Oh no.
"Let's watch the movie Tarzan!" Trunks cried. Goten nodded in agreement.
"Okay." I agreed. Finally, a QUIET activity that kills time.
WRONG AGAIN!
We walked (well, I was dragged again) to the playroom. Trunks told me to sit in between them, while Goten got the movie and put it into the DVD player. Goten plopped down next to me.
We watched the video for about an hour before Goten leaped up. "Let's play TARZAN!" He cried.
"YEAH!" Trunks agreed. Do these two ever disagree?
They both looked at me hopefully. "Sure." I told them. When will I learn?
"Good!" Goten cried. "I'm a totally awesome and strong gorilla, Trunks is Tarzan and You-" he said pointing at me "-are the cheetah." Oh no, I could see where THIS was going!
"What?" I cried.
"Puh-LEASE?" Goten cried, tears filling up in his black eyes. "Trunks is ALWAYS the cheetah and Gohan is ALWAYS Clayton. We need something new. And your hair is the color of a cheetah's fur. I swear we'll go easyon you."
I sighed in defeat. "Okay." I agreed.
No sooner did the words leave my lips, I was attacked.
"DIE EVIL CHEETAH!" The two yelled at dove at me.
"EEP!" -came from me.
I dodged out of their way and ran out of the room as fast as my legs could carry me. You'll be glad to know that I'm on the track team, so I wasn't totally pathetic. I tore down the hallway heading for Selene-knows-where being chased by 'Tarzan and a gorilla'.
By the way, how was YOUR night?
I ran up a staircase, through a bedroom, down a different staircase, out the door, across the lawn, around the pool, in through the kitchen door, over the dinning room table, around a statue, past the bathroom and collapsed by a couch in a room I had never seen before. Trunks and Goten leaped upon me like a trampoline shouting battle cries.
After a few moments, they stopped and sat next to me. "You're a LOT faster than any of our other babysitters." Goten marveled.
"Yeah, and a LOT nicer too." Trunks added.
Well, they are cute for kids. "Thanks." I wheezed.
"None of them last this long at Tarzan, you're cool!" Goten cried giving me a bone-crushing hug. Trunks joined seconds later.
"What next? And NOTHING that requires running." I ordered.
"FOOD!" Goten cried jumping up and hauling me up with him.
"WHAT? You just ate!" I cried as he dragged my down the hallway towards the kitchen. Trunks followed behind us.
"I know, but I'm hungry again." Goten reasoned.
I sighed for the umpteenth time.
So, I cooked them each three frozen pizzas, five mountain dews, four bowls of chili and acouple boxes of crackers. They gobbled the pizza, guzzled the mountain dew, gulped thechili and annihilated the crackers.
By this time it was 8:24. One hour and thirty-six minutes before bedtime, and I was desperately needing bedtime… for myself.
"What next?" I asked nearly dreading the answer.
Trunks and Goten looked thoughtful. Goten smiled. "Let's watch 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'." He suggested.
"Great! I LOVE that movie!" I cried delighted. So what if I know ALL the songs by heart and loved to annoy my friends by singing 'This is Halloween' over and over again?
"Really?" Trunks asked amazed.
"Of course!" I nodded.
Trunks narrowed his eyes. "Are you SURE you're a babysitter? Most adults can't stand it." Trunks questioned.
"I'm only sixteen!" I giggled. "I have a few years before I'm an adult." I told Chibi Trunks, tousling his hair.
He laughed. "Good! Then let's watch it!" He jumped off his stool and dragged me to the TV room. By now, I was used to being dragged everywhere. Goten was on our heels.
We watched the movie all the way through and we sang ALL the songs off key and loud. Aftera song finished, we'd rewind it and sing it again. Trunks even did a little dance when the Boogie Man's song came on. It was hilarious to watch him strut and shake like he was the Boogie Man. Goten tried to sing deeply like Jack but failed miserably. I hugged him anyways.
By now it was bedtime for the little guys. I picked Goten up and slung him over my shoulder and dragged Trunks up the stairs to get them to bed. I helped pick out their pajamas. Saiya-man boxers for Goten, and Sailor Moon boxers for Trunks. They brushed their teethand went to the bathroom.
"Usagi! Puh-LEASE read us a story!" Goten cried sitting on the second bed in Chibi Trunks' room.
"Yeah!" Trunks agreed bouncing over to Goten's bed.
"What do you want me to read?" I asked walking over to Trunks' bookshelf.
"Robin Hood!" Goten cried as Trunks yelled, "Peter Pan." So they DO disagree.
The two glared at each other. "Okay, settle down now… We'll read both!" I improvised.
"Both?" They looked at me in amazement.
"Yep, both." I smiled bringing the two books to Goten's bed and sitting down in between thetwo boys.
I read Peter pan first. Trunks fell asleep with his head in my lap during the fight between Hook and Pan. After I finished the first book I started to read Robin Hood, a personal favorite of mine. Goten drifted off right before the archery contest. I kept reading anyways, I wanted to read the sappy ending where Robin marries Maid Marian.
It was during the part where Robin fights the sheriff when my eyes… -yawn- started to droop… -yawn-
oOo
Trunks opened the door at 12:37. He had driven Gohan home causing himself to be late. He hoped that Usagi wasn't like all the other babysitters that had taken care of Goten and Trunks. They all demanded extra money because he was late and because the boys were a little hyperactive.
Trunks walked through the hall looking for Usagi. "Usagi?" He called softly. He looked in the playroom, family room, kitchen and den before he started to worry. He ran up the stairs to check on the boys to make sure they were okay. He didn't want to know what crazy cosmic chaos would happen if his past self got hurt or died.
He opened the door to find Chibi Trunks and Goten sleeping against Usagi. Her eyes were closed and she was emitting soft snores. He grinned at the cute picture she made. He suddenly wished he was his past self so HE could be sleeping in Usagi's lap.
He walked over to the three sleepers and picked Trunks up, taking him to his own bed. Next he picked Usagi up and carried her downstairs so he could wake her up and not worry about the boys waking up. He carried her to the playroom and regretting that he had to put her down on the couch so soon.
He brushed a stray blonde hair out of her eyes and shook her slightly. "Usagi, wake up." He murmured.
Usagi's eyes fluttered open to see Trunks' baby blue eyes. She gasped and sat up looking around. "Is it midnight already?" She asked looking back at Trunks.
Trunks smiled. "No, it's 12:45, sorry I'm late. You fell asleep upstairs with the boys. They seem to really like you." Trunks told her.
Usagi blushed. "Well, they are sweet kids." She told him.
Trunks raised an eyebrow. "Sweet? Most of the babysitters think they are monsters."
"No, just full of energy." Usagi shrugged standing up. "I should be getting home, it's a long train ride and my dad is real overprotective." She told him stretching.
"I'll drive you home, I wouldn't let you ride the trains home at this time of night." Trunks ushered her to the door. "Oh, and don't forget your money." He said handing her a ten thousand yen.
"Trunks, it should only be-"
Trunks cut Usagi off. "For being so nice to the boys." He gave her a heart-melting smile.
Usagi smiled back. "Thank you."
To Be Continued...
Okay, so maybe my night wasn't like that… but it was pretty darn close!
1000 yen 10 dollars (roughly)
10,000 yen 100 dollars (rougly)
LizBethy
REVISED 11/05