Disclaimer: Oh yes, they're all mine. Everyone except everyone. Of course. I own my own big company called Me INC. Wow. Aren't I just super special.
A/N: Hey, sorry about that cliffy last time. But you thought that was bad . . . wait until you read this chapter. I'm rather proud of myself for this cliffhanger. Of course, right now I haven't even posted chapter nine, so I'll have chapter 11 done in no time. Keep in tune and enjoy!
-chapter ten-
"Wha-what?!?"
Vegeta growled. "You heard me."
"I . . . " Bulma looked at the ground. "I heard you but . . . "
"Is there something wrong with me asking you out?" He asked rather nastily.
Bulma shook her head. "No, I just didn't -- "
"Expect that from me, right? Everyone else does it and it's ok, but when I do it, there's obviously something wrong, right?"
"No, I . . . I just didn't think you liked me, that's all."
"Well, I do and I would like to know before the sun sets."
"I don't know."
"What do you mean you don't know?"
"I don't know."
Vegeta gave her a strange look and crossed his arms. "Well, if you don't know then I guess that's a no." He turned to leave. "Alright, fine, I'll see you la -- "
"No, Vegeta, that wasn't a no!" Bulma said quickly, flying over to him. She was about to put her hand on his back but hastily stopped herself. She brought her hand back in. "Just please let me think about it, alright? Please?"
"Ok, but I can't wait all summer long, you know."
"I'll have your answer by . . . by the end of the day, I guess." She put her hands in her pockets. "It's not you, it's just that I'm a little surprised, that's all."
"Surprised by what?" Vegeta asked. The sharp edge on his voice was gone and it was replaced by genuineness. Something Bulma hadn't seen from him yet.
"Surprised that you would actually ask me out . . . because that's exactly what I wanted you to do." Bulma brought her hand up and put her hair behind her ears self consciously. Vegeta made her feel so . . . so uncomfortable. She still didn't think he thought her pretty but then why would he be attracted to her so much as to ask her out in the first few days of the summer? He didn't know her enough to actually know her personality. She wanted to ask him, but Bulma didn't know how he would respond. So instead she just beat her wings a few more times and ran her hands through her hair again, making sure it stayed behind her ears.
Vegeta studied the little fairy in front of him. She looked very uncomfortable with this situation. Maybe this was a mistake; maybe he just should have squashed his over active feelings towards her. But . . . he didn't think he could. He liked her so much. She was absolutely beautiful, funny in her own way, smart, quick witted, all the things he wanted out of a girl. So why was this so hard? She said wait until the end of the day . . . that was so far away! Why does she look so pained? I knew I shouldn't have asked her. If only she knew how much I like her, but I doubt that would do any good.
"CLASS DISMISSED!" Their teacher yelled as a loud bell rang throughout the school grounds.
Bulma looked timidly up at Vegeta. "I guess we should go."
"The end of the day," he reminded her, and she nodded, landing on the ground next to Chichi and 18, who bombarded her with questions.
"What did he say? Did he ask you out? Are you two -- " Chichi stopped abruptly when Bulma gave her a serious look.
"I'll talk about it later."
"Ok, but I'm not going to sleep tonight until you tell me."
"Trust me, you'll know by then."
~~~~~~~~~~
18 reached into her pocket and yanked out their schedule, a crumpled piece of pink paper. "I'm sure we are going the right way. The sign back there said "Self Defense, this way" and that's what we have next."
"Then why is it taking so long?" Chichi moaned, shuffling her feet.
18 shrugged. "No idea. Let's just keep on and we'll get there, I hope."
"That's it, I'm flying," Chichi mumbled as she tripped over a rock, almost falling to the ground if Bulma hadn't of caught her. "Thanks, Bulma." Bulma only nodded blankly, still visibly occupied with her decision. All three of them hovered above the ground, all but Bulma wondering why they hadn't done that earlier. "There, I see it! It looks like a gym . . . " The building was huge but hidden well by trees. There was no windows or a patio or anything, except for a small double door in the front.
Bulma landed softly, followed by the other two, and they walked into the gym. It was cold and steely in the huge room. The floor was hard cement, except for the mats laying on one side. Chichi pointed out there were only a few kids here, much less then the class before them. When Goku and the others came in a few minutes later, Chichi ran over to him and planted a big kiss on his cheek. Bulma saw him blush and mumble something, and Chichi grinned.
Bulma didn't look when Vegeta walked in, and he didn't look at her. Bulma leaned against the wall a little too casually and she tripped over her own feet and almost fell until she saved herself by flapping her wings desperately. She knew she must have looked like an idiot, and she heard a few kids snicker. Bulma ignored them. She put her hair behind her ears and stared blankly ahead until the teacher strode in.
He was a big, muscular man with large arms and a very big neck. He had stony grey eyes and a stern look on his face. "Alright, all of you in here better not be wusses because I don't teach wusses." Bulma glanced over at Chichi and 18 and raised an eyebrow.
Strange guy, 18 mouthed, and Bulma nodded.
"My name is Mr. Keith. In this class," he said, his voice booming through the large gym, "You will learn the necessities of self defense, and some of you may learn a bit more. This class is to help you protect yourself, not to go picking stupid fights with the bullies. Even though it is very entertaining to watch you pipsqueaks beat the snot out of each other, I won't allow it. There are rules to this class . . . " And he went on booming about how everyone has to listen and respect the teacher and no punching or kicking or anything to people who didn't do anything and things like that. Bulma couldn't resist stealing a tiny glance at Vegeta. He was leaning against the opposite wall, pretending to pay attention but he looked like he was thinking about something totally different. Well duh, Bulma snapped at herself.
"Ok! Now, what would you do if someone with a gun ran up to you and demanded your money?" No one raised their hands, and Chichi saw a few immature guys do punching signs in the air next to them. She shook her head disgustedly. Stupid kids. "Anyone? How about you in the red over there? Yeah, you."
"Well," a girl with flaming red hair and rather large teeth said, "I would probably give them the money."
"Even if you had three hundred million dollars in your pocket?"
"Well, no . . . "
"I can teach you to beat his ass and take his money, if you want." Several of the immature boys whooped and the girls all raised an eyebrow. "or, I can teach you to settle it calmly, but who wants to do that?"
"This guy's a weirdo," Chichi whispered in Goku's ear.
"I know."
The rest of the period was spent with demonstrations from Mr. Keith on how to knock out a terrorist or take hostage a hijacker. Chichi and Goku spent the time talking and Krillin spent the class rubbing 18's shoulders. He actually looked like he was enjoying himself, so that was good. Bulma and Vegeta, on the other hand, sat as far away from each other as they could but still be sitting next to their friends. Bulma kept weighing out the options of going out or not with him, and Vegeta kept thinking about how he would react if she said no. Not a moment too soon, the bell rang and everyone was dismissed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Ah! Lunch! I'm so starved!" Chichi smiled as she happily skipped along the field back to the Mess Hall. 18 nodded and flew after her friend. "Wait a minute," Chichi said suddenly, stopping. "Where's Bulma?" They ran back a little ways and found Bulma walking extremely slow.
"Are you coming or what?" 18 said, landing next to her.
"I'm not hungry."
18 made an exasperated noise. "Yes you are. You haven't had breakfast, and you're going to eat lunch. Now what is bothering you so much?"
Bulma sighed and just wanted to collapse onto the grass and lay there forever. Unfortunately, that wouldn't be happening. "I don't know what to do, you guys."
"About what?"
She sighed again. "Ok, today in first hour Vegeta asked me out." Chichi restrained herself from yelling 'I knew it!'
"What did you say?"
"That's the thing. I didn't say anything. I told him I would think about it and tell him at the end of the day."
"Ooh. Well, you like Vegeta, right?"
"More then anything."
"Then why don't you go out with him?!?"
"There's more to it then you think, Chichi. You know how he acts! Like he's all head honcho and that he doesn't need anyone. And half the time, that's how I act. Don't you think those two things would clash?"
18 paused, but then nodded slowly. "But if you two really, really loved each other, then you would make it work."
"There's another thing, 18. Does he actually love me? Hey, he said he likes me and all, but . . . Kami, I don't know how I could last the summer with out him. It's only been 2 days and I'm already in pain. This is impossible! I'm not supposed to feel this way about him, but I do! I'm supposed to think how can I be attracted to that loud mouthed, over egotistic maniac! He's an ass, so why does he even want to go out with me? He's so mean to me, so does he actually expect me to say yes?! I mean, this is how I'm supposed to feel. He is so -- " Chichi was momentarily puzzled when Bulma stopped abruptly, and her face turned from a flush tan to a seasick green. Both Chichi and 18 turned around to see Vegeta standing right behind them.
"So," he said quietly, his eyes sparkling with silent anger, and Bulma saw hurt in those orbs, and it made her heart melt.
"Vegeta, I didn't -- "
"I'm an over egotistic maniac. So I guess you're too good for me. And I suppose that's a no. Final answer? Good. I hope you have fun with your next boyfriend. Make sure to tell me when so I can warn him you like to tear out people's hearts."
"Vegeta! Wait, I didn't . . . "
He gave her a nasty, pain-filled smile and turned and left. Bulma pulled her arms into her chest and put her head down, and sunk to the ground on her knees. Chichi and 18 immediately ran to her side, pulling her into a two person embrace. She sobbed quietly, shaking. "I can't do this . . . " Bulma whispered. "I can't . . . "
"Bulma, hun, we're here for you," Chichi said reassuringly, resting her head on Bulma's shoulders. Bulma suddenly yanked herself out of their arms backwards, sitting on the grass behind them.
"Don't. I fucked this up by myself. I'm going to fix it by myself. Kami, if I wasn't such a stupid, inconsiderate bitch I never would have -- "
"Bulma, I can't stand you talking about yourself like this!" 18 said, partially angry. She stood. "Yeah, you made a mistake, but he must have not been here for the whole conversation. He must have not even heard what you said just a few sentences before on how you couldn't last the summer with out him. You can make it right by yourself, but we're going to help whether you like it or not."
"Yeah," Chichi commented, nodding determinedly. "I'm not gonna let you sit here and feel sorry for yourself." Bulma looked away.
18 sighed. "Well, lunch is probably already started, let's get going. C'mon, you," she said, helping Bulma up off the ground. "Don't worry, everything will turn out alright."
"I hope so, because if he hates me I don't know what I will do . . . "
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I can't believe this! She . . . I don't understand how she can say that. She told me she wanted me to ask her out. She said that's what she was hoping for, damn it! She said it wasn't me that made her uncomfortable! She wanted to think about it and tell me at the end of the day! Well, I guess hearing her true feelings was better then her souping up her answer and giving it to me like she felt sorry for me. The bitch, I don't know how I ever liked her. She's even more cruel then me sometimes. I can't . . . I don't understand. Vegeta sighed loudly and put his head against the tree he was relaxing in, closing his eyes. He didn't like not understanding things. So what am I supposed to do now? Just pretend this never happened? Ignore her the rest of the summer? Kami, she's . . . I could ignore her on the outside, but . . . you know you'll be thinking about her. I just want to touch her once . . . Vegeta mentally kicked himself. There was to be no physical contact with her at all. She didn't like him, so why couldn't he just accept that? Because it's too hard. I . . . I won't ever be able to forget her! This is fucking stupid! I'm pathetic, I've been at this foul camp for two days and I'm already madly in love with that . . . woman. And I've already gotten myself hurt . . . no, I'm not hurt about this. I don't care, I don't care, I don't care . . . yes I do. Kami, I fucking care.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How sad! I can't believe I did that to you people! Of course, I know how it ends but still. Jeepers, I'm mean. Oh well :) I'm going to update way more this summer, because . . . well, it's summer. :) Adios, mi amigo. And I'm onto chapter 11 . . . ok, actually, chapter 12 is finished. Hehe . . . you'll just have to wait . . . I always keep ahead of the advancing crowd. Chapter 12 is a real killer. I can't believe I wrote it . . .
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