A/n: this chapter as well as the story has been revised and modified. You may find a couple of things that have changed. Either way I hope you enjoy it. Please R/R. Thank you!
What You Wish For
Performed Song (s) : Unwanted - Avril Lavigne
Nine O'clock in the Morning
"It's two hours of rehearsal. We're set to record our first single after lunch so let's try to make the most out of this--"
"If you shut up we can start" a rough masculine voice interrupted the blue haired lead singer giving out the instructions for the day. Bulma frowned turning to look at Vegeta seated on the floor of the large rehearsal room as did the rest of the guys with his knees up to his chest
"I am not putting up with your attitude today. You can be as arrogant as you want I don't care. Just behave in practice so we can record in peace and harmony" she said. Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her
"It's a fact. The sooner you stop blabbering the sooner we'll get this over with" he stood from the floor and headed towards the practice stage in which brand new equipment awaited for them. Bulma frowned harder now
"If it wasn't for me you wouldn't know what were set to do throughout the day you asshole--"
"You're a fucking hero" he kept walking towards the stage. Bulma wanted to swing a guitar across his head and knock him unconscious until their tour was done. If she had known the guy would be such a pain in the ass she would've chosen to release their first album without a bass guitarist. It suddenly didn't seem such a bad idea. Finally on the stage Vegeta didn't think twice before grabbing the cherry black Les Paul Money Bass Gibson guitar resting to the left side of the Pearl drumset and put it over his head letting it hang on his chest. He then turned looking towards the guys
"What are you waiting for?" he asked sounding more like a command. Krillin and Goku exchanged looks then decided to go, not because he had requested so, but because they were running short on time and the faster they started the better. Bulma on the other hand frowned at the newcomer crossing her arms on her chest and holding her ground. Vegeta frowned then walked up to her so she could listen clearly
"Move your ass. We don't have much time--"
"I'm not going anywhere until you agree to behave yourself and stop being such a jerk" she cut his words short. Vegeta grunted angrily
"Woman! There is no time!! Get on the stage right now--"
"Or what?!" Bulma asked defiantly "there's nothing you can do" she said smugly. Vegeta wanted to put his hands around her neck and strangle her but Goku jumped in their little argument before he had a chance to do it
"Guys come on. We have to practice and record a single today. Do you honestly think we can do it like this?" he asked making sense of the situation. Vegeta struggled with his temper until he felt he was at ease. Bulma rolled her eyes and walked past him joining Krillin and Goku on the stage. She reminded herself she did it for the singing…nothing more than that…
Picking up the red Les Paul BFG Gibson guitar Bulma left the black BFG for Goku which was far more suiting for a big guy like him. She then looked back to see if everyone was ready. Goku was trying the cords an old habit of his that had become custom for the rest of them. He couldn't believe his eyes. A Les Paul? It was as if Christmas had come early! Gibson had the best guitars in the world. That they were given the Les Paul models was even better! Krillin was testing the plates with the drumsticks. A Pearl drumset. It was brand new and all his. He was so mesmerized by it he didn't even want to touch it. She last turned to Vegeta who was testing the cords as well only he was humming some kind of tone in his rough voice tapping his foot on the floor to keep up with the pattern. Bulma arched a brow yet said nothing about it. She had had enough of him for just a couple of hours
"Alright" Bulma grabbed the microphone "let's rock!!" the signal was off. As soon as they started disaster broke through. Goku and Vegeta were playing entirely different notes, confusing the drummer who did not know what was he supposed to be playing then. Bulma stopped and closed her eyes in anger listening to three different songs being played simultaneously. She turned around
"Stop!" she yelled up. Goku and Krillin stopped their playing but Vegeta, of course, pretended he hadn't heard. Bulma walked up to him and put her hand on the guitar's cords so no sound came from the guitar. Vegeta frowned
"What the hell do you think you're doing--"
"You're playing different notes smart ass. We're taking it from the top" she walked back to the microphone
"You didn't say what we were supposed to play wench" he said. Bulma turned to him
"I didn't think it was necessary since it would've been more blabber wouldn't it?" she asked smugly. Goku and Krillin sniggered from behind her. Vegeta stared at her defiantly and she stared back with the same expression the two as if they were in a staring contest. Goku stood in between them
"Guys let's play come on" he suggested. They kept staring at each other as if no one had spoken. Goku sighed
"We're wasting time. Let's go" he demanded this time. Bulma turned away first leaving Vegeta to smirk slightly. He enjoyed pissing her off. There was something about it that kept him pressing the buttons
"We're playing 'Unwanted--'" she raised her voice beside Vegeta so he could hear loud and clear "that's gonna be the first single. Got it?" she asked. Krillin and Goku nodded while Vegeta kept playing with the cords…ignoring every single word she had said. She stared at him then grunted turning on her heel to get to the microphone
"Here we go!" the signal was off. The music was sounding better than it originally had. The guys moved with the music as the first part of the song started. Bulma neared her mouth to the microphone and started
"All that I did was walk over
Start off by shaking your hand
That's how it went
I had a smile on my face and I sat up straight
Oh yeah yeah
I wanted to know you
I wanted to show you
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there
You just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way
You'd just shut me up
Make me go away…" the music kept playing nicely attracting everyone inside the studio. David Anderson had turned on the speakers that encircled the building letting everyone experience the music that was about to be directed and produced by him. The phone couldn't stop ringing…the compliments were off the board…
Scene Cut
The end of the second hour of practice was closing in. Bulma released a tired breath as the song came to an end for the millionth time. She grabbed her bottle of water aside the microphone stand and gulped down half of it. Her throat was sore. Goku unhooked the guitar from the string around his body and breathed out
"Phew" he drank from his bottle of water "well…we didn't sound so bad" he opened up a topic for conversation. Krillin nodded agreeing with him. Vegeta was in a different world. Though nobody noticed, the male with sharp features usually emotionless, was staring at Bulma as if captivated by her looks and her strong voice. The slightest presence of emotion suddenly broke through his dense look. He had let his guard down. Focus he demanded speaking to himself
"I think it sounded great. Don't you think, Bulma?" Krillin's voice brought him back to Earth. Bulma placed the cap on the water bottle
"It wasn't bad. We need a little more bass. Homeboy here-" she signaled Vegeta with her head "needs to practice his notes" she said. Vegeta frowned at her, grunting at the nickname, yet said nothing. Bulma smiled in achievement Vegeta: 0, Bulma: 1 she said to herself walking towards the drumset where Krillin was seated
"Is it lunchtime yet? I'm starving" she said. Vegeta scoffed obviously wanting to get back at her
"No wonder you're so fat" he mumbled. Bulma arched a brow
"Oh and you have a 'perfect' body?" she asked ironically. Actually Bulma he does maintain himself pretty well. His body's not far from perfect her mind betrayed her. Bulma sighed shaking off the thought. She turned away from him not having much to say now. Vegeta on the other part smirked mischievously. Vegeta:1, Woman:0 he made the calculations in his head. Goku and Krillin exchanged tired looks
"Bulma can we stop for a snack? I'm famished" said Goku rubbing his stomach. Bulma shrugged her shoulders
"I really don't know what time it is and I haven't seen any food places around here. Maybe Madison can help us--"
"And I am" she said closing the door to the practice room behind her "the food is being served on the third floor. You guys can help yourselves in. After lunch David is going to talk to you guys. He needs to explain something about the recording settings. I will be there with him to tell you guys about the press conference on Sunday to announce the release of the single and assign you to the rooms you'll be staying in for the weekend" she informed. Bulma nodded in behalf of the whole group
"So we're going to lunch now and you'll talk to us later" she confirmed the information. Madison nodded
"You had a very good practice today. Hope it's good for recording this afternoon. Whoever wants to eat follow me" she requested. The guys placed their instruments down and strolled behind the girl. Bulma followed after them…
Scene Cut
"…hmm…the food was great!!" said Goku rubbing his now satisfied stomach. Krillin grinned beside him. The band sat together on a large cherry wood table inside a rather small dinning room. Krillin sat before Bulma, and Goku before Vegeta, meaning Bulma and Vegeta sat beside one another. Krillin burped to himself
"You said it!!" he chuckled. Bulma looked up from her empty plate cleaning her lips with the napkin provided making sure she didn't have food stains around her mouth. Vegeta found himself staring at her again. He didn't trust anyone, not the boys, not her. Yet all of them seemed friendly enough. He had hardly been around people that were so carefree. The people he grew up with, if anything, were the complete opposite of these guys before him. Goku cleared his throat
"Hey Vegeta we saw a pool table on our way in. We're gonna check it out you wanna come?" he asked. Vegeta eyed Goku with his trademark scowl
"Why should I?" he asked back making Bulma roll her eyes. What an ability he had to piss people off so fast
"There's gonna be a lot of famous people down there" said Krillin. Vegeta arched a brow
"Yeah maybe you can meet a hot model" said Goku
"Or a Latin actress with beautiful black hair and that perfect smile" said Krillin
"Or a dark-skinned singer with an amazing body" said Goku
"Or those little chicks with real piercing eyes and that intriguing smell…oh…think about it man" said Krillin. Vegeta seemed lost in thought
"What if I don't find any?" he asked cleverly. Goku shrugged his shoulders
"You'll hang out with us" he said Krillin nodding beside him. Vegeta turned to a blank spot on the opposite side of Bulma
"Fine I'll go" he agreed impressing even Bulma. The guys cheered. Bulma could actually care less. She was much too focused on the recording set to begin in a couple of hours. Goku eyed her warily
" B are you ok? You look stressed out" he asked suspicious. Bulma looked at Goku and smiled tiredly
" I'm fine don't worry. Just thinking about recording. I want to get it over with" she confessed "I'm really anxious" she added. Krillin smiled at her
"Relax. Everything will be fine you'll see. Remember we're here to do what we've loved to do since we were seven. What are we even worrying about?" he said. Goku nodded
"Yeah. It's not like we've never done this before. You've recorded songs--"
"I was seven years old, Goku, and it was a cheap cassette recorder" she cut him off. He shrugged his shoulders
"So? It's the same thing. You're gonna do the same singing only in front of a real studio microphone--"
"And inside a noise proof crystal booth--" added Krillin
"And with people watching you sing" finished Goku "but that doesn't make that much of a difference" he added. Bulma furrowed her brows in frustration
"Gee thanks for telling me" a shiver ran down her spine. Vegeta tsked
"What are you? Scared?" he smirked knowing it was an insult to her unreachable pride. Bulma scoffed
"Me? Scared? Ha! That's certainly something you will never see" she asserted. Vegeta neared his lips to hers so close Goku and Krillin assumed he was going to kiss her. She held her breath her heart beating so fast and hard she thought she could hear it. He chuckled his breath going against her lips.
"Little nervous are we?" he whispered with a playful stare then backed away grabbing his empty plate and leaving the table to throw it away
"Just words" he said as he walked past Bulma making her frown. Goku stopped her before she could say anything back
"Just ignore him. He's not worth the time and you know it" he said. Bulma breathed profoundly
"I just hope he changes while we're on tour. I'm about fed up with his attitude. He's got another thing coming if he thinks I'm letting him off easy" she said crossing her arms on her chest. Krillin sighed
"I suggest you start over and make your peace with each other before anything else. We need you guys to get along otherwise the band will fall apart" he said. Bulma tsked
"Fine I'll try to deal with him next time I see him but our communication problems won't get solved if he's not willing to try either" she pointed out. Goku nodded
"We'll talk to him too make sure he's aware" he said. Bulma half smiled
"Thanks. Now we have to wait for the old guy to come and talk to us…"
Scene Cut
"I tried to belong it didn't seem wrong
My head aches
It's been so long
I write this song that's what it takes
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there you just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way you'd just shut me up
Make me go away
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
You don't want me there you just shut me out
You don't know me
Don't ignore me
If you had your way you'd just shut me up
Make me go away
Make me go away " the drums and guitars finished the last part of the song. Bulma smiled at the achievement for the night. A big burden fell off her shoulders when she noticed their arrogant producer smiling brightly with his thumbs up. Finally day one was over. After thirty five attempts trying to get the music to sound right everything had fallen right in place. They were done with track number one. Some of the people in the studio disagreed with the way they dressed (a little too punk for their taste) yet David could care less. He had finally heard the band play the right notes which put him in a great mood.
Anderson walked in the noise-proof salon applauding as he did so
"Brilliant. I am simply startled" he complimented. Bulma looked back at the guys with a wide grin on her face. Goku and Krillin shook hands with one another congratulating each other for the good work done. Vegeta unplugged his guitar from the amplifiers turning off the controls there while he did so. Bulma said nothing. Instead she turned around and came face to face with the producer
"Congratulations. I think you guys are gonna be fantastic for the company" he complimented again. Bulma smiled shyly
"Thank you Mr. Anderson--"
"Dave. I'm really not that old" they shared a laugh "now there are still a few matters I'd like to discuss with you guys--"
"You can do that tomorrow old man. I'm tired--"
"What he meant to say--" Bulma eyed Vegeta evilly then turned back to Dave "is that we have all the time in the world. You can talk to us right now" she said with an expression that read she was sorry for Vegeta's disruptive behavior. David decided to ignore the boy for once. Not that it would kill him anyway
"As I was saying…there's a few important matters that have come to my attention about the band" David started again. Bulma nodded
"Sure. What's up?" she asked Krillin and Goku gathering around her to pay attention to the man. Yet again Vegeta ignored. David smiled at them
"Well the name of the band for example, your biographies for the official internet site, the album artwork, lyrics for all the music we need all of that ready by Sunday morning. What do you say?" he asked. Bulma looked at Krillin and Goku as their faces showed great interest. As for Vegeta he later on decided to join the musical group though he was standing a bit far out the small circle. She decided to leave it be. It wasn't as if he was ever going to be any different anyhow…
"Can you give us like two minutes? We should be able to decide on the name of the band no longer than that" she said. David winked his eye at her snapping his finger on the side
"You got it, babe. Thompson! Out for two!" he said heading out the room. Thompson, a long blonde haired guy who looked much like a hippie, raised his thumb, indicating he had gotten the message. He turned to them
"Alright guys. That's two minutes for the name of the band then we're on to the lyrics and that will be it for the night" he said disappearing out the room along with Dave. Bulma's smile fell right off her face
"A name for the band. Gee I didn't think of that one. Anyone have any ideas?" she asked. Vegeta scoffed making her turn to him with a not so happy expression on her face. She knew some kind of retort was coming out of his mouth
"That's easy. Vegeta" he replied. Bulma raised her brows
"Sure smart ass. Vegeta and the pussycats?" she asked Krillin and Goku sniggering at her comment. Vegeta narrowed his eyes at her
"It's only smart to call the band Vegeta woman. We all know that" he replied fully sure of himself. Bulma rolled her eyes
"Nice joke you homeboy but no. We won't call the band Vegeta. I was thinking about something more…I don't know…band like…" she said thoughtful. Goku raised his brows
"How about BVKG? It's all our initials--"
"Sure and have a bunch of 'groupies' running after us" scoffed Vegeta. Bulma raised a brow at him
"Do you have a better idea Einstein?" Bulma asked with a raised brow. Vegeta raised his chin high up in the air
"Of course I do. I said to call it--"
"I don't think so man" Krillin cut him off "I'm not going to play for a band that has your name to represent us" he stated plain and simple. Vegeta frowned at him angered
"And why not? It is the only rational name for a band--"
"I don't think so Veg-man. I don't like being--"
"Do NOT call me by that name, you--"
"GUYS!! Time out!!" Bulma stood between the two stopping the 'about to start' argument. Vegeta and Goku both turned to her
"I think I know the name of the band." she said
"You do?" asked Krillin and Goku at the same time.
"Ha! You wish!" retorted Vegeta. Bulma rolled her eyes but yet again ignored his comments. She cleared her throat
"I think the name of the band should be 'Gender: Z'. It sounds light and fun, and--"
" Stupid" a rough voice interrupted. Bulma let out an angry sigh
" Look if you don't like the name you can leave ok? 'Gender: Z' is going to be the name of the band. Period" she said sternly. Vegeta frowned at her
"You better keep your voice down woman. I swear--"
"You swear what Vegeta?! Are you going to punch me Mr. I'm-so-strong-I-doubt-anyone-can-take-me!?! You're honestly a piece of work. If it was for me I would get your ass booted out of here!!" she exclaimed. Vegeta took a step forward their faces almost brushing against one another
"Listen! I don't know who the hell do you think you are but you better watch who you're talking to--"
"This isn't who I'm talking to, Vegeta, It's about a goddamn band name--"
"It's not like they had a choice--"
"Then I guess we should vote. Raise your hand the ones that like 'Gender: Z' for our band name" Bulma requested. Krillin and Goku raised their hand making Vegeta glare at them with hatred. Bulma turned to him and smiled…a sardonic smile that is
"That's two three with my vote. You're on a great loss here--"
"Who says I am? If there's not unanimity there can not be an absolute vote" he said cleverly. Bulma let out a tired sigh
"Gee you never give up do you? The name is the one voted on--"
"I won't play for a band named that--"
"Then you don't play at all--"
"You can't play without me…" and so on, the argument continued. Krillin turned to Goku
"Are you tired?" he asked almost yawning. Goku nodded sleepily
"Yeah dude" he said wearily. Krillin raised his brows
"Let's go to sleep" he proposed. Goku was racing him to the door. Bulma and Vegeta stayed behind them
"…but they never said you were essential"
"What makes you think you are?!"
"I am the lead singer. I lead this band--"
"You don't lead shit!"
"Yes I do! And stop swearing! Behave yourself you Neanderthal ape"
"Blue haired freak"
"Idiot"
"Crazy wench"
" Jerk"
"Bitch" …. and as if there was no one watching the two youngsters kept going on and on throwing insults at each others as if it was a game to see who was the best at it…
End of Ch.3. Sorry that took me so long but I've been kind of moving for the past few weeks to my College dorm, and now I am finally done! Yes, this means I will be able to update regularly as well as to connect often too. Thank you for the support you've given to the story and I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter. Don't forget to watch out for the next chapter which should be on the way soon!!