A Bet Worth Losing (Chapter Three – Stuck In An Elevator)

*

A pair of clear blue eyes opened, causing two guilty men to flinch back. For a moment, she looked confused, until the flashback of a car hitting her flooded her mind. She looked down at her arms, finding it covered in cuts and bruises.

"Videl..." Gohan was the first to speak.

"We're sorry..." Sharpener followed.

She stared at them, seeing their sincere apologizes through their faces. She gave them a small, but gentle smile, and looked back down at her arms, almost as if she was in shock.

She shouldn't be. She was a fighter; a real fighter would have twice as much of the cuts and bruises she had now. She reached up to touch her face, feeling a huge cut across her bottom lip. She had a gash over her right eyelid, along with a few other small cuts on her cheeks, and that was it. At least it was in a better condition than her arms.

"It's okay," she found herself replying. "What did the doctor say?"

"He said you're lucky. You're strong, and that you're fine. You could be out of the hospital by this late afternoon. All you have are a few cuts and bruises... no broken bones, no serious repercussions or anything. You're lucky, Videl... very lucky..." Gohan explained, sitting down beside her. "Actually, I take that back, we're lucky."

Sharpener could feel their intense gazes at each other, and for once, decided to leave them alone. He walked over to Videl and gave her a small hug, saying that he was sorry before withdrawing from the room.

"I'm so sorry, Videl... we never meant to do that to you..." Gohan whispered as he grasped her hand, soothing her softly.

"I know," she murmured. "I know."

He stood up and bent over, hugging her lightly. "I seriously don't know what I would've done if you were hit hard by that car..."

"Don't think about it then. It's okay, Gohan. Everything's fine. All I have are a few cuts and bruises, nothing big. I would've gotten this anyway if we've been sparring. So just think of this as a sparring match. I know both you and Sharpener didn't mean to do it on purpose, so it's fine. Lets just leave this behind us."

He pulled back and kissed her cheek, still holding her hands protectively in his'. "Okay, if that's what you want."

She nodded. "That's what I want."

Silence followed after that, until a knock occurred at the door.

"Hey Videl." Her father greeted as he entered the room, ignoring Gohan's presence. "How are you doing, sweetheart?"

"I'm fine, Daddy."

"Does it hurt?" he asked softly.

Videl shook her head.

"Are you tired?"

She shook her head again.

"You can come home this afternoon, you know."

She nodded.

"...Okay."

"Daddy, you don't have to be here, you know."

Hercule blinked at her. "What are you saying? You're my daughter."

"I know, but it's nothing serious. I've got worse than this before. If you're busy, you can leave, Daddy. I'll be fine... I'll be home by this afternoon."

Hercule twitched. She wants to be alone with that weakling... I suppose I'll leave if she wants. "Okay honey. You," he pointed to Gohan. "You make sure my daughter's home by six or you'll regret it."

Gohan immediately nodded, and Hercule was out the door.

But no more than a minute later, the door swung open, revealing none other than the two hyper semi-saiyans themselves.

Just great.

*

"We'll take the stairs!" Trunks shouted as he and Goten ran off, leaving Videl and Gohan at the elevators.

Gohan shook his head and stepped into the elevator, holding onto Videl's arm as she stepped in.

"I'm not disabled, you know," she said playfully, pushing him away slightly. "I can still defend myself."

"I know," he smiled, shoving her back a bit. "But you-"

The lights suddenly went off and the elevator stopped, and they smacked into each other.

"Ghn..." Gohan mumbled, rubbing his head. "You okay, Videl?"

"Yes, but I can't see anything."

"Me either."

Videl fumed silently as she struggling to get off of Gohan. "Ack, sorry... I think I just stepped on your sunglasses."

"Oh, that's alright. I don't care."

"Oh jeez," Videl whispered faintly as she touched her forehead, leaning back. "I'm feeling dizzy... and very tired all of a sudden."

"Hold on a sec," Gohan said as he sat down on one of the elevator corners. "Come here, Videl."

"I... I can't. I feel very faint..."

He sighed and stood up, pulling her up against his chest. He sat back down on the corner, laying his chin on top of her head with his arms wrapped around her waist for 'protection', just in case.

"Videl? Are you comfortable like this?"

No answer came, and he panicked for a second, until he found her breathing peacefully.

She's finally asleep...

A few minutes later, he closed his eyes. And before he knew it, he was asleep as well.

About an hour later, the lights came back on, causing both Gohan and Videl to moan in slight annoyance. They slowly opened their eyes, and when they finally adjusted to the light, they stared at each other.

"That was..."

"...weird..." Gohan finished off for her.

"HI!!!"

Both shot their glances up at the ceiling, wondering where the voices where coming from. Somewhere from the other line, they heard someone mumble about some stupid kids.

Trunks and Goten, obviously.

"Hello? Are you guys okay in there?"

"Yeah, we're fine."

"Don't worry, we'll have you guys out in a little bit. Unfortunately, due to the stormy weather, the electricity was blown out completely."

"Oh," was Videl's reply. "Okay."

"GOHAN! VIDEL! ARE YOU GUYS REALLY, REALLY, REALLY OKAY?" Goten screamed.

"We're fine, Goten!" they shouted.

After that, kissing noises were heard from the other line.

What the hell... Gohan wondered.

"HAHA!" Trunks teased, cracking up.

"Trunks, it's not very nice to tease them. You never know what they'll do to you when they're free."

"Aw, Goten. You're such a party-pooper. The whole point is to torture them."

"Trunks, you're going to regret this when I'm free," Videl threatened. "I'll make sure of it too."

Kissing noises were heard once again.

"OW!" Trunks wailed. "DON'T HIT ME!"

"Then stop teasing them!" Goten shouted, glaring at his best friend.

"BYE!" was finally heard from Trunks.

Thank god.

A minute later, the man from before finally came back onto the line. "Alright. You're going to be out of there in a minute or so. Just hold on."

*

Entering chat room...

UltimateScholar1: You know, it surprises me... I still haven't even touched my homework.

SaiyaGirl2: Wow, really? Congratulations, Mr. Perfectionist. Maybe you'll become a procrastinator.

UltimateScholar1: I don't think so.

SaiyaGirl2: Well, you still have all day tomorrow to do it.

UltimateScholar1: No, I don't. I'm out with Angela tomorrow, remember?

SaiyaGirl2: Oh, that's right...

UltimateScholar1: What do you think she'll do if I cancel on her?

SaiyaGirl2: Cry.

UltimateScholar1: You're probably right...

SaiyaGirl2: I probably am.

UltimateScholar1: My hands are cold...

SaiyaGirl2: Ha, look who's complaining now. :p I'd help you warm them up, but I'm not there.

UltimateScholar1: Heh heh. Maybe another time.

SaiyaGirl2: Sure. o_O

UltimateScholar1: I'm not really looking forward to tomorrow...

SaiyaGirl2: Aw, come on. You'll have fun.

UltimateScholar1: Bleh, whatever.

SaiyaGirl2: Don't worry about it. Just hurry and let her pick on a tux for you, and then you're off. Tell her that your mother needs you at home by 12 or something.

UltimateScholar1: That's lying.

SaiyaGirl2: So?

UltimateScholar1: I don't lie.

SaiyaGirl2: -_- You are unbelievable.

UltimateScholar1: Is that bad or good?

SaiyaGirl2: You're INSANE.

UltimateScholar1: Oh.

SaiyaGirl2: You frustrate me.

UltimateScholar1: I do?

SaiyaGirl2: Yes.

UltimateScholar1: Oh.

SaiyaGirl2: OI! I've gotta go now... I'm getting very sore. Have fun tomorrow!

UltimateScholar1: Thanks, I guess. Good night, Videl.

SaiyaGirl2: Bye!

*

Chapter four... à