A Bet Worth Losing (Chapter Six – Forever Engaged)
Author's Notes: After reading this chapter, you may find it (especially the title) weird. But by 'engaged', I mean promised. I just wanted to clear that up... and I'm currently watching Will & Grace... god, I swear, this show is the best... I seem to always be typing this story up when I'm watching it... don't ask why. I hope this chapter doesn't baffle (what a funny word, haha...) the heck out of everyone... because I'm a little lost myself.
*
Videl was waiting patiently outside of their first period classroom when he arrived. Slowly, she walked into the classroom, with Gohan behind her. They sat down, and he was the first to speak.
"Listen, about yesterday... I didn't mean anything insulting by it, honest. As a matter of fact, I didn't even know what I was saying... or why I said it..."
Videl took a deep breath in and out before answering him. "It's alright."
Gohan stared at her. He hadn't expected that... he had expected some arguing before they made up. He knew for sure that she still hadn't forgiven him.
"I need to know though," she suddenly spoke again. "I need to know... how do you feel about me? I have so many things going on right now... and that's the one thing that bugs me the most. The other night when I asked who you liked... you told me that you'd tell me another time. So tell me now... who... who is it?"
Gohan looked away from her, dropping his gaze to the ground. "Do I like you more than a friend...?" he stuttered softly, uncertain. "That... I... I really don't know. I... I don't think I do. I mean... I don't know. I... really, I don't know..."
Videl ignored the pain in her chest. "I see..."
"Is... is this going to jeopardize our friendship? Because you... you're my best friend... and you mean a lot to me. I... I don't want to lose you..."
A best friend...? Is that all I'll ever be? He doesn't see me as a girl... he just sees me as his best friend. I suppose I can't blame him if he doesn't feel the same way... "No, it won't ruin our friendship..."
He sighed in relief. "Good..."
She turned away from him and stared at her textbook. "Yeah..." She took out a piece of paper and scribbled some things on it, and for some odd reason, Gohan knew exactly what she was doing.
*
Kenji,
I've thought it over... yes, I'll go to the Winter dance with you. We can talk more about this later. See ya at lunch.
Videl
*
"What'd you say to her?" Erasa asked as she appeared beside Gohan, looking over at Videl who was shoving her books into her locker.
Gohan frowned, and felt as if he had been smacked in the face. "She asked me how I felt about her... and I told her that I didn't know... does she look pissed?"
"No," she answered. "She looks upset. Go apologize to... what... why is Kenji walking her to her class?!"
"She didn't tell you? She's going with him to the dance."
"She is?"
Gohan's eyes slowly clouded. "Yeah..."
"Since when?"
"This morning."
"Oh..." I didn't think she would give up so easily on him... "What are you going to do about it?"
He looked at her, startled. "What do you mean... what are you talking about? What am I going to do about it? I can't do anything about it!"
Erasa shook her head. "You like her, just admit it! Don't be like this... come on! Do something before you really lose her. Forever!"
"I won't lose her," he argued, turning away. "She said that we'd always be best friends, and I trust her. We'll always be together, no matter what."
"You seriously think that?"
"Yes."
She sighed. "Gohan... I'm sorry to say, but things don't always work out the way you want them to. Either you do something about this now or you lose her. It's as simple as that. And what about the bet you two made? Aren't you her slave?"
He shrugged. "I don't know..."
"Look at her and Kenji... it's only a matter of time before he becomes her best friend... and if he's lucky, he'll be her boyfriend as well."
Gohan twitched, but said nothing.
*
"Are you serious?"
Videl nodded, smiling warmly at him. "Yeah."
Kenji's smile grew wider.
*
"Hey! Videl!"
At the sound of her name, she abruptly turned around, and almost knocked into someone. "Ack... sorry. ...Oh, hey Gohan."
"Hey... um... are we going to do anything today?"
Videl stared at him, surprised, for a second. "What do you mean?"
He stared back at her, not responding.
Something finally clicked in her mind, and she suddenly nodded her head in realization. "Oh! Um... well... not today. I'm going over to Kenji's to work on our Health report. But hey, lets do something tomorrow, alright?"
His face lit up. "Really?"
She nodded. "Yeah."
"Great. Tomorrow it is then."
She nodded once more, giving him a weird smile. "...Yeah."
"Okay then, bye."
"...Bye..."
*
"Hey, Kenji?"
"Hm?"
Videl slumped her shoulders, sighing heavily as she stared up into the dark sky. "Can we continue with this report later? I'm not feeling so good right now..."
He scooted closer over to her, patting her back. "Are you okay? Do you want to go home? I can finish up the Health report by myself. We only have a few more things to do."
She looked at him, feeling guilty. "Would you mind if I went home? I'm sorry..."
He smiled at her. "Don't worry about it. The thing you can do for me is to get better."
She stood up. "Thank you so much, Kenji. I owe you one."
"No problem."
*
"Hey, Videl... you got a phone call earlier."
She turned around, and gave her father a weird look before shrugging. "Who was it?"
"Gohan," he growled. "Yes... Gohan. I believe that was his name."
"Oh," she said casually as if she was unaffected by it. "What'd he say?"
"He wanted you to call him back... about tomorrow or something."
"It's pretty late... he's probably on-line. Thanks, Daddy."
*
Entering chat room...
UltimateScholar1: Videl!!
SaiyaGirl2: Hey.
UltimateScholar1: Did you have fun doing the report with Kenji?
SaiyaGirl2: ...I went home early... didn't exactly feel well.
UltimateScholar1: Why?
SaiyaGirl2: I don't know... I felt a bit light-headed, but I'm fine now.
UltimateScholar1: Oh... okay... about tomorrow?
SaiyaGirl2: Oh, yeah. Um... what do you want to do?
UltimateScholar1: I don't really care as long as we do something...
SaiyaGirl2: Well, I'm open for ideas...
UltimateScholar1: Uh...
SaiyaGirl2: Well... lets see... if you don't want to go anywhere, we could just come over to my house... or yours'... whichever works for you.
UltimateScholar1: That's fine... yours would be better, though. Trunks is coming over tomorrow, so...
SaiyaGirl2: Oh... yeah, enough said. My house it is, then?
UltimateScholar1: Yeah... so... for the dance... do you have everything ready?
SaiyaGirl2: Pretty much... what about you?
UltimateScholar1: Yeah... are you looking forward to it?
SaiyaGirl2: I guess. I just hope Kenji doesn't make a huge deal out of it... he was making a list on what we were going to do before the dance...
UltimateScholar2: I know how you feel. Angela's doing the same thing.
SaiyaGirl2: I told him that he didn't need to do that... but he insisted on it anyway. I'm going to tell him again tomorrow to not do anything... it's just a waste of time.
UltimateScholar1: Heh... Angela and Kenji would be perfect for each other. They're exactly the same.
SaiyaGirl2: I know.
UltimateScholar1: But... you don't like Kenji in... that way, do you?
SaiyaGirl2: No... at least, not yet...
UltimateScholar1: Oh...
SaiyaGirl2: ...Why?
UltimateScholar1: I was just wondering.
SaiyaGirl2: Okay...
UltimateScholar1: Listen, Videl, I didn't mean to hurt you...
SaiyaGirl2: We already went through this already, Gohan... I know you didn't mean to, and it's fine.
UltimateScholar1: It's just... you don't seem very comfortable when you're around me anymore... and it used to be the complete opposite before... the bet took place.
SaiyaGirl2: Actually... it was before I started to like you... the bet has nothing to do with it.
UltimateScholar1: Videl, you're my best friend... and I don't want to lose you.
SaiyaGirl2: I know... and you never will lose me.
UltimateScholar1: Are you sure? You promise?
SaiyaGirl2: Yeah.
UltimateScholar1: Make that official to me... lets pinky swear...
SaiyaGirl2: Well, I would... except you're not exactly here right now...
UltimateScholar1: I'll be over in about 10 minutes. Be right back.
SaiyaGirl2: What?! Gohan! What are you doing? We can do this tomorrow!
After a few minutes of waiting, she still hadn't received an answer, and a small smile crept across her lips.
Gohan... why couldn't he just wait until tomorrow to do that? That idiot...
A soft knock came from her window, and she turned around. Shaking her head, she walked over and opened it up, allowing him in.
He stepped in, looking at her bluntly. "Okay... promise me, Videl."
She extended her pinky out to him, and he immediately linked his with hers. With their pinkies still connected, he slowly brought her hand up to his lips, and kissed it quickly before roughly pulling her into a hug.
"This whole situation... it may seem like no big deal... but all my life... I've never had a best friend. Actually, I've never had a friend at all... but it wasn't until about three years ago that you changed all of that. You're very important to me... and I will lose you to no one, you hear? No one... even if you hate me for it... you'll always be mine... my friend. My best friend..." What the hell did I just say? he scolded himself mentally. What the heck just came out of my mouth? ...Why am I hugging her?
She hugged him back, the left side of her cheek pressed up against his hard chest. "You'll never lose me, Gohan. I promise you that..."
After hearing her say that, he pulled away from her, a smile gracing his face. His smile was so serene that she couldn't help but return one of those smiles herself.
"G'night, Videl."
"'Night, Gohan. See ya tomorrow."
After giving her another quick smile, he flew out of her window, and into the night sky.
*
That's the end of that... only a few more chapters to go before this ends. ^_~ Review!