Hi guys! Sorry this one took so long. I'm in the process of relocating to another state, and we were forced to stop off at a hotel, due to complications with the interstate and such. Anyway, we don't have too much more to go. I finally sat down and plotted to the end. Four more chapters to go after this one, so you can be assured that I'm not trying to drag this out.
I've no time to reply to my wonderful reviewers, but I'd like to sincerely thank you all. I hope you've enjoyed reading this fic as much as I have enjoyed writing it.
Happy reading!
Chapter XXVIII – No Take Backs
Marron smiled as she entered the quaint Mayan (as in the Central American Indians) restaurant, being led by an anxious Uubu. A week earlier, when she had first run into him again, he had told her of all his recent adventures in the heart of Africa…after they had gotten out of the rain, that is. He pulled her to a small booth in the corner, where a woman with bright blond hair sat, awaiting them.
She flashed a set of luminous teeth, as the duo sat before her. After a few seconds had passed, and the women continued taking each other in, Uubu cleared his throat, bringing two sets of vivid blue eyes to himself. "Marron, this is my fiancée, Canary Peach," he introduced.
The two offered their hands, greeting each other with a simultaneous, "I've heard so much about you." They both laughed lightly, easily adjusting to the presence of the opposite.
"So you're in infamous Marron Chestnut," Canary began. "It's nice to finally meet you."
"I should be saying the same. Uubu has talked about you non-stop."
She gave him a wicked smirk. "He has, has he? Well, I would have been here sooner, but my sister caught the wrong flight, and I had to go back for her. By the time I finally got back to Heathrow, she was already here."
Marron chuckled. "Maybe it is good that my parents never blessed me with any siblings."
Canary grinned. "Well, she is good for some things. I'll give her that."
"She certainly sounds interesting. When will I be meeting her?"
The other checked her watch. "She was supposed to meet us for lunch twelve minutes ago."
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"Lena, huh?" Goten asked. "Nope, she doesn't ring a bell at all."
"I'm not surprised. I still don't have all the details, but she hasn't been in town for long."
"You seem pretty serious about her to have only met her a mere week ago," he observed.
"Well, she's everything I want, Goten. She's funny, crazy, friendly, lovable, cute—everything that I've always wanted in a woman."
"I thought you wanted Marron."
The smile slowly left Trunks's face. "Marron doesn't want me," he admitted quietly.
"So you're…giving up on her? Just like that?"
"It's not like I have a choice, Goten. She says she doesn't love me. All she wants is friendship, and now that Lena has been added to the equation, I'm beginning to think that she has the right idea."
Goten leaned back. "Bura's not going to be happy about this. She thinks you guys are meant to be."
"I can't chase her forever, can I?"
"No, I guess you can't."
"Then going after Lena is the right thing to do?"
Goten clapped his best friend on the shoulder. "Whatever makes you happy, Trunks. Just be careful."
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Canary sighed, eyeing the door. "I guess she's forgotten. Why don't we go ahead and order our food?"
Uubu nodded in agreement, picking up a menu.
Marron waited patiently, having already decided what she wanted.
"So, Marron, Uubu neglected to tell me what you do for a living. Care to fill the gap?" she joked.
"I own a dance and music studio."
"How interesting. What all do you do there?"
"Oh, just a bit of everything—I teach voice, piano, dance, and general music classes. We have concerts and recitals. I just took on an assistant, and we're working on a professional choreography routine."
"Wow." She suddenly dropped her menu. "Professional choreography?"
"Mmmhmm."
"So, you teach people dance steps?"
Marron gave her an odd look. "Yes."
"That's great!"
"It is?"
"Yes! I've been looking everywhere for a choreographer for our wedding reception."
"Really?"
Canary nodded eagerly. "I want to have a side entertainment show, and I was hoping for the ceremony participants to learn an authentic ballroom dance."
"Sounds great!"
"So you'll do it?"
"Of course!"
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"You have to come, Marron!" Bura demanded, trying to pull her friend off of the couch. "You're never going to be able to move on with your life until you get out."
"I don't want to get out, Bura."
"I'm telling you; this will be great! You'll love it!"
"What makes you say that?"
"I don't know! Look, is it too much to ask to go out clubbing with my best friend?"
"What about Goten?"
"He's watching Vegeta."
"Goten's going to watch Vegeta so his wife can go out clubbing?"
"Hey, it's not my fault I got the pick of the litter."
"Right."
"Good, then we're going?"
"N—"
"Great!" Bura succeeded in yanking her off the couch and dragging her out the door.
One hour, twenty-four minutes, and thirty-three seconds later, they arrived at the third club, the Cracked Vase. Marron uttered a few curses on whichever being had put this infernal idea in Bura's head and ordered a Fuzzy Navel, emptying half of the glass in record time. She set the glass back on its yellow napkin, and let out a deep sigh.
"Sounds like man troubles," a girl said, as she approached the bar. She gave the bartender her order, and then turned to smile at Marron. "Am I right?"
Marron leaned backwards in her stool and stared up at the ceiling. "I'm not sure," she admitted quietly.
The woman winced. "Ouch. That bad, huh?" The bartender returned with her two drinks. She hopped up on the stool next to Marron's. "Need to talk?"
"Yeah," Marron breathed, "but I don't know what it is that I want to talk about."
"Ah. Well then, don't worry. I'm sure whoever he is, he'll come to his senses soon enough. Or maybe…" She trailed off, making Marron look around for her. She smiled again. "Maybe he's not the one who needs to come to his senses."
"Lena, are you coming back out to the floor?"
Marron swung around, to see Trunks's face.
"Yeah, Trunks. I was just talking to…" She gave Marron a questioning glance.
"M-Marron."
"Marron. Giving her some female reassurance, you know."
Trunks nodded. "How've you been, Marron?"
"I'm fine," she replied firmly.
"You two know each other?" Lena asked.
"Yeah," Trunks confirmed. "Marron used to be my secretary."
"Oh. How neat!" She turned to Marron again. "I'm Lena Peer. Nice to meet you!" She offered her hand.
Marron shook it. "Marron Chestnut."
"We have a table over there." She pointed to some place among the masses of people. "Would you like to join us?"
"No, I'm fine, thanks. I'm here with a friend."
"Oh. Well maybe next time, then." The speakers crackled as the track changed. "I love this song!" She turned back to Trunks. "Let's go dance. See you later, Marron!" She took Trunks's hand, and led him onto the dance floor.
Marron watched them disappear into the crowd of people. 'So Trunks has met someone…'