Well, I'm sorry for the delay…damn technical difficulties (i.e. lost zip disc _ )  but, here's chapter 7.  The next shouldn't take as long for me to put up.

Enjoy

Dragonball FT, The Black Thorn Saga
Chapter 7: Finally
For the rest of the day, Xavier's body was in school, but his head was in the clouds. No matter how hard he tried paying attention in any of his classes, his thoughts always returned to what he looked forward to after school: seeing Emily. Every class was the same: he would take out a notebook, hold a pen in his hand like he was about to write something, but simply stare off into space, dreaming about those two green eyes. At lunch, Xavier barely ate anything and his head still wasn't out of the clouds when he was cleaning classrooms after school. Only after he was done cleaning had Xavier realized that he had cleaned some rooms twice, while he had forgotten about others. Oh well, I'll just have to remember to clean those first, tomorrow. He thought as he got his coat and backpack out of his locker and made his way to the front door where Xavier was hoping he would find Emily waiting for him.
He walked through the front door and, to his surprise and delight, saw a girl sitting on one of the lower steps, back to the door, with that now all-too-familiar red hair. Xavier smiled to himself and walked down the stairs. When he got to the bottom, he turned and his eyes met those two emeralds that he had thought about all day.
"Hey," He greeted her.
"Hey, yourself," Emily replied.
"You ready to go?" He asked. Immediately following this, Xavier thought to himself, Stupid, stupid, stupid! Of course she's ready to go. Why else would she be sitting here waiting?
"Yup." Emily replied.
Xavier, shaking off his mental self-insults, extended his right hand in order to help Emily to her feet. She reached up with her left hand and was helped to her feet. What Xavier didn't expect was that Emily didn't let go of his hand. Instead, after she had gotten up, she kept hold of Xavier's hand, intertwining her fingers with his. Xavier, although shocked, was completely elated. He did his best to hide his thoughts, but couldn't stop from briefly turning a deep shade of red. Luckily for Xavier, Emily didn't notice; and if she did, she didn't let on that she did. They walked the two minutes it took to get to the bus stop in silence. Xavier was too dumbstruck to even begin to think of anything to say, and Emily seemed content just the way things were. They got to the bus stop just as a bus was pulling up, and they got on. As they sat down, a thought popped into Xavier's head:
I didn't even see Jane at all since I left school. Normally she's sitting on the steps when I leave, but today she was nowhere in sight. Oh, well, she probably had to leave right away or something.
After they had sat down in the pair of seats, Xavier next to the window and Emily next to the aisle, Emily opened up the discussion with a question, "So, how long have you lived in the apartments?"
"About two years," He replied. "So, what brings you to that wonderful (this said laden with sarcasm) apartment complex?"
"Well, I live with my aunt and uncle (When she said this, Xavier noticed sorrow in her voice and decided he wouldn't continue with this topic any longer than Emily would). We used to live in Springfield, but when my uncle got laid off, we moved here because he thought there were more job opportunities." She told him.
After she told him this, Emily became very quiet. Xavier was sorry for ever having brought up the subject. He put his arm around her shoulder and, trying to comfort her, said:
"Look, I'm sorry about bringing that up..."
"That's OK," she interjected. "But, I'd rather not talk about it any more right now. I'll fill you in on the details later, OK?"
"Yeah, sure." Xavier replied.
"Thanks." Emily responded. With that, she moved closer to Xavier in their seat and put her head on his shoulder.
This is really weird. Xavier thought to himself as they sat together. I barely know her, and yet, I'm completely comfortable in her presence, and it's almost like she feels the same way about me. This has never happened to me; I'm always shy around people I just meet, but for some reason, I don't around her. There's just something about her... I can't put my finger on it. Either this is my lucky day, or fate is setting me up for a fall. Oh well, I might as well enjoy the moment.

The rest of the trip home was spent in much the same way. Xavier didn't want to bring up a topic that would make Emily sad and besides, it wasn't every day that he had a beautiful girl on his arm. They got off the bus and walked to the apartment building. Upon arriving there, they walked up the stairs (the elevator still hadn't been fixed). Xavier walked Emily to her door and was just about to turn to leave when Emily stopped him. He turned to her and was met with a quick kiss on the lips. After that, Emily shyly smiled at Xavier and disappeared into her apartment.
Xavier was dumbstruck. First, there were the events of that morning, and now this. This is turning out to be the best day of my life. He thought to himself as he slowly walked back to his apartment. He walked into the apartment. No one was there, as usual. As soon as he had hung up his coat, the phone rang.
"Hello?" answered Xavier.
"Hi, Xavier." a familiar, female voice replied.
"Oh, hey Jane," Xavier said a little less enthusiastically.
"I hope you didn't worry about where I was after school." she said, half apologetically.
"No, I just figured you got a ride home right after school." Xavier answered.
"Yeah, something like that," said Jane. "So, who was that little slut who was with you this morning?"
This caught Xavier off guard. He had never known Jane to be so insulting to someone she didn't even know. "What?" was the only reply that Xavier could muster.
"You heard me," she replied. "I saw that kiss she gave you this morning."
"And that makes her a slut?" Xavier asked.
"Yeah, I bet you barely even know her." Jane told him.
"Really? And just how long have you known Chris?" Xavier asked in a slightly annoyed tone.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked.
"Don't play dumb with me." Xavier told her.
"I really don't know what you mean." She responded.
"Then let me refresh your memory. Friday night, at 8-ball's. I was there shooting a few games with Matt, and you know what I saw? I saw you there sitting on Chris' lap, with your tongue down his throat." Xavier said. He was now really annoyed.
"Who I go out with is my own business!" Jane stated.
"Fair enough, but why lie about it? You told me you were sick all weekend when, obviously, you weren't." He asked.
"Because I knew you would overreact like you are right now." She told him emphatically.
"OK, so, let me get this straight." Xavier started. "My opinion, and popular knowledge of Chris' demeaning behavior to those he dates, means nothing to you; and yet, I'm supposed to listen to you when you claim that the first girl to ever take any real notice in me is a slut?"
"That's not true." Jane replied. "Chris is a really nice guy. Aside from that, he was a perfect gentleman all night."
"Yeah, and I bet that'll last real long...that is until he wants to get into your pants." Xavier said, almost shouting.
"I already told you, he's not like that." Jane retorted.
"Sure, whatever. Just don't come crying to me when he uses you and then throws you to the side like he's done with every other girl." Xavier said. And with that, he hung up the phone.
Xavier didn't move for a minute. He didn't have the energy. Just the thought of Chris using his best friend made his blood boil. At the same time, he was helpless to do anything. She was her own person, and all he could do was offer advice.
Overcoming his temporary paralysis, Xavier walked back into his room and grabbed his coat. He put it on as he walked to the door. He exited the apartment and made his way to the stairs and ascended them, not stopping until he reached the roof. When he got there, he walked to the edge of the roof, leaned on the safety bar with his elbows and began to think about what was going on in his life. He had not been there for more than five minutes when he heard a voice from behind him.
"You seek answers to questions you don't even understand." The voice stated.
Xavier froze. That voice!! I've heard it before! Can it be?! Xavier thought.
The voice continued after the brief pause, "You seek answers...answers that I might have."
At this, Xavier slowly turned around and finally saw the body that accompanied the voice. It belonged to a tall man. His white robe and dark maroon vest flapped in the wind. He held in his left hand a walking stick taller than the owner. Most striking of all, however, was the man's green skin and two antennae on his forehead that was as bald as the rest of his head.