Chapter 8

Bra and Uub spent the rest of the afternoon doing one of Bra's favourite things – shopping. Bra spent hundreds of dollars on clothes for herself and for her niece, mostly. And she insisted on buying Uub a shirt to replace the one she was sure she had ruined. In return, Uub shouted Bra an ice cream when they stopped for a break.

By 5.30 both realised that they should probably head home. Bra was shocked that what should have been the worst day of her life, had actually turned out to be quite fun…thanks to Uub. He even escorted her home.

Before he left, Bra gave Uub a big hug. "Thank you so much, Uub. You've made me feel so much better – I didn't think that was possible."

"I told you it would be." Uub handed Bra a piece of paper with his phone number on it. "If you ever need anyone to talk to, anytime – just give me a call. Remember Bra: stay happy."

"I will." Bra kissed Uub lightly on the cheek, and went inside.

Uub stood for a moment, dumbfounded, before taking off, fuelled by complete bliss.

Halfway home, Uub had to stop and answer his cell phone. At first he though it might have been Bra, already sinking back into her pit of despair, but he was surprised when the caller ID read 'Marron'. I wonder what she could want. "Hey, Marron."

"Oh, you are such a jerk!" came Marron's very pissed off voice.

"What?"

"You do know that they only just broke up, don't you? What makes you think you can move in the minute Goten's out of the way!?! Jerk!"

"Now, hold on a minute. What are you talking about?"

"I saw you! I saw you at the Mall with Bra! How could you take advantage of her like that!"

"Marron, I didn't do anything! I was out shopping, and I saw Bra looking all upset. She told me that she and Goten had broken up, so I tried to cheer her up by taking her shopping. That's all."

There was a moment of silence from Marron, like she was weighing up the probability of this 'excuse'. "Oh, alright. So you weren't on a date?"

"No."

"And there's no attraction between the two of you?"

It was Uub's turn to be silent. He couldn't deny that he was deeply attracted to Bra. She was beautiful, smart, witty and an all round great person. "I can't answer for Bra on that one, but I'll admit that I do find her attractive."

"You what!?!" Marron screeched.

Uub was angry now. Marron had no right to decide anything about his love life. "What business is it of yours anyway? We haven't been together for ages…"

"I'm just trying to look after Goten. Do you have any idea how upset he would be if he found out that you liked Bra?"

"Oh, that is rich coming from you, Marron! As a matter of fact, I do know how upset he would be. I guess you've conveniently forgotten about what you did three days after we broke up."

Instead of a nasty, bitchy remark, Marron's reply was a click, followed by a repetitive beep. She had hung up. Uub smiled slightly, knowing that he had won the argument, but that didn't make him feel less angry. How dare Marron ring him and abuse him like that, after everything that she ever pulled. With a sigh, Uub continued on his way.

By tomorrow, Marron would be over the argument, and wonder why Uub was annoyed at her.

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Uub was right in the end. Marron rang him the next day, bright and bubbly, completely forgetting their fight the night before. It seemed that Krillin, Juuhachigou and Master Roshi were going away for the week – leaving Marron alone in the house. Marron plus an empty house always equalled a party.

"So, who are you inviting?" Uub said, carefully not directly asking if Bra was coming, for fear of another verbal assault.

"Oh, you know, the usual. Trunks, Goten and all our old friends from school; Pan and Bra; a whole heap of people we know. And two guys I met the other day."

Uub rolled his eyes. The fact that she had added the part about the two guys she had just met meant that she had not completely forgotten about Uub's 'encounter' with Bra. He pretended not to notice.

"Okay, I'll be there. See you then." After finishing his conversation with Marron, Uub rang Bra (he had managed to get her number from Pan). "Hey, Bra."

"Hi, Uub!" she sounded much happier than she had the previous day.

"Marron just rang me. She's having a party tomorrow…"

"Yeah, she rang a little while ago. Hawaiian! How cool!"

Uub laughed. "I…uh…was just ringing to say that…you know…if you wanna hang out with anyone during the night or anything…" He cleared his throat, and tried not to sound as nervous as he felt. "…I'd be happy to have you around…and stuff."

There was a moment of silence from Bra's end, and Uub started to feel like an idiot. Finally, she replied with, "Yeah, that'd be good. Stuff sounds cool. I'll see you later."

"Bye." Uub hung up, and let out a deep breath. "Well, that wasn't so hard."

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Bra started giggling after Uub had hung up. Pan, walking past Bra's room, heard her, and came in.

"You're obviously feeling better," she stated, sitting next to Bra on her bed.

"Yeah," Bra answered. "I went out yesterday, and ran into Uub. He made me feel heaps better. I mean, it still hurts and all…and I don't know what I'll do when I see Goten at Marron's, but I know the pain will get less, and that makes me feel better."

"So, what were you just giggling about?"

"Oh…um…Uub just rang – telling me that if I wanted anyone to hang out with…and stuff, he'd be available."

"And stuff?

"That's what I was laughing out. He was so shy! It was totally cute!"

Pan smiled. She was glad that Bra was feeling better, but she also hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid with this Uub thing. Goten was probably hurting enough, without Bra pulling a Marron. I'm sure she knows what she's doing.