Guiding Light
Oh ho! I'm getting closer to that 10th chapter point! Yay! ^x^ And then I'll be finally back to wherever I left off, I don't think I'll be exactly at that spot, but I'll try to balance the things in this and the upcoming two chapters so that when chapter 11 arrives, the story plot will be aligned as it was in the old version.
The Apple Tree is put on hold until I get to chapter 10 in Guiding Light, sorry about the inconvenience. But the good news is that the Silver Sea should be updated again soon! ^^ Yay!
I've realized that I've reached … 300 reviews … O_O … now for you amazing authors out there, it's not such a big deal, but it is to me, because, personally, I thought that The Apple Tree would reach that number first … although it's pretty damn close … ^^
Er … this chappie is sorta a filler … but the last part of this chapter is pretty relevant … spare me … kay? Sorry, a bit too much of Watership Down in this chapter, but erm … like I said, spare me.
And I still cannot believe how much feedback this is receiving! Thankies so much!
Chapter 7: Tokens of Rabbit Fans
"There's this totally gorgeous lifeguard at the pool, and I really want to get to know him. How should I make the first move?"
"That's an easy one, just sign up for some swimming lessons, it doesn't matter if you already can swim perfectly, you can always pretend to sputter a bit, can't you?"
Pan smiled and leaned against the chair, just five more minutes and it'll be over, she glanced at her watch and smiled even more, how could she not be happy? It was Friday night, with a full weekend ahead. When she insisted that she didn't like working at lunch, she had been instantly switched to prime time. She only needed to take a few more calls, being Miss. Lonelyhearts sure was fun, there was just one problem, she wasn't supposed to tell anyone. Casey, Kamala, and Janelle all knew, and so did all the people who worked in the radio station, but that was it. It would be much more fun if she were able to tell the others, the phone rang again and Steve pushed a button to indicate that she was on air.
"Hello, Miss Lonelyhearts? I have a problem, ever since arriving in this school … my best friend has been pretty much ignoring me … she had been hanging out with totally different people, and whenever I try to talk to her, she just brushes me off, what should I do?"
"Confront her, tell her how you feel about it, ask her why she's acting this way. Maybe she doesn't realize it? Or maybe she's just doing it deliberately, what ever it is, you need to get to the bottom of this one, or else your best friend wouldn't exactly be your best friend anymore." Funny, that voice somehow was familiar, Pan thought as she clicked off the microphone.
Steve gave her a thumbs-up sign as he switched the line for another phone call.
"Hey, Miss Lonelyhearts, my boyfriend of four years is cheating on me, I know 'cause I found all these long distance calls on his phone bill, how should I confront him?"
Pan absentmindedly answered the rest of the questions, but for some reason, the call with the girl having trouble with her friend kept on ringing in her head, and she couldn't help but remember that she was forgetting something. She shook her head and tried to concentrate on the events later that night, well … there was Goten's party. She was looking forward to that.
As her shift finished, Steve gave her a smile, "Great job today, Miss. Lonelyhearts."
Pan nodded and returned his smile as she took off her headgear and left the studio.
Strange … she felt like she was being watched the whole way back to her dorm … Pan shrugged away the sinking feeling in her stomach and walked in to her room to hear the familiar squabble from her friends, as Kamala desperately searched for something that'll attract the 'boys' and Janelle swearing as she looked for her lost earring, Casey, of course, was complaining about Kamala's new pair of leather pants and listing all the animals that are now extinct because of excessive hunting. As the girls noticed Pan's arrival, they all crowded up to her, complaining about their problems.
"Pan! Have you seen my earring? You know, those gold ones that I bought from Europe?"
"Pan! Does this blouse make me look fat?"
"Pan! Do you know how many different kinds of tigers are extinct because of hunting? There are only about 25 East Chinese Tigers left in the world … and red wolves are almost completely extinct! Forcing the few remaining ones to breed with coyotes, causing their breeds to be mixed!"
Pan blinked a few times as she tried to digest all that was thrown at her, when the girls calmed down and all asked her in unison, "What are you going to wear to Goten's party?"
"Er … clothes?"
Kamala laughed like that was the stupidest thing in the world, Janelle asked if she would like to borrow some clothes, and Casey only folded her arms and suggested for Pan to wear her hair down instead of it being in that ponytail all the time.
After a further fifteen minutes of mindless panicking, the girls, with the exception of Pan were almost ready.
"Well? How do I look?" Janelle geastured to her outfit.
"You're not wearing enough." Casey complained.
"You're wearing too much." Whined Kamala.
Pan stared at her friend's red knee-length skirt and her low-cut shirt, it looked nice on her, with her copper hair and all. She smiled at both Casey and Kamala's comments, Casey was wearing stretch jeans and a turtle-neck sweater, red, obviously, Kamala was wearing a tight red leather mini-skirt, which was probably the reason why Casey was giving her dirty looks, and on top of that, she was also wearing a tank top, also red.
"It looks just right."
Janelle smiled and nodded, "Thanks, Pan."
Now Pan had her own problems, what was she going to wear? She had way too much hoodies and baggy jeans, next time she goes shopping, she was definitely going to buy something else. "Oh, no, I don't have anything to wear."
Three pairs of ears perked up, and all three girls retrieved various pieces of clothing from their dressers and handed them to Pan. Casey handed her a pair of red capris, that did not contain one animal cell in it whatsoever, Kamala tossed her a pair of nice faux leather boots, and Janelle threw her a tie-up shirt, pan smiled gratefully at her friends as she went to change, strange, wasn't it? A year ago, she would have never cared about what she wore or how she looked, but now, it was actually pretty important to her, not the most important thing in the world, but still necessary to worry about.
It was amazing how much she could change in a couple of weeks of life on campus.
Little did she know, she was going to change a lot more …
Taking Casey's advice, Pan didn't tie her hair up in it's usual ponytail, but instead, put on her favourite visor, she glanced at her friends' piles of little make-up bottles and laughed, although she might care a bit about clothes now, she still had no desire to slap sloppy, gooey stuff on her face any time soon.
The doorbell rang, and Pan ran to answer it, she was pretty surprised when she saw Jake's familiar face, for she had almost forgotten about him taking her to Goten's party.
"Oh, hi, Jake, c'mon in."
Kamala flashed her a sly smile as she saw who just stepped into their room. Pan slapped her hands together and called out, "Are we ready to go?"
The girls exchanged glances and the same smirks rose to their faces as Kamala sighed regretfully and choked out, "Oh, you needn't worry, Case and Jan are coming with me in my LXi. You and -" The smirk widened, "-Jake can go alone, if that's all right, besides, there's no more room in my car."
"But … it's a five-seater …" Pan stopped talking as she realized Kamala's full intentions, "You guys! God! It's not a date or anything! Jake's just gonna show me to Goten's place. And why do we need cars anyway? Doesn't Goten live pretty close?"
"Because Goten lives on the other side of the campus, a fifteen minute drive, actually." Corrected Jake as snickers were heard from both Casey and Janelle.
"Oh … I see …"
"Well, shall we go, then?" Smirked the boy.
"Sure, I guess I'll see you guys at the party?" Pan asked her friends. They only snickered again and waved.
~*~
"C'mon, Trunks, you never miss them. Please?"
"Why are you always bothering me to go places?" Trunks growled angrily, "I don't feel like it today."
"Oh, what the hell's wrong with you? You've been so boring ever since school started, fuck, Trunks, you're acting like a whole different person. You're not the real you anymore." Yelled the blonde, "First you hide in a bush with some fuckin' girl, then you start reading a book about rabbits, then you try to learn French, what the hell's going on lately?"
"Nothing's wrong, Jewel, really, I'm fine. I've just been having some problems lately, that's all." Admitted Trunks.
"Problems? What problems?" Jewel's eyes widened as her mind automatically switched to the first thought that flashed upon it, "Oh my god, Trunks … you didn't get somebody pregnant … did you?"
"WHAT? No! Where'd you get that crazy idea!?"
"Just a little hunch … why else are you acting like a … a … weirdo?"
Trunks sighed exasperatedly, "Look! I'm trying to read what happens! Bigwig finally gets into Efrafa! I wanna see if General Woundwort catches him!"
"Oh, get off of it, Trunks, not that stupid rabbit book again, but you never miss a Friday night rave, are you sure you're not delirious or something?" Jewel clasped a hand on Trunks' forehead, as if expecting she could figure out what was wrong with her by poking his eyes out, "You aren't sick … are you?"
Trunks grunted in reply and turned back to his book, reading out loud in hopes of annoying the blonde girl, "Four wandering rabbits – giving themselves out to be some kind of embassy from another warren – had been held and impressed into the Right Flank Mark. He had intended, later, to find out where they had come from. But they had succeeded in playing a very simple trick, bamboozling the Mark commander, attacking his sentries and escaping by night."
"If you come, I'll give you some French pointers."
Trunks tossed his book on the ground and leapt up, a huge smirk on his face, "Well, then, what are we waiting for?"
Jewel rolled her eyes, "I thought as much …"
~*~
"Wow," Exclaimed Pan, "This is your car?!"
"Yup, all mine." Jake held open the door to his Grand Cherokee 4x4 and smirked, "Hop in."
Pan carefully stepped in the car and watched as he started the engines, the smell of brand new leather filled her head and she was actually glad that Casey didn't come with her, she probably would've had another one of her tirades. Probably about how pigs are very intelligent animals and should be treated with dignity and respect.
"You a cheerleader?" Her thoughts were interrupted by his question.
"Unfortunately, yes." Pan felt her cheeks flushing, she didn't know why, but the idea of being referred to a cheerleader was somehow embarrassing. To quickly change the subject, she added, "And you're on the football team, right?"
"Uh-huh, tryouts are next week, but I guess because I played on the nationals during high school I get on easy or something." He chuckled a few times and started to drive out of the parking lot.
Pan gazed out of the window as he passed by the different buildings on campus and noticed a little flickering light on her right side, "That looks like a fire."
"Hmmm?" Jake followed her gaze and smiled, "Oh, don't worry, those are probably some guys having a party or something."
"Outside?" Pan seemed confused.
"Yeah, outside, you know, like a rave." Jake explained, "Where they do drugs and all."
They were driving dangerously close to the fire and the mob around it, and Pan simply nodded, "Oh." And gazed back out of the window wondering, who in their right mind would do drugs?
As they drove almost parallel to the bonfire, Pan heard a gruff voice call out from the crowd, "Hey! Look! It's Jake!" The car stopped, and Jake rolled down his window and smirked at the approaching people.
"What's up, Jake, my man?" Grunted a tall and very buff man with flaming red hair as he slapped hands with Jake. "Wanna hang with us?"
"Nah, gotta get going to Goten's party." Jake shrugged, "I'll catch you later, then?"
"Goten? Why the fuck are you going to his party?" Growled the man, as he peered into the window, and as if for the first time, noticing Pan, "Hey, Jake! You've got a pretty chick with you! What's her name?"
"Yeah, we've really gotta get going now, nice to see ya, Terry, later."
"Hey, whoa, what's your hurry?" Terry frowned, "You'd rather go and party with him than come an' chill with me an' my homies?"
"'Course not, man, I'm hurt that you would think that."
Pan watched with no particular interest as Jake and the tall man chatted, she looked at her watch and sighed, hoping that Jake would take the hint and hurry, but the blond was in anything but a hurry as he mindlessly talked with Terry.
"Hiya Pan." Came an oddly familiar voice.
The girl spun around and smiled at the even more familiar face, "Whatcha doing here, Trunks?"
"I should be asking you the same question." Trunks leaned in her partially open window and smirked, "What's up?"
"Not much, just heading over to Goten's now." Pan smiled at the violet-haired boy.
"Awww … too bad, I was hoping that you could join in the fun." Trunks geastured towards the group by the bonfire.
Pan blinked a few times, digesting what he had just asked her, her, Pan, of all people, to hang out with a bunch of drunk stoners, wait a minute, if they were all stoners, then that would make Trunks one too, she didn't reply, instead, she only stared at him with a horrified expression on her face.
"They're a good lot, sir." Smirked Trunks as he absent-mindedly fiddled with a thick chain-like rope dangling from his neck.
Pan murmured without realizing what she said, "Quotes Chervil …"
"What did you just say?"
"Oh … nothing …" Pan blushed, "What's that around your neck, and what does it do?"
"This?" Trunks looked down at the rope and smirked once more, " 'Ees rope. You like bite heem, den you go damn' queek, all de vay."
Pan's eyebrows rose in surprise, what the hell is he talking about now? "That's really weird you know … although you do have a perfect Kehaar accent."
"You've read it too?" Trunks asked with a tone of astonishment.
"Read what too?" He is going crazy, isn't he? Pan mused to herself.
"Only the greatest rabbit book on earth." Trunks sighed as if expecting her to know what she was talking about, "You know, adventures with Hazel, Blackberry and Dandelion?"
"WATERSHIP DOWN?!" Squealed Pan. "THAT'S MY FAVOURITE BOOK!!!"
"REALLY? ME TOO!" Trunks yelled back, causing everyone within fifty meters to turn around wondering if their oh-so-great leader was high again. Jake turned around and noticed that he had been ignoring Pan.
"Oh, sorry, Pan, I must've gotten carried away, should we leave now?" The blond suggested.
Unfortunately, Pan didn't pay any attention to him, instead, she beamed at Trunks, "Bigwig's my favourite rabbit!"
"Me too!"
"Really?"
"Rummy."
"Bigwig reminds me of Vegeta." Pan grinned at her fellow rabbit lover.
"Bigwig reminds me of Goku." Trunks smirked back at the girl.
"Pan, we should really go now before it's too late." Reminded Jake.
"Huh? Oh, right …" Pan snapped back from her rabbit daydreams to the grim reality of Goten snapping his head off at her for being late, "Well, see ya later Trunks, have fun at your … er … rave?"
"That's right, Pan, have fun at his party." Trunks teased, "And remember, you're now my official rabbit-lover buddy."
"Deal, and you're … er … my official fellow Bigwig fan." Pan held out her hand, "And you have to agree."
Trunks shook it in a serious manner and removed the rope-chain from his neck, "Here, Pan, as my official rabbit-lover buddy, I hereby present you with my very favourite neck garment, use it well, young one." He carefully placed it around Pan's neck and smirked at her, "There, how'd you like that?"
"Thanks, Trunks, I love it!" Pan smiled at him, "If only I could give you something too … hmmm … I've got it!" She took off her visor and solemnly placed it on his head, "There you go, I also hereby present you with my very favourite … er … headgear, keep it clean, boxer boy."
He gave her a little wave as Jake drove off, and smirked to himself.
Strange, none of the girls he'd ever known had read that book, Pan certainly was different …
And then a strange thought entered his head, wouldn't it be great if he could get her to join his gang? He'd enjoy talking with her about rabbits …
And he'd also enjoy seeing the look on Goten's face when she does join …
End of Chapter 7
Aaahhhh, bad ending, I know, I know, once again, spare me, I crammed everything there in the last segment, but c'mon, I just had to get a little bit of T/P in, I mean, seven chapters with hardly any contact? That's just bizarre … yeah … I've got not much to say, only that I'd be grateful if you dropped a little comment … thanks …
-Juunanagou4ever