Chapter 3

A few more weeks pass and Bulma stuck to her plan. She made friends with Maron, albeit reluctantly. She tried to hate her but she was so nice and simple minded she found it hard to.

Maron sipped at her Diet Pepsi. "So, what did you do today?"

"Not much you?

"Well, I went to the cleaners to pick up one of Dr. Briefs' suits, the blue one not the black one because I had to take the black one to the tailors because he's loosing weight, did you know that? It surprised me because." Bulma tuned her out and nodded every now and then to show that she was listening, even though she wasn't. ".I got it for 20% off!"

"That's great."

"What's wrong?"

"Hm? What do you mean?"

"You look all spacey and stuff."

"Oh nothing. So what were you saying about 20% off?"

"They were the cutest shoes I ever saw. Well that's what I thought about this green pumps but then I saw Shelia wearing them so I had to get some new ones."

Bulma's mind wandered. When she got skinny maybe Yamcha would ask her out. Maybe she would become a cheerleader. She might even be voted most popular or best looking. Maybe both. Everyone would love her. Her dad would accept her and wouldn't hire any more look alike interns. Not that she minded Maron's presence. It was.refreshing. She didn't talk about bitchy teachers, kicking someone's ass, how hungry she was, psychotic cheerleaders, or getting in someone's pants. Actually she mostly talked about nothing.

".and that's where I met the cutest little guy. He's really short and bald and his name is Chillin, Kripin, Krimin,.."

"Krillin?"

"Yeah, I think he goes to your school. Do you know him?"

"Yeah I do."

"That's so cool. He is the sweetest guy."

"How long have two been going out?"

"Oh." She looked at the clock. "four hours."

Well that explained why she didn't know about it. "I thought you were going out with Chet."

"Oh yeah I am aren't I?"

"You mean you have two boyfriends?!"

"I guess so. Oh I just completely forgot about him. I have to call him up and tell him I can't see him anymore because I'm seeing someone else. What was his number again?"

"Don't ask me."

"Oh well. I'll just tell him when I see him. So what about you, do you have a boyfriend?"

"No."

"Do you have someone in mind?"

She blushed. "Well."

"Oh, spill!"

"His name is Yamcha and he has short spiky black hair and dark brown eyes and tanned skin and he is so cool and he would never like a girl like me."

"Wow it sounds like you really like this guy. What do you mean he would never like a girl like you?"

"I mean look at me. He likes popular, beautiful, skinny girls."

"Nonsense, you're a nice girl."

Bulma rolled her eyes. "Nice means ugly and you know it."

"No it doesn't. Why do you keep downing yourself, B?"

"I'm not downing, I just know the truth is all."

She shook her head. "No you don't. You have this warped image of yourself."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"Yes you do."

"No I don't."

"Yes. You. Do." She said firmly.

Bulma was about to protest when the phone rang. Maron bounced over to the phone. "Hello, you have reached the Briefs residence. Maron speaking."

"Oh hey baby."

"Talking to Bra."

"You know the girl from your school."

"Well she knows you."

"Aqua hair, cerulean eyes."

"No I have sky blue hair and light blue eyes."

"She's an intern here like me."

"Bra."

"See I told you she knew you."

"Oh?"

"Ok."

"Eight tomorrow."

"See you there."

"Bye baby." Maron hung up. "Krimin, has such a bad memory. For some reason he didn't remember you until I described you."

Bulma laughed nervously. "Yeah he always was forgetful."

"We have a date for tomorrow."

"Where are you going?"

"Club Candi. You should come."

"No this is you two's first date. Maybe we can go some other time."

"Well.okay."

Bulma got out of her chair. "I got to go to bed. 'Night." She started walking up the stairs.

"Hey, I've been meaning to ask you, do you like live here?"

"Well my parents are good friends with the Briefs. That's how I got this job."

"Oh, okay. Good night."

Bulma walked down the hall deep in thought. When Maron was on the phone she was afraid she would find out that she wasn't who she said she was. When she had first introduced herself she only talked to her to wheedle some information out of her. Now they were friends and Bulma felt torn. Should she tell her that she lied about who she was and have her get angry at her or let her find out later and lose a friend? She would have to think this over. Until then she will have to get some sleep.

Bulma sat down next to Chichi. "Hey."

"Hey girl, you look tired."

"Yeah, I haven't gotten a lot of sleep lately. Dad's been working me a lot."

"Like an intern perhaps?" Krillin asked slyly.

"You could say that."

"Tell me Bulma do you a middle name?"

Chichi frowned. "Everyone knows she doesn't." (I wouldn't know if she did have a middle name or not. If she does let me know please!)

"Oh, I could have sworn it was Bra."

Bulma gave him a warning look. "Well you sworn wrong."

"Funny, that's not what my girlfriend said."

"She must have me confused with someone else. Besides how long have you known your girlfriend? A day?"

"That has nothing to do with it."

"It has everything to do with it. You don't know if she messed up my name. Hell she can't even your name right. She keeps calling you Krimin, Kripin or my absolute favorite- Chillin."

Vegeta threw his head back and laughed. "Your own woman doesn't know your name huh Chillin?"

17 smirked. "That's pathetic, Kripin."

Bulma felt sort of bad for embarrassing him. Sort of. Well, he did start it. Krillin turned red. "Oh yeah, well here's a picture of her." He pulled out his wallet and shoved a picture at them.

They all started drooling. "Wow she's really pretty."

Chichi gave Goku a glare that could burn water. He laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. "She's not as pretty as you, Chi."

Her face softened. "Really?"

"Uh huh."

"Aw you're so sweet."

Vegeta rolled his eyes and took the fries off Bulma's tray. She gave him a look but didn't say anything. Bulma checked her watch. "I've gotta go. See ya'll later." She dumped her tray and left.

Krillin frowned. "She's been leaving early lately."

Goku shrugged. "Maybe she wants to do some extra credit."

"For study hall?"

"Maybe she could.um.help the librarians or something."

Vegeta rolled his eyes. These where the people he chose to hang out with. What the hell was he thinking? He tuned out their conversation and started listening to other people's.

"I can't believe I ate that much." It was one of those stalking cheerleaders that made up 17's fan club. What was her name? Jamie.Jessica.Jennifer. J something or another.

"I know I'm stuffed."

"Let's go to the bathroom and get rid of all this fat."

Disgusted, Vegeta stopped listening abruptly. Where they talking about taking a shit? No that couldn't be it. Cheerleaders didn't even admit that they sweat why would they talk about that? Besides, that didn't get rid of fat. But what could they do in the bathroom that would get rid of fat? Vegeta stood up and ran out the cafeteria.

"What's wrong with Vegeta?" Krillin asked.

Goku shrugged. "That's how Vegeta is."

Vegeta ran down the hall. Why the hell did the girls' bathroom have to be so far away? Did they need the exercise or something? He had to hurry up and stop Bulma. Who the hell did she think she is? Killing herself like that. She was no superwoman. She couldn't survive everything. How come every time he tried to save her she risked her life again? First the smoking, then not eating and now this. How could he be so stupid? Why hadn't he seen this before? Did he actually think she would listen to him? He checked the bathroom but she was in there. Vegeta ran up the stairs. Whatever she did she would have to watch it. She might make it seem like he cared. He cared about no one, but he didn't want to here everyone crying about how they missed her when she died.

-- Go on baby you be the hero --

He ran into the girl's bathroom. Bulma was in there washing out her mouth. "What the hell do you think you're doing?"

"I should ask the same about you. Last time I checked you weren't a chick but a lot can happen in five minutes."

"Yeah like throwing up your lunch."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Come on Bulma stop fucking with me. I caught you."

She threw up her hands. "You're right, you caught me washing out my mouth. Big whoop."

"How can you be so fucking stupid?! Don't you know you're killing yourself?!"

"All I know is that I'm losing weight."

"Why do you want to lose weight so bad? Is that all your life is worth? Take a look in the mirror Bulma. You look like you have one foot in the grave."

"I look fine."

"Listen to me dammit! You're gonna die. This will kill you quicker then smoking those cancer sticks!"

Bulma walked past him. "Last time I checked you weren't my father so get out of my business. I'll do as I please."

He grabbed her arm. "Would you stop thinking about yourself for one second? Girls die every day from this. Do you know who you would leave behind? Your friends and family."

"No one cares about me."

"Can you look me in the eye and tell me that Chichi doesn't care? 18? Goku? 17? Krillin?"

"Oh yeah what about you, huh? You being Mr. Righteous? What the fuck about you?"

-- And why all that?--

"If you die I swear to Kami I'll kill you." Vegeta let go of her arm and walked out.

Chichi ran a hand through her hair. "I think I flunked that Calculus test."

18 rolled her eyes. "You did fine.

"No I didn't. I could have study more. I could have taken better notes. I c- "

"Chichi, shut up. Worrying isn't good for you health."

"Neither is smoking but that doesn't stop you."

"Hey, if I want to die of cancer that's my business."

Goku leaned over. "Chi, do you want that roll?"

"Oh this one?" She poked her finger through it.

"Yeah." She sweatdropped and handed it to him.

Bulma sat down. "So Kripin, how'd your date go?"

Krillin flushed with anger at his new nickname. "Why didn't you just ask her?"

"Because I don't see her until the afternoon."

"Then ask her then."

"Oh is our little Krippy Wippy Kins being antisocial."

18 smirked. "Leave him alone, he's just PMSing."

Krillin growled. "Do NOT make me make a blonde crack."

"Don't get me started on you shorty."

He huffed. "It's not my fault I got screwed when it came to genes."

"Or looks." 17 muttered under his breath. Everyone laughed except for Krillin.

Krillin pointed behind him. "There goes a cheerleader!" 17's eyes grew wide and he ducked under the table.

After a while 17 peeked over the table. When he saw that there wasn't any cheerleaders he slid back in his seat. "Asshole."

"Just doing my job."

Bulma glared at Vegeta, dumped her fries on his tray, and stood up. "I've gotta go. I'll see ya'll later." She threw her tray away and walked out the cafeteria.

Vegeta was torn. Should he go and stop her and raise suspicions? Or should he let her go and confront her later? Running out of the cafeteria like a crazy ass two days in a row is a little strange, even for him. After thinking about it for two seconds he stood up abruptly and muttered. "Gotta take a piss."

Chichi wrinkled up her nose. "TMI."

Vegeta walked causally out the cafeteria until he got to the doors then he broke out in a run. He checked the first bathroom incase she tried to trick him. Bulma was in the last stall. He kicked open the door. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"What does it look like?! I'm losing weight so mind your damn business! Why can't you just leave me the fuck alone?"

"Because if I let you die-"

"I then I almost got 17's phone number!" It was Jennifer.

"Really?"

"Yeah! Can you believe that Brit?"

"I wish I was you."

"Yeah a lot of people do."

Brittany walked into the first stall. And from the sounds Vegeta could guess what she was doing. He glanced at Bulma, wondering if this was how she got this dumb idea.

"OMG!!!"

"What is it Brit?" Jen walked into the stall and screamed. "Blood!! What's wrong with you?! Are you sick?! Why didn't you tell me?! Do you have an STD?!"

"No!"

"Come on lets get you to the nurse quick!"

Bulma's face was pale. "She threw up blood?" She whispered, horrified.

Vegeta crossed his arms. "And that could have been you." She slid down the wall and started to cry. He fidgeted, he hated it when people cried. "Look, if you want to lose weight so bad I could train you." She peered up at him with puffy red rimmed eyes. "It'll be hard work though, and we all know what a lazy ass you are." Angry, she threw a punch at him. He easily caught it and chuckled. "We'll have to work on that too."

-- Let's laugh at my silly temper --

She rolled her eyes too scared to be upset. "Whatever."

Vegeta let go of her hand. "We can do it over Winter Break."

"Really over winter break?"

"We have three weeks and it always snows so we get two more weeks off. That's over a month."

"My parents will be on a business trip during winter break. Do you want to stay at my house? We've got plenty of room and there is a training room at my house, but no one really uses it."

"I'll have to think about it." Bulma rolled her eyes.

Bulma sipped her tea. "So how did your date go last night?"

Maron rubbed her face. "Let's just say it was a long, long night."

"Why? What happened?"

"Ok, so he came and picked me up on time. I looked really cute, let me tell ya. I had on this green tube dress with green pumps. Anyways we get to the club and I see Chad-"

"Chet."

"-Chet with another chick!"

"No!" Bulma said sarcastically.

"I know! So I acted like he wasn't there."

"What did you do?"

"I sat on Krillin's lap."

"Did he see you?"

"Oh yeah."

"What happened?"

"He was all like, hey that's my chick. And the skeezer he was sitting with was like, but Chad-"

"Chet."

"-Chet I thought I was your chick. He said, yeah you are. I was like oh no. So I whispered something in Krillin's ear and he started laughing. Not a goofy laugh but a sexy one."

"What did you say to him?"

"That I saw some ho on the corner wearing the same outfit she was."

"Krillin likes chick insults?"

"Yeah, isn't that the coolist! Well anyway Chet got all jealous and stood up but the little skank was sitting on his lap so she fell flat on her face!! A Chet was like look little man you need to roll up off my woman. Krillin was like this woman has a name and if she is your woman why is she here with me? Chet swung at him but Krillin caught his fist and threw him into the bar!!"

"I thought you were in his lap."

"I was!!!"

"Then what happened?"

"Well Chet passed out and then the skeezer tried to hit on MY Krillin!"

"What?!"

"I know! So I asked Krillin to dance, and boy can he dance!"

"I didn't know Krillin could dance!"

"Mean neither!"

"Maron, you've only known him for two days."

"But I feel like I've known him for a long time. I think that this relationship will last for a long time."

"How long was your longest relationship?"

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks?!"

"Yeah that is a long time isn't it. I thought I loved Chad until I met Krillin."

"Chet."

"Whatever."

Bulma shook her head. "You are so fickle."

"Wha.?"

"You can't be with one man for more two weeks!"

"So! How long was your longest relationship?"

"I never had a boyfriend." She mumbled under her breath.

"Huh?"

"I never had a boyfriend, ok!"

"WHAT?! How is that possible, that defies all the laws of nature! How old are you?"

"17."

"Girl your not."

"No I am NOT gay! Didn't I tell you I had a crush on Yamcha?!"

"Well, you could like both-"

"I don't."

"Touchy. So what are you going to do about it?"

"About what?"

"Yamcha."

"There is nothing to do."

"Come on, I know you. You have a plan."

"Well."

"Oh spill!!"

"Vegeta is coming over during Winter Break to train me so I can lose weight."

"So this Vegeta guy, what is he like?"

"He is a complete bastard, a cocky asshole that thinks he can mind other people's business."

"What does he look like? Is he a hotty?"

Bulma frowned. "I dunno I know thought about it I guess."

"What do you mean you never thought about it?!"

"Well the only guy I really paid that kind of attention to was Yamcha."

Maron shook her head. "You are so totally weird? Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Everyday, Maron, everyday."