Chapter 3 - Birthday Disaster
``````````````````````````````````````````
"Bra, open the door! Now! Or else I will blast the door away!" Goten sounded a bit angry. He was never angry at Bra before. Maybe it was his consurnes about Bra.
"Go away! You only make my life even worse!" Bra cried silently. She didn't want Goten to hear her cry.
"Bra, please tell me what's going on! What have I done wrong?!" Bra covered her ears. Then she yelled. Raising her tone.
"I told you to go away, Goten! Just leave me alone!" Bra looked at the knife in her hand. Her hand...... it was covered under Bra's fresh blood. Bra didn't look away from her own blood.
"Bra, what is going on?! I saw those scratches! Who hurt you?! At least tell me that!" Bra's tears were running down endlessly. No stopping, because she couldn't. How could she answer him?! How could she?!
"Goten, go away!!!!!" Bra screamed. Goten didn't like this situation. He had never seen Bra like that before. She was hurt. But he had no idea that she wasn't really psysically hurt, but she was hurt from the inside.
'Goten, go away...... Please! I can't tell you anything, so just leave me alone, please! I can't deal with this! This is too much for me...... I love you, Goten and you have hurt me. You have torn my heart into pieces! By kissing Paris...... You have hurt me, Goten. It was you..... yet you still stand there, banging on the door! What are you doing?! I am punishing myself already! By cutting myself with knived, scissors...... What more do you want?! Is it because, you don't think I haven't punished myself enough?! You want me kill myself?! You want me to...... commit suicide?! Because, you know I will.......' Again, she stared at the blood.
Dripping.....dripping.....dripping........
***************
The next morning, Bra woke up with a serious headache. She must have fell alseep. Then she slowly stood up. The arm, which she cut last night, started to hurt. She had cut a bit too deep. She went to her closet and got herself a bathrobe, so no one would be able to see the wounds. She walked towards the door and unlocked it. Then she opened it and walked out of her room. When she looked at her left, she saw him. His room.......
"Oh Goten, why?" Then, she went downstairs and went to the kitchen. She made a few toasts and grabbed herself a plate and then she went to the big garden, where she could eat, without anyone disturbing her....... Or so she thought......
"Bra, I was worried about you. I freaked out, when I saw that your room was empty. So, I searched the whole house for you." Bra didn't want to hear this.
'Goten, stop it, please! I beg of you...... just stop playing nice! Just stop playing the brother and sister thing! I hate that! I disgust that! Why can't you just leave me alone?!'
"Bra? Are you okay? Are you feeling well? Do you need an asperine or something? Because I can get you one if......" But Bra got sick of this and wanted to end it.
"SHUT UP, GOTEN!!!!" Goten was shocked. He didn't know what to say anymore. He saw those cold, icy eyes again, yet....... they seemed a bit different than last time. This time, they were........ watery......
"I am so sick of it! I'm going back to my room! My own room! In my house! Look, I really appreciate the generous hospitality of you and your parents, but I can't go on like this anymore. I'll be gone by this morning......."
"No, Bra..... wait!" But Bra wasn't stopping, until Goten grabbed her arm. Bra screamed of the pain and the blood slowly started to flow again. Goten stared at her arm with widened eyes.
"Bra, what...... are you..... are you okay?" That was the only thing Goten could think of.
"Just, back off!" Bra tried to go away, but Goten was still holding her arm.
"Sorry, but I am trying to say that, Bulma and Vegeta aren't home. Neither is Trunks." Bra couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Of course they are home! You are just trying to...." But Goten already cut in.
"They called last night. They said that we should look after you. My mom, my dad and me. Although Vegeta doesn't trust me......"
".......which is a clever thing of dad....." Goten didn't undberstand the last thing, but he continued with his story.
"They said that they needed to go away for a while. It was important. About Trunks getting promoted, but he needs to fly over to Ohio first for business." Bra was part listening, part thinking what she should do. Although she knew, that she didn't have much of a choice...... but to stay.
"Bra, please....... don't make this hard for yourself. Please, Bra......" Bra was crying..... silently again. But Goten didn't notice a thing. He could only see Bra's back. Bra knew that the fight was getting them no where. Goten was going to say something, until he heard the front door open. It was his parents.
"Hey kids, had a good time together?" Neither of them spoke. ChiChi thought that it was kind of awkward. Bra and Goten would usually talk to each other for hours. But now, they were quiet, too quiet.
"Well, anyway...... we were off to the supermarket to get stuff for Goten's birthday. I brought your father with me, so it would spare me a long walk home with those heavy bags." Goten smiled, while Bra was just standing there. With her back against theirs.
"I will be up in my room......" Goten was still holding her arm, which gave Goku and ChiChi the wrong idea's. Goku and ChiChi looked at each other for a while and then stared back at Goten and Bra.
"Bra......" But Bra didn't want to hear that voice again, that pretend-nice- to-bra voice.
"I'm fine, Goten. Would you please let me go?" Goten finally released her arm and Bra quickly walked upstairs to her room.
"Fill us in, Goten....." Goten didn't know what his father was talking about.
"Goten, what is wrong with you and Bra?" His mother looked at Goten with a worried look.
"Everything is okay, mom, dad....... Nothing is wrong....." And Goten walked upstairs too. To his room.
"Have we...... uuuuh..... missed something?!" ChiChi had that worried look on her face again. Goku just shrugged.
"Beats me..... Something only they know..... Now let us prepare for Goten's birthday party, shall we? We still need to invite a lot of people!" ChiChi smiled and fell in Goku's arms.
"Oh Goku......." And she kissed his cheek, which made Goku turn red.
*******Goten's Birthday********
"Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!" Goten blushed. Paris tried to kiss him on his lips. But Goten avoided her kiss.
"What's wrong, Goten?" Goten looked at his left. There she stood. Bra... She stared at him. He stared back. Paris didn't know who he was looking at. She felt a bit left alone.
"Earth to Goten!" Finally Goten looked at Paris.
"I uuuuh... Not here..." Paris pouted but then she nodded.
"Midnight..." That was all she said and Goten understood. Apparently Bra understood as well, because that's when she walked away. Goten saw her leave and he wanted to follow her, but everyone came to kiss his cheek and wish him a happy birthday.
"Bra wait!!!!" Bra turned around for a second, but then already turned away. Walking upstairs to her room.
"Hey Bra! Wait up, why are you leaving so soon?!" When Bra was upstairs, she looked behind.
'No, please no..... Anyone... anyone but...'
"Paris, what are you doing here. I thought that you were with Goten....." Paris blushed.
"Oh Bra, you know, we have all night. It's like what they say, the night is still young...." Bra's heart was like falling apart. She could barely keep her balance. She hated this. She hated her life. She hated to live....
"So, you haven't answered my question yet. Do you miss your parents or something? I mean, you seem to be kinda upset...." Bra shook her head.
"I am just tired, that's all...." Bra walked away then, while Paris was still talking to her. Paris was confused.
"Now, what did I do wrong? Have I said something wrong then?!" Then she shrugged and went downstairs again.
=================
"My life sucks! I hate my life! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!!! Why can't I fall in love with a guy who isn't dating, who is exactly my age or something?! Why did it have to be Goten?!?!?!?!?!" Suddenly, the door opened, which startled Bra.
"Oh My God!!! YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH UNCLE GOTEN?!?!?!?!" Bra looked up and say that it was Pan.
"Please Pan, I don't need any lectures right now! I'm almost falling apart!" Bra placed her hands in front of her face, crying......
"Oh Bra....." Pan walked towards Bra and hugged her friend. Pan had no idea what to do. She was very bad at giving advices about love. It was always Bra who gave Pan advices. But this time, SHE needed advices.
"Pan, my life is a complete mess!!! A month ago, Keith cheated on me..... so I had to break up with him. I found him having sex with another girl, that was my best friend... Then I haven't slept well for like days and I haven't eaten in days as well. Then, I liked Goten. I didn't really love him, but I liked him. Although I know, that he has a girlfriend. Yet I seek trouble. Because last night, I don't remember when exactly, I saw them kissing. Usually I don't have any kinda problem with that, but that time was different. It was like a knife was cutting my heart into a 1000 pieces. I didn't realize till then, that I really do love him. Oh Pan, what should I do?!" Bra was crying. Her tears were streaming down and they didn't seem to stop. Pan lend her shoulder to Bra and Pan got watery eyes herself.
"Bra, maybe you should go tell him that, instead of me......" Bra shook her head.
"No! He must never ever find out! I can't let him know that I have feelings for him." But Pan didn't understand.
"Bra, you LOVE him! Why won't you go tell him that?! I mean, you are only hurting yourself this way! I know that you are suffering yourself! Come on, Bra. Don't be so stubborn! I know that he has Paris. But if you really do love him, please tell him that!" Pan was crying along with Bra. Of course Pan hated Paris when she first met him, but not only for that reason, did she wanted Bra to tell Goten that she loves him, but also because that she didn't want to see Bra suffer herself like that.
"Pan, please stay away from this..... I'm sorry, I need to go and take a fresh air. If you need me, I'll be at the beach walking." Pan objected, but Bra wouldn't listen. She grabbed her coat and went downstairs.
When Pan was about to walk downstairs, she heard the phone rang. She wasn't sure about picking it up, but she did after all.
"Hello, this is Pan Son.... Who am I speaking to?" Pan heard a heavy voice. A male voice. She knew the voice. It sounded familiar to her. VERY familiar.
"Is Bra there?! I NEED to speak to her!" Pan got angry. She hated when people didn't answer her questions.
"Wait a minute, mister.... Who are you?!" But the male voice didn't want to answer.....
"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!?!" Pan didn't know who it was and what he wanted from Bra.
"Look! You must leave you name behind and then I'll tell ya.... maybe...."
"IT'S KEITH, NOW TELL ME WHERE THE HELL BRA IS!!!!!!" Pan was thinking.
"Keith....Keith.... hey aren't you Bra's ex?!"
"Yeah, now would you please tell me where the hell Bra is?!"
"She's at the Blue Ocean Beach.... but ......." And he hung up. Pan thought that it was weird. Bra broke up with him a month ago, why was he back?!"
"Could he be..... seeking revenge?! I heard that Keith was the most populair guy at school, but also hot tempertured...... No! I gotta find uncle Goten!!!"
******************
"Bra, where are you going to?!" Bra looked behind and it was the last person that she wanted to see.
"Goten, go enjoy your party and again, happy birthday.... I'm just going to take some air."
"Alright, but be carefull, okay?" Bra nodded and left the Son house.
******************
"UNCLE GOTEN!!!!!" Goten turned around and smiled.
"What is it, Pan? Something seems to be bothering you...." Pan was trying to catch her breath.
"It's..... Bra....." Goten laughed.
"You two had another fight again?! Well, if you had, then things are going to be just fine, cause when I was younger, Trunks and I....."
"NO! It's ...... It's Bra's ex!!!!" That last word seemed to have scared Goten.
"WHAT?! Bra's ex?! Who?! I didn't know that she had an ex...."
"Well, her ex is Keith Yumiko and.... I think he is back to pay her back....." Goten didn't need to listen anymore and he immediately flew away. Without grabbing his coat or anything. Goku saw him fly away....
'What is that kid up to?!' But he decided to mind his own business and shrugged.
================
"Goten, why can't you see?! Why can't you see what I am feeling for you? Why can't you see, that..... I have fallen in love with you?!" Bra was talking to herself, because there was no one at the beach (it was like 8 PM) and walked alone for several minutes, then she stopped and sat down, watching the beautiful sunset.
"I wish that you were here with me to see this............"
"And here I am, baby......." Quickly Bra turned around and shrieked, but he covered her mouth and smirked.
"You DID wanted me back, didn't you? Well, here I am, baby.... Here I am, with you...... Just the two of us..." Bra had no idea what to do. She was scared. She knew that she had a problem, but everytime, that she had a problem, she avoided it by cutting herself. But she couldn't do that now.
"I'll remove my hand, SLOWLY....... if you promise me not to scream." Bra nodded and he slowly let go.
"My God, Keith! What the hell are you doing here?!" Keith smirked again.
"Bra, my darling, can't I even come by and see my beloved and beautiful girlfriend?!"
"EX, you mean, Keith....." Bra snarled..... Keith just grinned and then laughed.
"Bra, I know that you missed me.... and I missed you too.... So, let us make it up, by catching up the things we missed......" Keith started to kiss Bra's neck. Bra wanted to vomit. She hated that. She didn't want things to turn out that way. Sure, she still loved Keith from the bottom of her heart, but he changed. She didn't even recognize him anymore.
"Bra..... you still smell good, like you always did....." Keith started to touch her everywhere. Her soft cheeks, her rosy lips, her smooth neck.....
"Keith, get away from me!!!! Stay away from me!!!" Bra tried to push him away, but Bra wasn't strong enough. Sure her father taught her a few things of martial arts, but she was never interested. But then, when she had more and more things on her mind, she decided not to fight back anymore.
'My life is a complete mess. I don't care anymore.... So what if Keith will rape me, what if he will kill me afterwards?! That doesn't make Goten love me... I might as well comit suicide later...." When Bra thought that way,she closed her eyes and a teardrop fell on her cheeks and that was the moment, that she felt free.....
'What? What is happening?' Bra felt no more tight grip on her. When she opened her eyes again, she saw him....
"BRA!!! Come on, take my hand!!!" But Bra just stood there, not moving at all... She was losing her balance and was ready to fall down, until she felt something. Then, it was like she had found her balance again.... When she looked up again, she smiled and she felt totally safe again....
"Goten...." Then, she fainted...
==================
When Goten carried Bra to a further place than the beach, everyone started to wonder where the birthday boy was. No one knew where they were, except Pan. Goku just saw Goten leave, but he didn't know where.
"Yeah, I'll tell him that... Sure.... Yeah, Bra's fine! Goten looks after her like she is his sister! Yeah, don't worry Bulma. You just take care of your business.... Okay, thanks for calling! I'll speak to you later then... Bye..." ChiChi finally hung up. Goku embraced his wife and aksed her who was on the phone.
"That was Bulma, dear. She said that she is doing really great and that Trunks is really making progress and that everyone at the company is very pleased with his performances." Goku smiled and kissed his wife on her cheek.
"Glad to hear, by the way.... do you know where Goten and Bra are? I can't find them anywhere. I thought that Goten might be back by now. I mean, it IS late....." ChiChi started to worry as well.
"You're right, where could they be? Because I haven't seen them anywhere as well.... You don't think that.... that they're in trouble, do you?" Goku sighed.
"I hope not, Chi..... I hope not...."
==================
"Bra, wake up.... Talk to me... Bra...." Goten stroke her hair and it felt great.
'She is such an angel when she sleeps.... Not to mention that she smells great...' Goten thought....... He also gently touched her cheeks.......
'She is so pretty....... I have never really thought about that...... Oh no.... what am I saying?! I think of her as my little sisters and..... No, snap out of it, Goten!' Goten shook his head and that woke up Bra. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around her and the first thing she saw was him....
"Goten, what are we doing here? And.... where is here?" Her voice was weak. She was very tired and Goten knew that. She went through many things and after that last incident.....
"We're in our old treehouse....." Bra didn't seem to get it. Then slowly, she remembered.
"What?! I didn't know, that it is still standing....." Goten smiled.
"Me neither, that's because we aren't doing many things together lately." Bra looked around her and saw the messy floor. One small bed, where they used to sleep together.... A small closet, that they built together...... Bra started to remember everything again.
"Hey, that is mr Bunny!!!" Bra slowly stood up and walked towards the bunny cuddletoy. Bra laughed.
"I thought I lost him!!!!" When Bra walked further, she saw a bucket filled with shells. Bra laughed again.
"Hey! Those are the shells that you and I collected, Goten!!!!" Goten laughed as well.
"Yeah, I remember that day like yesterday! You were so scared that those shells would bite you! I told you not to listen to Trunks his stories! But you wouldn't believe me. You wanted me to put them into the bucket!" Both of them laughed at the same time.
"Thankfully I wasn't the one who put the shells into the bucket, because later, you were bitten by a crab!" Both of them laughed again. Bringing up memories of old times. Goten came closer to Bra and showed her a necklace.
"Remember this necklace? I found it and I gave it to you.... You were so happy back then! I never saw you that happy before...." Bra smiled.
"Well, it was a gift from you, right?!" And she laughed again. Until Goten's smile disappeared. Bra knew that that wasn't a good sign. Now, she was sure that she was getting a lecture or something.
"Bra, why can't we be like that again?!" Bra turned around from him. So she didn't have to look into his eyes.
"But, we still are...." Goten shook his head.
"Do you think so? I mean, lately I have this feeling that you've been avoiding me....." Bra quickly turned around.
"No, I haven't been avoiding you! I mean, it's just that.... you've been uuuh, busy with Paris lately. So, I thought, that you might not want me anymore...."
"OF COURSE NOT!!!! What made you think that way?! I missed you!!!!" Bra's heart skipped a beat.....
"I missed you, Bra..... I miss our talks together, the fun we had, this treehouse and the secrets we shared! I mean, I didn't even know that you had an ex named Keith! What did he want from you anyway?!" Bra wanted to hide. She wanted to hide in a dark corner, where no one could ever find her.
"Well, Goten.... Now you do.... Now you know I had a boyfriend. But listen, he wasn't like this at all! He was very generous and sweet! I don't know why he acted like that....."
"But Bra, you haven't even told me about that Keith guy at all!!!!" Bra was getting angry.
"LIKE YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ABOUT PARIS!!!!!" Goten was stunned. He remembered that he indeed forgot to tell Bra about Paris. He never told her.
"You can tell me about telling you about my dates..... but what about you?! You are dating Paris and I had to find out with my own eyes. I had to find out that you two were dating, when you and Paris were kissing each other!!!" Bra lost her self-control and got furious.
"So you have no right to be angry at me, that I haven't told you about my ex, while you haven't told me that you were and still are.... dating PARIS!!!!!!!" Goten didn't know what to say anymore. He knew that Bra was right. He had no right to question her about her ex, while he hadn't told Bra about Paris.
"But tell me, Bra.... Who told you that we were dating? Must be Pan....." Bra felt like slapping in his face.
"No, I had to find out myself. I saw you two in an alley ............kissing....." Goten was stunned. He didn't know that. He didn't know that Bra saw him kissing Paris.
"Okay Bra, I'm sorry..... but I am just worried about you. Who knows what might have happened if I didn't step in? What if Keith......" But Goten couldn't speak any further. He had no idea how to put it in words.
"What Goten?! What if Keith what?! What if he raped me, perhaps?!" Goten didn't even want to think about that. He hated to think that way.
"Well, thanks Goten for helping me escaping from Keith, but I could've handled things perfectly!" Goten got angry, because he knew that she was lying. She could have done nothing.
"If you could've handled things, then why did you LET HIM?!" That left Bra speechless. She searched for an answer. But she couldn't find any. She turned around again.
"I'm leaving....." Goten got angry again.
"So, it's true then?! You practically LET HIM?!" Bra started to yell at him.
"What the hell was I supposed to do then?! He was much stronger than me! I couldn't do a thing! He held my wrists tight. I didn't see a point to fight it any longer! You are much stronger than me! Stop compairing yourself with me! I'm not as strong as you are!!!" Goten grabbed Bra's shoulders and turned her around, so Goten could face her.
"Bra, I'm not saying that I'm compairing myself with you. But it's just that, I can't watch him do those things to you. I'm sorry if I got too angry at you. But it's just that..... you're like my... sister and I can't let anything happen to you....." Bra felt like a knife piercing through her heart. She felt like her heart was torn into millions of pieces. She felt like..... dying.....
'...You're like my sister..... you're like my sisters..... you're like my sister.......' Those words spooked inside Bra's head. And she didn't realzed it herself. But slowly, her feet began to step back. Slowly, her tears ran down her cheeks, but she didn't feel it. Bra was too shocked to feel anything. She could only feel the agony of her broken, shattered heart.
"Bra? What's wrong....?" Goten stared at her. Bra's beautiful blue eyes, turned into nothing but total emptiness. Bra walked back and went to the exit. Step by step, she moved away from Goten.
"Bra, where are you going?!" But Bra didn't answer him. She slowly moved away from him and climbed down from the tree house. Bra didn't know what to think anymore. Her mind was empty. Her whole body was trembling. When she could finally set her feet on the ground, she started to run. Faster and faster and faster. Away from him. As long as she was away from him. Now, she had found a goal. She knew what to do.
"I must run..... I must run away from him.........." The tears of the girl with the broken heart streamed down endlessly. She didn't know, she didn't care.....
"Goten, why did you have to do this to me?! I don't want to be JUST your sister! I LOVE YOU, DAMN IT!!!!" she said, while she was running. She ran into a dark alley. She remembered that it was the alley, where she found out about Paris and Goten. But she didn't care anymore. She hated Goten. She had to run, she just had to....
``````````````````````````````````````````
"Bra, open the door! Now! Or else I will blast the door away!" Goten sounded a bit angry. He was never angry at Bra before. Maybe it was his consurnes about Bra.
"Go away! You only make my life even worse!" Bra cried silently. She didn't want Goten to hear her cry.
"Bra, please tell me what's going on! What have I done wrong?!" Bra covered her ears. Then she yelled. Raising her tone.
"I told you to go away, Goten! Just leave me alone!" Bra looked at the knife in her hand. Her hand...... it was covered under Bra's fresh blood. Bra didn't look away from her own blood.
"Bra, what is going on?! I saw those scratches! Who hurt you?! At least tell me that!" Bra's tears were running down endlessly. No stopping, because she couldn't. How could she answer him?! How could she?!
"Goten, go away!!!!!" Bra screamed. Goten didn't like this situation. He had never seen Bra like that before. She was hurt. But he had no idea that she wasn't really psysically hurt, but she was hurt from the inside.
'Goten, go away...... Please! I can't tell you anything, so just leave me alone, please! I can't deal with this! This is too much for me...... I love you, Goten and you have hurt me. You have torn my heart into pieces! By kissing Paris...... You have hurt me, Goten. It was you..... yet you still stand there, banging on the door! What are you doing?! I am punishing myself already! By cutting myself with knived, scissors...... What more do you want?! Is it because, you don't think I haven't punished myself enough?! You want me kill myself?! You want me to...... commit suicide?! Because, you know I will.......' Again, she stared at the blood.
Dripping.....dripping.....dripping........
***************
The next morning, Bra woke up with a serious headache. She must have fell alseep. Then she slowly stood up. The arm, which she cut last night, started to hurt. She had cut a bit too deep. She went to her closet and got herself a bathrobe, so no one would be able to see the wounds. She walked towards the door and unlocked it. Then she opened it and walked out of her room. When she looked at her left, she saw him. His room.......
"Oh Goten, why?" Then, she went downstairs and went to the kitchen. She made a few toasts and grabbed herself a plate and then she went to the big garden, where she could eat, without anyone disturbing her....... Or so she thought......
"Bra, I was worried about you. I freaked out, when I saw that your room was empty. So, I searched the whole house for you." Bra didn't want to hear this.
'Goten, stop it, please! I beg of you...... just stop playing nice! Just stop playing the brother and sister thing! I hate that! I disgust that! Why can't you just leave me alone?!'
"Bra? Are you okay? Are you feeling well? Do you need an asperine or something? Because I can get you one if......" But Bra got sick of this and wanted to end it.
"SHUT UP, GOTEN!!!!" Goten was shocked. He didn't know what to say anymore. He saw those cold, icy eyes again, yet....... they seemed a bit different than last time. This time, they were........ watery......
"I am so sick of it! I'm going back to my room! My own room! In my house! Look, I really appreciate the generous hospitality of you and your parents, but I can't go on like this anymore. I'll be gone by this morning......."
"No, Bra..... wait!" But Bra wasn't stopping, until Goten grabbed her arm. Bra screamed of the pain and the blood slowly started to flow again. Goten stared at her arm with widened eyes.
"Bra, what...... are you..... are you okay?" That was the only thing Goten could think of.
"Just, back off!" Bra tried to go away, but Goten was still holding her arm.
"Sorry, but I am trying to say that, Bulma and Vegeta aren't home. Neither is Trunks." Bra couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Of course they are home! You are just trying to...." But Goten already cut in.
"They called last night. They said that we should look after you. My mom, my dad and me. Although Vegeta doesn't trust me......"
".......which is a clever thing of dad....." Goten didn't undberstand the last thing, but he continued with his story.
"They said that they needed to go away for a while. It was important. About Trunks getting promoted, but he needs to fly over to Ohio first for business." Bra was part listening, part thinking what she should do. Although she knew, that she didn't have much of a choice...... but to stay.
"Bra, please....... don't make this hard for yourself. Please, Bra......" Bra was crying..... silently again. But Goten didn't notice a thing. He could only see Bra's back. Bra knew that the fight was getting them no where. Goten was going to say something, until he heard the front door open. It was his parents.
"Hey kids, had a good time together?" Neither of them spoke. ChiChi thought that it was kind of awkward. Bra and Goten would usually talk to each other for hours. But now, they were quiet, too quiet.
"Well, anyway...... we were off to the supermarket to get stuff for Goten's birthday. I brought your father with me, so it would spare me a long walk home with those heavy bags." Goten smiled, while Bra was just standing there. With her back against theirs.
"I will be up in my room......" Goten was still holding her arm, which gave Goku and ChiChi the wrong idea's. Goku and ChiChi looked at each other for a while and then stared back at Goten and Bra.
"Bra......" But Bra didn't want to hear that voice again, that pretend-nice- to-bra voice.
"I'm fine, Goten. Would you please let me go?" Goten finally released her arm and Bra quickly walked upstairs to her room.
"Fill us in, Goten....." Goten didn't know what his father was talking about.
"Goten, what is wrong with you and Bra?" His mother looked at Goten with a worried look.
"Everything is okay, mom, dad....... Nothing is wrong....." And Goten walked upstairs too. To his room.
"Have we...... uuuuh..... missed something?!" ChiChi had that worried look on her face again. Goku just shrugged.
"Beats me..... Something only they know..... Now let us prepare for Goten's birthday party, shall we? We still need to invite a lot of people!" ChiChi smiled and fell in Goku's arms.
"Oh Goku......." And she kissed his cheek, which made Goku turn red.
*******Goten's Birthday********
"Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!" Goten blushed. Paris tried to kiss him on his lips. But Goten avoided her kiss.
"What's wrong, Goten?" Goten looked at his left. There she stood. Bra... She stared at him. He stared back. Paris didn't know who he was looking at. She felt a bit left alone.
"Earth to Goten!" Finally Goten looked at Paris.
"I uuuuh... Not here..." Paris pouted but then she nodded.
"Midnight..." That was all she said and Goten understood. Apparently Bra understood as well, because that's when she walked away. Goten saw her leave and he wanted to follow her, but everyone came to kiss his cheek and wish him a happy birthday.
"Bra wait!!!!" Bra turned around for a second, but then already turned away. Walking upstairs to her room.
"Hey Bra! Wait up, why are you leaving so soon?!" When Bra was upstairs, she looked behind.
'No, please no..... Anyone... anyone but...'
"Paris, what are you doing here. I thought that you were with Goten....." Paris blushed.
"Oh Bra, you know, we have all night. It's like what they say, the night is still young...." Bra's heart was like falling apart. She could barely keep her balance. She hated this. She hated her life. She hated to live....
"So, you haven't answered my question yet. Do you miss your parents or something? I mean, you seem to be kinda upset...." Bra shook her head.
"I am just tired, that's all...." Bra walked away then, while Paris was still talking to her. Paris was confused.
"Now, what did I do wrong? Have I said something wrong then?!" Then she shrugged and went downstairs again.
=================
"My life sucks! I hate my life! I hate it, I hate it, I hate it!!! Why can't I fall in love with a guy who isn't dating, who is exactly my age or something?! Why did it have to be Goten?!?!?!?!?!" Suddenly, the door opened, which startled Bra.
"Oh My God!!! YOU ARE IN LOVE WITH UNCLE GOTEN?!?!?!?!" Bra looked up and say that it was Pan.
"Please Pan, I don't need any lectures right now! I'm almost falling apart!" Bra placed her hands in front of her face, crying......
"Oh Bra....." Pan walked towards Bra and hugged her friend. Pan had no idea what to do. She was very bad at giving advices about love. It was always Bra who gave Pan advices. But this time, SHE needed advices.
"Pan, my life is a complete mess!!! A month ago, Keith cheated on me..... so I had to break up with him. I found him having sex with another girl, that was my best friend... Then I haven't slept well for like days and I haven't eaten in days as well. Then, I liked Goten. I didn't really love him, but I liked him. Although I know, that he has a girlfriend. Yet I seek trouble. Because last night, I don't remember when exactly, I saw them kissing. Usually I don't have any kinda problem with that, but that time was different. It was like a knife was cutting my heart into a 1000 pieces. I didn't realize till then, that I really do love him. Oh Pan, what should I do?!" Bra was crying. Her tears were streaming down and they didn't seem to stop. Pan lend her shoulder to Bra and Pan got watery eyes herself.
"Bra, maybe you should go tell him that, instead of me......" Bra shook her head.
"No! He must never ever find out! I can't let him know that I have feelings for him." But Pan didn't understand.
"Bra, you LOVE him! Why won't you go tell him that?! I mean, you are only hurting yourself this way! I know that you are suffering yourself! Come on, Bra. Don't be so stubborn! I know that he has Paris. But if you really do love him, please tell him that!" Pan was crying along with Bra. Of course Pan hated Paris when she first met him, but not only for that reason, did she wanted Bra to tell Goten that she loves him, but also because that she didn't want to see Bra suffer herself like that.
"Pan, please stay away from this..... I'm sorry, I need to go and take a fresh air. If you need me, I'll be at the beach walking." Pan objected, but Bra wouldn't listen. She grabbed her coat and went downstairs.
When Pan was about to walk downstairs, she heard the phone rang. She wasn't sure about picking it up, but she did after all.
"Hello, this is Pan Son.... Who am I speaking to?" Pan heard a heavy voice. A male voice. She knew the voice. It sounded familiar to her. VERY familiar.
"Is Bra there?! I NEED to speak to her!" Pan got angry. She hated when people didn't answer her questions.
"Wait a minute, mister.... Who are you?!" But the male voice didn't want to answer.....
"WHERE THE HELL IS SHE?!?!" Pan didn't know who it was and what he wanted from Bra.
"Look! You must leave you name behind and then I'll tell ya.... maybe...."
"IT'S KEITH, NOW TELL ME WHERE THE HELL BRA IS!!!!!!" Pan was thinking.
"Keith....Keith.... hey aren't you Bra's ex?!"
"Yeah, now would you please tell me where the hell Bra is?!"
"She's at the Blue Ocean Beach.... but ......." And he hung up. Pan thought that it was weird. Bra broke up with him a month ago, why was he back?!"
"Could he be..... seeking revenge?! I heard that Keith was the most populair guy at school, but also hot tempertured...... No! I gotta find uncle Goten!!!"
******************
"Bra, where are you going to?!" Bra looked behind and it was the last person that she wanted to see.
"Goten, go enjoy your party and again, happy birthday.... I'm just going to take some air."
"Alright, but be carefull, okay?" Bra nodded and left the Son house.
******************
"UNCLE GOTEN!!!!!" Goten turned around and smiled.
"What is it, Pan? Something seems to be bothering you...." Pan was trying to catch her breath.
"It's..... Bra....." Goten laughed.
"You two had another fight again?! Well, if you had, then things are going to be just fine, cause when I was younger, Trunks and I....."
"NO! It's ...... It's Bra's ex!!!!" That last word seemed to have scared Goten.
"WHAT?! Bra's ex?! Who?! I didn't know that she had an ex...."
"Well, her ex is Keith Yumiko and.... I think he is back to pay her back....." Goten didn't need to listen anymore and he immediately flew away. Without grabbing his coat or anything. Goku saw him fly away....
'What is that kid up to?!' But he decided to mind his own business and shrugged.
================
"Goten, why can't you see?! Why can't you see what I am feeling for you? Why can't you see, that..... I have fallen in love with you?!" Bra was talking to herself, because there was no one at the beach (it was like 8 PM) and walked alone for several minutes, then she stopped and sat down, watching the beautiful sunset.
"I wish that you were here with me to see this............"
"And here I am, baby......." Quickly Bra turned around and shrieked, but he covered her mouth and smirked.
"You DID wanted me back, didn't you? Well, here I am, baby.... Here I am, with you...... Just the two of us..." Bra had no idea what to do. She was scared. She knew that she had a problem, but everytime, that she had a problem, she avoided it by cutting herself. But she couldn't do that now.
"I'll remove my hand, SLOWLY....... if you promise me not to scream." Bra nodded and he slowly let go.
"My God, Keith! What the hell are you doing here?!" Keith smirked again.
"Bra, my darling, can't I even come by and see my beloved and beautiful girlfriend?!"
"EX, you mean, Keith....." Bra snarled..... Keith just grinned and then laughed.
"Bra, I know that you missed me.... and I missed you too.... So, let us make it up, by catching up the things we missed......" Keith started to kiss Bra's neck. Bra wanted to vomit. She hated that. She didn't want things to turn out that way. Sure, she still loved Keith from the bottom of her heart, but he changed. She didn't even recognize him anymore.
"Bra..... you still smell good, like you always did....." Keith started to touch her everywhere. Her soft cheeks, her rosy lips, her smooth neck.....
"Keith, get away from me!!!! Stay away from me!!!" Bra tried to push him away, but Bra wasn't strong enough. Sure her father taught her a few things of martial arts, but she was never interested. But then, when she had more and more things on her mind, she decided not to fight back anymore.
'My life is a complete mess. I don't care anymore.... So what if Keith will rape me, what if he will kill me afterwards?! That doesn't make Goten love me... I might as well comit suicide later...." When Bra thought that way,she closed her eyes and a teardrop fell on her cheeks and that was the moment, that she felt free.....
'What? What is happening?' Bra felt no more tight grip on her. When she opened her eyes again, she saw him....
"BRA!!! Come on, take my hand!!!" But Bra just stood there, not moving at all... She was losing her balance and was ready to fall down, until she felt something. Then, it was like she had found her balance again.... When she looked up again, she smiled and she felt totally safe again....
"Goten...." Then, she fainted...
==================
When Goten carried Bra to a further place than the beach, everyone started to wonder where the birthday boy was. No one knew where they were, except Pan. Goku just saw Goten leave, but he didn't know where.
"Yeah, I'll tell him that... Sure.... Yeah, Bra's fine! Goten looks after her like she is his sister! Yeah, don't worry Bulma. You just take care of your business.... Okay, thanks for calling! I'll speak to you later then... Bye..." ChiChi finally hung up. Goku embraced his wife and aksed her who was on the phone.
"That was Bulma, dear. She said that she is doing really great and that Trunks is really making progress and that everyone at the company is very pleased with his performances." Goku smiled and kissed his wife on her cheek.
"Glad to hear, by the way.... do you know where Goten and Bra are? I can't find them anywhere. I thought that Goten might be back by now. I mean, it IS late....." ChiChi started to worry as well.
"You're right, where could they be? Because I haven't seen them anywhere as well.... You don't think that.... that they're in trouble, do you?" Goku sighed.
"I hope not, Chi..... I hope not...."
==================
"Bra, wake up.... Talk to me... Bra...." Goten stroke her hair and it felt great.
'She is such an angel when she sleeps.... Not to mention that she smells great...' Goten thought....... He also gently touched her cheeks.......
'She is so pretty....... I have never really thought about that...... Oh no.... what am I saying?! I think of her as my little sisters and..... No, snap out of it, Goten!' Goten shook his head and that woke up Bra. Slowly, she opened her eyes and looked around her and the first thing she saw was him....
"Goten, what are we doing here? And.... where is here?" Her voice was weak. She was very tired and Goten knew that. She went through many things and after that last incident.....
"We're in our old treehouse....." Bra didn't seem to get it. Then slowly, she remembered.
"What?! I didn't know, that it is still standing....." Goten smiled.
"Me neither, that's because we aren't doing many things together lately." Bra looked around her and saw the messy floor. One small bed, where they used to sleep together.... A small closet, that they built together...... Bra started to remember everything again.
"Hey, that is mr Bunny!!!" Bra slowly stood up and walked towards the bunny cuddletoy. Bra laughed.
"I thought I lost him!!!!" When Bra walked further, she saw a bucket filled with shells. Bra laughed again.
"Hey! Those are the shells that you and I collected, Goten!!!!" Goten laughed as well.
"Yeah, I remember that day like yesterday! You were so scared that those shells would bite you! I told you not to listen to Trunks his stories! But you wouldn't believe me. You wanted me to put them into the bucket!" Both of them laughed at the same time.
"Thankfully I wasn't the one who put the shells into the bucket, because later, you were bitten by a crab!" Both of them laughed again. Bringing up memories of old times. Goten came closer to Bra and showed her a necklace.
"Remember this necklace? I found it and I gave it to you.... You were so happy back then! I never saw you that happy before...." Bra smiled.
"Well, it was a gift from you, right?!" And she laughed again. Until Goten's smile disappeared. Bra knew that that wasn't a good sign. Now, she was sure that she was getting a lecture or something.
"Bra, why can't we be like that again?!" Bra turned around from him. So she didn't have to look into his eyes.
"But, we still are...." Goten shook his head.
"Do you think so? I mean, lately I have this feeling that you've been avoiding me....." Bra quickly turned around.
"No, I haven't been avoiding you! I mean, it's just that.... you've been uuuh, busy with Paris lately. So, I thought, that you might not want me anymore...."
"OF COURSE NOT!!!! What made you think that way?! I missed you!!!!" Bra's heart skipped a beat.....
"I missed you, Bra..... I miss our talks together, the fun we had, this treehouse and the secrets we shared! I mean, I didn't even know that you had an ex named Keith! What did he want from you anyway?!" Bra wanted to hide. She wanted to hide in a dark corner, where no one could ever find her.
"Well, Goten.... Now you do.... Now you know I had a boyfriend. But listen, he wasn't like this at all! He was very generous and sweet! I don't know why he acted like that....."
"But Bra, you haven't even told me about that Keith guy at all!!!!" Bra was getting angry.
"LIKE YOU HAVEN'T TOLD ME ABOUT PARIS!!!!!" Goten was stunned. He remembered that he indeed forgot to tell Bra about Paris. He never told her.
"You can tell me about telling you about my dates..... but what about you?! You are dating Paris and I had to find out with my own eyes. I had to find out that you two were dating, when you and Paris were kissing each other!!!" Bra lost her self-control and got furious.
"So you have no right to be angry at me, that I haven't told you about my ex, while you haven't told me that you were and still are.... dating PARIS!!!!!!!" Goten didn't know what to say anymore. He knew that Bra was right. He had no right to question her about her ex, while he hadn't told Bra about Paris.
"But tell me, Bra.... Who told you that we were dating? Must be Pan....." Bra felt like slapping in his face.
"No, I had to find out myself. I saw you two in an alley ............kissing....." Goten was stunned. He didn't know that. He didn't know that Bra saw him kissing Paris.
"Okay Bra, I'm sorry..... but I am just worried about you. Who knows what might have happened if I didn't step in? What if Keith......" But Goten couldn't speak any further. He had no idea how to put it in words.
"What Goten?! What if Keith what?! What if he raped me, perhaps?!" Goten didn't even want to think about that. He hated to think that way.
"Well, thanks Goten for helping me escaping from Keith, but I could've handled things perfectly!" Goten got angry, because he knew that she was lying. She could have done nothing.
"If you could've handled things, then why did you LET HIM?!" That left Bra speechless. She searched for an answer. But she couldn't find any. She turned around again.
"I'm leaving....." Goten got angry again.
"So, it's true then?! You practically LET HIM?!" Bra started to yell at him.
"What the hell was I supposed to do then?! He was much stronger than me! I couldn't do a thing! He held my wrists tight. I didn't see a point to fight it any longer! You are much stronger than me! Stop compairing yourself with me! I'm not as strong as you are!!!" Goten grabbed Bra's shoulders and turned her around, so Goten could face her.
"Bra, I'm not saying that I'm compairing myself with you. But it's just that, I can't watch him do those things to you. I'm sorry if I got too angry at you. But it's just that..... you're like my... sister and I can't let anything happen to you....." Bra felt like a knife piercing through her heart. She felt like her heart was torn into millions of pieces. She felt like..... dying.....
'...You're like my sister..... you're like my sisters..... you're like my sister.......' Those words spooked inside Bra's head. And she didn't realzed it herself. But slowly, her feet began to step back. Slowly, her tears ran down her cheeks, but she didn't feel it. Bra was too shocked to feel anything. She could only feel the agony of her broken, shattered heart.
"Bra? What's wrong....?" Goten stared at her. Bra's beautiful blue eyes, turned into nothing but total emptiness. Bra walked back and went to the exit. Step by step, she moved away from Goten.
"Bra, where are you going?!" But Bra didn't answer him. She slowly moved away from him and climbed down from the tree house. Bra didn't know what to think anymore. Her mind was empty. Her whole body was trembling. When she could finally set her feet on the ground, she started to run. Faster and faster and faster. Away from him. As long as she was away from him. Now, she had found a goal. She knew what to do.
"I must run..... I must run away from him.........." The tears of the girl with the broken heart streamed down endlessly. She didn't know, she didn't care.....
"Goten, why did you have to do this to me?! I don't want to be JUST your sister! I LOVE YOU, DAMN IT!!!!" she said, while she was running. She ran into a dark alley. She remembered that it was the alley, where she found out about Paris and Goten. But she didn't care anymore. She hated Goten. She had to run, she just had to....