Meri Kurisumasu
Chapter 5: Goten
While children looked to Christmas as a time to receive free gifts, the older people of the community saw it as a time to share with loved ones. Hotels were booked up well in advance as young couple prepared an evening together, filled with romance and passion. To the same effect, restaurants were packed to the point where asking "how many to the table" was unnecessary. It was always two.
"Would you like smoking or non-smoking sir?"
"Non-smoking." Goten answered, with Paris clinging to his arm. The elderly waiter nodded and walked them to a table. He handed them their menu's and nonchalantly bumped into the tip jar as he left.
"So, Paris, what would you like to eat tonight?" That naïve look appeared on her face as she smiled and looked at the menu with indecision. "How about I choose?" he asked, to which she nodded.
When the waiter had returned, Goten ordered himself a filet minion and Paris the Italian sampler. He also ordered a small bottle of champagne for the two of them to share. The man quickly scribbled the orders on his pad and left the two alone at the candlelit table.
Goten could feel himself sweating as he stared at Paris, her features highlighted by the soft glow of the candles. She tilted her head to smile and her hair slid down her shoulder to frame her face. "So, uh, Paris, umm…. I was thinking that maybe, umm, after dinner, we could ummm, y'know,… go to a hotel?"
"That's okay, I have a bed at home." Paris answered. Goten face faulted and nearly fell off his chair. He closed his eyes and sighed, then looked back at Paris. "What I mean is, we've been going out for awhile now, but we haven't, umm… you know. That."
"You mean get married?" Paris asked with excitement. Goten grimaced and bit his lip nervously. "No… not get married. That other thing couples do when they've been together for a long time." Paris looked at him blankly and Goten could feel all hope leave his body. He had paid a lot of money to get a Christmas Eve hotel room, hoping that this would finally be the night. With any other girl it would have happened a lot sooner, but Paris was just so naïve he wondered if it ever would.
Before Goten could attempt to explain without saying it flat out and sounding like a hentai, the waiter came with the food. Goten's stomach grumbled at the small steak, but he couldn't afford a full saiyan meal in a place like this. Across from him Paris began eating, trying the various new foods. She looked almost like a little kid, seeing as how she had been so secluded from life and finding so many things new to her. Goten wished he could find that kind of enjoyment from simple things, but with a life like his, it was hard to.
Goten wolfed down his steak in record time, and topped it off with some champagne. He poured a glass for Paris who was delighted by the taste of it. She asked for another glass, but he knew if he gave it to her, she'd ask for more and eventually end up getting drunk. She could never hold her alcohol well, but she never remembered the next time she had, so Goten had to watch out for her. Without question, Paris simply continued eating and talked to Goten about various things. It was one of the better conversations they'd had, so when she asked for another glass, Goten was too distracted to say no. Before long she had drunk more than half the bottle and it didn't look like she'd make it home that night.
Her voice slowly started getting louder as her movements got less coordinated. A few of the other couples looked over at them and Goten desperately tried to calm her down. "Maybe we should leave?" he suggested, but she shook her head and shoved a fork full of pasta into her mouth. "Why leave Goten-kun? The food is so good and so are the rides. We keep going around, and around, and around, and around and-"
Before Goten could react, Paris was throwing up on the floor. By then everyone else in the restaurant was looking at them, including a very angry waiter. He walked up and leaned to talk into Goten's ear in a rather cynical voice. "I, sir, would suggest that you leave. We already have your bill ready at the front desk, but be certain they'll be an extra charge for the imported rug your girlfriend here has decided to ruin."
Goten swallowed nervously and nodded. He stood and lifted Paris up to stand, then helped her get to the front desk where he paid. Tears nearly reached his eyes when he saw all that money gone. It'd be a long time before they went out again.
With all eyes on him, Goten walked Paris outside to the parking lot, then stopped as she keeled over again. This was definitely not the night he had imagined for the two of them.