Episode 25: Failing To Succeed

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Marron:7:42pm, My birthday party started minutes ago. ChiChi, Bulma, Dende, Yamucha, basically everyone showed up even Vegeta, they all sat in the living room feasting. All showed except Bra, Pan and well Trunks. But Goten was STILL here with me, actually he left for at least 10 minutes to change while I got ready as well. He was standing by the counter with the alcohol while I put a cd in to dance. Then I walked over to Goten as he was making a drink...???

"Um, what're you making?"

"A drink, why?"

"YOUR drink?"

"No, just a good mix. Taste it, it's not that bad and you won't get drunk like Trunks after one trust me."

Without a care in the world, I went and took a couple of sips... wasn't that bad, a little bitter but sweet, like punch. Then he handed me a shot glass with a different drink.

"Come on you have to take this with me."

"Why?"

"It's a birthday tradition I have when you turn 21, I did it to Trunks and myself too. Just do it, everyone's in the room next to us and they know we have alcohol they can't come in saying you're not old enough and it's not like you're driving anywhere."

He had a point, besides I can handle my alcohol. So we toasted to 'better and happier love lives' and drank to that.

"oh yeah, I forgot to tell you. Pan called while you were in the shower."

"She did?"

"Yeah, I told her what happened and she says it's fine and she had something to tell you when she comes over tonight."

"Why didn't you tell me this?"

"I was helping out over here I didn't remember till now."

'So she's ok with everything?"

"Yup. She says as long as you're not mad at her for not telling you she knew where Trunks was and that she LIKED, meaning in the past, liked him."

"What do you mean in the past?"

"She said it's something she wants to talk to YOU about not me so..."

"Birthday girl." A voice from behind me called, I turned around and saw Yamucha's face peeking from the wall between the living room and the kitchen.

"Yes?"

"Someone's here to see you... Goten are YOU making MY drinks now?"

"Hey you taught me, I'm just passing the taste to others like Marron over here."

Yamucha walked and stood between Goten and I as Goten handed both of us a shot.

"My, cupcake's already taking shots? Big girl now, watch out world!"

"Yamucha."

Then Goten spoke "Here's to an everlasting, healthy, and happy life. Happy birthday Pigtails."

We all toasted and took it. Right after I heard a voice behind me

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARRON!"

I turned around and there stood none other than...Bra. I went ahead and gave her a hug as she handed me one present in a bag and another in a small box

"The bag is my gift and Trunks told me to give you the one in the small box."

"THANK YOU!"

Goten: Marron's back blocked my view from seeing her face. I knew it was her though, from the time she walked into the room once we took our shot. I smelt her perfume before I heard that voice, such happiness. Did she even see me standing right here at all? I'm not that far away, Yamucha is the only one standing between us. If she did notice, would she ignore me or leave?

"Ok, I'm going to leave you young ones here to enjoy your drinks while I mingle with the much older civilized beings in the other room. Don't drink too much now, and Bra, little one, watch yourself this guy knows how to make his drinks...And I'll take one more with me."

Yamucha said lastly as he grabed a beer and left the room. I startled, he basically pointed me out to her...This time I saw a bit of her, the side at least as she talked to Marron about something. She looked normal to me, like nothing was wrong. Maybe she still hasn't seen me standing here. I poured 3 and grabbed 2 glasses for them. My heart raced and I became extremely nervous. I had no idea what to do when she'd see or even her reaction when she sees me. No turning back now, I'm practically standing a foot away from her, Yamucha already gave away my cover... here goes nothing...PLEASE FORGIVE ME BRA!

"Care to join me?"

I stood by both of them and they both took the drinks. First Marron talked.

"Thanks."

Then Bra...

"Oh HI Goten, didn't see you there. Thanks." She smiled and took the drink and placed it on the counter as she took Marron's presents

"I'll be back I'm just going to put the presents away"

"Ok."

She left the room and Marron and I looked at each other knowing what both of us were thinking.

"Hey don't ask me."

"You're the one who talked to her before me."

"She eased up yesterday, maybe she's just better."

"You think?"

"You talk to her, you said you were."

"Yeah but I feel weird. Say I pour my heart out there and she just says 'no big deal you were with her for over a year anyway'? Then what?"

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARRON!"

Marron turned around out of shock as Gohan, Videl and Pan showed up behind her with gifts. Marron greeted all of them with hugs. She was surprised as they handed the gifts to her. Then Bra came back in the room, happy to see Pan they gave each other a hug.

"Oh I have so much to tell you Pan it's... wow! Goten took me out and everything! I have to tell you about it! How was your trip?"

"Lots of fun!"

"Lots of fun? Pan? at a wedding?" Marron questioned

"Oh yeah sorry, hold on..." Pan leaned over and pulled someone from the other side of the wall.

"This is Taki. He was my escort for the wedding. Um... Taki this is Marron, Bra and my Uncle Goten."

"We'll be back though we just got back and we're starving so we're going to get some food for a while ok."

"Sure." Marron said as they left the room. Bra and Marron looked at each other with excitement.

"Wow... Pan did good."

"Yup, I'm actually going to get some food myself. Then you can blow your cake then open the presents."

Bra began walking out of the room before I spoke.

"Wait. One shot Bra? Marron?"

Marron spoke "We haven't even finished our drinks."

"Just one..."

They both looked at each other and agreed. She stood next to Marron and I handed them a shot. Rather than toasting we just raised our glasses, took it and she set her glass down and walked off.

"Marron..."

"Why's she so happy? Are you sure she knows?"

she looked at me like I was crazy.

"Ok Ok sorry, just saying it's a possiblity."

"Do you honestly think I'd joke about that."

"Then she's faking it."

"Go up to her, make conversation. If she ignores you then try to talk to her alone, if not STILL talk to her alone."

"Ok..." I drank the rest of what was in my glass at the time "Wish me luck"

"Good luck."

I smiled to Marron "Good luck with Trunks."

She let out a smile "Thanks." I walked out there, grabbed a plate and stood next to Bra as she started getting food.

"So, what'd you think of the drinks."

She continued looking down at the food and choosing.

"It was good. Yamucha teach you?"

"Yeah...so I called you yesterday. Did you get any of my messages?"

"...Um yeah, sorry I didn't call back I was occupied for a while."

"Really? What'd you do today?"

"Made final adjustments to Marron's present."

"So are you going to tell me what it is yet?"

Still she kept looking down at the food, never looking up at me to conversate, only to look up to Pan and Taki for a bit.

"You'll see it tonight, just as I told you last week."

"Ok. What about your present to her, what is it?"

"Goten be patient." She spoke with a light chuckle

"Sorry, um. Talk to Trunks yet?"

"Nope, you?"

"This morning I saw a bear in front of Marron's door when I came by this morning and it turned out to be from him so I guess he stopped by. But that's all I know and that he's coming back tonight."

"That's good. That explains why Marron seems excited today aside from it being her birthday."

"Yeah...so um... about Friday... you called me?"

"Friday?... OH YEAH, I was really bored that day so I wanted to talk to you. Didn't feel much like doing the final stuff for Marron's present that day so I wanted to see you but you never answered your phone."

"Oh...sorry, I was...uh..." AH what's the point in this, she already knows what i was doing. But what if she doesn't and Marron just said Bra saw when really it was Marron who saw...

"I'll be back I need to use the bathroom for a bit."

"Ok, we'll all be in the back."

She put her plate down as I walked with my plate of food out to the back. Not once through that whole thing did she look at me, nor conversate with me like she usually would... she seemed... quiet, distant... but hasn't said much about Friday. I stood next to Marron as I held my plate of food.

"She's talking, but it doesn't feel right. She knows, but it doesn't show at all."

"Goten, don't be stupid. Do you REALLY want her to show her anger RIGHT here right now. She's concealing it till the time is right don't you know that?"

"Are you sure she knows?"

"Goten."

"Sorry, sorry. I know. She hasn't looked at me since she said hi back there."

'Wait she's coming, talk to her."

She came strolling in with her food and the drink I gave her earlier and stood next to Pan and Taki who were a couple feet away from us because Pan was showing him certain places you can see from Marron's balcony. I handed Marron my plate. I rubbed my hands together, looked at Marron for permission as she gave me the nod to go ahead. I licked my lips hoping all would go with the LEAST amount of hurt possible. I took a deep breath and let it out as I walked up to her as she giggled about with Pan and Taki. I stood behind her and leaned over her shoulder with my mouth by her ear

"Bra, can I speak to you alone for a moment."

She stopped her laughing slowly and kept her face forward while I kept mine in place as well

"Is it that serious?"

"I'd think so."

"Um..."

"There's something I need to talk to you about."

"Well can it wait for maybe 5, 10 minutes please? Pan's telling me about her trip."

"Ok."

"Thanks. If it's not too much trouble can you refill this with whatever you put in here."

"Sure thing." With my face by hers she held the glass by my face as I took it and walked off to get her more. I passed Marron who questioningly looked at me. I shook my head and went inside to refill the glass. Marron came in a second or two after and stood beside me placing both her plate as well as mine on the counter.

"She doesn't want to talk to you?"

"She said about 10 minutes because she's talking to Pan about her trip."

"Oh."

I started walking off with the glass in my hand and I stood behind her again. My hand extended from the side of her and bent at the elbow so the drink was in front of her with my head by her face again.

"Bra, your drink."

"Thanks again." Then she turned her face just as I was about to leave and it seemed like time was in it's slowest motion at that time as she kissed my cheek. In reality it wasn't even half a second, but in my mind it seemed like eternity. I got a confused look on my face as I walked back to Marron, who stood by the doorway.

"What's that all about."

"See, I told you she's acting weird..."

"No kidding... I say you NEED to talk to her now, she's weird even for me."

"Ok, I'm going."

I walked back to her and stood next to her. Taki was talking about Pan at the reception now...

"I need to talk to you now." I said under my breath hoping Taki didn't see me

She shook her head and continued looking at Taki as he spoke

"Bra please, it's extremely important."

"Taki, sorry to interupt you, but I'll be right back I just need to do something really quick. Sorry you guys."

We both turned around and started walking inside, I apologized.

"Sorry I had to take you out from that."

"Oh, don't worry it's fine. I'll talk to them when you're done."

"Thanks"

"What's on your mind Goten? Why so serious? Anything wrong?"

We walked all the way down the hall till we reached the end, it was semi-dark. We stood across from each other. She had her arms behind her and looked down at her feet as I stood there with my hands in my pocket looking at her.

"So why the serious tone Goten, it's kind of frightening."

"How can you act this way?"

"What way?"

"Like nothing's changed between us."

"You mean since Thursday night?"

She looked to the side where the party was as I continued

"Friday Bra."

"But I didn't even see you Friday."

"This is what I mean, you're acting like it hasn't affected you."

"What hasn't affected me?"

"Friday afternoon, what did you do really?"

"I told you, I got bored and stayed home calling you so I can talk to you."

"Bra, there's no need to hide it. I know you saw me."

She lifted her head a bit and looked at me, but not to my face, more like my shirt and shook her head.

"Where?"

"Bra I already know, don't act like you don't. Marron told me. I know you saw me with Paris that day."

She chuckled and smiled "...Goten, does it matter? I should've known you can't change a person's heart that easily right? So it's ok. Don't worry about it..."

I stood there not knowing what to say, wasn't she supposed to take this harder than I am? Without me doing anything to prevent it, she started walking back into the party

"Cake time Goten. Come on, we can smash it in her face."

she walked off like nothing happened, she made it look like she was ok, but in me, I still felt incomplete. Like this couldn't have been the end of it... or was it because I expected such a full blown reaction from her that it's rediculous to only hear this much from her? I went ahead and followed a while after.

Bra took the cake out and opened it up as I stood next to her wondering what to say. She handed me the candles and spoke "I'll start putting the candles on while you light them ok."

I agreed quietly and did as she said. We brought the cake to the balcony where she talked to Taki and Pan while singing Happy Birthday with the rest of the gang who followed once we began singing. Marron turned around with such flare and happiness as we finished the song. With a couple seconds to make her wish she blew out the candles.

Marron: I closed my eyes and began making my wishes: Trunks, I wish that you could be here with me right now after I blow these out, I wish Bra and Goten can live a happy life together, and finally I wish... I wish... I wish for maybe a little something to happen between Trunks and I, something good. I took a breath in and blew out all 21 candles spreaded on the cake hoping once I opened them I'd see Trunks standing in the crowd as he said he'd be. I opened them and saw the same people who stood before me. I tried to keep a smile on my face when really inside I wished he really could be there. We all headed inside as I began to cut the cake.

"Wait before you eat your cake Marron. One more drink with me."

"Goten again?" I couldn't refuse, not tonight at least. He handed me a glass, not a shot glass, but a cup. It'd only be my 3rd glass.

"A toast to the birthday girl. May you have more and more to come. Happy birthday Marron." Goten gave me a sweet kiss on the cheek and whispered something.

"This is MY drink."

"Your wonder?"

"Yup."

"Then bring it." He pulled his face back away from mine and we toasted and drank. Took a while to finish, of course Goten finished before me. It was harsh but in a sense it tasted pretty good. My eyes squinshed from the bitter taste as I put the glass down and shook my head to shake it off a bit.

I grabbed the first piece of cake and was about to put it in my mouth till Goten grabbed the fork from me.

"No, allow me." I saw him look at Bra who just looked down with a smile on her face as I opened my mouth and being the blonde that I was didn't even see the cake coming when it hit my face and heard everyone laughing.

"GOTEN!"

I wipped the cake from my eyes and immediately smeared it on Goten's. I opened one eyes and looked at Bra who was hysterically laughing.

"Right like you had nothing to do with it huh Bra." I took more off my face and wipped it on hers. We all just laughed it off together. Then I gave Goten and Bra a kiss on their messy cheeks and thanked them. I guess they fixed everything already. Both of them headed to the kitchen sink together pushing and shoving to get the water just laughing like before. I smiled happily knowing at least one of my wishes came true tonight. I went and headed to the bathroom in my room and washed my face off.

"Like I promised, you'd be the first one I visited right?"