"Marron darling, time to get up......NOW!" 18 hollered as she shook me awake
fiercely.
I groaned and ripped the blankets over my head. I wished only to stay in bed and live there forever. Where I didn't have to worry about school and facing everyone today.
"Still tired from party. Staying in bed." I mumbled from under the blankets. But 18 wouldn't hear of it and threw the blankets off me and pulled me out of bed.
"You were fine yesterday. You should be right for school. Now either start getting ready or you can stay in bed and wake up at eight and not have enough time to be ready for school."
I nodded and stumbled into the bathroom. I stood under the shower and worried as I had been ever since Saturday night. Today I would have to face Goten and tell him I couldn't sit next to him in every class. It was the last thing I wanted to do because sitting next to Goten in every class had really boosted my grades and his. We were a good pair. It was too bad he had to be a guy.
He was at the bus stop of course and smiled cheerfully when he saw me. Everyone was still talking about Trunks' party and everyone had something to say. So people were talking too much for me to get a word in. And that gave me an excuse to keep away from Goten. When the bus arrived, I sat as far away from him as possible.
Even so, I was nervous. I could steer clear of Goten on the bus, but what would happen in class? What would happen when it was time for tutoring?
Our first class was math. I spent forever at my locker and even though he attempted to wait for me, I convinced Goten to go on to class without me. By the time I reached the classroom, the period was half over. I stood outside the classroom door, shivering, too scared to face them.
I heard footsteps behind me and saw our school secretary leading Uub, the scrawny kid from Trunks' party, by the sleeve of his oversized red jacket. He was stony faced and from the fright in his eyes, very intimidated by the large woman who was leading him.
"Hey Uub." I said wearily, hardly interested at all. "You late too?"
"What are you doing standing around here? My gosh, you kids are so difficult to understand. Both of you get in there now and be sure to apologize for being late. Hurry up."
The secretary thrust the door open and pushed us both inside. The lesson stopped and everyone turned to stare, whispering to each other from behind their hands. I could feel Uub shuffling anxiously beside me.
"This must be Uub, the new student in our school." Mrs Morgan said as she stood to shake the miserable looking boy's hand. "Everyone, give Uub a nice warm welcome."
A few people muttered a hello but most kept their head down and couldn't care less. Only Goten sounded cheerful to see him. I stole a glance at the half Sayian who had saved me a seat beside him. I felt so guilty, I thought I would be sick.
"Take a seat Uub and we'll get you started on some work." Mrs Morgan said with a false and sticky smile. Uub nodded and was about to take a seat on his own when I held out a hand to stop him. I had an idea.
"I know Uub from out of school. He can sit with me." I said firmly.
Mrs Morgan's eyes swiveled to face me and she frowned, only just realizing I had been standing there. "And where have you been, Marron? It's not like you to be late to school."
"I overslept. I'm sorry." I mumbled and then grabbed Uub by the hand and led him to a table behind Jane and Eliza.
Goten was staring at me with a look of sheer disbelief. I thought he would just figure I was being nice to the new kid by sitting with him but Goten knew me too well to fall for that. He knew I wasn't the sort of person who would do that. When I gave him a pitiful and sorrowful look, he turned away from me and bent his head towards his work. I felt as if my whole body was going to split in two.
When Mrs Morgan had launched back into the lesson and it was safe to have a conversation, Eliza turned around in her seat and gave me a thumbs up. When I returned her positive remark with a depressed frown, she nodded understandingly.
"Don't worry. It's for the best, Marron."
"I feel so rotten."
"It couldn't be helped. You can still be friends. Just don't sit next to him all the time and stop flirting."
"I know."
The class ended and when Goten tried to talk to me, I enclosed myself in a group of girls and pretended to talk to them. Goten kept his distance and didn't even try to sit next to me for the rest of the day. I could feel pieces of my body being ripped off inside me, one by one. I felt so rotten.
After school, we walked home together as usual. Trunks, Bra and Goten walked ahead, lost in conversation and I trudged behind them, keeping my eyes on my shoes. After a while, Goten fell back and walked along beside me.
"Marron....is there something wrong? Why didn't you sit with me today?" He asked sternly. I could taste the fear in his voice.
"Sorry Goten." I knew I had to tell him. It was now or never. "I spoke to Eliza at the party.....she said that.....she said....."
"Just tell me. Please."
"She thinks we shouldn't sit together all the time. It's giving everyone the wrong impression. We both have reputations to keep."
"But we're just friends." Goten cried, bewildered. Trunks and Bra stopped walking to stare, but when Goten gave them a reassuring smile, they continued on again.
"WE know that, Goten. But we can't convince everyone else. So we have to stop acting like we're a couple. Because people are thinking the wrong thing about us. Do you understand?"
It burst out of me before I could contain it. Goten was just as shocked as I was and said nothing as we reached C.C, rewinding everything I had said in his head.
"I understand." He finally said as we entered the house. Bulma met us in the kitchen and I couldn't speak to him again. He didn't speak to me when we were flying either. And I was partly grateful for it.
Gohan wasn't exactly thick. When he noticed my abnormal lack of enthusiasm to study, he stopped the lesson to speak with me on a personal level.
"What's wrong, Marron? Come on, you can tell me."
"It's Goten." I said then burst out crying. I didn't mean to cry. I didn't even know why I cried. It was a strange feeling seeing as I hadn't even felt like crying up until this stage. But now tears poured from my eyes like there was no tomorrow as I told Gohan the whole story.
"Poor thing." Gohan handed me a tissue and put his arm around my shoulders. "I know peer pressure can be hard to deal with sometimes. Through my own high school experience, I've learnt it actually helps to pay no attention to it. I know it's different seeing as you're the most popular girl in school and these sort of things matter to you, but if you want to sit next to Goten in every class, I don't see the problem. So what if everyone thinks you're going out? YOU know the truth."
"They think I'm a slut and I'm two-timing with Goten and Trunks." I sobbed even harder at the thought. "I can't cope with that image. I just have to stop sitting next to Goten. We can still be friends. I don't see what the problem is. I don't even know why I'm crying."
"Chill out Marron. It's not that bad. You and Goten can still be friends. So what if you can't just sit next to each other all the time? That or you can be brave and ignore peer pressure. But I know that's not your style."
"You're right. I just don't know how I was flirting with Goten. I didn't think I was."
"You probably weren't. It just appeared that way to everyone else. Teenagers have very strange minds. Almost impossible to understand. Someday they'll understand that just because you want to be friends with someone of the opposite sex doesn't mean you're going to go out."
"Thanks Gohan." I said with a smile. Finally ceasing to cry. "I feel better now."
"Just needed to cry a bit." He grinned in a very Goten like way as he took my snotty tissue and tossed it away. "I guess you don't feel like studying advanced algebra at the moment?"
"Not really." I said with a laugh.
"Then maybe we should finish for today. An early mark."
As much as I liked having Gohan for a teacher, I was still thrilled to go home early. I went next door and upstairs into Goten's room. He sitting at his desk, working on his homework.
"Hey Goten." I smiled. He looked up, confused when he noticed my red eyes and running mascara.
"What's wrong?" He asked sternly. "You feel sick?"
I shook my head. "I'm perfectly fine. But when you're ready, I'd like to go home, thank you."
He nodded and took my hand. We made our way downstairs together and took to the sky. All the way I thought about what Gohan and said to me. He was right. Peer pressure was a big thing for me and I couldn't cope with a bad reputation. But just because Goten and I couldn't sit together in class and be as close as before didn't mean that after those six hours of a five day week were over, we couldn't become friends yet again.
"Goten?" I said suddenly.
"Yeah Marron?" He looked down and smiled. I stretched my head up to meet with his gaze.
"Just want to let you know that even though stuff in school might change, you'll always be my friend."
Goten grinned broadly. "Of course." He replied and he took up speed so that I would be home in no time.
I groaned and ripped the blankets over my head. I wished only to stay in bed and live there forever. Where I didn't have to worry about school and facing everyone today.
"Still tired from party. Staying in bed." I mumbled from under the blankets. But 18 wouldn't hear of it and threw the blankets off me and pulled me out of bed.
"You were fine yesterday. You should be right for school. Now either start getting ready or you can stay in bed and wake up at eight and not have enough time to be ready for school."
I nodded and stumbled into the bathroom. I stood under the shower and worried as I had been ever since Saturday night. Today I would have to face Goten and tell him I couldn't sit next to him in every class. It was the last thing I wanted to do because sitting next to Goten in every class had really boosted my grades and his. We were a good pair. It was too bad he had to be a guy.
He was at the bus stop of course and smiled cheerfully when he saw me. Everyone was still talking about Trunks' party and everyone had something to say. So people were talking too much for me to get a word in. And that gave me an excuse to keep away from Goten. When the bus arrived, I sat as far away from him as possible.
Even so, I was nervous. I could steer clear of Goten on the bus, but what would happen in class? What would happen when it was time for tutoring?
Our first class was math. I spent forever at my locker and even though he attempted to wait for me, I convinced Goten to go on to class without me. By the time I reached the classroom, the period was half over. I stood outside the classroom door, shivering, too scared to face them.
I heard footsteps behind me and saw our school secretary leading Uub, the scrawny kid from Trunks' party, by the sleeve of his oversized red jacket. He was stony faced and from the fright in his eyes, very intimidated by the large woman who was leading him.
"Hey Uub." I said wearily, hardly interested at all. "You late too?"
"What are you doing standing around here? My gosh, you kids are so difficult to understand. Both of you get in there now and be sure to apologize for being late. Hurry up."
The secretary thrust the door open and pushed us both inside. The lesson stopped and everyone turned to stare, whispering to each other from behind their hands. I could feel Uub shuffling anxiously beside me.
"This must be Uub, the new student in our school." Mrs Morgan said as she stood to shake the miserable looking boy's hand. "Everyone, give Uub a nice warm welcome."
A few people muttered a hello but most kept their head down and couldn't care less. Only Goten sounded cheerful to see him. I stole a glance at the half Sayian who had saved me a seat beside him. I felt so guilty, I thought I would be sick.
"Take a seat Uub and we'll get you started on some work." Mrs Morgan said with a false and sticky smile. Uub nodded and was about to take a seat on his own when I held out a hand to stop him. I had an idea.
"I know Uub from out of school. He can sit with me." I said firmly.
Mrs Morgan's eyes swiveled to face me and she frowned, only just realizing I had been standing there. "And where have you been, Marron? It's not like you to be late to school."
"I overslept. I'm sorry." I mumbled and then grabbed Uub by the hand and led him to a table behind Jane and Eliza.
Goten was staring at me with a look of sheer disbelief. I thought he would just figure I was being nice to the new kid by sitting with him but Goten knew me too well to fall for that. He knew I wasn't the sort of person who would do that. When I gave him a pitiful and sorrowful look, he turned away from me and bent his head towards his work. I felt as if my whole body was going to split in two.
When Mrs Morgan had launched back into the lesson and it was safe to have a conversation, Eliza turned around in her seat and gave me a thumbs up. When I returned her positive remark with a depressed frown, she nodded understandingly.
"Don't worry. It's for the best, Marron."
"I feel so rotten."
"It couldn't be helped. You can still be friends. Just don't sit next to him all the time and stop flirting."
"I know."
The class ended and when Goten tried to talk to me, I enclosed myself in a group of girls and pretended to talk to them. Goten kept his distance and didn't even try to sit next to me for the rest of the day. I could feel pieces of my body being ripped off inside me, one by one. I felt so rotten.
After school, we walked home together as usual. Trunks, Bra and Goten walked ahead, lost in conversation and I trudged behind them, keeping my eyes on my shoes. After a while, Goten fell back and walked along beside me.
"Marron....is there something wrong? Why didn't you sit with me today?" He asked sternly. I could taste the fear in his voice.
"Sorry Goten." I knew I had to tell him. It was now or never. "I spoke to Eliza at the party.....she said that.....she said....."
"Just tell me. Please."
"She thinks we shouldn't sit together all the time. It's giving everyone the wrong impression. We both have reputations to keep."
"But we're just friends." Goten cried, bewildered. Trunks and Bra stopped walking to stare, but when Goten gave them a reassuring smile, they continued on again.
"WE know that, Goten. But we can't convince everyone else. So we have to stop acting like we're a couple. Because people are thinking the wrong thing about us. Do you understand?"
It burst out of me before I could contain it. Goten was just as shocked as I was and said nothing as we reached C.C, rewinding everything I had said in his head.
"I understand." He finally said as we entered the house. Bulma met us in the kitchen and I couldn't speak to him again. He didn't speak to me when we were flying either. And I was partly grateful for it.
Gohan wasn't exactly thick. When he noticed my abnormal lack of enthusiasm to study, he stopped the lesson to speak with me on a personal level.
"What's wrong, Marron? Come on, you can tell me."
"It's Goten." I said then burst out crying. I didn't mean to cry. I didn't even know why I cried. It was a strange feeling seeing as I hadn't even felt like crying up until this stage. But now tears poured from my eyes like there was no tomorrow as I told Gohan the whole story.
"Poor thing." Gohan handed me a tissue and put his arm around my shoulders. "I know peer pressure can be hard to deal with sometimes. Through my own high school experience, I've learnt it actually helps to pay no attention to it. I know it's different seeing as you're the most popular girl in school and these sort of things matter to you, but if you want to sit next to Goten in every class, I don't see the problem. So what if everyone thinks you're going out? YOU know the truth."
"They think I'm a slut and I'm two-timing with Goten and Trunks." I sobbed even harder at the thought. "I can't cope with that image. I just have to stop sitting next to Goten. We can still be friends. I don't see what the problem is. I don't even know why I'm crying."
"Chill out Marron. It's not that bad. You and Goten can still be friends. So what if you can't just sit next to each other all the time? That or you can be brave and ignore peer pressure. But I know that's not your style."
"You're right. I just don't know how I was flirting with Goten. I didn't think I was."
"You probably weren't. It just appeared that way to everyone else. Teenagers have very strange minds. Almost impossible to understand. Someday they'll understand that just because you want to be friends with someone of the opposite sex doesn't mean you're going to go out."
"Thanks Gohan." I said with a smile. Finally ceasing to cry. "I feel better now."
"Just needed to cry a bit." He grinned in a very Goten like way as he took my snotty tissue and tossed it away. "I guess you don't feel like studying advanced algebra at the moment?"
"Not really." I said with a laugh.
"Then maybe we should finish for today. An early mark."
As much as I liked having Gohan for a teacher, I was still thrilled to go home early. I went next door and upstairs into Goten's room. He sitting at his desk, working on his homework.
"Hey Goten." I smiled. He looked up, confused when he noticed my red eyes and running mascara.
"What's wrong?" He asked sternly. "You feel sick?"
I shook my head. "I'm perfectly fine. But when you're ready, I'd like to go home, thank you."
He nodded and took my hand. We made our way downstairs together and took to the sky. All the way I thought about what Gohan and said to me. He was right. Peer pressure was a big thing for me and I couldn't cope with a bad reputation. But just because Goten and I couldn't sit together in class and be as close as before didn't mean that after those six hours of a five day week were over, we couldn't become friends yet again.
"Goten?" I said suddenly.
"Yeah Marron?" He looked down and smiled. I stretched my head up to meet with his gaze.
"Just want to let you know that even though stuff in school might change, you'll always be my friend."
Goten grinned broadly. "Of course." He replied and he took up speed so that I would be home in no time.