The next day after school, I overheard Goten and Trunks having a
conversation. Bra, Uub and I had been waiting together in the locker room
for them but when they hadn't showed up, and partly because I was bored of
being excluded from the conversation in which Bra was trying to explain to
the simple village boy about the effects of microorganisms on the human
bloodstream, I went to find them alone.
The two best friends were talking together in an empty classroom. I was about to barge in on them when I heard someone mention my name and paused to listen through the door.
"So you want me to take Marron?" Trunks asked in confusion.
"Yeah....I do."
"Why?"
"Because she wants to go with you and who am I to stop her from having a good time?" He said then sighed deeply. "Anyway, she's been flirting with you non stop ever since people started picking partners for the dance."
"That's true. But really Goten. I thought....."
"No. Trunks, please ask her. For me?"
"Marron!"
I backed away from the door and saw Bra and Uub dashing down the corridor. The classroom door swung open and Goten and Trunks stepped out into the hall. I had Trunks and Goten on one side, Bra and Uub on the other. I was surrounded.
"Marron!" Bra gasped, taking in much needed air. "We were looking for you everywhere! You have to stop running away like that."
"Sorry. I just came back to find my pen and I thought I heard voices in here so I wasn't sure if I came in or not. I only just arrived when you guys turned up." I spun an incredible lie that took so much effort, it left me breathless.
"You came back for the sake of a pen?" Trunks asked, his eyebrows raised.
"A makeup pen." I replied quickly. "But I found it now so everything is ok. Now come on, let's go."
Goten was sitting beside me on the way home but we hardly spoke until we reached the last stop.
"You wear too much makeup." He mumbled as we gathered our things to prepare to leave. "You should put on less."
"No way! I love makeup!" I said it like a joke but for once, Goten didn't laugh even though it was unfunny. But Goten always laughed at my unfunny remarks.
"I've seen you without makeup. It makes a difference to your face. I think you look nicer without it."
I lifted a hand to my face and touched it, feeling the powder on my face. He was smiling broadly and I felt relieved to see the old Goten back again.
"So who do you have in mind for asking to the dance?" I asked as we left the bus.
"No one. Because I'm not going." He replied with a shrug.
"Not going? Why?" I gasped. Goten was popular! Why would he miss his own school dance? It was simply unheard of.
"I don't like dancing."
"Remembering you from Trunks' party, I think that you're pretty good at dancing."
"Just because someone is good at something doesn't mean they have to like it." He scowled, his old smile falling from his face.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Bra and heard her whisper 'poor guy' to Uub who nodded in agreement. I didn't understand. What was wrong with Goten? Was there something going on that I didn't know about?
We said nothing on the flight over to his house and on the way back. It felt incredibly strange seeing as ever since the first day of tutoring, Goten and I had always talked about something while flying. It was just.....weird.
When I arrived home, I stood in front of my mirror and touched the eye shadow around my eyes. Goten was right. Makeup and perfume made me look too old. Too mature. I ran into the bathroom and took it all off then came back and glanced again at myself in the mirror.
The girl who stared back at me was no longer the proud, popular grade ten girl who had the face of an 18 year old. She was younger, perhaps a little meeker but definitely more natural and had the smooth and patient face of a 16 year old. Exactly what I was meant to look like.
"Marron? Hello, are you up there, darling?"
My door swung open and 18 bustled into the room and handed me the receiver she was holding. "It's for you. It's Trunks."
I took the phone from her with shaky hands, almost certain as to what this conversation was about and held it to my ear.
"Hey." Trunks said on the other end. On the phone, his voice wasn't at all altered. It was exactly the same as it was in reality.
"Hey Trunks. What's up?" I asked my reflection in the mirror.
"Nothing much. I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me, that's all."
I stared gloomily into my reflection, which was frowning pitifully at itself. Ever since I was eight, I always thought that the day Trunks asked me those words, I would be over the moon. But no excitement rushed into my body. And the 16 year old in the mirror hardly lit up at all. I tried to keep my mind on the conversation but images of Goten flashed into my mind for some odd reason and as hard as I tried I couldn't knock them out.
"Marron? Are you there?" Trunks asked worriedly.
"I'm here, Trunks. And I would be more than happy to go to the dance with you."
"Great." Trunks said unenthusiastically. "Hey did you hear the news about Bra? She's going to the dance with Uub! That's really something huh? Never thought she would get a date to a dance."
"I've noticed something about her. She's stopped following you around and stuff."
"Bra's like Mum. She likes authority and Uub is such a shy little thing. With him, she has an advantage. She has the authority over him and I think she likes to be in control. And Uub likes to have a leader."
"It's good she's made her own friends. And without our help."
"You mean her own boyfriend." Trunks said with a laugh. "Well I have to go, Marron. Bra wants to call Uub.......again. I guess I'll catch you tomorrow."
"Yeah.....tomorrow."
The line went dead and I set the receiver down again. I couldn't see why I was so depressed. I was going to the dance with Trunks Briefs. And from there, anything could happen. We might even end up as a couple! But I wasn't excited even though all my childhood fantasies were becoming a reality. I felt lousy and rotten. I felt like a two-timing slut. Something I had been wanting to avoid.
I collapsed on my bed and hugged my pillow, unable to even cry. What on earth was wrong with me?
"What's wrong this time?" Gohan asked, suddenly dropping the pencil he had been tapping on the desk for the past half hour of tutoring. I grinned even in my saddened state. It was no use hiding anything from him.
"Is it something to do with Goten again?" He asked when I didn't reply.
"Partly. I guess." I was resting my head on my elbow, which was propped up against the desk and glancing out the window behind my tutor whenever I got the chance. Gohan was tilting on his chair almost as if he wanted to allow me the view.
"You can tell me. You told me last time you felt bad, remember?"
"Yeah. I guess I can." I mumbled and launched into an explanation of all that had happened since I decided to make it my duty to go to the dance with Trunks.
At first, Gohan laughed when I explained about the flirting with Trunks. But gradually as the story continued, his expression turned solemn and just as saddened as mine. When I finished, the house was filled with bitter silence.
"So....." I asked, unable to bare it. I was expecting him to say something that would make me feel better, but he only laughed, upholding his steady and sorrowful expression.
"Marron, haven't I taught you anything? You are the most intelligent teenager I know, and you are also the most thick headed."
"I wouldn't bet on that. What about Goten?"
"Even Goten is smart enough to realize what's going on." Gohan chuckled to himself, a smile now playing across his face.
"Stop stalling. Tell me what's happening!" I said impatiently.
"It seems as though everyone else in the whole world knows. My parents know, I know, Videl knows, all the Briefs know, your parents know and from what I gather the whole school knows. Even my two year old daughter knows! Now that shows you just how thick you are!"
I was really impatient now. "Knows what? Come on, Gohan, TELL ME!"
"Marron, Goten loves you. He has been in love with you ever since you were both very young children. Ever since then he has fought very hard to try and make you like him, but it has been very hard for him since you spend all your energy on Trunks. For once, he said to me when he was about twelve, I would like her to notice me. He is depressed because now when he has finally made you his friend and thinks he has a chance with you, you rock on over and tell him you want to go out with Trunks. You're suffering from it too now. It's a little feeling called guilt. And what's made it worse is that you haven't even been able to recognize what the feeling is."
He paused to take in much needed air. I was sitting upright now, staring unbelievingly into Gohan's eyes. I could hardly believe it. All these years I've known him, Goten has been in love with me and I've been too thick to realize it. All these years.....
"Delayed shock. I can see it in your face. It seems everyone has known the truth except you."
"My gosh. I've been so cruel. All these years.....when I hated him he took my dislike with such good nature. It must have hurt him so much....."
My eyes were swelling up with tears and Gohan made no movement to stop me when I leapt to my feet, causing the chair behind me to topple over, and ran next door to barged into the house.
"Marron? What's wrong?" Chi-Chi asked hurriedly rushing to meet me.
"Goten. Where is Goten?"
"He's out with his father. Shouldn't be too much longer if you want to wait for him." Chi-Chi raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes. I'm fine. But I need to...." I left her and rushed into Goten's empty room. His window was open, letting in a cool spring breeze and forcing my body to released the tension inside of it and I relaxed a little.
His desk chair had been pulled out, almost begging me to sit down on it. Carefully, I sat at the desk and my eyes focused on the book in front of me. It's pages were filled with Goten's jumpy and messy handwriting. Slowly, I picked up the book and began to read.
The two best friends were talking together in an empty classroom. I was about to barge in on them when I heard someone mention my name and paused to listen through the door.
"So you want me to take Marron?" Trunks asked in confusion.
"Yeah....I do."
"Why?"
"Because she wants to go with you and who am I to stop her from having a good time?" He said then sighed deeply. "Anyway, she's been flirting with you non stop ever since people started picking partners for the dance."
"That's true. But really Goten. I thought....."
"No. Trunks, please ask her. For me?"
"Marron!"
I backed away from the door and saw Bra and Uub dashing down the corridor. The classroom door swung open and Goten and Trunks stepped out into the hall. I had Trunks and Goten on one side, Bra and Uub on the other. I was surrounded.
"Marron!" Bra gasped, taking in much needed air. "We were looking for you everywhere! You have to stop running away like that."
"Sorry. I just came back to find my pen and I thought I heard voices in here so I wasn't sure if I came in or not. I only just arrived when you guys turned up." I spun an incredible lie that took so much effort, it left me breathless.
"You came back for the sake of a pen?" Trunks asked, his eyebrows raised.
"A makeup pen." I replied quickly. "But I found it now so everything is ok. Now come on, let's go."
Goten was sitting beside me on the way home but we hardly spoke until we reached the last stop.
"You wear too much makeup." He mumbled as we gathered our things to prepare to leave. "You should put on less."
"No way! I love makeup!" I said it like a joke but for once, Goten didn't laugh even though it was unfunny. But Goten always laughed at my unfunny remarks.
"I've seen you without makeup. It makes a difference to your face. I think you look nicer without it."
I lifted a hand to my face and touched it, feeling the powder on my face. He was smiling broadly and I felt relieved to see the old Goten back again.
"So who do you have in mind for asking to the dance?" I asked as we left the bus.
"No one. Because I'm not going." He replied with a shrug.
"Not going? Why?" I gasped. Goten was popular! Why would he miss his own school dance? It was simply unheard of.
"I don't like dancing."
"Remembering you from Trunks' party, I think that you're pretty good at dancing."
"Just because someone is good at something doesn't mean they have to like it." He scowled, his old smile falling from his face.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Bra and heard her whisper 'poor guy' to Uub who nodded in agreement. I didn't understand. What was wrong with Goten? Was there something going on that I didn't know about?
We said nothing on the flight over to his house and on the way back. It felt incredibly strange seeing as ever since the first day of tutoring, Goten and I had always talked about something while flying. It was just.....weird.
When I arrived home, I stood in front of my mirror and touched the eye shadow around my eyes. Goten was right. Makeup and perfume made me look too old. Too mature. I ran into the bathroom and took it all off then came back and glanced again at myself in the mirror.
The girl who stared back at me was no longer the proud, popular grade ten girl who had the face of an 18 year old. She was younger, perhaps a little meeker but definitely more natural and had the smooth and patient face of a 16 year old. Exactly what I was meant to look like.
"Marron? Hello, are you up there, darling?"
My door swung open and 18 bustled into the room and handed me the receiver she was holding. "It's for you. It's Trunks."
I took the phone from her with shaky hands, almost certain as to what this conversation was about and held it to my ear.
"Hey." Trunks said on the other end. On the phone, his voice wasn't at all altered. It was exactly the same as it was in reality.
"Hey Trunks. What's up?" I asked my reflection in the mirror.
"Nothing much. I was just wondering if you wanted to go to the dance with me, that's all."
I stared gloomily into my reflection, which was frowning pitifully at itself. Ever since I was eight, I always thought that the day Trunks asked me those words, I would be over the moon. But no excitement rushed into my body. And the 16 year old in the mirror hardly lit up at all. I tried to keep my mind on the conversation but images of Goten flashed into my mind for some odd reason and as hard as I tried I couldn't knock them out.
"Marron? Are you there?" Trunks asked worriedly.
"I'm here, Trunks. And I would be more than happy to go to the dance with you."
"Great." Trunks said unenthusiastically. "Hey did you hear the news about Bra? She's going to the dance with Uub! That's really something huh? Never thought she would get a date to a dance."
"I've noticed something about her. She's stopped following you around and stuff."
"Bra's like Mum. She likes authority and Uub is such a shy little thing. With him, she has an advantage. She has the authority over him and I think she likes to be in control. And Uub likes to have a leader."
"It's good she's made her own friends. And without our help."
"You mean her own boyfriend." Trunks said with a laugh. "Well I have to go, Marron. Bra wants to call Uub.......again. I guess I'll catch you tomorrow."
"Yeah.....tomorrow."
The line went dead and I set the receiver down again. I couldn't see why I was so depressed. I was going to the dance with Trunks Briefs. And from there, anything could happen. We might even end up as a couple! But I wasn't excited even though all my childhood fantasies were becoming a reality. I felt lousy and rotten. I felt like a two-timing slut. Something I had been wanting to avoid.
I collapsed on my bed and hugged my pillow, unable to even cry. What on earth was wrong with me?
"What's wrong this time?" Gohan asked, suddenly dropping the pencil he had been tapping on the desk for the past half hour of tutoring. I grinned even in my saddened state. It was no use hiding anything from him.
"Is it something to do with Goten again?" He asked when I didn't reply.
"Partly. I guess." I was resting my head on my elbow, which was propped up against the desk and glancing out the window behind my tutor whenever I got the chance. Gohan was tilting on his chair almost as if he wanted to allow me the view.
"You can tell me. You told me last time you felt bad, remember?"
"Yeah. I guess I can." I mumbled and launched into an explanation of all that had happened since I decided to make it my duty to go to the dance with Trunks.
At first, Gohan laughed when I explained about the flirting with Trunks. But gradually as the story continued, his expression turned solemn and just as saddened as mine. When I finished, the house was filled with bitter silence.
"So....." I asked, unable to bare it. I was expecting him to say something that would make me feel better, but he only laughed, upholding his steady and sorrowful expression.
"Marron, haven't I taught you anything? You are the most intelligent teenager I know, and you are also the most thick headed."
"I wouldn't bet on that. What about Goten?"
"Even Goten is smart enough to realize what's going on." Gohan chuckled to himself, a smile now playing across his face.
"Stop stalling. Tell me what's happening!" I said impatiently.
"It seems as though everyone else in the whole world knows. My parents know, I know, Videl knows, all the Briefs know, your parents know and from what I gather the whole school knows. Even my two year old daughter knows! Now that shows you just how thick you are!"
I was really impatient now. "Knows what? Come on, Gohan, TELL ME!"
"Marron, Goten loves you. He has been in love with you ever since you were both very young children. Ever since then he has fought very hard to try and make you like him, but it has been very hard for him since you spend all your energy on Trunks. For once, he said to me when he was about twelve, I would like her to notice me. He is depressed because now when he has finally made you his friend and thinks he has a chance with you, you rock on over and tell him you want to go out with Trunks. You're suffering from it too now. It's a little feeling called guilt. And what's made it worse is that you haven't even been able to recognize what the feeling is."
He paused to take in much needed air. I was sitting upright now, staring unbelievingly into Gohan's eyes. I could hardly believe it. All these years I've known him, Goten has been in love with me and I've been too thick to realize it. All these years.....
"Delayed shock. I can see it in your face. It seems everyone has known the truth except you."
"My gosh. I've been so cruel. All these years.....when I hated him he took my dislike with such good nature. It must have hurt him so much....."
My eyes were swelling up with tears and Gohan made no movement to stop me when I leapt to my feet, causing the chair behind me to topple over, and ran next door to barged into the house.
"Marron? What's wrong?" Chi-Chi asked hurriedly rushing to meet me.
"Goten. Where is Goten?"
"He's out with his father. Shouldn't be too much longer if you want to wait for him." Chi-Chi raised her eyebrows. "Are you sure you're ok?"
"Yes. I'm fine. But I need to...." I left her and rushed into Goten's empty room. His window was open, letting in a cool spring breeze and forcing my body to released the tension inside of it and I relaxed a little.
His desk chair had been pulled out, almost begging me to sit down on it. Carefully, I sat at the desk and my eyes focused on the book in front of me. It's pages were filled with Goten's jumpy and messy handwriting. Slowly, I picked up the book and began to read.