Last time:
Krillin gave a knowing smile, and turned to get a soda from the kitchen. He didn't make it that far, however, when all three girls toppled him to the floor, demanding to know what he knew.
"I'm not telling," he insisted, struggling to get free, just as Green Dragon walked through the door.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The mock small screen TV stars stared on in utter amazement, their breath caught in their throats, as their four newest friends entered the living room, each wearing an equally puzzling costume. 18's seemed to be the least confusing of them all, however, for she matched Krillin's outfit perfectly; she was the stereotypical sexy nurse, complete with shiny white stilettos and a stethoscope.
Everyone's eyes seemed to drift towards the scrubbed-up doctor, his eyes bulging at the sight of her. Whatever he knew before, he was definitely no expecting this!
"Kami!" Maris suddenly blurted out, startling Bulma/Lucy and Chi-Chi/Samantha. "17, you're Major Healey! How'd you know I was coming as Jeannie!?"
"I received an anonymous, confidential tip," he replied, his voice deeper than usual. "I couldn't let the information reach the wrong hands. I was forced to keep it to myself." He sauntered suavely over to Maris, who couldn't seem to contain her giggles. They were perfect for the costumes they wore. What the hell was keeping them apart!?
Next to draw attention to himself was Goku, who was barely recognizable under his large, hairy outfit.
Chi-Chi couldn't help her howling laughter.
"Ape boy," she chuckled. "I should have known."
Goku was dressed in none other than a common gorilla costume, the only part of him showing were his eyes, from tiny holes in the mask.
"Me Goku," he grunted. "You witch." And with no warning, he hobbled straight for her, scooping her off the ground with his good arm and into the kitchen. Everyone's voices seemed to compete with one another as they laughed, eyes tearing at the hilarious, yet affectionate, display. Everyone, that is, except for Bulma. She could now fully see Vegeta's costume, which astonished her in the first place because he wore one, and secondly because of how amazing he looked.
Vegeta Ouji, of Green Dragon, was attending Bulma Briefs Halloween Party, in the sexiest outfit she could have possibly imagined. He looked as though he was straight from the 1920's, decked out in a three piece pin-striped suit, shiny black shoes, and to top it all off, a matching hat. He was an all out gangster, and he had the smirk to prove it. If it hadn't been obvious who he was—because of his companions—Bulma might not have realized it was him, the debonair and alluring Roaring '20s Gangster, loosely holding a fake Tommy gun at his side.
He stood still for a moment, his eyes making contact with Bulma's, and then, charmingly, he tipped his hat to her and made his way to a chair in the far corner. If her house exploded at that moment, she doubted she'd have noticed.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Kami!" Chi-Chi yelled, pointing at the clock, her perfectly fitted blonde wig now discarded somewhere in Bulma's house. "It's one o'clock in the morning already? I'm not even tired."
"That's how it goes," Bulma laughed. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. Not only did everyone dress up, but all thirty-six people she invited showed up. AND her parents agreed to stay the night at a hotel and let her have the house to herself. Even Yamcha came, though he protested at first.
Bulma glanced over at him, standing against a far wall, punch in hand, talking in Tsuki's ear. They were so absolutely adorable together. Even without the costumes. Yamcha was Robin Hood, and Tsuki came as a bright red crayon, minus the face paint. She always did adore that about her cousin, how she didn't care what others thought so long as she was having fun and everything was getting along. And everyone was having fun tonight. Bulma hadn't heard one complaint about the party, and everyone's faces were all smiles.
Even Vegeta carried a small smile on his lips. And, even if it was only to try to entice her, the way he'd been trying since they met, she didn't care. She liked to see him smile, especially since he was rumored to never smile.
"Having fun?" someone ask him Bulma's ear, their arm snaking around her shoulders. When she looked up it was Major Healey.
"Hey 17," she said, moving over a little on the bench she'd brought up from the storage basement. He obliged and took a seat. "Is this good enough for a wild rock star like you?"
"It'll do," he laughed. "You looked kind of lonesome, sitting over here all by yourself. Thought I'd come see what's going on."
"Nothing. I like to watch other people at my parties, you know, to see if I'm being a good hostess and such. I'll join everyone again in a few minutes."
"I see."
"So, where's Maris? I don't see the other blonde anywhere."
"Bathroom. Apparently it wasn't clear how hot the hot wings were."
"Oh! That's right!" Bulma gasped, then gave way to laughter. "I completely forgot about that…Oh well. You should expect hot wings all the time, I think."
"Well I'm not you," Maris snapped playfully, as she advanced towards them. "My tongue was nearly singed off!"
"Right. Let me see."
She stuck her tongue out, pointing at where she thought she was burnt.
"Wow, we better get you to the Emergency Room!" Bulma laughed, rolling her eyes. "You two behave," she added playfully. "I'm going to join the party now."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"I'm setting ground rules," Bulma said, almost acidly, as she shut her bedroom door and removed her Lucy wig. She shook her hair out a few times before continuing. "No hickies. No groping. No going beneath my clothing. And NO sex. Of any kind. Is that clear?"
Vegeta only laughed from his place on Bulma's bed, leaning back on his hands, his hat somewhere on the floor.
"You have to agree if I'm going to take another step."
"I don't know what it is about you," he said, still laughing. He removed his jacket, revealing that he was wearing suspenders—a major turn-on for Bulma—then rolled up his sleeves to nearly the elbows. "There's something though. I want to bend and break your little safety rules, but I'm not going to. You, woman, are the only girl who can say I've done that for them."
"I'm honored," she snorted sarcastically, finally making her way towards him.
"Why are you so snotty with me?"
"You deserve it."
"I didn't do anything to you."
"Shut up," she sighed, taking a seat on his lap, her arms snaking around his neck. "You're so unattractive when you talk."
"Whoa, whoa, woman. If I didn't know better, I'd say you've picked up something from me."
"Does that bother you?"
But before he could answer, her lips captured his, passionately, her entire body yielding to him for a moment. But she wouldn't allow herself the same weakness she allowed with Yamcha a few weeks back. It was different with Yamcha, her ex-boyfriend for so many years. Vegeta, a famous rock star, and practically a stranger, was not someone she could just "get caught up in the moment with," or so she liked to believe.
"When do you go back to work?" Bulma asked suddenly, pulling her head back. Vegeta almost didn't hear the question.
"When Kakarot can walk," he said quickly, then immediately dove for her neck.
"You make me want to break all the rules," she whispered as he nibbled affectionately on her collarbone.
"They're your rules," he reminded her, placing a small kiss on her chin.
"I know…But if I don't have them, then what do I have?"
"A very capable rock star in your bed."
"You're insufferable."
"Thanks."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Trust me," Chi-Chi said hotly. "No one will come in here. These rooms never get used."
"I hope you're right," Goku breathed. He'd long ago discarded his gorilla outfit, for his plain white tee-shirt and slightly baggy jeans. "I just don't want Bulma to get angry—"
"That's the last thing that could happen. Besides, didn't I see her and Vegeta go upstairs a little while ago?"
"They did!?" For a moment the prospect of what he and Chi-Chi were doing faded into the background.
"Yeah," she laughed. "I guess they think no one knows about their secret affair."
"But Vegeta's always telling me how—excuse my wording—how much of a 'stuck-up prude' she is."
"Bulma!? Right. That'll be the day. She's completely capable in the bedroom. Believe me. I've heard a lot of stories from her about Yamcha. And some from him too."
"Yeah, but Vegeta's a whole different game."
"She can handle herself. Trust me." She then snaked her arms around his waist and tugged him gently into the vacant guestroom, her entire manner seductive and forceful, but careful of his injuries.
They stumbled into the bedroom, kissing each other vigorously the whole way, and removing certain outer garments hastily and a bit clumsily—and Goku's casts were not helping the matter much either. It wasn't until they were positioned on the bed, Chi-Chi lying atop Goku, that he stopped his fevered kissing and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Chi, I can't do this unless—"
"I know," she whispered, knowing exactly what he needed. "Goku, I only want you."
He smiled genuinely up at her and said, "And I only want you."
Neither mentioned it was their first time.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Bulma drove like a bat out of Hell down Highway 9, her only passenger clinging helplessly to his seat. She laughed vociferously as he couldn't force himself to remain calm and "macho" in front of her. And she couldn't believe that not everyone liked to drive this fast. Oh well, at least she didn't have to do this alone.
"So," she said, finally adjusting her speed to nearly match the speed limit. "Did 18 tell you about her meddling?"
"Yeah," 17 said, giving way to a deep sigh of relief. "She really got a verbal lashing from Vegeta and his mother for it too. They were furious. Relieved, but furious."
"About going behind his back?"
"No," he laughed. "About him not being a father. Of course about going behind his back. Mrs. Ouji was only mad for a minute though. She was too excited about the truth to stay mad."
"And Vegeta?"
"I'm told he called Sen right after 18 left and bitched her out too for everything she'd done. But everything is better now. She won't be hanging on our shoulders about her baby and we won't have to worry about the band going down the drain. The thing with Goku's accident we can survive. Fans understand that. He gets bags full of Get Well cards everyday. But Vegeta being a father and abandoning the mother and child? We'd be ruined. Forever…Yeah, even though 18 didn't go about it conventionally, I'm glad she did it. Someone had to."
"She tell you the whole story?"
"What'd you mean?"
"It was Yamcha's idea."
"Your ex?"
"The only one," she grunted. "I still can't believe it. What right does he have meddling in everything? Especially with people he doesn't even know? I don't get it. Sure, he thought he was doing the right thing. But did it ever occur to him that he was doing something wrong?"
"What were his reasons?"
"He said he wanted to get me and Vegeta together, and figured if I knew he wasn't a father, I'd jump him instantly."
"But you didn't?"
"Of course not. What he's done in the past is of no consequence to me. If I wanted to be with him, I'd be with him. Neither of them understand that it's Vegeta that's keeping me from him."
"So you want to be with him?"
"No, I don't. He makes me not want to."
"Oh, I see." There was a long silence, and then 17 broke it with an offhand question. "So, what exactly are we looking for? Besides a birthday present."
"I don't know," Bulma groaned. "My mother is so hard to shop for. Every year I buy her something and she smiles and hugs me, but I never get that huge smile and big eyes. I want to shock her this year."
"Sounds simple," 17 laughed. "And just where do you think you'll find something like that?"
"You'll see…"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Kuso!" Bulma swore, pressing her back against the elevator wall, her hand holding 17 at arm's length away from her. "What the hell was that?"
"Kami," 17 mumbled. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm not yelling at you. Just…What are we doing? You and Maris are…well…you could…"
"I can't talk to her the way I can with you, Bulma. I really like her, Kami, I may even love her, I don't know. But I can't talk to her. I freeze up. I choke. I go stiff. I can't do it."
"And by kissing me you are…what?"
"I like you."
"Oh Kami," Bulma gasped under her breather. "I like you too, 17. But I think we're not right. I mean, I think you and Maris are better for each other. And—"
"You and Vegeta?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you were thinking it."
"How can I possibly have a relationship with that ape?"
"Point taken."
"Look. Let's get out of here. Go to a movie and forget the whole thing, ok?"
"Alright," he sighed, hanging his head. "What movie?"
"Doesn't matter. I just like going to the drive-in."
"A drive-in!?" 17 all but yelled. "Kami! I've always wanted to go to a drive-in!"
"Great," she said with a wide smile. "You'll love it."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The movie was called Desperate Love, a story about two people who can't keep themselves away from each other because they're forced away from the other two people they're truly in love with. Heart-breaking and dark, the story is set in a small town in the 1950's.
But the passengers of Bulma's car didn't see the plot, for they were living it, at that moment, and the movie was only noise in the background.
"Kami," Bulma gasped, her chest heaving, the weight of 17 on top of her confining and exhilarating. So much more forceful than Yamcha, but not so rough as Vegeta. he was the perfect middle. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"
"I've kissed others before," he whispered playfully, blowing on her ear. "I hope that's not a problem for you."
"Not at all," she laughed, pulling his head back down.
Fortunately, however, they realized what they were doing just in time. Bulma's simple button-up white shirt was completely open, and her fingers were still holding 17's zipper, which was halfway down, when they both stopped their ministrations and moved away from each other. Bulma quickly buttoned her shirt back up, and 17 zipped his pants, a hot red blush painted on both their cheeks.
17 was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, turning his head away.
"Don't be. It was both of us."
"Not just that," he sighed. "I…I gave you a hickey."
"What!?" Bulma roared, grabbing frantically at the visor mirror as she tried to scramble back into the front seat. "Kuso…Oh well. It's getting colder. I can wear a turtleneck without people being suspicious."
"What're we going to do?"
"We're going to build your confidence, that's what we're going to do."
"Excuse me?"
"With Maris. I'm going to help you talk to her."
"Bulma, I don't think—"
"It's worth a try."
"Why are you so convinced that me and you aren't right for each other?"
"Because," she sighed. "I lied before…I do want to be with Vegeta…I just…"
"Can't bring yourself to be put in a situation like that?"
"Like what?"
"Of being hurt."
"Yeah…"
"We're not going to tell anyone about this, are we?"
"Kami no! Do you have any idea how many people we'd piss off?"
"True."
"Now let's shut up and watch the rest of the movie."
"Great idea."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
---Chapter 18! Oh yeah! Alright! Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! Now I KNOW this one is going to get me some interesting reviews :D Let's hope they're all good.
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reviews=More Chapters) …I'm like George Washington…I cannot tell a lie.
Next time: BAAAAAAAAH! Too much! Too much! Must…keep…secret…
Note: Lazy…blah…blah…
Doesn't it just erk you that Bulma and 17 got farther than her and Vegeta? Grrrrrrrrrrowl!
Krillin gave a knowing smile, and turned to get a soda from the kitchen. He didn't make it that far, however, when all three girls toppled him to the floor, demanding to know what he knew.
"I'm not telling," he insisted, struggling to get free, just as Green Dragon walked through the door.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The mock small screen TV stars stared on in utter amazement, their breath caught in their throats, as their four newest friends entered the living room, each wearing an equally puzzling costume. 18's seemed to be the least confusing of them all, however, for she matched Krillin's outfit perfectly; she was the stereotypical sexy nurse, complete with shiny white stilettos and a stethoscope.
Everyone's eyes seemed to drift towards the scrubbed-up doctor, his eyes bulging at the sight of her. Whatever he knew before, he was definitely no expecting this!
"Kami!" Maris suddenly blurted out, startling Bulma/Lucy and Chi-Chi/Samantha. "17, you're Major Healey! How'd you know I was coming as Jeannie!?"
"I received an anonymous, confidential tip," he replied, his voice deeper than usual. "I couldn't let the information reach the wrong hands. I was forced to keep it to myself." He sauntered suavely over to Maris, who couldn't seem to contain her giggles. They were perfect for the costumes they wore. What the hell was keeping them apart!?
Next to draw attention to himself was Goku, who was barely recognizable under his large, hairy outfit.
Chi-Chi couldn't help her howling laughter.
"Ape boy," she chuckled. "I should have known."
Goku was dressed in none other than a common gorilla costume, the only part of him showing were his eyes, from tiny holes in the mask.
"Me Goku," he grunted. "You witch." And with no warning, he hobbled straight for her, scooping her off the ground with his good arm and into the kitchen. Everyone's voices seemed to compete with one another as they laughed, eyes tearing at the hilarious, yet affectionate, display. Everyone, that is, except for Bulma. She could now fully see Vegeta's costume, which astonished her in the first place because he wore one, and secondly because of how amazing he looked.
Vegeta Ouji, of Green Dragon, was attending Bulma Briefs Halloween Party, in the sexiest outfit she could have possibly imagined. He looked as though he was straight from the 1920's, decked out in a three piece pin-striped suit, shiny black shoes, and to top it all off, a matching hat. He was an all out gangster, and he had the smirk to prove it. If it hadn't been obvious who he was—because of his companions—Bulma might not have realized it was him, the debonair and alluring Roaring '20s Gangster, loosely holding a fake Tommy gun at his side.
He stood still for a moment, his eyes making contact with Bulma's, and then, charmingly, he tipped his hat to her and made his way to a chair in the far corner. If her house exploded at that moment, she doubted she'd have noticed.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Kami!" Chi-Chi yelled, pointing at the clock, her perfectly fitted blonde wig now discarded somewhere in Bulma's house. "It's one o'clock in the morning already? I'm not even tired."
"That's how it goes," Bulma laughed. She was thoroughly enjoying herself. Not only did everyone dress up, but all thirty-six people she invited showed up. AND her parents agreed to stay the night at a hotel and let her have the house to herself. Even Yamcha came, though he protested at first.
Bulma glanced over at him, standing against a far wall, punch in hand, talking in Tsuki's ear. They were so absolutely adorable together. Even without the costumes. Yamcha was Robin Hood, and Tsuki came as a bright red crayon, minus the face paint. She always did adore that about her cousin, how she didn't care what others thought so long as she was having fun and everything was getting along. And everyone was having fun tonight. Bulma hadn't heard one complaint about the party, and everyone's faces were all smiles.
Even Vegeta carried a small smile on his lips. And, even if it was only to try to entice her, the way he'd been trying since they met, she didn't care. She liked to see him smile, especially since he was rumored to never smile.
"Having fun?" someone ask him Bulma's ear, their arm snaking around her shoulders. When she looked up it was Major Healey.
"Hey 17," she said, moving over a little on the bench she'd brought up from the storage basement. He obliged and took a seat. "Is this good enough for a wild rock star like you?"
"It'll do," he laughed. "You looked kind of lonesome, sitting over here all by yourself. Thought I'd come see what's going on."
"Nothing. I like to watch other people at my parties, you know, to see if I'm being a good hostess and such. I'll join everyone again in a few minutes."
"I see."
"So, where's Maris? I don't see the other blonde anywhere."
"Bathroom. Apparently it wasn't clear how hot the hot wings were."
"Oh! That's right!" Bulma gasped, then gave way to laughter. "I completely forgot about that…Oh well. You should expect hot wings all the time, I think."
"Well I'm not you," Maris snapped playfully, as she advanced towards them. "My tongue was nearly singed off!"
"Right. Let me see."
She stuck her tongue out, pointing at where she thought she was burnt.
"Wow, we better get you to the Emergency Room!" Bulma laughed, rolling her eyes. "You two behave," she added playfully. "I'm going to join the party now."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"I'm setting ground rules," Bulma said, almost acidly, as she shut her bedroom door and removed her Lucy wig. She shook her hair out a few times before continuing. "No hickies. No groping. No going beneath my clothing. And NO sex. Of any kind. Is that clear?"
Vegeta only laughed from his place on Bulma's bed, leaning back on his hands, his hat somewhere on the floor.
"You have to agree if I'm going to take another step."
"I don't know what it is about you," he said, still laughing. He removed his jacket, revealing that he was wearing suspenders—a major turn-on for Bulma—then rolled up his sleeves to nearly the elbows. "There's something though. I want to bend and break your little safety rules, but I'm not going to. You, woman, are the only girl who can say I've done that for them."
"I'm honored," she snorted sarcastically, finally making her way towards him.
"Why are you so snotty with me?"
"You deserve it."
"I didn't do anything to you."
"Shut up," she sighed, taking a seat on his lap, her arms snaking around his neck. "You're so unattractive when you talk."
"Whoa, whoa, woman. If I didn't know better, I'd say you've picked up something from me."
"Does that bother you?"
But before he could answer, her lips captured his, passionately, her entire body yielding to him for a moment. But she wouldn't allow herself the same weakness she allowed with Yamcha a few weeks back. It was different with Yamcha, her ex-boyfriend for so many years. Vegeta, a famous rock star, and practically a stranger, was not someone she could just "get caught up in the moment with," or so she liked to believe.
"When do you go back to work?" Bulma asked suddenly, pulling her head back. Vegeta almost didn't hear the question.
"When Kakarot can walk," he said quickly, then immediately dove for her neck.
"You make me want to break all the rules," she whispered as he nibbled affectionately on her collarbone.
"They're your rules," he reminded her, placing a small kiss on her chin.
"I know…But if I don't have them, then what do I have?"
"A very capable rock star in your bed."
"You're insufferable."
"Thanks."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Trust me," Chi-Chi said hotly. "No one will come in here. These rooms never get used."
"I hope you're right," Goku breathed. He'd long ago discarded his gorilla outfit, for his plain white tee-shirt and slightly baggy jeans. "I just don't want Bulma to get angry—"
"That's the last thing that could happen. Besides, didn't I see her and Vegeta go upstairs a little while ago?"
"They did!?" For a moment the prospect of what he and Chi-Chi were doing faded into the background.
"Yeah," she laughed. "I guess they think no one knows about their secret affair."
"But Vegeta's always telling me how—excuse my wording—how much of a 'stuck-up prude' she is."
"Bulma!? Right. That'll be the day. She's completely capable in the bedroom. Believe me. I've heard a lot of stories from her about Yamcha. And some from him too."
"Yeah, but Vegeta's a whole different game."
"She can handle herself. Trust me." She then snaked her arms around his waist and tugged him gently into the vacant guestroom, her entire manner seductive and forceful, but careful of his injuries.
They stumbled into the bedroom, kissing each other vigorously the whole way, and removing certain outer garments hastily and a bit clumsily—and Goku's casts were not helping the matter much either. It wasn't until they were positioned on the bed, Chi-Chi lying atop Goku, that he stopped his fevered kissing and looked her straight in the eyes.
"Chi, I can't do this unless—"
"I know," she whispered, knowing exactly what he needed. "Goku, I only want you."
He smiled genuinely up at her and said, "And I only want you."
Neither mentioned it was their first time.
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Bulma drove like a bat out of Hell down Highway 9, her only passenger clinging helplessly to his seat. She laughed vociferously as he couldn't force himself to remain calm and "macho" in front of her. And she couldn't believe that not everyone liked to drive this fast. Oh well, at least she didn't have to do this alone.
"So," she said, finally adjusting her speed to nearly match the speed limit. "Did 18 tell you about her meddling?"
"Yeah," 17 said, giving way to a deep sigh of relief. "She really got a verbal lashing from Vegeta and his mother for it too. They were furious. Relieved, but furious."
"About going behind his back?"
"No," he laughed. "About him not being a father. Of course about going behind his back. Mrs. Ouji was only mad for a minute though. She was too excited about the truth to stay mad."
"And Vegeta?"
"I'm told he called Sen right after 18 left and bitched her out too for everything she'd done. But everything is better now. She won't be hanging on our shoulders about her baby and we won't have to worry about the band going down the drain. The thing with Goku's accident we can survive. Fans understand that. He gets bags full of Get Well cards everyday. But Vegeta being a father and abandoning the mother and child? We'd be ruined. Forever…Yeah, even though 18 didn't go about it conventionally, I'm glad she did it. Someone had to."
"She tell you the whole story?"
"What'd you mean?"
"It was Yamcha's idea."
"Your ex?"
"The only one," she grunted. "I still can't believe it. What right does he have meddling in everything? Especially with people he doesn't even know? I don't get it. Sure, he thought he was doing the right thing. But did it ever occur to him that he was doing something wrong?"
"What were his reasons?"
"He said he wanted to get me and Vegeta together, and figured if I knew he wasn't a father, I'd jump him instantly."
"But you didn't?"
"Of course not. What he's done in the past is of no consequence to me. If I wanted to be with him, I'd be with him. Neither of them understand that it's Vegeta that's keeping me from him."
"So you want to be with him?"
"No, I don't. He makes me not want to."
"Oh, I see." There was a long silence, and then 17 broke it with an offhand question. "So, what exactly are we looking for? Besides a birthday present."
"I don't know," Bulma groaned. "My mother is so hard to shop for. Every year I buy her something and she smiles and hugs me, but I never get that huge smile and big eyes. I want to shock her this year."
"Sounds simple," 17 laughed. "And just where do you think you'll find something like that?"
"You'll see…"
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
"Kuso!" Bulma swore, pressing her back against the elevator wall, her hand holding 17 at arm's length away from her. "What the hell was that?"
"Kami," 17 mumbled. "I'm sorry."
"No, I'm not yelling at you. Just…What are we doing? You and Maris are…well…you could…"
"I can't talk to her the way I can with you, Bulma. I really like her, Kami, I may even love her, I don't know. But I can't talk to her. I freeze up. I choke. I go stiff. I can't do it."
"And by kissing me you are…what?"
"I like you."
"Oh Kami," Bulma gasped under her breather. "I like you too, 17. But I think we're not right. I mean, I think you and Maris are better for each other. And—"
"You and Vegeta?"
"I didn't say that."
"But you were thinking it."
"How can I possibly have a relationship with that ape?"
"Point taken."
"Look. Let's get out of here. Go to a movie and forget the whole thing, ok?"
"Alright," he sighed, hanging his head. "What movie?"
"Doesn't matter. I just like going to the drive-in."
"A drive-in!?" 17 all but yelled. "Kami! I've always wanted to go to a drive-in!"
"Great," she said with a wide smile. "You'll love it."
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
The movie was called Desperate Love, a story about two people who can't keep themselves away from each other because they're forced away from the other two people they're truly in love with. Heart-breaking and dark, the story is set in a small town in the 1950's.
But the passengers of Bulma's car didn't see the plot, for they were living it, at that moment, and the movie was only noise in the background.
"Kami," Bulma gasped, her chest heaving, the weight of 17 on top of her confining and exhilarating. So much more forceful than Yamcha, but not so rough as Vegeta. he was the perfect middle. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?"
"I've kissed others before," he whispered playfully, blowing on her ear. "I hope that's not a problem for you."
"Not at all," she laughed, pulling his head back down.
Fortunately, however, they realized what they were doing just in time. Bulma's simple button-up white shirt was completely open, and her fingers were still holding 17's zipper, which was halfway down, when they both stopped their ministrations and moved away from each other. Bulma quickly buttoned her shirt back up, and 17 zipped his pants, a hot red blush painted on both their cheeks.
17 was the first to speak.
"I'm sorry," he whispered, turning his head away.
"Don't be. It was both of us."
"Not just that," he sighed. "I…I gave you a hickey."
"What!?" Bulma roared, grabbing frantically at the visor mirror as she tried to scramble back into the front seat. "Kuso…Oh well. It's getting colder. I can wear a turtleneck without people being suspicious."
"What're we going to do?"
"We're going to build your confidence, that's what we're going to do."
"Excuse me?"
"With Maris. I'm going to help you talk to her."
"Bulma, I don't think—"
"It's worth a try."
"Why are you so convinced that me and you aren't right for each other?"
"Because," she sighed. "I lied before…I do want to be with Vegeta…I just…"
"Can't bring yourself to be put in a situation like that?"
"Like what?"
"Of being hurt."
"Yeah…"
"We're not going to tell anyone about this, are we?"
"Kami no! Do you have any idea how many people we'd piss off?"
"True."
"Now let's shut up and watch the rest of the movie."
"Great idea."
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
---Chapter 18! Oh yeah! Alright! Oh yeah, yeah, yeah! Now I KNOW this one is going to get me some interesting reviews :D Let's hope they're all good.
REVIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Reviews=More Chapters) …I'm like George Washington…I cannot tell a lie.
Next time: BAAAAAAAAH! Too much! Too much! Must…keep…secret…
Note: Lazy…blah…blah…
Doesn't it just erk you that Bulma and 17 got farther than her and Vegeta? Grrrrrrrrrrowl!