The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret

--Wonder What's Next--

Bra looked at her mother strangely. "Are you still talking about a wedding? We're not even officially boyfriend and girlfriend yet."

"You may as well be. I can't believe you're finally going on your first date this weekend! I'm so excited!" Bulma exclaimed.

The woman was acting as if SHE were the one going on the date.

"The part I don't understand is why Dad came to his senses all of a sudden and gave us permission to start seeing each other," Bra said. Maybe her father had finally accepted that she was no longer his baby girl.

"Well, you know your father. He does some of the strangest things for the strangest reasons sometimes," Bulma told her.

Bra frowned. "I don't know. Maybe he did it so we'd let our guard down. Then when the moment is right, he'll make his move."

Bulma smiled. "Knowing how your father is, he'll probably never tell us why he gave you permission to see Goten. I think he just likes to be a big mystery."

Bra shrugged and checked the time. Uh, oh. She was about to be late for school. "I gotta go, Mom. I'll see you tonight." She hurried out of the house. She wasn't sure why she'd stuck around to talk to her mother anyway. Normally she just headed straight out of the house. Maybe things in her life were starting to turn around. Maybe she was learning to accept her mother's love of conversation. Maybe she was even learning to converse more as well.

--soon--

Class had already started. She couldn't believe she was late to this class. Her most important class. She walked into the classroom and looked at Goten.

"Welcome to class, Bra," Goten said. He looked at his clock. "You're 5 minutes late. That means you owe me some time in detention this afternoon," he added sternly. He wrote something in his grade book.

Bra looked confused. What was his deal today? He let everybody else slide on how late they came to class. Why was he giving her a hard time about it? She took her usual seat.

"Hey, Bra," Pan whispered from behind her.

If Pan kept this up, she'd probably get into even more trouble. "I'd rather not talk right now, Pan," Bra whispered.

"Come on. I wanna talk about what happened yesterday," Pan said quietly.

"I've already got detention. I don't want to get in any more--" Bra began.

"The ladies in the back corner over there like chatting, I see. Well, I was going to give you a 25-question multiple choice test tomorrow, but I see I'm going to have to change that," Goten announced. "I think I'll make it a 25-question fill-in-the-blank test with 4 short essay questions."

Everyone in the class groaned and gave Bra and Pan dirty looks.

Was Goten okay? He seemed irritable. Almost angry. She'd have to get an explanation after class.

In the mean time, she would have to return a threatening look to the rest of the class. Had they forgotten who she was? The students who had given her the looks now looked frightened and turned their attention back to their teacher. Yep. That was more like it. Bra smiled to herself.

--later--

"Now, don't forget to study tonight for that test tomorrow. It's your first test, so don't take it too lightly," Goten said to the class. He began erasing the blackboard.

As the rest of the students left the class, Bra just sat in her seat. Pan gave her one last look before leaving the room.

They were alone now. She was free to say anything that was on her mind, but she hesitated. There was something that kept her from asking all the questions that she wanted to ask. She should feel comfortable talking to Goten about anything, yet she wasn't able to speak for some reason.

When Goten finished erasing the board, he kept his back turned to Bra. "Something was bothering me last night. I couldn't get it out of my head...." He paused for a while.

Bra only sat silently and waited for him to continue.

Goten folded his arms across his chest. "Why was everyone there when Vegeta showed up?" He finally turned to look at her. "I mean, Trunks, Pan, even Marron was there. What was up with that?"

Bra was speechless. She wasn't sure what she should say. It should probably be the truth. But how could she say it. He was already acting strangely today. She didn't want to upset him, so she stayed quiet for a moment.

Goten sighed. "Okay, I'll ask it this way: Were you all following me when I went out with Paris?"

She couldn't seem to find her voice, so she just nodded instead.

Goten nodded. "And WHY were you all following me when I went out with Paris?"

She would have to speak in order to answer that question. Upon looking at him, she saw the seriousness on his face. She hated to see that look on his face. Especially when it was directed toward her. "I just wanted to.... The truth is.... I was jealous, okay?"

"Jealous? Why would you be jealous?" Goten asked.

Bra began to fidget a little. "Well--"

Before she was even able to explain herself, Paris came through the door. She was always right on time.

"Alright, Goten. I know how we can get through this," Paris said. Greeting neither Goten nor Bra, the red-head continued. "All you have to do is get custody of the baby and then WE can raise him together." She smiled. "How does that sound?"

Bra was slowly coming to a boil.

Goten looked at Paris strangely. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about raising that baby ourselves," Paris explained. "Then maybe we can give him some little brothers and sisters."

Bra was almost certain that Paris was talking about marriage and procreation. Was this woman asking Goten to marry her? She wasn't really sure how to react to any of this.

And obviously Goten wasn't either. He just stood there giving Paris a confused look. Then after a few minutes he finally spoke up. "Paris, that's not gonna happen. For one thing, that wasn't my child. For another thing, you and I were just going out as friends. I think you've misunderstood our relationship."

Paris looked angry. "What are you telling me, Goten?"

"I'm telling you that I don't think we should see each other anymore," Goten told her.

Paris gasped. "I can't believe this. You're breaking up with me again? I came to work at this school because I knew you were working here. I wanted a second chance with you. Why are you dumping me?"

"I'm dumping you because you're crazy," Goten said, nodding.

Bra had to stifle a laugh. This was all too funny for her to leave now. The bell for her next class rang about five minutes ago, but she didn't care today. One of her wishes was coming true right before her eyes.

"I don't understand," Paris whined. Tears had formed in her eyes.

"Well, let me break it down for you. You don't trust me. You think I have a child that I don't have. If you don't have trust in a relationship, there IS no relationship," Goten explained. "I don't want to be with someone who doesn't trust me. And I don't want you to be with someone you don't trust."

"Wait. I trust you Goten. If you say that baby isn't yours, then it isn't yours," Paris said, wide-eyed. "I believe you."

Goten gave Paris an irritated look. "We're done! It's over! Get outta my face!"

Paris began to weep and ran out of the classroom.

Bra raised an eyebrow.

Goten watched Paris leave. "Gosh. I kinda feel bad for her now. Maybe I was too harsh."

That was Goten. Even after cutting ties with Psycho Paris, he was thinking about her welfare. Bra sighed dreamily.

He turned to Bra. "Think I should go and apologize?"

Bra could only shrug. She never understood the Sons and their sympathies. SHE tried her best not to harbor such unnecessary emotions. But it must have been the human side that kept those feelings around sometimes. Right now was NOT one of those times. That woman was her enemy. She wouldn't take pity on her just because Goten would.

Goten looked at Bra for a while. Then he sighed. "You're missing all of your second period class. You're almost 15 minutes late." He began writing her out a pass.

"I thought we were gonna talk," Bra said.

"We can talk during detention. Don't forget that you have to come by after school," Goten reminded her. He gave her a very serious look.

Bra's heart stalled. She wasn't sure if he was angry at her or if he was just in a bad mood today. She hoped it was the latter of the two because she wasn't sure if she could deal with Goten being angry at her. Right now, it just seemed like he had it out for her.

--after school--

"Hey, Bra! Wait up! I wanna talk to you!" Pan called.

Bra was closing her locker when Pan showed up by her side. She just looked at her friend.

"What's going on? Uncle Goten's been really weird today. Did you find out anything?" Pan asked. She looked genuinely concerned.

Bra sighed. "I think he's mad at us for following him yesterday. I didn't get to talk to him very much." She looked toward Goten's classroom. "But he said he'd talk to me during detention." She was surprised that she was telling Pan this much. She usually kept things like this to herself. Normally, anyone who wanted to know something would have to find out on his or her own. But today, Bra was feeling generous.

Pan looked toward Goten's classroom also. "Well, I'd hate for you to keep him waiting. He's in a bad mood as it is. I'll call you tonight."

"Okay." Bra waved to Pan as she jogged down the hall toward the exit. Her heart was pounding now. She couldn't be sure what she should expect in a situation like this. She wasn't used to seeing Goten with this kind of attitude. She was used to footloose and fancy-free Goten, not this bitter Goten. He was too serious. He was almost acting like her father. She'd always had a lot of respect for Goten, but after seeing him today, it would definitely jump up a notch.

--End Wonder What's Next--

--It's true. I said that this was going to be the last episode. But I lied. There aren't many episodes left though. I'm just gonna TRY not to lie about when the last one is going to be again.

--Tell me what you think. This turn of events seems a little out of place to me. What's going to happen? Why is Goten all of a sudden so angry? Does he have reason to be?

--Thank you for reading this episode of Versus 2. And thanks again for all the reviews and all the support during these hard times. You are my inspiration.