A/n: Read & Enjoy
Warning(s): SC, AC, AL, Social Criticism. Not mature enough…don't read!
Disclaimer: Nope. Don't own 'em!
Fame
18's House - Day before Mayes
"Let's put this box under there" Krillin signaled as he stood in front of the trunk of 18's car with the last box of objects she had packed up to take to aunt Mayes. He had spoken to Raditz who had oddly appeared at the last minute to help out claiming there would be too much stuff to bring in the car and too little people to do it. Krillin, of course, couldn't help but to appreciate that his taller friend had decided to lend them a hand. Being indeed a lot of stuff to carry the more people there were the better.
Raditz lifted up the TV making space for the box on Krillin's hands. Krillin pushed the box under it then the guys let out tired breaths taking a seat on the back part of the car to take a break
"Whew! We've been loading this car up for almost three hours" Krillin said swiping his forehead with the back of his hand. Raditz nodded
"Yeah at least we know she has everything" he said the guys chuckling at the comment. Krillin shook his head
"Man. It's been a while since we've all seen her, huh?"
"Sure been. Is she still a painter?" Raditz asked curious. Krillin nodded
"Yeah still lives with that passion. I tell you I could use a bit of that right now" he lowered his head. Raditz stared at him, yet remained silent. He took a deep breath
"Me too…"
18 watched the guys through the window from the inside her house. She had to clear out these mixed up feelings. There was no way she had the heart to break them apart but she couldn't ignore it and act like nothing was going on either. The blonde girl exited the house determined directed to the guys seating on her car
"Hey guys" she greeted with her beautiful smile. Both guys looked at her with the same yearning. She ignored the reaction
"Krillin can you to go to the store and buy some more batteries?" she asked sweetly. Krillin nodded
"Sure"
"Here's the money" she handed him a twenty "try to be back before dinner at seven" she added. Krillin nodded again smiling at her cutely
"Alright later" he took off to his car parked in front of 18's. After a while he was gone leaving 18 and Raditz alone.
"Moving out?" Raditz joked signaling the stuff behind him. 18 faked a smile taking a seat beside him
"Funny" she said with a dull tone "I, unlike you, want to make sure that I have everything I need with me" she said. He shook his head
"I realize that. What do you want a blow dryer for, though-"
"You went through my stuff?" 18 cut him off alarmed. Raditz shook his head nervously
"N-No. I-I. You can see through the bag" he confessed. She rolled her eyes
"Whatever. You liar" she smiled at him. Raditz sighed
"Now why do I have to be that?" he asked with his comfortable grin. 18 narrowed her eyes at him
"Please! Don't act like you're offended by my harmless name-calling"
"Who said it was harmless?"
"You said it!" she assured "you said with a scoff and I quote, 'who do you think is going to be hurt by such harmless insults'. Now, I recall this conversation taking place somewhere between yesterday and last week" she added. Raditz stared at her
"I don't remember saying it therefore your accusation is impractical"
"Vocabulary words I'm impressed" 18 stated with an arched brow. He nodded
"Yeah I figured next week everyone's gonna be studying for the upcoming PSAT's and no one will have time for me so I decided, hell, why not do some studying of my own, you know?" he shrugged. 18 nodded
"There you go. I think that's a great idea considering that the PSAT's do determine a big chunk of your life like, say, your future?" she asked ironically. He nodded
"Well it's too late for me to sink down in the books and lose my head over it but I can make a decent grade on it. I don't wanna be the lowest score" he said confidently. 18 gave him a skeptic look
"I don't think so Raditz Sayian. You're gonna need help" she said
"I know. I don't think I can find a volunteer that is willing to help me by now though" he said sounding defeated. The blonde female stared at him
"Is the position still open?" she asked. Raditz smirked
"Depends"
"On what?" she rolled her eyes. He sighed
"Blackmail negotiations are off the market" he said. 18 tsked
"Come on I wasn't going to blackmail you for this one. I was willing to help you out, as my friend, considering that you do find yourself in a life or death situation right now. Well at least for me it is" she said. Raditz stared at her
"What if I wasn't your friend? Would you still help me out?" he asked. 18 locked eyes with him
"What do you mean?" she asked naïvely. Raditz sighed. How to give her a clue?
"I mean if I was some football jock that needed the help-"
"No. I think that unfamiliar football jocks can find their own help" 18 said arrogantly her nose high up in the air. Raditz chuckled scratching the back of his head
"That's pretty crude there, blondie"
"I don't care. They have to be responsible too. Just because they win the national title doesn't mean they don't have to study" she crossed her arms on her chest. Raditz sighed
"What if I was a normal guy that had a crush on you?" he gave another example. 18's face became pale. What she had feared the most was happening right before her and what was worse there was no will in her to stop it
"What are you talking about?-"
"What if I" he leaned in so his face was close to hers "was a guy" he cupped her face in his hands "that was falling in love with you" he kissed her. 18 wanted to pull away at first. Fear replaced the blood in her veins rushing through her body all at once. Had someone seen it? Where was Krillin? What was he thinking? What was SHE thinking? Another second went by and it became the sweetest emotion in her heart. She felt tense but comfortable. Her stomach tickled, her eyes went blind. A sense of completeness filled her fully; the moment she couldn't describe it in just one word. All she knew was that she wanted it to go on. His lips had the essence unleashed from heaven, strange and concealed innocence, purity. The kiss was blissful
Raditz pulled away his lips remaining close to hers. They opened their eyes at the same time their trembling breaths going into each others faces. She frowned
"What the hell are you doing?" she pushed him away standing from the car "have you completely lost your mind?" she asked astonished. Raditz breathed out yet remained silent. She turned on her heel and began walking away from him
"Wait-" his voice finally came out but the feisty female didn't give him a second to speak as she spoke again
"Do you have any idea of what could've happened if he saw us?" she asked alarmed. Raditz frowned
"What does he have to do with it 18? It's over. It's been over for more than a month-"
"What the hell do you know-?"
"I know that you should stop living in the past and look in front of you! You wanted someone to realize what you're worth, someone to realize who you truly are and still love you. I'm standing right here" he spread his arms. 18 swallowed furrowing her brows. Just then Krillin pulled in around the corner making both of them turn to look at him. 18 turned to Raditz immediately
"We're not talking about this right now-"
"Fine!"
"Fine!"
"Are you guys arguing again?" Krillin interrupted stepping out of his car. 18 rolled her eyes walking towards Krillin
"Yes..."
Bulma's House - Day Before Mayes
"… and last but not least this bathroom needs a little color too. See how it used to be a pastel greenish and it turned into a gray? Yes, I want light lime on it now" Bulma's mother showed Vegeta around the house paying more attention to the rooms and areas that needed a little paint here and color touch-ups there. Vegeta followed with prideful steps his arms crossed over his chest and an infuriated frown on his face. Bulma ignored him. He was in one of 'those' days. No one could stand him then…
"So the total of the rooms would be twenty four" the blonde lady calculated "you need twenty hours so if you spend two hours on twelve rooms the first week and two hours on the other twelve the second week you will get the job and the hours done. My, well isn't that great!" she giggled excited. Vegeta remained emotionless. Bulma rolled her eyes at him
"That's awesome mom" she turned to him "you enroll next week Monday" she smiled. He grunted at her. Bulma's mother giggled again breaking the spiteful looks they were giving to each other
"Well, I have to go check on your father" she grabbed the youngster's attention "dinner will be served in an hour. You will be our special guest, Vegeta Ouji!" she said joyfully walking past Bulma and disappearing a few steps out the corner. A deep silence surrounded their small area. Vegeta turned to Bulma
"You didn't say I had to-"
"I didn't know" she cut the explanation short. He let out an angry breath
"Just great!" he grumbled. Bulma sighed
"If you don't want to stay I'll talk to my mother and tell her. It's no big deal" she suggested. Vegeta frowned at her but held his words. Bulma crossed her arms across her chest now
"Do you want to stay or not?" she asked. He looked to the side angered. She stared at him with her serious frame
"Yes or no Vegeta?" she asked again. Of course Vegeta wanted to say no but it was too damn obvious she was expecting him to say yes. There was really no escape from this one
"Fine if you don't answer in the next five seconds you're staying" Bulma informed clearly. He looked at her incredibly pissed
"You're evil-"
"Treacherous" she half smiled at him giving him a short peck on the cheek "it'll be good. I promise…"
Chichi's House - A Day before Mayes
"Goku…" Chichi breathed hard as Goku devoured the bare skin of her neck the couple having a hot make out session on the couch inside the living room. Goku laid in between her legs his hands roaming the outer part of her thighs mildly rough while his lips took possession of her. Chichi entangled a hand in his hair embracing his neck with the other one to keep from falling off the couch. The phone rang. They opened their eyes at the same time. Chichi let out a breath in disappointment
"Damn it" she cursed extending her hand over her head and picking up the phone. Goku panted barely levitating the upper part of his body above hers with his broad arms. He stared at her as she talked
"The house is pretty close by the lake. Yes. Oh it's beautiful. You're gonna love it in the morning. Yes. Well bring bug spray there are a lot of bugs there" she turned to Goku placing a hand over the lower part of the receiver and mouthing the words
"Bulma" so he knew who she was talking to. Goku smirked leaning running kisses down her jawbone. Chichi turned her face making his lips wander to her neck as she tried to maintain concentration on the phone conversation. He returned to her jawbone kissing the skin there then ran his lips up until reaching her lips. The couple shared a smooth kiss which basically gave an end to the phone conversation
"I gotta go, Bulma. Talk to you later" she hung up cupping Goku's face in her hands and performing a second smooth kiss as they reengaged in their make-out session…
Bulma's House - A Special Guest for Dinner
"That was weird" Bulma stared at the phone puzzled. She stood from on top of Vegeta placing the phone on the headset beside her bed. The couple was resting on her bed comfortably Bulma on top of Vegeta as if he was the bed. Vegeta pulled her back down as she struggled to keep seated
"Vegeta come on" she complained with a tired expression. He let go of her leaving her to sit on top of him with her back facing him. The male clenched his arms behind his head relaxed watching her brush her hair with her fingers softly
"This is all your fault" she protested "you could've been more useful. I don't even know what to take to aunt Mayes" she added. Vegeta breathed angrily
"I told you all I know" he replied gruffly. Bulma scoffed
"You mean the one thing you know? That the house is by the lake? Is that it?" she mocked. Vegeta shrugged his shoulders
"I don't think you need more than that" he said
"Oh really? Based on what? That the only thing you know is something that everyone is expected to know considering that the invitation did specify the words 'lake' and 'by the house?'" she asked ironically. He grunted
"Call the witch then" he said irritated. Bulma tsked lifting her body up and turning on him so she could face him. She sat back down
"I love your mood days. They're so great" she faked enthusiasm. He frowned at her
"I have to handle your mood days, your monthly bleeding days-"
"It's called period" she giggled at his lack of sensibleness. He shuddered
"Scary" he described taking her small waist in between his hands. Bulma placed her hands on his stomach feeling his muscles stiffen under her touch. She smiled sliding her hands under his tank top softly his velvety skin growing goosebumps as she did so
"You know?" she started locking her hands around his unclothed neck. Her thumbs caressed his jawbone as Vegeta ran his hands through her arms caressing her exposed shoulders subtly. His hands then traveled to her back going under her flimsy top with his burning touch and caressing the skin on the lower part of her back. Bulma positioned her face on top of his leaning in to cover his lips with hers
"We need to discuss something" she whispered on his lips running her hands down his body again. Vegeta groaned a little trying to hold out the sudden discomfort that hastily turned into graceful strokes as his body grew used to her
"What?" he asked in a whisper as well. Bulma pressed her body tight against his making him hold his breath. Was she doing this on purpose?
"Well" her hands reached the rim of his pants. She played with it as he struggled to keep control of himself "in a clear word" she kissed him "sex" she finished sliding her hand down on him while kissing him fervently. Vegeta grabbed her hand hard breaking the kiss
"Stop" he said in a serious voice. Bulma furrowed her brows
"Why?"
"Your mother's coming" he could hear the lady walking up the steps. Bulma smiled
"So?" she asked returning to his lips. A couple of knocks on the door interrupted their little 'fun'
"Dinner's ready" the lady's voice called waiting on the door for a response. Bulma let out an exasperated breath
"Coming!" she said loudly so her mother would head off. As soon as the lady head back down the stairs they turned to each other. Bulma smiled at him while he smirked
"We have to go eat" she kissed him "I'm not hungry though" she breathed on his lips. Vegeta cupped her face in his hands
"Me either" he kissed her. Bulma broke the kiss narrowing her eyes at him
"There is no way you're escaping dinner" she called the bluff. Vegeta frowned
"Fuck…"
18's House - Dinner
18 and Raditz sat across one another while 17 sat beside Raditz and Krillin beside 18. Not a word was spoken. The blonde haired female refused to look up from her plate guilt written all over her face. Raditz would look at her from time to time somewhere between angry and confused just like she was. 17 didn't even pay attention to them. As long as he ate something everything else didn't matter. Krillin was aware of the tense environment though he couldn't quite place what was the cause of it. It was thick enough to see it. He decided to break the silence. It would make the dinner more enjoyable
"I saw Yamcha at the store" he said. 18 looked up at him
"Really? Why was he there?" she asked continuing the topic. Raditz stared at her with an intensely. She looked at him momentarily then turned away sliding a strand of her hair behind her ear
"He works there" Krillin informed. 18 nodded
"Oh wow. I didn't know Yamcha had an actual job" she looked at Raditz again. Raditz kept staring at her with the same fervor. Some would say that he looked like a jealous boyfriend, others that he looked like he wanted to devour her. The truth hidden behind his endless black orbs was that he wanted her and he wasn't going to give up on her easily
"He does" Krillin continued unaware of the two "he told me that his uncle owns the store so he got him a job on one of the hardware stores down here" he said eating a bite of his food. 18 cleared her throat looking away from Raditz
"That's awesome" she nodded then turned back to her food "it's a great opportunity for him to turn his life into something meaningful" she added. Krillin nodded
"That's right. By the way how are you doing with the PSAT's Radz?" he changed the topic. Raditz looked at him
"I'm holding up pretty good" he replied taking a bite of his food in his mouth. Krillin nod at him
"That's good man. I, for one, thought that you weren't gonna take it"
"I wasn't thinking of it" he said uninterested "but you know how there's always people that help you make the right choice" he looked at 18. The female breathed profoundly. Krillin looked at her too
"I know what you mean. We had to go through that, remember?" he asked her "when I didn't want to study for the history final on tenth grade and you made me study?" he continued. 18 smiled insecurely
"Yeah" she nodded. Raditz stared at her
"She's always been like that, hasn't she? So generous" he 'complimented' with sarcasm. Krillin smiled as she breathed uneasily
"Yeah. Yeah she is…"
Bulma's House - A Special Guest for Dinner
"So, Vegeta Ouji, what is it that you are majoring in?" Bulma's father asked as they all sat together at the Brief's big dinner table in a so called 'pleasant' environment. It surely wasn't pleasant at all. Vegeta was forced to sit beside Bulma with both her parents watching them from across the table like guard dogs. Bulma could sense Vegeta's restlessness although he did hide it pretty well. There were only two topics that she had warned her mother not to talk about: his parents and her little girl stories. Her dad was trying to make conversation out of something completely vague for high school students. Yes, it was time to start thinking about college…but certainly not the time to talk about it
"Business administration, I want to own a sports car company" he said. Dr. Briefs nodded trying to sound interested which he was but there were certain things he wasn't sure about. The old man cleared his throat
"A sports car company, I see? What type of cars would you-?"
"I would sell imported and very expensive cars. They'd be expensive because of their productiveness. Productivity costs a lot of money" he said trying to sound simple. Bulma's mother smiled
"Oh Wow. It's going to take you quite some time to graduate College" she giggled sweetly
"I'm well aware of that" Vegeta answered. Bulma stared at him. He was being such a gentleman considering his behavior problems with authority. Her father continued speaking
"Well I must say it sounds like you have a strong base for a good future. What are your grades in school?" he asked. Bulma rolled her eyes tiredly
"Dad, stop-"
"I have a three point eighty five GPA right now" Vegeta informed confidently. Bulma stared at Vegeta. Where did this come from? Why didn't she know all these things about him? Bulma's father widened his eyes amazed
"That is a very impressive GPA given the fact that you're an athlete" the statement escaped his mouth. Vegeta looked away leaving it alone while Bulma frowned
"Might I remind you, father, that athletes are smart too" she defended. Bulma's mother smiled
"Sweetie don't worry. I'm sure he didn't mean to say that" she said. Dr. Briefs nodded agreeing with his wife
"All I meant to say was that most athletes don't have that GPA in high school or college especially football players" he stereotyped. Bulma sighed grabbing the blanket on her thighs and dropping it on her plate. She pulled out the chair
"I'm getting out of here" she headed towards the exit door. Vegeta followed behind her. Bulma's mother placed her blanket on her plate as well shaking her head at her husband. Dr. Briefs breathed out
"What?"
"What? Why did you have to say that?"
"All I was saying was-"
"You know that Bulma likes that boy. He is very well mannered and clever-"
"He's a jock-"
"So what if he's an athlete? He's brilliant by what I could tell and very handsome too" she added with a smile. Dr. Briefs sighed
"You know how it was when we were in school. Football players got girls pregnant. Times haven't changed and I don't want her future ruined by-"
"By who honey? He seems like a very ambitious man not to mention his future as an athlete is as bright as in his career. He's smart. Do you honestly think he'll risk his future like that? To be so young he could be considered as successful as we are" she said. Dr. Briefs sighed
"I know"
"I know you do" she leaned in and kissed his forehead "now go on. You have a daughter and a boyfriend to apologize to" she held his shoulder standing from her seat and taking the plates on the table on her hands so to take them to the kitchen. He sighed giving the apology a second thought…
-O-
"I can not believe my father just said that" Bulma started with a teary voice as the front door opened behind her Vegeta walking out of it. The blue eyed female sat on the steps before her house staring into the night with a disappointed expression. Vegeta took a seat aside her
"He's right. Not all of us are smart" he said staring into the night along with her. Bulma turned to him
"I know that but it doesn't give him the right to say it. It's not even that. It's everything he asked, everything he said, everything he did; as if you were some ruthless criminal that just happens to be smart" she said angrily. Vegeta turned to her
"You're a gorgeous woman. Of course your father's gonna care to know all that shit" he comforted. Bulma stared at him and smirked as a brief moment of silence surrounded them
"I know" she sniffled "what I didn't know was that I had such a brilliant boyfriend" she changed the topic. Vegeta shrugged his shoulders carelessly
"I don't mind it" he said. Bulma arched her brows
"Did you know that many women are captivated by smart men?" she asked. Vegeta widened his eyes
"Oooh is that a fact?" he asked sarcastically. Bulma smiled
"Stop it. You could've told me you know"
"Why? Is that a problem?" he asked with a stern tone. Bulma nodded
"Of course it is-"
"Why?" he interrupted. Bulma smiled genuinely
"You're a gorgeous man. Of course your girlfriend's gonna care to know all that shit" she said. Vegeta stared into her eyes. They brought peace to his anguished soul; her radiant skin so silky and soft; her beautiful blue hair; her sweet smell, her bright smile. He was weak against her because she was everything he wasn't. She was pure and innocent compared to him, graceful and sane, grateful for such a life. What power she withheld depended on the kindness that she possessed. No matter how fucked up someone, anybody, was she could see right through them and discover a true potential. Yet another thing he was grateful for.
Vegeta leaned in and captured her lips softly. Bulma embraced her arms around his neck bringing him closer to her. Vegeta held her by the waist the couple making out through the darkness of the night as the sparkling moonlight enlightened both their faces. The front door became cautiously opened. Dr. Briefs took a peek outside before having to interrupt their 'conversation' but of course he was too late. He watched his daughter from the door and sighed then decided to leave them alone. Closing the door as cautiously as he had opened it the male chose to talk about it another day. What he felt, however, was truly strange. Some sort of fear blended with lonely pain. Soon, he knew, he would have to let her go. How could he? His little princess, his little girl, he was afraid to lose her. Very afraid…
18's House - Goodnight
"I'll call you before I leave my house tomorrow!"
"Ok" 18 talked to Krillin through the driver's side of his car. The awkward dinner had been over almost an hour ago and they had all decided to watch a movie afterwards in which everyone seemed just as uncomfortable as at the dinner table. Finally they took a hint and decided it was better to leave. Krillin was the first one to make it to his car. Raditz was still inside picking up the plates he had offered to clean so Krillin could depart early since his parents were time freaks. 18 could only imagine the conversation that was to urge right now. What the kiss meant was definitely one of the hundreds of questions circling her head
"See ya'" Krillin bid his farewells taking off. 18 sighed staring at the door to her house. She braced herself for the new topic...
"Hey" she greeted entering the living room. Raditz sat alone on the couch faking to watch TV. He sighed
"Hey" he greeted back with a low tone. 18 took a seat beside him placing her hands on her thighs nervously
"It's been a long night" she tried to ease the tension. He nodded
"Sure been. I'm tired" he yawned shortly. 18 looked at him almost not daring to. He didn't return the look. She breathed out
"What was that Raditz?" she got straight to the point. He looked at her now
"What?"
"Do you know the conflicts involved in this?" she asked. Raditz turned the TV off
"You think I haven't thought about that?" he stared. She sighed
"If you have then you obviously understand why it mustn't go on" she tried making sense. Raditz swallowed
"I would let it go, 18, even when no woman has ever made me feel the way you do, even when I'm the happiest with you, I would. I know it sounds like bullshit but it's true. And I don't want to hurt him either-"
"But?"
"But this isn't just about me. If I let go of it then you have to let go of it too" he proposed. 18 stared at him gloomily
"What makes you think I ever wanted this to happen in the first place?" she asked. Raditz stared at her timidly then leaned in bringing his lips the closest he could to hers. She closed her eyes
"Stop me" he whispered "tell me you don't want me to kiss you" he whispered on her lips. 18 cupped his face in her hands and kissed him. The night seemed short for their kisses but the wonderful thing it was that time seemed inexistent…
End of Ch. 20. Ok, here's the note for K/18 lovers: I'm sorry. This is just how the story goes. Please don't be mad at me. Thanks! Ok, now that I'm done with that… How'd you guys like it! Hope it was good. Finally, the weekend at Mayes begins. I hope you guys are all doing ok. Thank you for answering the vote thingy, pretty cool! All right, then, take care and stay tuned for the next chapter coming out soon!
Love
PL