Disclaimer: I don't own DBZ, or the characters, I just borrow them for my own twisted sick pleasure. J

[A/N: I hope this fic is clearer than the first draft. I've been working on it, and I hope you all enjoy it. Still, I know it doesn't make up for missing so many alerts and musings, so I'm going to get these stories out at a good pace as best as I can. Enjoy!]

Changing of the Seasons

Chapter One

by Loaf of Pan

"Pan, this is one of the best schools in America, and I think it would be fantastic if you went there. Think about it, please... It's the opportunity of a lifetime," my father announced as he threw the brochure into my lap. This was the little miracle I'd been waiting for. Bra, who was sitting next to me in the kitchen, just smiled knowingly as a huge grin spread across my face.

"Oh, okay…I guess I'll browse through it a bit. Thanks, Dad." He turned and walked out of the room nodding his head.

Bra waited until his footsteps faded up the stairs before she squealed and roughly turned me around in my seat. "Pan, this is exactly what you've been needing! No, praying for! You're SO going." Of course, I still wasn't sure if I was ready to go halfway across the world for the next four years. That sounded like a very long time.

"Bra, aren't we jumping to conclusions? This is a major decision, you know." I got up and poured myself a glass of water to calm my nerves.

I watched that 'Shut Up Pan, You Don't Know What You're Talking About' look creep onto her features. I got that a lot from her. "Son Pan, if you don't take that opportunity, I'm never going to forgive you. You don't just want this, you need this! And I'm not going to stand by and let you bypass your dreams just because you're a little scared."

Well, when she put it that way... How could I resist? By the way, have you ever noticed Bra could get just a tad forceful? She'll be sure to fill her mother's shoes well.

And she really got me thinking, more so than I ever had before. And I decided that I should go to this Brooksfield Academy, in Boston, Massachusetts; halfway across the world. It would give me a chance to show everyone just exactly what I'm made of, and it would show that I were responsible and independent enough to work my issues out on my own. And who knows? Maybe I'd learn a few tricks along the way.

"I think you just might be right, Bra. I do need this, and it might give me a reason to prove my worth." I took small, nervous gulps from my glass of water, and gazed out of the window in thought.

Bra grinned an evil grin, the one I'm sure she inherited from her father. "And it'll show Trunks just how lost he is without you." I knew I had turned a bright red, because I noticed a omnipotent smirk had crept onto her face before I found my sneakers much more interesting that whatever was going on outside.

Was I really that hooked?

It's kind of sad when you become the one thing you've dreaded most in your life: a lovestruck idiot. And I wasn't JUST a lovestruck idiot, I was a lovestruck idiot who had fallen for a man who was just slightly less than half of my age. Go figure.

I walked into my father's office later that night with the brochure clutched tight in my hand. "Pan, you are supposed to be in your bed," he muttered as he stared continuously at the paperwork covered in formulas and equations strewn across his desk. He never did give his work a rest.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you about this." I said, tossing the pamphlet lightly onto his desk.

He nodded and picked it up, thumbing through it once again. "Any thoughts?"

Thoughts? I already picked the dorm I wanted to stay in! "Well, maybe a few... I truly think it would be a good experience for me. And I know I'll learn a lot when I go there."

His eyes narrowed for a second, confused. Then they widened and he let a pretentious chuckle escape his throat. "When? That's a quick decision, sweetheart."

"Yes, I said 'when,' Dad. I've decided I really want to go there. Like you said, it's prestigious, and the opportunity of a lifetime. So, I'm taking it and running."

He looked excited, but he did seem a bit sad, even if he refused to show it. I would imagine, though, it must be hard hearing your daughter admit she's ready to spend the next four years away from home without a passing glance, and that's not even including college. He looked me over once again, then sighed and nodded. "Okay, I'll call them tomorrow and set up everything."

I had turned to walk out of the room, but I turned in mid-step as his attention drifted back to the sheets on his desk. "Wait, Daddy?" I questioned as I leaned over to hug him lightly, and kiss his cheek. "Thank you." For more than you'll ever know... He smiled and held me tight in our embrace. I guess he just might be ready to let me go. My mother, however, is a completely different story.

I ran downstairs, because I knew I had to tell my mom. She wouldn't be able to take it if she didn't hear it from me as soon as I came to such a decision. Then I would comfort her, and everything'll be okay! At least that was the plan…

"Pan, sweetie, don't you think you should be going to bed soon?" I rolled my eyes slightly. Parents can be so predictable. I moved behind her as she finished drying the last of her dishes.

"Mommy, look… I have to talk to you. It's really important."

She looked to me quickly, sighing. "Pan, what did you do now? If this is about the neighbors and their dog again, I don't want to hear it." I smirked, plotting the animal's next demise silently in my mind. It deserved to be blown away anyways. And besides all that, Goten helped me.

"Actually Mom, this is about school." Her face lit up.

"Well, it's nice to hear that you're finally getting serious about your future. So, come on, out with it," she prodded. Okay. She asked for it. I took a deep breath…

"Okay, Mom, you might find this as a real shocker, but I've been needing a change for a while, and I think I finally found it, because Dad showed me this paper about a school in the US and I've really gotten attached to the idea, so he's calling and enrolling me tomorrow, but it doesn't have to do with you, because I love you, but I really need to go, because it would do me some good to get away." Mind you, I blurted out in oh, I'd say...7 seconds.

As I waited for my mother's reaction, my hope dwindled less and my anxiety grew with every second. I knew it couldn't be good, because she was growing into this unearthly pale shade of white, and that scared me. She let out a loud, shrill wail, and pulled me into a bear hug. Well…I wasn't expecting that…

"My baby's growing up and leaving home already!! You've gotten so big, sweetie... I'm so proud of you!" she cried into my hair. Well, she's taking this better than I thought she would. She slowly let go of me and smiled tearfully, which made me shed a few tears of my own. "You've grown beautifully, Pan. So intelligent, so sweet and kind, such a good…person."

I blushed and kept quiet. "Thanks, Mom…"

She wiped her eyes and clapped her hands together."Okay, we'll go shopping for your school stuff tomorrow. Is that okay with you?" I nodded, wiping the few drops of moisture from my cheeks and hugging her once more.

"You're the best, Mom." She smirked and ruffled my hair lightly. I hate it when she does that.

"Well, Panny, I aim to please. Now go to bed, you need your rest." I turned around and walked up the stairs.

Now that little ordeal was over, but I still had to skim down the mental to-do list once more. I only had a few more people to tell about my big decision. And one of those persons was Trunks. I wasn't sure how I was going to tell him I was leaving without breaking down into an emotional mess and blurting out everything I was trying to keep from him, but I was determined to stay strong in his presence. He may have my heart, but I was going to damn well keeping control of my head. It was the only thing I had left to guide me through what I was about to encounter.