Chapter 16: Pot Party

"Bulma!" 18 called as she ran into the car park. Bulma stopped and looked at her friend.

"Hey." 18 walked up beside Bulma, and looked at her seriously.

"Have you seen Vegeta?" Bulma frowned at the mention of his name. 18 noticed this. "Why the frown?" Bulma just shook her head and headed for her car.

"Yup. He wagged last period and went home." 18 sighed and climbed in the car next to Bulma. She'd gotten rides home with her friend, since she had crashed her and 17's car on Tuesday.

They drove in silence for a while, before 18 could bear it no longer.

"Why did you frown when I said Vegeta? And why have you been avoiding him all week. I mean, on Monday you were inseparable. All of a sudden it was like nothing had ever happened."

Bulma sighed and turned the corner.

"Don't worry 18. I thought he'd changed, I was obviously wrong." She pulled up outside 18's house. "See you at school on Monday." 18 raised and eyebrow, but shrugged, climbing out of the car. With a last wave to Bulma, she disappeared indoors.

Bulma sighed again and backed her car out of the drive and headed for Capsule Corp.

Damn Vegeta to hell.

"DAMMIT!" Vegeta yelled, as he threw another punch at the punch bag he'd named Kakarot, only to miss and smash his fist into the steel wall of his basement. He'd taken to beating the hell out of his punch bag since Bulma had started ignoring him. Talk about déjà vu.

He swung his leg at the bag and sent it flying off the chain. "Oh for shit's sake!" he yelled. He leant over to pick the bag up, but noticed his knuckles were bleeding, and decided to call it quits. He growled and stomped up the stairs, slamming the door for the basement behind him.

He grabbed a big bag of chips out of the pantry, and headed upstairs. He slammed the door and collapsed onto his bed, crunching the chips.

'What the hell happened?' he asked himself. Vegeta went over all the possible answers in his head, but came up blank when it came to choosing the right one.

'Maybe I was wrong about the party. Maybe I shouldn't – no. I have to.' He groaned and picked up the phone, dialling Rick.

"Hello, man whore for sale, how can I help?" Vegeta snorted.

"Save it Rick."

"Oh, Geta! Mate, I'm sorry, I was expecting a call from a customer."

"You're actually a man whore?" Vegeta asked, disgusted. Rick grinned, though Vegeta couldn't see it.

"Damn straight!" Vegeta smirked. 'Looks like this party's gunna be more profitable than I suspected,' Vegeta thought to himself.

"I was ringing to ask you, Smoky, where you're getting all the drugsfrom, 'cause I could really do with some," Vegeta told him smoothly.

"I ain't telling you that Vegeta! But I will say, that I got it, and there's gunna be plenty of it here."

"Oh fine then. See you tomorrow night."

"Laters, 'Geta." Vegeta hung up and smirked grabbing the little black bug on his receiver and flicked it onto his bed. He shrugged, and then picked up the phone. Time to give Luka a ring.

(OK Bulma and the others are all at their own houses, but it's Saturday night and Vegeta is heading over to Rick's)

Vegeta's car came to a halt outside Rick's place.

"Off," he muttered to the car. The engine died and Vegeta climbed out. "Lock," he muttered. After a little click assured him the car was locked, he turned, with his hands in the pocket of his leather jacket, and walked up the drive. He fumbled with his collar for a bit, before letting himself in.

Everyone was hammered. It was that simple. Vegeta snorted in disgust as a couple who couldn't wait to get upstairs started undressing each other in the middle of the lounge. Vegeta moved his right shoulder back and forth, as though he was trying to shake something of it. "Great," he muttered into his collar. "Every tosser here is as stoned as the bloody driveway!" Vegeta sighed and headed to the kitchen, where Rick was dishing out drugs to everyone. He looked as though he'd had quite a bit himself. His eyes were all glazed over, and he was grinning stupidly, not really aware of reality. Vegeta walked over to him, slamming his hand down on the bench for no apparent reason.

"Yo, Vegeta! Glad you could make it brother. Come here, I got some special stuff for you!" He moved away from the crowd, stumbling every now and then, but not bothering about it. Vegeta followed him upstairs and into Rick's room. Rick opened a drawer and pulled out a bag of what looked like grass clippings.

"Come on, here you go. Just roll it up." Vegeta reached out his arm to grab it, but halted and drew back his arm, then extended his left one. Rick, in his hammered state, thought nothing of it. Vegeta turned away after grabbing the dope, and proceeded to roll it. He flicked his lighter on, and lit up. He turned back around and blew out a smoke cloud. If Rick had not been so wasted he would have noticed that the stuff inside Vegeta's smoke, was not green like the dope, but a chestnut brown.

Vegeta headed downstairs, followed by Rick.

He finished his smoke on the couch. Surprisingly, it seemed to have no affect on him.

Rick didn't notice this either.

Vegeta glanced around the room. People were doing queer things, and unless his eyes deceived him, a couple of people were actually dancing naked?

"I've had enough," Vegeta mumbled. "I can't believe I used to enjoy this shit. Move in," he said almost inaudibly to his collar.

'I bet you anything Vegeta is as hammered as hell right now,' Bulma thought bitterly. She rolled over in her bed and faced the other wall. 'Why does he do this? Just when things were getting better between us, he has to go and blow it because he has an obsession with drugs? Though if he is that obsessed, I'm probably better off without him.' Though the thought was meant to be comforting, it didn't help in the slightest.

Bulma closed her eyes. 'Damn you Vegeta. Damn you to hell and I hope that you never come back.'

Goku sighed, as he swung another fist at the punching bag, creating yet another hole in it. He had been fighting with himself for the past hour and a half. Vegeta had informed him about the party and his 'plans' a few days ago. Goku had sworn not to tell Bulma, though now he was finding that promise hard to keep.

Bulma was really angry, and Goku couldn't blame her. He just wanted to tell her the truth.But Vegeta had said she wasn't to know until after it was done, because he might not pull it off.

He sighed again, and threw down his boxing gloves.

'Poor Bulma,' he thought.

"This is D.S Luka, moving in now." Vegeta sighed. It was out of his hands now. All he had to do was wait.

No. First he had to go outside or he'd be grouped with the partiers. He slipped way unnoticed and out the front door.

"Unlock, left door open!" he called to his car. The lights flashed and the door flew open. Vegeta collapsed inside. "Door close,police radioon." There was the sound of a slamming door and then static filled the air. A scratchy voice spoke.

"Are you in the car, I repeat, are you in the car? Over?" Vegeta picked up the little handheld transmitter.

"Affirmative. Smoky is in the kitchen dishing out drugs and the partygoers are all still inside. Over." Vegeta let go of the button and waited.

"Good work. They're surrounding the house now so stay put. Over."

"Affirmative." Vegeta turned put the radio down and tuned thepolice radioto the bugs he'd dropped all around the house. When he found the one in the lounge, he leant back and listened.

"THIS IS THE POLICE! ALL OF YOU GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR, YOU'RE SURROUNDED!" Came a voice. Vegeta grinned. He heard a few people scream, and wished he could see what was going on. "WHERE'S SMOKY?" the voice yelled. Someone muttered something indecipherable, and there was the sound of heavy footsteps, as the A.O.S (Armed Offenders Squad, equivalent of S.W.A.T.)followed the person. Vegeta tuned hispolice radioto the kitchen bug.

"What the hell?" Vegeta recognised the voice as that of Rick's, or Smoky's

"Smoky, you are under arrest for the possession, storing, dealing and distribution of illegal drugs. You are also wanted on several rape charges and thieving convictions. You have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law." There was silence; other than the distinct sounds of handcuffs closing and muffled voices.

"All units move in!" came a new voice.

Vegeta turned to look out his car window as hundreds of black figures appeared from no-where and entered the house my any means possible. A few screams could be heard from the people inside. Vegeta turned his attention back to the police radio, and laughed as he heard a female try and chat up one of the A.O. S. squad members.

A uniformed police officer suddenly appeared at the window of Vegeta's car.

"Driver's window down," Vegeta muttered. The officer stuck their head in as the window went down.

"Vegeta Ouji?" Vegeta nodded. The police officer extended a hand. Vegeta shook it. "Congratulations young sir. You have just aided us in apprehending a lethal and well-known drug dealer, and I am almost certain that this will lead to the apprehension of Smoky's entire drug dealing ring. I am Detective Sergeant Luka, we have never met in person, but we both know each other from various phone calls. I would like to commend you again young sir. A good evening to you and thankyou again. You will be contacted by the force late next week and awarded for your work." Vegeta grinned.

"Pleasure working with you sir," he smirked. The officer touched his hat to Vegeta, and walked away.

Vegeta watched as several people he knew were led out by the A.O.S. and ushered into police vans that had appeared from nowhere.

Police dogs and their handlers were everywhere, sniffing out drugs and people were surrendering more easily due to their presence.

"Driver's window up, second gear, accelerator." Vegeta's car shot off.

Time to go and sort this out with Bulma.

Goku couldn't take it anymore. He got up off the basement step and walked up to the kitchen, grabbing the phone.

"Bulma?"

"Goku, hi. It's quarter to twelve," she laughed.

"Well you're still up?"

"Yeah I guess."

"Bulma there's something I need to tell you."

"Oh?"

"It's about Vegeta."

"Oh. I don't really want to talk about that right now."

"Bulma, I think there's something you should know."

"Goku, I don't want to hear it."

"Bulma please listen to me, you'll regret it if you don't."

"Sorry Goku I'm just not in the mood for him. Oh my gosh!"

"What?" Goku asked, noticing the shock in her voice.

"Vegeta just pulled up outside." Bulma could see Vegeta's black jaguar from her balcony, and her suspicions were confirmed when he stepped into the lights.

On the other end of the phone, Goku grinned.

"Alright I'll ring you back later."

"No," Bulma said, shaking her head. "I'll ring you when he's gone."

"Alright. Good luck."

"Good luck? Wha-" the phone went dead. Bulma glared at it, before putting the receiver on the hook and heading downstairs to see her unwanted guest.

She opened the door.

"Vegeta."

"Bulma."

Silence.

"What are you doing here?" she asked icily.

"There's something I need to tell you."

"I already know."

"Did Kakarot tell you?"

"No, I heard you and Rick talking about it at school."

"What? No I wasn't talking about that. Well I sort of was, but shut up a minute woman."

"No you shut up Vegeta. I thought you'd changed. How wrong could I have been? And forgive me if I'm wrong, but haven't you've just been at adrug party for three hours?" Tears sprung to her eyes.

"Yes I have woman, but I touched nothing so shut your mouth and listen to me."

"No, Vegeta. You listen here. You-" she paused suddenly. "Did you say you touched nothing?" Vegeta smirked and folded his arms.

"Tobacco, yes. Drugs, no."

"Well shouldn't you be with Rick?" she asked spitefully.

"Rick's in prison," Vegeta answered simply.

'What? You got busted? Oh crap." Bulma looked at Vegeta's car expecting to see a uniformed police officer sitting in it. "Don't tell me you've come to ask for bail money?" she groaned. Vegeta smirked.

"No woman I haven't. Shut your over sized mouth. Now, the cops arrested Rick, his drug ring and the stoned partygoers because of me. Happy now? And are you going to let me in?"

"No," she answered simply. "Why did you frame them?" Vegeta sighed. He was getting cold.

"After what I did to you, I-I swore never to take them again. I don't want the same thing to happen to anyone else." Bulma sighed.

"Come in," she muttered, stepping back and opening the door a little more. Vegeta stepped in and made for the Briefs' fireplace. He sat, warming his hands. It was cold out there at midnight, especially at this time of year.

"Vegeta did you seriously not take anything?" he shook his head.

"I swore never to take it again, I'm a man of my word." Bulma sighed and sat on the couch next to him.

Neither of them talked for a while, because neither of them wanted to admit how comfortable they were with each others' presence. Bulma broke the silence.

"I'm hungry, do you want anything to eat?" Vegeta grunted in response. He got up and followed her into the kitchen, putting down some toast and then taking a seat at the kitchen table.

"Vegeta, I was wrong to assume you were taking drugs? Will you forgive me?"

"Have you forgiven me yet for Marcus's?"

"I know that wasn't the real you, Vegeta. You have too much pride and honour to do something like that. You're forgiven." A small grunt told her he'd forgiven her as well.

"Oh, woman," he said, as he stood up to grab his toast. His eyes raked over her body. "Would you please go and put some clothes on?" Bulma turned red faster than the speed of light as she looked down and realised she was in her skanky little Winnie the Pooh boxers and a pink singlet top. She gave a small scream and sprinted upstairs. Vegeta laughed and walked back into the lounge.

When Bulma came back she had her dressing gown and slippers on.

"You look just as ridiculous as before," he told her.

"At least I'm not half naked," she muttered, grabbing her toast, turning the light off and sitting down next to him. The light of the fire illuminated the room in an eerie way. Shadows danced over the floor. Bulma watched them, smiling.

"Aren't your par- Kevin and Lisa expecting you home?" Bulma asked as she put down her plate.

"They're out, so's Rick and Vega has a baby sitter. The sitter's not expecting me home at all."

"Oh. D-d-do you wanna sleep here tonight?" she asked. Vegeta grunted in agreement, putting his plate on the coffee table.

"I'm glad we've got that sorted out, Veggie," Bulma smiled as she grabbed the radio remote.

"It won't be if you ever call me that again," he warned her. Bulma smiled as she snuggled up against him. He tensed up for a moment, before relaxing again as she laid her head on his shoulder. Bulma lifted up her arm and flicked the power button on the remote.

As she shifted herself on Vegeta, letting her head rest on his lap, they caught the last few words of a song, playing extremely quietly.

Oh I am what I am
I'll do what I want
But I can't hide
I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting
Here with me

I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting
Here with me

Vegeta looked down at Bulma, who was now asleep. He smirked and twirled one of her blue locks around his finger. "Sleep well," he muttered, shifting his position a bit further down the couch and resting his head on the arm of the chair. As he drifted into the land of unconsciousness, Vegeta absentmindedly slipped his arm around Bulma, pulling her closer into his body.

Next Chapter: What do Mr. And Mrs. Briefs think when they wake up and see Bulma and Vegeta on the couch together? How will their friends take their sudden (repetitive) change of status? What is their status?

Author's Note: No I don't own Dido's song, Here with me. But don't you think that was cute? Anyway, I would've got this up sooner but my comp packed a psyche and deleted it , but its here now so review!

Kaibun