I stood in the doorway. Frozen. He was back in my life and heading toward
me now. His arms reached out and wrapped around my torso, pulling me up
against his large chest. He bowed his head and covered my lips with his.
I could barely move; I was just going through the motions. But this is
right, isn't it? This can work, right?
His lips traveled to the base of my neck and I closed my eyes out of habit, a little sigh escaping my lips.
"Can I come inside?"
I opened my eyes slowly, ready to jump into his arms and into bed... and then I remembered Piccolo.
"I really have to get to bed. It's so late. I'll see you tomorrow though, okay?" I gave him a small smile to reassure him that everything was alright in my mixed up head.
"Okay, sure." He returned my smile and headed down the steps slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Good night. I love you."
"I love you too..." came my whispered reply.
When he was finally out of sight, I closed the door and leaned against it, a small smile on my face. Everything was alright again. Thank God.
"TA..." a gruff voice sounded in front of me.
I opened my eyes to see Piccolo standing in my living room, his arms crossed defiantly across his chest and his brows drawn low.
"Piccolo?"
"What the fuck just happened?! I could hear that bastard groveling like a mutt all the way in the bathroom. I swear I almost pissed myself with a damn toilet right next to me! Tell me you didn't fall for that shit..." He took one look at my face and his expression grew even more grim. "I see. You're still a fucking child! When the hell are you gunna grow up?!"
My eyes flashed and I ground my teeth together, "Oh please, you're just mad because now you have to stay in my world a little longer!"
Piccolo's expression dropped suddenly. His eyelids closed and he took a deep breath before opening his eyes again. "Please move away from the door, kid."
I moved to the side without question and watched as the suddenly defeated warrior walked out the door without another word. He jetted off into the air with a blast of raw energy and disappeared from sight in mere seconds. Jerk.
I grabbed up a jacket from the nearest closet and my keys from the kitchen counter. I headed out the door, locked the apartment up, making plans to head over to my boyfriend's place. What? Piccolo left first!
It's a bit of a walk, so allow me to continue our story. So, I led Piccolo into my bedroom, praying that he wouldn't comment on all of the fan art I had up on my wall. My computer is always on so I was on livejournal's website in a matter of seconds. I know Piccolo appreciated that. Then he saw how many entries I had.
"Shit."
"Yeah, I'm a busy writer."
His face paled a bit as he scrolled through the pages of my life. "Maybe we should start with the really personal stuff before I try to tackle this."
I sat down on my bed, "Sure." I patted the space next to me, offering him a place to rest, but his raised brow ridge let me know he needed no resting place if it was gunna be anywhere near me.
"So," I wrung my fingers together. "Are you gunna ask me some questions? Or..."
"Sure. Have you had sex?"
My eyes flew open and I blushed profusely. "Wow, you sure are blunt!"
"Just answer the question."
"Okay... Yes, I have."
"With this boy?"
"Yes. He's my first."
"You're what?" Piccolo's brow rose even higher.
"He's the first guy I've ever made love with. In our society, a girl's first is important. Usually a girl's first is also her last."
"Why?"
"Because she's usually married when she first has sex."
"I see. You're not married are you?" His expression bordered on terrified until I shook my head.
"No, don't worry, it's not gunna be that hard to get me out of this relationship."
"Good, I've seen these marriages you speak of and I don't wanna go there."
"Oh God, like Chichi and Goku?" I grinned, imagining a demonized Chichi racing after Goku with a frying pan held high.
The corner of his mouth tugged upward for a brief moment. "Yeah. That's some scary shit right there. Anyway," he cleared his throat. "So, this guy being your first, I imagine he's very close to you."
"Yeah, he is. The first time we made love, I made sure we were both in love. I don't do that kind of thing with just anyone."
"So, you really love him?"
"Yes." I lowered my head and smiled, the bad memories melting away as I imagined my boyfriend kissing me the way he usually does.
"So why is he so bad for you?"
The kissing scene in my head warped. "He's abusive."
"How so?"
"He let's little things get to him and then lashes out at everyone. He gets really scary when he's angry. Then when the people he hurts get angry with him, instead of feeling any kind of remorse, he gets even angrier. He keeps score on stupid things, like who goes to whose apartment more often, how much money he's spent on me, he makes me feel really bad about the money he spends on me..."
Piccolo's face was a little more relaxed; he'd finally given that raised brow a break. "In your society, the male is usually supposed to provide for the female, right?"
"Yeah. Things are starting to become more equal, but some double standards remain. Women like to feel taken care of cuz this world isn't very kind to us."
The Namek nodded, "It's the same in my world. Women are so much weaker than men; naturally they have to be protected."
I snorted, "We're not that much weaker, it's just most women don't like to bulk up on muscle or do strenuous exercises."
Piccolo gave me a condescending smirk and I narrowed my eyes at him. "TA, women are weak."
"Shut up!"
"How strong are you, huh? You really look like warrior material." I didn't like his sarcastic tone one bit! Jerk!
"As a matter of fact, I am! I've been training in the martial arts for over 8 years; karate, tae kwon do, and self-taught. I can knock an overweight middle-aged man over with one side-kick. And I'm a dancer." I crossed my arms across my chest and returned Piccolo's smart ass smirk.
His smirk turned into the wicked grin I'd seen last night when Jay-chan was here. "I'll have to see these talents of yours, TA. You might just prove me wrong."
"You can bet I will!"
He lowered his head, suppressing a soft chuckle. He looked up at me once he'd regained his composure, "So why don't you stand up to your boyfriend like you do to me?"
"Because I don't love you and your words can't cut me as deeply as his can." Yes, my first chance to prove to Piccolo that I'm not a psycho!
I watched his eyes scan over my walls and that brow of his arched back up again. "Really?"
"I swear. This is just a fan phase. Besides, you're nothing like the character I watch on Cartoon Network. You're more of an asshole."
That brow ridge would not give up and it stayed glued to the center of his forehead, mocking me.
"Anyway," I sighed. "Here's something that might be of interest to you. My parents don't know how intimate I've been with this guy; so they can't really understand why he hurts me so much. I don't want them to ever know how far I've gone with my guy because they'd kill me. They're still under the illusion that I'm still their little girl."
"You don't live with them anymore."
"I know."
"So it's none of their business anyway."
I smiled, "I'm glad someone else agrees with me. Jay-chan thinks they're nuts."
"Jay-chan nuts."
My eyes flew open and I began giggling uncontrollably.
"TA?"
I wiped at the tears forming in the corners of my eyes and tried to catch my breath, "Hee hee, sorry. I just didn't expect you to say something like that."
"Whatever. Anything else I should know?"
"That's all for now."
He nodded his head. "Good. Then leave me alone so I can get started on this diary of yours."
"Well, I have class in about an hour anyway, so I'll just grab my stuff and take an early bus." I walked over to my desk and gathered my texts and notebooks. I threw a couple pens and pencils into my backpack and then headed out the door.
TiffyAngel's Shout Outs!
DeathStorm – Thank you for reviewing continuously. Each chapter has a review from you and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read and evaluate each chapter I write; your efforts are much appreciated. And of course, your input in my real life is just awesome!
Jackie – Thank you for being the biggest influence in my real life and for suffering through my little ritual of reading my updates to you over the phone. Tradition is fun!
Kim – I know I still have to read your fics! . But thanks for taking the time to read mine!
Path Walker – Thanks for coming back to read my works. I thought everyone had forgotten about me cuz I've been such a bum lately! LOL!
Bluewolfgirl – Thanks for adding me to your favorites; it's a real ego boost and makes me feel like a successful writer. I'm glad you're enjoying the plot.
Cyndi – Thanks for being such an awesome and creative writer. Your works are really inspiring and don't let anyone tell you different. It's been so great getting to know you through DA comments and chapter reviews.
Suiren – Thank you for coming back my humble abode. Your comments are much appreciated and I hope you continue to enjoy what I produce!
His lips traveled to the base of my neck and I closed my eyes out of habit, a little sigh escaping my lips.
"Can I come inside?"
I opened my eyes slowly, ready to jump into his arms and into bed... and then I remembered Piccolo.
"I really have to get to bed. It's so late. I'll see you tomorrow though, okay?" I gave him a small smile to reassure him that everything was alright in my mixed up head.
"Okay, sure." He returned my smile and headed down the steps slowly, his eyes never leaving mine. "Good night. I love you."
"I love you too..." came my whispered reply.
When he was finally out of sight, I closed the door and leaned against it, a small smile on my face. Everything was alright again. Thank God.
"TA..." a gruff voice sounded in front of me.
I opened my eyes to see Piccolo standing in my living room, his arms crossed defiantly across his chest and his brows drawn low.
"Piccolo?"
"What the fuck just happened?! I could hear that bastard groveling like a mutt all the way in the bathroom. I swear I almost pissed myself with a damn toilet right next to me! Tell me you didn't fall for that shit..." He took one look at my face and his expression grew even more grim. "I see. You're still a fucking child! When the hell are you gunna grow up?!"
My eyes flashed and I ground my teeth together, "Oh please, you're just mad because now you have to stay in my world a little longer!"
Piccolo's expression dropped suddenly. His eyelids closed and he took a deep breath before opening his eyes again. "Please move away from the door, kid."
I moved to the side without question and watched as the suddenly defeated warrior walked out the door without another word. He jetted off into the air with a blast of raw energy and disappeared from sight in mere seconds. Jerk.
I grabbed up a jacket from the nearest closet and my keys from the kitchen counter. I headed out the door, locked the apartment up, making plans to head over to my boyfriend's place. What? Piccolo left first!
It's a bit of a walk, so allow me to continue our story. So, I led Piccolo into my bedroom, praying that he wouldn't comment on all of the fan art I had up on my wall. My computer is always on so I was on livejournal's website in a matter of seconds. I know Piccolo appreciated that. Then he saw how many entries I had.
"Shit."
"Yeah, I'm a busy writer."
His face paled a bit as he scrolled through the pages of my life. "Maybe we should start with the really personal stuff before I try to tackle this."
I sat down on my bed, "Sure." I patted the space next to me, offering him a place to rest, but his raised brow ridge let me know he needed no resting place if it was gunna be anywhere near me.
"So," I wrung my fingers together. "Are you gunna ask me some questions? Or..."
"Sure. Have you had sex?"
My eyes flew open and I blushed profusely. "Wow, you sure are blunt!"
"Just answer the question."
"Okay... Yes, I have."
"With this boy?"
"Yes. He's my first."
"You're what?" Piccolo's brow rose even higher.
"He's the first guy I've ever made love with. In our society, a girl's first is important. Usually a girl's first is also her last."
"Why?"
"Because she's usually married when she first has sex."
"I see. You're not married are you?" His expression bordered on terrified until I shook my head.
"No, don't worry, it's not gunna be that hard to get me out of this relationship."
"Good, I've seen these marriages you speak of and I don't wanna go there."
"Oh God, like Chichi and Goku?" I grinned, imagining a demonized Chichi racing after Goku with a frying pan held high.
The corner of his mouth tugged upward for a brief moment. "Yeah. That's some scary shit right there. Anyway," he cleared his throat. "So, this guy being your first, I imagine he's very close to you."
"Yeah, he is. The first time we made love, I made sure we were both in love. I don't do that kind of thing with just anyone."
"So, you really love him?"
"Yes." I lowered my head and smiled, the bad memories melting away as I imagined my boyfriend kissing me the way he usually does.
"So why is he so bad for you?"
The kissing scene in my head warped. "He's abusive."
"How so?"
"He let's little things get to him and then lashes out at everyone. He gets really scary when he's angry. Then when the people he hurts get angry with him, instead of feeling any kind of remorse, he gets even angrier. He keeps score on stupid things, like who goes to whose apartment more often, how much money he's spent on me, he makes me feel really bad about the money he spends on me..."
Piccolo's face was a little more relaxed; he'd finally given that raised brow a break. "In your society, the male is usually supposed to provide for the female, right?"
"Yeah. Things are starting to become more equal, but some double standards remain. Women like to feel taken care of cuz this world isn't very kind to us."
The Namek nodded, "It's the same in my world. Women are so much weaker than men; naturally they have to be protected."
I snorted, "We're not that much weaker, it's just most women don't like to bulk up on muscle or do strenuous exercises."
Piccolo gave me a condescending smirk and I narrowed my eyes at him. "TA, women are weak."
"Shut up!"
"How strong are you, huh? You really look like warrior material." I didn't like his sarcastic tone one bit! Jerk!
"As a matter of fact, I am! I've been training in the martial arts for over 8 years; karate, tae kwon do, and self-taught. I can knock an overweight middle-aged man over with one side-kick. And I'm a dancer." I crossed my arms across my chest and returned Piccolo's smart ass smirk.
His smirk turned into the wicked grin I'd seen last night when Jay-chan was here. "I'll have to see these talents of yours, TA. You might just prove me wrong."
"You can bet I will!"
He lowered his head, suppressing a soft chuckle. He looked up at me once he'd regained his composure, "So why don't you stand up to your boyfriend like you do to me?"
"Because I don't love you and your words can't cut me as deeply as his can." Yes, my first chance to prove to Piccolo that I'm not a psycho!
I watched his eyes scan over my walls and that brow of his arched back up again. "Really?"
"I swear. This is just a fan phase. Besides, you're nothing like the character I watch on Cartoon Network. You're more of an asshole."
That brow ridge would not give up and it stayed glued to the center of his forehead, mocking me.
"Anyway," I sighed. "Here's something that might be of interest to you. My parents don't know how intimate I've been with this guy; so they can't really understand why he hurts me so much. I don't want them to ever know how far I've gone with my guy because they'd kill me. They're still under the illusion that I'm still their little girl."
"You don't live with them anymore."
"I know."
"So it's none of their business anyway."
I smiled, "I'm glad someone else agrees with me. Jay-chan thinks they're nuts."
"Jay-chan nuts."
My eyes flew open and I began giggling uncontrollably.
"TA?"
I wiped at the tears forming in the corners of my eyes and tried to catch my breath, "Hee hee, sorry. I just didn't expect you to say something like that."
"Whatever. Anything else I should know?"
"That's all for now."
He nodded his head. "Good. Then leave me alone so I can get started on this diary of yours."
"Well, I have class in about an hour anyway, so I'll just grab my stuff and take an early bus." I walked over to my desk and gathered my texts and notebooks. I threw a couple pens and pencils into my backpack and then headed out the door.
TiffyAngel's Shout Outs!
DeathStorm – Thank you for reviewing continuously. Each chapter has a review from you and I wanted to thank you for taking the time to read and evaluate each chapter I write; your efforts are much appreciated. And of course, your input in my real life is just awesome!
Jackie – Thank you for being the biggest influence in my real life and for suffering through my little ritual of reading my updates to you over the phone. Tradition is fun!
Kim – I know I still have to read your fics! . But thanks for taking the time to read mine!
Path Walker – Thanks for coming back to read my works. I thought everyone had forgotten about me cuz I've been such a bum lately! LOL!
Bluewolfgirl – Thanks for adding me to your favorites; it's a real ego boost and makes me feel like a successful writer. I'm glad you're enjoying the plot.
Cyndi – Thanks for being such an awesome and creative writer. Your works are really inspiring and don't let anyone tell you different. It's been so great getting to know you through DA comments and chapter reviews.
Suiren – Thank you for coming back my humble abode. Your comments are much appreciated and I hope you continue to enjoy what I produce!