Disclaimer: Uh…nope, still not me.
A/N: I don't feel like editing. Honestly, it's right off the presses forgive the errors, I know there are a lot of them. I hope it doesn't interfere with the reading. x.x Sorry.

Fashion Emergency

The girl let out a frustrated shriek, closing the magazine and ripping it into little shreds as she tried to regain her nerves. She threw the papers everywhere, letting the tattered shreds fall like confetti, her lips poking out into an insatiable pout. "I don't believe this!" She raged, throwing her hands into her dark strands of hair and tugging until she didn't like the pressure she was creating on her head from the motions. "How dare they?"

She threw her body onto her bed and kicked her feet up and down, having a small tantrum before regaining what little control she had left. Finally, she drew in a deep sigh and closed her eyes, counting to ten. After laying in the calm silence for a moment she turned her body over and sat up, trusting herself to be relaxed once again. She could hear rushing footsteps traveling up the stairs and she didn't want to be in any sort of disarray when whoever was curious enough to discover her reason for upset came strolling in.

"What's wrong?" The near frantic voice called, knocking softly on her door and waiting non too patiently for an answer. "Pan, what's wrong?" He repeated after what couldn't have even been over a second with no response.

"I'm fine, Trunks." Pan allotted, trying to keep her voice as even as possible.

"Then why'd you yell, sweetheart? What don't you believe? How dare who?" He challenged, not yet satisfied with her answer.

"It's nothing. I'm fine." She reiterated, her cheeks heating up at the prospect of having to explain her problem to him.

"Well are you almost ready? Gohan's making my blood run cold down there…" She could almost hear him rocking back and forth on his feet. She sighed, walking over to the door and opening it slightly so that she could see his face.

"I don't think I'm going." She shook her head, trying to look regretful but not really feeling it. She could see his face drop until he looked completely heartbroken and a slight nudging feeling in the back of her brain made her feel guilty. She wanted to go again, suddenly, but the thought of what she'd just read changed her mind just that quickly.

"Why wouldn't you go? Are you sure you're okay? Do you feel all right? Is there some-"

"Trunks," She closed her eyes, as if thoroughly annoyed, and shook her head. "I'm fine. I just don't want to go, that's all."

"But, Pan, I was excited about this." He whined. "It's a movie premiere, you can't tell me you really don't want to go. We'll be there with all the stars." He tried to convince her, pouting so successfully that she had to turn her head to keep her knees from weakening.

"Don't pull that look on me, it's not going to work. Look, I don't feel up to it, okay?" She fought the urge to cross her arms and stomp her feet just to show she meant business.

"But I really wanted to go." He tried again, then seeing the look in her eyes, he sighed. "All right, what'd you have in mind then?" He questioned, almost daring her to have a better idea.

"Actually, I was thinking you could go without me." She twisted her lips upward slightly, as if preparing herself for some kind of verbal impact. And it came seconds later.

"What?" His voice was soft and the hurt that she heard in it made her want to cry. Why did he have to make her feel so bad about it by uttering one simple little word? How could he do that, anyway? "Why would I go if you aren't going to be there?" As if the thought never occurred to him, and there was no right way answer to that question.

"Because you want to go." She stated, using her 'duh' voice.

"No, I don't. I never wanted to go without you." He challenged.

"Well, it's not like your world revolves around me." She spoke in an annoyed tone, even though his honest admission warmed her heart in ways she couldn't describe. How completely adorable was that? It had never occurred to him to just leave her here.

"Who said it didn't?" He pouted again, trying his best to water his eyes in hopes of getting her to change her mind.

"Please, Trunks, you go to work without me everyday. And I go to school without you." She refused to give up the fight.

"That's not by choice. If I could I'd package you and take you with me. I told you I needed a new secretary but you gave me that 'you're crazy if you think I'm doing it' look." He pushed the door the rest of the way open, pulling her into his arms so that her face buried into his chest and her neck twisted at an awkward angle. "Don't make me beg, Pan."

"I'm not going, Trunks. You are. End of story." She spoke into his shirt, her voice muffled by his chest. "Now let me go."

"But I like you being right here." He pouted, running his hands up her sides slowly, suggestively. "Are you sure you don't want to go?"

"Positive." She squirmed at his touch, using her strength to pull her body away from his. "Stop that."

"You can't make me go without you." He continued to argue, ignoring her loud sigh of irritation.

"No, I can't. But my father can and all I'd have to do is go down there and poke out my lip." Her eyes glinted dangerously as she looked up at him, smirking so evilly that even he couldn't copy it.

"That's mean, Panny." He shook his head, narrowing his eyes at her. "That's just mean." He grabbed her hands and caressed the back of both of them with the pads of his thumbs. Slowly he pulled her body closer to his. "We can just go to dinner, you know?" His arms wrapped around her waist and his head buried into the crook of her neck, lips caressing the skin gently as a form of persuasion.

"That's mean, Trunks." She challenged, shivering at his touch and trying not to be coerced into anything. "Really, I'm not going and you are, so stop it." She stuck her hands out and pushed against his chest, trying to move away from him but not really wanting to.

"Pan, why is there torn paper everywhere?" He questioned, kissing the top of her chin and then moving to the edge of her bottom lip. Her eyes closed, despite herself, and her hands went limp against his chest.

"Because," she started, drawing in deep breaths of air as his lips found other places to press on to. "The magazine upset me."

He paused abruptly, his body stiffening upon hearing the words, and very slowly pulled his head back to look her in the eyes. "Pan…" He started, using a cautious tone that made it clear he understood he was treading on thin water. "What magazine upset you?" His eyes shown into her as he asked, both of them knowing that now he knew what was wrong with her.

She shrugged and pulled away from him again, turning her body around so that his eyes could no longer read into her own. She couldn't look him in the face when she said this, she didn't even know if she could say it. How humiliating was this situation? Now that he had forced her to think about it, really think about it, she felt worse than dirt. Completely horrible. She had never felt this low in her life. A bitter taste fell on her tongue and she swallowed hard, fighting back the wave of nausea that rushed over her, taking her entirely by surprise.

"Pan, was it Illumina? Did you see it?" Slowly she turned around, eyes glossed over as an admission.

"You saw it?" There was disbelief and a slither of something else in her voice. What was it…hope? Maybe she wished he hadn't seen it?

"Yes, sweetheart, I saw it." He nodded, dropping his eyes to the floor, almost ashamed of who he was, though he couldn't do anything to change it.

"And… what'd you think?" She prodded, anger more in her tone now than anything else. Her eyes narrowed as she continued to study him, bracing herself for his answer. In part, she was afraid of what he might say, terrified that he would agree. In part, she wanted him to agree and then this whole thing would be over. Sometimes pretending hurt more than anything else. And lying was the hardest thing to do.

Lately it had become harder and harder to pretend like his touches didn't inspire symphonies to compose themselves inside her head. Lately, whenever he stared at her the way he had been, it was hard not to blush; it was hard to pretend she was unaffected and her stomach hadn't dropped through her knees. So all she needed was his admission, two simple words - I agree - and she wouldn't have to pretend anything anymore. She wouldn't have to deal with him anymore. But that was the part that filled her bones with fear. The thought of not having him there to look at her in that special way. The thought of him agreeing itself made her sick all over again. She fought off the sudden rush of anger and sadness that wanted to overwhelm her body as she awaited his response. It came almost immediately after the question.

"I think Raven and Fielders are insane. Or they're blind, obviously." He smiled lightly, only lifting one side of his lips into it as he moved his head back up to look at her. "You're a wonderful person, you know that, and I'd be lucky to have you."

"This isn't about how wonderful I am, Trunks. You and I both know that. It's about how gorgeous I am and apparently all of Tokyo - not just Raven and Fielders - thinks I'm lacking in that department and have made it their business to help you pick other women." She crossed her arms, trying to keep her voice even as she responded to him, but failing because anger made her rise in pitch towards the end.

"All of Tokyo isn't dating you Pan, I am. And I don't care how gorgeous you are, I adore you." Apparently he thought his answer was more than sufficient, his eyes widened as he waited eagerly for what she might say. He refused the smile that wanted to form on his face in silent congratulations for what he had just maneuvered his way out of - or what he thought he'd avoided.

"You inconsiderate baka!" She yelled throwing her fist into his chest, her eyes lighting with frustrated annoyance. "I can't believe you just said that." She had started her high pitched yelling again and he winced in pain, wanting to tell her to calm down. Wanting to ask why she was yelling.

"Pan," He winced but she didn't let him get more than that out.

"So what am I to you, Trunks? Chopped liver?" She threw her hands in the air, eyes widening and daring him to agree. Daring him to answer even. He didn't move, afraid of what was about to happen. Then, slowly, he opened his mouth.

"Don't you dare answer that!" She snapped, crossing her arms with barely held anger. "I can't believe you considered opening your mouth, even. What were you going to say? Yes?" Her eyes narrowed as she waited for him to respond. This time, however, he didn't move at all. He knew better now.

"I mean, what was that supposed to mean? I'm ugly but you'll date me anyway? I could look better but the conversation is alluring so you'll suffer through? Screw you, Trunks Vegita Briefs!"

"Pan, calm down, that's not what I-" She shoved him, hard, and slammed the door in his face. He stood there for a moment, staring like a fish out of water, mouth flapping open and closed, before he knocked. He knew he shouldn't have but he couldn't leave her while she was like this. "Pan talk to me or I'll stand outside your door the entire night and bang. I'm not kidding."

"I hope you choke on your own saliva and drown to death!" She screeched through the shut door, a door he knew she was leaning against but he couldn't push it open and it wasn't locked.

"That's mean, sweetheart." He chastised her again, frowning at the turn this evening had taken. It was supposed to be romantic. It was supposed to be one of the first times they felt really good in pubic, even. Because they had been invited somewhere together, as a couple. And in that stage in Trunks' relationships it usually meant the press was starting to accept whoever he was seeing as something slightly serious, something possibly life lasting. And that's why the Illumina article and come out. If only he could explain that to her she wouldn't be so upset. The kind of acceptance she was getting was rare. Marron hadn't even gotten it until after they were engaged.

"Trunks, get away from my door. Go to your movie premier and leave me alone."

"I'm not leaving this house without you, first of all. Secondly, I'm definitely not going to the premiere that we were both invited to now. And thirdly, I wouldn't dream of thinking of you as anything other than gorgeous. So open the door."

"You're only saying that because you pissed me off, you big, stupid oaf." Ouch. He could nearly see her pouting and he wanted to groan in frustration. How did he fix this situation? He would have been better off telling her she looked a little pudgy around the waist area, than do what he'd just done. There was no way out. "And I'm not leaving this room so you might as well come off it."

"Then I'll be out here all night." He continued stubbornly.

"No, you won't. You are going to that premiere." She said just as stubbornly. "If you don't go, I'm talking, leave right now, I'm going to call this whole thing off. No second thoughts, no second chances."

His face paled and he pushed roughly on the door. "Pan, you don't mean that." He tested cautiously, it was more of a question than a statement. She couldn't mean that, could she? Panic lights went off through his head as he backed away from the door. He stood there for seconds that seemed like a lifetime before he heard her voice, calm and completely serious.

"Every word." He swallowed hard and walked down the hallway, sitting on the steps. What was he supposed to do now? He felt like crying. He couldn't leave her here while she was so distraught but he couldn't stay and risk losing everything. He had to decide, right now, which was more important. Her marrying him or her not being so upset right now.

Right now would pass. Tomorrow he could talk to her and she would be reasonable. Tonight she'd only be upset and locked up in her room. Tonight she wouldn't listen to anything he had to say. Tomorrow she'd be more open minded. But she'd be completely pissed if he walked out on her. However, wouldn't she be just as mad if she thought he didn't take her seriously? Wouldn't she be just as upset if she thought marrying her meant so little to him that he was willing to risk loosing her over saving his face?

But right now was more important. She was hurt. She was upset. And thinking about her being unhappy, in any way, broke his heart. Mentally he shoved that feeling aside, promising he'd analyze it later when he had time to think. Right now the only thing he wanted was to know that she was going to be okay, nothing else mattered.

He got up and began to walk back to her room when a sudden feeling of loss washed over him. Immediately he knew she was serious. If he didn't leave, she would leave him. He couldn't risk that now, she was much too important to him. With clarity he realized that what she needed was time away from him to calm down, not him beating on her bedroom door while she tried to mope in peace.

And besides, for nearly two months he'd been showering her with his undivided attention. He'd been making her smile and showing her how much he cared without words. With simple touches and little looks. For nearly two months he had kept her from mentioning calling this 'deal' off and he only had a few days left before everything would be secure. He couldn't run the risk of loosing her now.

With that truth came a thought of how to fix things without screwing anything up. And, better yet, he wouldn't have to worry about her being upset tonight. If this plan worked.

Instead of beating on her door and telling her he wouldn't leave, he knocked softly and asked a simple question. "Are you sure you want me to go?"

"Positive." She answered, her voice a little cloudy. He cringed and grabbed his heart, physically stopping himself from breaking the door and pulling her into his arms. He heaved a heavy sigh and nodded his head, then weakly, he responded.

"Anything you want." And was gone.

He walked down the stairs and passed Gohan and Videl without a single word. They didn't question, but he could see they wanted to, so when he got to the door he paused and called out to them. "She's okay, she just read something she didn't like too much." He knew they'd pick up on the hint, at least Videl would, and didn't wait for a response. He simply walked out. When he got to the street, he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Capsules' number, Bra's personal line, and waited for her to pick up.

"Hey beautiful, I need a favor…"


*

The girl's hips swayed hypnotically from side to side as she walked, a motion so practiced it looked completely natural and perfectly fitting on her. Her eyes glinted a deep ocean of blue, slightly softer in color than the cerulean hue of her hair, as she moved with purpose. Her arms were flanked with equipment and her lips were curled in satisfaction. It was about time someone called her in to help with this; she had been waiting since what seemed like forever.

She rung the doorbell but didn't wait for anyone to answer, she simply adjusted her materials so that one hand was free to open the door. She turned the knob and stepped into the house like she belonged there, smiling widely as she peeped around the corner and into the living room.

"Hello to my second family." She greeted the two figures sitting on the couch as she advanced into the room. One of them, whose head was deep into some papers, looked up briefly and nodded. The other, whose legs were resting in the lap of the one reading papers, was reading a book and smiled warmly at her, saying hello before getting back into the novel.

"She's upstairs." Videl answered, turning the page of her book. "I guess Trunks called you?" She didn't expect an answer and Bra didn't give her one, simply laughed and said 'thank-you' for pointing her into the right direction.

"Panny!" She called out, using the voice her mother took on when she wanted attention, and smiling inwardly the entire time. This was going to be great fun.


*

"Bra, I'm not kidding, I'm not in the mood to play dress up." Pan pushed the girl aside again, curling back up on her bed and taking back the frown that had momentarily left her face. "Trunks sent you, didn't he?"

"Trunks has nothing to do with this. I saw that magazine and it made my blood boil. You're ten times prettier than any of the girls those idiots listed! The only thing you're missing that they are not is the proper make-up artist. That's why I'm here."

"Well, you can take your make-up and all the other crap your brought with you back. I'm not in the mood so wipe that smile off your face." Bra didn't listen to her, she sat her make-up bag on the floor along with the other bag she had brought and then sat down on the bed, looking at Pan with glistening eyes.

"Now, we'll layer your hair. I'm not talking take a lot off, but just enough, you know? Some of it will frame your face, but those will be the shortest strands. Then a little bit of highlights in certain areas, you know, something that will bring out your eyes. Your eyes have always been a lot lighter than your hair so this will help." She drew in a deep breath, not being dissuade by the way Pan cupped her ears with her hand to ignore Bra.

"After that we'll find the proper mascara for you and then find your shades of make-up," she held up her hand as she saw Pan open her mouth with the intention of objecting. "Now, don't worry, I'll show you how to apply it all. But I'm thinking earth tones would be perfect for you. And light pinks and peaches. Maybe we'll perm your hair so it won't be so wild and frizzy? I brought everything just in case." She was in her own element by then and Pan just let her go on and on, completely ignoring half of everything she said.

"Then we'll get rid of everything in your wardrobe except the things I brought you for Christmas all those years. We'll have to do most of the shopping tomorrow. Wait, before you kick me out, Pan," she warned, because Pan's eyes had flashed and she stood up on the bed, ready to throw Bra out of her room.

"I'm not saying you can't wear pants, jeans and all that stuff. I'm not saying they can't be baggy and… well, just plain manly. But they absolutely can't be anything but designer. Nothing you wear from here on out, for as long as you're dating my brother, can be anything less than something endorsed by millions. Understand?" Pan rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, giving Bra the 'no' look.

"I'm not changing myself for some magazines. Absolutely not. Forget it. I'm sorry you wasted so much thought on this."

"Pan," she said in her whiny voice. The one that said, daddy you are going to buy me those shoes, so stop pretending you aren't. "Oh," she quickly changed the subject. "And you'll have keep your nails done, always. No paint, no tips, just clear and shaped delicately. All the clothes that we buy have to say 'I'm taken', not 'I'm looking'. Otherwise everything that's in the papers from then on will be worse than what was in that magazine today. You don't want to know what kind of a gold-digging witch you'll be if you start dressing all fancy and provocative after you start dating Trunks. The press is a nasty thing."

"Bra, if you don't shut up." Pan warned, her face contorting into a frightening shade of rage. "I have a headache and I don't care who thinks I look like Bloody Mary, I am not going to change myself for them or because you're bored. Tell Trunks nice try. But if I wasn't pretty enough for him he should have chosen someone else. Maybe he should get with Katie whats-her-face."

"Katie Pickett." Bra informed with annoyance. "She's pretty but she's very shallow. And Trunks doesn't need to date an actress, he'll be busy enough without marrying someone who's never going to be home. Besides, she should dye her back to it's natural color, that red isn't working for her. She was much prettier as a brunette."

"You are so superficial." Pan sighed, throwing her hands into her hair with annoyance.

"Maybe, but how do you think they're going to judge you at the Lenten Ball tomorrow night? It certainly won't be on your intellect. And if you're not careful you're going to watch as Trunks sweeps some other girl off her feet in the 'cutest couple' dance. Because they don't vote according to who you came with, but rather, who they want you to leave with. And everyone knows Trunks always wins the male vote. It's a fight for the female one and every woman there will be looking her best to steal your man. Even Katie's going to be there and you know how the public feels about her and Trunks. Don't go out without with out a fight, Pan. Prove to the public that you're prettier than the others, I already know." Seeing Pan's still angry face, she amended quickly, "Not that looks matter."

"I forgot about the ball." Pan spoke softly, calculating in her head the pros and cons of letting Bra 'make her over'. She really didn't want to let Bra touch anything on her but she couldn't go to that ball looking like she did at this moment. In the midst of everything that was happening she forgot to prepare for the ball. She forgot about it completely.

And that was odd because she had been looking forward to this ball. It was one of the rare job related events of Trunks' that she truly enjoyed doing. Last year he had invited Marron and that had been when she started dating him. Pan was immensely jealous that year and she wanted nothing more than to prove she was better company for Trunks than Marron. Recently, she realized, she had been setting out to prove herself better than Marron in every way. She had been trying, despite her better senses, to make Trunks love her. She didn't want to stop until she heard him say it - she wouldn't stop.

And if changing her look, only slightly so that he saw her in a different light, meant that she was closer to that goal in any way then she would do whatever it took. Reluctantly she nodded her head, slowly signing her life over to Bra. The younger girl smiled, squealed and then jumped up clapping her hands.

"I knew you'd see things my way." Pan sucked in the air, deeply disturbed by what she had just agreed to, and closed her eyes tightly as Bra began to pull out her materials. "You'll show them who's to die for."


*

To be honest, she didn't even recognize herself as she looked in the mirror. The haircut made her look completely different, like someone you thought you knew but couldn't quite put your finger on how or from where. The layers were shorter than she would have liked but her hair still fell to her shoulders in a good amount of length. The highlights were brown, not blonde, and she thought they really did bring out her eyes. They made them shine and sparkle, and the smoky dark shade of mascara that Bra chose helped to bring out the lightness of the brown in her eyes.

The dress she was about to slip into was red and her eye make-up was a light pale-pink that made her look somewhat exotic. Her lipstick was a natural color that was more of a sheen than a form of make-up and, somehow, everything Bra had chosen looked natural. She had gotten her nails done and, apparently, she had to get a whole new wardrobe - which was Bra's command and would be Bra's expense. She had enough to worry about with school expenses, she couldn't pay for that too.

"What do you think?" Bra questioned. She had come back today to help Pan get ready because she didn't think she was prepared to do the make-up yet.

"I told you last night that I was amazed, Bra. It hasn't changed." She tried to sound flat as she spoke but she couldn't quite get her voice to lose it's excited tone.

"You should be amazed, you look like a supermodel." She really did, for the very first time she looked more than amazing. She was breathtakingly stunning. "My brother won't be able to keep his hands off of you."

Pan didn't say anything, only fought hard to keep the blush from flushing her face with embarrassment. When had her and Trunks being 'together' become public knowledge? She knew that everyone in her family was aware of Trunks' supposed feelings for her. As well as the fact that she returned them without question, but actually saying that they were dating was something completely different. She supposed it was when all the magazines started printing things about them being a couple. Her parents had accepted it, they hadn't questioned or challenged anything. There seemed to be some sort of silent pact among them that Pan didn't know about. Was it the calm before the storm? What would her parents do when they realized that she was going to marry Trunks? She saw the anger in her father's eyes whenever she and Trunks were near each other, especially when Trunks would dip his head and rest it on the crook of her neck, like he was about to kiss her but couldn't because he had an audience - as he had done often these past few weeks. It made her tingle but it made her father cringe.

Yet, he never tried to discourage her dating Trunks and that made her sort of nervous. It was like her parents thought this was a phase. But she was completely serious about this. Her grandmother could tell this wasn't just a fleeting phase; she could tell because Chi-Chi would click her teeth whenever she passed Pan these days, giving her a discouraging look to let her know how she felt about the situation. But Chi-Chi never said anything about it either.

Of course Bulma was overly pleased with herself because, for some strange reason, she seemed to believe herself to be the catalyst in Pan and Trunks' get together. Aside from Goten, everyone else seemed indifferent about the situation or uppity like they had expected it all along. Marron and Bra had taken on 'it's about time' attitudes towards anything that had to do with Pan and Trunks, and Ubuu was usually a go-with-the-flow type of person. Overall, things were working well for the young couple and the magazine Pan was reading yesterday had been the first adversity they had come across.

Videl had been reading Illumina when Pan saw her name on the cover and insisted that she get to discover whatever was the matter for herself. Her findings, obviously, weren't very pleasant. Illumina Magazine is something more like a tabloid than anything else. It's a woman's journal for the most part and Raven and Fielders are the 'famous-couple critics'. Basically they write about famous people and who they're dating, pointing out the pros and cons of being in that particular relationship, predicting how long it will last, and picking apart each person in the couple and telling their faults - to great extreme. Needless to say, with Pan taking the richest, most desirable, most eligible bachelor off the market, there was nothing good in that article about her. Excluding her, apparently, "luscious lips" that is.

Pan sighed, trying not to think of yesterday's drama. This was a brand new day and there was no reason for her to concentrate on other people's shallowness at this moment. She was about to go to the Lenten Ball. This was her one big chance to make Trunks forget all about Marron and all about the deal. She wanted this night to be special. She wanted, just once in her life, to be someone's Cinderella.

She stepped away from the mirror and turned to face Bra, drawing in a breath and putting on her brightest smile. "Let's get me into that dress." Boy, she never thought she'd see a day where saying that brought a smile to her face.


*

He tapped his fingers on the satin fabric of his pants again, trying - yet failing - not to look nervous. His head was pressed so close to the glass of the limo he was leaving imprints of his forehead and yet he wasn't physically touching any part of the window. A lump had formed in his throat and, in the uncomfortable silence, he knew he should say something but he couldn't find the words.

She was upset with his inability, he could tell. Her arms were crossed, her perfectly manicured fingernails digging into the pail skin of her shoulders. Her body position clearly stated she was upset, her legs were crossed at the end and she was turned slightly away from him, staring out of her window. Through the corner of his eye he could see her grinding her jaw back and forth.

He was only making things worse by being silent but every time he tried to turn, to say something constructive, he felt as if he were swallowing sand and his stomach dropped into his knees. She just looked too good. He didn't know how he was supposed to function when every time he turned to tell her something interesting or comforting, something to ease her nerves and get her through this night, all he could think of was the way her skin tasted like vanilla. And how he wished to refresh his memory and make sure this was still a fact.

He rolled his eyes to the top of his head, trying to hold back the groan before it escaped. He couldn't and his audible discomfort fell into the air. She sighed and turned toward him, her lips turned downward, brown eyes sparkling like never before.

"Is there something wrong with the way I look?" She challenged, getting right to the point. "Because, if you'd prefer, we can have the limo driver turn around to drop me off and you can spend the evening with Katie Pickett. The rest of Tokyo would like that better anyway." He turned as well, so that his eyes met hers when he told her how wrong she was.

"Pan, if I wanted to be with anyone else you wouldn't be sitting next to me in this limo." He didn't blink as he told her, promising her with his eyes that he would be true to her and only her, forever if she'd let him. "I don't want Katie Pickett and the rest of Tokyo can just get over it."

"They're going to pick you two for cutest couple, you know." She said, instead of acknowledging how wrong his 'pep talk' had been. He was supposed to tell her that she was ten times prettier than all those other girls and that she took his breath away every time he looked at her. But, she guessed, she'd just have to get used to not hearing such things if she was going to marry him.

"Why would they when you're bound to be the prettiest girl there?" Okay, maybe she wouldn't have to go entirely without nice things. She didn't respond, only turned back to her window and continued to glower. He was supposed to be 'all over her' according to Bra. Was she that undesirable that he didn't even want to sit close to her?

The limo stopped and Pan let out a heavy breath before climbing out, with the help of the driver, of course. If Trunks wasn't going to shower her with affection she was sure someone at this ball would. She didn't look bad and she knew it. Even Trunks should be admiring her, even if he couldn't see her as anything more than a friend before. He should be able to at least picture her in some kind of romantic light. She tried to control her temper as she walked up to the entrance of the estate, not wanting him to ask her what was bothering her. She would feel stupid trying to explain that she had gone through great pains to be something in his life that he had specifically told her she could never be.

Trunks followed, weary of Pan's attitude, and bound to show some sort of self-restraint through the night. He refused to let his hormones get the best of him. While being attracted to Pan was nothing new to him, feeling like he couldn't stop himself from acting on it was. It was something that had only ever occurred one other time. And that last time had ended in disaster. He wasn't going to let her cancel on him now, they were almost engaged. Two more nights and it would be her birthday and he would be home free.

However, he wasn't into the blue skies yet. He had to figure out her mood, and quickly, if he was going to sway her in the direction of being his wife before it was time for her to decide one way or another. Right now he wasn't sure what he was doing wrong, just that it was very wrong and it needed to be corrected. And in order for him to do that he'd have to discover what it was that she expected from him. And what she didn't. This night was bound to be the hardest one in their relationship.

A/N: Again, I didn't edit this. O.o so I don't know what it looks like from your perspective. If it's really bad, tell me. I'll revise it and then replace it like Wednesday. Otherwise, -shrug- it's done with. I don't know when I'll be able to update again. I'll try not to leave you high and dry for too long. As in, I'll try and update again on Monday (since we get a 3 day weekend) but I don't know what my schedule will look like. Sorry. Things are hectic. Don't forget to review and tell me what you thought of this chapter - seemed kind of slow to me, but that might be because it took me so long to write since I had to space my time out between school and everything else. Thanks for reading. ^_^