8:30 Next morning. Before first period
Bulma, Chi chi, 18, Krillin and Goku were all huddled round one desk. Talking about Bulma and Vegeta. Goku and Krillin had had no idea that were going out because they hadn't seen them kiss.
"Look Bulma. I'm going to the dance with Goku, 18's going to the dance with Krillin. It's only right that you go with Vegeta! You have to ask him! Today!"
"Ok Chi chi! I already said I would ask him! And, unless you haven't realised, Vegeta isn't here yet so I can't ask him yet!"
"Well, it'll be the first thing you do as soon as he gets here."
They all turned round when they heard someone coming in the class room. Everyone's eyes widened with shock as Vegeta walked in with a black eye and blood dripping from his lip. The whole class started whispering to each other. None of them dared to ask him what had happened. Bulma stood up quickly and ran to him. She grabbed his hand and dragged him out into the corridor. When they were out in the corridor, Bulma threw her arms round Vegeta's neck. She didn't care that everyone in the class room could see them through the window. Vegeta ran a hand through Bulma's hair. Bulma fished a tissue out of her bag and started dabbing his bleeding lip.
"When did he do it? When you went home?"
"Well, the black eye's from after I went home. He was a bit drunk. I walked in the house and he was about to hit my mum again so I grabbed his arm before he did it, then he hit me with his free arm. Then, the lip was this morning. My mum had made us all a really nice breakfast. Eggs, bacon, sausages. The works. And he wouldn't eat it. So I yelled at him for being selfish after mum had taken ages to cook it all and he got angry with me and decided to 'show me some discipline.'"
"Oh my god. Vegeta I'm so sorry."
"What have you got to be sorry for? You didn't do anything. Besides, I'm fine. I wouldn't be in school if I wasn't fine."
Bulma took the tissue away from Vegeta's lip. It still bled freely.
"I think you may need to get stitches for that. The school nurse can do them."
"And what am I gonna tell her happened? I can't tell her I got into a fight with my dad. And I can't say I got into a fight with another student because then she'll want to know who and stuff like that."
"Well you can't leave it like that! Just say you have a little brother, and you were play fighting with him this morning and he got a bit out of control. Please Vegeta. If you leave it like that, it will just get worse. I'll come with you if you want."
"Ok fine. If you think it's really that bad."
"Thank you."
They set off together in the direction of the nurse.
30 minutes later
The nurse had just finished the last stitch in Vegeta's lip. He had been put under a weak anaesthetic.
"There we go. All done."
Bulma was holding Vegeta's hand tightly.
"He should be awake by break. Why don't you get to class?"
"No. I can't. I have to stay here with him."
"But what will your teachers say? I really don't think you should miss your lessons."
"Listen ok! I've made up my mind! I'm not leaving him!"
"Do you want me to get the head in?"
"Please. Please let me stay with him. It would mean the world to me. And him."
The nurse smiled sympathetically.
"Boyfriend huh?"
Bulma nodded with tears in her eyes.
"Oh go on then. Just don't tell any teachers I let you stay. Deal?"
"Deal. Thanks."
"No problem."
The nurse gave her a quick smile before walking back into her office. Bulma looked at Vegeta's face.
What am I supposed to do now? This is awful! I can't believe this is happening. Especially to Vegeta.
Bulma glanced at her watch. 9:05.
25 more minutes and they'll all be in here finding out what happened. I hope he's awake by then.
15 minutes later
Bulma was sitting beside Vegeta's bed in an armchair reading her English book. Vegeta still hadn't woken up. She put her book back in her bag and stared at Vegeta. He turned his head to the side, in Bulma's direction, and opened his eyes.
"Bulma?"
She stood up and walked to his bedside.
"Finally. You're awake."
"Is it done? Have I got the stitches?"
He reached up and touched his lip.
"Ow!"
He drew his hand back quickly in pain. Bulma held his tightly.
"Yeah. It's all done. The nurse said not to touch them. She said to come back in a week and she'll see how it. If she thinks it healed well enough you can have them taken out."
"It really hurts. My whole lip is throbbing."
"Oh yeah, she said the throbbing will ease off after a while. Oh, and don't eat anything like salt and vinegar crisps 'cuz they'll make it sting."
"Ok. Whatever."
"Thanks for getting them done Vegeta. It means a lot to me."
"I still can't believe you talked me into getting them done."
Bulma laughed.
"It's for the best. Trust me. If you hadn't got them done, then it would have just stayed like that. Or probably have gotten worse. It would get infected and go all gross."
Suddenly there was a knock on the door. Bulma and Vegeta looked at the nurses office. The nurse opened the door and peered round.
"Oh good he's awake. How are you feeling Vegeta?"
"I'm ok thanks."
They heard more voices coming from the nurses office. The nurse opened the door wider and Vegeta's parents walked in. Bulma gasped in surprise. Vegeta gripped Bulma's hand tightly. The nurse smiled at his parents.
"Here he is. Now I have a lot of paperwork to be getting on with so I'll just leave you now."
She walked out of the room and back into her office. Vegeta's mum walked towards him and stood beside him on the opposite side of the bed to Bulma. Vegeta looked at her.
"What are you doing here?"
"The school called a while ago. Saying you had had to get stitches and they suggested that we came and took you home for the rest of the day."
"I'm not going home. I'm staying in school."
Vegeta's dad walked over and stood next to Bulma, not seeming to acknowledge that she was there.
"You'll do as your mother says you selfish little brat."
Bulma walked in front of him.
"Hey! That wasn't very nice! He's not a selfish brat!"
Vegeta griped her hand tighter.
"Bulma. Don't…"
Vegeta's dad narrowed his eyes at her.
"And who might you be?"
"I'm Vegeta's girlfriend, Bulma."
"Well you can leave now. There's no need for you to be here."
"Well I believe I do have a right to be here. I'm staying with Vegeta whether you like it or not."
Vegeta turned Bulma round so she was facing him.
"Don't do this. Just get out of here now."
"No! I'm not leaving you."
"Look I got the stitches just like you wanted, so please do just what I want. I don't want you to get hurt."
"And I don't want you to get hurt either! I don't care what you say Vegeta, I'm not going to leave you."
Vegeta's dad pulled them apart and held Bulma by her wrists.
"I think he wants you to leave girl! And I suggest you do as he says!"
Vegeta looked at Bulma pleadingly but she stood her ground.
"Oh yeah? And what if I don't?"
Vegeta's dad let go of one of her wrists, drew his hand back and…
"Bulma!"
Bulma was sent flying to the floor. Vegeta jumped out of the bed and ran to her side. He bent down and helped her up. He put his arms round her shoulders and held her tightly.
"I told you. I begged you to leave. I knew this would happen. You knew this would happen. Why did you do it?"
Bulma didn't answer. Vegeta kept one arm round her shoulders and put his other arm under her arm to support her.
"Come on. We're getting you out of here."
Vegeta's father stalked towards them.
"You're not going anywhere!"
Vegeta snapped into action and ran. Bulma ran alongside him. They stopped briefly at Bulma's locker and fished out her coat. Bulma shoved it on and then carried on running to the school entrance. They didn't even turn their heads when Goku noticed them and called out to them. Vegeta grabbed Bulma's hand and pulled her out of school. When they were outside they relaxed against the door. Bulma slid to the floor with her head in her heads. Vegeta knelt down beside her and shook her gently.
"Bulma? Bulma? Are you ok?"
Bulma looked up with tears running down her face. Vegeta ran his thumb under her eyes.
"Bulma come on. Please don't crack on me."
"I'm sorry. I just couldn't leave you."
"Shhh. It's ok. Are you ok though? Where did he hit you? How hard?"
"It doesn't matter. I'm fine."
"Well he sent you flying so it must have been pretty hard! God I can't believe him! I could kill him right now!"
Bulma put a hand on Vegeta's tense arm.
"Vegeta don't. You'll just get hurt again."
"Come on. You need to sit down. And the grounds pretty dirty. Look, there's a bench over there."
Vegeta helped Bulma help and supported her to a bench at the bottom of the entrance steps. He pulled Bulma onto his lap and held her tightly.
"Vegeta what are you gonna do? You have to tell someone eventually."
"No I don't. Not if I can stick it out until the end of the year."
"Vegeta don't be crazy. That's over a year away. You can't let this carry on for that long."
"Look I'll think of something. In the meantime, don't tell anybody. You promised you wouldn't. Remember?"
"Of course I remember. I just can't bare the thought of him hitting you again."
"Look I…………"
"Vegeta!"
Their heads jerked up as Vegeta's mother's voice echoed through the road. She noticed them and walked over to them slowly. She sat down next to Vegeta and stared at her feet.
"Look Vegeta. I'm sorry. For what your dad did. He shouldn't have done it. Are you alright dear?"
She looked at Bulma.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
Vegeta narrowed his eyes at his mum.
"Where's dad?"
"He's gone home."
"Well how are you supposed to get home?"
"He told me to get the bus. He was angry so I decided it was for the best."
"Why! Why do you let him do that to you? You keep saying he loves you but I have yet to see him show it!"
"Look Vegeta, I'm not going to argue with you about this now. I've had enough today. I'm tired, hungry and fed up."
"Fine. Than you can just leave."
"Vegeta look I'm really sorry about what he did. He shouldn't have done that."
"Why are you apologizing for him? He should be the one saying sorry not you! I don't know how much more I can take mum! I've already started looking for houses."
"You what? You're moving out?"
"I don't know."
Bulma looked up. Vegeta held her tighter.
"Look, I haven't decided what I'm doing yet. All I know is that Bulma's right. I can't take this for another year!"
"Listen to me Vegeta, I am your mother and I will be treated with respect! Your father only does it to teach you some discipline."
"How is hitting me and beating me up discipline mum?"
"Look, we'll finish this at home!"
Vegeta's mum stood up and walked off in the direction of the bus stop. Vegeta sighed and rested his head on Bulma's shoulder.
"It'll be ok Vegeta. Like I said before, we always have spare rooms at my house. And I would love for you to come and stay."
Vegeta grunted and lifted his head.
"But I can't keep running from him forever."
"Well if you're planning to confront him face to face, then I'll be there with you. By your side the whole time."
"Don't say stuff like that. You're not going to get involved. You understand me?"
"But I'm not letting you go this alone Vegeta. There's two of them and one of you. I can look after myself."
"Just listen to me ok! What you saw today was just the tip of the iceberg! He's usually much worse than that!"
"All the more reason for you not to confront him by yourself! It's almost like suicide doing it alone, and you know that. If you just told Goku I'm sure he'd…"
"I'm not telling Goku! I'm not telling anybody! Will you stop bringing up the idea to tell people! If my dad finds out he'll come after me and it will tear my mum apart. Why can't you get it into your head that, no matter how hard you try, I'm not telling anybody else. And neither are you!"
"Don't yell at me Vegeta! I was only trying to help!"
"I know ok? Unless you haven't realised, I'm under a lot of stress lately. I'm sorry ok?"
"Me too. I don't mean to be so…well pushy about everything. I just don't want you to get hurt."
"And I don't want you to get hurt either. Sometimes I want so badly to tell someone, but, I can't. Like I said my dad would come after me. He'd find me. No matter how hard I'd try to hide. And my mum would go ballistic. She'd probably kick me out of the house. I love my mum. I care about her. I want her to be safe too. And if I tell anybody, my dad will probably think my mum's got something to do with it as well, and my mum's not strong enough to defend herself against my dad. I am able to defend myself enough to get out of his way before he does something that would really hurt."
"Oh. Listen, I will be able to sleep so much easier tonight if you stay at my house. Please?"
"I was waiting for you to ask that. I don't want to go home. Not yet anyway. What about school tomorrow?"
"What about it? Don't you bunk off all the time anyway?"
"Yeah but I…"
"Well it's settled then. We'll both skive!"
"What if your parents find out?"
"They won't. Trust me. I know how to fool my parents. I've lived with them my whole live surprisingly enough."
They both laughed and smiled at each other.
"If I drive to my house quickly, I should be able to get there before my mum or dad get home. Knowing my dad he'll be going to the pub for an early drink because he's angry. And if my mum is getting the bus, she'll have to wait for it and then it'll have to stop at every bus stop, so I'll get there first and I can get my stuff."
"Ok then. If you're sure."
"Of course I'm sure. Do you wanna stay here?"
"No way! I'm coming with you! And we better get going quickly, we've only got about three minutes till break starts and then everyone will coming to see what happened."
"Right."
1:00pm A park near Bulma's house
Bulma took a lick of her strawberry ice-cream cone. She looked around her at all the couples with their children, all the old couples, and all the adult couples walking together. All the little children were running around, playing with their parents. Bulma looked at Vegeta eating his vanilla ice-cream.
"My parents used to bring me here when I was little. I met Chi chi here. We used to come here a lot together. We'd have such fun here. We used to play jump rope here. In fact, I spent a whole day here once. The day when I met Yamcha. What a waste of time."
Vegeta laughed. Bulma looked up the sky, her eyes looked sorrowful for a few seconds. Vegeta noticed.
"Did you really love him?"
"Huh? Oh. Well, I guess I had feelings for him if that's what you mean. But nothing like the feelings I have for you."
She blushed and lowered her head. Vegeta smirked at her.
"So anyway, I heard there's a dance coming up soon."
Bulma smiled sweetly at him. Vegeta looked at her wearily.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. And I was just wondering…well that is…would you like to go with me?"
"'Course I will. I wouldn't want to go with anyone else."
"Really?"
"Really. What are you wearing for it?"
"I dunno. Chi wants me to dress up really fancy like her and 18, but I don't know if I want to. What will you be wearing?"
"I dunno. I've never been to a school dance before."
"Well, I think this dance will be the perfect time to show people that we're a couple. I mean, only our friends know and this will be the perfect event for us to show it off to everyone else. So we'll have to make a big impression. We'll have to wear something that people will remember."
"What are you thinking?"
Bulma smiled slyly to herself.
"Not telling. I only just thought of it. I need to work it all out first and see if we can pull it off."
Vegeta rolled his eyes.
"That's typical of you."
She giggled and took a bit of her flake.
"Hey give me a taste of your ice cream. I haven't had vanilla in ages."
Vegeta smirked.
This'll teach her!
"You sure?"
"Yeah. Come on. Please. I'll let you have a bit of mine."
Vegeta leaned forward and held the ice-cream right in front of her face.
"Ok. Well, you asked for it."
He leant forward a bit more and smushed the ice-cream into her face.
(A/N: Sorry for using such a rubbish word- smushed. I couldn't think of a better one.)
Bulma fell backwards off the bench in shock. Vegeta was in fits of laughter. Bulma stood up quickly, wiping off the worst of the ice-cream with the back of her hand.
"You bastard! I can't believe you did that! You've really spoilt the mood now!"
She rummaged around in her bag for a tissue and started wiping off the remains of strawberry ice-cream on her face. She walked over to Vegeta and glared at him. He carried on laughing.
"Oh come on Bulma. It was just a bit of fun."
"If that's what you call fun than you're out of your mind!"
She let go of her tissue and went to hit him, but he caught her wrist.
"Oi!"
He pulled her towards him quickly, making her stumble and land on his lap. Vegeta smirked at her. Bulma raised an eyebrow quizzically at him.
"What?"
"You missed a bit of ice-cream on your lip there."
He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. He started nibbling her bottom lip, gaining instant access into her mouth. Bulma started to giggle and broke away.
"Gone?"
"Mmm."
Vegeta smiled at her. Bulma eyes widened.
"I've just realised something! Chi will be on the phone to me tonight wanting to find out what happened! What am I going to tell her?"
"I don't know…I feel horrible for putting you in this position."
"Don't be stupid! I'm so glad you told me!"
"Yeah but…"
"No 'yeah buts' about it Vegeta. You had to tell someone. And I'm really glad it was me."
Bulma put her arms round Vegeta's neck and rested her head against his.
Why won't he tell me he loves me? This is another perfect opportunity. He's had so many perfect moments to tell me.
7:00pm. CC
"Come on you bloody six! I'm not going to have my arse kicked by Vegeta!"
Vegeta laughed.
"Awww. Poor Bulma. Upset because she's losing."
"Shut up! You just wait!"
They were sitting on Bulma's bed, trying to play a game of Frustration. Vegeta was way ahead.
(A/N: For those of you who don't know what the game Frustration is, look it up cuz I cant be bothered to explain.)
Bulma pressed the plunger and crossed her fingers.
"AAGGHH! FIVE! That's it! I give up! You win!"
Vegeta laughed.
"Hurray!"
"Don't get too cocky! If it was any other game, I would kick your ass!"
"Is that so?"
"It is."
"Wanna test that theory out?"
"Not right now. I'm too tired."
Bulma smiled slyly to herself as Vegeta put the game away. She lay down on the bed and stared at her ceiling. Vegeta walked over and lay down beside her. Bulma moved closer to him and rested her head on his muscular chest.
"Vegeta, can I ask you something?"
"'Course."
"Well, I know our friends think we're a couple and everything, but that doesn't mean squat if we don't think so. So I was just wondering do you think we're a couple?"
"You know I do. And if you ever tell anybody I'm telling you this, I will deny it but, it's weird, I've never felt this way towards anybody else before."
"Yeah same here."
"Can I ask you something now?"
"Go ahead."
"Aren't you worried about going out with me?"
Bulma turned over onto her front and propped herself up on her elbows, so she was looking Vegeta in the eye.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, you know. You're really popular, everyone looks up to you. Even the teacher's adore you! But me…I'm the outcast. Everyone looks down on me like I'm filth, I mean I must have beaten up nearly every guy in school! The teachers hate me, if I left I bet they'd throw a party. Don't you think going out with me will put a downer on your reputation?"
"Are you kidding me Vegeta? Listen to me, all that stuff you said about me, I don't care! I don't care if I'm popular! I don't give a damn if teachers like me or not! I don't give a toss that people look up to me. None of it matters to me. And all the stuff you said about yourself is so not true! Well, apart from the fact that you've probably beaten up nearly every guy in school, that's probably true. But the rest of it isn't! In fact me being your girlfriend will probably make me more popular. Believe it or not Vegeta, nearly every girl in our year would give anything to go out with you! You literally have a fan club!"
"Really?"
"Really! I mean, I've always been popular. I can live without it! When I was in primary school I could never get any time to myself! All the boys wanted to go out with me. They were like dogs, I just said a command and they'd do it! It got so annoying! I had no time for me! It was the same in high school. I had boys lined up to go out with me. Well, they've backed off since you started hanging around with us because they're scared of you. I think that's one of the reasons I like you. You were your own person. You weren't part of the 'go out with Bulma' line. It's like you were immune to my charm."
Bulma laughed and he smiled at her.
"I wasn't exactly immune. It was pretty hard to keep myself from going in that line and beaten up every guy to get to the front. But you were going out with that Yamcha creep."
"Did you fancy me while I was going out with Yamcha?"
"Maybe. A little. I dunno. I didn't really have my feelings for you sorted out then."
"You're so sweet Vegeta. It really means a lot to me that you can tell me that stuff. I love it that you trust me, cuz I mean, you don't seem to trust anyone else. I trust you one hundred percent too. You know that right?"
"Yeah. I know."
Say it! Tell me you love me Vegeta! Oh for gods sake! Looks like I'm gonna have to do it.
"Vegeta?"
"Yeah?"
"I……love you."
Vegeta's body tensed up. He stood up and walked to the bathroom.
"I need a shower."
Bulma sighed and tears came to her eyes as she stared at her ceiling.
Why won't the say it? Why won't he tell me he loves me? It's not that hard. I told him, and now I feel stupid. What am I going to do?
She sighed and switched on the TV.
30 minutes later
Vegeta walked out of the shower in a pair of baggy, old, blue, denim jeans and a black shirt. Bulma sat up, crossed legged, on her bed.
"Why won't you say it?"
Vegeta turned round and looked at her.
"Say what?"
"That you love me."
"What?"
"Why won't you tell me you love me Vegeta?"
Bulma stood up and walked over to him.
"Vegeta?"
He looked away from her. She stepped again so she was in front of him.
"Come on Vegeta. Tell me. You know you can."
His eyes finally met hers.
"Because I can't."
"But why not?"
"Because…I don't want to."
Bulma took a step backwards.
"What? Why?"
"Because…I don't want to hurt you."
"What? How is telling me you love me going to hurt me?"
"Because, if I tell you I love you, it will hurt more if we break up."
"But Vegeta, it's hurting me that you wont say it! Besides, who says we're going to break up? Not all relationships end badly!"
"But how can we be sure ours will end well?"
"Because I know! I love you and whether you say it or not, I know you love me too. So why don't you do us both a favour and tell me you love me?"
"I can't now!"
"Why?"
"Because I won't mean it! I'd only be saying it because you wanted me to!"
"But if you don't say it now, are you ever?"
"I dunno."
"Vegeta, why not? I thought…"
Vegeta cut her off by placing his finger on her lips.
"But! Whether I say it or not, I do love you. Even if I don't show it or say it."
Bulma walked into his arms and rested her head on his chest.
"Thank you. That's all you had to say."
"You happy now?"
"Very."
"Good. I want you to know this as well. If I ever hurt you, I don't mean to. I would never wanna hurt you."
"I know. I don't want to hurt you either."
Vegeta let go of her, walked to the bed, lay down and turned on the TV.
"Well, now we've got that sorted, we can finally watch some TV."
Bulma rolled her eyes but joined him. She lay down on the edge of the bed, her back to Vegeta, facing the TV. She felt Vegeta's arm curl round her waist and pull her close to him. Bulma giggled as her started to nibble on her ear. She turned over in his arms so she was facing him. She tilted her head upwards and met his lips. He gained access into her mouth easily. She put up little resistance when his tongue started roaming round her mouth. She brought her head back to breath and rested her forehead on his shoulder. He coiled his arms round her shoulders and held her tightly.
Next morning. 8:00am
Bulma opened her eyes with a start. She tried to move, but felt something strong holding her back. She looked up and saw Vegeta smiling at her. She realised that the strong thing holding her was Vegeta's arm.
Oh my god! I slept with Vegeta! Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! I can't believe it! And he's still smiling at me!
She giggled happily and tried to wriggle free. Vegeta pulled her back quickly.
"Mine!"
She giggled again and nudged his shoulder.
"Come on Vegeta. You gotta let go sometime."
"Let me just hold you for a bit longer."
"Vegeta stop it. What's wrong with you babe?"
"Nothing."
"Well, you're not being you."
"Are you saying you would rather me be a cocky, obnoxious bastard than the romantic, charming boyfriend of your dreams?"
Bulma curled back up in his arms and nuzzled her face into his shirt.
"Let me think about that."
9:00PM
Bulma and Vegeta were sitting on the sofa, in the lounge, watching TV, in each others arms. Vegeta glanced at Bulma.
"I think I'll be heading home in a minute or two."
Bulma's head jerked up.
"What? Why1?"
"Because I really think I should stop putting off the inevitable. The later I am, the more angry they'll get."
"But Vegeta, I don't want you to go!"
"I have to leave eventually hun."
"But why so soon?"
"I just….feel it's for the best ok?"
"Well….ok then….just….take care of yourself. Be careful."
Vegeta stood up, pulling Bulma up with him. He pulled her close to him and wrapped his arms round her. He leant his head close to hers.
"I love you."
Bulma beamed with delight.
"I love you too."
Vegeta gave her a big kiss, picked up his bags and walked out. Bulma sighed and walked sulkily up to her room. She walked up to her room and turned on the TV.
9:30
Bulma switched off the TV and sighed.
Guess I had better start on my homework. Got nothing better to do.
She sat down at her desk and opened the book she was reading for English. As she opened it, a note on a piece of blue paper fell out. She opened it quickly. Tears fell from her eyes as she read it.
Dear Bulma,
I have been thinking a lot lately about my life, and have made a decision. Please, for me, do not try and stop me. This is what I want. You've probably guessed what I'm talking about by now. I couldn't say goodbye to you properly at your house or you would have tried to stop me. As the saying goes, if you love someone, you have to let them go. I love you.
Vegeta
Tears drops fell on the letter, smudging his scribbled hand writing.
She ran out of her room, down the stairs, and out of the house. She jumped on her hover bike. She didn't have a license yet but knew how to drive it well enough to get where she wanted to.
Wait for me Vegeta.
She found the alleyway quickly and raced down it. She drove as fast as she could through he forest, dodging in and out of tress and bushes. She got to the glade. She could just make out the top of the cliff in the darkness. She raced upwards on her hover bike (yes it's a hover bike so it can go upwards.) And leapt off when she got to the top.
"Vegeta! Vegeta where are you?"
It was hard enough to see through her tears but the darkness of the night made it harder. She stumbled across the top of the cliff. She could hear the rush of water getting closer.
"Vegeta please! You have to be alive! You just have to! I love you too much to let this happen!"
She stepped backwards, getting closer and closer to the edge of the cliff.
"Vegeta?"
Her voice was a hoarse whisper.
"You can't be gone. You cant. But…what if I came to the wrong place? What if you're not here? What if I've lost you forever? I love you Vegeta! You have to be alive! I'll do anything to keep you alive."
She took another step backwards and felt the ground give way beneath her. She screamed as she started t fall downwards towards the freezing cold stream. She screamed Vegeta's name loudly. She reached out and tried to grab hold of the cliff edge. She felt something strong coil round her wrist. It pulled her up quickly. When she got to the top, it let go and she stumbled forward in someone's arms. She had tears falling at a steady pace down her cheeks. She could make out Vegeta's scent in the night air and relaxed in his arms. He held her tightly for a few minutes before pushing her away. She stumbled backwards and fell to the ground with a thud.
"I told you not to come after me."
"Why would I not?"
"Because this is what I want! You shouldn't have come, you could have been killed!"
Bulma got to her feet and steadied herself in the darkness.
"It's not what you want. Not truly."
"How do you know that! How can you be sure that what you're saying is true? Maybe this is, truly, honestly what I wanna do!"
"But why? I thought we talked about everything?"
"Yeah we did. But it's just all too much! I can't handle it any more!"
"But that's what I'm here for! To help you handle it! I want to help you!"
"You can't want to help! You don't even know what I'm talking about!"
"I would if you just told me! I want to understand Vegeta, I want to get closer to you than anyone else ever has!"
"But you can't say that! You don't even know!"
"Know what?"
"He's finally done it! I phoned home earlier to say I was coming home. Our neighbour answered."
"So?"
"She said my mum was in the hospital! She said she might no make it!"
Bulma took a step backwards in shock. Vegeta looked for her in the darkness, daring himself to cry. Bulma reached out and felt for him in the dark.
"Vegeta, please. Let me come to you. It doesn't have to be like this! I'll help you. I want to help you. No matter what you say. Believe it or not, I know what it feels like to be beaten by the ones you love."
"How? How can you possibly know how it feels?"
"Because…he…used to beat me up."
"Who's he?"
"Yamcha."
"That creep beat you up?"
"Yeah. He used to do when no one else was around. If I made him angry, or didn't do what he wanted. He'd hit me. So you're not alone. And I want to help you through this. Life without you would be unbearable for me. I would probably jump in straight after you!"
"Don't say stuff like that. I don't believe you! So many people have said that they want to get to know me better, find out what's going on with me! And soon as I begin to trust someone and tell them what's going on, they turn around and walk off! You'll be exactly the same!"
"No I wont! You know I wont! You do believe me, you're just to afraid to admit it. Even to me. You're afraid that I'll get in over my head. Vegeta, unless you haven't noticed, we're both in over our heads right now."
"you are. I'm not. I want this."
"You can't! I won't let you! Please Vegeta!"
"Leave. Please."
"No! Not without a proper goodbye. Let me just feel you one more. Please!"
She put her arms out and felt for him. Her hand brushed against something warm. She moved her hand across the unmistakable shape of Vegeta's chest. She walked forward slowly and wrapped her arms round his neck. She cried into his shirt. Vegeta kept his arms by his side, showing no intention to comfort her. Bulma took hold of his arms and wrapped them round her waist.
"Vegeta. Just hold me. Please."
Vegeta tightened his arms round her. She put her arms back round his neck and looked up. She could just make out the shape of his face in the dark. She ran a hand along his jaw line. She leant forwards and pressed her lips against his. She brushed her tongue along Vegeta's bottom lip, trying to get him to let her in. She let her hands travel up from his neck into his mass of dark, black hair. Vegeta slid his arms up her back, pressing her body against his, He finally opened his mouth, letting her travel in. Tears were still falling freely down Bulma's face. She broke the kiss and looked at Vegeta through tearful eyes.
"Does this mean, you're staying?"
Vegeta stared at her, confusion in his eyes. He ran his hand through Bulma's hair and the confusion disappeared. He leaned in and caught her mouth with his. She smiled to herself and put her hand on Vegeta's neck, bringing him deeper into her mouth. Vegeta drew his head back a few moments later. He ran his thumbs under Bulma's eyes, and wiped away her tears.
"Don't cry."
"Well do you really expect me not to? You're not going to jump now, are you?"
"No. You've made me realised that, if I jumped, I would lose so much more than I would gain. If I don't jump I will still have you, I'll be more confident and I'll still have you."
"You said that twice."
"Well, you mean the world to me. I love you."
"I love you too."
"I'm…sorry."
Wow! Sorry? I never thought I'd hear that from Vegeta!
"Don't be sorry. You weren't thinking straight. Your mind was clouded. I understand. If I was you, I would have probably contemplated the same thing. But, you gotta realise, it wouldn't have made anything better. You've got your whole life ahead of you! This is probably going to one of the hardest challenges you'll ever meet. And you've over come it!"
"So, you're not mad at me?"
"Of course I'm not mad at you! I'm happy you're alive! What am I saying, happy is just a fraction of how I feel. I'm over the moon!"
It was then that they both noticed that Bulma was shaking badly. Vegeta let go of her and took of his black jacket. He placed it round Bulma's shoulders and held her in his arms again.
"Vegeta I was wondering…"
"Yeah?"
"Well, since I'm seventeen and you're eighteen…well…what d'ya say we start looking for a house?"
"For both of us?"
"Yeah. I mean, it's obvious we need each other more than anything else. And we're old enough, so, why shouldn't we be allowed to live together?"
"That's the best idea I've ever heard. It'll be wonderful."
"My dad will pay for the house no problem. My parents are always saying I should start acting my age, and get out in the world and all that crap. So they'll think it's a great idea. And it'll get you away from your dad…do you think he'll let you move?"
"He'll be more than happy to get rid of me."
"Vegeta, you know you said you're mum's in hospital? Well, do you know what happened to her?"
"I'm not entirely sure. But I just know it had something to do with my dad."
"When can you next go and see her?"
"I dunno."
"You can go and see her now if you want? They'll let you in cuz you're with me, and I'm the daughter of the man who owns CC. My dad founded the hospital. You wanna go? I've got my hover bike."
"Yeah…I guess so…"
