*an ominous rumbling comes from reviewers who are huddled in a corner and
keep darting glances over their shoulders at the update list*
I love you all! The fact you like my story enough to grumble for an update!!! *sighs dreamily with stars in her eyes, reviewers sweat drop and one makes a threatening gesture to authoress* I really am sorry about the late update though, school, busyness, and writer's wall! It's like a spongy clear wall that springs up between you and your story - every time you go to write it, you suddenly get deflected and start doing something else! (Honestly!)
However, this chapter should be worth the wait - it's my longest by far and I put a lot of work into it!
Thank you Hejah, Son-Goku2, baby-blue-eyes4, DBZjezzy15, and divine- angel143!!!!!
Um . . . . . - that's an interesting screen name, er, punctuation name.
Thank you nOy, though I have a confession. I actually haven't thought out Bra actually getting a job. *give Goku grin TM and scratches the back of her neck nervously* But who knows, maybe she will be a waitress. *presses a button on boom box for cheesy suspense music only to hear 'Jeopardy' music. Frowns and keeps jabbing button. The thing breaks and Nitte iz takes out an anime mallet and starts whacking it. Once it's flattened, Nitte iz grumbles something like 'never mind' and stalks off.*
(Does anybody else think I'm getting a little too into this whole Author's Notes thing?)
Anyway, unibabe - Wow! Your review is longer than my ANs are sometimes!!!!!!!!! You grabbed a notebook?!?!?!?! *starts blushing horribly* Thanks for your ideas though, I'm definitely going to use at least one. *goes over the list, nodding and shaking her head every once in a while* Thank you so much!
And finally what you've been waiting for -
Disclaimer: *drags a large sign out* Read it! *stalks off*
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Oh yeah, the sign says 'LAWYERS BUGGER OFF! I'M POOR AND DON'T OWN DBZ!'
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Chapter 8: Call me next time
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Bra frowned into her mirror, critically eying her deep red bikini. In all honesty, she wasn't that into going to the beach today. The weather was beautiful, no doubt about that, but she didn't quite feel like being ogled for hours on end or asked for autographs, or any of that junk. Then again, her only other option was staying at home and hunting through all those job opportunities - yet again, and having either her mother or boyfriend call to see how it was going. She made a face. No, chilling with Shela at the beach was just what she needed.
She whirled around and promptly began digging through her closet for a matching sarong to wrap around her waist. Shela was one of her closest friends, the only girlfriend she had beside those in the Z-gang. Adorned with an array of luscious long black hair, hung over a heart-shaped face, pouty lips, sparkling green eyes, and a body to match, she could give Bra a run for her money in the looks department. She was rich as well, so she wasn't after Bra's money or connections, which Bra always reminded herself when Shela acted like she was above everyone else on the planet. She was also incredibly boy crazy. However, she wasn't daunted by Bra's image and truly cared about her friend, always knowing what the other girl needed to get her out of a funk. For instance, knowing and informing her friend that this was a perfect time to hit the beach.
Bra sighed, turning to another side of her expansive closet. Shela didn't know about her special heritage or who her father really was, which really was for the best. Besides, Marron was always there if she needed good boy advice or just advice in general, especially with how to deal with a training obsessed parent concerned about your lack of training. And Pan was always there if she needed to moan about overprotective Saiyan fathers or the annoyance of having an appetite that surpassed one of a pride of lions. Shela was great because she didn't have to worry about those things; she was Bra's friend alone, for no other reason than she wanted to be. Sometimes Bra didn't need someone so much to understand her than just to be around her and make her feel normal. Normal. Wasn't that such a joke.
Aha! She held the sarong up triumphantly just as the doorbell rang. Perfect timing. She hurriedly fastened it around her waist, grabbed her bag of extra clothes, towels, suntan lotion, and snacks, and headed to the door. Upon opening it she embraced the girl on the other side.
"Long time, no see girlfriend!" the other girl bubbled, overflowing with energy like usual. After she let go, Bra noticed that she had picked a skimpy dark green string bikini with short shorts to wear. "Ah, I can't wait to check out all those fine hunnies at the beach!" Shela continued with a roguish glint in her eyes. Yup, Shela was definitely in man-eater mode. Bra resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her friend also had the quirk of using often outdated 'Americanisms'. She had picked them up during her year at an American boarding school. However she seemed to have forgotten that current lingo went from 'in' to out in a matter of months. At times it was amusing, other times - simply annoying.
"Shela I have a perfectly great boyfriend," Bra chided her, as they made their way out of her apartment building. Shela waved dismissively.
"Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean you can't keep an eye open for perfectly sculpted hunks of manliness." She tilted her sunglasses to discreetly scope out the male scenery as they stepped unto the street. "Like that one! Yum-my." Her green eyes widened as she licked her lips. Blue eyes went to the sky before descending to the street to see what had caught her friend's attention so effectively.
It had to be him.
He was leaning against a red convertible, clad in a white wife beater and torn black jeans. A simple black leather jacket, surprisingly well preserved, casually hung over his shoulders and gave him a contradictory rebellious laidback image, completed by his dark shades. He was tall, he was handsome, and he had enough of that bad boy aura to make any girl shiver. At the moment, he was withdrawing a lighter from his pocket, intent on lighting the cigarette in his hand.
It just had to be him.
Bra strode through the street, regardless of the traffic. "What the hell are you doing here Saiyan?" she demanded angrily, spitting out the last word as her hands went on hips. He flicked the flame on unperturbed and lit his cigarette, taking his sweet time before forming a response.
"What princess? Not happy to see me?" Goten grinned, hearing the rumbling of a growl deep in her throat. "I can't make Friday. So here I am to make up the time." He grinned charmingly.
"And you couldn't call because . . . ?"
He smirked. "Your number is unlisted. Ah yes, those pesky reporters," he added, seeing the annoyed comprehension flit unto her face. It was true of course. Bra carefully let out her phone number only to friends and family. And as often that the press got wind of it, she had to change it.
"You can have my number!" Bra winced at the eager voice. D*, she had forgotten about Shela. Goten tilted his sunglasses down to take a good look at her friend, his grin widening as he did so. Shela gave him her most flirtatious smile. The bluette frowned and resolutely stepped in front of her friend. She quickly dug around her bag, feeling decidedly uncomfortable as Goten's eyes latched unto her instead, and finally emerging triumphant with a pad of paper in her hand.
"Here, this is my cell," she said, scribbling furiously on the pad with a random pen. "I always carry it with me. Call me next time." She thrust the sheet into his empty hand. He watched her amused.
"And what if you need to call me?" he drawled. She snorted, but posed the pen over the next sheet of paper.
"Though I highly doubt I'll use it," she muttered. "What's your home number?"
He grinned. "Very forward, aren't you?" She gritted her teeth and he dutifully recited it. "But as I'm here now . . ." He trailed off as her eyes flew up.
"I've got already got pl-"
"Do you want to come with us?" Once again, Shela interjected herself into the conversation, neatly sidestepping from behind Bra. She smiled winningly as Bra glared murder at her.
Goten smirked. "I guess I could swing home, grab a pair of swim trunks, and meet you at the beach," he said casually and hopped into his car, Shela swooning at his ease in movement.
"Got-"
"Oh, but how will you find us?" Shela asked coyly.
"Miss the sight of two gorgeous girls like you? Not a chance." His eyes glinted and flicked to the scowling bluette. "I'd be able to find you in a crowd no matter how large."
"Got-" but he didn't wait for her to tell him that he was not a welcome part of her plans for the day. The car revved and disappeared in a cloud of dust, or at least should of at the speed Goten was using. Shela gave a dreamy sigh.
"You know that dreamboat and never told me? Where have you been keeping him?" Bra whirled on her friend.
"He happens to be an old family friend, and I can not believe you invited him along. What happened to girl's day out?" she demanded furiously.
The other girl looked at her in disbelief, pushing her shades down so she could look over them. "And miss the opportunity of seeing him in a bathing suit?" She was scandalized by the very idea.
Bra groaned, but then became more serious. "Shela, don't get involved with him, okay? Trust me, he's not good news." Shela looked at her, ready to give a flippant reply when she saw that Bra was dead serious. Bra was a good friend, if she was giving a warning it was probably for good reason. Still, she wouldn't mind sampling someone that, spicy . . . She nodded vaguely, before smirking and readjusting her sunglasses.
"Don't worry, I won't mess with your little man on the side."
"Shela!"
*
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"So who was that guy, really?" Bra darted a glance to her passenger, careful not to let too much of her attention wander from the road. She took pride in the fact that she was not considered a road hazard, like her mother. Besides, the car had been a birthday present for her 16th, a baby blue Cadillac. It was her baby and she took very good care of it - even to the point of dragging herself out of bed with a massive hangover and retrieving it from The Fiery Pit at 6:00 in the morning. Of course, she had been back in bed within ten minutes.
"The devil," she shot back only half-joking. Shela merely laughed. "Like I said, an old family friend. He was my brother's best friend growing up."
"Was?" Bra sighed. She couldn't very well explain that after his father had split to another dimensional plain, Goten had lost it. Something about his father repeatedly dying and having to save the universe multiple times resulting in a lot less family time than is recommended, had not sat well with him. Oh no, that wouldn't be over Shela's head at all.
"He had some family troubles awhile back and he kinda dropped out of sight."
"So you and he . . ."
"Trunks asked me to see if I could help him, you know someone to talk to," Bra finished hurriedly, not liking the insinuation. "Really Shela, I have a boyfriend, as I seem to keep having to remind you." Shela giggled.
"I know, but let's face it girl: Tenshi may be fine, but that guy was an absolute dish!" Her eyes unfocused and Bra could almost imagine the drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.
She shook her head. If her friend was this bad now, she couldn't imagine what she'd be like after seeing the half-Saiyan half-naked. "The man may be a 'dish', whatever that means, but he's got the personality of a half-tamed wolverine on speed. If you don't watch out, you'll get bit real hard." The sudden burst of uncontrolled laughter made Bra take her eyes off the road.
". . . wolverine . . . speed," Shela panted out, dissolving into chortling. Bra sweat dropped. Maybe that hadn't been the best choice of speech.
She pulled into the beach parking lot with the black-haired hair girl still hooting like a hyena. Rolling her eyes, she stiffly got out of the car and got her bag out, ignoring the stares she was getting from her friend's over-zealous state of hilarity.
"Shela, I'm only going to say this once. If you don't stop laughing, I'm going to capsulate this car with you in it," she finally shouted exasperated.
"That should be interesting to see." Bra whirled, dropping her bag in shock.
"D* Goten! What did I tell you about sneaking up on me!" He smirked, looking very pleased to have the opportunity to get the drop on Bra yet again. He hadn't changed, or so it seemed, though he had lost the jacket in favor of a simple stylish black cotton vest.
"Actually, you didn't tell me anything. If I remember correctly, you bit me," he replied lazily. "Hard too," he added, rubbing his hand with reminiscence. Bra flushed.
"I thought you said he was the one who bit." The red in her cheeks now ripened into a cherry red. She turned around to see a recovered Shela strolling around the back of the car, smirking impishly. Behind her, Goten raised an eyebrow, but mercifully Shela cut him off. "How on earth did you get here so fast?"
"I like speed," he answered simply. Bra had to swallow a snicker. Wolverine indeed . . .
Shela cooed. "Oh, a man who walks on the wild side. I like that," she roguishly winked at him and linked arms with him, giving his well-muscled biceps a cursory admiring once over. "Well, lead me on kind sir," she fluttered her eyelashes, and Bra had to bite her lip to prevent her own over-zealous fit of hilarity.
"Your wish is my command fair lady." Eyebrow still upraised, he obliged, though not without a backward look over his shoulder at Bra. She simply shook her head, inwardly relieved by her friend's antics. Shela was never that forward with anyone she was seriously considering dating.
As she followed them, she tried to determine why exactly she was so adamant about Shela not getting involved with Goten. She wasn't jealous, no not about Goten. She watched him put up and even return Shela's outrageous flirtations. But something about how he could turn so charming at the drop of a hat and changed moods like a desert sky, rang a danger bell in her mind. He was a womanizer - not that Pan or Trunks had ever said that outright, but she knew how to read between the lines. He did not seem like a man who woke up alone often. And she'd be d*ed if she let Shela be his next conquest.
"Hey! Earth to Bra!" A hand thrust itself into her line of vision and she stopped short. Her friend's green eyes quickly followed, set on a frowning face. "Man, you must be really out of it," she muttered. "I asked you like three times if you liked this spot."
Bra looked around, coming out of her daze. It wasn't bad - only thirty feet from the high tide line and not claustrophobically closeted by other people. She smiled at her ebony haired friend approvingly. "It's great Shela." The girl tossed her head as if to say, 'of course!'
After pulling out folding chairs, Bra turned to ask Goten how long he intended to stay, but the words froze on her lips.
Okay, she happened to be related to two men with Greek god-like bodies. She often saw both half-dressed, though in Trunks' case it had usually been when she had barged into the bathroom after he spent twenty minutes preening in front of the mirror. Therefore she should be somewhat immune to the fact of a well-shaped male body. However, they were both related to her, which negated any sexual appeal. Such was not the case with the demi-Saiyan removing his shirt in front of her. She watched as his corded back rippled as he pulled the wife beater over his head, leaving it bare for her eyes to examine every sleek sculpted muscle and the curled dragon that glared from amidst his many coils. She gulped.
It took more force of will than Bra was used to exerting to turn away, but she wrenched herself away regardless. Unfortunately, she turned only to confront someone who was not used to seeing Saiyan perfection. Shela's jaw was quite literally on the ground and her eyes were like ping pong balls. Bra immediately did what she seemed unable of doing at the moment: she forcefully turned the pole-axed girl to face something less arresting. When the girl showed no reaction Bra quickly checked her breathing. Good, at least she had remembered to keep breathing, even if it was incredibly shallow.
"Shela? You okay?" she asked concerned.
"Gack," Shela finally choked out, or so it sounded to Bra. "Oh my . . . bod . . . muscles . . . everywhere!" she muddled, her eyes still impossibly wide. Bra sweat dropped. Okay, maybe she had stopped breathing and suffered brain damage.
"Yeah he's built," she replied mildly, forcing herself not to imagine his chiseled back, smooth and probably supple to the touch . . . She smacked herself mentally.
"Built?!" Shela gave out a strangled cry and seized the other girl by the forearm wildly, shocking the hell out of Bra to be perfectly honest. "The guy's a god! No human could have that body!" The blue-eyed girl bit her lip, amused at the fact she was right.
"Shhhh!" she hissed regardless. "Pull yourself together!" She pried off the other girl's surprisingly strong grip and held her wrists close to her. "Now you know what he looks like, don't stroke his ego by staring at him for the rest of the day. Okay?" Shela nodded dazedly. Bra sighed. That would probably be the best response she'd get.
Taking a deep breath, she turned back around to see that Goten had already taken off his pants and was presently looking curiously over to the two girls. He cocked an eyebrow when he met her eye, and she desperately prayed to Dende that he hadn't heard their conversation. However she couldn't help but let her eyes wander down his figure. Shela was right, after all. Her eyes stopped at his bathing suit.
"Red?" she commented dryly, hitching up her own eyebrow. It was actually more of a crimson, but Bra was not about to let her fashion-sense get in the way of dramatic impact. "I was starting to think you only saw in black and white." The smirk her study had induced faded. He snorted.
"Forgive me if I don't love orange and navy blue," he returned, just as dryly.
"I like red." Shela was obviously starting small with her return to the land of alertness. "Hey, you match!" Goten smirked and Bra gritted her teeth. Sure it was slightly creepy, but did she really have to point it out?
"Why don't you go and get us some nachos Shela?" Maybe that'd give Ms. Emerald eyes enough time to pull herself together. "You wouldn't object to some food, would you Saiyan?" Her sweet smile could've given Barbie a toothache. A slight frown hovered on Goten's face, for all the world looking torn between agreement and irritation. His empty eyes settled on Bra with an unsettling intensity, making her insides knot. However he gave a deceptively careless nod, which Shela seemed to take as a giant thumbs up and she immediately scurried off. The slight frown troubling her lips though, begged to differ with the image of enthusiasm.
Bra deliberately turned away from Goten, well aware of his eyes boring into her back, and retrieved her bottle of suntan lotion. Catching sight of her find, he made a suggestion.
"I can help you with that if you want, princess. You shouldn't have to dirty yourself with such menial tasks." Bra's lip curled.
"That won't be necessary."
"Not that you need it; you have enough Saiyan physiology to block harmful rays anyway." That was an intriguing prospect, but she wasn't about to let him know that.
"Well maybe I don't want to turn sun baked brown," she shot back, opening the bottle with a vengeance. She began to apply the ointment with more vigor than was totally needed, as always aware of his unrelenting gaze.
"Hmm, and here I thought that being tanned was in. I must've been mistaken." Her jaw set, officially nettled. Now he was commenting on teen fads!? Who did he think he was? Oh yeah, he was going to officially drive her up the wall. Why did Shela have to invite him?! She snapped the bottle closed, finishing her task with admittedly less thoroughness than she was wont. She rummaged in her bag again for some fruit. Perhaps she could distract him with something more edible than her. It always worked when he was younger.
She frowned as her hand brushed against a pile of papers. What were papers doing in her beach bag? Wrenching them out of said bag, she groaned as she began to flip through the pile. Job openings! When would she ever be free of them?!
"What are those?" Bra flicked her gaze to Goten who was now standing at her shoulder and skimming the pages she held in her hands.
"Job opportunities. I've been looking for a job for a while; I just didn't realize I'd be doing it today as well," she said sourly. Any lingering negative feeling she had for Goten was swept aside by the rush of her aggravation towards the pile she held.
"Why do you want a job?" She closed her eyes, sinking heavily unto her towel and letting the papers drop ungracefully unto the sand.
"Everyone else has a job. To prove that I have the capacity to get a job on my own merits, not my mother's wealth. To become self-sufficient." Tenshi and Bulma's many lectures rang in her mind as she ticked off some of their arguments. "To give myself a sense of self-worth and pride. Because I'm a Briefs. Ugh, take your pick."
"That's not what I asked Bra." She couldn't say what caused her eyes to snap open - the fact he sounded mildly reproving or the fact he used her name. He sighed when she merely stared at him instead of answering, and lowered himself into a sitting position on the towel next to her. "I asked why you want a job, not why everyone else wants you to get a job."
She was genuinely surprised by the question as well as his earnest expression. No one had ever asked her about her drive to get a job. They had all either told her why or assumed . . . Her mouth parted to answer, but she couldn't help but pause. Was confiding in him, Akuma for goodness sake, a smart thing to do? She mentally snorted. And yet . . . he would never trust her if she didn't trust him.
"I'm not a child anymore and no one realizes it. They keep acting like I'm seven or something. But with a job, coworkers, a boss . . ." she trailed off, feeling a detached sense of amazement as Goten nodded comprehensively. His eyes remained fixed on hers, the darkness just entreating her to spill all her secrets into the void.
"But . . . you also don't want a job." He spoke as if making a revelation to himself, his voice soft and low. She felt her mouth move almost without permission, as if hypnotized.
"I shouldn't be forced to prove myself like this. I don't know what I want to do or what my future holds, but that doesn't make me any less of an adult," her tone now matched his, untouched by unruly lacings of anger or bitterness.
"No Capsule Corp? Your brother seems to like it well enough." She blinked, jarred by his first reference to her brother. Searching his face, she saw no signs of bitterness or resentment at the mention of his former best friend - and she cursed him for learning to mask himself so well. Feeling strangely off-balance, she broke eye contact, yet still in the thrall of their unexpected camaraderie with him.
"No, I definitely don't want to work there. Everyone would have expectations that I can't meet."
"Won't meet." Her eyes jumped back to his at his definitive tone. "Because you don't want to be her." His eyes . . . an elegant ensnarement, enticing her inward to see unknown galaxies swirling in the black universe. He understood, to a degree she could only imagine. She nodded slowly.
"They always see her first instead of me and sooner or later, they all expect me to be her."
"And you don't want to be a slave to their expectations," he finished for her, his eyes nearly glowing with his own perception. "And there's your answer." He motioned with his right hand and just barely skimmed her cheek. She started, taken aback by the sudden realization of their nearness. After a second, she scooted back a little. He didn't seem to notice.
"My answer to what?" she finally asked.
"Your question from yesterday." Her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. She had expected an answer more along the lines of why she wasn't having luck with a job.
"What question?"
"Why not." It took her a second to remember.
'What does the vow entail?'
'Not to be the man my father was.'
'Why not?' His face darkened ominously and she knew she had crossed a line. This was not the time.
In the present time, Bra looked at him with a dawning sense of comprehension. But still . . . why did he chose to fulfill that vow so destructively to himself? There had to be more beyond that simple answer.
"Nachos are here!" Bra nearly jumped out of her skin in shock.
"Shela don't do that!" The green eyed girl's smile turned puzzled at the fact her friend was now holding a hand to her heart, reassuring herself that it hadn't jumped out of her chest. Goten grinned however, appreciatively eying her and the food.
"Okay," Shela said slowly. "I guess I'll give you the receptacle of nachos." She handed them to Goten who seemed exceedingly gratified. Bra however, seemed horrified.
"Oh no! That means we're not going to get any!" she moaned melodramatically. "And since when do you use the word receptacle?"
"Since now," her friend huffed, conscious of the fact she was being teased. Goten reprovingly shook a cheese drenched nacho at Bra, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Yes princess, you should never make assumptions based on the past." He proceeded to eat the chip in his hand at a perfectly human speed and allowing Shela to take one as well, taking a perverse pleasure in his filial rebellion. Bra decided not to comment.
*
Despite her protestations of tanning, Bra lay on her towel next to Shela for a majority of the day. The girls were soon chatting like the old friends they were, with Goten only interjecting an odd remark here and there. He didn't comment on Shela's many hunk sightings and the girls respected his own lustful appreciation: ignoring his muttered appraisals of scantily glad girls walking by and his numerous walks along the beach surrounded by them. Bra was slightly disturbed by the sight of him amid a swarm of giggling beach day Barbies - it undeniably confirmed her suspicion of him: he was a definite ladies man. However she held her tongue as she did about his nicotine breaks. At least she wasn't inhaling it directly.
On the other hand, Shela couldn't help but notice the fact that Goten stayed with them for a majority of the time. Or the fact he had placed his towel smack dab next to Bra. And what was up with 'princess'? She was more observant than she let on and her internal frown deepened as she witnessed a million little signs pointing to something. But she continued to smile outwardly and chat as if the beach boys were the only things on her mind.
Goten couldn't comprehend the fact that both girls fully intended not to go into the water at all. What was the point of going to the beach then? Shela had giggled. Bra had merely rolled her eyes and archly asked him what he had been doing all day. She also had wondered aloud if the salt would rust his eyebrow, a comment he had wisely ignored. Undeterred, Goten had finally cajoled Shela into coming with him into the 'briny deep'. Bra had to smile as she watched him nearly drag Shela into the surf. It was nice to see that there were still some small signs of the boy he had once been.
"Hey, this is cold!" Sounding genuinely surprised, Shela tried to pull back and get out of the small breakers. However, Goten continued forward and the force of his motion unexpectedly tripped her up, causing her to face fault on the ocean. He immediately stopped, trying to rearrange his face into a properly remorseful one before she righted herself - and failing.
"Whoops." Amazing how unrepentant he sounded.
She got up slowly, glaring at him. Her hands went up to her hair and she fussed with it, muttering something about how bad saltwater could be for hair.
Goten rolled his eyes. "Let's go deeper. I mean," he explained, when she stopped tidying herself to stare at him in disbelief. "you're already wet so why not?"
She couldn't refute his logic. Why not indeed. And she had to admit it was kinda fun, once you just let yourself go. Jumping on waves, splashing each other, body surfing, swallowing a good portion of said briny deep, which in fact was very briny. She had a ball and the fact Goten actually laughed a few times was testament to his good time. She was carefully not to go too far - she was that cautious at least. However one can only go through waves and go under them for so long before it gets old. She signaled him that she was getting out, but waited until he had approached her.
"Not used to this kind of workout?" he asked, grinning maliciously, his eyes flicking down her outfit out of habit.
She nodded distractedly before looking him dead in the eye. "Look, if you do anything to hurt Bra, I will personally hunt you down and make sure your life goes down the tubes."
He wasn't expecting that. He waited a second for her to laugh or something, but she kept her eyes locked on him in dead earnest. If anything, he had expected her to offer him her phone number or even invite him out to drinks with her. She had struck him as ditzy and good for a brief romp. Not that he'd do so - he had made some age restriction for himself. Girls her age only had so long until their innocence was shattered by some Casanova closer to their age and in a real relationship, without his help.
He didn't doubt her capability to go through with her threat. It hadn't taken him long to realize that she was filthy rich, not to the degree of the Briefs of course, but still. He hadn't realized though, that their friendship was that close. Then again, he had always doubted the ability for those involved in the Z gang to make real friends outside. Unwillingly his regard for Shela, as well as Bra, went up a notch.
He considered her intensely for a second before smiling slightly. "You don't know who I am, do you?" Shela sniffed.
"You think that matters?"
"I'm Son Goten," internally he winced at the identification. It had been a while since he had actually volunteered that information. "Pan's uncle."
Green eyes widened. "Son Videl's brother-in-law?" she asked in disbelief. He nodded unnecessarily. "D* you're old," she said matter-of- factly.
Hmm, again not the reaction he was anticipating. He waited in vain though for another reaction; Shela immediately started off for the towels, either forgetting her previous line of thought or more likely, believing it effectively delivered.
Bra looked up from her magazine upon hearing Shela flop unto her towel. "So how was the water?" she asked amicably.
"Cold," Shela pouted. "And surprisingly unable to flatten Goten's spikes. What on earth does he put in his hair?" Bra had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. The concept of Goten with flat hair was just too bizarre.
"It's a family thing, Gohan has the same problem. I remember when Tenshi asked him what he used to spike it when he was preparing for Halloween a while back." Bra began to laugh. "He couldn't believe it was natural."
Shela sighed, stretching full out on her towel like a cat. "I've got to say one thing Bra," she said seriously, cutting off her friend's laughter. "Tenshi might be a good boy, but Goten is a man!" Her breathy tone of reverence made Bra stiffen.
"Remember what I said Shela," she countered quickly, worriedly. Shela propped herself on her elbows and glanced sideways out from the sunglasses she had just put on, aware of the fact Goten was almost to the towels.
"I don't think I'm the one who needs to be worried," she muttered honestly in a low voice. Bra's eyes darted to her confused, but Goten had arrived and she merely pursued her lips.
"So princess, not intending to get wet?" Distracted, she nodded, not paying attention. If she had, she might've seen the mischievous glint in his eyes and predicted his next move. With a sudden sweep, she went over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
She was too in shock to react for a second, but the fact she was staring at his butt, nice as it was, soon sunk in. "SON GOTEN PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!" She pounded on his back, but it was like pounding on concrete and just as fruitful. He laughed at her helplessness. "I MEAN IT GOTEN!" So focused was she that she didn't notice that she was no longer over sand . . .
"Okay." And rather ungracefully he put her down - into the ocean, which despite the summer season, was frankly frigid. She shrieked, though it came out more as a gurgled cry.
"Goten!" she yelled, after she had regurgitated half the ocean. "If I had wanted to go in the water, I WOULD HAVE DONE IT MYSELF!" He smirked and started to respond, but the sight of her fuming, her sea blue hair draped in disarray around her - looking for all the world like a disgruntled mermaid, was too much. Laughter came out instead. Real laughter, that made Bra remember nostalgically when it wasn't such a rare occurrence, even as mad at him as she was. She turned in a huff, ready to return to dry land when an arm loped around her waist.
"Aw come on. I'm sorry." She might've believed it too, not likely but perhaps, if chuckles hadn't broke up each word. He refused to let her go though, and vaguely she wondered at how muscular he was. She blushed and tried to pry off his arm, tried being the operative word.
"Are not!" she muttered childishly. The arm stayed around her waist and she realized with start that he was right behind her, radiating blazing heat that tingled up her spine and ruffling her hair with every breath. She gulped. "Okay, I'll stay," she breathed hurriedly. She held her breath, but after a second the arm unwound reluctantly.
She spun around, not that surprised to find herself nearly nose to nose with Goten, or more correctly nose to throat in all honesty. Her eyes flew upward and his burned with smoldering . . . She shivered and took a step back.
"Are you going to sleep with her?" The words were out of her mouth before she could catch them and she felt the irrational urge to clamp her hands over her mouth. His eyes cooled, the pools of ebony becoming blank once again.
"No; she's not my type."
"And what is your type?" The words tumbled their way out of her mouth, building momentum. As long as she was talking, she couldn't think of how dumb she was acting. "I mean, when I went into The Fiery Pit, everyone looked at me funny. As if they couldn't imagine I would be looking for someone like you or that someone like me would know you. Or they weren't used to girls looking for you? What are you, celibate or something?" That was a joke and she tried to crack a smile when 'something' dawned on her. "Are you gay?" Well, that would definitely make him not the man his father was.
He stared at her blankly, taking a minute to register her ramblings. "No, to both," he finally said, looking amused for some reason. "You really think I'm celibate?" Ah right. She turned the red of their swimsuits.
"Not really," she muttered.
"As for the gay issue - women simply provide more pleasure," he purred, his eyes glinting with that stomach knotting light that made Bra involuntarily shiver. He took a moment for that to sink in before going on. "Women usually don't come looking for me, at least not of your, description," he settled on the last word after a slight pause. "I usually bring them into the Pit, not the other way round."
"Oh? And your type?" She swallowed loudly, trying to stay calm and not think of how insane this situation was: discussing Goten's sex life when she was in a bikini in front of him.
"One night stands. Short, tall, big, small, hourglass, cylinder, red head, brunette, blond - as long as she's pretty and for one night only."
She felt sick and horrified, the relaxed posture of his body and face only further nauseating her. He couldn't be serious - yet he was. "That's, that's sick Goten," she stuttered weakly. He shrugged.
"At least they know what they're in for." She was wrong. He wasn't a womanizer. He was a user. Of women.
"But why?" How could he go from faithful boyfriend of Paris for what, nine years?, to-to man wh*? He smiled faintly, seemingly unperturbed by her evident revulsion.
"Another vow actually." Her eyes, previously unfocused, snapped to his face.
"Another vow?" she echoed in disbelief.
"Never sleep with a woman twice." . . . But Paris? "That was actually after Paris and I broke up," he continued thoughtfully, as if reading her mind. Oh Dende, please let him not have mastered Saiyan telepathy. He shook his head. "She simply couldn't understand . . ."
Understand what? That he felt a sudden urge to completely destroy himself and those around him? She wanted to yell at him, rail at him that he was better than this. But she was too weak to challenge him then. To stare into those empty dark eyes and shake him until he woke up! She'd have to do that next time.
Mechanically she began to head out of the water, belatedly realizing that from the knee down she was numb. She floundered amidst the low surf for a moment before she reached dry land. Still she listlessly headed to her towel, her eyes fixed unseeingly straight ahead. When she reached her destination, she fell heavily unto her towel and turned to her side. Covering her ears with her hands and face with long blue hair, she blocked out Shela's concerned voice and the regular beach day sounds.
"I'm fine," she told Shela in the silence, her voice actually steady and confident.
That's not really him, she whispered to herself. I have to help him see that. There's more, there has to be!
Shela frowned worriedly. She darted a glance to Goten, but he said nothing, gave no hint of alarm or guilt. And she frowned deeper at the fact that she could not save Bra from what the girl allowed to happen.
*
They agreed to meet Saturday at Fen's Plaza to do something mutually decided upon. Goten claimed it was his turn to pick because she had planned the beach outing. She countered that since he had chosen to come with them and he was the one who had cancelled their Friday 'date' in the first place, it was her turn to choose. So they compromised.
Neither questioned the fact they would meet up with each other again.
Shela let herself out of Bra's car sluggishly, still mulling over that fact. She glanced over at her dear friend who smiled at her. "Look girl about Goten-" Bra started, worry creasing her face. Shela couldn't be considering dating him; she couldn't handle him! "Just watch yourself okay," she gave a weak smile. He might've fun - if he hadn't been so obviously not interested in her. Bra relaxed, her friend was safe. She nodded dismissively.
"I know. I can handle him."
Famous last words.
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Tada, it finally came! I can't believe it's this long! It's like double my normal, but I wanted to put so much in that continuous scene.
Don't know when the next chapter will be out - though I do have a plan. No promises this time.
Okay, time frame: it's summer. Bra and Trunks went out to lunch on Monday, and Bra went to the Fiery Pit. Tuesday she goes home (well, technically) and meets Goten at Fen's Plaza. Wednesday is her date with Tenshi and Thursday is the beach. (This fic is going to move quickly at first, day-to-day, and then slow down - you'll see)
Ugh, now to write my next chapter of Hold me.
Toodles!
Nitte iz
I love you all! The fact you like my story enough to grumble for an update!!! *sighs dreamily with stars in her eyes, reviewers sweat drop and one makes a threatening gesture to authoress* I really am sorry about the late update though, school, busyness, and writer's wall! It's like a spongy clear wall that springs up between you and your story - every time you go to write it, you suddenly get deflected and start doing something else! (Honestly!)
However, this chapter should be worth the wait - it's my longest by far and I put a lot of work into it!
Thank you Hejah, Son-Goku2, baby-blue-eyes4, DBZjezzy15, and divine- angel143!!!!!
Um . . . . . - that's an interesting screen name, er, punctuation name.
Thank you nOy, though I have a confession. I actually haven't thought out Bra actually getting a job. *give Goku grin TM and scratches the back of her neck nervously* But who knows, maybe she will be a waitress. *presses a button on boom box for cheesy suspense music only to hear 'Jeopardy' music. Frowns and keeps jabbing button. The thing breaks and Nitte iz takes out an anime mallet and starts whacking it. Once it's flattened, Nitte iz grumbles something like 'never mind' and stalks off.*
(Does anybody else think I'm getting a little too into this whole Author's Notes thing?)
Anyway, unibabe - Wow! Your review is longer than my ANs are sometimes!!!!!!!!! You grabbed a notebook?!?!?!?! *starts blushing horribly* Thanks for your ideas though, I'm definitely going to use at least one. *goes over the list, nodding and shaking her head every once in a while* Thank you so much!
And finally what you've been waiting for -
Disclaimer: *drags a large sign out* Read it! *stalks off*
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Oh yeah, the sign says 'LAWYERS BUGGER OFF! I'M POOR AND DON'T OWN DBZ!'
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Chapter 8: Call me next time
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Bra frowned into her mirror, critically eying her deep red bikini. In all honesty, she wasn't that into going to the beach today. The weather was beautiful, no doubt about that, but she didn't quite feel like being ogled for hours on end or asked for autographs, or any of that junk. Then again, her only other option was staying at home and hunting through all those job opportunities - yet again, and having either her mother or boyfriend call to see how it was going. She made a face. No, chilling with Shela at the beach was just what she needed.
She whirled around and promptly began digging through her closet for a matching sarong to wrap around her waist. Shela was one of her closest friends, the only girlfriend she had beside those in the Z-gang. Adorned with an array of luscious long black hair, hung over a heart-shaped face, pouty lips, sparkling green eyes, and a body to match, she could give Bra a run for her money in the looks department. She was rich as well, so she wasn't after Bra's money or connections, which Bra always reminded herself when Shela acted like she was above everyone else on the planet. She was also incredibly boy crazy. However, she wasn't daunted by Bra's image and truly cared about her friend, always knowing what the other girl needed to get her out of a funk. For instance, knowing and informing her friend that this was a perfect time to hit the beach.
Bra sighed, turning to another side of her expansive closet. Shela didn't know about her special heritage or who her father really was, which really was for the best. Besides, Marron was always there if she needed good boy advice or just advice in general, especially with how to deal with a training obsessed parent concerned about your lack of training. And Pan was always there if she needed to moan about overprotective Saiyan fathers or the annoyance of having an appetite that surpassed one of a pride of lions. Shela was great because she didn't have to worry about those things; she was Bra's friend alone, for no other reason than she wanted to be. Sometimes Bra didn't need someone so much to understand her than just to be around her and make her feel normal. Normal. Wasn't that such a joke.
Aha! She held the sarong up triumphantly just as the doorbell rang. Perfect timing. She hurriedly fastened it around her waist, grabbed her bag of extra clothes, towels, suntan lotion, and snacks, and headed to the door. Upon opening it she embraced the girl on the other side.
"Long time, no see girlfriend!" the other girl bubbled, overflowing with energy like usual. After she let go, Bra noticed that she had picked a skimpy dark green string bikini with short shorts to wear. "Ah, I can't wait to check out all those fine hunnies at the beach!" Shela continued with a roguish glint in her eyes. Yup, Shela was definitely in man-eater mode. Bra resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Her friend also had the quirk of using often outdated 'Americanisms'. She had picked them up during her year at an American boarding school. However she seemed to have forgotten that current lingo went from 'in' to out in a matter of months. At times it was amusing, other times - simply annoying.
"Shela I have a perfectly great boyfriend," Bra chided her, as they made their way out of her apartment building. Shela waved dismissively.
"Yeah, I know. But that doesn't mean you can't keep an eye open for perfectly sculpted hunks of manliness." She tilted her sunglasses to discreetly scope out the male scenery as they stepped unto the street. "Like that one! Yum-my." Her green eyes widened as she licked her lips. Blue eyes went to the sky before descending to the street to see what had caught her friend's attention so effectively.
It had to be him.
He was leaning against a red convertible, clad in a white wife beater and torn black jeans. A simple black leather jacket, surprisingly well preserved, casually hung over his shoulders and gave him a contradictory rebellious laidback image, completed by his dark shades. He was tall, he was handsome, and he had enough of that bad boy aura to make any girl shiver. At the moment, he was withdrawing a lighter from his pocket, intent on lighting the cigarette in his hand.
It just had to be him.
Bra strode through the street, regardless of the traffic. "What the hell are you doing here Saiyan?" she demanded angrily, spitting out the last word as her hands went on hips. He flicked the flame on unperturbed and lit his cigarette, taking his sweet time before forming a response.
"What princess? Not happy to see me?" Goten grinned, hearing the rumbling of a growl deep in her throat. "I can't make Friday. So here I am to make up the time." He grinned charmingly.
"And you couldn't call because . . . ?"
He smirked. "Your number is unlisted. Ah yes, those pesky reporters," he added, seeing the annoyed comprehension flit unto her face. It was true of course. Bra carefully let out her phone number only to friends and family. And as often that the press got wind of it, she had to change it.
"You can have my number!" Bra winced at the eager voice. D*, she had forgotten about Shela. Goten tilted his sunglasses down to take a good look at her friend, his grin widening as he did so. Shela gave him her most flirtatious smile. The bluette frowned and resolutely stepped in front of her friend. She quickly dug around her bag, feeling decidedly uncomfortable as Goten's eyes latched unto her instead, and finally emerging triumphant with a pad of paper in her hand.
"Here, this is my cell," she said, scribbling furiously on the pad with a random pen. "I always carry it with me. Call me next time." She thrust the sheet into his empty hand. He watched her amused.
"And what if you need to call me?" he drawled. She snorted, but posed the pen over the next sheet of paper.
"Though I highly doubt I'll use it," she muttered. "What's your home number?"
He grinned. "Very forward, aren't you?" She gritted her teeth and he dutifully recited it. "But as I'm here now . . ." He trailed off as her eyes flew up.
"I've got already got pl-"
"Do you want to come with us?" Once again, Shela interjected herself into the conversation, neatly sidestepping from behind Bra. She smiled winningly as Bra glared murder at her.
Goten smirked. "I guess I could swing home, grab a pair of swim trunks, and meet you at the beach," he said casually and hopped into his car, Shela swooning at his ease in movement.
"Got-"
"Oh, but how will you find us?" Shela asked coyly.
"Miss the sight of two gorgeous girls like you? Not a chance." His eyes glinted and flicked to the scowling bluette. "I'd be able to find you in a crowd no matter how large."
"Got-" but he didn't wait for her to tell him that he was not a welcome part of her plans for the day. The car revved and disappeared in a cloud of dust, or at least should of at the speed Goten was using. Shela gave a dreamy sigh.
"You know that dreamboat and never told me? Where have you been keeping him?" Bra whirled on her friend.
"He happens to be an old family friend, and I can not believe you invited him along. What happened to girl's day out?" she demanded furiously.
The other girl looked at her in disbelief, pushing her shades down so she could look over them. "And miss the opportunity of seeing him in a bathing suit?" She was scandalized by the very idea.
Bra groaned, but then became more serious. "Shela, don't get involved with him, okay? Trust me, he's not good news." Shela looked at her, ready to give a flippant reply when she saw that Bra was dead serious. Bra was a good friend, if she was giving a warning it was probably for good reason. Still, she wouldn't mind sampling someone that, spicy . . . She nodded vaguely, before smirking and readjusting her sunglasses.
"Don't worry, I won't mess with your little man on the side."
"Shela!"
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"So who was that guy, really?" Bra darted a glance to her passenger, careful not to let too much of her attention wander from the road. She took pride in the fact that she was not considered a road hazard, like her mother. Besides, the car had been a birthday present for her 16th, a baby blue Cadillac. It was her baby and she took very good care of it - even to the point of dragging herself out of bed with a massive hangover and retrieving it from The Fiery Pit at 6:00 in the morning. Of course, she had been back in bed within ten minutes.
"The devil," she shot back only half-joking. Shela merely laughed. "Like I said, an old family friend. He was my brother's best friend growing up."
"Was?" Bra sighed. She couldn't very well explain that after his father had split to another dimensional plain, Goten had lost it. Something about his father repeatedly dying and having to save the universe multiple times resulting in a lot less family time than is recommended, had not sat well with him. Oh no, that wouldn't be over Shela's head at all.
"He had some family troubles awhile back and he kinda dropped out of sight."
"So you and he . . ."
"Trunks asked me to see if I could help him, you know someone to talk to," Bra finished hurriedly, not liking the insinuation. "Really Shela, I have a boyfriend, as I seem to keep having to remind you." Shela giggled.
"I know, but let's face it girl: Tenshi may be fine, but that guy was an absolute dish!" Her eyes unfocused and Bra could almost imagine the drool dripping from the corner of her mouth.
She shook her head. If her friend was this bad now, she couldn't imagine what she'd be like after seeing the half-Saiyan half-naked. "The man may be a 'dish', whatever that means, but he's got the personality of a half-tamed wolverine on speed. If you don't watch out, you'll get bit real hard." The sudden burst of uncontrolled laughter made Bra take her eyes off the road.
". . . wolverine . . . speed," Shela panted out, dissolving into chortling. Bra sweat dropped. Maybe that hadn't been the best choice of speech.
She pulled into the beach parking lot with the black-haired hair girl still hooting like a hyena. Rolling her eyes, she stiffly got out of the car and got her bag out, ignoring the stares she was getting from her friend's over-zealous state of hilarity.
"Shela, I'm only going to say this once. If you don't stop laughing, I'm going to capsulate this car with you in it," she finally shouted exasperated.
"That should be interesting to see." Bra whirled, dropping her bag in shock.
"D* Goten! What did I tell you about sneaking up on me!" He smirked, looking very pleased to have the opportunity to get the drop on Bra yet again. He hadn't changed, or so it seemed, though he had lost the jacket in favor of a simple stylish black cotton vest.
"Actually, you didn't tell me anything. If I remember correctly, you bit me," he replied lazily. "Hard too," he added, rubbing his hand with reminiscence. Bra flushed.
"I thought you said he was the one who bit." The red in her cheeks now ripened into a cherry red. She turned around to see a recovered Shela strolling around the back of the car, smirking impishly. Behind her, Goten raised an eyebrow, but mercifully Shela cut him off. "How on earth did you get here so fast?"
"I like speed," he answered simply. Bra had to swallow a snicker. Wolverine indeed . . .
Shela cooed. "Oh, a man who walks on the wild side. I like that," she roguishly winked at him and linked arms with him, giving his well-muscled biceps a cursory admiring once over. "Well, lead me on kind sir," she fluttered her eyelashes, and Bra had to bite her lip to prevent her own over-zealous fit of hilarity.
"Your wish is my command fair lady." Eyebrow still upraised, he obliged, though not without a backward look over his shoulder at Bra. She simply shook her head, inwardly relieved by her friend's antics. Shela was never that forward with anyone she was seriously considering dating.
As she followed them, she tried to determine why exactly she was so adamant about Shela not getting involved with Goten. She wasn't jealous, no not about Goten. She watched him put up and even return Shela's outrageous flirtations. But something about how he could turn so charming at the drop of a hat and changed moods like a desert sky, rang a danger bell in her mind. He was a womanizer - not that Pan or Trunks had ever said that outright, but she knew how to read between the lines. He did not seem like a man who woke up alone often. And she'd be d*ed if she let Shela be his next conquest.
"Hey! Earth to Bra!" A hand thrust itself into her line of vision and she stopped short. Her friend's green eyes quickly followed, set on a frowning face. "Man, you must be really out of it," she muttered. "I asked you like three times if you liked this spot."
Bra looked around, coming out of her daze. It wasn't bad - only thirty feet from the high tide line and not claustrophobically closeted by other people. She smiled at her ebony haired friend approvingly. "It's great Shela." The girl tossed her head as if to say, 'of course!'
After pulling out folding chairs, Bra turned to ask Goten how long he intended to stay, but the words froze on her lips.
Okay, she happened to be related to two men with Greek god-like bodies. She often saw both half-dressed, though in Trunks' case it had usually been when she had barged into the bathroom after he spent twenty minutes preening in front of the mirror. Therefore she should be somewhat immune to the fact of a well-shaped male body. However, they were both related to her, which negated any sexual appeal. Such was not the case with the demi-Saiyan removing his shirt in front of her. She watched as his corded back rippled as he pulled the wife beater over his head, leaving it bare for her eyes to examine every sleek sculpted muscle and the curled dragon that glared from amidst his many coils. She gulped.
It took more force of will than Bra was used to exerting to turn away, but she wrenched herself away regardless. Unfortunately, she turned only to confront someone who was not used to seeing Saiyan perfection. Shela's jaw was quite literally on the ground and her eyes were like ping pong balls. Bra immediately did what she seemed unable of doing at the moment: she forcefully turned the pole-axed girl to face something less arresting. When the girl showed no reaction Bra quickly checked her breathing. Good, at least she had remembered to keep breathing, even if it was incredibly shallow.
"Shela? You okay?" she asked concerned.
"Gack," Shela finally choked out, or so it sounded to Bra. "Oh my . . . bod . . . muscles . . . everywhere!" she muddled, her eyes still impossibly wide. Bra sweat dropped. Okay, maybe she had stopped breathing and suffered brain damage.
"Yeah he's built," she replied mildly, forcing herself not to imagine his chiseled back, smooth and probably supple to the touch . . . She smacked herself mentally.
"Built?!" Shela gave out a strangled cry and seized the other girl by the forearm wildly, shocking the hell out of Bra to be perfectly honest. "The guy's a god! No human could have that body!" The blue-eyed girl bit her lip, amused at the fact she was right.
"Shhhh!" she hissed regardless. "Pull yourself together!" She pried off the other girl's surprisingly strong grip and held her wrists close to her. "Now you know what he looks like, don't stroke his ego by staring at him for the rest of the day. Okay?" Shela nodded dazedly. Bra sighed. That would probably be the best response she'd get.
Taking a deep breath, she turned back around to see that Goten had already taken off his pants and was presently looking curiously over to the two girls. He cocked an eyebrow when he met her eye, and she desperately prayed to Dende that he hadn't heard their conversation. However she couldn't help but let her eyes wander down his figure. Shela was right, after all. Her eyes stopped at his bathing suit.
"Red?" she commented dryly, hitching up her own eyebrow. It was actually more of a crimson, but Bra was not about to let her fashion-sense get in the way of dramatic impact. "I was starting to think you only saw in black and white." The smirk her study had induced faded. He snorted.
"Forgive me if I don't love orange and navy blue," he returned, just as dryly.
"I like red." Shela was obviously starting small with her return to the land of alertness. "Hey, you match!" Goten smirked and Bra gritted her teeth. Sure it was slightly creepy, but did she really have to point it out?
"Why don't you go and get us some nachos Shela?" Maybe that'd give Ms. Emerald eyes enough time to pull herself together. "You wouldn't object to some food, would you Saiyan?" Her sweet smile could've given Barbie a toothache. A slight frown hovered on Goten's face, for all the world looking torn between agreement and irritation. His empty eyes settled on Bra with an unsettling intensity, making her insides knot. However he gave a deceptively careless nod, which Shela seemed to take as a giant thumbs up and she immediately scurried off. The slight frown troubling her lips though, begged to differ with the image of enthusiasm.
Bra deliberately turned away from Goten, well aware of his eyes boring into her back, and retrieved her bottle of suntan lotion. Catching sight of her find, he made a suggestion.
"I can help you with that if you want, princess. You shouldn't have to dirty yourself with such menial tasks." Bra's lip curled.
"That won't be necessary."
"Not that you need it; you have enough Saiyan physiology to block harmful rays anyway." That was an intriguing prospect, but she wasn't about to let him know that.
"Well maybe I don't want to turn sun baked brown," she shot back, opening the bottle with a vengeance. She began to apply the ointment with more vigor than was totally needed, as always aware of his unrelenting gaze.
"Hmm, and here I thought that being tanned was in. I must've been mistaken." Her jaw set, officially nettled. Now he was commenting on teen fads!? Who did he think he was? Oh yeah, he was going to officially drive her up the wall. Why did Shela have to invite him?! She snapped the bottle closed, finishing her task with admittedly less thoroughness than she was wont. She rummaged in her bag again for some fruit. Perhaps she could distract him with something more edible than her. It always worked when he was younger.
She frowned as her hand brushed against a pile of papers. What were papers doing in her beach bag? Wrenching them out of said bag, she groaned as she began to flip through the pile. Job openings! When would she ever be free of them?!
"What are those?" Bra flicked her gaze to Goten who was now standing at her shoulder and skimming the pages she held in her hands.
"Job opportunities. I've been looking for a job for a while; I just didn't realize I'd be doing it today as well," she said sourly. Any lingering negative feeling she had for Goten was swept aside by the rush of her aggravation towards the pile she held.
"Why do you want a job?" She closed her eyes, sinking heavily unto her towel and letting the papers drop ungracefully unto the sand.
"Everyone else has a job. To prove that I have the capacity to get a job on my own merits, not my mother's wealth. To become self-sufficient." Tenshi and Bulma's many lectures rang in her mind as she ticked off some of their arguments. "To give myself a sense of self-worth and pride. Because I'm a Briefs. Ugh, take your pick."
"That's not what I asked Bra." She couldn't say what caused her eyes to snap open - the fact he sounded mildly reproving or the fact he used her name. He sighed when she merely stared at him instead of answering, and lowered himself into a sitting position on the towel next to her. "I asked why you want a job, not why everyone else wants you to get a job."
She was genuinely surprised by the question as well as his earnest expression. No one had ever asked her about her drive to get a job. They had all either told her why or assumed . . . Her mouth parted to answer, but she couldn't help but pause. Was confiding in him, Akuma for goodness sake, a smart thing to do? She mentally snorted. And yet . . . he would never trust her if she didn't trust him.
"I'm not a child anymore and no one realizes it. They keep acting like I'm seven or something. But with a job, coworkers, a boss . . ." she trailed off, feeling a detached sense of amazement as Goten nodded comprehensively. His eyes remained fixed on hers, the darkness just entreating her to spill all her secrets into the void.
"But . . . you also don't want a job." He spoke as if making a revelation to himself, his voice soft and low. She felt her mouth move almost without permission, as if hypnotized.
"I shouldn't be forced to prove myself like this. I don't know what I want to do or what my future holds, but that doesn't make me any less of an adult," her tone now matched his, untouched by unruly lacings of anger or bitterness.
"No Capsule Corp? Your brother seems to like it well enough." She blinked, jarred by his first reference to her brother. Searching his face, she saw no signs of bitterness or resentment at the mention of his former best friend - and she cursed him for learning to mask himself so well. Feeling strangely off-balance, she broke eye contact, yet still in the thrall of their unexpected camaraderie with him.
"No, I definitely don't want to work there. Everyone would have expectations that I can't meet."
"Won't meet." Her eyes jumped back to his at his definitive tone. "Because you don't want to be her." His eyes . . . an elegant ensnarement, enticing her inward to see unknown galaxies swirling in the black universe. He understood, to a degree she could only imagine. She nodded slowly.
"They always see her first instead of me and sooner or later, they all expect me to be her."
"And you don't want to be a slave to their expectations," he finished for her, his eyes nearly glowing with his own perception. "And there's your answer." He motioned with his right hand and just barely skimmed her cheek. She started, taken aback by the sudden realization of their nearness. After a second, she scooted back a little. He didn't seem to notice.
"My answer to what?" she finally asked.
"Your question from yesterday." Her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion. She had expected an answer more along the lines of why she wasn't having luck with a job.
"What question?"
"Why not." It took her a second to remember.
'What does the vow entail?'
'Not to be the man my father was.'
'Why not?' His face darkened ominously and she knew she had crossed a line. This was not the time.
In the present time, Bra looked at him with a dawning sense of comprehension. But still . . . why did he chose to fulfill that vow so destructively to himself? There had to be more beyond that simple answer.
"Nachos are here!" Bra nearly jumped out of her skin in shock.
"Shela don't do that!" The green eyed girl's smile turned puzzled at the fact her friend was now holding a hand to her heart, reassuring herself that it hadn't jumped out of her chest. Goten grinned however, appreciatively eying her and the food.
"Okay," Shela said slowly. "I guess I'll give you the receptacle of nachos." She handed them to Goten who seemed exceedingly gratified. Bra however, seemed horrified.
"Oh no! That means we're not going to get any!" she moaned melodramatically. "And since when do you use the word receptacle?"
"Since now," her friend huffed, conscious of the fact she was being teased. Goten reprovingly shook a cheese drenched nacho at Bra, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Yes princess, you should never make assumptions based on the past." He proceeded to eat the chip in his hand at a perfectly human speed and allowing Shela to take one as well, taking a perverse pleasure in his filial rebellion. Bra decided not to comment.
*
Despite her protestations of tanning, Bra lay on her towel next to Shela for a majority of the day. The girls were soon chatting like the old friends they were, with Goten only interjecting an odd remark here and there. He didn't comment on Shela's many hunk sightings and the girls respected his own lustful appreciation: ignoring his muttered appraisals of scantily glad girls walking by and his numerous walks along the beach surrounded by them. Bra was slightly disturbed by the sight of him amid a swarm of giggling beach day Barbies - it undeniably confirmed her suspicion of him: he was a definite ladies man. However she held her tongue as she did about his nicotine breaks. At least she wasn't inhaling it directly.
On the other hand, Shela couldn't help but notice the fact that Goten stayed with them for a majority of the time. Or the fact he had placed his towel smack dab next to Bra. And what was up with 'princess'? She was more observant than she let on and her internal frown deepened as she witnessed a million little signs pointing to something. But she continued to smile outwardly and chat as if the beach boys were the only things on her mind.
Goten couldn't comprehend the fact that both girls fully intended not to go into the water at all. What was the point of going to the beach then? Shela had giggled. Bra had merely rolled her eyes and archly asked him what he had been doing all day. She also had wondered aloud if the salt would rust his eyebrow, a comment he had wisely ignored. Undeterred, Goten had finally cajoled Shela into coming with him into the 'briny deep'. Bra had to smile as she watched him nearly drag Shela into the surf. It was nice to see that there were still some small signs of the boy he had once been.
"Hey, this is cold!" Sounding genuinely surprised, Shela tried to pull back and get out of the small breakers. However, Goten continued forward and the force of his motion unexpectedly tripped her up, causing her to face fault on the ocean. He immediately stopped, trying to rearrange his face into a properly remorseful one before she righted herself - and failing.
"Whoops." Amazing how unrepentant he sounded.
She got up slowly, glaring at him. Her hands went up to her hair and she fussed with it, muttering something about how bad saltwater could be for hair.
Goten rolled his eyes. "Let's go deeper. I mean," he explained, when she stopped tidying herself to stare at him in disbelief. "you're already wet so why not?"
She couldn't refute his logic. Why not indeed. And she had to admit it was kinda fun, once you just let yourself go. Jumping on waves, splashing each other, body surfing, swallowing a good portion of said briny deep, which in fact was very briny. She had a ball and the fact Goten actually laughed a few times was testament to his good time. She was carefully not to go too far - she was that cautious at least. However one can only go through waves and go under them for so long before it gets old. She signaled him that she was getting out, but waited until he had approached her.
"Not used to this kind of workout?" he asked, grinning maliciously, his eyes flicking down her outfit out of habit.
She nodded distractedly before looking him dead in the eye. "Look, if you do anything to hurt Bra, I will personally hunt you down and make sure your life goes down the tubes."
He wasn't expecting that. He waited a second for her to laugh or something, but she kept her eyes locked on him in dead earnest. If anything, he had expected her to offer him her phone number or even invite him out to drinks with her. She had struck him as ditzy and good for a brief romp. Not that he'd do so - he had made some age restriction for himself. Girls her age only had so long until their innocence was shattered by some Casanova closer to their age and in a real relationship, without his help.
He didn't doubt her capability to go through with her threat. It hadn't taken him long to realize that she was filthy rich, not to the degree of the Briefs of course, but still. He hadn't realized though, that their friendship was that close. Then again, he had always doubted the ability for those involved in the Z gang to make real friends outside. Unwillingly his regard for Shela, as well as Bra, went up a notch.
He considered her intensely for a second before smiling slightly. "You don't know who I am, do you?" Shela sniffed.
"You think that matters?"
"I'm Son Goten," internally he winced at the identification. It had been a while since he had actually volunteered that information. "Pan's uncle."
Green eyes widened. "Son Videl's brother-in-law?" she asked in disbelief. He nodded unnecessarily. "D* you're old," she said matter-of- factly.
Hmm, again not the reaction he was anticipating. He waited in vain though for another reaction; Shela immediately started off for the towels, either forgetting her previous line of thought or more likely, believing it effectively delivered.
Bra looked up from her magazine upon hearing Shela flop unto her towel. "So how was the water?" she asked amicably.
"Cold," Shela pouted. "And surprisingly unable to flatten Goten's spikes. What on earth does he put in his hair?" Bra had to bite her lip to keep from laughing. The concept of Goten with flat hair was just too bizarre.
"It's a family thing, Gohan has the same problem. I remember when Tenshi asked him what he used to spike it when he was preparing for Halloween a while back." Bra began to laugh. "He couldn't believe it was natural."
Shela sighed, stretching full out on her towel like a cat. "I've got to say one thing Bra," she said seriously, cutting off her friend's laughter. "Tenshi might be a good boy, but Goten is a man!" Her breathy tone of reverence made Bra stiffen.
"Remember what I said Shela," she countered quickly, worriedly. Shela propped herself on her elbows and glanced sideways out from the sunglasses she had just put on, aware of the fact Goten was almost to the towels.
"I don't think I'm the one who needs to be worried," she muttered honestly in a low voice. Bra's eyes darted to her confused, but Goten had arrived and she merely pursued her lips.
"So princess, not intending to get wet?" Distracted, she nodded, not paying attention. If she had, she might've seen the mischievous glint in his eyes and predicted his next move. With a sudden sweep, she went over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
She was too in shock to react for a second, but the fact she was staring at his butt, nice as it was, soon sunk in. "SON GOTEN PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!" She pounded on his back, but it was like pounding on concrete and just as fruitful. He laughed at her helplessness. "I MEAN IT GOTEN!" So focused was she that she didn't notice that she was no longer over sand . . .
"Okay." And rather ungracefully he put her down - into the ocean, which despite the summer season, was frankly frigid. She shrieked, though it came out more as a gurgled cry.
"Goten!" she yelled, after she had regurgitated half the ocean. "If I had wanted to go in the water, I WOULD HAVE DONE IT MYSELF!" He smirked and started to respond, but the sight of her fuming, her sea blue hair draped in disarray around her - looking for all the world like a disgruntled mermaid, was too much. Laughter came out instead. Real laughter, that made Bra remember nostalgically when it wasn't such a rare occurrence, even as mad at him as she was. She turned in a huff, ready to return to dry land when an arm loped around her waist.
"Aw come on. I'm sorry." She might've believed it too, not likely but perhaps, if chuckles hadn't broke up each word. He refused to let her go though, and vaguely she wondered at how muscular he was. She blushed and tried to pry off his arm, tried being the operative word.
"Are not!" she muttered childishly. The arm stayed around her waist and she realized with start that he was right behind her, radiating blazing heat that tingled up her spine and ruffling her hair with every breath. She gulped. "Okay, I'll stay," she breathed hurriedly. She held her breath, but after a second the arm unwound reluctantly.
She spun around, not that surprised to find herself nearly nose to nose with Goten, or more correctly nose to throat in all honesty. Her eyes flew upward and his burned with smoldering . . . She shivered and took a step back.
"Are you going to sleep with her?" The words were out of her mouth before she could catch them and she felt the irrational urge to clamp her hands over her mouth. His eyes cooled, the pools of ebony becoming blank once again.
"No; she's not my type."
"And what is your type?" The words tumbled their way out of her mouth, building momentum. As long as she was talking, she couldn't think of how dumb she was acting. "I mean, when I went into The Fiery Pit, everyone looked at me funny. As if they couldn't imagine I would be looking for someone like you or that someone like me would know you. Or they weren't used to girls looking for you? What are you, celibate or something?" That was a joke and she tried to crack a smile when 'something' dawned on her. "Are you gay?" Well, that would definitely make him not the man his father was.
He stared at her blankly, taking a minute to register her ramblings. "No, to both," he finally said, looking amused for some reason. "You really think I'm celibate?" Ah right. She turned the red of their swimsuits.
"Not really," she muttered.
"As for the gay issue - women simply provide more pleasure," he purred, his eyes glinting with that stomach knotting light that made Bra involuntarily shiver. He took a moment for that to sink in before going on. "Women usually don't come looking for me, at least not of your, description," he settled on the last word after a slight pause. "I usually bring them into the Pit, not the other way round."
"Oh? And your type?" She swallowed loudly, trying to stay calm and not think of how insane this situation was: discussing Goten's sex life when she was in a bikini in front of him.
"One night stands. Short, tall, big, small, hourglass, cylinder, red head, brunette, blond - as long as she's pretty and for one night only."
She felt sick and horrified, the relaxed posture of his body and face only further nauseating her. He couldn't be serious - yet he was. "That's, that's sick Goten," she stuttered weakly. He shrugged.
"At least they know what they're in for." She was wrong. He wasn't a womanizer. He was a user. Of women.
"But why?" How could he go from faithful boyfriend of Paris for what, nine years?, to-to man wh*? He smiled faintly, seemingly unperturbed by her evident revulsion.
"Another vow actually." Her eyes, previously unfocused, snapped to his face.
"Another vow?" she echoed in disbelief.
"Never sleep with a woman twice." . . . But Paris? "That was actually after Paris and I broke up," he continued thoughtfully, as if reading her mind. Oh Dende, please let him not have mastered Saiyan telepathy. He shook his head. "She simply couldn't understand . . ."
Understand what? That he felt a sudden urge to completely destroy himself and those around him? She wanted to yell at him, rail at him that he was better than this. But she was too weak to challenge him then. To stare into those empty dark eyes and shake him until he woke up! She'd have to do that next time.
Mechanically she began to head out of the water, belatedly realizing that from the knee down she was numb. She floundered amidst the low surf for a moment before she reached dry land. Still she listlessly headed to her towel, her eyes fixed unseeingly straight ahead. When she reached her destination, she fell heavily unto her towel and turned to her side. Covering her ears with her hands and face with long blue hair, she blocked out Shela's concerned voice and the regular beach day sounds.
"I'm fine," she told Shela in the silence, her voice actually steady and confident.
That's not really him, she whispered to herself. I have to help him see that. There's more, there has to be!
Shela frowned worriedly. She darted a glance to Goten, but he said nothing, gave no hint of alarm or guilt. And she frowned deeper at the fact that she could not save Bra from what the girl allowed to happen.
*
They agreed to meet Saturday at Fen's Plaza to do something mutually decided upon. Goten claimed it was his turn to pick because she had planned the beach outing. She countered that since he had chosen to come with them and he was the one who had cancelled their Friday 'date' in the first place, it was her turn to choose. So they compromised.
Neither questioned the fact they would meet up with each other again.
Shela let herself out of Bra's car sluggishly, still mulling over that fact. She glanced over at her dear friend who smiled at her. "Look girl about Goten-" Bra started, worry creasing her face. Shela couldn't be considering dating him; she couldn't handle him! "Just watch yourself okay," she gave a weak smile. He might've fun - if he hadn't been so obviously not interested in her. Bra relaxed, her friend was safe. She nodded dismissively.
"I know. I can handle him."
Famous last words.
*
*
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Tada, it finally came! I can't believe it's this long! It's like double my normal, but I wanted to put so much in that continuous scene.
Don't know when the next chapter will be out - though I do have a plan. No promises this time.
Okay, time frame: it's summer. Bra and Trunks went out to lunch on Monday, and Bra went to the Fiery Pit. Tuesday she goes home (well, technically) and meets Goten at Fen's Plaza. Wednesday is her date with Tenshi and Thursday is the beach. (This fic is going to move quickly at first, day-to-day, and then slow down - you'll see)
Ugh, now to write my next chapter of Hold me.
Toodles!
Nitte iz