The expelled Gohan Son trudged silently home from the school, over the short distance of about a mile. Everything around him was a blur, the buildings, the cars and the people all went by without a second glance from the demi saiyan.

He wasn't really that worried about his mother, sure she would shout a lot, as usual and scold him for his behaviour, but it was nothing he hadn't handled before. What really worried him was the fact that his best friends would now be alone and vulnerable for the next few months.

He would have to do something about that. He couldn't do anything else to Matthew, for fear of a prison sentence but maybe if he put the boy's friends off the idea of ever bothering his own, all would be sorted. That would be easy enough.

There was something, or rather someone else lurking within his mind, a matter that seemed to overshadow all other problems, casting them into a darkness. A small smile tugged at his lips as he thought of her skin upon his own for those brief moments and the gentle smile playing on her features.

Her small hands holding his own, the way she searched out his eyes and smiled up at him. She was beautiful when she smiled, far more so when she was smiling at him. He couldn't help but realise that she had come to him, and not her supposed boyfriend in that moment. She had comforted him, eased him from his angered state.

And that worried him. Thoughts ran through his vexed mind at the repercussions that could entail. What if Matthew took offence to that? Would he do the same to Videl as what he was about to do to Samantha Flowers.

He would not allow that to happen. He cared for her, he knew that much, but as to just how far his affection ran, he had no clue. The thought that he might love her had not even entered his thoughts yet, and he was glad for that. That would certainly complicate matters further.

He thought over the reasons why he might care for her. Their relationship sure was an odd one. They had lived only yards apart nearly all of their lives, Gohan moving into the house next door when they were still crawling around over carpets. They had remained firm friends until high school, when the drift had begun.

She had been a pretty girl and instantly attracted the attention of the popular crowds that formed so easily, even if they had not existed as such before hand. Gohan himself couldn't afford to be discovered, so he steered well clear of all situations that might uncover his secrets. That included public gatherings such as parties and all sports teams.

Plus the fact that they all annoyed him to death. Except for her, he always had time for her, and she for him. They still wandered home after school together, always at a snail's pace, laughing and joking, enjoying each other's company outside of the confines of education.

They had remained on these amicable terms until Videl fell in with her current crowd, which included her boyfriend, whom Gohan had despised for a long time beforehand. After that, Gohan ignored the girl, his anger at her 'betrayal' was unequalled. Sometimes he even felt that he hated her for not stopping her boyfriend in his bullying tactics, but now he realised that maybe she had tried. But that idiot seemed way beyond reason.

He sure was in a pickle. First things first, he would deal with his irate mother, who had no doubt already received a phone call from the principal herself.

----------------

Later on that night, there was a knocking at the Son's door. Young Goten, only nine years old jumped up quickly, always willing to answer the door. "I'll get it!" He informed the household.

Videl heard the commotion coming from inside the house and smiled to herself. She hadn't really spoken to any of the Son's that much in the last two years, not after she fell out of favour with Gohan.

The door was pulled open wildly from inside, and the light and warmth hit her quickly. She was presented with what looked almost a clone of a pre-teen Gohan. She hadn't realised how much Goten had grown up.

"Hiya Videl!" He exclaimed cheerfully.

"Hi Goten, nice to see you again. I can't believe how much you've grown." With the formalities over with, she proceeded onto the point of her arrival. "Is your brother home?"

"Uh-huh, I'll go get him. Do you wanna come in and wait?"

She was a little nervous about entering the house she hadn't been in for so long, in case there was a huge awkwardness between her and Gohan on what would definitely be called 'Son territory'. Or at least Gohan's territory, Chichi had absolutely no problems with the girl.

A calm, deep voice halted her as she stepped through the door frame. "There'll be no need for her to come in. We can speak outside." She saw the imposing figure of Gohan framed by light pouring from a source behind him.

She was slightly taken aback at the fact that he wouldn't even let her in his home, but brushed it aside, he had been this way with her for such a long time now. But he was so hot and cold, she couldn't understand it. Gohan was not normally the type to speak that way, he was such a well mannered, good boy, always out to please everyone else but himself.

Sometimes he would act so cold towards her, but occasionally they had their moments, like today when she held his hands in her own. She could have stood like that forever, but that bitch Deepneau had to go and ruin it for her, removing the chills that ran down her spine during the contact, along with the butterflies dancing in her stomach.

What should she say to him? Tell him that she had agreed to that stupid bet, and ask him to make love to her right now. She suddenly realised that she hadn't questioned the fact that she had agreed to lose her virginity to Gohan. "I was sent here by the principal." She rooted around in her shoulder bag for the sheets that she had been given, every so often glancing up at him stood leaning against his porch, his arms crossed defensively over his chest.

She was getting even more nervous as his harsh gaze kept up its relentless assault on her. It seemed as though she might be pissing him off a bit, wasting his time while she tried to find the work for him. "I know I've got it here somewhere." She mumbled to him.

He seemed to notice the effect that he was having on her and relinquished his powerful gaze from her face. "It's all right." He said softly, calming her down a small amount.

She soon found them, looking crumpled and a little worse for wear, but still readable, and handed them over to his awaiting hands. "Thanks." He told her.

"Um, Gohan, can I ask you something?"

"What?" He said in a neutral tone.

"I was wondering, since you have so much time on your hands now." He chuckled a little at this. "Would you help me a little?" She tentatively questioned.

"With school work? I thought that you were doing fine."

"I guess I've just slipped a bit. So? Will you?"

"No, I don't think so." He replied.

She was a little peeved at his instant dismissal of her request. "Please Gohan, for old time's sake. We used to be friends. Best friends."

"Yeah, used to be." He turned on his heel, straight back into his home. Videl stood there dumbfounded, she hadn't expected him to take her in his arms and tell her that she was forgiven, but she at least would have liked a little kindness from him.