Disclaimer: I don't own the rights to Dragonball Z or any of its characters.

Also see additional disclaimers present in the first chapter.

Edited since being first posted because somehow spaces disappear when I post.

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"All right, good job, everybody," Trunks announces as I hoist myself out of the pool and sit on the edge, waiting for him to come over. As he does, I stand up, my eyes on level with his lips."Wanna hang out tonight, Goten?"

"Yeah, sure." I know, quite a jump from when I first met him, right? This 'Yeah, sure' is one hundred percent sincere.

"Cool, go get changed and then we'll go to my room."

I change out of my swimwear, which I'm somehow more comfortable wearing now, and return to Trunks's suite. I flop out on the couch, as I typically do, and he takes the other couch.

As he's flipping channels without really paying attention to anything on any of them, I watch him. Even after getting his hair wet, it fell wonderfully into place. I'm jealous; my hair is completely untamed and uncontrollable. I wonder if he puts a lot of work into his hair or if he's just born like that.

Moving down, his eyes. Two round pools bluer than the one I just got done swimming in. His smallish nose gives way to a mouth that always seems to be smiling, even when it's clearly not. His entire face radiates happiness.

Continuing, man... I wish I was built like he was. You'd think he would be a better swimmer than I am, but I guess that body is just for show. That's another one of those things where I wonder whether he works at it or if it just comes naturally.

As my eyes work down, tracing every inch of his body to find some flaw, like the kind Pan had mentioned, and finding none, Trunks turns his head sharply and breaks my stare. I turn away quickly, now watching a piece of lint on the carpet, as my cheeks redden slightly.

"What's up?" he asks.

"Nothing, I was just looking at ... out the window."

He turns his head to examine, and asks "What's out there?"

"Oh, nothing, just the building across the street. What's it called again?"

"That's Souma house. It's the female counterpart of this one."

"I see, so is it as nice?"

"Yeah, it's about the same. But not as nice as an apartment, like the one you and me'll get, right?"

He remembers?

"You were serious?"

Trunks's eyes widen. "Yeah... weren't you?"

"Well, yeah, I'd love to, but I didn't think you were serious at the time."

"What, 'cause I had something to drink? Listen, 'Ten, alcohol does not affect me in any way, unless I have a lot of it. And I mean a lot a lot."

"Hmm. Wait, did you just call me ' 'Ten'? "

"Yeah, you don't mind, do you?"

I blush a little bit again, "No, not at all," I respond, smiling widely.

"Cool. I'm really looking forward to next year, now."

"Haha, we haven't even had this one yet."

"I know, but I'm totally psyched about living in an apartment."

"Me too, Trunks."

Trunks joins me in smiling widely and, after a brief moment of the pure bliss of anticipation, settle down and watch television. This time I keep my eyes on the screen. I'm not paying attention, though. I feel Trunks's eyes on me. The same way mine were on him.

I hope he approves.

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Mmm, yet another trip to the campus cafeteria. The food here isn't great, but at least now I have someone to sit with every time. Trunks and I have our schedules synchronized now so that we can eat every meal together, and have done so for the last two weeks. We walk into the dining area, Trunks on my left, to the area where our friends sit.

A blonde haired girl named Marron, who also tends to join us for all of our meals, looks up and says in a mock-cutesy tone, "Aww, the couple's here."

The table laughs, as does Trunks, while I simply chuckle a little, nervously. I don't know why I don't think it's as funny.

"That's right," Trunks says, wrapping his arm around my right waist and pressing his cheek against mine. My face feels like it's on fire at this point and I hope no one notices, especially Trunks. I smile slightly as if to scream, "Enough!" and I pull his hand off of me.

I hear "Aww, I think it's cute" from a female voice, and turn my head sharply to see if I can catch who said it, but I am too late.

After that, I sit on the opposite end of the ten-seater table as Trunks. My face still feels like it's glowing red but no one's said anything and so I think I can safely assume that it's close enough to a normal color. I inhale deeply and begin to eat my food.

Marron turns to Trunks, "So how long have you been going out?"

"Oh, off and on for about four weeks now," Trunks replies in this unbearable lisp.

"Aww, how sweet. What are you going to do for your one month anniversary?"

"Well, I can't tell you, but I'll give you a hint," he says in the same voice, "it has to do with chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and no ice cream."

Marron laughs, turning slightly red, Trunks just laughs, and I just turn slightly red. Partially from embarrassment and partially from anger. It's just weird. This isn't funny. It's not.

At this point I take my tray of food away to put in the garbage. As I'm walking off I hear Trunks shout, "Goten, wait!", followed by Marron saying, "Well, that's what you get for talking about your boyfriend's sex life without his permission," followed by an uproar of laughter from the table.

I continue without looking back.

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I return to my dorm room and throw myself on the bed. Yamato's there but he's just lying back, eyes closed, listening to his iPod, as always. I honestly don't even know whether he's asleep. It drives me crazy how from the beginning he didn't even want to try to make friends with me. I was nothing but friendly. What a jerk.

But then again, I can understand where he's coming from. I would say he's just shy but that would've been overcome in the last five weeks that we've known each other. It's not exactly a chore living with him; he doesn't leave messes, he doesn't play music loudly, he doesn't have people over. But still, it feels like we're both just waiting and trying to run our time up instead of making the best of it. That's such a shame.

I wonder how long it took him to grow that ponytail. I wonder if he's had a girlfriend. I bet it wouldn't be hard for him to get one, if he just put himself out there. But it's clear he's not the kind of guy who "just puts himself out there." He has such cool eyes, though. Not as cool as Trunks's, but still, yeah. Trunks is better built, too. But he doesn't have a girlfriend. I wonder why; he's quite attractive. Err... wait, what am I saying? Just that I'm surprised Trunks doesn't have a girlfriend. He deserves one. He deserves an awesome one.

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My phone rings. Trunks's countenance illuminates the tiny screen for the fourth time in the last three minutes, and so I guess it's time to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Hey, Goten?"

"Yeah, what's up?"

"Hey, did I piss you off earlier? You know I didn't mean anything by it."

"No, it's okay." You did piss me off, but I'm not going to say so. And I can't even explain why. I don't know why. It doesn't make any sense.

"You sure?"

"Yeah, it's fine. Just,... don't do that anymore."

"Yeah, man, I understand. Didn't mean to embarrass you. They know we're just playin'."

"Yeah."

"So, listen, do you wanna go get something to eat? I noticed you left without having eaten much."

"Hmm, I don't know."

"Oh, come on. It'll be my treat. My way of saying sorry."

I perk up.

"Hmm... all right."

"Great, I'll pick you up in about five minutes, okay? Are you in Washi?"

"Yeah, that'll be great."

"All right, see you."

(Eighteen minutes later...)

I hop in his car.

"So, 'Ten, where do you wanna, go?"

"Hmmm, I don't know. Let's just get a burger."

"Burgers it is."

We pull into a drive-thru, order, and park in a parking lot, eating in the car.

"So, 'Ten, howth ebree thin?"

"What? Trunks, don't talk with your mouth full."

Trunks chews and swallows.

"How's everything?" he repeats.

"It's good, it's good. Same as it was earlier today. Before lunch anyway." I take a sip from my soda.

"Yeah. How are classes? We never talk about this kind of stuff."

"Well, it's small talk. We shouldn't feel forced to, y'know? We're better friends than that."

"Yeah, you're right," Trunks responds, looking down and shoving a small bundle of three or four french fries in his mouth. "Hmm... hey, Goten, fyoo eber had a gullfrinn?" he asks, mouth full of fries.

"Me? Just one, in high school. It only lasted for about two months, though."

"Was she hot?"

"She was all right. What about you?"

"Just one. Her name was -- "

"Pan, right?"

Trunks's eyes widen and he turns his head sharply to me. "Yeah, how'd you know?"

"Haha, she's my niece."

"No way! Your niece? That was Bra's friend? Is Pan? Wow."

I giggle.

"Wow," he continues, shaking his head, then looking back to me, examining my face. "You know, now that I think of it, I see it. Yeah, you kind of look like her."

I blush slightly. I'm getting slightly giddy over this. But why? I can't imagine why. Unless...

"You mean she looks like me!" I respond defiantly.

"Right, right," Trunks laughs. "Aw man, that's crazy though. You know, I haven't seen her since we broke up."

"Yeah, well, from the sound of it, it doesn't really seem like she likes you."

"Yeah, we broke up on kind of harsh terms."

"Ah." (pause) "Well, I hope you won't hold that against me!" I say, smiling and pushing him slightly on the shoulder.

"'Course not," he laughs, jabbing me back. "You wanna head back?"

"Yeah, let's go."

On the ride back, conversation is kept to a minimum, and thoughts of Trunks race through my head.

I think...

I think I'm attracted to him.

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