Disclaimers: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of its characters, I'm just using them for my own purposes and having fun doing it.

Also, put up any number of disclaimers here you'd want to see because I would like to remind the reader that at any time I can do whatever I want with this story (although in reality I have the entire thing planned, I may change it a bit or something-- not based on reviews, of course, but still). That's why I have the rating as 'M,' -- I do not want to be limited in any way. Similarly, I do not want to put up disclaimers, such as "lemon chapter," that may give away any of the occurrences in that chapter.

Finally, I'd also like to say that can be annoying with uploading documents sometimes. On some computers, it does not let me upload documents at all, and on others, it will cause words to stick together. Trust me when I say I proofread everything before submitting it and that I myself would not allow an omission of a space to make it to the story, especially during such a crucial moment. I typically catch these when I reread my last chapter something like two days after it's posted and am mortified. So, again, I apologize and I'll try to avoid that in the future.

Enjoy!

Begin Part II.

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As I walk down the cracked sidewalk toward the gym, I breathe in the sweet scent that hangs in the air that reminds me that today was the last day of classes. This semester was a good one. I hung out with Trunks a lot, classes went well, swim team went well, and Trunks... he went on his first date with Marron last night. I hope he had a good time.

I swallow hard at the thought. Well, I don't hope he was miserable.

Well, maybe I do. I want him to be happy, but I want me to be happy, too.

The big swimming competition is in February. We've practiced for a while, now, and I'm the captain of the team, even if Trunks is still president. Tonight's the last practice before the break.

I hope Marron isn't there.

Don't get me wrong, I like Marron. She's cool and all. I just... I don't think I can see her now.

I'll have to get over that if they keep dating.

If they become boyfriend and girlfriend.

I'll have to get over that.

I push the door to the pool room open and find the usual crowd there, my eyes immediately darting around the crowd for the tuft of purple hair that would identify the person I came here to see.

There he is, in the water. He hoists himself up onto the edge of the pool, saying "Hey, there, 'Ten."

"Hey, how's it going?" I ask, trying to distract myself from the droplets of water rolling down his somewhat athletic form.

"All right, all right. Yourself?"

"Not too bad. Want to hang out tonight?"

"Absolutely! I have something I really want to tell you."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, but shhh... we'll talk about it later," Trunks says, keeping his finger to his mouth.

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Back at Trunks's suite, which is remarkably barren because everyone has moved much of there stuff because the holiday is coming up, Trunks and I sit on the couch.

"Okay, Goten, you ready?"

I smile and nod anxiously.

"Now you're not allowed to tell anyone this, okay? It's one-hundred-percent top secret. Got it?"

I cock an eyebrow before saying, "Got it."

"Okay... last night, after the date, Marron said that she didn't want to go back to the dorm tonight because her roommate and her roommate's boyfriend were probably going to be in there having sex or something and forcing her to sleep on the couch. So I said to come to my dorm, and she did, and we went to my bed (my roommate was gone for the night) and..."

My smile has long since faded away by this point.

"And, inches away in my twin-size bed, we looked at each other, when suddenly she closed the distance and kissed me."

Though he pauses for one, I give him no reaction, and he continues.

"We made out for a little bit and then she rested her head just below my shoulder and, eventually fell asleep, and I did the same."

"You slept with her the first night?" I ask softly.

"Well, no sex. But slept with her? Yes."

I nod. "That's cool." I mutter.

"Yeah, she's really great. You need to get yourself a girlfriend, 'Ten!"

I sigh mentally. "I guess..."

"Do you have your eye on anyone?" he asks with a sly smile.

"Hmm, well,... sorta."

"Oh-oh! Goten has a cru-ush, Goten has a cru-ush!" he teases. "Who is it?"

"No, I can't say."

"Oh, come on, Goten! I'm your best friend, aren't I? Come onnnnn," he pleads, poking my shoulder.

"Sorry. No."

"Oh, fine," he says, crossing his arms and sticking his bottom lip out. "If you tell me, maybe I can hook you up, y'know?"

"Forget it, Trunks! Forget I said anything."

"Awww. Well, new subject," Trunks begins. "How are you feeling about the swim team?"

"Pretty good, actually," I respond, happy that the subject has been dropped. "I think everyone's doing pretty well and I just broke my old record today by 0.3 seconds. We shall be a force to be reckoned with."

"Great! I'm excited, too. I honestly think the team is doing better this year than it ever has before. Probably thanks to you."

I grin.

"Hey, Goten, you're coming to the New Year's Party, right?"

"New Year's Party?"

"Yeah, there's going to be a big one at my house, December 31, starts at 9 PM, doesn't end till everyone's gone."

"Sounds good. 'Course I'll be there."

"Awesome, it'll be great."

I nod, and then there are a few seconds of awkward silence.

Trunks breaks it by saying, "Wonder what's on TV."

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A few hours later, I wake up. The still-on television flickering is the only thing lighting the room as a sleeping Trunks is leaning on my shoulder. I take in as much warmth as I can before instinctively snaking my arm around his back and holding his waist and resting my head on his, smelling the soft lilac scent of his hair and feeling the silky lightness against my cheek. I kiss him gently on the forehead and rest my head on his, closing my eyes.

I feel him wake up. My arm is stuck behind him and I cannot move too abruptly anyway or else he will know I'm awake.

He squirms slightly, but not too much, to see if he can escape the hold he is in without waking me, but soon gives up.

I casually fall forward and lie down on the couch, taking him with me, with my head on level with his chest.

I drift back into sleep to the soft rhythm of his heartbeat.

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The next morning, Trunks and I say our goodbyes. I will not see him again until the New Year's Party. Marron lives in South City like Trunks does, though, and so they should be able to see plenty of each other. I sigh.

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I spend most of the holiday not allowing any thoughts of him to invade my thoughts, but one day, I wake up and find myself unable to think of anything else. I wonder what he's doing, whether he's with Marron, whether his mom and sister are driving him crazy, whether he's eating, whether he likes turkey sandwiches, whether he's happy, whether he's ever cried, whether he's any good at crossword puzzles, whether he's seen the movie Brian's Song, whether he would be happier with me there right now, or not.

Toward the end of the night, I lie in my bed and stare into my pillow. Gohan, who's home for the holiday along with Videl and Pan, knocks on my door gently. "Goten? Can I come in?"

I rub my eyes, sit up, and say, "Sure, come in."

Gohan enters slowly and sits down on the chair in the corner of my room. "Are you all right, Goten?"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine."

"You look kind of upset about something."

"What? No... no, I'm fine."

"Are you sure?"

"Well..." It's hard to lie to Gohan. "It's just... college stuff."

"Ah, classes giving you trouble?"

"No, no, nothing like that."

"Ohhh... problems with a girl?"

"Hmmm... not exactly..." I pause. "...Problems with a boy."

Gohan replies, "I see. What kind of problem is it?"

I sigh and answer, "There's this guy... and I'm really attracted to him."

Gohan nods as I continue, "But he's straight. And I can't stop thinking about him. And,.. it's really embarrassing. I hate it. It doesn't seem fair."

"I see," Gohan says, still nodding. "Well, Goten, I'm afraid the only advice I can give to you is to get over it, y'know? I know it doesn't seem like you can now, but you're going to have to. Unless, you know, he's closeted. But from the way it sounds, that isn't the case. These things pass, all right?"

"All right, Gohan."
"Good."

"But... but, how should I go about doing that?"

"I suggest you just stay away from... what's his name?"

"Trunks."

"I suggest you stay away from Trun--," Gohan stops as the realization of the name I said hits him. "Wait,... not Trunks Briefs, right?"

I look to the floor and nod.

"That little purple-headed kid my kid dated for two years? Goten..."

I blush.

"Goten, listen. I don't mean to badmouth your friend or anything, but that guy's a jerk. I could tell he was a jerk from day one. That condescending politeness routine bullshit he pulled on me and Videl. And then what he did to Pan."

I open my mouth to refute some of what he says, but Gohan continues.

"As your brother I can't tell you who and who not to date or be attracted to or whatever, but damn, Goten. You can do better than that."

I close my mouth and look down again, eyes fixed on Gohan's disgusted features.

"Does Pan know?" he asks.

I shake my head, unable to speak.

"Good. I don't think she should."

I nod.

"All right. Good night, Goten," he says, pulling the door shut. I run up and lock it after him and turn off the light, throwing myself back into my comfortable bed.

I know I'm not supposed to like him. For so many reasons. But that doesn't stop me from liking him.

I can't wait for the New Year's party.

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