Disclaimer: I don't own Dragonball Z or any of its characters. In fact, I don't own the rights to anything, and any use of anything involved in anything I ever write is for entertainment purposes only; I don't make any sort of profit off of any of it.

When you finish, check out my profile to find a link to my site, where I may someday post this fic with special commentary to explain some parts of the story, some bonus stuff, and so on.

Also, I'd like to give a very special thanks to everyone who's read my story from beginning to end, and a bonus thanks to everyone who left reviews (you can still claim your bonus thanks by leaving a review now!).

Well, here it is!

The Final Chapter.

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

I look down. This is the only choice that makes sense.

I mean, the American Revolution, the Korean War, and World War I weren't even fought in the nineteenth century. I mark "B. The War of 1812," and let out a heavy sigh of relief. The last question on my last final.

Take that, finals.

Take that, first year of college.

Take that, University of South City.

I turn in my paper confidently and walk out of the classroom, toward Starbucks, where I'm meeting everyone for an end-of-the-year get-together.

---------

I push the glass door open and find in a corner of couches, forming an almost complete circle and tucked away from the rest of the coffee shop, a great deal of the people I've met this year. Going clockwise, Marron's sitting, chatting with her boyfriend. Haku is next, and he brought Pan, who's carrying on a conversation with Bra. Next is Trunks. Finally, it's Sour Patch and the other guy who was there at the movie theater. That's already eight; I'm not sure if eight plus one could fit. Marron catches sight of me and waves me in. I squeeze in between Bra and Trunks, and listen in on conversations for a little while. Oh, and since it doesn't have a whole lot to do with me, I forgot to mention that Pan and Trunks, while not exactly friends, are able to be in the same room without killing each other now. Trunks never really explained how he managed to do that, but it was some time in the last month or so.

Pan and Bra are talking about something Haku did. I can't really pick up on it, but Bra just keeps saying that he's "so sweet."

Sour Patch and Other Guy are talking about some old movie that came on the other night called "The Bride Wore a Tuxedo," and how it was really sappy. I would probably have enjoyed it. There probably weren't enough explosions for them.

Marron and her boyfriend are too far away to be saying anything intelligible, but suddenly Marron stands up as I'm watching her.

"All right, listen up, everybody." After a few seconds, we fall silent. "Some of you know how this works, but for those who don't, every year we get together at the end of the year and tell our plans for the next year, like resolutions and stuff. I'll go first and then we'll let it go around the circle, all right?"

Everyone nods, and I nod, too.

"Well, I'll be a junior," Marron begins, "and I'm looking forward to that. My average has fallen below a 3.5 this semester, and so I want to pull that up by the end of the year."

"Good luck," everyone says, almost in unison.

Marron's boyfriend stands, "Well, I'll finally be able to take classes toward my licensure, and so I'm excited about that. And, um... heh, I'm not really going to do anything besides that."

"Oh, come on," Marron pleads.

"Uhh... I hope that I don't fail out!" he says, sitting quickly.

"Good luck," everyone says, no more in unison than last time, accompanied by a few chuckles.

Haku stands and says, "This will be my senior year, and I just want to graduate. I also want to get a part-time job over the summer." He sits back down. "Good luck, Haku."

After a few seconds of silence, Pan turns to Bra and says, "Isn't it your turn?"

"What? No, you're next."

"Me? But, I don't go to school here."

"I don't either!"

Haku whispers, "Go ahead, Pan."

Pan stands up as a pink tinge plasters itself on her cheeks. "Umm, I... I'm going to be a senior in high school, and... I want to finish in the top ten percent of my class."

"Good luck, Pan!" everyone shouts, this time more together.

Pan sits back down, blush deepening. Bra stands as I become slightly uneasy. I'm next.

"I'm going to start college here, and, first and foremost, have an amazing time and make great friends, with grades a distant second," she smiles, taking her seat again.

I fidget slightly as my knees wobble and I am unable to stand. Trunks puts his hand on my shoulder and I look to him, nodding my head. Trunks knows what I'm about to say.

I stand up, take a deep breath, and say "I am moving next year."

"Into an apartment with Trunks, right," Marron says.

"No. Next year, I'll be starting college at the University of East City. I've already applied and I'm in, and I have the check for tuition in my bookbag now."

"What? Seriously?" Haku asks skeptically.

I nod. "And I guess my resolution is to meet friends as good as all of you," I say, smiling, trying to hide the doubt about my decision that I'm sure is showing up in my eyes. I don't want to stand here anymore. I want to go home and finish packing and mail my letter and be done with this.

Trunks stands up, "I'll be a junior, like Marron. And I'll be living in an apartment with Akira." Akira is Sour Patch's real name.

I grab my bookbag and say, "Sorry, I really gotta go now."

"Aww... are you sure? This'll probably be the last time we get to see you," Marron mentions.

"Yeah. Sorry. We'll keep in touch, I'm sure. Bye, everyone!"

Goodbyes come from behind me as I walk out the door. I stand outside for a few seconds before I hear the door open behind me.

"Goten?"

"Yeah, Trunks?"

"I guess... this is it, hmm?"

I bite my lip as a tear forms in one of my eyes. Wiping it away, but not turning to see him, I nod in response.

He walks around me to look at me face-to-face, but I keep my head facing the floor.

"It was a good year, wasn't it, 'Ten?"

I nod, smiling a little bit as a small tear forms in the other eye to match the first.

"I'm... I'm going to miss you, Goten," he whispers, wrapping his arms around me tightly. I return the embrace.

"I'm going to miss you, too, Trunks," I say in a voice that I can't keep from cracking.

He releases me, and we stand in front of each other awkwardly for a few seconds.

"Well, I have to go finish packing. It was really good to know you, Trunks."

"You, too."

"Well...," I say, wanting this to end perfectly, like it would in a story, "Goodbye, Trunks."

"Goodbye, Goten. And best of luck in the future."

---------

I return to my dorm and open the door to my room. Seeing most of my stuff in boxes, as I did most of the packing last night, I throw my bookbag to the floor and sit on the sheetless mattress. Yamato's last final was yesterday and he wasted no time leaving. He didn't even stick around to say goodbye; he just left a note on my desk saying, "It was good knowing you. - Yamato." I guess that's good enough.

As I was packing last night, I counted the number of CC things I own. Out of actual, nonconsumable products that I own and brought here, nine of the twenty-six are affiliated with them. Not really fifty percent, but that's still a pretty good amount.

I only have a few things left to pack. Things in desk drawers, on the television set, and below the bed. There's this one thing of potato chips that's been in my desk since November. Finally time to throw that out. As I'm cleaning under the bed, I come across a gray bag (made by Capsule Corp., of course) I haven't seen for months. I open it to find Trunks's clothes packed tightly inside.

Oh yeah, I forgot about those. I open my bookbag, which contains only a few notebooks, the envelope with the check, and a package of scantron sheets, and I stuff the gray bag inside of it.

I finish packing and unzip my bookbag again, grabbing the envelope. I close it again, throwing it over my shoulder with the envelope in my hand, and leave.

---------

I walk slowly down the sidewalk toward the rusty mailbox a few blocks away, waiting for some event to happen to stop me. I look around for a distraction or a delay. But today's the last day I can submit my tuition. And I've made up my mind.

Several minutes later I arrive and hold the envelope in front of me, studying the blue ink and the handwriting on the envelope that assures that I will be moving away from Trunks.

I sigh and lie against the mailbox for a minute.

We had so many good times together.

I remember singing karaoke with him, and his soft, low voice.

I remember swimming with him, immersing myself in the pool water with him.

I remember smelling his clothes, and his distinct and beautiful scent.

I remember watching him as he did, well, everything.

I remember ... kissing him. I long to kiss his honey lips again. I long for them to kiss me back.

I sigh audibly.

And the night I told him I had made my decision.

---------

"Trunks, listen... we need to talk."

"Hmm? What about?"

"I've ...," I swallow hard. "I've made a decision."

"Tell me."

"I... I can't live with you next year."

"What? Why not?"

"I know I shouldn't be, but... but I'm still attracted to you. I still love you, Trunks. And I'm sorry, but I don't see that changing unless... I move."

"Move?" he shouts. "What are you talking about?"

"I need to leave. I just... I need to find someone new. Someone who could return my love."

"Oh,... but Goten...," he sighs. "Listen, I'm sorry. I really am. I would love it if we could be friends, and roommates. But... well..."

"Trunks, looking at Marron and her boyfriend tonight... that's what I want. I want someone who cares for me like that, and who I care about like that. To such an extent. And as long as I'm obsessing over you, well,... it can never happen. I need to move, Trunks. I need to get far away from you. I need to forget this whole mess ever happened. I need to put it behind me."

"But..."

"I'm sorry, Trunks. I've made up my mind."

He looks at the steering wheel and then back to me. He sighs and replies, "I understand."

---------

I look down at the envelope and see a drop of water smear the ink in the return address. I wipe my eyes and look to my left and right.

I wait for Trunks to come up from beyond the horizon, screaming "Goten! Goten! I love you, too! I never realized it before!" or "You passed the test! All this shit that you had to go through this year was just a test and you passed! We are in love forever!"

I take one last look on either side, pull open the squeaky mailbox door, and shove the envelope inside.

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

The End