Chapter Six
Forever Changed
There was less warmth in the school's dance hall then the snow the covered the windowsills, empty save for the two dancers and their auburn haired instructor. Videl didn't need to watch the television screen to know the mistakes that were being displayed, she still felt every stumble and misstep, what troubled her most was the commentary of the people covering the event. Every second seemed to bring another statement as bad if not worse than the last.
"...not at all what we've come to expect from Ms. Corwin's students. A former champion herself, Sharon Corwin has brought some of the brightest and best students to these competitions. This year seems to be a dark spot in the career..." the click of the remote silenced the two men and froze the image of Sharpner barely keeping his feet as Videl had again missed her spot.
With a heavy hearted sigh the young teacher regarded her star pupils, she looked drained of any spark that had been so prevalent since the beginning, "Well, I suppose there is no need to rehash what has already been said the good news, I suppose, is that we still managed to make it to the finals. I think my reputation gave us some extra points and the fall from the last couple kept us from losing the eighth spot."
Sharpner smirked and pumped his fist, "Sweet, he falls we move on."
Sharon stalked over and looked at him speaking sharply, "We don't celebrate other's misfortunes Sharpner! We strive to do our best and earn our place. We have a week to prepare, and there is much to do if we want to even finish respectably."
The blonde rolled his eyes, "Well tell her, she doesn't go where I tell her to! I am leading or had you forgotten that fact!"
Videl blinked and turned to him angrily glad to take her anger out on someone she wanted to hate, "You moron, it's not like yanking a puppy along a leash!"
Ms. Corwin nodded her head slowly, "She's right Sharpner, you were entirely too aggressive in your movements, it was unbalanced and lacks the fluidity of a true partnership. You need to settle in and share the spotlight now and again." She sat down in a chair and faced the two slowly, "We'll begin first thing tomorrow, for tonight I want you both to get some rest and catch your breath...it's been a trying day for all of us."
Videl and her partner rose slowly their footsteps echoing in the empty room as they left the young teacher to herself. Moments passed with the silence of the room broken only by the wind as it blew against the high windows. Sharon rested her head in her hand feeling more tired than she had in a long time, it made her wonder if it wasn't a sign that she had made a mistake. The sudden realization that someone else was in the room made her acutely aware of the emptiness of the school tonight.
"Is...someone there?" she tried to sound confident, but the echo didn't help her feelings.
Emerging from the shadowed entrance, the last person she expected to see stepped towards her, "Sorry, the door was open..."
She regarded Gohan for a long moment and laughed ruefully, he was wearing a brown jacket and carried a small bag over one shoulder, "I don't suppose that is carrying tar and feathers for you to drag me through the city square..after this day I can't think of a more fitting end."
He shook his head and slid into the chair vacated by Sharpner, his face was neutral and she wondered what thoughts rested behind his eyes, "No, but it is something for you..." he pulled out a tall thermos and removed the cup-like lid pouring a steaming light brown liquid that smelled suspiciously of chocolate and...mint maybe. As he spoke his face broke into a slight smile, "My mother's special hot chocolate good for cold and weary hearts...so she says."
He handed her the cup carefully and she could feel the warmth through the plastic, carefully she sipped it and smiled feeling the warmth through her body to her toes, "That is good, and she's right. I have to admit I am a bit surprised to see you here at this time, not that I mind you understand but I didn't think I was high on your list of favorable people..." she drifted off and sipped the cocoa as her eyes looked away. His absence the last week had dimmed the practices and she had truly missed her student.
Gohan nodded a bit and took a moment to collect his thoughts, "I had a talk with Erasa tonight...she came by to see me during the competition," that was one mystery solved at least, he took a deep breath and continued "...and after hearing her out I guess I felt I needed to come and apologize."
This brought the young woman's eyes up so sharply that she nearly spilled the cup, "You need to apologize? Gohan if anything I owe you an apology that I would never expect acceptance of..."
He smiled a bit, "Nonetheless I shouldn't have walked away like I did, if something had happened where you needed me to fill in I wouldn't have been there. I have been acting like a true idiot...it's not your fault you know, Erasa told me what happened and why..." he sighed a bit and looked down, "I guess it was just too hard for me..."
She nodded a bit and rose slowly kneeling to look into his eyes, "Gohan, I don't blame you for staying away, and I do owe you an apology...I wasn't strong enough to stand for my students." She closed her eyes, "I put my career before the well-being of my students and that is against everything I believed in...I sold you, Videl and myself out..."
He met her eyes for a moment and she was about to give up hope when she felt his hands squeeze hers gently, "Well...I'll forgive you if you'll forgive me as well..."
She blinked slowly and smiled weakly as she stood with all the grace she had become known for, "If you will, I'll be glad to..."she looked at him, "So what do you plan to do now? You're welcome to come to rehearse again..."
He shook his head, "No, I don't want to intrude on the practices, my presence might make things difficult. I do plan to speak with Videl though...I just hope that I haven't broken our friendship entirely." She nodded her head a bit as he rose from his chair.
"No, I think that she is merely waiting for you...if you do not mind me being a little nosey, what are your feelings towards Videl?" she tried to contain the laugh as she watched her young student's face pale and he gulped a little. Stepping back he shook his head and seemed to be searching for an exit, but the only way to leave this room was to go through her and he knew she would not let him off easily. Finally he gave a resigned sigh and looked down, his voice a bit unsure.
"Truthfully I don't know, I mean I know I like her, the part I am unsure of is just how much I like her..." he smiled a bit, "Maybe it will depend on Videl...how much she wants me to like her."
Ms. Corwin nodded at that answer, it showed her a new side of the boy that she had only begun to understand, "Good luck Gohan, and come by anytime." He bid her goodbye and she smiled in bemusement sipping the hot chocolate she had been given before whispering, "I hope all turns out best for you Gohan..."
The rest of the week was like a supreme test of patience for Gohan, each day he sought to find Videl, but he did not wish to intrude on her practicing and other times she was busy with her father's parties. At school she was rarely seen, often missing her classes with permission to be with her father at a martial arts tournament. By the end of the week he was ready to pull his hair out entirely in frustration.
He had seen her once though, the day of the finals of the competition, in the hallway after the other students had gone to their last class and it was just them. Her back was to him and he stood nervously back just out of the main hall. Every day he had practiced what to say, and now his mind was unable to summon any of the words. As she turned he gulped and slid further around the corner with a sigh. Moments passed before she turned and disappeared down an adjacent hall, but Gohan still remained where he had moved, until a finger tapping his shoulder caused him to jump with a start and spin around.
"Umm, you know you're never going to mend things if you hide like that every time," Erasa grinned as she glanced down the hall, "By the way I think it's safe to come out now."
He sighed and stepped back around the corner, "I just...didn't know what to say, or rather I had so many things but none of them seemed to be right...I just don't know, what if I can't figure out what to say?"
She shook her head slowly, "You're thinking too much Einstein," she smiled, "Don't...in this case the best thing is to trust your heart and just let the words come out. Emotions don't require thought, because if you think it gets messy."
That brought a chuckle as the two walked along and he glanced at her, "You may be right...it does get complicated when I think about it. Are you going to the competition tonight?"
A nod caused her to touch his hand, "You should come too Gohan...I know it would mean everything to Videl."
The older boy nodded slowly, "I'll try..." he bid her goodbye and stepped into the snowy winter air with a deep sigh. "Not thinking...perhaps that is the way to go, I hope she'll be willing to listen."
A few hours later the concert hall was filled with excited guests, their suits and dresses matching the finery of the night. They had started arriving nearly three hours before the competition, with the family of the dancers being given the place of honor nearest the floor. At one table, Sharpner's father sat alone, the candle on his table causing shadows to dance across his features, a dark contrast to the white suit he wore. Already his mind was weighing the situation and how far his plan had advanced as the other guests were busy in light conversation, he leaned on the silver-tipped cane he used and smiled none too pleasantly as he spied Videl peeking around the curtain.
She darted back as she realized he had spied her and looked down, no one knew of the arrangement that man had made with her. She had felt too ashamed to even tell Erasa, let alone Gohan. The thought of her former friend and partner brought a knot in her throat. The whole week she had engrossed herself in so much that she had not had a moment to feel sorry for the loss of the boy who she feared she had lost forever. Erasa's hand on her shoulder cause her to turn, the skirts of her lavender dress rustling a bit with the movement.
"Girl, are you alright?" Erasa had been the only lifeline she had been able to grasp onto in the chaotic sea that was her life. She met her friend's green eyes and sighed a bit, but she was unable to find the words and merely shook her head.
"It's Gohan isn't it?" the young blonde often surprised others with her insight, but it was something the older girl had come to rely on in times like this.
A heavy sigh seemed to take all the strength from her body as she spoke slowly, "I miss him Erasa...it's like everything I had to smile about is gone...except you."
Blinking in an attempt to contain the tears that threatened to spill, Erasa drew her friend into a tight embrace and sniffed, "Don't worry...you'll smile again and you will find a way to Gohan...I know it." The stage manager came by to remind everyone about the coming of the first dance. Seeing Sharpner making his way through the waiting dancers the two women sighed a bit, Videl glanced around the curtain once more, a moment later she dropped it and her eyes dropped dejectedly.
"I guess...I mean I was hoping he'd be here, but I understand why he didn't come..." from where she stood, Ms. Corwin felt her heart go out to the young woman. Deep down she too had been hoping that Gohan would be there but it seemed that everything would not end in a happy way. But Erasa had stopped in the midst of trying to comfort her friend and her lips curved into a smile as she looked at Videl.
"I wouldn't give up just yet girl..." and as Videl turned she spied him, stepping through the rear door and brushing flakes of snow from his dark hair. He wore a zipped up brown leather jacket tonight, and a scarf of dark blue was wrapped around his neck. Despite the plainness of his attire, she had never seen anything so wonderful to her eyes.
Running to intercept him, the stage manager spoke briskly to the taller boy, "Sir, this entrance is for dancers and staff only, I am afraid you must leave immediately..."
Before he could say more, the young man's teacher stepped in putting a gentle hand on the stage manager's arm, "Please sir, this is the costume designer's assistant, we found a tear in my performer's dress and he is here to repair it...it will be nothing but a few moments."
The stage manager regarded Gohan skeptically for a long moment and he frowned, "Very well, you have precisely three minutes to fix her dress."
As Ms. Corwin walked with him she smiled to Gohan and gave a wink while mouthing 'good luck'. Taking a deep breath Gohan stepped to Videl who looked down a moment, she had thought of this moment so many times, the realization that it was actually happening had not occurred to her and she found herself unable to speak. Her breath caught as Gohan knelt before her and gently begin moving her skirts as is seeking a rip. His eyes looked into hers as she blushed softly the heat of his hands so close to the bare legs beneath her skirt.
"Wha...what are you doing?" her voice was barely above a whisper but he shook his head.
"Playing the part," she noticed his blush and smiled a bit before he took a deep breath, "Videl...listen, I don't have much time to talk, but I wanted to say this..." he gulped and his mouth opened before he stopped and seemed to reconsider, "I am sorry...for what I said to you. I shouldn't have been so mean to you and if you're still mad at me I understand.."
She was about to speak but he held up a hand, "Listen...whatever you do, I want you to know that I didn't mean what I said about being sorry to have known you. The truth is that every day I have known you has made me happy, and the thought that something I said in a moment of ignorance might take you away from me breaks me in a way no force has..." he bit his lip a moment and continued in a rush as he felt his throat tighten with the promise of tears waiting to be shed, "I was angry, not at you but at myself because I knew you weren't the one, and...and everyday that I haven't seen you has been like a knife cutting me. I don't know how to be happy with the knowledge that I made you cry..."
Gohan rose and met her eyes, unaware that the whole room had stopped their activities, many of the female dancers dabbing tears from their eyes before their makeup was streaked. The young man gripped her hands gently, "I want you to be happy...even if it means I have to walk away...I'd do it to know you were not sad..." tears glittered in those open eyes and Videl's heart clung to his words, "I care about you Videl, and I...I don't know what you are thinking...but I hope your heart is big enough to forgive me..."
He reached up and laid a gentle kiss to her forehead before leaning close to her ear and whispering in a voice that took her breath, "Good luck tonight dear one, and whatever happens please remember I am always going to be on your side..."
Before anyone could say more, the moment was broken by the stage manager pulling Gohan by the shoulder. The boy didn't resist but he glanced back at her, their eyes meeting and a thousand words were spoken in that glance. As the door closed and cut Gohan off from the stage area the stage manager came over to her, finding her a bit star-struck and rubbing her forehead where his lips had touched her skin, "Five minutes miss Videl."
Sharpner's arrival brought her back to the moment, her hand still tingling from the kiss that had been laid so lovingly upon it, "I said...are you ready Videl?"
She slowly pulled her hand from his and stepped back, as he watched horrified she turned to her teacher, "Ms. Corwin...I'm sorry but...I have to go..." her voice was a breathy whisper as she brushed the tears from her eyes. Her teacher saw a brightness in her student's eyes that had been vacant for two weeks, and it felt good to see it again.
Sharpner stared in shock, "Go...go where? Videl you know what will happen if you leave!" his words came out in a boyish whine, he knew that she wouldn't be one to worry about consequences once her mind was made up.
The older woman shook her head with a smile and held up the girl's coat, "Bundle up Videl, and don't worry about anything." Taking a moment to smile to the teacher she threw the coat over her shoulders and ran towards the door Gohan had walked through, her skirts dancing around her legs as the shocked dancers watched, with the stage manager turning white as a sheet and about to feint. All the while Sharpner was calling her name vainly trying to call her back.
As she stepped into the winter air of the alleyway behind the banquet hall, the sound of the dancers cut off as she slammed the door closed, the young woman began looking left and right, for a long moment she was unsure which direction he had walked in. Her eyes turned to the snowy ground where she saw a set of footprints towards the door and another pair heading away. Following the footprints she tried to keep from slipping with the heeled shoes she wore. Snow fell into her hair slowly and she maneuvered along the all but deserted sidewalk intently keeping an eye on the footprints. As she turned a corner next to the park she spied him, his footsteps slow as he pulled his hands from his jacket to blow on them softly. Turning to regard the frozen fountain he gave a ghost of a smile and let one hand tracing through the layer of snow that had covered the ice.
She ran towards him, the sound of her heels muffled by the snowy night, before he could begin walking again, her voice calling his name breathlessly, "Gohan...Gohan wait up!"
He blinked and turned to see her, "Videl? What are you doing here?" he moved and caught her as she began to slip, his arms sweeping around her waist and he gently held her in a dip his eyes meeting hers before drawing her to her feet again, his arms still resting on the small of her back.
"Gohan..." she blushed and her eyes turned down shyly, her hands holding onto his muscular arms as she took a moment to catch her breath.
"Videl...the competition..." but she shook her head and looked up into his eyes with a smile.
"I quit...I had to...Gohan there's not a single person I want to dance with besides you...would you dance with me now?" her voice was hesitant as she gently took one of his hands between hers.
He looked around at the empty park, the snow glistening off of the park benches and cobblestone pathways. Only the pines held any green beneath the white curtain, ice hung like a row of jagged teeth from the dark branches and his eyes met her lavender orbs slowly, "Right here?" He could see his breath mist in front of him and the openness of her dress did not escape his mind.
She nodded slowly trying to calm her heart as it pounded against her chest, "Just us Gohan, no cameras, no pressure, I just want to feel the happiness that dancing with you brought me again..."
A moment passed and he gently reached for her hand, she smiled shyly and took his hand as he swept her into a slow movement. His eyes met hers as he stepped carefully so as to avoid any ice on the cobblestones. She followed him with the trust of a partner, all the while she considered her next words and nervously bit her lower lip. The warmth radiating between them felt wonderful against the chill of the night.
"Videl I am really...truly sorry for what I said to you..." she smiled softly and drew her right hand from his left arm to place a finger to his lips.
"Shh, I never once blamed you Gohan...but I thank you for what you said..." she moved a step closer her head resting on his shoulders and his arms slid around her form holding her to his warmth. She could smell his scent, wild like the mountains, clean and bearing a hint of the mint leaves his mother coveted in winter. His breath caressed her cheek as he sighed and her eyes drifted contentedly closed, if she never moved from his embrace she would be happy.
"When I was partnered with Sharpner...I felt as if I had died, but not because of him...it was the fear that I would never see you again Gohan," his heart beat a comforting rhythm against her ear as she swayed with him slowly, "I didn't know what to do...and I fell apart."
"Erasa told me...it's one of the reasons I came...I had to come." his voice was a feint whisper, feeling this moment was so fragile that it might be shattered at any moment, but she continued on with a slight nod against his chest.
"Remember the day...when we were practicing at lunch. There was something I never got to tell you..." he nodded remembering the accusation that she was going to tell him of the change, "And I want to tell you now...but...I am scared to speak..because of what might change between us."
He stopped dancing and his fingers brushed her cheek, "Videl, it's alright, I promise that whatever you say I will still be here for you..." his confident words belied the butterflies in his stomach, something told him that the next moments would change his life entirely. He had felt the same that day that he had fought and defeated Cell, he could only hope the results would be a positive change.
She tilted her head a bit her chilled cheek pressing against the warmth of his hand, he marveled at the softness of her skin, despite years of fighting and more than one blow landed she still had the soft skin of her mother, as her eyes met his her fingers slid under his coat and her palm pressed against his heart. That light touch caused his breathing to stop for a moment, and despite the cold he had never felt warmer inside. Videl's eyes nervously sought comfort from his, and she found in his dark eyes a gentle kindness and a reassurance of his words.
Steadying herself with a deep breath, she had never felt so afraid in any fight she had faced, she spoke slowly so as to keep her words steady. 'I don't want him misunderstanding me...' she wished her voice was as clear as her thoughts, "Gohan...I have grown really close to you since this whole thing started. I've cared for you as a dear friend almost as long as I've known you and have come to rely on that friendship. You will never know how much comfort just having you in my life has been, but I realized that I cared too much to call you friend..."
She looked down, "This isn't coming out right..." she braced for what she would say next knowing that once it was said nothing would ever be the same again. "Gohan I...I love you...not just as a friend, but as the man who has been the light to my heart..." she bit her lip and looked down.
"Whatever you may think about me, I can't change my heart nor do I want to. Seeing you is enough to make me smile, and I feel like crying whenever I don't see you. I think about you from the moment I wake up to the moment I sleep..I know it seems dumb, and I really hope this doesn't ruin our friendship...but I can't keep it inside anymore..." her eyes glittered as she blinked back the tears, but he smiled calmly and his thumb lightly brushed the tears from her eyes causing her to look up into his eyes.
A moment passed, her heart balanced on his next words whether it fell to darkness or soared to the heavens, but his eyes were warm and she knew then that he would never let her fall, "Videl...no one has ever said such kind words to me, and I am glad that we became partners because it brought us together. I just wasn't sure how much until now...Videl," he whispered her name as he leaned closer his breath a caress against her lips and she hung to every one of them, "I love you too...and I always will."
She shivered, not from the cold for she felt she would never be cold again, and she gently ran her fingers through his ebony hair drawing him closer. Her eyes closed and her lips found his, his own eyes drifting close as his arms slid around her waist. The touch of his lips sent shockwaves through her body and her toes curled in her shoes as her arms wrapped around his muscular shoulders. Drinking deeply of his kiss she arched herself into his arms wanting the moment to last forever. Each moment passed like an eternity as the two lovers drank of each other.
Slowly he broke the gentle kiss, and they both looked flustered, but his smile was warm and loving as he continued to hold her. Their eyes met and neither felt the need to say anything, they felt their hearts spoke volumes. He gently kissed her again and looked at the dark sky, still bringing fresh snowflakes, it seemed like forever since he had walked out of the banquet hall and he could tell she was starting to feel the effects.
"I should get you home before you become a popsicle," he smiled and looked at her, she looked at him and nodded a bit, "Are you alright Videl?"
Glancing at his worried face she nodded a bit, "My feet are a bit cold is all," she blushed a bit, it sounded so whiney to her but he shook his head silently chastising himself for not realizing her dancing shoes did nothing against the chill. Before she could reassure him she was fine he lifted her easily into his arms causing her to gasp in surprise.
"G..Gohan! What are you doing?" she wrapped her arms around his neck lest he drop her accidently.
"Carrying you home, what kind of boyfriend would I be if I let my girlfriend get frostbite on our first date..." he stopped and smiled a bit looking at her, she smiled back and leaned her head against his shoulder shifting a bit in his strong arms to get comfortable.
"That sounded nice...being called someone's girlfriend...even better being called your girlfriend..." She sighed and closed her eyes, she did not desire to think of how her father would react when he found out, tonight she just wanted to let the moment remain in her heart. Gohan's steady breathing and footsteps lulled her to sleep with a sigh and he smiled as he glanced at her. The walk to her home was far too short for him even though it was nearly a half-hour with the snow and he contemplated waking her but decided against it after one look at her face.
Flying slowly up to the balcony at her room, he prayed the doors were unlocked and placed his hand on the clasp. Fortune seemed on his side today as the door opened easily and silently and he laughed inwardly, 'Chance seems to favor lovers...a good sign.' Stepping inside he admired the room a moment and slowly walked to the side of her bed laying her down gently. She stirred a moment, even in sleep longing to hold him again, but he knelt near her feet and slid her shoes off her feet before drawing the thick blankets over her form.
He watched her sleep for a few minutes his lips curved in a bemused smile before he reached into his pocket and pulled out a white lily flower. It had taken a visit to the other side of the world to get it, but he knew it was better than a florist and the trip had been a good one to clear his thoughts. He had meant to give it to her backstage but had been forced to leave before the chance came. Laying the bud on the pillow beside the sleeping girl, he laid a gentle kiss to her forehead.
"Goodnight dear one, even apart our hearts will always be together..." with that he stepped onto the balcony and closed the door behind him. The young man leapt into the sky and flew high and fast away from the city. Once into the safety of the mountains he gave a cry of pure happiness as he did cartwheels and flips in mid-flight laughing with the unparalleled joy that came only with the knowledge that you were loved. As he settled he landed at his house to find the rooms dark and quiet. He stepped inside silently and soon found his bed. Without bothering to change he tossed his shoes and coat into a corner and sighed feeling happier than he had in what seemed an age. His last thought before drifting to sleep was the woman who would forever hold his heart and the joy of a thousand tomorrows waiting to be enjoyed.