Just A Taste
2: Bitter Never Lasts Forever
A/N: Ah! Thank you for the kind reviews, everyone! I am beyond excited about this story and I hope you are all safe during these troubling quarantining times. Also, sorry for the delay.
Marron sighed, she watched the open sign flicker shut as Oolong stood atop the counter, counting the drawer. "Great job ladies," the anthropomorphic pig snorted as he fingered through the wad of cash, divvying up the earnings to the waitresses. Marron fiddled with the Zeni in her hand, not nearly as excited as the other two women, who giddily slid it into their wallets. As Oolong closed the drawer and began to shut off the lights, the three women chorused their "goodnights" and "see you tomorrows". They all sat outside on the edge of the planter, where an untrimmed rose bush brushed on the back of the girls. The parking lot was mostly yellow dirt, with a deep green forest on the other side of the road. The diner right off of the highway, where many travelers and truckers took to get between small Gingertown and the metropolitan West City. The blonde scrunched her nose, smelling the mildew from the inside of the diner sighing as she slid her legs outward, mosquitos and fleas nipping at her ankles.
Valese and Launch usually waited for Marron to get picked up by Ryce every evening, and quite often they'd have to wait...a while. But as dusk settled, the uneasy feeling settled in the blonde's stomach that he wouldn't be coming again. "Do you think he's comin'?" Valese asked.
Marron bit her lip, she would avoid asking her friends for a ride, out of fear that Ryce chewed her out for it. "Yeah, Ryce is probably getting gas," she smiled weakly as she checked her cellphone...nothing. Brushing a loose strand behind her ear, she watched the two smile sadly. "Seriously, you guys" she began, "go on without me...I'll be alright."
"Well...You better call us when you get home!" Launch warned, walking backward towards her beat up pick up truck.
Marron sent off a two-finger salute, "I can't promise you'll be awake!" She shouted back.
"Voice mail!" Valese shouted out before entering her sedan.
The blonde watched sadly as the two drove out. In the midst of a summer night, she was stuck in front of this dingy diner for another evening...Marron's icy blue eyes watched the fireflies dance in the air, a string of them buzzing about in the night sky. She wished she could be like them, free to roam, to fly far away from this horrid place. Marron sighed as she looked at her wrist - it was already 9 P.M, it was safe to say, she was going to have to walk home. The blonde got up from the edge planter, adjusting her white sneakers. A 5-mile walk, Marron sighed as she stuck close to the edge of the highway, walking alone in the dark road. It was right at the next exit.
Days like these were far more embarrassing, a young - now pregnant - woman walking alone along the highway. Her feet stung, and she could feel a cramp creep up her foot. What else could possibly go wrong? Moments after the thought crept into the recesses of her mind, she could feel soft raindrops splash against her, as she attempted to take cover with her purse. She cursed under her breath as she squinted, trying to see the next exit ahead.
A vehicle had been behind her fortunately and shone its headlights on the exit sign. Marron sighed in relief, glad she was on the right track home. However, something unexpected occurred, the vehicle slowed to a stop, right beside her. Quickly she shuffled into her purse, placing her keys between her fists. Eyes weary from forcing themselves in the dark, she attempted to make out who was inside the vehicle. She could feel the anxiety rise in her chest violently, as she took a step back, bumping herself against the railing. "S-Stay back!"
When the individual stepped in front of their car's headlights, he held his hands up approaching her gently. "Woah, Woah," a throaty chuckle, his voice deep and raspy, "not trying to hurt you!" Marron looked up locking her eyes with the man who stood before her, it was the lavender-haired man from earlier that day. Her face suddenly turned beet-red from the embarrassing event that occurred between them. "Oh... hey," his voice laced in realization. "You're the waitress from this morning."
Marron still kept her keys between her fists, she wasn't letting her guard down. "Y-Yeah, sorry about that," Marron quickly shuffled her feet. "L-Look if you want you came here to get your 500 Zeni just take it," the blonde said taking it out of her pocket. "I-It won't do any good anyway," she responded. Her pillowy lips pouting slightly as she handed out the cash.
"No, I don't need it, I've got plenty of that," the man waved his hand dismissively, slipping his hands into his black jeans. "Do you need a ride?" He asked. "Pregnant women shouldn't be walking in the rain like this," his eyes flew open, placing a hand atop his mouth. "Shit- I didn't-"
Marron inched closer, a curious gaze on her face. "How do you know I'm pregnant? Who told you?"
The man backed up, "I-" he began to stammer, "I don't think you'd understand-" he chuckled nervously. "Let's just say I've got a sixth sense..."
"Don't bullshit me, who told you," Marron attempted to make herself seem more threatening.
The man held his hands up, shaking his head profusely. "I swear I don't-" His words cut off, as the rain began to pelt down on the two of them. "Let me give you a ride, just tell me where to go," the taller man insisted. "You shouldn't be out in the rain, I insist."
Did she really have a choice? Walk in the rain, get sick, and can't go to work or get in a car with a strange, but handsome stranger...risk getting kidnapped or slaughtered. The thought toyed in her mind for a moment too long, getting kidnapped was an option she would flirt with on occasion...
He held the door open for her as she sat in the front beside him. As she entered the vehicle, she eyed the backlit electronics. The car oozed luxury and was probably worth more than the money she'd make in her lifetime...how much money did this man actually have? "Do you always pick up broke girls on the side of the road?" She asked wringing her hair out, eyes sliding over to the man before she froze in place watching him dry himself in the most peculiar way. He was taking deep breaths, there was a peculiar sound like his body was generating heat? Suddenly his hair was completely dry and back to its fluffy texture...albeit disheveled.
"Not always, I don't usually pick up people off the street unless you know them," he commented, a hand on the wheel. The blonde continued to stare in awe, he was definitely different.
His scent was overpowering, a fresh but luxurious cologne that made her treacherous heart skip a beat. "You don't know me," she replied dryly.
The man held his hand out to her, she was hesitant to shake it but his aura was...encouraging. "Name's Trunks Briefs."
Trunks Briefs? Where had she heard that name before? "Marron Chestnut," she replied weakly as she shook his hand gently.
He flashed a charming grin. "Well," he responded, "we aren't strangers anymore."
Marron watched him get back on the road, her head turned towards him. She was curious, what was he? Who was he? Under the gentle red light of the interior of his vehicle, she caught a glance at his profile. His face was almost perfectly chiseled...it was almost inhumane? She tried to pry, but her cheeks burned violently. Maybe it was her hormones playing tricks on her mind? She fidgeted in her seat, bad ideas flitting through her mindscape. She wondered, what would she have done if Ryce wasn't dangling her livelihood in front of her. Would she be the kind to try to conquest? The type to flirt with no regard?
"I've heard your name before," Marron recounted, her eyes flicking about curiously. She noticed he suddenly sat upright, adjusting himself. Jawline flexing from the sudden stressor she couldn't sense. "What do you do?"
Trunks cleared his throat. "Well," he began, "I...am the president of a company." He was surprised, he thought most people knew who he was. But she and her coworkers seemed to not know the slightest bit about him. Perhaps it was because Capsule Corporation's influence hadn't reached this far out yet. "We're opening a new branch in Gingertown."
Marron tilted her head, "Wow, you run an entire company?" She asked, "How old are you?"
"Twenty-six," he stated flatly.
Her lips formed into an "O" shape, "sounds like you've got a lot on your plate...and so young..."
Trunks smirked, he found her shock endearing. "Don't be fooled," he stated. "I finished my masters when I was 16 years old, genius...kind of runs in the family."
Marron smiled sadly, twiddling with her fingers. Trunks flicked his eyes between and her, realizing the quick mood change. "I...I wish I could have finished school..." Marron stated plainly "seems like life was, pretty easy for ya' hm?"
He grimaced, realizing he was essentially rubbing in his success in this poor woman's face, let alone she didn't finish schooling? "Sorry, I didn't mean to-"
She smiled at him, shaking her head. "No it's fine, things like this happen...I was stupid to run off my junior year like that..."
Trunks' eyes flicked to the cheap ring on her left hand. "You're married?" He asked.
Marron sighed, fingering the ring with her right hand. "Hardly," she began. "more like an annoying roommate." Marron didn't outright hate Ryce, but she was not in love with the man...and the thought that she carried their child sickened her to her core. There were days she woke up without the will to carry on, so exhausted from the mental games he would play. She'd become complacent...their relationship which started with love warped itself into a quid pro quo of some sort. "But that's a whole other story," Marron dismissed.
"Well, I guess...whatever is best for you and your baby," he replied.
Marron's eyes drifted, "Yeah..." she sighed out. Trunks looked at her momentarily, her blonde locks tousled neatly over her shoulders, her hair was now down framing her face nicely. She was cute, he thought. Her clear blue eyes, softly closing. He wondered...was she dozing off? Her lips pushed a soft exhale past them, they were full and glistened softly under the lighting in the car. But there was something he couldn't quite place. Perhaps it's the overwhelming sadness that seemed to lace her otherwise gentle features.
"What's your exit?" He asked watching her stir in her lulled state.
"Hm?" She moaned whilst she stirred, "Oh uh, Exit 34," she responded watching as Trunks just barely passed it. "Shit, I'm sorry," she quickly stated, "I-I wasn't asleep..." she reinforced. But she most definitely was. Marron was exhausted, more so than usual. She usually only got about four to five hours of sleep a day, however with the emotional weight of discovering her the baby in her womb...she could feel herself become more drained.
"It's okay, we'll take the next one," he smiled.
Suddenly, Marron's phone began to ring in her purse. She dreaded the call was who she thought it was...and sure enough, Ryce's face was beaming on her phone. She begrudgingly slid her finger on the screen. "Hey babe," she said weakly.
"Hey Babe, me and the boys got a gig at Razza's down at the Spice District," he began. "You can walk home cant ya?" He asked...not really waiting for her answers. "Alright! Yeah, you can, you're a big girl..." Marron's face twisted into a more nauseating appearance. "Aye, be sure to wear that cute little number and leave the money on the table for me when I get home."
Marron sighed, eyes closed as she breathed softly through her nose. "Alright. I'll see you then," she forced her smile. "Love you."
"Yeah, bye."
Trunks wasn't going to ask any further questions, from what he could hear from his heightened hearing. This Ryce character seemed like an asshat, but it was not his place to make a comment over someone's marriage or relationship. He could very well be misreading the situation...but something did not sit well with him of the idea of this poor woman walking in the rain.
He'd always had a soft spot for expecting mothers...always going out of his way to help any he'd meet. In part due to his mother's pregnancy with him...it was rough enough as it was with his father largely out of the picture until he was about a year old...but his mother rising into prominence in the company and the looming threat of these so-called "Androids" she was unbelievably stressed and alone throughout all of it. As Trunks got older, he's realized how sensible he's become of it from stories from his mothers and friends...especially his 'uncle' Yamcha, who recalled Trunks' father very bitterly. "Sorry about that," she smiled softly looking towards him, "didn't mean to interrupt..."
"Nah, it's okay," He breathed taking the next exit. "How long have you lived here?"
Marron blinked, her eyes flickering about. "About... five years," she stated, "I moved here with my husband when I dropped out..."
"Oh," Trunks tightened the grip on the wheel, "so, where'd you live before?" He asked.
"Well my parents lived on an island, and I remember them very vaguely...they passed away when I was very young," Marron muttered, her head hanging low. "Make a left here."
Trunks stayed quiet, unsure at how to respond. He had no right to complain, really, this girl truly seems to have it rough. As he pulled in front of a small community with a chainlink fence, she held her hand on the door of his car and gave him a faint smile. "Home sweet home," she said softly as she opened the door. "Well, thank you very much, Mr. Briefs...I appreciate the kind gesture..."
"Have a nice evening Mrs. Chestnut," He smiled watching the blonde drape her cardigan back over her shoulders. "I hope I can see you again."
The blonde blushed, though unnoticeable under the flickering street life. "Well...you know where to find me," she chuckled.
Marron shut the door behind her, back pressed against the oak colored door. Her heart was racing. Her heart felt totally ensnared by this stranger. She was sure it had to do with her hormones...it had to be. Or perhaps the thrill of finding someone new attractive. But alas, she knew this handsome stranger was long gone from her life...there wasn't any possible way that he'd come back, was there?
She sighed, as she slid the money out of her wallet and left it on the table as she was ordered. She flopped down on the brown corduroy couch, running her palms along with the fabric as she felt the cigarette burns from Ryce. The other hand resting lightly above her womb.
She could feel another wave of nausea wrack her.
This isn't what she wants...
A/N: Hii! Thank you all for reading this new chapter! I am beyond excited about this fic, I did take my time to update...I had this written out but took my time with updating. Please leave a review with your thoughts! I love speaking to all of you.