Definitely sorry about the long wait. No excuse other than pure laziness. Sorry. Thank you those of you that read and reviewed- greatly appreciated. Please enjoy this installment. I made it longer than usually for you guys. :

- - -

"I can't believe you did that!" ChiChi laughed as her and Bulma walked down the
crowded hallways.

"Urgh! I've never been this mad at him!"

ChiChi smiled, "I'm so glad that you did that though, if you didn't, I probably
would've," ChiChi laughed again.

"I wish it was something hot. Like coffee would have much more rewarding,"
Bulma plotted.

"Diet Coke is good I guess. To be honest I'm surprised you didn't lunge across
the table and strangle him."

"My hands don't fit around his neck very well," Bulma stated with
a smirk.

ChiChi shook her head, "I love you B," she laughed as the warning bell rang. "Crap, I gotta go!" ChiChi yelled as she turned around and headed towards her class.

Bulma sighed and nodded, there was no way she'd make it to her class on time, so
she slowed her pace and let her mind wonder. She didn't really expect that from herself.
It wasn't like it was some rarity: Vegeta calling her a name or saying something rude. It
was a game they both played since around 5th grade when they began to get on each
others nerves. She wasn't going to lie, throwing that bottle let out some aggression. She
smiled to herself and stopped at her locker. Unhinging the lock, Bulma grabbed her
Spanish binder. Her nose twitched when the aroma of nicotine reached her.

She locked her locker and headed towards the boys bathroom. Walking in she
found Vegeta in front of the mirror, cigarette hanging from his lips, as he tried to wipe
the brown Diet Coke stain from his white t-shirt.

"Smoking in the boys room?" She smiled slightly at her cliché.

"In the boys room, woman?" He grunted through his cigarette.

"Hmph. Hall monitor's going to whiff the nicotine."

"And how will you explain yourself?" He asked as he removed the cigarette to
exhale and throw away his piece of brown paper towel.

Bulma shrugged. "I'll leave." She headed towards the door.

"Want one?"

"Nah," she called over her shoulder as she exited the bathroom.

"Woman, wait." Vegeta called after her. Bulma stopped and waited as Vegeta put his cigarette out under his shoe at the entrance to the bathroom.

"What?" She asked.

"What do you think? Why'd you throw a full bottle of fuckin' Coke at me?"

Bulma smiled, "Diet Coke."

Vegeta's brow arched and his eyes narrowed. "You're jealous aren't you?"

It was Bulma's turn for her eyes to narrow. "Ego much? And no Vegeta I'm not jealous- why should I?"

Vegeta's eyes remained narrowed as he spoke, "If you weren't jealous I wouldn't be drenched in Diet Coke."

"Ever think that maybe you deserved that?" Bulma snapped. "That my actions aren't directed by my 'jealousy?' I would hope you've realized this by now."

"Ouiji! Briefs! I hope you two have a pass!" Yelled a hall monitor many referred to as: The Troll. Vegeta gave Bulma a fleeting look before walking in the opposite direction. Bulma frowned as the Troll approached her. "You were wise not to follow your friend. Pass?"

"I don't have one, I'm running late for my class."

The Troll eyed her accusingly, "Doesn't surprise me. Get to class." Bulma sighed and headed towards her Spanish class.

- - -

Bulma plopped down her kitchen chair with a mug of coffee in hand. Vegeta was suppose to be here twenty minutes ago so they could try to make it to Chicago to meet Freeza. Bulma had called Vegeta four times- not getting an answer on any attempt. Bulma passed her mug back and forth between her hands as her mind lingered to the point of the business trip.

Vegeta had failed to keep Bulma informed about the low stocks, plummeting sales, and expiring products. Bulma stopped passing her mug and took the final gulp of its warm contents. It was her own fault for not keeping an eye on things. She had been so wrapped up on basically losing her company to whom she considered her greatest nemesis, new workers in her building, construction throughout the building, parts of her still upset over Yamcha, and this new 'boyfriend,' Brolly. The more she thought the more her stomach twisted and eyes watered. Her father was noticeably upset with her upon this update on his old company.

Bulma laid her head down on her arms. She closed her eyes tight and wished she had a time machine. If she had a time machine she could fix all that was wrong in her life. If she could mend her past, her present might be pleasant. She could be head of a dominating company, live life lavishly and with out any regrets, and she could be married to- she stopped herself.

Sitting up she wiped the tears that stained her cheeks and stared at the crystal vase that sat on her table. She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat and looked at the clock. He was now causing them to be thirty minutes behind schedule. She stood and allowed herself to be filled with hate. She felt it was easier on her to be angry than self loathing. She walked to her sink to fill a glass of water when she heard her cell phone vibrate in her purse. She took a sip of water as she pulled her phone from her purse. Her eyes narrowed angrily at the flashing name- Vegeta.

"Hello." She tried to answer calmly.

"I'm out in front."

"You're thirty minutes late."

"I know," then the call ended.

Bulma picked up her suitcase, purse, and grabbed her dress, that was in one of those zip-up hangers to keep it from wrinkling, and walked out the door- locking it behind her. As she approached Vegeta leaning against his Land Rover, her anger spiked a level of rage.

He was wearing the mirrored aviators she hated, and the fact that it's 6:30 in the morning and there was barely any sun out added to her hatred for those glasses. He looked calm and casual and it angered her that he was late and wasn't helping her lift her things into the trunk. She slammed the trunk shut and sat in the passenger seat in silence.

"Here," he handed her a poorly folded map. "You can read the map." She threw the map on the dash board. "Fine," her growled angrily, "I'll read the map." Bulma folded her arms and reclined her chair. Vegeta glanced over at her, "What's your problem?" He asked with annoyance.

She shrugged. "I'm fine." She reached over and plugged her Ipod in, and the song 'Shambala,' by Three Dog Night filled the vehicle. They drove to the sound of Shambala with out speaking. They drove through 'Day Tripper,' by the Beatles and 'Growing Up' by David Bowie silently too. The silence was finally broken by Vegeta pulling the Ipod out as the song 'Wherever You Will Go,' by The Calling began to play. They were on the free-way and under passing green signs with highway names on them.

"Which one do I take?" He threw the map at her.

"You could have just turned the volume down, you didn't have to rip it out like that."

"Which one," he repeated.

Bulma fumbled with the map. "I'm not sure. The one heading south west is my guess." She heard him mutter something along the lines of 'useless woman,' and 'should have flown.' "I thought flying was out of your price range 'Geta," she mocked as she crumpled the map into a thick square.

Vegeta choose not to answer and instead gripped the top of the wheel tightly. There was a moment of silence, until Bulma decided to plug her Ipod back in; Vegeta decided to rip it out in anger again.

"You have terrible taste in music," he growled as he sped up to pass a Semi.

"You use to like my music."

"It's the same shit over and over again."

"What do you mean the same shit over and over again? I have a lot of different bands in there." She defended her Ipod as she picked it from Vegeta's cup holder. Clutching it in her hand she waited for his retort.

"Same lovey dovey bull crap over and over and over again!" With each 'over' Vegeta's voice rose. "It's grinding on my nerves and I don't want to be stuck listening to it from New York to Chicago!"

Bulma contorted her face into a look of disbelief, "What do you mean it's grinding on your nerves? We've listened to all of three songs since we left!" Bulma's voice rose to match Vegeta's.

"Exactly! I'm already sick of hearing that shit and if I don't stop it now it'll never stop!" He boomed. "And I've never liked your music," he added bitterly.

"Don't lie, you use to love Bowie and The Beatles." Bulma smiled inwardly.

"No, I didn't. I just put up with it, unlike you I'd tolerate your music."

"Sorry I didn't like the Beastie Boys," she snapped.

"You hated all of my music and I would sit through your lovey bull crap."

"I went to your damn Tool and Korn concerts, don't act like I didn't put up with your crappy music! And my music isn't all 'lovey crap;' it's just not a bunch of screaming and creepy sound effects! It's real music."

"All of your songs have the same plot- guys gushes about how much he misses some tramp, or how much he loves her, or how he wants her forgiveness- it's all the same crap. Find me one song that isn't about or similar to one of those themes." Vegeta said this tirade with mocking arrogance. He smirked triumphantly as he looked over at Bulma's frowning expression.

Bulma was silent. She kept her frown. "You know Vegeta, it doesn't really matter. I'm not sure why you're always so hostile towards me. Instead of confronting your personal problems maturely, you attack people- especially me. You've always been this way and I put up with it almost every time. But it's tiring dealing with some one who is emotionally awkward."

Vegeta held a stoic expression and, unnoticed by Vegeta, Bulma's eyes watered as she gazed out the window at the trees that blurred together as the car sped past.

- - -

"Oh my God Vegeta," Bulma whispered over the phone as she stared at the closed door. Her back was up against the bathroom wall and she held the phone close to her. "This party is so lame. It's like a freakin' orgy, everyone's making out and feeling up on eachother- come pick me up." She pleaded with urgency.

Vegeta cackled over the phone. "That's what happens when you go to sexually active band nerd parties- by yourself."

"I know shut-up! Just come get me I can't take it much longer."

Vegeta continued to laugh. "Alright woman, I'll get dressed and come and get you."

"You're not dressed?" Bulma asked this nervously.

"Yea it's four and I like to sleep. Whose house is this again?"

"Piccolo, please hurry."

"Alright, alright wait out in front for me or something."

"Kay, thanks. Bye."

"Yea, bye."

Bulma sighed and hung the phone on it's cradle. She had taken the whole phone with her in the bathroom. She stared at the thin clear cord that was stretched under the door. She eased herself into a sitting position and pressed her feet against the door. It'd probably take Vegeta a good thirty minutes or more before he got to the house.

She bit her bottom lip and quietly cursed herself for going to this party. Marron had told her about how fun and relaxed it would be. How it was a small group but they had 'super sick parties.' "She got the sick part right." Bulma immediately frowned at her lame pun. She shouldn't have gone, she only went because ChiChi and her were in a fight. She wanted to party and Marron gave her an opportunity too, so why not go?

Bulma hit her head against the bathroom wall wishing Vegeta would hurry up. She looked over at the door. The mellow music was filtering into the bathroom. She rubbed her arms- just being here made her feel dirty. Not only was it the atmosphere, but the house was messy and dusty. Looking around the bathroom Bulma concluded that it was likely unwise to be sitting on the floor. It looked like some black mold like substance had stained the grout between the tiled floor and there were urine stains around the toilet.

A loud knocking threw Bulma out of her germaphobic thoughts. "Occupied," she instinctively reply.

"Well hurry up I really gotta pee," Marron's shrill voice whined.

Bulma gave a small smile of relief and quickly picked herself up off the floor. Wiping her hands on the side of her jeans she opened the door to be greeted by Marron giving her a confused grin. "Why do you have the phone in the bathroom?" She asked with a laughing undertone.

"I'm leaving. This party is sick and I-"

"I know it's great right?" Marron interrupted and entered the bathroom while ushering Bulma out. "I gotta pee I'll talk to you when I'm done." The last of her sentence sounded slurred.

Bulma shook her head with disgust then headed towards where she had left her coat. It was in a heap of coats, shoes, and disturbingly enough- jeans, tees, and undergarments. She picked her coat out from the heap and headed out the door. A cold wind whipped her hair in her face as she began to put her coat on. She rubbed her arms and looked down the street in hopes to see Vegeta's headlights.

"Never again." She told her self as she began to bounce around in a futile attempt to warm herself. "Never going to talk, listen, look, breath near Marron again." She mumbled to herself. Mumbling to herself was a habit and Vegeta often told her it made her look mentally retarded. "Urgh," she growled at the thought of Vegeta. "Where is he," she grumbled to the wind.

She suddenly got a jolt of happiness as headlights headed towards her. She smiled and began to head towards the curb. Then she got a better look at the car- it was some sort of mini-van. She frowned at the van that gave her false hope.

As she continued to pace and bounce, she was beginning to give up hope of rescue. It had to have been at least twenty, twenty-five minutes by now. If he sped he should be here. "He always speeds," she told her self as headlights headed towards her. She smiled as Vegeta's Mustang approached. It wasn't a van and she sprinted to the curb.

"What took you so long?" She whined as she quickly shut the passenger door and began to warm her hands in front of the heat vent.

"Grateful?" He grunted. "Oh thank you Vegeta!" He mimicked her voice. "Thank you for saving me from the orgy of death- Thank you!"

Bulma smiled and rolled her eyes. "Orgy of death?"

"You made it sound you were dieing."

"Dieing of disgust," she snorted as she turned the heat up. "It started out with these two making out and I'm like 'alright, no big deal.' But the two turns to every couple there. Then the make out progresses to groping and then- EW," Bulma shrieked as she shuddered.

Vegeta was smirking the whole time. "That sucks woman."

"I know! And so I'm like forced into the bathroom and I brought the whole phone with me." She chuckled slightly as she remembered the difficulty she had stretching the phone cord across the room and into the bathroom. "And then after I hung up with you Marron pounds on the door and doesn't even listen to what I had to say about the disgusting party." Bulma let out a loud sigh and leaned back into her seat. "I'm just really glad you came."

"Hn. It would have been funny if I left you stranded."

"I'd never forgive you if you stranded me." She laughed.

"Any good stuff there?- other than the raging orgy." He chuckled.

Bulma shrugged. "Nothing special. That's what really sucked. I mean there was some Boons and Bud Light, but nothing too great."

"Why'd you even go? If you didn't go I could be asleep right now and not driving up here to pick your ass up." Vegeta's tone was angry and annoyed. This hadn't been the first time he had to save Bulma from a situation she didn't want to be in. He was always the first one she'd call for help.

Bulma groaned. "Because I wanted to drink and have fun. ChiChi's all pissed at me so I didn't want to ask her to go somewhere, and Marron made it sound like it was going to be so much fun- urgh! Why'd I even listen to Marron? I hate her so much; but, you know I figured 'why not give it a shot- it could be fun!' I'm dumb for ever thinking Marron would invite me somewhere where I could enjoy myself." Bulma let out a disgruntled whine and readjusted her position in her seat.

Vegeta smirked over at her as he stopped at a red light. "If you wanted to drink so badly why didn't you steal from your dad?"

"Cause he's home tonight and I told him I was going to ChiChi's." Bulma paused and began to pick at her nails. "By the way I'm crashing at your house until around elevenish."

Vegeta's response was a grunt.

By the time they got back to Vegeta's it was almost five in the morning. "I'm so tired." Bulma moaned as Vegeta opened the side door.

Vegeta grunted something inaudible as he walked up stairs to his room. He plopped down at the edge of his bed and turned on the T.V.

Bulma threw her coat on Vegeta's desk and pulled off her shoes as she headed towards his bed. She collapsed on the side closest to the door. She immediately pulled the covers over her head and attempted sleep.

"That's my side." Vegeta grunted.

Bulma didn't answer and instead stayed put and pretended to be asleep.

Vegeta gumbled more inaudible curses as he knelt next to her on the bed and picked her from 'his side,' and threw her to the other half.

Bulma yelped as Vegeta tossed her to the other side of the bed. "Oh my God!" She yelled while laughing. "That was freakin' scary as hell."

"Freakin'?" Vegeta mocked as he pulled the covers over himself.

"Shut up," she whined as she turned onto her side facing him. "Can you turn the volume down? I don't feel like falling asleep to Beavis and Butthead."

He grunted and turned the T.V off. He stayed on his back and draped his arm over his eyes.

"Why do you do that?" Bulma asked after a moment of silence.

"Do what?" He grunted.

"Put your arm over your eyes like that."

"Because I do. Go to sleep."

Bulma frowned and adjusted slightly under the covers. She closed her eyes and attempted sleep. "Your sheets smell like you." She laughed about ten minutes later.

Vegeta uncovered his eyes and turned onto his side to glare at her. "As soon as we got in here you whined about how tired you are. Why don't you stop sniffing my sheets and go to sleep," he growled more than asked.

Bulma laughed at his facial expression. "You look scary in the dark."

'Vegeta's eyes narrowed. "Go to bed."

"I am in bed." She laughed. "Ooohhh," She then began to laugh hysterically.

Vegeta arched a brow. "Is it just setting in now?" He asked referring to her blood alcohol level.

"Nah. I actually didn't even drink."

Vegeta stared at her for a moment then turn his back to her in disgust. Bulma laughed.

- -

A few minutes after Vegeta turned his back to her, Bulma feel asleep. She slept for only about an hour until she woke up when she heard a loud thud. She opened her eyes to darkness but sat up to look around. When her eyes finally adjusted she didn't see any change in the room. Vegeta had switched side and Bulma could see a frown on his face and his arm return to it's place over his eyes. His hand was above, clutching the pillow Bulma had been sleeping on. She concluded that she heard nothing and rested her head back on her pillow.

She stared at the sleeping Vegeta and frowned. That adrenaline rush filled her when his arm moved and his hand brushed the top of her head. She clenched her teeth as she felt the warmth of a flush graze her cheeks. Then she heard the loud thud again. She jumped slightly and tapped Vegeta's elbow.

"Vegeta," she whispered loudly. "Vegeta, wake up." She began to shake his elbow until his arm moved away from his face and he used the other to prop himself up.

"What" he hissed, while squinting at her as his black orbs tried to adjust to the lack of light.

"I heard a noise."

"So?" He asked angrily as he laid back down on his side. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"I heard a loud thud twice, what if someone broke in or something?" She asked nervously.

"No one is in my house. Stop acting like you're five and go to bed."

"How am I acting like I'm five? Sorry if I'm worried there's an intruder in the house." She hissed angrily.

"It's like six in the morning, it's probably a maid."

Bulma frowned. "What if-"

"Go to bed."

Bulma sighed and laid her head back on the pillow. Vegeta's arm returned to it's place over his eyes.

Bulma heard the thud again and Vegeta moved his arm and looked at her. "See." She muttered to him. "It's creepy."

"I'm right it's the maid."

Bulma sighed and inched slightly closer to Vegeta. "Whatever."

Bulma could feel Vegeta's eyes on her. Then she felt his arm wrap over her waist and pull her to him. Bulma smiled against him and rested her forehead on his chest.

"Aw, do you like me?" She giggled.

He didn't respond.

Bulma giggled again. "I think you love me."

The arm around Bulma's waist tighten and Vegeta rolled on top of her. "Go to bed woman."

Bulma saw him smirking down at her. She smiled and stretched her neck up to peck his lips. "I think I like you too."

- - -

Hope you enjoyed. Please review:

- - - Vegchan - - -