Chapter 5
By Panny
Trunks returned the next day as promised. When he came in Pan informed him that she had the day off and was planning to go out with some of the other girls. "I hope you don't mind." She said. "It kind of came up last minute." Trunks nodded. Again he questioned in his mind whether she wanted him to be there at all. At times it seemed like she really enjoyed his company, but then in the same instant she would suddenly become a bit more distant and their friendship became more of a simple aquaintance. She smiled at him, then left. He sighed but refused to simply leave, not wanting to give her the wrong impression about his feelings for her. If she thought he only went for her, she might think his feeling for her were stronger than they really were.
He started walking around the building and finding problems with it. After a few minutes he left, and returned about an hour later with more supplies and tools. He worked non-stop for several hours after that, improving the house. He ignored all the other people in the building as he worked through things in his head.
~~~~~~
Pan sat down in a grass field and layed back with her knees bent. Jeane, one of the girls she was closer to, came over to sit next to her. "Hey Pan. What are you doing?"
"Just thinking." Pan replied, looking up at the slowly moving clouds. "What about?" Jeane asked. Pan sighed and looked over at her friend. "Trunks."
"Oh. Do you like him?"
"No." Pan told her. "Not really I mean... there's just something about him that I can't figure out. I want to be his friend, even though I don't know why. For some reason he seems to really get me and I get him, but it's confusing. Like, when some of the girls say something bad about him, I feel like I have to say something, or tell him or something. I care about him but I... I just don't know. I feel like his mother or something."
"Maybe you do like him, but just like that."
"Yeah, but I feel like I shouldn't care so much."
"Hey, don't worry about it. If you like him, you like him. If you don't, you don't. It's okay to care."
"I suppose so."
Stretching her legs out Pan sighed, then sat up. "I'm gonna go talk to him." She announced, more to herself than anyone else. A few seconds later though she flopped back down. "But if I do that he might think the wrong thing. He'll think that I like him and what if he freaks out? Then no matter how I care it won't even matter."
Aggravated she growled at the sky. "Why's shit gotta be so complicated?"
"Wow." Jeane commented. "I don't think I ever heard you really curse before Pan."
"Yeah, well I'm pissed off." Jeane laughed as Pan continued to scowl. "Look. How about we go back together. He can't get the wrong idea if you're not alone, right?"
"I guess."
~~~~~~
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Trunks came down off the ladder he had been working on and headed into the kitchen. As usual there was a group of girls there and they were more than willing to help him cool off.
"Can I get you a drink?" One of the girls, Karie, asked. "Yeah sure." Trunks smiled at the dark skinned girl. She returned the gestured, then set about getting glasses for him and anyone else who wanted.
Looking around Trunks realized he'd never taken much notice of the girls here before. Now that Pan was gone he wasn't distracted and he had to admit, the majority of these women were gorgeous. He also knew that all he had to do was ask and he could have anything he wanted.
When Karie came with his drink, he motioned for her to sit with him. She smiled and and scooted the chair as close as possible. Cocking her head to the side her dark hair fell over her shoulders, swaying lightly. She watched him drink a bit, then leaned forward.
"You know, all the girls here really appreciate what you're doing for us. And we'd be glad to repay you in any way possible." She smiled again and his breath caught as she ran her fingers along his neck. Before she could continue any further however, they heard a crash just outside the entrance to the kitchen.
Looking out, Trunks nearly fell over the supplies now scattered on the floor. Amongst the mess Pan rubbed her head, then looked up sheepishly. "I, uh- Um… Sorry." She apologized. "I was just looking to uh, see if uh you needed help or anything. And to let you know I was back, so ah… I'm back, heh. Umm… Sorry to interrupt. I'll get out of your way now."
Clamboring from the pile she quickly dashed out of sight. Trunks turned to Karie and licked his suddenly dry lips. "I should probably get going." He shot out, then headed for the door. "Oh, don't worry about this mess, I'll get it later… Bye then!"
Running out he turned down the road, more confused than anything.