High School Reunions

The Fifth Chapter

Shades of Crimson

"You didn't!" Bulma said, wiping away the tears that were absent from her eyes. She had been laughing so had that she figured they might be there.

She and Vegeta had spent the evening in a restaurant in the airport and had entertained each other for so long that it was now coming on eleven, which Bulma figured that they must have been in there for over two hours.

Bulma shook her head as she began to follow Vegeta to their hotel, "Wow Vegeta, I'd forgotten how funny you were."

Vegeta watched her laugh with an emotionless visage. He really had enjoyed himself tonight, and he had almost admitted to himself that he had missed her company.

She smiled at him, "I bet all the ladies fall for your charm."

He shrugged, conceitedly, and smirked, "I guess so."

She laughed, and admitted casually, "I guess I did too."

He nodded smugly, "I know."

She frowned, "You always were arrogant, Vegeta."

He looked over at her plainly, his eyes never wavering, honesty in his haughty voice, "But don't I have a reason to be?"

Bulma frowned, "I guess."

He chuckled, "Oh? And let me guess, you turned into Miss Modesty."

She caught the sarcasm in his voice and averted her eyes from him, she frowned, guessing that he had seen her photo shoots. So what? She was a beautiful woman. She knew it. Everyone knew it. And everyone knew she knew it. And that didn't bother her . So maybe she was a little haughty herself. She frowned, "You think I'm incredibly vain."

He nodded his head. She frowned, so he did.

"But it's not a flaw." He told her plainly, "We were good together."

She almost blushed at his confession. It wasn't a blow to his pride. He was just being honest. She smiled, she was a good a catch. Most eligible bachelorette number six. She almost laughed aloud, "We had fun back in high school, didn't we?"

But when he didn't answer, she looked up and caught him staring at the screen that showed the outgoing flights.

"Our plane leaves tomorrow morning."

She found the cancelled Tulsa flight and nodded, "At seven o'clock."

He frowned, knowing that she wasn't a morning person.

"Damnit." She groaned, "That means in order to be presentable, I'll have to get up at six.."

"And you should be there a half-hour before it boards," He smirked, "you know."

Bulma smiled at him, "Oh well, I'm just glad were getting out of here!"

He nodded and then watched her pull a cell phone out of her pocket, press a few keys, and place it to her ear.

After a few moments she smiled brightly, "Hey! Chi! Oh, good news!"

She looked up at Vegeta, barely able to hide her excitement, "My flight leaves tomorrow at seven. Yeah, so Vegeta and I should be there around... ten."

Vegeta could hear the surprise in ChiChi's voice on the other end of the phone, he couldn't quite make out her words -- but he could guess them. Evil wench, he thought bitterly, she had known that they were to be at the same airport, probably hoping that they would run into each other.

"Yeah Chi, he's here... Oh," Bulma said with a frown, "Don't sound like that. I know that you knew that we were both her, I'm not an idiot." Pause. "Haha. Yeah, no, it's cool."

Bulma lifted her blue eyes to meet Vegeta's dark ones, they stared at each other for a few moments, "No, we have the same flight home, so we'll be there at ten or so." Another pause and then Bulma frowned, "Nah, don't bother -- I can just get a cab to take me to my house, change and get everything there, and then come see you guys." She smiled as ChiChi began to talk again, "Yeah! I'm so excited to see everyone!"

Vegeta watched her as she said goodbye, said that she loved her, and then hung up her phone, and stuffed it into her purse. He almost smiled in remembrance of how she always used to do to so. Almost.

"Alright Vegeta, we'll I guess this is goodnight." She said casually as they approached her hotel room door.

He smirked at her, the corner of his mouth and his eyes holding an almost seductive suggestion and she laughed, "Oh come on Vegeta, seven years ago I would have shoved you into my hotel room, but things have changed." She laughed, "Besides, I have a roommate tonight -- remember?"

Vegeta smirked as he placed his hands on either side of her head, almost pinning her to the door. He wasn't sure why he was doing this. For some reason he couldn't help but want her. She was as hot as he remembered, and their history... he brought his lips down to her ear and smirked , "In college you had a roommate as well, but I think I remember you just locking the door."

She rolled her eyes, knowing that he was only playing with her, like old times. She frowned, "And in college you had a girlfriend, and I think I remember you --"

She let out a shriek as the door she was pressed against was thrown open and she crashed onto the floor. Vegeta, who had his weight resting against his hands that were pressed against the door as well, toppled after her, so that they were now lying in a heap on the floor, positioned awkwardly, Vegeta on top of her.

Juu, holding the open door smiled at the two, "Aw, did we do some catching up?"

Krillin, who had shocked expression on his face, held his brief case in his hands, in the position that he was about to walk out the door, looked down at the couple with surprise.

"Uh, hey Vegeta."

Vegeta lifted himself off of Bulma, who rubbed her soar bottom while she got up as well.

"Come on Krillin." Vegeta spat gruffly, "Our plane leaves tomorrow morning."

Bulma turned to Juu with a frown, "Early." She confirmed.

Juu smiled at Krillin as he followed his business partner out of the room, "See you tomorrow!"

Krillin smiled back at her, and with a small wave he returned her with a short, "See yah!" before Bulma shut the door and yawned, "Do you want to shower first, or me?"

Marron seated herself into the comfortable leather seats of the private jet.

She smiled across the seat at the older man obliquely positioned from her. He had on an expensive suit and was holding a glass of dark wine in his right hand. She smiled, it was his of the wine company that he owned.

She leaned back and turned her attention to the TV screen that hovered above the couple, and for a moment she tried to focus in on the movie that was going on above her, but she couldn't help but hold in the anticipation to see her old friends. They would finally get see her success!

She had done just what she said that she would. Marry rich, live a luxurious lifestyle -- freely, easily, happily.

She smiled as she looked back at the man across from her. He had sat the wineglass down on a nearby table and was concentrating on the palm pilot he held in his hands.

She could see a few strands of graying hairs in his head of dark, thinning hair. But mostly, she prided herself in picking him stylish and successful and handsome.

Yes, her friends would approve.

And for a moment, she almost felt like she wasn't using him. Like she did feel something for him. She watched him play with the palm and she sighed as she turned her head away from him.

Almost.

A brown suitcase was handed to Yamcha by an airport attendant with an apologetic smile.

Yamcha snatched his luggage and purposely avoided the apology with an angry expression.

He turned his head back to Lana who's dark, pretty face was holding in a small laugh.

He frowned at her.

So she found his anger amusing?

When he made his way to her desk she smiled, "Well they returned it early, that's good."

His frown remained and Lana sighed, "So are you going to give me your friend's address, or am I just supposed to pretended to forget that you asked me to her wedding."

Yamcha grabbed a piece of paper out of his pocket and then took a pen from Lana's desk and, on a sheet of paper that was laying in front of her, he scribbled his cell phone number and, copied ChiChi's address from the crumpled paper he had previously pulled from pocket.

Lana read over the number and the address with a nod, "Date. time?"

Yamcha smiled up at her and wrote those under the address, "Anything else?"

She shook her head and he winked at her, turning around and walking his way to get a taxi and take him to the address written on the crumpled sheet of paper he held in his hand.

Bulma and Juu boarded the plane. A little late... Bulma frowned at the flight attendant as she called for coach passengers seating in section three.

Bulma sighed as she showed them their tickets, marking their seats in first class.

The flight attendant let them go, and Bulma and Juu made their way to their seats.

As they put their carryon bags into the overhead compartment Krillin stood up from his seat and smiled at the couple, "Hey guys!"

Juu looked over at him and smiled, "Hey!"

Vegeta chuckled as he watched Bulma try to cram her purse in the already full storage bin, he smirked, "Let me guess, you woke up late and then took longer than you thought it would to get ready."

Bulma rolled her eyes and ignored him, but Juu eyed him with a frown, "Yeah, that's exactly what happened."

"Don't talk to him, Juu." Bulma said, trying to slam the bin closed, "He's a --"

Vegeta got up and helped her close the bin and frowned, "Jerk?"

Bulma looked over at him, the anger in her eyes slowly fading -- he took this as a thanks and turned to sit back down, but found Juu in his seat.

He glared at her and she smiled and Krillin shrugged, "I want to sit by her, Vegeta."

"Besides!" Juu said, turning her chair around so that it faced the two empty seats that were to become Bulma and Vegeta's, "We're all going to be together anyway!"

The four chairs were turned to face each other and there was a table unfolded in front of their chairs.

Vegeta growled and crossed his arms, "Well? Go ahead woman."

Bulma blinked at him and he frowned, "You have to have the window seat, right?"

Bulma smiled at him and blinked, Is he going out of his way to be nice to me?

Vegeta frowned as he took the seat beside her, across from Krillin, "You always had to look out the window in the car and shit."

Bulma couldn't help but smile at his favor. Juu didn't find it much of a favor, but Krillin found it strange that Vegeta would give Bulma something he knew she wanted, but hadn't even asked for.

"So." Krillin said, breaking the awkward silence, "How did you and Bulma meet?"

The question was directed towards Juu and she smiled, "We're from the same hometown. I actually worked at a Starbucks Bulma was a regular at, and when I was looking for a new job Bulma hired me. Gave me more than I asked for, really, but I love it."

Vegeta frowned, "You were addicted to that crap."

Krillin blinked, "What crap?"

Bulma smiled, "Starbucks."

Juu laughed, "She still is..."

Killin nodded lightly, "So where did you go to college Juu?"

Bulma frowned slightly at his question. Juu didn't really like talking about college, since she hadn't been able to go.

"I didn't." Juu said, slightly snappy. Clearly not happy that she hadn't attended a fancy university like the others surrounding her had.

Bulma smiled apologetically at Krillin, "Where did you go?"

"Yale." Krillin answered, his attention turned towards the unhappy girl beside him.

Bulma gasped, "No shit? So did I!"

Krillin turned his attention now to the blue haired girl cattycornered to him and smiled, "Really! What class?"

Bulma's face saddened slightly and she averted her eyes, "I actually ended up leaving school early." She confessed slowly, as if it were a bad thing, "I took all of my exit exams and passed with honors. I got my diploma privately, took care of a few things, and then took the position as the co-owner of Capsule Corps.."

Vegeta looked over at her with a frown, wondering what she had to "take care of" and why it was more important than her beloved university. He couldn't imagine her giving up her classes. When they talked on the phone she always seemed to like it so much. His frown remained, was she emotional enough to give up because of him?

Bulma smiled, "What class were you in?"

"'08." He answered, clearly proud.

Bulma smiled, "Really! That was my roommates class."

"What's her name?" He asked, curiously.

Bulma smiled, "Christie Fields."

Krillin laughed, "We dated a little in college actually."

It was difficult for Juu to hide her jealousy, Vegeta noticed this and felt a little out of the conversation a little himself.

Then Krillin blinked, "You were Christie's roommate?"

When Bulma nodded he smiled, "Your the one she always talked about! The one who got early graduation because you were a freaking genius?"

Bulma laughed and Vegeta rolled his eyes at her "modesty".

Then Krillin blinked, "The one who skipped class to go find her boyfriend at Duke because she was --" He stopped mid-sentence. Bulma's eyes were large, and Juu's breath was caught in her throat. Krillin's eyes darted nervously at the two and then looked at the unknowing Vegeta who had seemed to not have caught the significance in what he had said. Just that Bulma had took off of school to visit him -- and that much, he already knew.

Krillin frowned, "You cheated on her?"

Vegeta's head snapped in Krillin's direction., but it was Bulma who turned her saddened eyes to stare out the window and she frowned, "No... not exactly."

Juu's looked surprised and then Krillin blinked, "Not exactly?"

Bulma shrugged, and then Vegeta turned his attention to his saddened ex. Bulma shrugged, her focus still on the clouds below.

When Vegeta got up from his seat Bulma gave him a strange look, "Where are you going?"

He frowned, "I've got to take a piss."

When he was out of hearing range Krillin blinked, "You were pregnant!"

Juu looked at him and then Bulma frowned, "Yeah."

"And?" Krillin asked, shaking his head with disbelief.

Bulma smiled at the thought of Trunks, "And, I have the most amazing son in the world."

Krillin rubbed his eyelids tiredly, "Vegeta's son?"

Bulma frowned. She had never heard any one ever say it out loud before, they usually avoided saying it directly with her. It sounded... nice. Bulma's thoughts betrayed her. "Yes." She muttered meekly, "Vegeta's son." She had repeated it just to see how it sounded aloud on her own account.

Juu frowned, "But, still, he did cheat."

Krillin looked at her, "You knew this?"

Bulma rolled her eyes, "Everyone does... except Vegeta."

Krillin blinked, obviously able to put two and two together, "Trunks... good God he looks just like the two of you!"

Bulma looked up at him and Juu smiled, "He does, doesn't he?"

Krillin shook his head, still in disbelief. Vegeta had a son? "I should have figured it just by looking at him... and the fact that when I first met Juu she was picking him up from ChiChi's house for a friend when he and Vegeta were there. God. I can't believe... Vegeta doesn't have a clue!"

Bulma sighed, "How am I supposed to tell him? He'll be furious at me... I don't blame him..." She sighed, looking defeated, "Vegeta never wanted kids. And then, when I decided that I had to tell him anyway, I found him with another girl. I took this as a bad omen." She frowned after a short pause, "Maybe it was me being emotional or the thought that Vegeta wouldn't want this anyway -- maybe I was doing him a favor. Maybe I was just being selfish. But I decided that I would raise Trunks on my own.

We had really only broken up because of my stupid raging pregnancy hormones and Vegeta's prideful refusal to apologize and explain what happened when I found him with that girl. We were both stubborn and arrogant... We would raise a horrible child."

Juu laughed and then shrugged, "Trunks is a really good kid tough."

"Yeah." Krillin said, looking down at his lap, "We met him the other night at Goku's dojo."

Bulma nodded with a smile, "Yeah... that kid worships him now. I wonder if Vegeta would..."

Krillin smiled and then he shrugged, "So, are you going to tell him?" He knew that what Bulma had said was right -- Vegeta didn't want kids, and, honestly, he wasn't angry with Bulma for not telling Vegeta. That's not saying that his business partner wasn't going to be pissed. But he did find the thought of Vegeta being a dad kind of cute.

Bulma nodded, "Well... I don't have a choice.. as soon as we gets to Tulsa and this kid starts calling me momma, well.. I'm pretty sure he'll figure it out."

Krillin sighed, "He's coming down the aisle now."

Bulma frowned and turned her attention back outside the window and began to listen to Vegeta gruffly begin to explain about a brat that had been in front of him in line.

The ringing of the doorbell could be heard throughout the Son household. A frantic ChiChi rushed to the door, leaving behind a kitchen with a sink full of dishes that Launch and Leah were currently busy washing and a few pots cooking slowly on the stove.

Goku, Yamcha, Jay (who had shown up earlier in a taxi and had explained to ChiChi that he was Juu's twin brother), Launch's boyfriend Chip, Goten, and Trunks were all in the backyard and came inside to see who had come to the door.

When ChiChi opened the door she was greeted with a hug from Tien, and a handshake from his girlfriend. Who ChiChi noted was quite pretty.

Launch entered the living room where everyone had gathered and ChiChi explained that Marron and her fiance would be there later tonight and Bulma, Juu, Vegeta, and Krillin would be arriving in a few hours and then everyone would be here and ready for the wedding tomorrow.

Julie and Launch greeted each other, a little awkwardly, because both knew what they were in Tien's life. While Tien and Chip greeted each other with a firm handshake. Chip oblivious to who Tien even was. Just another friend of Launch's from high school.

Though he did admit that Tien's girlfriend was very pretty.

ChiChi wiped her hands on her apron, clearly stressed, and announced that breakfast would be done in a moment.

Goku smiled widely, and in the kitchen Leah had returned to help ChiChi sat the table.

ChiChi thanked her for her help and Leah smiled at the stressed soon-to-be-bride, "Why don't you go visit with your guests?" Leah suggested with a smile, as Jay entered the kitchen, "Jay and I can handle the remainder of breakfast -- you've done most of the work anyway."

ChiChi sighed and thanked her again, and, leaving the couple alone they smiled at one another -- both admitting that they didn't know anyone and they felt a little out of place.

Tien smiled down at Goten and Trunks. Introducing himself to the pair, "I'm Tien!" He greeted with a smile, "You must be Goten.." he said, pointing to the Goku mini and smiled, "And then, that makes you Trunks."

The boys blinked up at him boredly and Tien smiled as Launch came up behind him, she smiled at the little Bulma/Vegeta Goku/ChiChi fusions.

The boys ran off into the kitchen and Launch smiled at Tien as they entered the kitchen after them to eat breakfast as well, "They're cute, aren't they?"

Julie smiled awkwardly at Chip as he placed his hands into the pockets of his blue jeans casually.

"So.." She said slowly, "any plans while the two of you are here?"

Chip shrugged, "Yeah... um, were going to a concert."

Her eyes snapped, with jealously and curiosity. "Toby Keith?" She blurted.

Chip blinked and nodded, "Yeah."

Julie smiled, a wide grinned-toothy smile, "Oh, you're SO lucky! I begged Tien to get some tickets while we were down here, but he just... isn't in to that sort of thing."

Chip smiled at her, "Yeah... Neither is Launch."

They looked at each other for a moment longer and then Tien came to the door frame, "You two coming?"

They smiled and looked away, Julie blushing and Chip rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, Tien, We're coming." Julie finished, with a smile at the man across from her.

After a few moments of silence, a man, who was reading a magazine, cast a glance in Bulma's direction. Vegeta saw this and noticed the cover of the magazine -- it was the one that he had seen Bulma in not too long ago. The one that named her bachelorette number six. His eyes narrowed as he watched the man, with the disgusting looking of awe on his face as he studied Bulma's every feature, glancing back down at the magazine in front of his nose every now and then.

Vegeta let out a growl and then turned to Bulma. He saw she had an emotionless gaze on her face as she too saw the man. Vegeta guessed that she was probably used to it by now. Men, perverts, coming up to her. He fought the urge to strangle the man. Then he frowned at himself. Why did he still feel protective of her? She wasn't his. She didn't require his help with men. What the fuck was wrong with guys hitting on her? She was the sixth most eligible bachelorette in the county. He frowned as he watched the man flip the page and drool over bachlorette number five.

Juu had fallen asleep, her head against the window, and Krillin sat silently, listening to her quiet breathing through the pages of the book he was pretending to read.

Bulma turned to Vegeta and smiled at him -- "So... how have you been for the past, what? seven years?"

Vegeta shrugged and leaned back in his seat, he knew that the woman was ready to engage in small talk -- and he had missed her company. He knew that it wouldn't be long until they fought. They always managed to fight. He shrugged, "I've been okay. Busy."

She smiled, "That's good. Do you still talk to Tien?"

He shook his head and Bulma sighed, "That's too bad. He was a good guy. I never really talked to him in high school though."

"Yeah." Vegeta shrugged, "He didn't fit in with you and Kakerot's bitch's clique."

Bulma looked slightly hurt. Krillin winced from across their seat, he had been eavesdropping.

"No." Bulma said softly, "Do you regret high school?"

The question caused Vegeta to blink with surprise. What the hell was she talking about? "What?"

Bulma shrugged, "I mean -- you hated it. I know that. You didn't really like any of us. Your 'friends.' Even Goku -- you couldn't stand him. Even though he was your best friend. I mean, you didn't hate him... but... you just, always had a weird way of showing how you cared. Unique, I guess. But, you hated the clique. And you hated prom. And you hated going to the mall with us. And you hated ... all of that stuff. Do you think it was just a waste of time?"

Vegeta shrugged, "Sometimes."

Bulma nodded, "I always thought you did. Like, if you had a choice, you would have skipped it. You probably could have, you know. You were smart and rich -- you could have just skipped high school, worked with your father. Gone to college, played football. Skipped it all."

Vegeta frowned, "Like you did with college?"

Bulma shook her head, "I didn't graduate college early because I didn't want to deal."

"Then why?"

She frowned, "Because I was stupid, I guess that's why."

He rolled his eyes.

Bulma frowned, "If you went back, would you?"

He shrugged. He honestly didn't know. "I didn't ... hate high school." He confessed slowly, "The football team was good. And I had this girlfriend, she was alright." He smirked and Bulma let out a small laugh with a roll of her eyes.

"Yeah? I hear she was a real bitch."

His smirk remained while he shrugged, "Oh, she was. But I guess I kinda liked her that way."

Bulma couldn't help but smile, "I miss going to the mall with everyone. And dates. I miss dating. And... I miss football games, isn't that weird?"

He shrugged.

And she blushed, looking down at her hands, "I used to watch all of your football games in college."

He cocked an eyebrow in her direction and she laughed lightly, "They had that stupid picture of you in your uniform with that big smirk, and you arms crossed, you know? They always put it up when they talked about you."

He looked at her, a little taken back.

"In college I saw you in that damn picture more than I saw you in real life. When I thought about you, that's how I started to picture you, like you were in that picture."

He chuckled, "Yeah. We always said that we would keep in touch."

She smiled, "Well, you came down to see me, once."

He smirked at her, "Oh, yeah. I remember. That was the night of four times, wasn't it?"

Bulma turner her head away and blushed profoundly as Krillin, still eavesdropping, let out a surprised squeal and, with wide eyes, tried to focus on his book.

Then a thought came to Bulma. Yes, that was the night...

Vegeta laughed as he watched her blush, "So? How are the men nowadays?"

Bulma rolled her eyes with a shrug, "Haven't you heard? I'm an eligible bachelorette." She rolled her eyes, "Not very eligible though. Too busy to commit to anything. Serious or not."

Vegeta nodded, "I know that feeling. Well, the serious part anyway..."

Bulma smiled, "You can still do the unserious thing?"

He shrugged. Well, she knew Vegeta would be the kind to have a different woman all the time. She looked out of the window again and smiled, "Do you remember prom?"

Krillin blinked, looking up from the book, "You two went to prom together?"

Bulma smiled, "Yeah."

Krillin smiled, "Vegeta, aw -- how did you ask her!"

Bulam rolled her eyes, "He didn't ask me, know, this guy in my French class did... Ryan..."

flash back ...

"So." Ryan said, a smile grazing his lips, "Do you already have a date to the prom?"

Bulma blinked, she didn't know why but the thought of being linked to the arm of this guy for even just one night sickened her, and she had to fight the bile rising to her throat, "Ye-yes." she choked.

A lie, yes, but the famous Bulma Briefs was no saint. She frowned, that was for sure.

Ryan blinked, he had only said that as an opening, he hadn't actually expected her to have a date, but the question stung at him, "Who?"

Bulma's eyes winded, Who? Damn it Bulma... But when Bulma saw the flame haired boy walk up from behind them down the hall she smiled, "Vegeta."

"What?" Ryan asked, clearly surprised, "Your going with Vegeta?"

Bulma blinked as she played with the bottom of her skirt, "No--ummm... I mean yes. Yes. I. am..." she paused, and spoke awkwardly comfortably, "going to the prom with. Vegeta."

Ryan shook his head, "Unbelievable." He mumbled, "I loose you to the short arrogant asshole."

Bulma watched Ryan walk off, and as he walked by Vegeta, their shoulders momentarily brushing, he shot him a warning look.

Vegeta humphed, knowing that he could kick this guys ass easily.

Bulma sighed as she watched him go and than frowned at her predicament, "Vegeta." she breathed, guess there's only one way to do this... "I need you to go to prom with me."

Vegeta gave her a bored look and his eyes studied her, he folded his strong arms against his chest and frowned, "What?"

Bulma sighed, "I--I kinda told Ryan that I was going to the prom with you..."

Vegeta blinked, "Why the hell did you do that?"

Bulma frowned, "Well I told him that I already had a date and he asked me who and I saw you over there and it just all clicked."

Vegeta crossed his arms, "It just 'clicked'?" he shrugged, "Whatever woman. Prom is overrated, and don't get any high expectations because I'm not giving you anything special."

Bulma smiled as they began walking back towards the lunch room, "Vegeta."

He turned to her when they entered the noisy, crowded room, and she grabbed his forearm, "No more blondes in the parking lot."

Vegeta raised on of his eyebrows in question and Bulma sighed, "Please."

Vegeta watched Ryan glare at him from across the lunch room and he turned to face Bulma. She was beautiful, rich, smart, and his parents adored her, so he guessed that he could stick to just her, she was good enough. Plus, he thought with a smirk, there were definitely benefits when it came to prom night, "Alright woman, only you."

Bulma smiled, but as he walked passed her he whispered in her ear, "Besides, with prom night tradition I don't think I'll be needing anyone else."

His hot breath tickled her ear and as Bulma watched him walk over to the lunch table, a dumbfounded look on her face, she could practically see the smirk imprinted on his face, she sighed, "Well that's one way to get a date." she mumbled as she followed Vegeta back towards their lunch table.

Krillin blinked. "Aw Vegeta... That's... sweet."

Vegeta smiled, "Well, I was a sweet guy."

Bulma rolled her eyes at his sarcasm, and then a smile found her mouth -- "Yeah, at times, I guess you were."

Krillin looked across at Bulma, shutting his book with a smile, "Tell me something else that Vegeta did, something sweet." He mocked, just to make his business partner furious. But, he really was curious.

Bulma smiled, "See... we had this friend of ours, Marron, and one day she and I were...

flashback...

Bulma and Marron were walking through the hallway talking about their ideas from prom, and how excited they were about prom, and how their dates better be on their best behavior for prom, and... well almost anything that had to do with prom -- save prom night tradition and how they were going to dress.

Bulma straightened out the bottom of her short navy-blue miniskirt as they walked past the principles office as Marron pulled down the bottom of her pink top so that it fully covered her midriff.

The girls smiled as they waved friendlily at the principle, who returned the two pretty girls smile and raised his arm for a small wave back.

After the two were out of the principles site they exchanged a look and a giggle, causing Marron to accidentally ram into a tall brown haired girl.

The girl was in a pair of baggy pants and she had on a short green shirt that read 'i hate you too' across is. She had short brown hair that reached to about her shoulders and had too much makeup smeared across her pretty face.

"Watch it bitch." She spat as Marron crashed to the ground, her books spilling over the floor and her arms clinging to her skirt so that no one could see up it.

Marron looked up at the girl, Roxanne was her name, her eyes screaming terror, "S-sorry." She chocked.

Roxanne smiled and nodded, "You'd better be, idiot."

Bulma glared at the girl, "What did you just say?"

Roxanne turned to glare at Bulma, shaking her head, "I called you little cum bucket of a friend stupid, you got a problem with that?"

Bulma threw her books down on the ground next to Marron's and stepped closer to her, "Yeah, I do actually."

Roxanne laughed and her voice turned sarcastically sweet, "Oh, Bulma Briefs, what are you going to do? Have you're daddy fire my daddy?"

Bulma glared at the brown haired girl, rage flowing through her veins, but Roxanne continued, "Maybe you'll try to fight me, good luck doing it in that." She pointed to her high heels and then lifted her finger up to Bulma's skirt, "It's not your fault that your friends dumb or your daddies rich, so how about we settle this now -- you and me."

Bulma rolled her eyes, "Say one more thing and maybe you'll get your fight."

Roxanne smirked, wanting to egg her on, "Your just another screw to Vegeta, you know that? We all are, just another easy fuck."

And before Roxanne had time to register what was going on Bulma had lunged herself at the brown haired girl, pinning Roxanne's arms down with her knees and pounding Roxanne's face with her closed fists.

Marron rose from her spot on the ground to find a cluster of students, mainly male, closing in on the two girls, all chanting 'fight' and all smiling excitingly.

Marron pushed her way through the crowd about the same time Yamcha did.

Bulma was still beating Roxanne pretty bad, Roxanne looked like she got one pretty good punch on Bulma's left cheek, but Bulma was clearly winning.

Yamcha grabbed Bulma by the shoulders and lifted her off of the bleeding brown haired girl, this causing the crowd to moan in disapproval, "Bulma." Yamcha whispered as he still hung tightly onto her upper arms, "What's wrong with you?"

Bulma glared at Roxanne as she started to get up, she smirked at Bulma through a bloody lip, "The prep can fight." she said before a blonde boy wrapped his arms around her shoulders protectively and looked at her, concern filling his eyes, "You alright babe?"

Bulma brushed Yamcha's hands off of her shoulders and turned around to find the principle glaring at her, "Miss Briefs, I would have thought better of you."

Bulma smiled, "She asked for it." She muttered, rubbing her soar cheek and following the principle into his office.

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

Vegeta took a seat in his History class with a bored frown, Decker, a guy on the football team who was too social for Vegeta's taste ran into the classroom and slapped Vegeta on the back, "Hey!"

Vegeta just shot him an un-amused look and Decker laughed, "Lighten up dude."

Another guy on the football team, Kyle, took his seat next to Vegeta and smirked, "Did you see the fight?"

Decker nodded quickly, "Dude, that was sweet!"

"I know, right?" Kyle said, shaking his head.

Vegeta quirked an eyebrow, "Fight? Was it any good?"

Decker gasped, "You didn't see it?"

Kyle smirked, "It was a girl fight, so of coarse it was good."

Vegeta rolled his eyes at his 'friends.' Though, he secretly had wished he could have seen the girl fight. Decker smiled, "Roxanne was all like," he raised his voice a few octaves as if to mimic a girl, "so your daddy's gana fire my daddy cause your friends a ho and that your fucking Vegeta."

Vegeta raised one of his eyebrows as he heard his name come from Decker's high pitched voice, but Kyle spoke up, "And so Roxanne was lying there on her back getting the shit beat out of her."

Yamcha sat down as the bell rang across from Decker and Decker frowned at him, "And this fucker broke up a perfectly hot girl fight."

Kyle frowned, "Why did you break it up?"

Yamcha gave the other boys a tired look, "Bulma would have killed Roxanne if I wouldn't have."

Vegeta turned his attention to Yamcha as he heard this, "Bulma?"

Yamcha nodded, "I've never seen her like that Vegeta, she was holding Roxanne down with her knees and she was beating the living crap out of her."

Vegeta smirked, almost proudly, and Kyle nodded, "Dude, I could like see up her skirt when she jumped on her and when you pulled her back and she was trying to kick her Yamcha, haha."

Decker smiled, "That was sweet though."

Vegeta smirked as he got up and walked to the front of the room, he grabbed the bathroom pass, with no intention of going to the bathroom.

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

Launch sat down next to Marron who was explaining the fight to group of people who were surrounding her and Launch frowned, "Marron, is Bulma alright?"

Marron nodded, "Yea, she only got hit like one time."

Launch sighed, "I can't believe B was that dumb."

Tien shrugged, "Well if she had a reason to fight..."

Launch smiled over at him, "But think of the trouble that she'll be in, I mean fighting means like, suspension."

Marron frowned, "And to think, it's all my fault..."

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

Vegeta opened the door to the principles office to find Mr. Scott sitting behind his desks and the back of Bulma's blue slightly tangled hair.

"Hey Mr. S." Vegeta said casually as he took a seat next to Bulma.

The principle sighed and frowned, "Yes Mr. Ojie is there a problem?"

Vegeta smirked as Bulma turned to face him, he shook his head, "Nope, just wanted to see how Miss Briefs was doing."

Mr. Scott sighed, "Well she's fine, but Roxanne is another story, what do you think a proper punishment for her violence should be?"

Vegeta smirked as he leaned back in his chair, obviously very familiar with the principles office, "Oh, I don't know, it's only her first fight."

The principle sighed and closed his eyes, Bulma sat up straight in her chair, "Well, I'm sure my dad could pull some extra funds or--"

Vegeta laughed, "You plan on paying your way out?"

Bulma glared at him, turning to face him so that he could see the red mark on her left cheek. He frowned, "That's going to bruise."

The principle nodded, and Bulma's eyes widened in horror, "Oh, Mr. Scott! Isn't having a bruised cheek on prom enough of a punishment?"

The older man rubbed his eyes and shook his head tiredly, "No Miss Briefs, it's not."

Vegeta smirked, "I don't think your date will mind."

Bulma glared at him, "Well he'd better not."

The principle sighed, "Don't tell me you two are a couple."

Bulma shot him an award winning grin and he sighed, "Okay, Mr. Ojie, out of my site, I'm going to need to discuss Miss Briefs suspension period."

Vegeta lifted his chin and smirked, "Later."

As the door shut Mr. Scott sighed, "That boy... I swear..."

Bulma smiled and she turned back to him, "Okay, so what are we talking -- one, two days?"

Just then a very skinny boy with short, spiky brown hair came rushing into the office, holding his left eye, fighting the urge to cry, "Mr. Scott! Vegeta just punched me!"

Vegeta came in after him, taking the same seat he had earlier casually, "Mr. S, I got in a fight, looks like your going to have to suspended me too."

Bulma gave him a look of disbelief, he just gave her a smirk and she smiled.

Mr. Scott saw their exchange and he sighed in defeat, "Get out of my sight now and don't either of you show up tomorrow. Though the both of you better be here, early, on Monday to serve a detention."

Bulma stood up and smiled brightly, "Thanks Mr. Scott!"

She and Vegeta left the brown haired boy and Mr. Scott alone in the silent room.

"Yeah. You were sort of sweet Vegeta." Bulma remembered aloud, "But mostly, just a jerk."

Krillin smiled, and Vegeta rolled his eyes.

"So." Krillin said. Ready to play twenty questions with the pair, "Was he overly protective, or did he pretend to not pay attention to you, or --"

"Hm." Bulma said, thinking with a frown, "He was pretty protective." She confessed, as if he wasn't sitting beside her.

Vegeta rolled his eyes, "I was not."

"Oh?" Bulma laughed, "You weren't jealous?"

flash back...

"Okay Vegeta." Bulma said pointing at a denim miniskirt in the mirror of a shop they passed, "do you like it?"

Vegeta looked over at it and shrugged, "Too short."

"What?" Bulma said, shock filling her eyes, "Wha-- It's sexy Vegeta. I thought you would like something-" she smiled seductively at him and circled his thigh with one of her fingers, "--just for you."

He smirked down at her, "For me? Hm." He kissed her shortly and gently squeezed her bottom, "Well I don't want every other horny guy in our school looking at you in that."

She smiled up at him, "Jealous?"

He shrugged, "Well if you're going to be my ... girlfriend-or-whatever, then I think I have the right to be."

Bulma blinked and smiled, as they continued to walk, Vegeta grabbed her hand and she rested her head against his shoulder, earning looks from students from their school that they passed.

Vegeta stopped in front of Victoria Secret and smirked, "But you know woman, if you wanted to get something revealing, just for me--"

She slapped his arm and rolled her eyes, "Come on Vegeta."

He laughed and shrugged his shoulders and she smiled up at him as they continued to walk aimlessly in the large mall.

Krillin smiled, "You two were cute."

Vegeta rolled his eyes and Bulma smiled, "Hardly..."

Krillin shrugged, "What happened with college though? I mean, it seems like you would have kept in touch."

"Well..." Bulma began with a sigh, "That was the plan.."

flash back...

Bulma waited patiently in Vegeta's room. He had told her that he had a surprise for her, and so she had come over quickly. She loved gifts, especially ones for her.

Vegeta's mom had let her in, Vegeta wasn't home from the gym yet, and so Bulma went up to his room.

She began snooping around. Hoping to find jewelry. She smiled as she slid open the top drawer on his computer desk and found a small velvet box pushed off to the corner of the messy drawer.

Her eyes widened and she was filled with excitement as she tried to imagine what the ring would look like. She held the box in her hands, staring at the velvety cover, but before she opened the box an opened envelope caught her attention, and the navy print that read 'Notre Dame' peaked her curiosity, so she sat the ring case back down and stared at the envelope.

She held the envelope in her hands, and pulled a letter from it. She unfolded it, feeling a little guilty for snooping in Vegeta's affairs, but she felt it necessary if she were to ever find out about her boyfriends personal life.

Her big, curious, blue eyes scanned the letter and comprehended it. Vegeta had applied, and been accepted into Dame. They were offering him honors to play football.

She heard the door open and she quickly slipped the letter back into the torn envelope and, with her back turned to the desk and her face to the opening door, dropped the envelope into the drawer and closed it with her palm.

Vegeta smirked at her from across the room and she smiled back at him. Guilt feeling her, but sadness too. Why hadn't he told her?

He placed his hands on her waist, and she blinked up at him. He rolled his eyes knowing that she wanted to talk. But he decided that they had been talking a lot lately and so he brought his lips to hers and began kissing her roughly.

She pulled away after a couple moments, trying to ignore the since of lust burning within her, "I know about Dame."

One of Vegeta's dark eyebrows rose in question, and annoyance spread across his rugged features, "Nosey woman."

"Vegeta." She spoke softly, she looked so vulnerable, he just wanted to press her against the wall and screw her -- but resisted the urge and let her continue, "It's a really great school, and you obviously wanted to go by applying, getting accepted, and then not telling me about it. Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were being all unselfish and giving up Yale. I wasn't going to just.. leave you."

She smiled up at him and sighed, "Just because we would be going to different schools doesn't mean that we have to stop seeing each other. I mean we're both wealthy and we could make a point to see each other often." She paused and watched him contemplate things and then continued, "I want Yale as much as you want Dame."

He nodded, his face remaining emotionless.

She studied him a moment longer and then smiled brightly, "Now what did you have for me?"

He rolled his eyes and opened the drawer where she had been snooping just moments before, "I'm sure you already know, prying woman, but I got this for you. Just as ... a graduation present or something lame like that."

She laughed and took the ring out of the box. It was a modest size cut, shiny with a silver band, and she slid it onto her slender finger smiled up at him, "I think you just may love me Vegeta Ojie."

He chuckled and watched her admire the ring, "You might be right, woman."

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

Vegeta laid on his back on his girlfriends bed and listened as she chattered away excitedly about Yale.

His attention was turned to a brochure of Yale that he had found on her bed and as he flipped through the pages he nodded every now and then to show that he was paying attention.

"What I should I wear Vegeta? I mean, I want to make a good first impression for the dean." She bit her lower lip and studied his profile.

He shrugged and tossed the brochure to the side of the bed, "And what the fuck gives you the notion that I know what clothes would make a good first impression woman?"

She laughed as sat on the edge of the bed, beside where he way laying. She smiled down at him and positioned herself to where she was on top of him, her hair spilling over her shoulders and her knees pinning either side of his torso. She studied his dark eyes for a moment and then brought herself down to capture his lips in her own.

When they pulled away, Vegeta smirked up at her and flipped her over and tickled her until she screamed, "Ah haha-- Ve--AH! -- geta--haha -- St-AH-op!"

He let her go and she pushed him off of her playfully.

"I'm going to miss you." She whispered, laying at his side and burring her head into his shoulder; taking in his masculine scent of cologne and sweat and aftershave.

He continued to watch the ceiling, his pride keeping from telling her that he was going to miss her too.

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

The summer drifted by and the first semester of college began.

Bulma and Vegeta exchanged a couple of phone calls a week. And as the semester dragged on their conversations died. Vegeta would ask Bulma how she was and she would repeat the question to him. They talk about other people, people whom the other didn't know. They would complain about hard work, football season, Bulma's perverted Algebra 101 teacher, and then they would sit in a few moments of silence until one of them said that they had to study, meet someone at the mess hall, or explain that their roommate had to use the phone.

So it was a huge surprise when Bulma opened her dorm room door to find Vegeta standing at her doorway a duffle bag slung over his shoulder and coat in his hand.

Bulma was in a pair of blue cotton shorts and a gray Yale T-shirt with her hair pulled back in a high, messy pony tail when she jumped into his arms and squealed with excitement.

He laughed when she pulled away and drug him inside her dorm, shutting the door and getting a good look at him -- physically he hadn't changed much, and she was glad that he hadn't.

"What are you doing here?" She asked, taking his coat and duffle bag from him and dropping them to the floor.

He smirked, "If you're busy then --"

"No! No, I miss you so much." She said, cutting him off and smiling up at him. She embraced him and took in his masculine scent that she had been missing so much, "Did you just decide to drop by?"

He nodded, "Yeah. I don't have any classes tomorrow and so I thought I would come see you."

She smiled and kissed him lightly, then she locked her dorm room door and made her way back to him they kissed again, roughly, and then before Bulma could register what was going on she was being pinned down onto her bed.

Well, she thought -- and she began unbuttoning Vegeta's belt buckle -- it had been nearly four months.

"Okay." Krillin said, shaking his head, "That's gross."

Bulma laughed and Vegeta smirked.

"But," Krillin said with a frown, "That doesn't make since. So you two saw each other -- but why did you leave Yale Bulma? -- Oh." He said suddenly with understandment, then he frowned, "And why did you cheat on her Vegeta?"

They both remained silent and Krillin sighed, turning to Bulma, "Okay... keep going..."

Bulma sighed, "Alright..."

flash back...

Bulma tapped her pencil impatiently against her desk and listened to the phone ring.

"Hey --"

"Hey!" Bulma blurted hastily as she dropped the pencil in her other hand and her head shot up.

"--this is Vegeta. I'm too busy for the phone right now, or I just don't feel like talking to you. So leave me a message. Later."

She sighed and hung up her cell phone with a sigh.

"Why won't he pick up his damn phone?" She shot angrily as she tried to concentrate back on the Physics book in front of her.

A feminine voice behind her laughed, "Aw, Bulma. Don't worry about it. He's probably just partying or, you know, doing normal college stuff."

Bulma turned around and met eyes with her roommate, Christie. She was a tall, skinny girl with long brown hair and flashy green eyes. She was at Yale because she came from an extremely wealthy family and had a knack for Journalism. She wrote for the school paper and even had a few articles published in Seventeen and one in Cosmo.

Bulma rolled her eyes and laughed, "Wow Christie, that makes me feel a lot better. He's not picking up because he's out partying."

Christie looked herself over in the mirror and straightened out her short skirt, "Oh come one Bulma I'm not talking like massive orgy party, just simple, everyday college drinking shit."

Bulma laughed and turned around, "See you later Christie."

The brunette sighed, "It's a Friday night Bulma, come to the clubs with Brittany and I."

Bulma shook her head, "Nah, you two go ahead, I'm going to keep trying Vegeta, and besides I have a major Physics test Monday."

Christie shook her head and her roommate and sighed, "Alright Bulma, see you in the morning."

When Bulma heard the door shut her phone began to ring and she jumped to open it, "Hello?"

"Bulma?" Vegeta's voice was low and irritated.

Bulma heard music blaring in the background and people shouting.

"What's the matter?" He asked, walking outside so the noisy sounds were slightly muted. He put one of his fingers over his ear and listened to his girlfriend sigh with relief through the other one that had his cell phone pressed against it.

"I was just ... missing you."

"Bull shit." He muttered, leaning against a fence post and looking up at the sky.

Bulma sighed, was she really that easy to see through? Even on the phone... "Are at a party?"

"Yeah."

She nodded, trailing her fingers over her midriff lightly, "I haven't seen you in two months Vegeta, I haven't talked to you in over a week."

He rolled his eyes, "If you missed me that much then why didn't you just fly your ass down here?"

Bulma closed her eyes, "I want to be closer to you, Vegeta. I can't stand this separation."

"Separation? We're not separated woman. Besides, what happened to all that 'we'll make this work' shit you preached before you left?"

Bulma listened to his tone and decided that he had probably had a few too many beers tonight. "Well, we're obviously not making this work."

"Then what do you want to do? Break up woman? Hm. Would that get you off my back?"

Bulma flinched slightly and sighed, "Am I really bothering you Vegeta? Hm? If I really don't mean anything to you anymore then go ahead, break my heart."

He rolled his eyes, "Oh, it's me that doesn't do anything? Hm. Woman, who flew down to see whom? I don't think you've come to a single one of my games, I don't think you've made an effort to--"

"Vegeta." She sobbed, "I need to tell you something."

"Are you cheating? Do you know what. That doesn't matter. We've been apart for so fucking long I wouldn't blame you."

"No. It's not that wait. Are you cheating on me?"

"Woman. Stop calling me."

She fumed, "Fine. I don't want to talk to you again Vegeta. I don't ever want to see you again."

Vegeta rolled his eyes, "So that's it? This is over. You're releasing me..." he let out a bitter, low laugh, "I'm free then, woman?"

"Yes, Vegeta." She spat, "You're free."

He shut his phone as he heard her hang up, he rubbed the brim of his nose and started for his car, wondering what the hell had just happened.

Bulma sat the phone down and sobbed into her desk. Did they just fight about nothing? Did they just break up? No. They hadn't broken up. She threw her Physics book to the floor of her dorm room and got up.

Vegeta was right. She wasn't making an effort to see him at all. She decided then, packing a light suitcase and applying finishing touches of makeup in front of the full length mirror that she would fly down and apologize to him. In person.

She smiled, he had a game tomorrow night anyway so she would see it, apologize, and then she would tell him what she had been trying to tell him on the phone in the first place.

"And so..." Bulma said with a sigh, "Technically, he didn't cheat."

Vegeta rolled his eyes and Bulma frowned, "But he did move on the day after we broke up."

Krillin frowned, the mood suddenly becoming awkward, "So then," he said timidly, "you went to Vegeta's game, found him with someone else, and left?"

"Yeah." Bulma breathed, "pretty much."

"Excuse me." A woman in her mid-forties interrupt politely, causing the three to turn their heads in her direction. She smiled, and motioned to the tray she was pushing, "Would you like a drink?"

Vegeta asked for a beer, Bulma ordered a coke, and Krillin told her that he was fine.

Bulma sighed as she turned her attention back down to the clouds and smiled at the thought of being back in Tulsa. She would get to see Launch and Marron and Yamcha and Tien, meet everyone's new boyfriend and girlfriend. Catch up. Watch ChiChi get married. And spend some time with her son.

At the thought of Trunks she tilted her head in Vegeta's direction and watched as he pulled out a laptop from his briefcase and begin to work on stock figures.

She sighed as she leaned her head against the window and decided that she would have to tell him soon. But for now, she would get some sleep.

Wow! I have the most amazing reviewers in the entire world! Seriously!

Everyone who reviewed I ... gosh, I appreciate it soooo much!

Okay, I know that the wait on this chapter was ridiculously long, but I promise that I won't make you wait so long next time...

And everyone who volunteered to beta for me ... THANK YOU! Really! But, as you can see, I went ahead and posted this chapter not proofread. I just couldn't let this chapter be posted any later...

But once again... Thanks to all of my reviewers... I seriously love you guys sooo much. And I hope to hear from all of you again!

Thanks! ... and hey, IM me guys -- BrandNewRain

I would like to talk to some of you ... comments, suggestions, just to say hey, or... haha -- anything.

Alright... until next time...

-Crimson