Disclaimer: I don't own anything except Appura and Ima.
Chapter 4
Prom
Gohan lifted his head from the pillow as the phone rang. He really should get up but he was still exhausted from the six-hour training session he'd had with his dad the day before. He heard his mother pick up the phone and put his head back down. He was just about to doze off again when his bedroom door flew open and the phone was shoved in his face. "It's Videl," said Chi-Chi, "Get up, it's almost lunch time." He took the phone and watched as his mother storm off, clearly in the midst of cooking lunch. "Hello," Gohan croaked before coughing to clear his throat, "Hello?"
"Gohan! How are you doing?"
"Hey Videl, I'm ok, though I took a right beating off my dad yesterday during training," said Gohan, wiping his eyes.
"Ok, look, the reason I'm calling is Erasa called this morning and the prom committee wants to know who you've got to play at the Prom and how much it's going to cost." Gohan nearly dropped the phone. He'd completely forgotten about that! He'd volunteered to find a band to perform at prom before New Year and had then completely forgotten about it! "Err," he said, racking his brain. There was no hope of booking a band two weeks before prom. Then Appura popped into his mind. "I'm onto something, just waiting to confirm the final details and I'll call you back," he said quickly, "I'll call you back in a bit, ok?"
"Ok, Gohan, I was sure you'd have something but Erasa was convinced you'd forgotten!"
"Nah, I'm on it, talk to you later Videl," Gohan said as he sat up.
"Bye Gohan!" She hung up. Gohan hung up and then let out a yell. He got up and started getting dressed. The door opened and Goku poked his head in. "What was with the yelling?" he asked.
"Sorry, Dad, Videl just called and asked if I'd booked a band for Prom yet and I'd completely forgot," said Gohan as he pulled a t-shirt over his head, "I'll never get a band, but I do have an idea." He grabbed the phone from his bed and started putting in a number. The phone rang and rang, but no answer. "Dammit," said Gohan, ending the call. Goku shook his head and left. Gohan punched in another number. The phone rang for second.
"Hello, Briefs residence, Trunks speaking."
"Trunks! Hey buddy, is Appura there? She's not answering at home," said Gohan calmly. He didn't need an angry phone call from Bulma because Trunks had started bouncing off the walls.
"No, she's in the studio today," replied Trunks.
"Oh, do you know the number, I really need to talk to her," said Gohan.
"Hang on a second," Gohan heard Trunks put the phone on a table or something, "DAD! DAD! Do you have the number for the studio? Gohan wants to talk to Appura!" Gohan couldn't hear Vegeta's reply clearly but it sounded distinctly like 'Ask your mother'. 'Great parenting there, Vegeta,' Gohan thought, 'Pass it all on to Bulma.' There was some more yelling and Gohan heard Trunks pick the phone back up. "Ok, Gohan, the number is..." Trunks reeled off some numbers and Gohan had to memorise them because he didn't have a pen. "Ok, thanks Trunks. I'll see you soon, buddy," said Gohan.
"Oh, yay! Bring Goten with you! I've got this new video game and..."
"Trunks, I have to go, ok?"
"Ok, see you soon Gohan!" Gohan hung up and quickly dialled the new number before he forgot it.
"Hello, West City Records," trailed a dull voice.
"Err, hi, I need to speak to Apple Vee," said Gohan, mentally slapping himself straight away for using her stage name. She must get hundreds of fans calling, asking for her that name.
"Sorry, Apple Vee doesn't take calls from fans," replied the dull voice.
"Look, I'm not a fan, I'm a friend of hers," said Gohan.
"Yeah, right."
"Look, can you just tell her that Son Gohan is on the phone? It's urgent," said Gohan desperately.
"Fine, please hold." Gohan heard cheesy elevator music playing. He sat down and took a deep breath. A minute later the music stopped. "Gohan?" came Appura's voice.
"Oh thank Kami!" said Gohan, "Appura, I need your help. I messed up really bad! I was supposed to book a band for my school's prom in two weeks and I forgot!"
"W...W...What do you need me for?"
"Appura, please, will you perform at my prom," he said, "It won't be for the whole night! We've got a DJ covering most of it, but we need a live performer." Appura was silent.
"Ok I'll do it for free, but you owe me big for this."
"Thank you, Appura," said Gohan, "You're an angel!"
"I'm your princess, I'm supposed to take care of my subjects," replied Appura.
"Thank you, you've saved my skin," he said, "Aliens and evil androids I can handle, but I don't know if I could deal with Videl and Erasa when they're mad."
"See you s...soon, Gohan," said Appura, laughing.
"See you soon, Appura," said Gohan and he hung up.
"Done racking up the phone bill yet?" asked Chi-Chi as she popped her head round the door, "Lunch is nearly ready."
"Just a minute, mom, I've got one more phone call to make," said Gohan as he started dialling Videl's number.
"Videl Satan," came a voice.
"Videl, it's Gohan," said Gohan, "Great news, we've got Apple Vee playing at our prom! And she's doing it for free!"
"You forgot didn't you?"
"What?"
"I know you did because never in a million years would you have thought of asking Appura if you hadn't been in a bind! That and you didn't even know her when you were supposed to have booked the band!"
"Sorry, Videl."
"It's ok, Gohan. You did well. I won't tell anyone on the committee. See you around!"
"See you, Videl."
2 weeks later...
Goku fidgeted in his suit. He and Chi-Chi had been roped into chaperoning the Orange Star high school prom. Chi-Chi shot him a warning look. He settled down. Gohan was stood with them. Everyone was looking up at the large stage that had been set up in the gym. A large orange curtain was blocking it off from view. Gohan swallowed nervously. He'd never seen Appura actually perform live and now he was beginning to wonder if she was one of those singers who sounded great on their albums but sucked when they sang live. The curtain began to move, revealing Appura's live band and backing singers. Appura herself was stood with her back to the crowd. Gohan's eyes widened when he saw her dress. It was a little black dress with emphasis on the little. The skirt stopped maybe an inch or two below her butt. It was strapless and looked like it had a corset top. Gohan wondered where she was hiding her tail. She was wearing stiletto heels that looked like they weren't very comfortable. The crowd cheered a little. The backing singers singing a tune and a guitar started strumming. Appura lifted her right arm. Gohan saw that she held a microphone. She began to sing,
"Baby, can't you see? I'm calling,
A guy like you should wear a warning,
It's dangerous, I'm fallin'.
There's no escape, I can't wait,
I need a hit,
Baby, give me it,
You're dangerous, I'm lovin' it."
She turned around as the male backing singer sang his bit. She strode towards the front of the stage, swinging her hips a little. Gohan immediately left his parent's side and hurried into the crowd of students that was gathered in front of the stage. Gohan didn't really hear the rest of the words. He couldn't over the screaming of the crowd. Appura stopped singing and smiled to the crowd. She waved at them all.
"Ok, this next one is off my new album that's out in two months," she said, "I hope you enjoy it!" She fixed her mic into its stand. The band started playing.
"You're so hypnotizing
Could you be the devil? Could you be an angel?
Your touch magnetizing
Feels like I am floating, leaves my body glowing
They say be afraid
You're not like the others, futuristic lover
Different DNA
They don't understand you
You're from a whole other world
A different dimension
You open my eyes
And I'm ready to go, lead me into the light
Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Infect me with your love and
Fill me with your poison
Take me, ta-ta-take me
Wanna be a victim
Ready for abduction
Boy, you're an alien
Your touch so foreign
It's supernatural
Extraterrestrial
You're so supersonic
Wanna feel your powers, stun me with your lasers
Your kiss is cosmic
Every move is magic
You're from a whole other world
A different dimension
You open my eyes
And I'm ready to go, lead me into the light
Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Infect me with your love and
Fill me with your poison
Take me, ta-ta-take me
Wanna be a victim
Ready for abduction
Boy, you're an alien
Your touch so foreign
It's supernatural
Extraterrestrial
This is transcendental
On another level
Boy, you're my lucky star
I wanna walk on your wavelength
And be there when you vibrate
For you I'll risk it all
Kiss me, ki-ki-kiss me
Infect me with your love and
Fill me with your poison
Take me, ta-ta-take me
Wanna be a victim
Ready for abduction
Boy, you're an alien
Your touch so foreign
It's supernatural
Extraterrestrial, extraterrestrial, extraterrestrial
Boy, you're an alien
Your touch so foreign
It's supernatural
Extraterrestrial."
She pulled away from the mic. The crowd was going absolutely crazy. Appura smiled. As Apple Vee, she could be anything she wanted to be. "Thank you very much, I'll be back in a little while," she said. Gohan fought his way through the crowd and out the gym. He found the classroom that was being used as a backstage area. Appura was drinking some water and leaning against a desk. "Appura that was amazing!" he said, "You were so...so..." He couldn't think of a word so he opted for a different tact. "Does your dad know you've come dressed like that?" he asked, indicating the dress. Appura blushed a little and looked down. "Err, no," she said, "He'd be d...d...dragging me out of here k...k...kicking and screaming if he knew. Thankfully he doesn't listen to my...my music, or he'd flip out."
"Yeah, it's very..."
"Sexy," suggested Appura, smiling. Gohan suddenly became aware of the fact that they were alone.
"Y...yeah," it was his turn to stutter. Appura stood up straight. She couldn't help remembering her dream about him. She wondered if he actually looked like he did in her dream, a rock solid body of pure muscle but with the softest of touches. She started walking towards him. "So who's your date?" she asked.
"Err, I don't have a date," he said as she got closer. She was very close now. She reached out and straightened his lapel. "You're on your own?" she whispered. Gohan took a deep breath. She smelt good again, almost as good as she had at Marron's party. He lifted his hand to stroke her hair. It was soft and silky. He started to lean in. The door opened. "Hey guys, you're missing a great party," called Goku's voice. He saw the two fly apart and look away from each other. "I'm gonna go t...talk to Videl," said Appura. She slipped past the two Son men and disappeared. Goku waited til she was gone before turning to his red-faced son. "You have a crush on Appura!" he said, pointing a finger at his son.
"Dad! Shut up!" said Gohan through clenched teeth.
"Aw, I'm so proud of you, son, after nothing came of you and Videl, I'd almost given up on you," said Goku, pulling Gohan into a one-armed hug, "Hey, imagine what it would be like to have the Prince of all Saiyans as your father-in-law."
"Dad, cut it out, I could never get a girl like Appura," said Gohan, pulling away from his dad, "She's a superstar AND a princess, she's gonna get some rich, handsome guy who Vegeta loves."
"He's never gonna love any guy she brings home," said Goku, "But I'm willing to bet if she took you home, he'd at least like you."
"Dad, just leave it, and don't tell Vegeta about what almost happened," said Gohan as his dad put an arm around his shoulders and led him out of the classroom.
"It'll be our little secret!" said Goku, cheerfully.
"Dad, you've never kept a secret in your life," said Gohan.
Gohan dropped down at the table. Erasa and Sharpner were sat next to each other. Videl was sat with her date, a guy almost the same size as Gohan named Derik who she'd met at her father's gym. There was an empty seat next to Gohan. "What's the matter, nerd?" said Derik, "No date?"
"Derik, leave Gohan alone," said Videl.
"Yeah, Gohan's destined for great things, he's the smartest kid in our class," said Erasa, "He'll get all the girls when he's rich and famous."
"Dork!" spat Derik, wobbling a little in his seat. Gohan sniffed the air. Booze, he could smell it on Derik. Great, not only had Videl brought an asshole to prom, she'd brought a drunk as well. "Whatever," said Derik, "Not worth my time. I don't know what you ever saw in him, Videl, he's a stupid nerd! A pathetic little weakling!" Gohan stood up, knocking his chair over. Derik staggered to his feet as well. Gohan's fist clenched. He was distracted by the feeling of an arm circling round his neck, a hand grasping his clenched fist and kiss being pecked on his cheek. "Gohan, babe, there you are, sorry I got held up talking to fans," said a voice. Gohan blinked. Appura was stood next to him, leaning against him, smiling up at him. He looked back towards Derik. Goku had his arms under Derik's and was dragging him outside. When Goku had successfully dragged the jerk outside, Appura pulled away. Gohan instantly wished she had stayed there. "That's two you owe me," she said, grinning.
"Thanks, Appura," said Gohan, "Why don't you stay and eat with us? Derik's meal looks like it's going to waste." Appura thought about it for a second.
"Ok," she said, "I'll stay, that can be one of those you owe me." Gohan smiled and pulled a chair out for her. Could this count as a date?
A/N: Songs used are 'Toxic' by Britney Spears and 'E.T.' by Katy Perry.