A/N: Kind of fluffy, but not really. I'm enjoying the light before the inevitable darkness.

Disclaimer: I do not own Dragon Ball Z or anything affiliated with it.

-MalRev

DEEP - SIX

7 - How To Start Your Job

All things considered, my first week of college went by without a hitch. It was a pleasant surprise in light of everything that had occurred but I went to my classes like a dutiful student and didn't have the chance to run into Goku again. It surprised and kind of disappointed me, but I kept reminding myself that I was going to college to get an education, not chase boys. Besides, he was probably busy running away from Chi-Chi or practicing martial arts.

Bulma appeared at my dorm Friday evening with Owen to drag me down to the library, where the gang had gathered to discuss my tutee's love life. I glared furiously at my brother along the way and he only smiled weakly at me, shuffling along while Bulma insisted they needed my help in an intervention. It felt like something had died in Owen but I couldn't quite place it. He'd become reclusive and avoided me at all costs no matter how many times I apologized for the issues with Raditz.

We arrived in the library and I winced at the sight of everyone congregated together. Oh no. They called me in to do their dirty work, which I definitely wasn't interested in after my little encounter with Goku Wednesday night. I hadn't told a soul about it; not even the girls back home. It felt like a secret and it was honestly too embarrassing to reveal. It would fade away on its own.

Krillin and Anayte were reading a textbook for a history class, completely uninvolved in the conversation and sitting together on a small couch. Tien was sitting alone but beside Yamcha and he looked a bit upset. Of course, Yamcha was pretending to be serious as Bulma pushed me in the couch across from him and plopped between my brother and I. They were all absolutely insane.

"I have to work tomorrow morning," I said. "I don't have time for this nonsense."

"Sure you do!" Bulma said. "We all have to help out a friend in need."

Yamcha nodded sagely. "Yes, we certainly do. Now, Krillin has so far done his part and helped Goku evade Chi-Chi whenever possible. Bulma has hovered around Goku more often to help with that, so things are looking pretty good. What have you done so far, Ellie?"

"Jack shit. I barely know him."

Bulma laughed and elbowed me teasingly in the ribs. "C'mon, you have to take care of your student."

There was something… off. It hummed throughout the group but I could pin it between Bulma and Owen—both of them were awkward amongst the others, who were clearly joking. Why were they pushing me to help Goku? I'd met him only a few days ago, and it wasn't like we had much in common. The only tangible emotion I had was when I looked into his eyes Monday afternoon. That wasn't enough to inspire me to compete with another girl for his affection.

They all resumed talking but I noticed Tien seemed morose and more distant than normal. Launch had been absent from our first biology lab and I began to wonder…

A pen tapped me on the forehead to get my attention and I irately ripped it away from Yamcha to throw it back in his face. Bulma burst out laughing and it seemed like the buzz was getting louder. It was her. I couldn't explain it; I couldn't pin exactly why, but Bulma was beginning to make me suspicious.

Yamcha scowled, massaging his wound. "Before you blanked out, Bulma and I were saying you should see what Goku's up to right now. We lost track of him a while ago."

"I can't chase him around all night," I said. "If you're so worried about it, you do it."

"Aw, it's only for a little while." Bulma grabbed my arm dramatically and pouted her lower lip. "Pleaseee, Ellie? We could really use your help. Goku seems to like you an awful lot and—"

"SHUT UP!"

The mild babble in the library was suddenly cut to silence by Owen's furious shout. I stared at him in shock: he was flushed red like he was angry beyond belief, and the tendons in his neck were sticking out. He clenched his hands into fists and rose quickly from the couch. That was when I noticed how profusely he was sweating, like he had just run a marathon.

Bulma sat up slowly, gently releasing me. There was a small smile on her face that felt dangerous. Even Yamcha drew back a little at the sight of her expression and my brother swallowed hard.

"I'm only teasing her, Owen," Bulma said. "Are you still feeling sick?"

Owen glanced at me and I saw fear flit across his features. He gnashed his teeth together and left the library in the next moment, not bothering to offer an explanation. I watched the door slam and the front desk attendants murmur amongst themselves about how angry he looked. That wasn't my brother.

I started to stand, shaken by what I had seen. "Maybe I should go check on him."

"Don't be silly. He's just throwing a hissy fit because his little sister is growing up."

Bulma yanked me back down and gestured for Yamcha to continue giving us suggestions. She looked pleased with herself and soon returned to asking about Goku's tutoring.

After I was released from the library session I hurried to Owen's dorm, hoping I could catch him before he went out with a pretty girl or something. I knocked on his door for a few minutes and called his phone a few times to get him to answer me but he was dead silent. I stood back from his door, holding my books tightly to my chest. Owen, what have you gotten yourself mixed up in now?

I took a shower and got ready for bed, fully intending on telling my parents about what was going on. But when I lay down in my soft sheets and prepared to break it to my mother gently that her son was most definitely not doing well, I received a message that brought tears to my eyes.

Please don't tell

Love you

So I fell asleep that night with a bundle of nerves in my gut, shivering nervously in regards to a thousand different things. My new job started in the morning. Something was wrong with my brother and he wouldn't tell me. Bulma was giving me the creeps. Goku was a complete and utter mystery who I was completely and utterly intrigued by.

The first day of work started fairly well—the pharmacist, Andy, was an older man who was more than happy to brush me up on the basics. I was only allowed to cash customers out until I obtained my license, which I could do after a simple test in a few weeks. West City was a nice place so none of them were particularly rude or difficult, and before I knew it the day was nearly over. I was pretty pleased and helped Andy out whenever I could with cleaning or organization.

Around three, when I was busy wiping down the counters, I became aware of a person standing directly in front of me. I immediately straightened up and smiled up at them only to instantly frown.

Goku was wearing dark jeans and an equally dark t-shirt that made him look a bit delinquent. He had his hands in his pockets, totally at ease, and he was smiling mockingly at me. I placed my palms on the counter and leaned toward him, twisting my polite smile into something much more foreboding.

"Can I help you, sir?" I asked.

Andy was a ways away, taking inventory of the pills amongst the shelves. He didn't so much as glance up when Goku placed his hands on the counter as well and tilted his lips close to my ear. His breath was warm and smelled vaguely of peppermint—it was hard to keep my breathing steady. If another customer saw us they would think they'd walked in on something very private.

"Could you show me where you keep your condoms?" he murmured.

Nope. I wasn't going to let him intimidate me with something so childish.

I drew back and let Andy know I was helping a customer find a product, to which the pharmacist only nodded and smiled. Goku followed me across a few aisles to the feminine care section, where everything regarding sex or a girl's lady parts was kept. He stood behind me and started when I whirled around to thrust a box of regular condoms against his chest.

"Is that all?" I asked.

"I'm getting the distinct feeling that you're upset, Ellie." Goku reached past me to put the condoms back and squinted at the selection, cool as a cucumber. "Don't tell me you're still mad about Wednesday night. I really was trying to get away from… uh… you know who."

"Of course I'm not mad about that. I'm mad because you stalked me to my new job to try to embarrass me in front of my boss!"

Goku picked up a different box but I was too mortified to look. "This is the closest pharmacy to my apartment. I'm not stalking you at all, but I'm kinda flattered you think I am."

I gnawed on my lip. "Whatever. Get your stuff and get out."

"What time are you off work?"

"What's it to you?"

"Gee, you're really aggressive today," he said with a childish grin. "Raditz is having a party later and I wanted you to come down with me. He usually invites a lot of people I don't like and I already hate get-togethers. Bulma and Vegeta are gonna be there, too."

"I'm… not exactly the part type," I replied.

"Me neither! So why don't you come with me? Wouldn't it be nice to get out?"

Admittedly, socializing with more people was a good idea. It was stressful meeting so many new faces in a short period of time but contacts were king in the current world, and I needed plenty of them. I set to chewing my nails and my eyes roamed to the box of condoms dangling from Goku's fingertips. It was black with a gold border and I narrowed my eyes when I read the big letters on the front.

"Why the hell are you buying that kind?!" I hissed. I ripped them out of his grasp and shook the box angrily. "These are so gross! They're made from lambskin. Do you know what they mean by lambskin? Sheep intestines! You using a dead sheep's intestines for your… your… private business!"

Goku was enjoying himself a bit too much. He cocked his head and smirked, glancing between the box and my furious expression. "So? They feel better than the other ones."

"And they don't protect against STDs, either! You could get HIV, you know!"

"Well I don't go using these ones willy-nilly because they're more expensive and because of the whole STD thing. They're for girls I know well."

I folded my arms, cursing my creeping blush. "Okay, whatever. I'm just saying, it's pretty messed up that you're using a dead sheep's intestine instead of rubber like everyone else. It can't feel that bad to use the normal ones if so many people do every day. You're just picky."

"You're obviously a virgin, so I'll let that one slide." Goku's eyes raked down my rather unappealing work outfit and he raised an eyebrow. "But if you ever want to find out how they feel—"

"Ellie?" called Andy, interrupting Goku. "Is everything alright?"

"Fine!" I replied. "He was just a little lost. Be right back!" I poked my index finger into Goku's chest—damn, it felt like a piece of rock—and glared up at him. "You've had your fun tormenting me. It's time to pay for your sheep guts and go back home."

Andy smiled when I returned and went back to checking prescriptions while I cashed Goku out. He didn't even want a bag to hide the damn things and simply tucked them under his arm when he took his change. He reminded me to text him and left without much fanfare into the brisk afternoon.