Bra woke up the next morning with painful headache over her left eye. Remembering why she felt so lousy, she got dressed and went down for breakfast. Her mother had already left for work but Trunks wasn't around either although he didn't work on Thursdays.

She ate quickly, feeling miserable on top of her headache, and drove to Marron's, like usual but when she got there she was quickly more annoyed then ever – Marron had taken her own car to school, even though it was Bra's day to drive. Feeling slightly pissed off, she almost skipped school completely but decided she should at least show up for homeroom. After homeroom, it was far easier to skip than not showing up at all. If you missed homeroom, you got a phone call home and Bra knew that after staying out later than she should have the night before, her mother was less likely to forgive her.

After three unbearable periods and her headache showing no signs of relenting, Bra slipped out in the hustle of the class change. The slamming lockers around her did not help.

Safe outside the schools perimeter, she headed to the hospital, where she hung out with Todd all day against his constant nagging about her skipping.

"Oh be quiet," she finally told him. "I'm caught up on all of my work. I'm actually going over to Goten's again tonight."

"How did the first meeting go? I mean, you guys didn't kill each other so that's a good sign."

"Yeah and then his brother asked me to babysit for his niece. Goten about had a heart attack."

"What? I didn't know Goten had a niece," Todd said, shocked at this. "It's weird thinking of him as normal when he acts like he's way better than everyone else."

"Yeah, his family is actually really nice. He's the one with the bad attitude.""

"I wonder if he's like that with his girlfriend. Maybe she's got bad attitude that rubs off on him," Todd suggested.

"Don't try and let her take the blame for him. He's an ass and he always has been."

"Oh yeah? What about middle school? Wasn't such an ass then was he?" Bra flushed. Goten and her had been very close in their sixth and seventh grade years. In their eighth grade year, Goten had completely stopped hanging out with her and started dating like a party boy.

"He was different then but he was still an ass," Bra said thinking back.

"You two were inseparable before...so you're going back over there tonight? How is the project coming? I mean, besides that you don't get along." Todd mumbled quickly.

"Goten is smarter than I thought he was. I mean, he had some great ideas. We're actually using one of his. I didn't think he would be able to pull his share but he's doing a good job," she admitted.

"Well, it's good that you're getting along. I was thinking this whole thing might turn out quite bad."

"Nope, just annoying as hell," she said smiling. Todd did not smile back.

"Hey listen," he said suddenly. "Marron and I were talking yesterday after you left and…well, we were wondering if you might ask Goten…well, if he knows anything about the guys who beat me up."

Bra looked up. Todd was very serious. This must have been what Marron was so touchy about – she didn't want to be the one to ask.

"Did you ask Marron not to say anything?" Todd looked away.

"Yeah, I did. How did you know?"

"She kind of exploded at me yesterday. I thought maybe it was because her and her mom had a fight but it was more than that. I thought something was up. She's been avoiding me."

"Are you serious?" Todd looked stricken. "I didn't mean to mess the two of you up! I was just going to ask you in my own time. I wasn't even sure I was going to. I'm sorry."

"Don't be! It's just that Marron is-"

"Really bad at keeping secrets," they said together.

"Yeah well listen," Bra said, somewhat ashamed of what she was about to say. "I hate Goten as much as anyone, you know that but you're right; I did know him well when we were young and I'll tell you right now, Goten would never hire people to hurt you. He doesn't get off hurting other people." Todd raised his eyebrows. "Physically, I mean. He might be a showoff and a jerk but if he wanted to beat you up, he would have just done it himself. He's really strong."

"Really strong? He's on the football team, so what?" She wanted to tell Todd but she knew she couldn't. She wanted to say yeah, super Saiyan strong.

"No, I mean like World Tournament Junior Champion strong."

"Goten? No way."

"I'm serious."

"How do you know? If he was in the World Tournament then he would've been older than when you knew him."

"Well, he and Trunks used to train together. A long time ago, even before we were friends. Trunks was always stronger but he's also older. The three years Trunks was in the senior division Goten won the title."

"Wow, I had no idea."

"Yeah, so I know it wasn't him."

"Well, if you're certain, I believe you." Bra was certain but someone was still responsible for putting her friend in the hospital.

"I'll find out who did this. I promise."