It was Wednesday morning at the hospital and they were releasing Todd. Marron and Bra were meeting up with Beth and James there. They were all going for Todd's release. When they got to his room, they could hear someone else inside.
Marron checked her phone. A text from James. "James and Beth are running late and can't make it." She pushed open the door.
Goten was sitting on the edge of the bed, talking with Todd.
"What is going on?" Marron demanded. "Why is he here?"
"Because I asked him to come."
"What? Why?" Bra asked, coming to stand by Todd.
"Because he found out who ordered that attack on me and apprehended them," Todd said, practically beaming.
"Who was it?" They asked together.
"It was Lady A, that gangster who has been robbing those stores downtown. Turns out she was actually very young, high school age, and she's been send to ALF." ALF was slang for the Alternative Learning Facility, the place for kids who did badly in public schools like Orange Star.
"Wow. Anyone we know?" Marron asked, looked Goten up and down as if deciding to change her mind about him.
"Nope," Todd said, winking quickly at Goten.
"Alright, time to get you home." Goten said, helping Todd up. "I was going to take him, if that's alright with you."
"We were going to take him too," Marron said, shouldering his other arm.
"Yeah, Marron why don't you take me," Todd said.
"I'll come too," Bra said hurriedly, trying to follow them out.
"No, Bra, will you do me a favor? And Goten, you too?" Todd asked. "I need my stuff taken to my house. Could you guys get it for me?"
"Of course," Bra said nodding and Marron helped Todd out the door.
Bra didn't say anything but started taking down get-well cards off the walls. Goten was popping balloons when he stopped.
"I still didn't redeem myself to you did I? Not even when I helped out your friend."
"You didn't do it for him, did you? You did it because you can," she said crossly, stuffing the cards in a bag with the stuffed animals.
"You're wrong. I came here to ask him why he thought I would do such a thing but we talked. Then, I accidentally stumbled on Am - I mean - Lady A yesterday and I couldn't just let her get away. She happened to mention something about beating up kids at Orange Star."
"You accidentally stumbled on Lady A?" She asked skeptically.
"Well, I was looking for Amy but I found someone else instead."
"Oh yes, dear Amy," Bra chided. Goten looked away.
"We broke up." Bra looked up quickly. Goten was serious.
"I…I didn't know," she said in her defense.
"That's why I was looking for her. I was breaking up with her. I don't think I really ever knew her." Bra said nothing. "She's transferring schools. I found out last night. Bad timing, I guess."
Bra finished packing all of Todd's things up and put the bag over her shoulder.
"Well, I should really get these things to Todd," she said, walking out the door.
"Bra, wait," Goten said, coming into the hallway after her. "Let me give you a ride. Todd asked me to come over too."
"I can fly." He stepped in front of her.
"I know you can fly but I am asking you for a second chance."
"How about we deal? I'll accept a ride if you leave me alone from now on."
"No deal. Tell me what I can do to earn a second chance."
"Prove to me you aren't really the asshole I think you are," Bra said, her chin raised in defiance.
"Well, then if I am going to prove that you, I'll have to start hanging out with you regularly," he said with a grin.
"Oh get lost," she said, sidestepping him but he was too fast, he grabbed her arm and spun her around but she was ready for him. She stepped very close to him, her eyes narrowed in fury.
"You know, I used to pray that you would die in one of those tournaments and that no ambulances could be spared at that moment. I prayed you would bleed and bleed until you had no blood left. If you touch me again, I'll make sure that becomes a reality." She shook him off and walked to the elevator landing, where he caught up with her.
"Look Bra, I've tried to make things better between us!" He said exasperated. "What else do you want?"
"I want you to get off your high horse! Just because you're strong doesn't mean you can get whatever you want whenever you want it."
"I don't know why you don't think I know that!"
"You've dated the prettiest girl in school, you wear the best clothes, that convertible of yours, your Saiyan strength-"
"When have I ever bragged about being strong?" He asked bewildered. When she didn't reply, he continued swiftly. "Never. Don't you think if I wanted to brag, I would be quarterback for the football team? But I'm not, I play back up and I warm the bench. That's not exactly fair is it? I'm half Saiyan but it wouldn't be fair if I used all my power either so I do my share, alright? And my convertible was a present. Gohan got it for me. He and Videl saved up especially because Gohan wanted a car when he turned sixteen but my mom couldn't afford it. And I work to get these clothes and why on earth do you care so much that I dated Amy?"
"Never mind," she said huffily as the elevator opened. He followed her in.
"No, I won't 'never mind' Bra. What the hell is your problem?"
"You are, don't you get it? Just leave me alone."
"No," he said, stepping up to her. "No, I won't just leave you alone. Not anymore." He reached out his hand to touch her cheek but the elevator opened and she ran out, leaving him alone to ride to Todd's house.
That next week Bra planned her trips to Todd's with extreme caution. He was doing a lot better but he still needed some care. Tara would have had Bra stay all day on the weekends but she couldn't risk being caught there if Goten showed up, who was there almost as much as she was. He and Todd seemed to be getting on really well, not that Todd said anything. He seemed to be enjoying Goten's company and therefore scared to say anything that might make either one of them leave.
On Thursday afternoon, Bra was making dinner for Todd and Tara after school when Tara ran into the kitchen.
"Todd said you should know that Goten is coming over. He just texted him."
"Well, good thing I am just about finished then, huh?"
"You're leaving already?" Tara said, pouting. "But you haven't even been her for an hour!"
"Listen, I'll hang out with you all day Saturday. We'll go down to that park you really like and we'll hit the movies because that one you want to see is coming out. How does that sound?"
"Awesome! Get out of here!" She laughed, helping Bra put the dishes in the sink. "I'll do them."
Bra ran in and kissed Todd on the head. He smiled but refrained from saying anything. She was already gone by the time Goten pulled into the driveway.
He ran up the stairs to their front door and knocked. Someone yelled, "Come in." He came in to Todd and Tara eating.
"Join us," Todd said.
"Sure. Do you need anything before I sit down?" Goten asked, pulling a cup out of the cabinet and filling it with ice.
"Nope, I think we're good."
"Cool. What're we having?"
"Pesto penne, my favorite," Tara announced. Goten filled up his plate and took a bite.
"This is great! You made this?" He asked Tara.
"No, Bra did but she left a little while ago."
"Ah…I see." He put his fork down. "I won't come over anymore if it's going to be like this. I don't mean to cause trouble. I really am just trying to help."
"Don't be ridiculous. Bra made her own choice. You did not force her to leave. If the two of you just iron out your differences once and for all, you could come over at the same time. Besides, I'll be good as new in just a few weeks and then I won't need all this looking after."
"I know I just…I've tried to make things right with her. She just won't hear it."
"You should try telling her you're sorry!" Tara said loudly with a mouthful of penne pasta.
"I did tell her I was sorry."
"Did you mean it?" Tara asked.
"Of course I did!" Goten said indignantly.
"Well, there's always tomorrow." Todd said, taking another bite.
"I guess."
But Goten didn't wait till tomorrow. After he had helped Todd clean up, he drove straight over to her house. Taking a deep breath he didn't think would help, he stepped up to the doorway and pushed the doorbell. He heard footsteps and the door opened.
"Oh hey Goten," said Trunks, a little confused.
"Hey, is Bra around?"
"Are you guys still working on that project?"
"Well, yeah but I just wanted to talk to her. Is that alright?"
"From what I hear, you're not a close friend of hers," Trunks said crossing his arms and blocking the doorway.
"I just want to talk to her." Goten looked sincere. Trunks nodded.
"Okay then. You can go try her room but she's always locked up in there. Good luck getting in," Trunks said, pointing. "Up the stairs, second door on your left."
"Thanks." He walked up the stairs and knocked on the second door. There was no answer.
"Bra, it's Goten." He sighed and leaned his back against the door. "Look, I know you probably don't want to hear anything from me right now but just hear me out." He slid down against the door. "I don't know how things got so messed up. We didn't communicate very well in middle school and it was never anything against you. I really did like Amy. And I didn't know you broke up with your boyfriend for me and anyways, that was forever ago. I'm just here because I really like Todd and you probably think I'm being an ass for hanging out with him so much but he's a really great guy. I'm actually mad at myself for not hanging around him sooner. And I'm going to keep hanging around him, whether you like it or not. And I don't care what you think about me or my convertible or my clothes or whatever because, well, I am who I am."
He stopped short. Could he really apologize to his enemy since the eighth grade? He thought about it for a second longer and decided he could.
"I'm guess I'm just sorry, for whatever happened between us as kids. And I just wanted to tell you that I never meant to hurt you." He sat there for a few minutes but there was no reply. He was thinking about getting up to go when the door opened and he tumbled backwards. He stood up slowly. They were face to face.
"There see? Not such an asshole," he said. She nodded, shuffling her foot. "So, are we cool?"
"I don't know if cool is the right word," Bra said slowly.
"Okay, so we still need some work, huh?"
"Yeah. But…. you have your second chance, so are you happy now?"
"Very."