ME: Here's the fourth chapter. Hope ya' like it. Oh, and thanks, I try my best to do regular updates. And also, I'm not exactly sure if Dende can heal himself or not. Soooo, yeah, he can't in this story.
DISCLAIMER: Do I really have to say 'I don't own anything'?"
WARNINGS: Rated T for a reason. Also, those that don't like Dende/OC stories, please don't read this.
Dodge Drake
Just as Mana had instructed, Dende made sure to keep a distance between himself and her. And a good thing too, as the boy Speeka had been talking about the day before was hanging around Mana. In homeroom, Drake had switched his seat to seat on the other side of Mana. And, to Dende's annoyance, he kept on taking his pen and drawing little hearts on Mana's hand. The purple haired girl would just give a small smile, then go back to her work.
It was in the second last period of school that Drake corner the young Namek. The dark, spiky haired teen suddenly appeared next to Dende, and punched his shoulder. Dende rubbed the sore area and gazed at the boy's smug expression.
"So, you're the new kid, ain't ya? I saw you hanging out with my girlfriend yesterday. Do you know what happens to those that try to wiggle their way closer to my girl?" Drake took a menacing step towards Dende.
The kids that stood in the hallway, were now watching as Drake balled his fists. The teen had a cool, poisonous aura around him.
Drake caught the lapels of Dende's shirt, then smashed him into the lockers. The namek saw Mana push through the crowd and stop and watch. She caught his gaze and mouthed a silent apology.
"You know what? I'm gonna cut you some slack today. But if I see you even looking at my girl, you're dead. If I see you talking to my girl, you're dead. If you even think. . . Are you thinking about her?"
Dende swallowed as he was lifted off the ground, quietly, he said, "Well, you are talking about her."
Drake smirked, "Fine, kid, suit yourself."
His fist connected with Dende's mouth, and the green teenager fell to the floor. Drake stood over him, and made a move to kick him. Dende let out a cry as a foot was buried into his stomach. Two more boys, probably Drake's cronies, pulled Dende to his feet, and dragged him through the crowd. Dende could hear Mana shouting at Drake to stop, but Dende was dragged through a door. He opened his eyes painfully, he had been taken to the boys' room.
Horror dawned on him, as Drake pushed a cubicle door open and Dende was pushed inside. He was forced into a kneeling position over the bowl. Drake took a firm grip on Dende's head, then he hissed in his ear.
"Stay away from Mana. She's my girl, and always will be." With that, he slammed Dende's head into the toilet and one of his friends pulled down the handle.
Just then, the sound of a door being forced open and the sound of running feet was heard. The pressure on Dende's head was releases and he looked up to see Mana standing in the door, glaring angrily at Drake as he tried to wrap his arms around her. But she ducked under his arm and kicked his lower back.
"Dende? You OK?"
Mana knelt next to him. She took off her jersey and slung it around his shoulders.
She looked so serious and worried that Dende couldn't help but joke with her, "I'm OK. I'm not dead or anything. But, I never knew you were a boy, Mana."
Mana cocked her head to the side, confused, then realization dawned on her. She blushed darkly and slapped his cheek playfully.
It was then that they noticed that Drake and the other boys had left them. Mana made Dende sit on the closed toilet seat, she then dampened her jersey and went back to Dende. She wiped at his lip, and Dende felt a stinging sensation go through his mouth. He groaned and cringed away from the cloth.
Mana frowned, "Stop being such a baby, Green. It can't be that bad." She wiped away the rest of the blood from his mouth then stood back to admire her handiwork. She lightly touched Dende's bruised eye.
"You should've just said you'd stay away from me."
"Then I'd be lying." Dende's lip had already started swelling, and his talking was becoming harder to understand.
Mana smiled. She shook her head, linked her arm through his and walked together out the bathroom. There were still crowds of people who turned to stare at them.
The bell rang overhead for the last period of school, and the noise warned students to return to their classes. Mana looked at Dende, "You don't look so good."
Dende forced a painful smile, but warm, red liquid oozed from his split lip at the small gesture. Mana grinned back and led Dende to their next class.
"You're full of surprises, Dende," They entered the gym for PT, and Mana looked worried again. "You sure you wanna do this."
"Yeah." He caught sight of Drake smirking at him from the farther side of the gym. Mana glared, and turned back to Dende. "OK."
The coach divided them into teams. Dende grinned at Mana as she glanced behind her. Drake was one the opposite side of the large hall. As the whistle was blown, balls from the opposite team came flying.
Mana grinned at Speeka, Torch and Wade. And immediatly, they started doing dance routines. The girls' dodged most of the balls but in less than 15 minutes there was only Dende and Mana against five other oponnents. Drake grinned and yelled across at the purple haired girl,
"Sorry, babe, but I'm in this to win!" As he finished his statement, a dodgeball slammed into Mana's stomach. She reeled backwards, clutching her lower stomach. As she gasped for air, Dende growled. He caught a quick ball that was just about to smash into his head, and twirled it on one long, green finger.
"It's not gentlemanly to hit a girl." The Namek threw the ball hard and fast towards Drake. The grin on the boy's face disappeared as he slammed into the wall behind him. The other team glanced at one another, and, one by one, Dende shot them off with a ball.
The coach whistled for the end of the lesson, and Dende walked to where Mana was softly rubbing her stomach. She had lifted her shirt to just cover her bust, and a large blue/purple bruise was covering her smooth skin. Dende almost reached out and healed her, but he restrained himself and exaimed it.
"Ooh, that looks bad." He commented. Mana gave a shaky grin, "Not as bad as it looks."
As they walked out the school, Dende had offered to carry her bag, he thought.
He spoke up, "Mana. I can help with the pain. But you have to promise me you won't ask any questions and you have to do whatever I say."
Mana mulled over the proposition, then nodded. Dende led Mana around the side of the school, out of sight from others.
"Close your eyes." Dende instructed. Mana did as she was told. She felt Dende's hands cover her clothed stomach. A funny feeling went through her body and she forced herself to keep her eyes closed. A few seconds passed and she heard Dende's voice.
"You can open now." Mana's bright orbs opened. She felt for the bruise on her body, and was surprised when the body part didn't hurt.
"What did you. . ."
"Uh uh. I said 'no questions'." Dende wagged a finger in front of her face. Mana giggled and swatted his hand away.
She hesitated a moment, then threw her arms around the green teenager. Dende blushed purple, before wrapping his arms around her waist and returning the embrace.
"Thanks, Dende. You're the best."
Dende chuckled and released his grip on her.
"Hey, you're going to Speeka's party tomorrow aren't you? Her parent's are rich, so she's hired guard people to keep Drake out."
Dende nodded slowly, "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"
Mana smirked, her eyes gleaming, "No." She said simply.
Dende walked with Mana to her house. Her house was in one of the nicer neighborhoods, with large, elaborate houses. They came to a steel, twirly designed fate and Mana spoke into an intercom. She turned to face Dende, and tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"Thanks again, Green." Standing on tiptoe, Mana pecked Dende's cheek quickly, then whirled around and took off jogging up the long driveway.
Please rate and review! And for those that have never felt a dodgeball hit you in your stomach, it's very painful. . .