This chapter has been edited 12/8/14
:*: Birthday Boy :*:
Tokyo had a very good team and made worthy opponents for Orange Star's fierce squad. As the center position, it was Pan's job to fight off her opponents and hurl the ball into the goal to score a point. Growing up with boys whom had a passion for fighting and picking on her, she developed coordination skills early and has accelerated since then immensely. Basketball, Soccer, track, aquatic sports, she played them all and played them well. The speed and power of her throws and her strengthened ability to tread water made her a gifted waterpolo athlete.
In the first period of the game, one of her goal-scoring throws were hindered as the center player of Tokyo's team kicked her in the side. Pan couldn't tell if it was intentional, but the devious expression on the player's face confirmed her suspicion. Obviously winded by the blow, her coach called a time out to give her two minutes to recuperate. The referee called a misconduct foul but Pan pleaded for the girl to continue playing. She was good competition and the kick was purely by 'accident' as Pan put it.
The game went on for another half hour and finally ended as the fourth period was up. Once the end buzzer rang, the crowd jumped to their feet in applause and rejoiced at the resulting scores: Eighteen to nine with Orange Star emerging as the victor. Pan and her team screamed in excitement while swimming towards each other to form a giant hugging circle in the pool. Many of the girls had scratches or shiners due to the usual brutality of the game, but the joy of victory surpassed any pain they felt. After their celebration in the pool, the team posed for newspaper and yearbook photos, then were congratulated by spectators pouring down from the bleachers.
"Pan, you were awesome!" Bra raved, jumping up and down.
"Oh honey, I'm so proud of you!" Her mother squuezed her tightly, not caring that she was still wet.
Gohan ruffled her damp hair with his palm. "Good job. I would give you a hug, but-" He pointed to his clothes, signaling that he didn't want to get them wet.
"I know dad." She laughed and gave him a tight hug anyway, leaving a giant wet spot on his white shirt.
The family's laughter was interrupted as the coach called everyone into the locker room.
"Bye Pan. Call me tomorrow and I'll treat you to lunch." Bra gave her a final hug and followed closely behind Gohan and Videl.
Inside the locker room, the girls pulled their white windbreakers over their swimsuits and sat on the three benches provided in the small area. Pan sat in the front row and, as usual, everybody crowded around her. Adachi had once teased that Pan was a natural human magnet.
Coach Shima entered the room with tears in her eyes and held up the large golden trophy they had won once again. The girls clapped and cheered in excitement. "Well, what can I say? You girls are champions, once again. You were literally pushed and beaten to get to this point and it's finally here. First game of the season, we learned that Mao can take a ball to the face. At our third game, Adachi gets herself tangled in the goalie's net." The room stormed with laughter as they recalled the several injuries and mess-ups that season. "And who could forget the time Pan slipped into the pool while carrying the teams snacks?" Pan hid her face in embarrassment but she too laughed at herself. "But all good things must come to an end, right? Now," She cleared her throat as her voice began to crack. "there are a few girls who won't be with us next year. I just want you to know that this team and I will miss you dearly, and I would like to thank you so much for the contribution you have lent to our school. As a custom of mine, I would usually hand out medals to the seniors. But this year, I'm going to do things a bit differently. Bring'em in!"
The girls waited anxiously for what Coach Shima had up her sleeve. Three men walked into the room, also clad in white windbreakers sporting Orange Star's male Waterpolo team, causing the girls to go into a frenzy.
"Idol!"
"Senri!"
"Wild!"
"Okay, okay calm down. Consider this as a gift from me." The coach laughed and asked the boys if they always had this effect on people. "I saw these fine young men in the audience and invited them to assist me in handing out the medals. So, Aido, would you like to do the honors?"
'Idol', Kain's flamboyant cousin, clasped his hands with joy. "Why, I would love to. The first senior that I would like to acknowledge is the beautiful Momo Adachi." The team cheered as Senri, the quiet and seemingly anhedonic male, put the medal over her head and lazily shook her hand. He and Kain took turns handing out the medals while Aido called them up with his melodic voice. After recognizing Hitomi and Mao, there was one senior left. "And finally, last but definitely not least, the powerful wonder woman of sports, Pan Son." Mao and Adachi elbowed her side as Kain picked up her medal, even though it was Senri's turn. The rest of the girls whistled and raved as he put it over her head and around her neck.
The coach wiped the tears of joy from her eyes and slowly calmed the girls down once again. "Seniors, you will all be on one bus to go to Sasinatti for the traditional senior dinner. Underclassmen, you will be on the other bus to go back to Satan City. The buses are almost ready, so gather your things and join the rest of the men's team in the parking lot."
Instead of heading to the buses, many of the girls took this opportunity to finally get their chance to talk to the three boys. Pan threw her duffle bag over her shoulder and leaned against the locker next to Adachi. The two made jokes at the girls thriving for the boys attention. Pan's eye wandered to Mao as she replayed the ball to the face incident for Kain and the group of girls around him. She and Adachi laughed as they heard him respond, "I've taken plenty of balls to the face myself." In the midst of their laughter, Adachi slapped her shoulder repeatedly, trying to get her attention.
"Shhh! He's coming over!" She whispered loudly.
"What's so funny?" He asked, staring at Pan who was stifling her laughter with her palm.
"Exactly how many balls have you taken to the face?" Kain smirked as they got the laughter out of their system.
"Are you eavesdropping on my conversations?"
"Sorry, I couldn't help it."
"I'll leave you two alone. Pan, I'll save you a seat on the bus." Adachi patted the two on the shoulder and ran to catch up to Mao and Senri as they headed out the door.
"We should probably get going too. Those bus drivers can get pretty cranky at night."
Pan nodded in agreement. The two stuffed their hands in the pockets of their windbreaker jackets as they entered the night air. He was always so cool; the way he moved, his mannerisms, his soft, low voice. His motions were so light and seemingly effortless. She could feel her stomach tightening. She couldn't tell if it was from her admirable thoughts as she walked by his side, or if it was telling her to feed it.
"How's your side feeling?"
"Oh," She poked it with her finger and let out a small ouch. She had actually forgotten about it but the pain was starting to spread now. "It's starting to hurt again. How's your back? We saw the driver elbow you. I was surprised the referee didn't see it."
"It's fine. I was surprised that you let that girl play again."
"Oh. She was really good. If she had been sent out and we won, it would feel like we had an advantage." She heard him laugh under his breath and stared at him curiously. "Why are you laughing?"
He shook his head. "I've never met anyone like you. You're a really cool girl, Pan."
She couldn't fight the smile gracing her lips. "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself." They had finally approached the buses and looked through the windows of each one to find the senior bus. Adachi's tan skin and orange hair told them it was the first bus.
"Well it's about time Mr. and Mrs. MVP!" Mao teased as they entered. Pan took her seat next to her friend while Kain took his next to Senri. After the men's coach, Coach Camball, made a touching speech, the crew headed forth to the restaurant where they would engorge themselves into a well deserved meal. As the evening went on, the restaurant stormed with laughter and conversation amongst the twelve. Pan held to her right side once laughter struck because of the jolts of pain the area emitted. It must be starting to bruise. She thought. Once everyone completed their meals, they headed to the bathrooms to do their business then met outside.
Pan had some trouble in the bathroom because of her bathing suit sliding against her aching side, which caused her to be one of the last people out. Once she made it outside, she caught up to Adachi and Hitomi.
Adachi greeted her and dropped her head, staring at her palms.
"Is everything okay, Adachi?"
"Yeah... Um, Pan? Do you mind if I sit with Touji?" Adachi sighed in relief as Pan grinned at her.
"Of course I don't mind. You two have gotten pretty close huh?"
She nodded excitedly.
Once everybody made it outside, Mao was pinballing from person to person and whispering secretively. Pan wondered when her turn was but she never came to her. The bus doors swung open and the students piled on, except for Pan who was being pulled back by Mao. "Um, Mao?"
"Pan, it's rude to cut in front of others." She winked at her with that dubious attitude of hers. The two girls got on last and found their seats, well except for Pan. "Psssst. Pan, sit behind me." Mao pointed behind her. She was about to take her advice until she noticed Kain was also seated there. She hesitated. There were plenty of empty seats for her to sit alone, and she was about to go to one until Mao appeared behind her and forced her into the seat. "Kain, you don't mind if Pan sits here, do you?" Her devilish smile was replaced with that of a five year old's innocence.
He pulled the earphones from his ears and turned his attention away from the window, responding with a shrug. "Na, I don't care."
"I know this is a co-ed bus, so keep it PG!" Coach Shima called from the front as the lighting of the bus dimmed for departure.
It wasn't long before Pan and Kain began to converse about upcoming sports and their plans after graduation. After a half hour, Kain was asleep, and she noticed everybody else had done the same. Waterpolo can have an exhausting impact on the body, and now she began to feel tired herself. She closed her eyes and tried to relax her mind, but the thought of a certain someone's birthday kept clawing at her.
She didn't like the fact that she was missing the celebration of him turning nineteen. Or maybe it was because he was turning nineteen without her, and probably wasn't phased by her absence. The bus plopping over a pothole brought her mind back to the present. The low hum of the traveling vehicle, the whispering voices, the lowered volume of the driver's radio, they soothed her mind and carried her to sleep, resting her head onto Kain's shoulder.
"Shhh! He's coming!" Marron and the sixty three guests stood shoulder to shoulder in the well-sized room waiting for the door to open. It was a couple minutes past nine and everyone was anxious for the birthday boy's arrival. The party was being held at Trunks' friend Trey's house. The two story bachelor pad sat on a large property surrounded by country greenery and a small public lake just in the back.
Marron stood in front of the crowd along with Trunks' best friends from college; Trey, Brody, Tawni, and Goten. She scoffed as nearly every girl in the house dressed their sluttiest in hopes of winning Trunks' heart over. Apparently she was the only one here who knew he didn't go for girls like that. But that didn't stop her from showing some cleavage and leg in her small denim shorts and midriff-bearing vest, just for that special appeal.
The guests volume hushed when footsteps were heard on the front porch, then a turn of the knob. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Trunks entered the house, stopping in his tracks at the sight of all the guests. "Surprised?" Goten threw an arm over his shoulder and led him through the crowd.
"Actually, all the cars parked out front kind of gave it away." The two met up with their friends from Reitaku University and started the night with their usual party beverages.
"Hi birthday boy!" Marron approached him with open arms and gave him a hug.
"Hi Marron, did you ride a horse here or what?" He joked, noticing the vest. He used one arm to pull her in for another hug to let her know he was kidding. A rapidly approaching crowd of girls began swamping around the man of the evening. Marron left his side to give him time with his colleagues and hung out with Goten and his crowd instead. She felt her heart rate increase as she realized that tonight just might be her chance to finally be with Trunks. Alone.
After an hour or so, the party was in full swing. There wasn't a sober soul in sight. Marron approached the circle of people in the back yard, spotting his lavender hair from the porch. She strode to his side, just in time to catch a shot as Trey passed them around.
"Aren't you cold?" Trunks turned his attention to her, ending his reminiscing conversations with the people beside him.
She shrugged. "Just a little. How's it feel to be nineteen?"
"Same as usual." He gestured his head to the right, motioning for them to step away for some privacy. They strolled to the edge of the property and leaned on the railing to overlook the lake. "Is my sister or Pan coming?"
She rolled her eyes at his choice of words for the beginning of their alone time. Marron knew he didn't care if his sister was coming, he really wanted to know about Pan. "No, they're not." She watched the disappointment settle in his eyes. "Trunks, I think it's time for you to let her go."
He looked at her strangely. "What're you talking about?"
Her eyes rolled once more. "I know you still like Pan. And if she didn't want to be with you last year, why would she suddenly want to be with you now?" She didn't mean to be harsh about it, but she hated the fact that Trunks was still waiting for her. "I'm not saying this out of jealousy or anger. I like you, Trunks. I have never felt such a powerful connection to somebody. I know you didn't like me back then, that's why I introduced you to Ami."
Trunks recalled about a year ago, Marron caught him alone and made him admit his feelings towards Pan. The way he looked at her... It killed Marron to see the emotion in his eyes and Pan ignoring it. He remembered her words precisely: She doesn't feel like that towards you. She wants nothing more than a friendship with you. Give up, Trunks. She's not even acknowledging the obvious attraction you have towards her. Let her go.
Shortly after, Marron had confessed her feelings to him, only to be turned down in the nicest way he could manage. She then talked him into dating her friend, Ami. I understand that you're still hung up on Pan and don't want to date me because it's too soon, but you should have something casual. A distraction for your downtime. I have the perfect girl for you..
"Trunks, if it was meant to happen, it would have happened by now." She rested her hand on his arm in a comforting manner. "Please don't let this bother you. You don't deserve somebody who can't love you back. Trunks..." She smoothed her hand along his jawline, his eyes remaining downcast. The alcohol muted the sound around him and the touch of her hand as he dwelled on her words. It took him a minute to lift his head to face her. He absently stroked his fingers through her soft, blonde hair, his hazy mindset craving comfort.
She adjusted herself to face him, slightly stumbling as she hiccuped. She clasped her hands behind his neck, circling her fingers just below his hairline.
He wasn't thinking. His mind was off and his body was on as Jack Daniels took over. He enjoyed the touch of her hands on his neck, the warmth of her body growing closer as she leaned into him. He was hurt. Pan was perfect. Beautiful, funny, athletic, ate cockroaches, she was too good to be true.
But she didn't want to be with him.
His body didn't fight off the beautiful blonde caressing him as the rejection darkened his mindset. He could now feel her warm, vodka-scented breath near him, then the soft brush of her tongue as she glided it along his lips. The kiss sealed as her lips pressed against his. His body reached for the rail, trapping her against it with both of his arms on either side of her, both hands gripping the rail. She balled the back of his shirt in her fists as she felt him feeding into the kiss, both of them hungry for more. She moaned in ecstasy as she felt him harden against her.
His hands never touched her, they remained on the rail as if subconsciously restraining himself. His lips trailed from her mouth, along her cheek, and to her earlobe. His eyes opened briefly to oversee the party raging on yards away from them. Marron's eyes opened as he suddenly broke their contact by straightening his posture. A flirtatious laugh sounded in her throat as she tried to get his attention back on her and away from whatever he was looking at behind her.
His hands dropped from the rail.
She gazed up at him confusingly, only to find his wide, frightened eyes fixated on something behind her. He mumbled something to himself but she couldn't hear it. She turned around to see what he was staring at, then felt her chest tighten as well. It can't be... Why is she here?