. . .

CHAPTER 2

I lie on my twin sized bed and stare up at the ceiling. My room is small. I just have to stretch both of my arms out to the side to touch my walls. I have a window, a closet filled with my school uniform and everyday clothes, and a bed with a giant stuffed panda and cat I use as pillows. That's it.

I don't have a desk like most students. I just use the kitchen table to study. We own a small T.V which we keep propped up on a stack of old books Papa doesn't read anymore in the corner of the dining room close to the window.

The dining room is also the living room and kitchen combined. There isn't a wall separating the kitchen from the dining room, the counters basically act as a divider, leaving enough space to walk in and out of . A big change from our old house out in the country by Papa's parents' house. It was a great place to live until Mama and Papa decided to stop accepting Grandpa Hercule's generosity. Wanting to be independent and live without assistance from either parents, Papa and Mama moved us into a small, affordable apartment in the city.

Living in an apartment doesn't seem to bother them like it bothers me.

My mind wanders to Trunks, back to the conversation we had earlier. I said some awful things, but I meant every word of it. I hate him! I purposefully chose a college on the other side of the world just to free myself from him. I can't wait to start my life as a college student and live in a dorm bigger than my room. In college there won't be a Trunks to ruin my life.

I snuggle against my huge stuffed cat, Wolf. He has big animated eyes and a large head with a tiny body and black stripes across his grey fur. He was actually a prize Trunks had won for me at a carnival when I was five.

"Why couldn't he have stayed nice forever?" I whisper into Wolf's fur. It hurts thinking that we used to be close friends, that now I just want to live my life without him in it. But for some reason, even though I meant every word, I regret saying those mean things to him.

"He deserved it." I tell myself so I can fall asleep.

.+.+.+.+.

The hot rays of the morning sun burns down on my face. I roll over and snuggle into the soft pillow under me. My normally thin blanket feels heavy over my body for some reason.

First I have to eat breakfast, get dressed and go to my hair appointment. Then I'll stop by Bulma's house to see if she knows how to get the ink off my face. Then, Bulla and I will shop for dresses for the graduation party. After that. . .

The mattress dips, like someone has just sat on it. Is it Mama? I wonder what's wrong? I yawn and sit up. My eyes open and blurred images appear. I rub my eyes and open them again, focusing on the shapes around me.

Oh my god! I'm not in my bedroom.

Did I get drunk last night?

Where am I?

I shutter, realizing there's a person sitting on the other side of the large bed. Oh God, no. That hair! Those muscles! Please don't be him. Not him. Did we have sex?

I lift the blanket and peer down underneath. Phew. I'm not naked. Since when did I start wearing silk nightgowns? Is this another prank?

He must've felt me lifting the blankets because he turns and looks at me. Those blue eyes, the arched eyebrows. . .it's definitely him. My worst fears are confirmed. I spent the night somewhere with Trunks!

Trunks removes the red toothbrush from his mouth. White foam spills over his lips." What?"

My mouth lowers open wider.

"What? Is that all you have to say for yourself?"

Doesn't he feel any shame or regret for whatever it is he did with me? Did to me? I've seen these kinds of stuff on T.V! Did I end up taking the trash out last night only to have him sneak up from behind and gag me with a chloroform soaked rag?

Trunks gets up and unwraps the towel from around his hips.

"Oh my God, NO!" I squeal and scoot back, falling out of the bed in the process. I quickly jump up and pull the alarm clock from the bed stand and chuck it at him.

Trunks gives me an odd look before opening the dresser drawer and pulling out a pair of underwear.

"Nice try pervert, but I'm not going to be another one of your one night stands today!"

My eyes frantically search the floor for any of my discarded clothes but find none. I glance at the door. I don't recognize this room but Capsule Corp has a lot of rooms I've never been in before. Did he get frisky with me in the kitchen? His room? The bathroom? If so, my clothes could be anywhere in this house! Oh God, I hope Bulma or Bulla doesn't find my bra and panties somewhere.

Trunks laughs." One night stand?"

"Where are my clothes? I need to go home and get ready so stop playing games!"

Trunks looks at me with the seriousness of a serial killer. "Pan. . . you are home."

My heart pounds against my chest. He isn't joking. He's completely lost it! I should pretend to go along with what he says, but I don't have the time or patience for that right now! I have a graduation to get ready for!

"What did you do to me last night?" I demand." Did you drug me then rape me? Or did you steal me from my bedroom and change my clothes while I was sleeping? You can tell me, I won't get mad, not today anyway. But I will definitely tell my Dad about this tomorrow. And he will tear you up!"

Trunks crosses his arms and leans against the dresser, looking thoroughly amused and concerned at the same time. " I think your Dad knows we've been sleeping together for a while now Pan."

I suck in a sharp breath."What? No we haven't!"

"Look, I know we've been having problems but we can work through them. Let's not do this today Pan. It's Saturday."

"No" I say forcefully." Today is Wednesday. The fourth day of June. I don't have time to play games with you Trunks. I have to get ready for my graduation so can you please tell me where my clothes are?"

He observes me quietly.

"What?" I snap, not liking the way he's looking at me.

"How old are you?" He asks.

"Seventeen."

He stares.

I roll my eyes." I'm a minor so if I find out you date raped me last night, you'll be in a lot of trouble!"

"Twenty-two."

"Huh?"

"You are twenty-two years old." Trunks gestures his chin towards the closet, which has full sized mirrors as doors." Your clothes are in there. And your underwear is in the top dresser drawer. Get dressed. We should take you to see a doctor."

I don't move.

Twenty-two? Trunks seriously thinks I'm twenty-two? This is just another trick he's pulling one me, Right? If anyone needs to see a doctor, it's him.

"Uh, sure Trunks. We can see a doctor." I reach out to grab one of the mirror doors when I notice a ring on my finger. My wedding finger.

"What's THAT!" I screech, holding my right hand a centimeter away from my face." Did I get married while I was sleeping? To who?"

I glance down at Trunks' hand, knowing I'll find the answer there, and I do. He's wearing a gold ring identical to mine. I am married to Trunks. I married the man I hate the most and dreamed about moving away from for years now!

"I want a divorce!" I bark, running to the door and out into the hall.

This isn't Capsule Corp. This is a tiny house, with a tiny hall with three doors on either side. I try the door across from the room I came out of. It's locked. I try the door next to it, which is just a closet. I try the door on the other side of that one, revealing a bare room, probably a guest room. I try the door next to it, exposing a closet full of bath towels stacked neatly on the shelves. The last door is the bathroom.

I keep walking, passing a living room and kitchen table before finding the front door. I walk out into the front lawn and gasp.

I don't know where I am! I don't know this forest and I don't know this house. Where am I? Am I really twenty-two? Then, why can't I remember my graduation and everything that came after it?

"Pan, it's okay. You're going to be okay." Trunks says, following me outside to gently rub my shoulders.

He is the last person I want comforting me, but I could really use a hug and some hot cocoa so I bury my face into his chest and sob.

Something tugs on my nightgown. I look down.

"What's wrong Mommy?" A little girl asks, looking up at me with big, concerned, loving eyes.

"Go inside Fable." Trunks says softly." Mommy isn't feeling good."

"Okay Daddy."

Mommy. Me? Me! And Trunks is the Daddy? Since when? I don't remember any of this!

"Pan?" Trunks screams as my legs give out and I fall to the ground.

There's no way I married Trunks. I can't be a Mommy. Not me.

Trunks' voice fades and the world turns black.

This is just a dream.

Right?

When I wake up I'll be in my bedroom. I'll be seventeen and single

Please.

Please let this just be a dream!