Why Does it Have to Be Like This?

Only one song used this chapter: "Living on a Prayer", Jon Bon Jovi. Total classic that one, and no, I don't own it. I assume he does.

Part 7

Pan was yelling at me to hurry up. We were both wearing these hideous formal dresses that Videl had made. That - in itself - was strange. Videl making clothing was comparable to my mother cooking - with equally comparable results. But, that's how it was.

I finally joined Pan, and we went to my college bar together. She left me the minute we arrived, so I had to search the crowd for people I knew. Finally, I spotted Uub in sitting on a couch. I ran over to him, a little annoyed to see that I was the only person dressed fairly formally. Everyone else was just wearing casual everyday clothes. 

"Hi, Bra," Uub greeted, moving to make space for me as I arrived. "I've been minding this couch all night."

"Cool," I replied. I laid down on the couch, draping my legs over Uub's lap.

Paresu walked passed, with Galactin in tow. For some reason, I didn't find it the least bit strange that Paresu was at my college. I didn't find it strange that I was either, with it being Winter Break and all.

I didn't remember getting changed out of my awful Videl-made clothes, but I had. The jeans and shirt that I had on made me feel much more comfortable…that is, until Uub started stroking my stomach. He started off just stroking up and down, then changed to making circles.

"Let me now if it's too much," Uub said.

"If what's too much?" I asked, dumbly.

"What I'm doing. All this guy stuff."

"Nah, it's fine."

He moved forward to kiss me. And I woke with a start. I sat up panting - that was the third dream in a matter of days that I'd had about Uub. It was starting to disturb me.

I looked over to the body that was sharing my bed with me. It was tanned, but not as dark as Uub, and as I looked at the head, there was no Mohawk in sight. Plus, the bizarre gurgling noise that could have rivalled a truck rally in a construction site coming from the mouth region could only have been Goten. I don't know anyone who snored as loudly as he does. I'm amazed that I ever got sleep when with him.

With a yawn, I decided to forget about the whole Uub thing. If it got really bad, I could always ask Arkya - she knows how to interpret dreams. I settled back into the comfort of Goten's embrace, and fell into a peaceful sleep.

* * * * * *

At college I had been an absolute gym-junky, which was helped by the fact that our college gym was unbelievably cheap. But since coming home for the winter break, I had gotten lazy, and it was starting to show. So, I decided to start jogging every afternoon. My father did try to convince me to start training with him, but I really wasn't too keen on that. I don't think he was very happy with me after that.

On this particular day, I had just been for my usual jog. As I neared my home, I noticed two figures waiting outside. One was my brother, and the other talking to him was someone I had been hoping not to see. I forced a smile, suddenly self-conscious of my skimpy exercising outfit.

"Juu-kun!" I cried, in false excitement. "What brings you here?"

"Did you think that you could avoid me all Winter break?" he asked with only a slight laugh. I became more self-conscious as I noticed his eyes travel over my body. I hugged him in an attempt to remove myself from his view.

"I've gotta get back to work," Trunks excused himself. "See you later, Juunanagou."

"Yeah, bye." Juu-kun's eyes seemed to narrow into a glare as he said goodbye to Trunks. And come to think of it, they hadn't seemed to be having the nicest of chats before I arrived either.

Once Trunks had made his grand departure, Juu-kun turned back to me. "So how much longer until you have to go back?"

"Two weeks as of tomorrow. And here I was thinking that a month would be plenty of time off!" I sighed heavily. "At least I passed all of my subjects - results came yesterday."

"Nice work! Oh, by the way, I think Marron might be having another party. Sometimes I can hardly believe that we're related."

"She'll probably ring me tonight to tell me," I laughed. I glanced at my watch, not because I really wanted to know what time it was, but I wanted a reason to go inside. "Um…I should probably go have a shower. My mother would hate me if I came to dinner all sweaty and gross. I know how angry she gets when Daddy does. Thanks for dropping 'round. See you at Marron's party?"

"I should be there, yeah. Make sure you spread the word." He hugged me again. "Remember you can visit me anytime. Talk to you later."

I let out the breath that I hadn't realised I'd been holding in. Thank Dende he was gone! I didn't want to be harsh, but I always felt so uncomfortable around him. Is that the way it's supposed to be with exes?

I opened the door and went inside. I hadn't been lying to Juu-kun - I did- need a shower.

* * * * * *

True to my guess, Marron rang me that night, in a giggly fit.

"Marron-chan, have you been drinking? Alone?" I scolded.

"I had some goon left over! That stuff goes off, you know," she fiercely defended. "Anyway, just rang to tell you I'm having…"

"A party. I know. Juu-kun dropped by this afternoon."

"Ooooh - so how did that go?"

"Well, he and Trunks seemed to be having a bit of a heated discussion before I got there, and then I felt very uncomfortable in my tiny shorts and sports bra. I really have to start wearing track pants and daggy T-shirts when I go exercising."

"I'm sure you're just being paranoid, Bra." Marron seemed rather anxious to convince me of this. "I'm sure Juunana just wants to be friends with you now, nothing more."

"Yeah, you're probably right. But that doesn't stop me from squirming every time I have to see him!"

"Believe me, Bra - you have nothing to worry about."

I thought it a little strange that Marron was so set on convincing me that Juu-kun was totally over me, but I dismissed it. She was just being a good friend and looking out for me.

* * * * * *

"We've gotta hold on, to what we've got! It doesn't make a difference if we make it or not! We've got each other and that's a lot for love! We'll give it a shot! Ohhhh, we're half way there! Ohh-oh! Livin' on a prayer! Take my hand; we'll make it I swear! Oh-oh, livin' on a pray-er!" 

Alcohol always seems to make people do stupid things, and at Marron's party, attempted karaoke was up the top of my list. I'll take the coward's way out and blame it all on Marron. If she hadn't have hired the damn karaoke machine, I wouldn't have ended up standing on the kitchen table, screaming Bon Jovi songs with Kale and his friend, Lucio. 

The three of us bowed, and climbed off the table. I saw Pan give Kale a scolding the minute he was near her. Poor Kale. Goten simply shook his head at me.

"That was beautiful, B-chan," he laughed, kissing my forehead.

"You're making fun of me!" I pouted.

"Never!" He brushed a few strands of my hair behind my ear. "But I do think you should go a little easy on the drinks from now on."

"What are you talking about, Goten? I'm completely fine…"

I woke up maybe ten minutes later in Marron's room, finding it extremely difficult to sit up. I groaned. "I want to die!"

Goten, sitting beside me, chuckled. "Don't speak like that, B-chan! I'd be lost if you died."

I managed to roll over and smile lopsidedly at him. "What the Hell happened?"

"You passed out. I told you you'd had too much to drink. I carried you in here." Goten tweaked my nose. "Silly B-chan."

"Shut up." I struggled to sit up. "Is the party still going?"

Goten shook his head. "Most people are starting to head home, or crash. Pan and Kale had to go before you woke up - I think he was almost as bad as you. Juunana left already too, but you were awake for that, huh?"

I grinned. "Yeah, he missed the tabletop concert. When are you going?"

"I might stay the night - Marron said I could, especially if you hadn't woken up."

"Cool. Trunks and I are staying. We should probably head to the guestroom then - Marron might have someone lined up to share this room with her."

Goten laughed as he helped me to my feet. He also had to help me to the guestroom - heels aren't the best of footwear when you're pissed. Trunks was out cold on the couch. Marron winked at us as we went past. Once she was sure that everyone was settled, she would go to bed herself.

The minute we were in the guestroom, I collapsed on the bed and fell dead asleep. I really hope Goten wasn't "in the mood" that night.

* * * * * *

"Morning all!" Goten and I greeted as we left our room the next day. It was probably a stupid thing to say, considering it was almost lunchtime, and "all" was Marron and Trunks.

"Howdy, howdy," Marron said. I envied her for being so happy, when I felt like shit. Hangovers suck!

"Hey, Marron, can I have a shower?" Goten asked.

"For sure. Just grab a towel…not the pink one!"

I sat down next to Trunks. Marron handed me a cup of coffee, which I gratefully accepted. Hangovers are bad, but caffeine is good. So good.

"I'm so glad Juu-kun had left before the karaoke incident," I sighed.

"What do you mean? He was up singing half the night!" Trunks scoffed. It was true - Juunana had grabbed the microphone near the beginning of the night and belted out a few tunes. He wasn't too bad either - made up for his inability to dance.

"No, I mean my karaoke." I shuddered. "There were enough of your loser friends calling for me to 'take it off'."

"Pfft, I wish you'd stop worrying about him. Why would he care that you were up dancing like a whore on the table? He doesn't care about you anymore, so stop caring about him."

"Trunks, what are you talking about?"

"Bra, how can you be so dense? We're from the same parents - surely you must have some sense! Juunanagou is gay!"