Dragon Ball/Z/GT Fan Fiction ❯ The Group ❯ Chapter 4

Disclaimer: "Not I," said the Jadedbest.

AN: Okay dedication time! This chapter is for xangeliz91487x because of a nice little hint that was left in the review for another story and for Susan because just seeing her name on a review makes me smile. Well here's the much overdue update.

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Brianna stepped into the already crowded club Tuesday night and frowned. She shouldn't have come, but she couldn't make Pan suffer because she had made a mistake. Not paying attention to where she was walking, she searched for her friend's table and ran right into someone.

She mumbled an excuse me as she tried to recover her footing. A deep voice mumbled the same apology as he reached out a hand to steady her. As she looked up to say thanks a pair of deep blue eyes widened in surprise.

"Brianna," he breathed out unable to think of anything else to say.

Brianna stepped out his grip. "Trunks," she said.

They stood awkwardly for a moment and then when Trunks looked as if he were about to speak a hand slapped each of them on the back.

"Hey guys long time no see!" Goten cried over the music.

"Hi Goten," they both mumbled.

"Well it's great to see you guys to," he said rolling his eyes. He linked his arm with Brianna's then walked into the crowd. "Come on we reserved a table for tonight," he said as he led them to the rest of the group.

"Hey guys!" Pan cried being the first one see them walk up.

"Hi," they both said with little pep. Brianna seated herself next to Bra while Trunks took a seat on the other side of the table next to Pan. As the drinks arrived the friends chatted some but all noticed the damper that had fallen on the mood.

`Some birthday party,' Pan thought. Taking another sip of her drink, she glanced at the dance floor and back at the dreary members of her party. "Hey Uncle Goten, want to take your niece for a spin on the dance floor for a birthday present since I know you didn't buy me one."

Goten looked ecstatic to get away from the obvious tension at the table. "Sure why not?" he said hopping up and practically yanked her out her chair.

Bra was about to open her mouth when Marron quickly held up her hand. "Oh no you don't! I'm not being left at the table again. Come on Trunks!'

Trunks shook his head. "I don't think so Mar-"

Marron wouldn't hear of it and pulled him out of his seat. "Just come on. I won't bite." They were already on the floor before Bra could close her mouth.

Shrugging Bra turned to Brianna, who was nursing her drink. "I was going to suggest they dance anyway. I need to talk to you."

"So talk," Brianna murmured between sips.

"I want to talk to you about Trunks."

Brianna was so surprised that the drink went down the wrong pipe. Choking she sat the glass on the table and turned to find Bra giving her an odd look.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. It just went down the wrong pipe. Why do you want to talk about Trunks?" she asked suspiciously.

"Well I need a second opinion. You see the other night Goten and I went to the movies and though it started out friendly it ended quiet…different," she explained on a blush.

"What do you mean different?"

"Well…we kissed."

"You what?!"

"It was no big deal really. Well okay it was a big deal. I mean Goten is a really, really good kisser," Bra sighed as she looked at the dance floor.

"Well that's all fine and dandy but what does it have to do with Trunks?" Brianna wanted to know.

"Well do you think he's going to freak about this?" she asked nervously.

"Uh yeah! I mean, Bra, you're his kid sister and Goten's his best friend and as far as he's concerned never shall the two intertwine, if you get my drift."

"But he'll eventually get over that, right?"

"I doubt it and even if he does, there's the whole age difference thing," Brianna pointed out.

"Age is nothing but a number," Bra said waving off the comment.

"That's how you see it. All Trunks will see is his high school senior sister dating his college graduate buddy."

Bra frowned. "Man Bri, you're being a real downer tonight. What's up your ass?"

"Nothing. Look if you didn't want my opinion you shouldn't have asked," Brianna snapped as she picked up her glass again.

"Bitch," Bra muttered as Goten reproached the table.

"I thought you were dancing," Brianna asked choosing to ignore Bra's comment.

"I was but Pan ditched me for Marron," he said with a jerk of his head and the two girl looked to see that Pan and Marron were indeed enjoying a dance together. Much to her chagrin, Brianna also noticed that Trunks was making his way back towards the table.

"Want to dance?" Goten asked Bra with a hopeful expression.

"Sure. I need to get away from this table," she sneered as she stood.

Brianna rolled her eyes and focused her attention on the drink in her hand.

"What's with Bri?" she heard Goten asked. She could only guess what Bra's answer was.

"Yeah what is with Bri?"

She didn't need to look up to know whom the voice belonged to so she didn't. Trunks sighed and dropped into a seat next to her.

"Bri?" he tried gently.

"What did you get Pan for her birthday?" she asked out of the blue still not making eye contact.

"Bri don't do this," he commanded softly.

"Do what?"

"Pretend that nothings changed."

She looked at him, anger flickering in her eyes. "Nothing would change if you'd just leave it alone."

"You know that's not true. We need to talk about this."

"What do you want from me?! So we kissed! Big fucking deal! Why do we need to talk about anything?"

"Look you know as well as I do that if we don't deal with this it could ruin everything we have now. I really don't want that and I don't think you do either."

Brianna turned from the intensity of his blue gaze and considered his words. The last thing she wanted was to lose the friendship they shared. She'd do anything to keep that from happening.

Trunks watched her swish the amber colored liquid in her glass around as she mulled over his words. If he hadn't been so focused on her very being he would have lost the softly spoken words to the blaring music.

"What do we do?"

Trunks had to admit he felt slightly relieved that she had relented and a little thrown off by it at the same time. Taking a deep, he hoped she'd take as easily to his next idea. "I think we should go out."

She turned her narrowed gaze on him. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you and me go somewhere and do something together, you know?"

"Like a date?" she asked almost in disgust.

"Well don't sound so excited about it," Trunks said as he rolled his eyes.

"I just don't understand why we have to do something like that," she frowned.

"Look Bri, do you want to find out what this thing is or not?"

"Okay, okay but I don't want anyone to know," she said quickly. "Especially Marron."

"All right, I can understand that. That way if it turns out to be nothing then nobody can poke fun at us later," he smiled trying to lighten the mood.

"When it turns out to be nothing, I'll never let you live it down," she said grasping for the moment of normalcy. He chuckled and she looked him in the eye for the first time that night. She held eye contact a little longer than need be and had to look away from his piercing gaze. She had never noticed just how magnificent his eyes were before. Or maybe she had…

When she tried to return her attention to the glass in her hand, he gently caught her chin and pulled her eyes back to his. After his eyes probed hers for a moment he began stroking the underside of her jaw with his thumb as he spoke. "You probably don't want to hear this but a part of me kind of hopes that this will turn out to be something. Crazy, huh?" he added softly.

"Are we interrupting something?"

Brianna had been so stunned by his words that she hadn't noticed that Marron and Pan had finished their dance and had returned to the table. Trunks immediately dropped his hand as she averted her eyes.

"Of course not. Bri just had something in her eye that's all," Trunks smoothly explained.

"You all right?" Marron asked as she took a seat next to her.

"Yeah, no big deal," she shrugged as she pretended to mess with her eye. She couldn't even look her friend in the face. Finding herself between Marron and Trunks, Brianna decided it was time for some fresh air. "Look guys I'm not feeling all that hot tonight and I have to work tomorrow so I think I'm going to call it a night."

"Are you sure?" Pan asked as she watched her stand and gather her things.

"Yeah," Bri answered as she moved towards the raven hared girl. Bending over she gave her a quick hug and peck on the cheek. "Happy Birthday kid. Have fun in Paris." She quickly moved to Marron and gave her a parting peck as well. In habit she continued to the next person and almost stopped in the same instant. After a moment hesitation she dropped a fleeting kiss on Trunks' cheek then threw a final goodbye over her shoulder before she practically ran out of the club.

Once in the safety of the night she stopped and breathed a heavy sigh. How in the hell did she get herself into these things? As she walked quickly to her car she silently brooded over all that had happened. Why had she agreed to this ridiculous date idea? It certainly wasn't going to prove anything.

She had just reached her car and was searching for her keys when her name caught her ears. Turning, she found Trunks jogging across the parking lot towards her.

She arched a brow and gave him a patent `What?' look.

"We didn't make any plans for well… you know," he explained.

"Geez Trunks, I already agreed to this stupid idea. Do I have to plan it now too?" she said a little testier than she originally intended. Maybe the alcohol was making her belligerent.

"No I just want to know what days you have off this week?"

"This week?!" she asked, her chocolate eyes wide with fear. "You want to do it this week?"

"Bri I really think we should get this over with. Don't you?" he asked taking a step towards her.

"Yeah I guess but it's just…"

He silenced her with a finger over her lips. "What days?" he asked again.

"Thursday and Friday," she said hoarsely.

"Friday then. I'll pick you up at nine," he said absently stroking her cheek.

She saw the moment he decided to kiss her in his eyes even before he began leaning in and urgently shook her head. "Trunks, don't," she said placing a hand on his chest to hold him off. He reluctantly backed off as she climbed into the car and pulled off without another word.

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I'll TRY to start paying attention to the more neglected fics of mine but well…you know me. Tell then…Thanks for reading.