For two days, Trunks avoided Goten, which was fine, because Goten was avoiding him.  Marron and Bra didn’t
talk, and Marron had no idea why, but she really didn’t care, until one day after school.  Marron was getting her bike out, when Bra came running up.

        “Hey, Marron!”  Bra called.

        “Hi Bra.” Marron said.

        “So, um . . .” Bra said.  No sense beating around the bush. “Cancel your date with Goten.”

        “Nani?  No!” Marron said.

        “You don’t understand!  I need you to.”

        “Why?”

        “Because!  Just because.” Bra said.

        “If you won’t give me a reason, then iie!” Marron said.

        “Jeez!  You’re such a jerk!” Bra said.

        “Jerk?  Me?  I didn’t do anything wrong!” Marron said.

        “Oh yeah?”

        “Fine, what did I do wrong?”

        “You?you . . .”

        “I’m sorry you’re upset, but I’m not going to cancel.” Marron said, then grabbed her motor bike, and zoomed away.

        “Arrgh!” Bra said, stomping her foot.
 

********

        Marron hopped of her motor bike, and ran inside.  She didn’t know what to do about Bra.  She had no idea why she was mad.  She didn’t have much time to ponder that.

        “Marron, phone’s for you!” Her mom called.

        “Moshi moshi?” Marron asked.

        “Hey, it’s Goten.”
 

        “Hi Goten.” Marron said happily.  “Why’d you call?”

        “I just wanted to call.”

        “Oh, that’s sugoi.” Marron said, and flopped down on her bed. “So, where do you want to go on Saturday?”

        “Um, how about Old Chicago?” Goten said.

        “Okay.” Marron said.  “I hope this won’t cost that much.”

        “Don’t worry, it won’t.” Goten said.

        “How do I know that?” She asked with a laugh.  “I’ve gone out with half Saiyans before.”

        “I’ll hold my appetite.” Goten said.

        “I sure hope so.” Marron said.  “So . . . um, what’s your favorite ZE song?”

        “Oh . . . ‘Going On.’”

        “Mine’s ‘Hold Me Once More.’” She said.

        “‘Sun Wings’ is good.” He said.

        “I hope they play ‘No One Knows.’” She said.

        “It was a number one hit, I’m sure they will.” Goten said. “I just want them to play ‘Jester in the Corner.’”

        “I hope so, too.  Or ‘Clear Eye.’” Marron said.

        “Goten!  Get off the phone!  I need to use it now!” Chi-chi said.

        “Uh, I gotta go.” Goten said.  “Ja ne.”

        “Okay, sayonara.”  Marron said, hanging up the phone.
 

*********

        “I HATE this!” Bra said, walking inside her house.

        “Hate what?” Trunks asked, sitting in the living room.

        “Marron and Goten.” She mumbled, opening her can of pop.  “Did you know that he’s taking her to a ZE concert?”

        “ZE?!  As in Zen Experience?” Trunks asked.

        “Yeah, why?” Bra asked.

        “It’s only the best band in the universe!” Trunks moaned.  “Where’d he get ticket’s for that?  I’ve been on the waiting list for over two months.”

        “You serious?  I could get a ticket right now!”

        “Really?” Trunks asked, sitting up.

        “Yeah, hold on.” She got up and picked up the phone and dialed the ticket hot line.  “Hello?  I’d like to buy one ticket to Zen Experience.  What?  You’re sold out?  Well, this is the daughter of you major sponsors!  Yes, Capsule Corp, and of you want----okay, good.  Thank you.”

        “I can’t believe you used that against them.” Trunks said with a laugh.

        “Do you want to go, or not?”

        “Yeah!” Trunks said.

        “Then you’ve got to use resources!” Bra said.  “So, when is it?”

        “You don’t know?  Two days from now at nine.” Trunks said, getting excited.  Maybe he could ‘accidentally’ run into Marron. He would look deep into her eyes . .. he’d win Marron back so fast it would make Goten’s head spin.

        “Earth to Trunks.  Come in, Trunks.  You have to get a grip on reality and hold on tight.” Bra laughed, knocking him on the head.

        “Oh sorry.  Hey, why aren’t you going?” Trunks asked.

        “I don’t have anyone to go with.” She said with a pout.

        “Hey, neither do I,” Trunks said with a laugh.  “But I guess I sort of am--” He couldn’t finish the
sentence, because there was a pillow in his mouth.

        “What’s I say?”

        “Jerk.” She mumbled, walking away.  The real reason she wasn’t going to go was because she figured Trunks would be enough to stop the date.  He’d come up to them, get in a fight or something . . .
 

 *******

        Everyone avoided everyone else for the next two days, except for Marron and Goten, of course.  So Marron and
Goten didn’t know Trunks was planning on coming, but that wouldn’t have stopped them from going, they were really looking forward to it. Before they knew it, it was the night of the concert. And Marron was panicked.

        This reminds me of her first date with Trunks! 18 thought, watching her run around the house, trying to
find a matching shoe, or the perfect blouse.

“Mom!  Do you know where my white shorts are?”

“No!  And it’s too cold for those anyway!  I’d wear those light blue ones!” 18 called back.

“I can’t!  Bra borrowed them!”

“Why don’t you call her?”

“She’s not talking to me.” Marron said, looking for some pants, throwing her clothes all over the room.

“Why not?”

“I have no idea!  Oh, I know!  I’ll wear that small skirt!  Or do you think that’s too fancy for this?”

“To fancy.”  18 said.  “Here, let me help.”  They spent half the night in her room.
 

   Finally, she chose a light yellow T-shirt, tucked into some dark blue jeans.  With a yellow and dark blue striped headband.  She decided not to wear her hair in pig tails, but in just let it hang down, which, surprisingly, went down to her shoulder blades.  She had on some light pink lipstick, and some light blush.  She grabbed some black zipper boots, and she was ready a few minutes before he came. She waited on the porch, not wanting to have to answer
any questions.   Pretty soon, he came, in his blue convertible.  He was wearing a cool windbreaker that
had a check mark on the back, and a plain blue T-shirt, which said in dark blue letters, ZE.  His hair was wiped back.

God he looks cute! She thought.

    He watched as she walked down the stairs of the porch. God!  She looks beautiful! Goten thought, looking at her with wide eyes.

“I didn’t know you owned one of these!” She gasped looking at it with envy.

“Pretty sugoi, huh?” Goten said, coming out of his trance.

“And ten times more!” She said, hopping in.

“So, we’re off to Old Chicago?”

“Yeah.” Marron said.  They pulled into the driveway, and Goten opened the door of the car for her.

“Arigatou.” She said, stepping out of the car.  “Well, let’s go in.”

“Okay.”  They walked in the restaurant, and waited at the sign that said ‘Please wait to be seated.’

“Hello, a table for two?” Some guy with a French accent said, showing them to a table.

“Thank you.” Marron said.

“Uh, yeah, thanks.” Goten said, then sat down beside her.

“So, um, what do ya want?” Marron asked, looking at the menu.

“How about a large cheese pizza?”

“Okay . . .is that all?” Marron asked suspiciously.

“Yeah.  I can hold out till the concert.” Goten said.

“One large cheese pizza.” Marron said to the waiter.

“Okay. That’ll be done in about ten minutes.” He said.

 “And what would you like to drink?”

“How about a Mountain Dew?” Goten said.

“Okay, and for the young woman?”

“A Pepsi.”

“Okay, we’ll have that to you right away.” He said, then walked away.
 

They didn’t say anything for a little while, and then Goten broke the silence. “So . . . who’s your favorite band member?”

“The singer, Alec.  Yours?”

“Oh, the drummer probably.  You know, Devin.”

“Yeah, he’s pretty cool.  It’s gotta be hard to learn how to play that.”

“I’ll bet it is.” Goten said.  “Once okaasan made me take piano lessons.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope, she said that if I ever wanted to become a real gentle man, then I had to learn how to play something. When I said I wanted to play the guitar, she almost started to cry, and said that I was going to be a punk when I grow up.”

“She was right.” Marron said jokingly.

“I know.” Goten said.  They didn’t run out of things to say for the rest of the time.

*******

“Hey, Bra?” Trunks asked, poking his head into her room.

“Yeah?” Bra asked, looking up room painting her toenails.

“Can I have the ticket?”

“Yeah.  It’s on my desk.” She said.  He ran in, grabbed the ticket, and ran down the hall, and to his car.

“Bye Trunks.” Bra said.

****

“Figures.  A traffic jam.” Trunks mumbled.  He hit his horn, and sighed.  Why had he even talked to Catherine?  He liked Marron more then he had ever liked any girl he ever had.  She was smart, cool, funny, and pretty.  She was so patient with him.  She would always put up with his appetite.  She never criticized him.  Why had he kissed her?  Catherine was
just some dumb girl who liked to flirt.   Why did Goten have to do that though?  He knew that Trunks liked her a lot.  But Marron’s eyes are really hard to resist . . .
 
 

        “Here’s your pizza.” The waiter said, setting it down on the table.

        “Thank you.” Marron said, and the waiter left.  They reached in and got some pizza.

        “So, do you like it?” Marron asked with a laugh.  Goten was pigging out on at least three pieces at once.

        “Oh, sorry.” Goten said, blushing.

        “It alright.  I’m used to it,” She said, taking a bite of her own.  “So have you seen any new movies or anything?”

        “Well, I saw that new movie, Usher’s.”

        “I heard that’s really cool.”

        “It’s not that great.  All the actors sucked.  The whole thing was about romance and stuff.”

        “Oh no, not romance.” Marron said playfully.

        “I can’t understand why you like that stuff.” Goten said.

        “And you never will.” She said with a laugh and kept on eating the pizza.
 
 

        “Finally!” Trunks said as the cars started to move forward. He pulled into the parking lot of the concert, just in time to see Goten and Marron laughing, walking to get into their seats.

        “So, how many of them were there?” Marron was asking.

        “At least twelve.” Goten said.

        “How awful for you!” She laughed.

        “It was the most embarrassing moment.  How about you?”  Goten said.

        “Well . . . it would have to be . . . when I was 12.  It was my first day at middle school, and I accidentally walked into the boys bathroom, and my crush was using it.” She said.

        “That sounds like his most embarrassing moment!” Goten said.  Trunks felt himself getting really angry at Goten.  He was about to talk to him, with the curtains opened.  Everywhere people were screaming.  The intro to ‘Jester in the Corner’ was playing.

        The lead singer, Alec, stepped on to the stage, and started singing the song.

        “Jester in the corner . . . Laughs without a sound .. . Malady abounds, in our souls.” He started.  The screaming grew louder.  “From deep within the minds of shadow walkers . . . nightmares seem to grow . . . From the pits of despair, that’s where we will hold .. . the man who has no dreams of hope, his greed we will behold!”

        “I love this band!” Some idiot beside Trunks yelled bouncing up and down.  Trunks tried disparately to reach Marron and Goten, but couldn’t get around the screaming lunatics.

        “This spectacle shall be witnessed only by those who are meant to see it.  Do you hold the ticket to witness this show?  Look deep inside, you’ll know!”

        “Goten!” Trunks yelled.  It was useless, that song was too loud.  He’d have to wait till a calmer song played, which took a little while, apparently, they decided the calmer songs were best at the end.

        “The wings of gold will shatter . . . those who want to ride . . . worthiness come to those who try!”

        “C’mon!  Play What U Dream!” Trunks said, as if on cue, the intro to What U Dream.

        “With life just begun . . . my sleeping new son . ..”

        “Yes!” He said, then started to make his way towards Goten.

        “With fontanelle pulses with lives that he’s lived .. . with memories he’ll learn to ignore . . . and when it is closed . . . He already knows . . . he’s forgotten all he knows . . .”
 

        “Goten!” Trunks said.

        “Trunks?  What are you doing here?” Goten asked, looking kinda scared.

        “I’m here to get Marron back.” He said, looking Goten in the eyes.

        “I don’t think so.” Goten said, not looking scared anymore.  Just angry.

        “Look, you know I like her.  A lot.” Trunks said.

        “Well I like her, too.” Goten said cockily.
        “Well . . . I got her first!” Trunks said.

        “You dumped her!”

        “She dumped me!”

        “Shut up you freaks!” Someone called.

        “So?  She doesn’t want you anymore!” Goten yelled.

        “The dreams will come . . . through the night . . .”

        “Where is she anyway?” Trunks said.

        “She’s going to the bathroom.

****

        “This is so aggravating!” Bra said, trying to tune in the radio to the concert.  She finally got it. “Good.” She said, and laid back. “He’s forgotten all he knows . . .” Then a voice interfered with the song.  “You dumped her!”

        “She dumped me!” Another voice said.  Bra sat up.  She knew those voices.  “Trunks!  Goten!” She whined, and ran out to her car.  This obviously wasn’t going to work without her.

        “You little--” Goten said but couldn’t finish because Trunks punched him.  Goten glared at Trunks, and knocked him down.

        “Mosh pit!” The idiot who was jumping up and down said.  Everyone screamed and a Mosh pit was formed right where their fight had been.

        “Goten!  Trunks!” Marron yelled.  “Stop it!”

        They ignored her and kept on fighting.

        “Goten!” Bra yelled, parking her car.  She could see the fight from the parking spot.  “What the heck are
you two doing?” She screamed, running in.  The band started playing a really up beat song, with pretty much no lyrics.  She ran down the isle to where they were fighting.  She saw Marron trying to stop them.

        “What’s going on?” Bra asked.

        “I don’t know, they just started fighting!” Marron said, looking like she was about to cry.

        “I can stop them.” Bra said confidentially.

        “How?” Marron asked.

        “Just watch.” She said, then screamed at the top of her lungs, “GOTEN!”

        Goten stopped and looked over at her.  Bra walked over to him, grabbed his coat, and pushed her lips against his.  She thought he was going to pull away, but then he started to kiss back.

        Marron wanted to cry.  “Not again.” She whispered.

        Trunks walked over to her.  “Are you okay?” He asked over the sound of people screaming and the loud band.

        “No.” She said.

        “Look, Marron, gomenasai...” Trunks said.

        “I know,” She said, then they kissed.