I’m Not Really Sure of the Words to Say
If Only You Knew That I Feel This Way
I Wanna Give My Heart to You
Show Me the Way That You Want Me To
Oh. . . What Will I Do?
   -- Natalie Burks
 

“ I can’t stand those two yelling at eachother.  It’s a good thing you thought of getting snacks Goten.  I must admit what Panny did to Niichan was funny though.  One more minute in there and Niichan would’ve gotten very angry at us all. “
 “ Yeah I know.  I’ve never seen anything make Trunks red like that.  Meen Bow Toe must’ve really gotten to him.  It’s sugoi. I don’t remember having this much fun in years. “
 “  Demo, didn’t you and Niichan have fun on your dates? “
 Bra couldn’t help asking.  { Oh no!  Why did I have to say that?  I’m not supposed to ask Goten about his love life.  Uh oh.  I’m in trouble now. } To Bra’s surprise, Goten answered her as honestly as he could.
 “ All the dates we’ve been on have been fun, but. . . “
 “ But?!!!!! “
 Bra began to blush at the realization of saying what she thought out loud.  Goten didn’t seem to notice.  He considered it an average question.  A question he has been trying to find the answer to.  Seemingly lost in thought he replied.
 “ But they were just dates with girls I felt I had to impress. I never really felt comfortable wit’ them.  That’s why they never lasted that long. When I’m with you guys, I can act like myself.  I don’t have to impress anyone. “
 “ Oh I see.  I’m just not special enough for you. “
 “ It’s not just you it’s all of you. “
 Added Goten.  Fully unaware of what Bra had actually meant.  After that one sentence, she felt as if she couldn’t look at him, ever.  She took the beverages and quietly headed back to their seats.
 “ Bra?  Wait up.”
 Bra ignored him and kept on walking at a slower pace.  { Why is she acting so strange? }
 “ Bra? Do you feel sick? “
 Goten asked noticing the sudden paleness on her face.
 { Sick in the heart you baka.  I never thought Goten could be this slow.  But then again that is one of the reason’s I love him.  He’s so innocent.  Oh maybe I should act like nothing happened.  It was my fault for making that remark about how I wasn’t special enough for him.  He just meant he’s comfortable with all of us.  And that is a good thing. }
 “ Iie Goten-san.  Daijoubu. “
 Bra told him with a weak smile.  All Goten could do was to stare at her.  { Did she just call me Goten-san?  Something has to be wrong.  She’s mad at me.  But all I said was--What I said before,she probably took it the wrong way, but I have to be sure. }
 “ Bra?  Please don’t lie to me.  I know your mad. “
 “ Iie, it’s nothing.  Come on, all that food your carrying must be getting to be a burden for you. “
 “ Bra-chan, I’m not moving until you tell me. “
 { Kami-sama!  Did he just call me Bra-chan?  He hasn’t called me that since I was a little kid.  He use to call me Bra-chan whenever I was upset.  For some reason, it always made me feel better, just a little. }
 “ I’ll tell you why when the movie starts k? “
 “ But-“  Goten opened his mouth to protest.  Bra quickly cut him off.
 “ But nothing.  If we don’t hurry we’ll miss the movie. ”
 Goten consented in defeat and followed her back to their seats.
“ Panny?  Daijoubo? “
 Bra asked her friend.  She and Goten just came back with the snacks.   Like Trunks said, Goten used his chi to hold up everything.  Bra was carrying the drinks.
 “ Meen Bow Toe just said that me and Goten eat too much.  I dunno why she finds it funny.  Goten you have a weird neice. “
 They all looked at Pan confused.  Pan finally managed to stop.
 “  Ok Ok Gomen.  It was nothing.  Sit down.  They’re starting to dim the lights.  The movie’s starting. “
 Bra and Goten took their seats.  Trunks let go of Pan’s hands and allowed her to lean back against her seat.
 “ Bra?  You said we’d talk when we got back.  Now tell me why you acted that way. “
 { How can I tell him I’m in love with him?  That I got so mad easily because what he said drained my hope.  Well, I slipped once already.  If I’m going to embarrass myself completely, I might as well do it all in one night. }  Bra tried to look directly into Goten’s eyes, but couldn’t bring herself to.  Instead she gave up trying and looked down at her fidgeting hands in her lap.
 “ I. . . Um. . . Goten-san, I I think I, no I know I have, um. . . feelings. . . for you.”
 “ Feelings for me? “
 { If I don’t look at him and see what’s on his face, good or bad, I’ll regret it. } Bringing her head up, Bra looked indifferently at Goten.  She didn’t want his answer to be based on the sadness in her eyes.  She wanted the honest truth.  No matter how much it’d hurt.  She continued. . .
 “ Hai. I know that I’m foolish to think so, but I cannot deny how and what I feel.  I understand that you might not feel the same, but I just couldn’t lie any longer. Please, be honest with me. “
 Goten was speechless.  His best friends’ little sister, a girl he considered his own little sister as well, had just told him that she had feelings for him.  Judging from the tension he felt, it was not an ordinary crush.  It was more.  Images of all the times he spent with Bra flashed through his mind.
 “ Bra?  Honestly, I don’t know what I feel.  But. . . I know I feel something.  Give me time to think about this. “
 Goten said softly.  { I want to explain to her what I meant back at the refreshment stand, but now is not the time. } Bra closed her eyes and exhaled in relief.  { He said he felt something for me.  Yes!  Maybe, it’s not hopeless. }
 “ How about we watch the rest of the movie and talk about this later? “ she suggested.
 Goten gave her a faint smile.  He reached over and gave her hands a light squeeze.
*°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°*
 “ And you guys held hands throughout the whole movie? “  Pan said in disbelief.
Bra sighed happily.
“ Hai. . . even though it was only a tiny gesture of affection, one that could either be from love or from friendship, it was enough for me. “
Pan’s eyes and jaw dropped open.
“ Oh Panny don’t worry.  I didn’t forget about our little talk about you and Niichan. “
“ Bra!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I don’t get how you act like an airhead wit’ me and wit’ Tweedle Dumb you act all smart. “
Bra sighs again.
“ I can’t explain it Panny.  It’s just that when I think about Goten everything feels so different.  But I am NOT an airhead!  I just act like that sometimes because.  Hmmm. . .  I don’t know.  I just do. “
Pan rolled her eyes.
“ You and Tweedle Dumb are perfect for eachother.  He’s the same way.  I’m gonna go take a shower now. “
“ Matte, after you take a shower, you can wear your cutest nightie and go see Niichan! “
“ I didn’t bring a nightie, that stuff is uncomfortable. I brought sweats and a tank. “
“ Panny!  Sweats and a tank???  How do you expect  Niichan to notice how beautiful you are if you’re wearing sweats and a tank??? “
 “ I dunno.  But I’m not in the mood to look good for him.  Besides, after he finds out what I did to him, he’ll be real pissed. “
 Pan had an evil grin on her face.
 “ Panny!  What did you do? “
 “ During the movie, when he got up to get some popcorn off his shirt, I dumped this mixture of popcorn, cheese, nachos and chocolate on his seat.  He sat on it and now there’s this big brown stain on his butt!  It looks like he pooped in his pants! “
 Bra burst out laughing.
 “ Panny!  I can’t believe you did that!  Niichan will kill you! “
 “ He deserved it.  He spilled soda on my leather pants! “
 “ You two are crazy!  I’m going to take a shower as well.  I want to look nice for Goten.  I’m going to wear my seagreen nightie.  I’ll tell you all about it later. “
 “ Alright.  I’m gonna go now.”
 Bra started to dig threw her closet for the perfect nightie, while Pan went down the hall to the bathroom.
*°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°º°*
 “ And that’s what happened. “
 “ You held hands wit’ imoutochan the whole time?  I didn’t see anything!  Nandeyo!  I didn’t even hear you guys talk! ”
Trunks exclaimed.
“ I gotta go take a shower and change for Bra. Laters. “
“ I was gonna ask you to spar, but since you’re gonna go see imoutochan, I’ll just take a shower and eat something.  Laters. ”
Trunks and Goten each found clothes to sleep in and headed off to their destinations.