**************
I look at the extended hand with a bit of suspicion before extending my own and shaking it.
"I'm Bra Briefs," she begins, removing her sunglasses. "I'm Trunks' sister. Have you heard of me?"
I shake my head. If I had known her I wouldn't be staring like an idiot in my boxers. Well, the fact that I was in my boxers probably wouldn't be changed, but that's beside the point. Her perfect eyebrows raise but she wipes the look away quickly.
"I'm a fashion editor for Jordan, the international fashion magazine. I'm here to get you looking like the rich person you now are."
"Really? So, being engaged to your brother after having met him once doesn't bother at all?" A small chuckle escaped my mouth but she didn't seem to find it funny. What an odd woman.
"Anyway, I'm supposed to make you presentable. Being engaged to a hot new up and comer like my brother is going to be a full time job and you have to look your best now don't you?" I shrug. I didn't see what was wrong with my wardrobe. I glance down and blanch. Or lack thereof.
"I had planned on going shopping anyway."
"I would hope so." I spot her eyes a little lower than I feel comfortable with and cross my legs.
"Right. So, where are we going exactly?"
"I'm taking you to Armani and the Banana Republic. One for formal, one for casual. Is that alright with you?"
"Sure, why not." Who would say it wasn't when you've had to live off of the clearance rack since you graduated high school?
She nods and gestures to the driver behind her. From what I knew of my location, it would be at least ten minutes before we got there. Great. Now it'll all be filled with either meaningless conversation or an uncomfortable silence.
I look up and see her with her sunglasses on once again, looking out the window.
Okay, uncomfortable silence it is.
My fingers fiddle with the silk of my boxers and scanning the traffic outside I lean back. Now it'll be twenty minutes. Traffic really sucks in this part of town. It's a Sunday, people are supposed to be at home, doing something other than busying up the streets.
Twenty FIVE minutes later, we are at the front entrance to Armani. I'm now covered by a spare jacket of Trunks' that was in the backseat of the car. It's only a little big on me. I feel like a homeless guy in it though. That isn't a good feeling.
A man with sleeked back hair and a curly mustache approaches us and kisses Bra on both cheeks.
"Madame Bra, I'm so glad you came. And you," he begins, looking me from head to toe before meeting my eyes once again. "Must be that dark haired man from last night."
DAMMIT!! That's IT!! I'm am SO SICK of being referred to by something other than my NAME!!
"SON GOTEN!!!" I yell and the entire store turns to look at me.
"Excuse me?" the guy asks.
"Son Goten. That is my NAME. Not dark haired guy, not the guy from TV, not Trunks' fiance. Son Goten." I cross my arms and glare.
The guys adjusts his collar and looks to Bra before turning and heading towards an elevator.
"Right, now Mr. Sun-"
"SON!"
"Son, excuse me, would you please follow me this way. Our tailors for someone of your caliber are upstairs." I don't know how to react to this comment, so I just follow him into the elevator. Bra whispers something in his ear and he nods. They better not be talking about me or I will just......I dunno. I'll do something insane.
Greg tries to make a comment, but I've zoned him out by now. It was surprisingly easy.
The elevator isn't all that impressive, unless your into the whole carved wood and silk pillowed walls and stuff. The walls are really comfortable though....STOP IT!! I can't enjoy the elevator of a place that says I have CALIBER, whatever the HELL that means..
"Mr. Sun?" I glare, but don't bother to correct him as he leads Bra and I out of the elevator. A few other good looking young are standing in their boxers, being measured at every angle.
I'm surprised when I realize that I haven't even glance at any of them. This is odd for me because that's like a rule that I have. The light catches my ring and I look down. OOOOOoooohhhh, I get it now. I'm too distracted by the ring to notice them. Hm. Cool.
"Now, if you'll stand here, we'll take your measurements..."
**************
Four hours later, I'm back in the limo, and at least five thousand dollars worth of clothes surrounding me. I've got every kinda thing I'll ever need. Maybe I should give him a thank you card... Wait, I'm engaged to him. That wouldn't make sense...Would it? Now I'm confused.
"Anyway, where are we going now?" Bra looks over at me and smiles, her blue eyes twinkling through her sunglasses.
"We're going home. Well, you are anyway. I live with my girlfriend on the otherside of town." I blink.
"Girlfriend? Your gay?" Her eyes widen at me and I immediately regret the outburst.
"Sorry, that came out wrong." She smiles at me and returns to looking out the window. "Don't worry about it. She's moving out today anyway." Tilting my head, I soften my gaze.
"I'm sorry. Are the two of you broken up?"
"We will be. That's why we cut shopping short." SHORT?! She calls FOUR HOURS of shopping SHORT?!
Deciding that saying this out loud wouldn't be the best thing in the world, I nod and look at the floor.
What have I gotten myself into?
**************
The sun is just beginning to set as we approach what looks to me like a Regency hotel, only bigger and longer and wider....
"Welcome home," Bra tells me, grinning at the look on my face. HOLY SHIT!! THIS is my HOME?!!
It had to be at least five stories tall, and about an eighth of a mile long. French windows adored it from every angle and long balconies accompanied it. Ivy crawls up the sides and exotic looking flowers cover the large grounds.
Bra laughed at my gawking and helps me out of the limo.
"Most people have that kind of reaction. You'll get used to it."
"Wow," Is all I can get myself to say. I've never in my life seen such a house and I'm pretty damn sure I never will. And I GET TO LIVE THERE!! WHO-HOO!
**************
My eyes scan my body in the full mirror, taking in the way the dark blue pants cling lightly to my legs, the loose silk white shirt not fully buttoned and hanging from my upper body. All in all, it makes one hell of a picture if I may say so. Looking over, I see James asleep in his personal kitty bed, complete with curtains and on demand food dispenser. All this and I still haven't seen Trunks yet.
Sighing, I sit on the bed as I remove my shoes and slide them into a pair of slippers. This dinner can't be THAT formal. As I go to put on my tie, I realize how much I contradict myself.
The clock on the side of my bed tells me I still have an hour and a half before I'm meeting him. What's a guy supposed to do in a house he's never been in before?
The answer to this question is simple....EVERYTHING!!
Deciding to start on the floor I was already on, the fourth floor, I headed south towards the other end of the house. They were at least twenty doors on each side and I was gonna try them all!
Opening the first door, my sense are hit with must be the most foul smelling smell I've ever had the misfortune of smelling. It was worse, believe it or not, than that one blanket in that cell!
I slam the door quickly and run down the hall. I'd always found it best to skip a few things after you make a mistake. This wasn't the theory I should've used when I was putting together a playground set though...That wasn't the best idea I'd ever had.
A melodic sound struck my ears and I stopped. Looking around, there didn't seem to be any sourse until I took a step back. A door, old looking and carved with an older style seemed to be the bringer of the amazing sound.
The door opened without a sound and taking a quick wary whiff, I stepped in.
My mouth dropped to the floor as my eyes took in the site before me. Red covered chairs were in rows, the edges covered with a wood carving similiar to that on the door. Stair lights shined every few steps, leading up the large stage that held five or six older teens, all dressed in outfits that didn't suit the century.
Their voices carried to me and I recognized a few of them as those of Romeo and Juliet. Not the most original play they could of put on, but from what I was hearing the actors and actresses were doing a good job of making me forget that fact.
I walked, as though in a daze, towards the front of the seats and took a seat. It seems I was too entranced to realize that someone was sitting beside me. A small cough drew my attention and I took in the sight of a girl, looking to be only in her twenties smiling at me.
"Hello. You must be Mr. Son." She flashed me a smile and held out her hand.
"Well, it's nice that some people know my name." She gave me a perplexed look, but I didn't feel like going into detail right now.
"So, are you in the play?" She laughed and turned her attention to the stage.
"I'm the director." I blinked at looked up as well.
"Well, that's quite an accomplishment." I knew it was more than I could say for myself at twenty four. Wait a second...my life didn't seem this pathetic three days ago... I really need to resort my priorities. The last thing I need is to start thinking less of myself just because of Trunks.
"Thank you. I'd like to think so too. If it weren't for Bra, I probably wouldn't have this job though."
"Really? Is she your inside connection?"
"Well, she's my lover." My eyes widened, doing another quick scan, taking in her brown hair and eyes and slightly tanned skin. So this was the girl Bra had been talking about. That meant...
"Uh, Mr. Son? Are you okay? You went cross-eyed there for a second."
"I did?" Weird. That hasn't happened in awhile. She nodded and I shrugged.
"Sorry. So, um, how long have the two of you been together?"
Her eyes lit up and she smiled a look I've been oh so familiar with. She was in love with her. SHIT!
"Well, it's kind of silly really.." Oh, DOUBLE SHIT! Those words are only used in love/obsessed relationships. Poor girl. I watched as she continued to talk about one thing or another and saw that special twinkle in her eyes everytime she mentioned Bra.
"..And that was that."
"How romantic..." She looked at me funny and I meantally hit myself.
"I didn't think having her take me out of a porta potty's blue stuff very romantic."
"True, true, but that's a great story to tell the grandkids, wouldn't it be?"
"Yeah, your right." She looks at her watch and smirks. "Boy, time sure flies doesn't it? Alright people, practice is over! Good job. I'll see you all on Saturday for the performance." We both stood and she shook my hand again.
"Well, it was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Son."
"Yes, same to you. Hope to see you again." Her eyes betrayed the fact that I'd hinted it wasn't likely. All well. If Bra's words were true, I wouldn't have to worry about seeing her again at all.
********************
I'd left her soon after and continued my exploration. There wasn't all that much else in the rooms. From what I could see they were just being used for storage. Then, I was at the last door and as soon as the door was open I was squeling.
There was a humongous pool, complete with a few slides and diving boards, surrounded by what I think are imitation plants. The water looked really really good right now, I though, tugging at my shirt collar. The clock on the wall said I had about a half an hour before I was to meet Trunks. I'm sure I could make it on time...
My clothes are off me in the blink of an eye and the water makes contact with my skin soon after. This feels SO good. I'm starting to think it won't be that bad living here...
********************
After doing a few laps and laying out on the pool floatie, I roll over to see what time it is.
"OH SHIT!!!!!!!" I was five minutes late. I got out of the pool and grabbed my clothes as I ran down the hallway. I slowed every few steps, pulling on various articles of clothing while trying to remember where the dining room was.
"Was it this way?" I asked the empty hallway while pulling on my socks. "No, that was the bathroom, THERE! That's it." Pausing to catch my breath, I adjusted my tie before opening the door.
Just like every other room in the house, it was HUGE. The table was about thirty feet long and there, sitting at the end of the table, was Trunks. He grinned at me, before gesturing to the seat closest to me, as far from him as possible. Jeez, a guy can take a hint.
"You can sit there if you'd like." Seeing all the food on display, I raised an eyebrow. There didn't seem to be much of a choice.
I took a step forward and it seems that the following made me realize I'd gotten water on the bottom of my shoes. I fell foward, my slightly damp silk shirt sending me sliding all twenty two feet of the table down to his side. I looked up at him and frowned. I like making entrances, but this is ridiculous.
He extended a hand but I brushed it off. My pride wouldn't allow it. The last thing I need after a stunt like that was-
"OW!" That.
I let out an angry breath before standing. Seating myself in the chair kiddy corner from his, I glared at the wall. He cleared his throat before pulling a rope and turning to me.
"Or, you could sit here." He smirks but I don't respond. The plate of food is moved down and I eat it, not even looking in his general direction. The silence permeates the room until we're both finished.
"Why?" He looks at me, his blue eyes clear.
"Why what? I roll my eyes. Isn't it obvious.
"Why did you ask me to marry you?"
********************