A/N: er, just to make it clear- Trunks doesn't know he's a Saiyan, or that his father or Gohan are. Thank you.
A Different Future
Chapter 2 – An Old Acquaintance
Rushing down the stairs, Trunks ran a hand through his mass of purple hair, cursing for not having combed it.
"TRUNKS!"
Bulma shouted again, right in her son's ear.
"Oh, sorry dear."
"'s ok… mom. It'll stop ringing… soon."
"Good. Now come on."
Bulma led Trunks to the kitchen, where a familiar figure sat. It has been years since he last saw him, but Trunks still recognized the man as…
"SON GOHAN!"
"I'm him!"
Gohan said in reply to his name being voiced. Trunks looked him over. He remembered Gohan vaugly in Piccolo's suit. Now he wore a brown business suit with short, yet spiked hair. A suitcase was at the man's side. Trunks half expected glasses, but, shivering as the sight passed his mind, he passed (take THAT, GT!)
"Good to see you remember me, Trunks. Have a seat."
Trunks did so while his mother served a rather late lunch.
"The last time you two saw each other was quite a while ago."
"Sure has been. More, please."
Gohan asked with a smile. Trunks blinked.
'Man, and I thought I ate fast.'
"What have you been up to lately, Gohan?"
"Well, I've finished college a few years ago and have been teaching in the nearby university."
"That sounds real nice! Trunks here has been doing rather well in school, too, haven't you, dear?"
Nodding once, Trunks didn't stop eating. The conversation sounded odd, as though staged.
"Really? Well, studies are important, young man."
All the young boy did was roll his eyes. Great, he though. An alley to mom. Quickly chewing down the rest of the meal while listening to the two adults speak, Trunks tried to excuse himself.
"Honey, stay and talk to us for a while longer."
"Aw, but mom!"
The boy pouted.
"I have homework. FOR TOMORROW."
To his amazement, Gohan came to his defense.
"Come on, Bulma, Trunks's homework are more important than this. I could always talk to him once he's done."
"Don't wait up."
Trunks said with a bit too much hostility than he really intended. When eyebrows were raised, Trunks lifted his arms.
"Whoa, unarmed man here! Eh heh heh… what I meant was that I have tons of homework which'll take tons of time! Yeah, that's it! Tons of time!"
Bulma seemed unsure. Gohan placed a comforting hand on hers, causing Trunks to glare a bit.
"Bulma, it's ok! It can wait…"
The look she gave him clearly stated otherwise.
"…It can wait until later."
Trunks didn't wait for his mother to react.
"Thanks, Gohan! Well, bye!"
Before Bulma could protest father, he left the room but by no chance the hearing range.
"Gohan, why'd you do that?! The sooner you talk to him, the better!"
"Come on, Bulma! You know even the walls…"
Gohan glanced around the room, half glaring.
"…Have ears."
Trunks frowned. What would his mother talk to this man about that she couldn't, from fear of treason?
"All right. But tomorrow, Gohan."
"All right."
"TOMORROW!"
"I promise!"
"good."
After a few minutes of silence, Trunks was about to leave when Bulma spoke again.
"How is he, Gohan."
'He?'
The boy wondered.
"As always. He sends his love."
A bitter chuckle.
"No. You send me his love. He'd never do it."
"He still cares for you, Bulma. And he wanted to come here himself when we discussed talking to Trunks, I just know it. And…"
Silence.
'Talking about me? Why? Who?'
"Trunks sweetie? You there?"
Trunks froze, but decided to play it cool.
"Just came here to get some juice, mom."
He entered the kitchen again with a smile.
"Ok, but go on to your homework now!"
"Sure thing, mom!"
This time, he didn't stay behind. He really did have homework to do… and something told him he really shouldn't listen to the rest of the conversation.
"Hey, Trunks!"
A short, blonde girl came running up to him. She had her hair in two pigtails.
"Heya, Marron."
She smiled and walked alongside him as they entered the school.
"How're you? Feeling better?"
"Yep!"
On the way to class, the two stopped by the message board. The boy Trunks beat up the other day came by, saw Trunks, and hurried away.
"Serves him right."
Marron said, glaring at the retreating figure. Trunks didn't pay the boy much attention.
"Hey, we got a new science teacher."
"Yeah, I heard the last one got, you know. Sent away."
The girl said quietly, glancing around.
"Really? Mr. Fairax? Odd, he seemed like a good guy."
"Well, we're expecting him back soon."
"And a new history teacher? How come?"
Marron shrugged.
"It's always the quiet ones."
"Then we better make some noise!"
Laughing, the two walked off, ignoring glances sent Trunks's way. The rebels attacked again the other day. Vegeta was with them.
Minutes moved like hours during the classes, and the breaks seemed too few and far too short. Finally the last lesson came by.
"So, now we finally find out who the mystery teacher is."
"I guess."
Trunks didn't care much. All he wanted to do was go home. He had already had three fights about his father's activity, of rather, the effects of that on his mother's loyalty. He really didn't feel like having another one.
'Man, why can't I just be a normal teenager? I mean, I'm just human! I swear, that Piccolo guy could walk down a street and he'll attract less attention than me!'
"Mister Briefs, are you with us?"
"Huh?"
Giggles spread across the class when trunks was snapped back to reality by the teacher, whose identity almost made Trunks fall from his chair.
"Gohan!"
The older man smiled.
"Well, you HAVE been paying attention then! Good, you just saved yourself and the class a pop quiz."
The giggles turned into claps and cheers.
"BUT! That doesn't mean I won't be giving pop quizzes while I'm here."
"Well, god can only give so much!"
Marron said, causing another fit of laughter.
"True. You're Marron, I assume?"
"Yes sir."
Trunks looked from his friend, to Gohan, and back. He couldn't quite understand the look Gohan was giving her.
"Pleased to meet you. Now I heard you've been given homework. Now, whoever did it, hand it over."
Before taking it out of his bag, Trunks felt Marron's hand touch his.
"I forgot to do it. Write my name on your paper, too."
"Well…"
The dilemma was solved for them.
"Those of you who didn't, don't worry."
Gohan said reassuringly.
"It's just to see how you work, no grades."
Relieved sighs spread across the class. Gohan snickered as he sat on the teacher's desk.
"Well then. I'm Gohan, like I said. I'm here to teach you history. Don't bother with your books, I've been authorized to try a new study program."
Murmurs started across the classroom.
"Hey, a new program?"
"Hope it's more interesting than the last one."
"I like this new teacher. He's cute."
"How do you think he knew us?"
Marron asked; Trunks heard her clearly, even with all the noise. He shrugged.
"Maybe the last teacher warned him from us."
"It's always the quiet ones, eh?"
She teased with a wink.
"Yeah."
"Ok, class! Enough with the chit chat. Time to start learning."
Gohan picked a piece of chalk and wrote one word on the blackboard. Trunks fell all looks turn to him, and the blood running out of his face.
"What can you tell me about Vegeta?"
A/N: hey there! Just to make another thing clear, I'm making Marron Trunks's age. Writing about him with no one else his age around is gonna be boring! X.x R&R! ^_^