This is my first attempt at a completely AU one shot(with 3 parts) for Sailor Moon. The idea for this came into my head one day and would not leave until I wrote it all down. My writing style is not that great, and I am searching for a beta to help me out. This story takes place mostly in flashbacks so if the past/present tense of the grammar is wrong I apologize. I love writing stories I just am not the best with grammar. Also this story is meant to be kinda fragmented. I felt that it didn't call for overly descrptive paragraphs on what someone was wearing, ya know what I mean? This is the basics and I trust you kind readers to fill in the blanks yourself. Just let me know what you think. Aside from grammar, I know I need to work on that!

My name is Serena. I am 14 years old girl, and my life up until now, has been rather simple. Problems are different to different people. Some may look at my problem, and think, "No big deal."

But for a life that has been simple, a problem like mine throws everything out of whack.

Perhaps I should start at the beginning to help you understand.

From the moment I was born, I have had two loyal friends. I have, of course, obtained and retained more since then, but that is beside the point. Darien and Seiya have been my friends from the start. Never mind that they are both boys and a few years older than me. Darien was 6 and Seiya was 2 when I was born. Our families live on the same street, with Darien and Seiya being next door neighbors and me and my family living right across the street. Our parents were all friends before we were born, so naturally, we became best friends.

As children we ran, laughed, cried, and over all had a great childhood together. Even as Darien got older he never shunned us, or grew out of us. He was always there for me and Seiya.

What could my problem be if I have such great friends?

They both love me.

Not in a friendly plutonic way, but as more, so much more. I am not being vain either, I am just a simple girl, that has a big problem. Both the men that I have known my entire life, confronted me on separate occasions, to confess their love.

What am I to do? Do I love one more than the other? Am I even old enough to know what love is? Do I even love either of them that way? Can we ever go back?

Maybe it would help if I started when I think, all this began. On my first day of high school.

I woke up, and very nearly threw up. It was the day I had been waiting for all summer. High School.

I jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom, shoving my little brother Sammy out of the way.

"Hey watch it, Meatball Head!"

I merely snorted at my 8 year old brother, and slammed the bathroom door in his face.

How I hated that nickname. I almost hated Darien for giving it to me last winter. I played a snow fairy in my school play and I came up with, what I thought at the time, a rather fabulous hairstyle. I pulled my long blonde hair in two pigtails, and as an added effect put my hair in buns at the top of the pigtail. I sported that hair style, and still do, like there was no tomorrow. Then Darien had to go and call me, Meatball Head. It caught on of course. Seiya only calls me that when he is in a bad mood, or just wants to tease me. Darien seems to call me it all the time.

And just to deny him, just to make him think that I didn't care, I kept my hair that way. And as I look back now I know deep down, I kept my hair that way to get his attention. I was no fool. I was a young girl, who liked attention from boys. It helped that my two closest friends were boys. Yet, that didn't mean that I loved them. I was, and still am, young.

I frantically showered and dressed, making sure I looked my best. As best as someone could look in a school uniform anyway. It had a long blue skirt, that went just below my knees. With a white blouse, that looked a little like a sailor uniform. I didn't mind really, blue was a good color on me. Over the summer my lanky form had filled out and softened, and the braces I had worn since I was 11 were finally removed. I looked at my face and realized it too had changed slightly. I was starting to look mature. I beamed, for I badly wanted to finally grow up.

I ran down stairs, inhaled my breakfast, and thanked my mom, before running out side.

Darien was going to drive me and Seiya to school. All though he was in college now, he always had time for me and Seiya. He lived with his parents still, so he wouldn't have to pay for the overpriced dorms, and college food. I had thought everything was going to change when he joined college two years ago, but it has in essence stayed the same.

I stood on my front stoop, anxiously awaiting for him to arrive. I stared at his front door, willing it to open and reveal him.

Just as I did, that's exactly what happened. Whenever I see him, my breath catches in my throat. He is stunning. His hair is short, but not too short, as his ebony bangs fall across his eyes. He is tall, broad shouldered, and has the most amazing smile I have ever seen.

As he walks across the street, smiling at me, I still find it hard to believe that a man like him would still hang around a little girl like me.

As children, he was always mine and Seiya's protector. If I wanted to try jumping on a trampoline with my hands, he would dissuade me. If Seiya wanted to ride a bike with no hands, Darien would put an end to that notion. He always looked out for us, and in his own way still does. His continence has always been quite, contemplative, and strong. As a child he was known as the 'serious' one of the group. As he has gotten older, he has lightened up a little, but I never want him to change.

"Hiya, Meatball Head!" he greeted me as he climbed the steps of my front stoop.

I rolled my eyes and said, "Are you ever going to use my name again?"

He shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not, Meatball Head."

I playfully slapped his shoulder and he laughs.

"So, Seiya is late?"

"Kind of, I think I am early."

"That's a first!"

Again, I slap his shoulder. We lapse into a comfortable silence, and I hop up on to the brick banister and let my feet dangle above the ground. He leans his tall frame against it and raises his face to the sun, closing his eyes.

"It's not going to be like this much longer." He states.

"Like what?"

He hesitates in answering, and when he does I feel it's not what he was originally going to say.

"The weather. Fall will be here before we know it."

I nod, even though he cannot see with his eyes closed, and I noticed Seiya coming out of his front door. He sees me and waves vigorously. I smile, and wait for him to approach.

Seiya has not changed much since he was a child. He has always been the opposite of Darien. He is brash, daring, and curious. The word no was never an option for him, he always did what he wanted. As he has grown, much has stayed the same. He grew his dark black hair into a long ponytail, that our collective mothers want him to cut. He knows it bothers them, which is probably why he does it. His looks are softer than Darien's and he pulls it off well.

He has been in high school for two years and is already a huge football star. He keeps trying to get me to try out for cheerleading today, and he almost has me convinced. Almost.

"Ian! Meatball Head!" he calls to us as he runs to my stoop.

Darien groans, for he hates the nickname Seiya gave him. Also if Seiya is calling us both by our dreaded nick names, that means he is in an mischievous mood.

"So, Meatball Head, are you ready for this? The terrors of high school?"

"Oh please, if they accepted you, I am sure I will do fine."

He grabbed his heart in mock pain and fell to the ground saying, "The fair maiden doth hurt me so!" and looking at Darien he raised an imploring arm, "Please good sir, help a fellow gentleman in his anguish?"

Darien rolls his eyes, but still took Seiya's hand and helped him up.

"Good sir, I owe you my life!"

"Seiya, stop it." Said Darien.

I could sense an argument about to form so I quickly put in, "Look we better get going, I don't want to be late."

The men both nod, and wordlessly we all walk to Darien's red sports car. He had won it over a year ago at a radio contest, he was the last one with his hand on it after 24 hours.

When we are finally driving toward the school Seiya asks me from the back seat, "So, Serena, any more thought on trying out for cheerleading?"

"I don't know Seiya."

"Oh come on it will be great! You will get to come to all my games, I would get to see you in a cheerleading outfit, it's a win, win for everyone!"

When Seiya said that I noticed Darien's knuckles go white as he clenched the steering wheel. Seiya had started to make comments like that for some time now, and I brushed them off as merely Seiya being Seiya.

"And," he adds, "I think Mina is going to try out, so you would have a friend there with you."

"Hm, well that would be nice. I didn't want to do it all by myself. I bet I could Lita to come too!"

"Now that's more like!" he said as he clapped his hands in triumph.

"Serena."

I blink in confusion and look at Darien. He hasn't called me by my name in months.

"Yes?"

He sighs heavily, and I know he is going to go into protective mode.

"Don't do something just because someone else does. And defiantly don't do it just because someone else is pushing you too."

I heard a snort from the back seat but otherwise Seiya doesn't say anything.

I contemplate what Darien said, and I realize he is right. I have had this problem my whole life. If someone else wants to do something, even if I don't want to, I will. As kids it was little stuff like, Seiya wanted to play Old Maid, and not Go Fish. So we played Old Maid. Darien had often consulted me to speak my mind, and not let Seiya push me around. It was really no big deal as a child, but I knew in adulthood it could be dangerous.

"Seiya," I said, "I am going to have to think about it some more, ok?"

"Yeah all right." Was his defeated response.

Darien winked at me, and my heart skipped. Things like that had started to happen a lot more whenever Darien was around. But not knowing what it meant, I ignored it.

"Darien, I just wanted to say thanks," I said, "for dropping us off for our first day of high school. Well my first, anyway."

He smiled and said lightly, "I wouldn't miss it."

Just then he pulled up to the front of our school and put his car in park.

"Well here we are. Seiya, look after her, ok?"

Seiya hopped out of the car, opened my door for me and held his hand for me to take, "That goes without saying."

"You guys, I can take care of myself."

Seiya laughed and said, "This coming from the girl that insisted she could do a hand stand, and ended up breaking her wrist?"

"The same girl," added Darien, "That adopted a wild raccoon for a day, because he looked cute?"

"The same girl…"

"All right!" I snapped, before Seiya could add more, "I get it!"

Just then, a glass shattering shriek could be heard across the school's courtyard.

"SERENA!"

Darien quickly rolled his eyes, and the three of us said in unison, "Mina."

"I better go," said Darien, "Have a good day you two. I'll see you later."

We waved good bye and turned to see Mina, dragging an embarrassed Ami behind her.

"Serena! Seiya!" was her wanton call to us.

Mine was a extremely bubbly blonde, with great ambitions, and enough energy to power a small town. Ami was a very shy, bookish girl that never like much attention. Which is strange since she insisted on dying her hair blue, which drew a lot of attention.

I had become friends with these girl in elementary school, and we've been as thick as thieves along with Rei and Lita.

"Oh my goodness, isn't this the most?"

Seiya raised his eyebrow, "The most? Does any say that anymore?"

Mina eyes him shrewdly, "Old saying are in right now, duh Seiya."

He just rolled his eyes and then said, "Hello Ami. How are you? Excited for your first year of high school?"

Ami nodded vigorously, "Oh yes! I am looking forward to the academic challenges I will face."

"Have you guys seen Lita, or Rei?" I asked.

Mina shook her head, "Not yet, but last night I called them and made them promise to meet up for lunch. So we will see them eventually."

"Seiya!"

Well turned to look behind us to find Seiya's football teammates, Yaten, and Clancy.

"Hi Yaten, hi Clancy." I waved.

"Whoa, easy with the Clancy! Call me Taiki."

"Taiki? Where did that come from?"

"From an anime I read over the summer. So no more Clancy, ok? Spread it around school."

"Sure." I shrugged.

I wasn't a huge fan of Yaten or Taiki. They had never liked me and Seiya being so close and not being boyfriend and girlfriend. Girls were a waste of time to them, unless it was for one thing.

"Serena don't be rude! Introduce us to these lovely freshmen!" Yaten purred while wiggling his eyebrows at Mina. She giggled, like most girls would with Yaten looking at them.

Yaten had artificially silver colored hair, which he claimed was natural. He was handsome, and a football star. Taiki was tall, with brown hair, and a rather large forehead, but still attractive. Yaten had the charms, he had the bulk. Both would be very nice guys, if they tried, but they rarely did.

"Oh sorry," I said lamely, "Yaten, Taiki, these are my friends, Mina and Ami."

Pleasantries were exchanged, but I had warned Mina and Ami about these two already, so I had little to worry about. With Ami at least.

"Anyway Seiya," said Yaten, "We have got to go check out the field before first period. I heard the school got some grants or something and there is a new scoreboard!"

"No way! This I got to see! See you later Serena!"

I turned back to my friends, roll my eyes and say, "Boys."

"Is this the right place?"

"Yeah, I told them by the large oak tree."

"This was the only oak at school, right Mina."

"Um, yeah I guess I didn't check that."

"Mina!"

Mina, Ami, and I stood outside the school cafeteria waiting to see if Lita and Rei would show up. My first day was going rather well, with no major mishaps or screw ups. Seiya was in almost all of my classes, along with Mina. Ami was in some accelerated classes so we didn't see her much. Now we just needed to meet up with Lita and Rei and the day would be great.

"There they are." Stated Ami, and sure enough Lita and Rei were walked determinedly toward us.

Rei was a spit fire, to put it simply. She had a short fuse, and large temper. That was only on the surface though. She had a hard childhood, and grew up with her sharp tongue as her only defense. Once you got to know her she was sweet and kind, and would do anything for you. Her hair was long and raven colored, and with almond shaped eyes she looked very exotic.

Lita was the tallest of our group, and the strongest. I once saw her beat up a guy that had tried to take Ami's lunch money last year. The guy was easily taller than her, but she took him down like he was nothing. Her brown hair was always worn in a ponytail, and aside from Darien, was the most protective of my friends. Inside that rough tomboyish exterior is the heart of a tender, feminine girl. She loved to cook and clean, and was always there for us.

"There you are!" said Rei, "Sheesh, it took us forever to find you! Thanks for the vague directions, Mina."

"Sorry."

"Oh well," said Lita, "So are any of you going to try out for cheerleading?"

"I am so there!" squealed Mina.

Ami shook her head, absolutely not.

"Serena? How about you?" asked Rei.

"No."

I had thought on it all day, and finally decided that I did not want to be a cheerleader. I didn't even like football. If I did go for it, I would feel hypocritical.

Rei nodded, "Same here. I'd rather concentrate on looking at the players than memorize annoying chants."

"Cheers!" corrected Mina.

"I am going to pass too," said Lita, "I know they would always make me be the vault for the other tiny girls. I am not going to hoist some 90 pound girl in the air every Friday night!"

We all burst out laughing, and that's when I saw him.

"Oh gross. Its Stephen Diamond."

He was standing in at the door to the cafeteria, just watching us. The Diamond family was one of the richest in the town, and they thought that meant they could do whatever they wanted. Stephen for some reason had pinpointed me as his target. I think it was a bet, or something. He was too high class for me. Every since the fifth grade he was always trying to get me to go out with him. He is attractive with natural silver hair, and deep dark eyes, but his beauty was defiantly only skin deep. He was the most rude snob of a jerk I had ever met.

"Oh, just fantastic, he's coming over her." Said Mina.

Lita was instantly by my side, and her hands were already in loose fists.

"Hello, Serena." He said, without even glancing at my friends, as if they didn't matter to him at all.

"Hello, Stephen." I said cordially.

I was hoping during the summer he had changed for the better. I was wrong.

"Why don't you leave this sordid group, and join me for lunch?"

"I am going to have to pass."

"Why?"

"Because these are my friends."

He took a step closer to me and Lita was in between us in an instant.

He rolled his eyes, and said, "Would you mind, Amazon, to step aside?"

Lita just smiled and said, "Amazon, I like that. You do realize they were warriors, right?"

Stephen's sure grin wavered slightly, but before he could respond, we heard, "Is there a problem here?"

I turned to see Seiya and I exhaled with relief. Stephen was a creep, and a coward. He would call girls whatever he wanted, but if he met up with another, stronger, boy he would crumble.

"No," he said quickly, "In fact I was just leaving. Ladies."

He bowed low and backed away hurriedly.

"Thanks Seiya!" I said, "He was just starting to bug us!"

"No problem, I do love rescuing damsels in distress. Even though I think your, what was it, Amazon? I think she would have handled him easily."

Lita smiled, "I like that. Amazon. I am totally going to use that from now on."

Seiya walked up next me and swung his arm over my shoulder.

"So Serena, any further thought to becoming a cheerleader?"

"Yeah, I decided to pass."

A hurt look crossed his face, but vanished instantly.

"Ok, whatever," he said as he pulled away, "I am sure you want your Friday nights opened to spend with Darien, anyway."

With that he walked away, not saying good bye.

"What did he mean by that? I always come to his games, I just didn't want to be a cheer leader."

Rei and Lita exchanged a knowing look, and if I had looked at Mina and Ami I would have seen the same look pass between them.

"What am I missing?" I asked them.

Lita smiled sweetly at me and said, "Serena, we love you, even if you are a little naïve."

Before I could question her further the warning bell sounded.

"Oh no!" said Ami, "I might be late! See you all later!"

With that she burst into a run, and was nothing but a blue blur.

"I want to get to my class early," said Lita, "There is this cute sophomore named Nick that I am hoping is in my class. I want to try to sit next to him!"

"Oh I want to see!" said Mina, and they both left.

"Well, what class is next for you?" asked Rei.

"Um, English."

"Same here, let's go."

It was Friday night, and Seiya's first game of the season. My first week of school went by rather fast, and mundanely. Aside from the events of the first day, life was normal. Seiya had said sorry for his attitude, but still didn't address what he meant by his statement. But I could tell he was truly sorry so I let it slide. I promised to be at every game I could, and would support him all the way. He smiled, and things went back to normal.

I ran downstairs Friday night, looking for my mother to show here my school spirit outfit.

"MOM!"

"In the dining room, sweetie."

I ran into the dining room to find my mother reading the newspaper, and I twirled for her to approve my clothes. The school's colors are green and white, so I wore my green polo with a white long-sleeved shirt underneath and my signature hairstyle was filled with green and white bows.

My mother's face turned worried as she looked at my clothes.

"What's wrong?"

"Your father was called into work tonight sweetie, he took the car."

"WHAT? This is Seiya's first game of the season! I can't miss it!"

She got up from her seat and held up her hands imploring me to calm down.

"I know, I know. I don't want you to miss it either. Why don't you ask Darien for a ride? I thought he was going to the game as well."

My stomach does a somersault and I smile.

"Oh thanks mom! I never thought of that! I'll go ask him now!"

I turned and ran from my house, missing my mother's knowing smile.

I knocked on the door to Darien's home and his grandmother answered.

"Gramma S! I didn't know you were in town!"

Darien's grandmother smiled, as least I thought she did. She was a tiny women, grown shorter than me with her age. Her face was a mass of wrinkles, and her eyes basically lost in the folds of her face. Her silver mane of hair was always made into a bun on the very top of her head, and she always had a shawl around her shoulders. I never had any grandparents, but she has always filled that void for me.

"I just go in yesterday, dearie. Since this is your first week of high school I will give you a break for not knowing I was here."

I threw my arms around her shoulders in a hug and she returned happily.

"Gramma S, I would love to stay here tonight, but…"

"The football game." She interrupted me, "Yes, yes I know. Darien was going as well."

"That is perfect! I need to ask him for a lift."

I heard footsteps down the hall and Darien turned the corner asking, "Gramma? Is someone here?"

My eyes grew to the size of footballs. He must have just gotten out of the shower for his hair was dripping wet and he only had his jeans on. I had seen Darien without a shirt on before, as children going to the local swimming pool, but it has been a few years. I could tell he worked out.

He was all muscle, and something about seeing him like this made me very warm all over. Water was dripping onto his broad shoulders from his hair, which slide down his smooth chest to his the waist band of his jeans.

"Serena!" He exclaimed as he backed into the kitchen.

"Um…" was all I could reply.

He came back from the kitchen with a hand towel frantically drying his hair, and that only made me stare more. I could see the muscles in his arms and when he threw the towel back into the kitchen his hair was, sexy messy. I had heard the term used my Lita and never understood what it meant until now. It was tussled in just the right way and it swept in front of his eyes perfectly.

"Gramma, why didn't you tell me Serena was here?"

"She just came over, and you were in the shower. I didn't want to bother you."

He walked up to me and smiled, but he still looked a little embarrassed.

He looked deep into my eyes as he asked, "How can I help you?"

I felt the girliest giggle of my life coming on and it took all my strength to repress it.

"Can I have a ride to the game tonight?"

As I spoke my words all meshed into one and I barely managed to blurt that out with screaming it.

"What was that, Serena?"

There he went using my name again. I know he was saying it because Gramma S would not let him get away with teasing me. But the way he said it made me shiver. I had no idea what was going on with me.

I took a few calming breathes and asked, "I need a ride to the game tonight, can I go with you?"

"Your dad isn't taking you?"

"No, he had to go into work."

"How did you know I was going?"

"My mom told me."

Gramma S intervened at this moment, seeing it as nothing but a waste of time, "Of course he can take you, dearie. He will pick you up in an hour."

I turn to her and thank her, then I turn to Darien and see him smiling at me.

"What?" I ask dumbly.

"I like your outfit."

Again, I had to suppress a giggle. I ran out of the house to the safety of my own.

The game was fantastic. Our school won its first game of the season and all because of Seiya. I don't know much about football, and I will admit I had other things on my mind but I still cheered on with the best of them. What was really eventful was what happened after the game, which I did not find out about until later. I was hanging out with my friends in the bleachers after the game when Darien excused himself and said he would be back.

This is what happened.

Darien walked away from Serena and her friends, knowing that it was now or never to talk to Seiya. He walked toward the school and waited outside of the entrance that the team was sure to came out from after they left the locker rooms.

Darien knew what he had to do, and he hated it. He had a great childhood growing up with Seiya and Serena. He never wanted to lose their friendship. But he knew he would lose one or the both of them soon.

Darien loved Serena. He loved her from the first day he meant her. At first it was nothing but an innocent love of a child. When he had first meant her he was only 6. When Serena's mother had let him hold baby Serena, he had given her a small kiss. Later he told his mother with confidence that he would marry Serena.

As they grew older, his love for her grew as well. He couldn't stop it, or control it. He didn't want too. He loved her innocence, her ability to make everyone around her happy, her caring heart. He loved absolutely everything about her.

And he knew Seiya did too. But he just had to make sure.

He waited for a half an hour before he heard the team approaching the exit. He straightened up and waited for Seiya.

He saw him instantly, being shoved good naturedly by the rest of the team.

Seiya say him too, and stopped abruptly.

"Guys you go on, I'll catch up."

All the team left without hesitation, and soon it was only Darien and Seiya.

"Sup." Said Seiya.

"Great game."

"Thanks. So, um, did Serena come with you?"

"Yeah, her dad had to work late so I brought her."

Seiya relaxed visibly, obviously thinking that Darien and Serena were on a date.

"We need to talk, Seiya."

Darien's tone left not room for argument, and Seiya tensed up again.

"About what?"

"Serena."

Seiya's eyes light up with knowledge, "What about her?"

"Do you love her? As more than a friend?"

Seiya shifted his weight and crossed his arms in thought.

"Yes, I do love her. I know you do too."

"That's right, I do."

Both men stood silently in front of each other, until finally Seiya broke the silence.

"What happens now?"

"Nothing at the moment," Said Darien, "Things are going to continue this way."

"Why?"

"Serena is still young and innocent. If we both pull on her to try and win her affection we will only push her away. I can see she is confused about us."

"I've noticed that too. You're right. We need to just let it be for a while."

Darien extended his hand, hoping Seiya would take it. Seiya hesitated, but shook hands with the older man.

"You've been a great friend, Seiya."

"Ditto. Let's hope someday it will be that way again."

During this whole encounter, which I did not learn of until much later, I was happily visiting with my friends. Lita, Rei, and Mina were busy discussing the cutest players on the team, while Ami quietly read from a text book. I smiled good naturedly as they ask me for my opinion. The only thing that kept popping into my head was Darien, shirtless and smiling.

"Serena?" asked Mina, "Earth to Serena, are you there?"

She waved a hand in front of my vacant face and I snapped back to the present.

"Yeah, what's up?"

Mina gave me a concerned look and asked, "We just wanted to know who you thought was the cutest guy on the team?"

My mind keep shouting at me to say Seiya to escape the silly question, but my mouth said, "Darien."

The three girls discussing the boys started visibly, and even Ami looked up from her book.

Before any of them could question me, a voice asked, "Serena, may I have the honor of talking to you, in private."

I turned to see Stephen Diamond and without thinking I said, "Sure, but make it quick."

He smiled triumphantly, and Lita rose to her feet.

I gestured for her to sit back down and whispered, "I'll be ok."

I walked down the bleachers with him to the very last seat and said, "This will do."

He didn't seem to like that I chose where we were going to talk so he said, "Just a little further."

I shrugged and walked to the end of the bleachers with him, and stopped. I could still see my friends, and I felt fine. I knew Stephen was a creep, but I figured his bark was worse than his bite.

I looked at him with a raised eyebrow, indicating him to start the conversation.

"I have reserved a table at the finest restaurant in town for tomorrow night. You will come with me."

I snorted, "Yeah, right. Firstly, no. Secondly, that is no way to ask any girl out on a date."

His eyes flashed with anger and without warning he grabbed my upper arm and squeezed tightly.

"Stephen, let go!"

"Any girl would love to be in your place, I know they wouldn't refuse me!"

"Then ask them!" I shouted angrily still trying to get out of his grip.

I could hear Lita's alarmed shout and then loud thudding footsteps.

"Let go of her, kid."

I looked behind Stephen in surprise to see Darien. I sighed in relief. Stephen released my arm, and turned on Darien. He paled instantly seeing the older man standing in front of him.

"We were just talking." Stephen said dumbly.

Darien stepped right in front of Stephen and said, "I would want nothing more than to hurt you right now."

Stephen instantly started trembling.

"But I won't. I don't want to get charged with assaulting a minor."

Stephen's face grew red with anger, clearly not happy with being called a child.

"Do you know how my father is?" he asked angrily.

Darien rolled his eyes and looked at me, "Ready to go, Serena? Do any of the girls need rides home?"

"Yeah, I am ready let me go ask to see if they need rides."

I turned to see all my friends right behind me, all of them staring daggers into the back of Stephen's head.

"Yeah, we could all us a lift." Said Rei.

"You guys go ahead," said Lita, "I want to have a word with Stephen."

Darien smiled, and turned to go with the four of us trailing him.

We got to his car and Darien chuckled, "I am sure she has no problem with hurting him."

I may have not liked the way Stephen treated me, but I didn't want anyone to get in trouble for my sake.

"Thank you, Darien." I said sheepishly, suddenly embarrassed by the ordeal, "He said he wanted to talk then he got angry when I turned him down."

Darien came up to me, gently took my hand and said, "Does it hurt to move your arm?"

I could feel his warm hand closed around mine and I looked deeply into his eyes. I swallowed hard, and shook my head. I am not sure how long we stood like that, but it seemed like an eternity until Ami politely cleared her throat. I withdrew my hand instantly, and I could have sworn I saw Darien blush.

"Lita is coming back." Said Mina.

We all turned to see Lita approaching us with a satisfied smirk on her face.

"I am ready to go." She stated and without saying anything else got into the car.

We all exchanged glances, shrugged and got into the car to go home. None of us were surprised when Monday came, and Stephen showed up to school with a black eye.