A Song Beneath a Song
Go ahead as you waste your days with thinking
When you fall everyone stands
Another day and you've had your fill of sinking
With the life held in your
Hands are shaking cold
These hands are meant to hold
Speak to me, when all you got to keep is strong
Move along, move along like I know you do
And even when your hope is gone
Move along, move along just to make it through
Move along
Move along
So a day when you've lost yourself completely
Could be a night when your life ends
Such a heart that will lead you to deceiving
All the pain held in your
Hands are shaking cold
Your hands are mine to hold
- Move Along, the All American Rejects
What is this, Serena thought, idly brushing her hair. She turned her eyes to the gold framed mirror in front of her.
The same blue eyes stared back at her. She saw the same pale skin. The same blonde hair traveled down her back. Yet she could feel it, a giantchasm in her chest.
Everyday was a battle to hide that hole, to keep up the façade, When Serena first began to pretend that she was okay, fine and healthy, sad but getting over Darien, she wished that the edges of her mask would blur. After a week of acting, she had lost hope. Then the dreams started …
She shook her head. She wouldn't, no couldn't think of it. But the dream latched it claws.
In the nightmare, a palace surrounded her. To her left, a garden of dark dripping blossoms with silver leaves bloomed, incandescent in the moon light. A crystal chandelier cast indigo rainbows from the center of the room. The rays displayed the dark velvet curtains and the glimmering marble floor made to be danced on.
It was beautiful, that couldn't be denied but … everything seemed to emanate something subtle, something that never seemed to let go, something … dark.
Irrationally, a shiver washed down her spine like a bucket of ice water lashing her back. With the sensation still clinging unto her, she slid into bed. Tomorrow, she thought, focusing all her energy on that one idea, it'll be better. It had to be.
Sun seeped through the curtains, gently sending cold, bright rays into the room. Slowly, Serena opened her eyes. Another day, another opportunity, was that how the saying went? She couldn't remember.
Feeling no rush at all, she sat up. The alarm clock leered. In five minutes, school would start. She should run to get her stuff, falling all over herself, worrying about what Darien would think of her. She should care. She didn't.
Serena got to school late, no that was too mild a word. She arrived just a few seconds before the teacher would have counted it as a skip. The rest of the class laughed, rolled their eyes, or shook their heads. Serena didn't care. Apathy flowed like blood through her veins. She sat down and stared at the clock. Five seconds gone. 20 seconds gone. Time trickled by.
No daydreams distracted her. No food was shoved into her mouth. Serena just sat, looking oddly picturesque, eyes never leaving the pale face of the clock.
The bell rang. It was time for lunch
Serena's body almost shook with dread. Molly, Lita, Amy, everyone expected the bouncing, big-hearted crybaby. Serena was no longer that girl.
As all things pass, lunch passed. Everyone chatted, laughed, and played. Serena put on her mask. Thirty minutes inched by as Serena charmed the group into thinking she was fine. Afterwards, she left the lunch room with a small amount of indignation over the fact that she had not won an Oscar.
Ricocheting off a several people, Serena dazedly tramped to class. Once in her seat, she gave a feeble attempt to pay attention but the clock called to her. Just a glance, she told herself, just a glance. One second gone. Two seconds gone. Two hours gone…
BRING! School ended. Blinking furiously, Serena tried to get back to earth. However, she was still distracted and senseless when she got her stuff and left. Arcade bound; she stumbled through the student-infested streets. Maybe Sailor V would get her mind of Darien …
The minute Serena looked into the arcade, the bright glitter of hope vanished. Through a window she could see Darien and … Raye. A sexy smile etched on his face, he leaned against the counter, Raye simpered back at him. Two milkshakes stood, half full (or was that half empty?), between them.
Darien must have not cared that much for me at all, Serena concluded. At that moment, something with razor sharp claws began to shred her apart from the inside. Serena, slightly bent with pain, collapsed onto a nearby bench.
Jealousy and despair infested her body. She couldn't think straight. Darien was supposed to be drinking milkshakes with her, not Raye. He was supposed to love her. She wanted him to love her. She needed him to love her. She loved him. Was that so wrong? Did God, the universe, Buddha, who ever was calling the shots hate her?
Serena couldn't take it.
She rushed to get past the arcade as if it could reach out and grab her. Head-bent against the wind, hands clutching her books, she sped through the crowds. BAM! Something hard and warm collided with her.
Serena looked up, just about to shake her fist and shout, "Watch where you're going." But then she met his blue/violet/grey colored eyes. They seemed so clear, so wanting. Strands of pale hair surrounded his angular but handsome face. His muscular but lean frame wore a simple suit. There was something very … gentlemen-like about him. Yet, he had reckless untamed aura.
Blushing deeply, Serena backed away. She leaned over to pick up her books. He beat her to it. He elegantly swept them up with one arm and held them out to her.
"Sorry," Serena mumbled, "I should pay more attention to where I am going." He gave her a thin smile, displaying perfect white teeth.
"Its fine," They weren't very meaningful words. Of course, it was fine for him. Serena had bounced off of him, not the other way around.
But inexplicably, tears exploded. Whatever strength Serena possessed vanished. Hastily, she ripped her books from his grasp. A shocked and horrified expression replaced his apologetic smile. She ran, his cries of confusion following her.
Her shoes, black, shiny and impractical, and her sobs, wearing, soul-shaking and unstoppable, hampered her flight. Finally, she stopped, feeling red blisters developing on the soles of her feet.
"Did I really hurt you?" The man asked, devastated. It took a lifetime for Serena to control her sobs enough to say, "It wasn't you. It has nothing to do with you. I'm sorry." The words sounded horse and thick.
"It doesn't matter," He told her soothingly, "I'm … Daniel. Is there any way I could help you?"
Serena shook her head. Unless he could brainwash Darien into loving her, all he could do was get back to his life.
"At least tell me why you're crying," Daniel placed a comforting arm on her shoulder. After managing to get her weeping under control, Serena glanced behind her, into the man's face, only to see a fist crash into it.
"Darien," She cried, forcing the words out of her lips, "Stop!" Shocked and shaken, she steped back. Darien only followed her command after receiving an equally powerful punch from Daniel.
"I know why you're crying now," Daniel said, eyeing Darien with blatant disdain.
"I do, too. She's crying because some pervert is following her," Darien growled. His face mirrored Daniel's contempt. Serena wished a giant black hole would open up and swallow her.
"Just leave me alone," She screeched. "He didn't do anything!"
She lurched into a running step but two sets of strong arms stopped her. Each man gripped one of her wrists. She still tried to escape. Couldn't they see she was dying?
She was a bird, wings flapping futilely against the iron bands of her cage. It was pointless. She stopped fighting.
"Serena," Darien began in between giving Daniel antagonistic glances, "We need to meet the others at the temple."
Serena paused a moment. She took a deep breath, once, twice. She turned around, "Could you let me go?"
Immediately, looking almost repentant, the two men freed her. They leaned towards her to prepare themselves in case she chose to try to bolt again. Serena stood very still, staring at the two attractive faces.
"You don't have to go if you don't want too," Daniel said kindly, reaching out and wiping away a tear with his thumb. Darien eyes fixed on the stranger darkly as if many violent thoughts were directed towards him.
"No," She said, feeling a tad stronger, "I need to go to the temple. I just f-forgot." She twirled around so that she saw only Daniel. "It was nice to meet you. See you around," She said gently.
"See you around. Call me if this jerk gives you anymore trouble," Daniel said, a slight smile softening his features. Serena couldn't help but feel a bit better. At least someone liked her. A little smile curved her lips until she saw Darien next to her. Reminded of her broken-heart, her smile faded as she and Daniel parted ways.
Serena, meatballs hanging limply, walked to the temple. Darien strolled next to her, his expression unreadable.
"You shouldn't go around talking to strangers like that," Darien advised. Serena stole a moment to compose herself. Being with him but having him would put her in an early grave. It took everything she had to not fall unto her knees and beg him to take her back.
"You should go around punching people when you don't know the situation," Serena said. She wondered about how she could sound so cool. It wasn't like her to be like that, even she knew it.
"I thought he was attacking you," Darien answered. If he were any other man, he would have sounded sheepish but he was Darien. Darien never played the pathetic hangdog. He was strong. Maybe that was why she loved him.
"You could have asked, baka," She used the old nickname carelessly. She doubted that he noticed. Why would he notice her? She was history.
"So why were you crying? Did you break a nail?" Darien taunted. It reminded her of the times before they knew each other's identities.
"Yes," She lied. Blinking, she stared at him curiously. Would that shut him up? Darien looked taken aback.
"You're kidding," He said. There was no way in hell that she'd cry like that over a nail. He wasn't stupid but maybe it'd work.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" She teased with feigned humor and confidence, continuing to walk. Darien, if it was possible, looked even more taken aback.
From a distance, the temple loomed at her. Inside the Sailor Soldiers waited. W they were waiting they would moan and groan about her lateness, Serena knew. It was the same, always the same, every time.
In fact, as they drew closer to their destination, the Sailor Scouts complaints traveled to her ears.
"She's always late!" Raye cried, annoyed and aggravated.
"We should be lenient. Serena's late when she hasn't had her heart ripped out." Ami said. Serena and Darien entered in the middle of a group nod of agreement.
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The following is some official-ish (yes official-ish is word) type thing for people who want to sue and or understand my story better.
This chapter is more of a description of the setting rather than the actual events some of which will happen in the next chapter. I tried my best to make this chapter original but if it is similar to someone else's, I apologize, It wasn't intentional. And if its similar now it probably won't later. On another note, the lyrics earlier are not owned by me and I don't profit from them in any monetary way. Once again I do not own or profit from Sailor moon or this fanfic. Phew, I'm done covering my ass.