A/N: I thought I'd do a couple of short fics to kill some time because I've hit something of a block with my other stories. Bummer right? I'm totally sad... I added 1 chap to one of my stories and got 2 reviews. You know how depressing that is? You know I'm gonna let those stories die. I'm so bummed I won't even finish them. *sniffle*

Let's Play Like We're Friends

Chapter 1

"Come on Andrew, you know that there's NO ONE else who knows about this place than I do. I come in every day and have been for years." Serena pleaded, her hands clasped together in a prayer pose and a pathetic puppy dog expression on her face. Serena was 18 now and was well into the first semester of college. The girls for the most part had wanted to and actually started working as soon as they were able to, a concept that didn't catch on with Serena until just recently. Soon after starting college she realized she needed some extra spending money. For some reason college was much more expensive than high school.

Andrew and Darien on the other hand had just started medical school and Andrew needed all the extra time he could to study. Since Andrew had been working for several years now, he had enough saved away that he could cut down on working.

Andrew frowned and gained a pensive look on his face. Serena had been coming in since she was in middle school and even knew the menu as well as he did. "You wanna start now?" Andrew asked with a smile.

"Sure!" Serena began to dance in the middle of the cafe. Her first job! And it was at her favorite place in town. Maybe she could even get discounts or even FREE sundaes!!!

Andrew reached behind the counter and tossed Serena an apron then handed her a rag. "This isn't going to be ALL fun and games. You're gonna have to clean and stuff too."

"Don't worry Andrew. You won't regret it." Serena took the tub for empty dishes and began to clear a newly unoccupied table. This was Serena's chance to shine. She'd had some jobs in the past, here and there. But nothing like this. She babysat before and even helped her dad out by doing some filing at the office. But this was a job. A real job!

Darien walked in and situated himself at his usual spot on his stool. As immature as it was, this cafe/arcade was his favorite place in town. He was going to be a doctor and his favorite place in all of Tokyo was basically a glorified Chuckie Cheese. His only worry was that one day he was going to be a graying, seasoned physician who still hung out here. He nearly shuddered at the thought.

"How's it going Dare?" Andrew asked, handing Darien a cup of black coffee. As bland as it seemed Darien loved black coffee. In his mind it seemed to balance out the fact that he hung out in a cafe SLASH arcade.

"Not bad." He said with a smile. "You?" Andrew tossed his head towards Serena with a smile on his face. The girl was wearing an apron and cleaning of some tables. Darien laughed and looked at his friend like he'd lost his mind. "You're kidding me." The entire idea of Serena working was funny. Maybe that thought wasn't fair to his Meatball Head, but she hardly came off as the working type. Darien pictured her accidentally breaking dishes or stuffing her face.. not actually working.

"I really hired her." Andrew grinned towards the girl. "She saw my 'Help Wanted' sign and practically BEGGED for the job."

Darien shook his head and chuckled. "You know she's probably just doing this for the perks of having free milkshakes and ice cream."

"I know, but I can still use the help anyways." Andrew admitted. "We're in med school. I need the study time."

Serena walked over to the counter with a full tub of dishes and an enthusiastic smile on her face. "Hi." She beamed, Darien thought he was going to fall over. It was the first time she'd ever greeted him happily. EVER. She was positively glowing, baby blue eyes twinkling, toothy smile and everything. It was rare that he saw her glow that way and he'd never seen her smile that wayat him before.

"No insults?" Darien asked with a surprised look, a hand placed over his heart. "I'm not liking this hard-working and nice Meatball Head." He cocked an eyebrow at Serena who merely blushed and stuck her tongue out Darien. "There we go."

"You can't ruin my mood you meanie." Serena tossed her hair and went to go wash the dishes in the back of the café.

"Serena doing dishes?" Darien commented incredulously.

"Kind of scary right?" Andrew asked with a chuckle. The two men heard something fall onto the ground followed by an irritated grunt from the back.

"Definitely."

……………………………………..

"Try it." Serena said shoving over the first milkshake she'd ever made over to Andrew. She crossed her fingers as Andrew sipped away. 'Please be edible. Please be edible...' Serena chanted to herself mentally. So far she felt like she'd shown Andrew she could work, now she was getting into the tougher stuff... actually making drinks and food. 'Please be edible.'

Andrew took a final loud slurp and stroked his chin dramatically... "It's good!" He said finally. "It tastes better than when I make them." Serena smiled and thanked him. "In this past week you've done an awesome job. You'll be running the place soon." The door dinged and the pair saw Darien walk in, he took a seat next to Andrew at the counter.

"What's going on?" He asked as Serena took out a fresh straw and shoved the milkshake to him. Darien looked up at the girl with an odd expression. 'Meatball Head is actually giving me something to drink?... Did she spike this?'

"Drink some." Serena ordered. Darien took a sip and contemplated for a moment. 'Why do people keep doing that?!?! Just tell me if it sucks already!!!! I swear if people are trying to spare my feelings!!!!'... Serena felt like she was holding a breath just waiting for Darien to say something about her milkshake.

"It's really good Meatball Head." Serena smiled and inside did a little happy dance. He liked the milkshake! AND he was serious. She could tell by the expression on his face.. He was serious!!! He complimented her milkshake! Hearing that she did something good from Darien made it somewhat special. Sure, maybe they were sworn enemies, but that didn't mean that it made his compliment any less special. Darien smiled down to the girl doing a dance in the middle of the cafe. That's what he liked about Meatball Head.. She was carefree when it came down to it. She basically wore her heart out on her sleeve for the world to see. Darien supposed he admired that about little Meatball Head. He laughed once again when his attention returned to the present and she was STILL dancing.

Soon Serena was able to close the café on her own at night, leaving Andrew time to rest at home when he wasn't studying. He'd told her how difficult medical school was and how brutal his schedule was. Between the hospital and the classroom, he barely had any time to breath. Sometimes it got kind of lonely without him there.

At least today the girls had stopped by after class to visit and drink some milkshakes. But what made today remarkable in her book was that Darien hadn't stopped by and it was almost closing time. Despite the years of arguing they'd shared they were getting along a lot better now. Darien's teasing hadn't stopped or changed in any way, but now Serena looked forward to their verbal sparring. She had to admit she was a little disappointed that Darien hadn't come in. It was like her version of Sudoku, it made the gears in her brain start turning and somehow completed her day. 'Gross.' Serena thought to herself. 'You pretty much admitted to yourself that Darien completes your day.'

Throughout her closing routine she wondered what could have held him up. 'He's not a completely ugly guy and he's gonna be a doctor soon enough.. He's probably out. Doing what guys in their early 20's do...' Serena thought to herself. 'Probably at some party or study group or something. Maybe a club?' She began to laugh. Darien at a club?

"Weird." Serena thought to herself as she locked up the café. "I think I'm disappointed that Darien's not here." She shuddered to herself. "Ew." She got everything ready for the girl who opened up in the morning and left for the night.

……………………………

A few more days passed and Darien didn't show up. 'I hope he's okay.' She thought to herself as she walked home from the store. This had to be the longest time that she and Darien hadn't run into one another in 7 years. Throughout middle school, high school and now college she pretty much had seen Darien every day. It was a little out of character for him to disrupt his routine.. At least from what she knew about him.. which if she thought about it, wasn't really much. But she DID know he would come in at around the same time she did every day. She hoped he wasn't sick.. Just because he was her nemesis didn't mean that she'd want the jerk to get sick or something. Wishing that would just be mean.

'When did I start caring?' She thought to herself. She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk as people started passing her by. After years of teasing, of yelling out that he was her sworn enemy; the realization hit. She DID care about Darien Shields. At least a little bit. If she really stood back and looked from an outsider's view they might even look like friends. Maybe they were friends... She actually never really thought about it.

She thought back to her days in middle school, when she first started visiting the café and met Andrew and Darien. When he first started to tease her about her characteristic hairstyle. She started walking once again, but continued to reminisce about the times she'd shared with the dark haired man.

Flashbacks

"Hey Meatball Head." A 15 year old Darien greeted the 11 year old Serena. She frowned and stuck her tongue out at the older boy, her blue eyes beginning to fill with tears.

"You're so mean Darien!" She bawled. "I hate you!" She slinked into a booth with her friends. Darien looked over at her, a smile still on his face while she continued to sniffle pitifully. "Quit looking at me you weirdo!" She yelled out, grabbing a napkin to blow her nose on.

xxxxxx

Serena was scarfing down a giant sundae as Darien sat next to her with a horrified expression. "You eat like a pig." Darien laughed out suddenly. Serena stopped and stared at him, completely unamused.

xxxxxxx

Serena sat at the counter her eyes shining with adoration at Andrew. Suddenly, a girl came in with dark curly hair walked in, Andrew turned around and a smile lit up his face when he spotted the girl. "Rita." He said walking out from behind the counter and kissing the girl lightly on the lips.

Serena immediately left the café and began to run home. She run straight into a solid object and fell to the groun. She looked up to see Darien. A look of concern crossed his face. "Don't start." She warned, her eyes beginning to shed some tears. How embarassing, her sworn enemy had to catch her crying. He'd probably use it against her at some future date.

"What's wrong?" He asked, gently pulling her up off of the ground. Serena pulled out of his grip swiftly.

"Nothing." She growled, dusting off her skirt. "I'm fine." Her eyes still filled with tears.

"You don't look fine." Darien stated, his face completely serious. "Do you want a milkshake?" Serena blanched and shook her head negatively. "Even if I pay?" Not even legitimately paid for milkshakes could make her want to go back to the Crown.

"No. I just wanna go home." She insisted quietly.

He looked down at her with a sympathetic smile and placed a hand on her head to ruffl her hair playfully."Do you want a ride?"

"No." And with that she slowly made her way home.

Xxxxxx

"You guys get to go to prom? You're so lucky." Serena said with a jealous sigh. She pictured the dresses, the jewelry, the mood, the music and the perfect date. She sighed once again.

"Yep, I'm pretty excited. I got Rita this really great corsage." Andrew began to describe it to Serena, who was imagining herself in Rita's place. "We're even getting a limo. We're going with the rest of the football team. Darien's even paying for the limo on his own."

Serena scrunched up her face at Darien's name. "Who would go with HIM?"

Andrew laughed, "Darien actually gets a lot girls asking him out. HE'S always the one to turn them down."

"What too good for them?"

Andrew thought for a moment. "I dunno. He dates of course. But never THAT seriously. I honestly think there's already someone he has his eye on.. I just don't know who."

"Well I can't see any girl in her right mind going for a jerk like Darien."

Andrew just shook his head and chuckled.

Xxxxx

Serena couldn't believe that she'd left her umbrella at home. It was pouring rain and she'd resorted to using her bag as shelter. Good thing she wasn't particularly attached to that bag.

It had been a rough day and being caught in the rain without an umbrella just topped it off... Her teacher had been so mean to her today all because she wasn't paying attention. It wasn't her fault she wasn't interested in chemistry. It was a boring class.

She felt the rain stop beating down on her. Looking up she realized that Darien was holding an umbrella over her head and was smiling stupidly. He always had that stupid smile on when he looked at her, like he was plotting something...

"You shouldn't run around in the rain like this. You'll catch a cold Meatball Head."

Serena huffed indignantly. "Like you care."

"Of course I do." Darien divulged laughingly. "Who else would I have knock me to the ground everyday? Who else would I call Meatball Head?" Serena growled audibly, only causing Darien to laugh louder.

They approached the café/arcade and Darien opened the door for her. "I probably look terrible." She complained ringing out her hair before entering the café.

"You look fine." He assured her with a smile.

"You liar."She huffed.

End Flashbacks

He'd always been there for her and she hadn't even noticed. How could she have been so blind? As she walked towards her house she saw Darien laughing with an attractive brunette. She watched their interaction for a moment, hoping maybe they were just relatives, or something else platonic. They were both carrying large books and suddenly the woman linked her arm with Darien's. They were talking closely and Darien was smiling widely as the woman talked.

"Let's get some coffee." The woman said, looking up at Darien, her eyes twinkling. "It's on me." She offered, with a sweet smile. Darien smiled back with equal fondness.

"Sure, but I'M paying." The woman smiled softly up at Darien and cuddled up to his arm.

Serena paled at the sight. 'Of course. Once I realize that I like Darien he's gets himself a girlfriend.' She hurried away in the opposite direction as the pair. 'That explains why he hasn't been at the café.' She thought to herself dejectedly.

"Hey Serena!" Darien's voice called as he saw Serena nearly running in the opposite direction. Serena began to nearly run away. 'Is she okay?'

"Who's that?" The woman asked curiously.

"Some girl I know." He answered, then called out to her again. Serena ignored Darien's calls and ran the rest of the way home.

………………

It'd been 2 days since Serena had spotted Darien with his new girlfriend. Even though she'd run into Andrew, she didn't dare ask him about that woman. Ever since she'd run into him she realized the depth of her feelings for him. She'd always harbored some sort of feelings for him, she just didn't realize it until now. She'd always figured those feelings she had were feelings of irritation or something similar.. 'How depressing.' She frowned as she wiped down the counter. 'Closing time again.' She frowned. Today was so depressing, the girls hadn't come to visit, HE didn't come in yet again and to boot it was a Friday night and she was ALONE, again.

The door chimed and Serena looked up to see Darien standing before her. Her eyes widened slightly. She prepared a black coffee and placed it in front of where Darien sat. "Hey Meatball Head." He looked tired, his smile which normally was bright and toothy was a little sideways. His eyes had some dark circles and his entire demeaner appeared... tired.

'Maybe because of his new girlfriend.' Serena thought bitterly. 'I'm such a loser.' She sighed as she absentmindedly refilled salt and pepper shakers.

"I saw you the other day." Darien said with that stupid smile of his. Serena frowned, why did he have to have such a stupid nice smile? "I guess you didn't hear me, cause you kept going." He shrugged, Serena plastered on a fake smile and nodded.

"I saw you, I was just in a hurry." Serena lied, unable to lift her eyes to meet Darien's. Why couldn't life just be simple? Why did she have to just realize that she had feelings for a guy who probably only thought of her as a little sister. Why did fate have to be so cruel?

"I know what you're saying. I've had the night shift at the hospital the past couple of days and we had a huge test in class. Normally I don't study too much, but everyone knew the test was gonna be hard." Serena nodded as she listened. "I've been tutoring this girl in my class. She was the one you saw me with that day." Serena looked up, trying not to show the glimmer of hope in her eyes. "She did pretty good on the last test, which is good. But she's gotten pretty clingy." Serena smiled slightly, her heart swelling with excitement. "Don't get me wrong, she's pretty I guess. Andrew keeps telling me to ask her out, but I'm not that into her."

'Reminder.' Serena thought to herself.. 'Kill Andrew.'

Darien chuckled and threw his arms behind his head. "I don't know why I'm telling you all this."

Serena laughed, a genuine smile crossing her features. "It's okay." He was pretty handsome when he smiled.

"But you know what I mean right? When someone you're not interested is coming on to you? I know you must be getting dates left and right now that you're in college." His midnight blue orbs twinkled slightly.

Serena laughed and shook her head negatively. "Ya right. Come on now Darien. If I had guys asking me out on dates would I be hanging out alone on a Friday night?" She refilled his coffee as she spoke. "The girl I saw you with was pretty. Why not give her a chance?" She didn't know why she just suggested that he do that.

"Nah, I don't think it'd work out. Sure we have the same major, a few of the same interests and she's not unattractive, but... Just no." He laughed finishing off the rest of the coffee. "Want a ride home?" Darien asked, a smile on his face.

"Sure. Lemme just finish washing this cup." Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest. She didn't know why she was so nervous about getting a ride home with him. It was nothing really. At least it shouldn't have been a big deal. She looked at her reflection on a newly washed plate. 'You look FINE.' She assured herself. 'It's no big deal.' She kept repeating to herself. Darien walked with Serena to his red sports car. "You haven't driven this in a while."

Darien shrugged. "I know. I thought today might be a good day to drive it."

Serena gave Darien an awkward smile. "Trying to impress the girls in your class?" Darien scoffed and helped Serena into the car then got into his side.

"How low do you think of me Meatball Head?" He questioned, an eyebrow lifted.

Serena blushed lightly. "I," She stuttered, "I don't think of you as being a bad person at all." She insisted, her cheeks turning redder by the moment.

Darien laughed, "Of course you don't." He said sarcastically. "I know you hate me." He smiled lightly at the girl.

"I don't hate you Darien." Serena's voice lowered and gained a tone of sincerity. "I like you." She said simply, averting her eyes from his deep sapphire ones. She didn't trust that she wouldn't get all moony over them.

Darien's heart fluttered in his chest. She didn't completely hate him. After all those times he teased her, she didn't hate him. Maybe it wasn't reason to get so excited, but it was something. She didn't hate him! "Does this mean we're friends now Meatball Head?"

Serena laughed nervously and thought to herself. "That wasn't exactly what I had in mind."

"Then what did you have in mind?" Darien asked with a confused laugh.

Serena got spastic for a moment. "Oh my God... Did I say that out loud?!" Serena thought her life was going to end right there. She had to dig herself out of this hole quickly.

"You sure did buddy. What'd you have in mind?"

"Eh, super best friends? Ha!" Serena sputtered, throwing her hands up defensively. "Oh look! We're getting close to my house!!!!" She said pointing down the street. "Ha, I can walk from here if you want. I can use the exercise. Ha ha ha ha ha. Oh my gosh look at the time. Maybe it'd be better if I ran!"

A/N: Part 1 of my 2 part mini fic. Thanks!