A ROSE FROM ANOTHER (PG) by: Sailor SwiftHeart Dedicated to: "Midora"
Author's Note: I am going to call this story a Sailor Moon/Pokemon crossover, but the only characters from Pokemon that appear will be Team Rocket. (My fave) One thing is not consistent with Sailor Moon... this is around the time when Darien breaks up with Serena, but ChibiUsa will not be around. Just wanted to clear that up, so nobody gets upset with me. Hey, it's a story... it doesn't have to be perfect. Enjoy!!!
PART ONE:
Dear Diary,
I followed her again today. She looks even more beautiful everyday I see her. Today she was wearing a mini-skirt... one that even Jessy would envy.
She has legs that Jessy would envy. Not to mention beautiful blue eyes and that long, blonde hair.... *sigh*. If it weren't for those long golden ponytails trailing behind her, I would probably not be able to follow her at a safe distance. I'd lose her. Especially at the speed she sometimes runs and how quickly she turns corners. Everywhere she goes, that golden hair flows like silk behind her. I actually prefer redheads to blondes. But there is something special about this girl. If only I knew her name. I know everything else about her... where she lives, who her friends are, what school she goes to, the fact that she has a black cat for a pet, and she also has a boyfriend. Or supposedly. I am not sure about that one. He sure doesn't ACT like her boyfriend. When she snuggles up to him, he looks away and wiggles around as if he is uncomfortable. I made eye contact with him once and his eyes were so cold, I thought ice would form around me. She always seems to be running after him and he barely even acknowledges her presence. She practically has to BEG him to take her somewhere, like out for ice cream or something simple like that. What I wouldn't give just to take her out! Anywhere. This guy's name is Darien.
He's a fool. Why would any guy who had her on his arm treat her like the plague? Why would she even put up with him acting like a jerk? Well, I hope she doesn't see any sort of future with that Darien. I mean, it's not written anywhere that she has to be with this guy. It can't be destiny or anything! Damn him! The only thing I can do is put on my sunglasses and follow her and TRY to listen to pieces of their conversations. But I don't pick up much from those. It's hopeless. I am just another guy on the street... one that she'll probably never notice. *sigh*
James
James shut down the computer and pulled the disc out of the hard drive.
Then he hid it under the rug, like always. He was always afraid Jessy would find it and that would just be another excuse for her to tease him.
That was the last thing he needed, since he was feeling blue enough as it was. He looked at his watch. It was almost three o'clock and that meant that the pretty girl with the golden hair would be out of school and walking home soon. He knew Darien wouldn't be there, since he never bothered to pick her up from school anyway. James was glad. He thought that Darien might've noticed him a few times. He never said anything to James though, so he wasn't so sure.
"He better not say anything to me!" thought James, "or I'll tell him to mind his own damn business!"
If only James could tell Jessy about this. Then they could give Darien a taste of Double Trouble from Team Rocket. Of course, that would totally blow James's cover and he'd never get to take that girl out. She would steer clear of him if she ever found out that he was a member of Team Rocket. It was a good thing he and Jessy were Masters of Disguise, otherwise he'd be stuck wearing his Team Rocket uniform all the time and everyone knew what the big red "R" meant.
Today, James decided to wear his blue suit. He actually hated that suit, but only because it brought back painful memories for him. His parents, his beloved Growlithe, and that Jessy-Look-Alike his mom and dad wanted him to marry someday, so he could inherit their fortune. James hated them. He didn't like having his future decided for him. Besides, marrying somebody who looked EXACTLY like Jessy was way to creepy, since he and Jessy were best friends and partners in crime.
He put on the suit, pushing away his tainted past, and thinking only about what Meowth had said about that outfit: "Ladies... prepare for trouble!"
Jessy liked it, too... James had seen the look on her face. But she never said anything. Still, James knew. After he was dressed, he grabbed his sunglasses and was about to head out the door, but he was stopped by Jessy, who had been sleeping on the couch earlier. She had come down with the flu or something and had made James and Meowth into her slaves, bringing her this and that... whatever she demanded.
"And just where do you think you're going, James?" she inquired, curiously.
"Nowhere." James lied.
"That's what he said yesterday!" Meowth piped-up. He looked at the clock. "And at the exact same time, too!"
James scowled at Meowth. "Stupid cat!" he muttered, under his breath.
"I know, and the same time every morning, too!" Jessy said. "AND, I believe a few times at night also." Jessy looked at him suspiciously.
"Come on Jamesy, what are you hiding?"
"Nothing. I am not hiding anything." James insisted. "I am just going for... for a walk."
"Since when?" Jessy demanded.
"Excuse me if I happen to like getting a little fresh air, Jessy." James snapped.
Jessy suddenly looked like she was about to cry.
"Oh I get it!" she retorted, "You don't want to be around flu germs, right? You don't want to be around me 'cause I'm contagious!"
"That's not true, Jessy," said James, "Meowth and I have been waiting on you hand and foot since you caught this, two days ago."
"That's right!" said Meowth.
"I won't be gone long." James promised, "Meowth can look after you while I'm gone." James headed for the door.
"Sure, leave me with Miss Germs!" Meowth shouted after him. James quickly left. Meowth's comment was going to cost him and James laughed just imagining what Jessy might to do to him for calling her "Miss Germs".
James suddenly wondered how long he could keep this up. Jessy wasn't going to be sick forever. Once she was feeling better, she'd be with James everywhere he went. James knew she'd have something to say about his following the Golden-Haired Girl around all this time.
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." James decided and continued on his way.
He reached the school just in time. The bell had just gone off. He quickly put on his sunglasses and scanned the area for the Golden-Haired Girl, trying not to look too obvious. Some girls looked at him, whispered to to their friends and then giggled. James barely gave them a second look. To him, they were so immature.
Finally, James spotted the two dumplings crowning the top of a golden head of hair. It was her. She seemed to be in a hurry. James quickly ducked around a corner and waited for her outside the school gates, so he could follow her.
"Serena, wait-up!" James heard above the shouting and laughing in and out of the school premises. "Serena!" Was that her name? James wondered.
She turned her head, but didn't stop running as she turned the corner and ran into James, smacking him in the face with her bookbag. They both went tumbling to the concrete. The girl started bawling, while James tried to retrieve his sunglasses. She was sitting on them, but was too busy crying to say or do anything. One of her friends came around the corner as James sat up, still recovering from slight shock.
"Serena, are you okay?" her friend (the one with the brown ponytail) asked.
"Owie!" Serena cried as her friend helped her to her feet. Serena was still sobbing.
Her friend noticed James. She smiled at him.
"Serena, aren't you going to apologize for knocking down this poor guy?"
she said.
Serena looked at James, her eyes gleaming with tears. James grabbed his sunglasses and stood up.
"I'm sorry!" Serena exclaimed. "I didn't see you. I wasn't watching where I was going."
James cleared his throat, nervously. She was so beautiful, even with tears in her eyes and streaming down her face.
"No, it was my fault," James told her, "I picked a stupid place to stand."
He smiled and Serena and her friend smiled back.
"You don't go to this school, do you?" her friend asked. "I don't recognize you."
"I was just passing by." James answered.
"I thought you said you were standing there?" her friend questioned.
"I was," James responded, as they stared at him in confusion. "I uh... stopped to tie my shoe."
They all looked down at James's feet. He was wearing shiny shoes with no laces. He felt like a fool. This converstaion was heading him straight into trouble.
"I... gotta go," James muttered and took off down the sidewalk, then turned a corner and breathed a sigh of relief. If he wanted to follow Serena still, he'd have to change his clothes, being that she had seen him already. He looked around and saw a black leather jacket lying on a nearby bus stop bench. There was no one around, so James took it and put it on.
He looked up at the sky and said "Thank-you!". Then he slid on his sunglasses. He heard Serena and her friend's voices approaching him from the sidewalk. He hoped they wouldn't recognize him with the black jacket and sunglasses. Thankfully, they didn't turn the corner where James was standing. He heard a bit of their conversation as they passed him.
"He sure was hunky!" her friend commented and James grinned. He WAS the handsome one of the Team.
"Lita, I already have Darien," Serena said.
"Well, I don't have anyone!" Lita informed him. "But I'll probably never see him again anyway." She sighed.
As they got further down the sidewalk, James began to follow far behind, keeping his eyes on Serena's ponytails. So now he knew her name.
"Serena," he said to himself and smiled. He loved the sound of that name. And it suited her, too.
"A name so beautiful for a creature as beautiful." James thought.
At the end of the sidewalk at an intersection, the two friends split-up.
"I'm meeting Darien in the park," Serena explained to Lita. "He said he wants to talk to me about something important. Maybe he wants to go steady!" she sighed, hopefully.
Lita laughed and waved as Serena headed for the park, James still follwing. Once she reached the park, she headed for the benches around the lake. James scowled when he saw Darien sitting on one of them. Serena leaned over to kiss Darien on the lips, but he turned his head quickly and her lips landed on his cheek. She looked disappointed, but said nothing and sat down beside him. James snatched a newspaper out of a man's hands and took a seat underneath the tree that was behind the bench that Serena and Darien were sitting on. He was within perfect earshot. He could hear every word they were saying.
"So what did you want to talk to me about, Darien?" Serena asked, eagerly. "About our future?"
James peered over the newspaper. Darien looked reluctant. Serena looked anxious.
"Well, kind of..." Darien said. "Mmmm... not really."
James rolled his eyes. He sounded so dumb.
"What is it then?" Serena demanded. She kept a big smile on her face.
It was obvious that she was her happiest when she was with Darien, although James couldn't see one reason why. Except, he WAS fairly good-looking or "hunky", as Lita had described James.
"Serena, I can't see you anymore." Darien declared. James froze and looked at Serena. In an instant, her face had gone from happy to hurt.
"Why, Darien?" she asked, a sob escaping her lips.
"Because." Darien replied, his words like ice. "It's best for you."
Serena shook her head, tears streaming down her face as Darien stood up to leave. "No, Darien," she protested, "What about our future? Our past?"
"Let's just leave the past where it belongs." said Darien, with no emotion. James noticed that Darien didn't show any signs that he was sorry or that he even cared how much this was hurting Serena.
"But, Darien..." Serena pleaded.
"See you around, Serena." Darien said and walked away without even looking back once. James was in shock. How could he just dump her like that with no reason at all? How could he just toss her away like an old shoe he didn't want anymore? To James, he was throwing away a treasure.
Serena burst into tears as she watched Darien disappear over a hill. She fell to her knees onto the grass then onto her stomach and cried and cried and cried. Her body shook. James almost felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to teach Darien a lesson he'd never forget.
"Prepare for trouble; make it double". James said aloud. He stood up, ready to go chasing after Darien. He knew where he lived. Then James looked at Serena. She needed someone now. And James was the only one around and the only one who had heard the conversation. James wasn't sure how to approach her. He was nervous as hell.
"To extend our reach to the stars above..." he suddenly thought. Serena was his star and he had to reach out to her. She needed him.
He knelt beside her and put a hand on her quivering shoulder. She was startled and looked up. James produced a bright red rose in his hand and Serena gasped.
"Tuxedo Mask....?" Then she saw that it was someone else. He removed his shades. Serena didn't know that it was the same young man she had ran into earlier. She just saw a handsome stranger with blue hair, green eyes and a smile that could charm Queen Beryl.
"James." he told her, offering her the rose. Serena accepted it and then wiped her face with the back of her hand. Then she recognized him.
"You're that guy I ran into outside of the school gates." she remembered.
James nodded and turned a little red. He hoped she didn't think he deliberately followed her, even though he had been for the past few days.
"I came here to read the paper," James explained. "And I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. I'm sorry." he said, sincerely.
They sat there in silence for the next five minutes. Serena seemed to be calmed down a bit, but James could still see the hurt in her eyes.
James remembered his Growlithe and how he had looked the day James had left. He told Growlithe to stay behind and protect his parents. It was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He loved that Growlithe. He still did.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay, after what I just heard." James told her, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Thank-you." Serena said. "I can't believe you heard all of that.
You're probably thinking that I shouldn't have let him go. And you're probably right." She looked off into the direction where she had last seen Darien, walking away and out of her life. "I should go after him."
Serena was about to walk away, but James stopped her.
"That was the last thing I was thinking you should do," he declared. "He wasn't being fair. He wouldn't even tell you why he didn't want to be with you anymore. If I were you, I'd let him go. He's nothing but a coward."
James scowled and folded his arms across his chest in defiance.
"You don't know him like I do," Serena said, sighing. "He does love me.
The same way he did, so long ago. We have our whole future layed out for us."
James was surprised. "Are you... betroved or something?" he asked.
Serena shook her head.
"An arranged marriage?" James suggested. If that was the case, he knew how Darien felt. Nobody wanted to be forced into a marriage. But why didn't he just come right out and say it, then?
"No, it's nothing like that," Serena said. "It's... like we are meant to be. Destiny!" she expressed.
James wrinkled his brow. Maybe that was just what Serena was still believing. She was probably in denial.
"He doesn't seem to think so." James pointed out, not being able to hide his angry tone.
Serena shrugged.
"He's always so cold," Serena explained. " I'm sure he has a good reason for doing this---"
"Then why didn't he give you one?" James demanded, his voice rising a whole octave.
Serena was taken aback by his tone.
"Why are you so concerned, anyway?" she inquired, suspiciously. "I don't even know you."
James stood up and put on his shades. " I know you better than you think... Serena." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Serena sitting there with her mouth agape.
Send comments and flames to SwiftHeart@v-wave.com
*************
Author's Note: I am going to call this story a Sailor Moon/Pokemon crossover, but the only characters from Pokemon that appear will be Team Rocket. (My fave) One thing is not consistent with Sailor Moon... this is around the time when Darien breaks up with Serena, but ChibiUsa will not be around. Just wanted to clear that up, so nobody gets upset with me. Hey, it's a story... it doesn't have to be perfect. Enjoy!!!
PART ONE:
Dear Diary,
I followed her again today. She looks even more beautiful everyday I see her. Today she was wearing a mini-skirt... one that even Jessy would envy.
She has legs that Jessy would envy. Not to mention beautiful blue eyes and that long, blonde hair.... *sigh*. If it weren't for those long golden ponytails trailing behind her, I would probably not be able to follow her at a safe distance. I'd lose her. Especially at the speed she sometimes runs and how quickly she turns corners. Everywhere she goes, that golden hair flows like silk behind her. I actually prefer redheads to blondes. But there is something special about this girl. If only I knew her name. I know everything else about her... where she lives, who her friends are, what school she goes to, the fact that she has a black cat for a pet, and she also has a boyfriend. Or supposedly. I am not sure about that one. He sure doesn't ACT like her boyfriend. When she snuggles up to him, he looks away and wiggles around as if he is uncomfortable. I made eye contact with him once and his eyes were so cold, I thought ice would form around me. She always seems to be running after him and he barely even acknowledges her presence. She practically has to BEG him to take her somewhere, like out for ice cream or something simple like that. What I wouldn't give just to take her out! Anywhere. This guy's name is Darien.
He's a fool. Why would any guy who had her on his arm treat her like the plague? Why would she even put up with him acting like a jerk? Well, I hope she doesn't see any sort of future with that Darien. I mean, it's not written anywhere that she has to be with this guy. It can't be destiny or anything! Damn him! The only thing I can do is put on my sunglasses and follow her and TRY to listen to pieces of their conversations. But I don't pick up much from those. It's hopeless. I am just another guy on the street... one that she'll probably never notice. *sigh*
James
James shut down the computer and pulled the disc out of the hard drive.
Then he hid it under the rug, like always. He was always afraid Jessy would find it and that would just be another excuse for her to tease him.
That was the last thing he needed, since he was feeling blue enough as it was. He looked at his watch. It was almost three o'clock and that meant that the pretty girl with the golden hair would be out of school and walking home soon. He knew Darien wouldn't be there, since he never bothered to pick her up from school anyway. James was glad. He thought that Darien might've noticed him a few times. He never said anything to James though, so he wasn't so sure.
"He better not say anything to me!" thought James, "or I'll tell him to mind his own damn business!"
If only James could tell Jessy about this. Then they could give Darien a taste of Double Trouble from Team Rocket. Of course, that would totally blow James's cover and he'd never get to take that girl out. She would steer clear of him if she ever found out that he was a member of Team Rocket. It was a good thing he and Jessy were Masters of Disguise, otherwise he'd be stuck wearing his Team Rocket uniform all the time and everyone knew what the big red "R" meant.
Today, James decided to wear his blue suit. He actually hated that suit, but only because it brought back painful memories for him. His parents, his beloved Growlithe, and that Jessy-Look-Alike his mom and dad wanted him to marry someday, so he could inherit their fortune. James hated them. He didn't like having his future decided for him. Besides, marrying somebody who looked EXACTLY like Jessy was way to creepy, since he and Jessy were best friends and partners in crime.
He put on the suit, pushing away his tainted past, and thinking only about what Meowth had said about that outfit: "Ladies... prepare for trouble!"
Jessy liked it, too... James had seen the look on her face. But she never said anything. Still, James knew. After he was dressed, he grabbed his sunglasses and was about to head out the door, but he was stopped by Jessy, who had been sleeping on the couch earlier. She had come down with the flu or something and had made James and Meowth into her slaves, bringing her this and that... whatever she demanded.
"And just where do you think you're going, James?" she inquired, curiously.
"Nowhere." James lied.
"That's what he said yesterday!" Meowth piped-up. He looked at the clock. "And at the exact same time, too!"
James scowled at Meowth. "Stupid cat!" he muttered, under his breath.
"I know, and the same time every morning, too!" Jessy said. "AND, I believe a few times at night also." Jessy looked at him suspiciously.
"Come on Jamesy, what are you hiding?"
"Nothing. I am not hiding anything." James insisted. "I am just going for... for a walk."
"Since when?" Jessy demanded.
"Excuse me if I happen to like getting a little fresh air, Jessy." James snapped.
Jessy suddenly looked like she was about to cry.
"Oh I get it!" she retorted, "You don't want to be around flu germs, right? You don't want to be around me 'cause I'm contagious!"
"That's not true, Jessy," said James, "Meowth and I have been waiting on you hand and foot since you caught this, two days ago."
"That's right!" said Meowth.
"I won't be gone long." James promised, "Meowth can look after you while I'm gone." James headed for the door.
"Sure, leave me with Miss Germs!" Meowth shouted after him. James quickly left. Meowth's comment was going to cost him and James laughed just imagining what Jessy might to do to him for calling her "Miss Germs".
James suddenly wondered how long he could keep this up. Jessy wasn't going to be sick forever. Once she was feeling better, she'd be with James everywhere he went. James knew she'd have something to say about his following the Golden-Haired Girl around all this time.
"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it." James decided and continued on his way.
He reached the school just in time. The bell had just gone off. He quickly put on his sunglasses and scanned the area for the Golden-Haired Girl, trying not to look too obvious. Some girls looked at him, whispered to to their friends and then giggled. James barely gave them a second look. To him, they were so immature.
Finally, James spotted the two dumplings crowning the top of a golden head of hair. It was her. She seemed to be in a hurry. James quickly ducked around a corner and waited for her outside the school gates, so he could follow her.
"Serena, wait-up!" James heard above the shouting and laughing in and out of the school premises. "Serena!" Was that her name? James wondered.
She turned her head, but didn't stop running as she turned the corner and ran into James, smacking him in the face with her bookbag. They both went tumbling to the concrete. The girl started bawling, while James tried to retrieve his sunglasses. She was sitting on them, but was too busy crying to say or do anything. One of her friends came around the corner as James sat up, still recovering from slight shock.
"Serena, are you okay?" her friend (the one with the brown ponytail) asked.
"Owie!" Serena cried as her friend helped her to her feet. Serena was still sobbing.
Her friend noticed James. She smiled at him.
"Serena, aren't you going to apologize for knocking down this poor guy?"
she said.
Serena looked at James, her eyes gleaming with tears. James grabbed his sunglasses and stood up.
"I'm sorry!" Serena exclaimed. "I didn't see you. I wasn't watching where I was going."
James cleared his throat, nervously. She was so beautiful, even with tears in her eyes and streaming down her face.
"No, it was my fault," James told her, "I picked a stupid place to stand."
He smiled and Serena and her friend smiled back.
"You don't go to this school, do you?" her friend asked. "I don't recognize you."
"I was just passing by." James answered.
"I thought you said you were standing there?" her friend questioned.
"I was," James responded, as they stared at him in confusion. "I uh... stopped to tie my shoe."
They all looked down at James's feet. He was wearing shiny shoes with no laces. He felt like a fool. This converstaion was heading him straight into trouble.
"I... gotta go," James muttered and took off down the sidewalk, then turned a corner and breathed a sigh of relief. If he wanted to follow Serena still, he'd have to change his clothes, being that she had seen him already. He looked around and saw a black leather jacket lying on a nearby bus stop bench. There was no one around, so James took it and put it on.
He looked up at the sky and said "Thank-you!". Then he slid on his sunglasses. He heard Serena and her friend's voices approaching him from the sidewalk. He hoped they wouldn't recognize him with the black jacket and sunglasses. Thankfully, they didn't turn the corner where James was standing. He heard a bit of their conversation as they passed him.
"He sure was hunky!" her friend commented and James grinned. He WAS the handsome one of the Team.
"Lita, I already have Darien," Serena said.
"Well, I don't have anyone!" Lita informed him. "But I'll probably never see him again anyway." She sighed.
As they got further down the sidewalk, James began to follow far behind, keeping his eyes on Serena's ponytails. So now he knew her name.
"Serena," he said to himself and smiled. He loved the sound of that name. And it suited her, too.
"A name so beautiful for a creature as beautiful." James thought.
At the end of the sidewalk at an intersection, the two friends split-up.
"I'm meeting Darien in the park," Serena explained to Lita. "He said he wants to talk to me about something important. Maybe he wants to go steady!" she sighed, hopefully.
Lita laughed and waved as Serena headed for the park, James still follwing. Once she reached the park, she headed for the benches around the lake. James scowled when he saw Darien sitting on one of them. Serena leaned over to kiss Darien on the lips, but he turned his head quickly and her lips landed on his cheek. She looked disappointed, but said nothing and sat down beside him. James snatched a newspaper out of a man's hands and took a seat underneath the tree that was behind the bench that Serena and Darien were sitting on. He was within perfect earshot. He could hear every word they were saying.
"So what did you want to talk to me about, Darien?" Serena asked, eagerly. "About our future?"
James peered over the newspaper. Darien looked reluctant. Serena looked anxious.
"Well, kind of..." Darien said. "Mmmm... not really."
James rolled his eyes. He sounded so dumb.
"What is it then?" Serena demanded. She kept a big smile on her face.
It was obvious that she was her happiest when she was with Darien, although James couldn't see one reason why. Except, he WAS fairly good-looking or "hunky", as Lita had described James.
"Serena, I can't see you anymore." Darien declared. James froze and looked at Serena. In an instant, her face had gone from happy to hurt.
"Why, Darien?" she asked, a sob escaping her lips.
"Because." Darien replied, his words like ice. "It's best for you."
Serena shook her head, tears streaming down her face as Darien stood up to leave. "No, Darien," she protested, "What about our future? Our past?"
"Let's just leave the past where it belongs." said Darien, with no emotion. James noticed that Darien didn't show any signs that he was sorry or that he even cared how much this was hurting Serena.
"But, Darien..." Serena pleaded.
"See you around, Serena." Darien said and walked away without even looking back once. James was in shock. How could he just dump her like that with no reason at all? How could he just toss her away like an old shoe he didn't want anymore? To James, he was throwing away a treasure.
Serena burst into tears as she watched Darien disappear over a hill. She fell to her knees onto the grass then onto her stomach and cried and cried and cried. Her body shook. James almost felt sick to his stomach. He wanted to teach Darien a lesson he'd never forget.
"Prepare for trouble; make it double". James said aloud. He stood up, ready to go chasing after Darien. He knew where he lived. Then James looked at Serena. She needed someone now. And James was the only one around and the only one who had heard the conversation. James wasn't sure how to approach her. He was nervous as hell.
"To extend our reach to the stars above..." he suddenly thought. Serena was his star and he had to reach out to her. She needed him.
He knelt beside her and put a hand on her quivering shoulder. She was startled and looked up. James produced a bright red rose in his hand and Serena gasped.
"Tuxedo Mask....?" Then she saw that it was someone else. He removed his shades. Serena didn't know that it was the same young man she had ran into earlier. She just saw a handsome stranger with blue hair, green eyes and a smile that could charm Queen Beryl.
"James." he told her, offering her the rose. Serena accepted it and then wiped her face with the back of her hand. Then she recognized him.
"You're that guy I ran into outside of the school gates." she remembered.
James nodded and turned a little red. He hoped she didn't think he deliberately followed her, even though he had been for the past few days.
"I came here to read the paper," James explained. "And I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. I'm sorry." he said, sincerely.
They sat there in silence for the next five minutes. Serena seemed to be calmed down a bit, but James could still see the hurt in her eyes.
James remembered his Growlithe and how he had looked the day James had left. He told Growlithe to stay behind and protect his parents. It was the hardest thing he'd ever had to do. He loved that Growlithe. He still did.
"I just wanted to make sure you're okay, after what I just heard." James told her, breaking the uncomfortable silence.
"Thank-you." Serena said. "I can't believe you heard all of that.
You're probably thinking that I shouldn't have let him go. And you're probably right." She looked off into the direction where she had last seen Darien, walking away and out of her life. "I should go after him."
Serena was about to walk away, but James stopped her.
"That was the last thing I was thinking you should do," he declared. "He wasn't being fair. He wouldn't even tell you why he didn't want to be with you anymore. If I were you, I'd let him go. He's nothing but a coward."
James scowled and folded his arms across his chest in defiance.
"You don't know him like I do," Serena said, sighing. "He does love me.
The same way he did, so long ago. We have our whole future layed out for us."
James was surprised. "Are you... betroved or something?" he asked.
Serena shook her head.
"An arranged marriage?" James suggested. If that was the case, he knew how Darien felt. Nobody wanted to be forced into a marriage. But why didn't he just come right out and say it, then?
"No, it's nothing like that," Serena said. "It's... like we are meant to be. Destiny!" she expressed.
James wrinkled his brow. Maybe that was just what Serena was still believing. She was probably in denial.
"He doesn't seem to think so." James pointed out, not being able to hide his angry tone.
Serena shrugged.
"He's always so cold," Serena explained. " I'm sure he has a good reason for doing this---"
"Then why didn't he give you one?" James demanded, his voice rising a whole octave.
Serena was taken aback by his tone.
"Why are you so concerned, anyway?" she inquired, suspiciously. "I don't even know you."
James stood up and put on his shades. " I know you better than you think... Serena." With that, he turned and walked away, leaving Serena sitting there with her mouth agape.
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