Title: What a new beginning really means

Author: PrettyVchan

Summary: Darien is a young man coming back from Europe to finish his last year in med school because of his father's sudden death. He's the only heir of a fortune. He meets people who will change his world. Will he taste the real world for once? The real love?

.:: Hey guys, this is my second fanfic. I hope you guys enjoy. It's fairly different from the first one since this one is A/U. Please make sure check out my fic "In Joy and Sorrow".

Hope you enjoy my story ::.

Chapter 1 – The return

Four years went by since the last time Darien had set his eyes on that city. He had left the country to study in Europe and ended up having a great time abroad. He needed to be away because he couldn't stand to be living under his father's rules any longer. Now his father was dead and he was back to deal with the problems everyone has to deal with when their family members pass away.

It felt somewhat weird to be back to that atmosphere. Things seemed to be so different and he felt intensely scared of what life could be saving up for him.

Staying at his parent's old house seemed too much to bear at that point. His best friend Andrew who he had met at the age of 5 – a little before his mom passed away – offered to have him as his guest for as long as he needed. He felt extremely grateful for having someone like his friend in his life and both men talked for a while when he got at Andrew's place. It wasn't nothing compared to his parent's house or his own huge apartment in London but it was cozy and he felt like he was home for the first time in a really long time.

After a really long day spent mostly dealing with lawyers and hearing about his father's will, Darien, tired and hungry, headed to his friend's little dining place downtown.

He thought about the time in high school that both boys would hang out at this little Arcade, flirting with girls and playing videogames. He remembered Andrew telling him that he would own a place that would be both "fun and exciting" and with "delicious burgers". Andrew swore that he would open his own food business and never have to eat anything but fries and burgers for as long as he lived.

Darien opened the door to the little place to find it was very much as what Andrew had said in the past. It had a 50's look but with some modern videogames spread through the place so people could have fun and eat delicious meals. He distinguished his smiley friend among a few girls and they all seemed to be having a lot of fun while eating – guess what? – Burgers and milkshakes.

"Oh, you're early!" His blonde friend said, noticing he was approaching the group. "I'm glad! Now you can meet everyone!"

"Hello" Said Darien timidly.

A bunch of pairs of eyes looked at him curiously, trying to know who that man was.

"Well, let's see" Said Andrew "This is my friend Darien, you guys… he is my best friends since elementary school but he was living abroad. This is my friend Lita, she works here part time as a cook. She's good!" and he pointed to a very tall girl with beautiful green eyes who smiled gently.

"Thanks Andy" Smiled Lita eyeing Andrew and blushing lightly.

"I am Mina!" A very well dressed blonde girl announced "Nice to meet you! Andy's friends are all so pretty… I mean…so cool!" Lita and Mina both giggled.

"And this one here is Amy"

"Nice to meet you, Darien. We met before actually, my mom used to work with your dad."

"Oh, interesting. I'm sorry, I don't remember you, it's been so long…Still, it's very good to meet you, ladies," he confessed, smiling broadly. 'They seem lovely' he thought.

"So, where is 'abroad'?" Asked a curious Mina "I mean… where did you live and…you know what I meant"

Andrew laughed, looking at Mina with some warm expression.

"I sure do. Well, at first I spent a year in Germany, but then I moved to London. I was attending to medical school. I mean, I still am…I just happened to transfer to the University here for my last year."

"Uhh, a doctor! That's exciting, isn't it Amy?" Mina elbowed her friend

"It truly is! I myself am starting my first year of Medical School."

"Oh, that's nice. You look young to be in Medical School, though."

"I know I skipped some grades in High School." Amy said looking almost embarrassed.

"She's our little genius" Lita said proudly.

"So, life is definitely treating you well, my friend. Surrounded by beautiful and intelligent young girls. Very graceful too…"

Andrew blushed and was about to reply when they heard to loud voices coming through the door.

All the heads turned to watch two girls, a blonde and a brunette, getting inside the place screaming at each other.

"Serena you IDIOT, I can't BELIEVE you forgot we had said 6 p.m. not 7! YOU'RE SO STUPID"

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING STUPID? YOU'RE SO RUDE!" cried the blonde

"THE ONLY STUPID PERSON I SEE IN THIS PLACE! YOU, MORON!" Said the fuming brunette.

"Serena, Raye…I'm glad you guys are here" Andrew was obviously trying to distract

"I am sorry Andy, I was coming earlier but this little freak here took 800 hours to get dressed." Replied the brunette trying to calm herself down.

The blonde was fuming, seeming like she was about to bite someone's head off and for a while Darien couldn't take his eyes from her. She was very cute. A petite girl, with beautiful and long blonde hair and mesmerizing blue eyes. He knew her from somewhere…

She noticed the man looking at her.

"What?" Asked her, irritated.

"Oh…huh…Serena, Raye, I wanted you to meed my friend Darien. I mean, Serena, you already know him, I don't know if you'll remember."

'Darien?' She thought trying to remember

"Alright!" He said out loud 'I know her! She's that annoying little brat I used to make fun of' he thought to himself. He smirked. "Hello Meatball Head! Long time no see"

'Meatball Head' – these words made her recall who that guy was. She remembered now. Years ago, when she was just a little middle school girl, she and her friends Amy and Molly would hangout at this Arcade. There they met Andrew who became like an older brother to her and also met that unbearable rich kid who would rarely smile and would act like he was superior. For some reason he thought it was really funny to make fun of her and he wouldn't leave her alone when they ran into each other. That lasted until sometime during High School when she heard he left the country to go to college. She never heard of him after that except things that Andrew would say occasionally.

She was very surprised to see that handsome man in front of her and recognize he was her childhood enemy. Not that she would built up resentment towards him for some childhood immaturity but that made her curious to know if he was still the same spoiled jerk.

"I have a name, you know?" She said simply.

"And may I know your name?"

"Serena Tsukino"

"Isn't that Japanese for 'Meatball Head'?" Everyone laughed. Serena looked at him furious.

"Haven't you changed a tiny bit? How immature."

"I don't know if I have. You on the other hand…look very different. What happened to your meatballs?"

"I ate them"

'Snap!' He thought 'She is fierce.'

"Well, meatball head her may have changed the hairstyle, but surely hasn't change anything else. I'm Raye Hino, it's a pleasure to meet you."

His eyes shifted from the angry blonde to her friend. A gorgeous looking young woman with beautiful silky black hair and wonderful eyes that looked almost lavender coloured. She smiled wreathledly.

"It is wonderful to meet you" He said, kissing her left hand which made her blush and look even more attractive to him. "I am Darien Shields."

"Shields?" Shouted Mina "Oh wow! So you're the heir…" She wanted to say it to herself but everyone else heard. He knew his name was all around the papers and the news since he was, in fact, the heir of the biggest fortune in that city. Mina blushed violently and mumbled some apology. Andrew held his breath. He knew how much Darien didn't appreciate being known as a rich man.

Darien sighted and looked away from the group getting caught up on his toughts. For some reason, being around these people was making him happy but somewhat uncomfortable. He wasn't used to being around people who knew who his father was and especially now that his father was dead he didn't feel like talking about it.

They all stood there in silence until something caught up Darien's attention. Someone didn't seem to be aware of the tension in the room and was too busy playing a video game to notice anything else. 'She hasn't changed at all.' He thought half smiling.

As everyone seemed to go back to their normal activities, Darien sat on a stool, by Amy, and asked Andrew if there was anything there he could eat. He was starving.

He noticed eyes on him and caught Raye observing. He smiled to her and she smiled back, but looked down. He thought that was very cute.

"So, Raye, are you a medical student as well?"

"Who? Raye?" Serena interfered, laughing.

"Shut up, loser. I could be whatever I wanted cause I am smart."

"Yeah, right!"

"You on the other hand… should just give up on school and become a thief, maybe you'll be rich if you do that, since the only thing you know how to do besides eating anything you see is to run fast to get in class!" Serena looked defetead and went back to her game "Well." She looked away from Serena, straight into Darien's eyes, blushing. "I majoring on business and my minor's on acting."

"That is very interesting." He said gently. "How about you, Meatball Head? And yes, Mina and Lita, I'm sorry, I meant to ask you girls as well"

"I'm going to school for Producing, that's my major. My minor's also acting" Smiled Mina

"I'm studying to become a chef." Said Lita, bringing his food and cleaning up the girls' messes.

Serena ignored his question.

"What about Meatball?"

She didn't answered again. Was she deaf or something?

"She's…uhm… going to school for journalism" Amy responded timidly.

"Oh Thanks Amy, but I appreciate you not talking about my personal life to weirdos 'round town." She said eyeing the handsome Darien who grinned.

Mina stood up and begun to straight her dress.

"It was great meeting you, Darien, but I gotta go now. I have a date soon. Does anyone need a ride?"

"I do, I do!" Said Meatball…I mean, Serena.

"I do too! I have to study!" Said Amy

"Let's go, peeps!"

"Wait Serena, you just got here! You all should stay. Why don't you all stay?" He said it quickly

"I am tireeed! I just came here because you asked me too and I though we were going to meet your "awesome" friend, but you brought a "lame" one instead so I gotta go, I have other stuff to do!"

"And I've got a date!" Mina winked. Andrew didn't seem to like that, Darien observed.

The three girls left.

The rest of the evening was very pleasant to Darien. He talked to the beautiful Raye for hours, becoming really found of the intense girl. She was fiery and interesting. He also observed the way Lita acted towards Andrew, treating him with extra kindness and he was right: her food was delicious. The four of them said their goodbyes when the place closed and Darien got Raye's phone number. He was excited about the people he met today.

One thing he still worried him: the idea of going back to his parent's house and having to face the past.