Friends or Foes

Chapter 1: Just a Bad Day

On what seems like a regular day, Serena finds herself involved in anger, she doesn't know where it comes from, is it that she really has those bad feelings towards her friends?

(This takes place 4 years after Stars)

…………………

Luna: Serena…. Wake up, you're gonna be late for college.

Serena: ……..

Luna: Get up (jumping on the bed)

Serena: ….. yeah…….. again with the jumpin'….. do we really have to go through the same thing almost every morning? You know that even if I woke up late I make it on time in the end.

Luna: Well if I wouldn't call you probably you'll sleep all day.

Serena: ugh….. yeah yeah you and your nothing-works-without-me attitude.

Luna: Come again?

Serena: uhm…. Nothing… sorry, nevermind (says smiling and standing up)

Serena hurries up and in no time she's ready to leave.

Serena: Bye mom…dad.

Mom: wait, aren't you going to take your lunch?... (the door slams) …… I guess not.

Serena arrives to college where Mina is waiting for her.

Mina: I thought you were going to be late.

Serena: You always think that and it never happens….. even that you keep thinking it.

Mina: You can't blame me, one day you won't make it on time.

Serena: And what if I'll do…. Does it affect you in any way? (says harshly)

Mina: whoa, calm down, is there something bothering you?

Serena thinks about the question.

As a matter of fact nothing bad happened to me….. so why am I feeling this way?... anyway I have to calm down whatever it is…

Serena: hmm, no nothing bothers me… now come on, let's get in. (says now with a cheerfully tone)

They walk through a hall, then at the end of it they separate to different halls, each one goes to her own way. Serena is studying design and Mina is in arts, which has paint, music and acting, it was not a hard choice for her.

During the morning it was the usual stuff, Mina was messing up in paint class, but was doing a great job in acting, while Serena was mostly in theory classes today which she doesn't really like at all, but when it comes to practice all the theory, she's a great student, she really knows her stuff.

By noon Serena was starving, she heads to the campus' cafeteria, walking slow and having lots of thoughts.

Why the hell am I still feeling this way!, is it that probably something's going to happen? Or was it that something happened and I didn't notice but I'm feeling the consequences?... or what is it. I just wish I could be left alone for a whole day… I don't want to know anything about anyone for now…..

She takes something to eat and goes to a table in the corner, starts to drink a juice. Then another student accidentally moves her arm making her drop some juice.

Crap! Don't you have eyes?!...

Guy: Sorry, someone pushed me (he said while he was making her way through a table where all his friends were)

Serena: Sure no problem…… Yeah right, you can just come and push me anytime……… ok now…. really, why is everything bothering me?

Serena was sitting alone, just watching everyone, some persons were laughing, others were reading, others were working on their laptops, others were talking quietly.

Everyone is in their own world, each one has their own problems, I don't think I'm the only one who wants to get away from everything… I hope this feeling ends up soon.

By the time Serena is about to leave she sees Mina coming in, by one of the cafeteria's doors, for a moment she thinks about going with her to make her company but instead she just leaves by the back door which goes to the campus yard.

Mina sees her in the last second when Serena closes the door, then she sees her watch.

Mina: Weird… Serena usually takes at least half an hour for lunch… it's only been 10 minutes since last period ended.

Mina sits with some of her classmates who are all telling jokes and having a good time but even that, Mina still has some concern about her friend.

Meanwhile Serena sits on the grass, by the shadow of a tree, she just stays there, alone, and relaxing.

A few minutes later, Mina walks out of the cafeteria, looks around to see if she could find Serena, but she couldn't see her, so she walks through the campus' yard, finally she spots her by the tree and goes with her.

Mina: Hey Serena.

Serena has her eyes closed now, and she frowns when she hears her name, then she opens her eyes and sees Mina standing in front of her.

Serena: Oh, hi Mina, what's up?

Mina: That's what I'd like to ask you.

Serena: Hm? Do you need something… or what…

Mina: Well, you...

Serena: I what… just cut to the chase.

Mina: You've been acting weird.

Serena: What do you mean; we've barely seen each other today!

Mina: well, yes, and even that I can tell something's different about you.

Serena: Oh c'mon! give me a break!! …. Wait, it isn't her fault of me being like this, I shouldn't take it on her…. Ok just calm down … I'm…. I'm sorry Mina, is just that I'm tired that's all.

Mina: Are you sure that's all?... I mean, you know I'm here for you, right?

Serena: yes, thank you Mina… now if you don't mind, I need to do an assignment I forgot and it's for one of the next classes, catch you later.

Saying this Serena stood up and starts to walk away.

Mina: ….. Ok….. Ah! Serena!! Don't forget we're going over to Raye's after class!!

Serena: (without turning back to see her) I'll see if I can make it….. bye!

By the end of classes Mina went over to Serena's classroom; they're schedules were similar so they finished classes at the same time. She was looking for Serena but again, she couldn't find her.

I'll probably catch her on the way to the Shrine She thought to herself.

All the way to Raye's place, Mina was looking around, thinking she probably would see Serena, and when she was at the Shrine's stairs she thought that she would already be inside.

Once Mina was inside, she greeted the others.

Raye: Hey Mina.

Lita: If you would had come a little earlier you would still had some cookies… but they're over now.

Mina: Owwww… I wanted some cookies.

Amy: if it helps…. They were delicious.

Mina: Gee, thank you Amy…

Raye: And where's Serena?... If we were still on high school I would think she's on detention, but now it's different.

Mina: as a matter of fact I was kinda expecting to see her here.

Lita: Didn't you see her on campus?

Mina: Yes, but, she wasn't sure if she was going to come or not…. She said she was tired.

Raye: ah there you have it, she must be at home sleeping already.

Mina: I'm kinda worried about her.

Amy: why, did something happened to her?

Mina: No, well, I don't know, but the thing is that she was behaving different, she wasn't herself at all. She was acting … resentfully; I think.

Lita: maybe she was just feeling sick, why don't we call her, if she said she was tired she's probably at home as Raye says.

Raye hands Mina a phone, she dials and waits.

Mina: Uhm,.. hi Mrs. Tsukino, can I speak to Serena please?... ah……….I see, ok thanks anyway, bye. (She hangs up) Well, she hasn't gone home yet.

Lita: Do you think something's happened to her?

Amy: Let's not jump to any conclusion yet, probably she's with Darien, or making a school work. Let's wait for her.

Mina: yes you're right, maybe I'm just seeing things.

Meanwhile Serena is walking by the lake, she's now more relaxed and thoughtless, she's just enjoying her moment alone losing track of time, but she doesn't realize that there's a black silhouette not so far from her, it is watching her but by the time she turns around it vanishes in the air. She stays by the lake for a long time, once she sits, thoughts and memories come to her again, she starts to remember.

She remembers the last time she transformed in Sailor Moon, that was when they faced Galaxia and Chaos 4 years ago, ever since, everything has been so calm.

Then she remembers when Darien asked her to marry him, it was when she finished her freshman year at college, that same year he came back from Harvard, he was planning on stay there only for a year, but he stayed 3 instead, that's because he had to revalidate the time he lost when Galaxia took his star seed and he couldn't finish his trip; and just 3 months ago he came back, and now they're engaged.

Finally she remembers her friends, everyone making what they wanted to do, Mina is on her way to become an actress, Amy is studying medicine, Lita is becoming a well known chef, Raye is now in charge of the Hikawa Shrine, Haruka is back to racing, Michiru is a famous violin player known in several countries, Hotaru is studying in high school now, and there Setsuna is a teacher. And Darien is now an intern at the Hospital, and even that everyone is busy most of the time, they always try to gather when it's possible. They're always been there for each other, Serena knows that, but she's wondering why today she's feeling as if she can't count on them, as if the only person she can rely on is herself, she tries to deny that thought but she keeps feeling it, even that she can't find a single time when no one has been by her side. As a matter of fact, she knows that someone's always by her side, literally, and that makes her feel watched all the time, that's overwhelming her, so she comes to the conclusion that maybe that's the feeling she's been having all day.

Everyone's always taking care of me… I don't bother that but…. Somehow I got tired of it…. After all this years…. Yes I think that's it… what I've been feeling, that's why I want to be left alone, I guess I've just had enough… and that doesn't mean I can't stand my friends…. Yay! I think I figured it out… I guess I'll catch them

It's around 6:30 by now, the others are still at the Shrine, they're talking about random stuff, outside the Shrine, Serena is walking to meet them, but by every step she makes, she starts to feel more and more uncomfortable, as if she didn't really want to meet them.

Serena: Chill out and just walk in, there's nothing wrong.

She walks to the door of Raye's dorm, knocks and then opens it, everyone gladly greets her, she gets in, but again, the black silhouette is nearby, watches for a moment and then disappears again.

Inside Serena takes a seat and tries to be cheerful, but somehow it seems hard to do.

Raye: Where have you been, we thought we wouldn't see you today.

Serena: I just had to solve some things, that's all.

Mina: and…. How are you.

Serena: ……Fine……

Amy: well I'm glad you're here, honestly I was a bit worried about you

Lita: yeah me too, I thought you were sick or something.

Serena: Well I'm here now why do they always want to know my whereabouts, it's not like I know where they all are all the time…. Ah no not again, that feeling….

For a couple of hours they keet talking about random casual stuff, telling each other how was their week and things like that, Serena tries to have a good time with her friends, but most of the time she wants to be somewhere else but there with them. Suddenly she just stands up.

Serena: well girls, I gotta go, I..uhm… have some work to do….. a practice for school.

Mina: ah, come on, it's Friday, you can do it tomorrow, stay a little longer.

Serena: ah come on you!! Just because you said so am I gonna stay? I probably will be with Darien tomorrow, and I don't know if I'll be up to do homework on Sunday so…. See you all another time.

Raye: You sure are dedicated now.

Serena: Is that a problem?, if I'm not dedicated you comment on it, if I am dedicated you comment on it too, I'm not looking forward to make you satisfied!! Ah, yea, that's me….

She rushed outside, as if she wanted to escape from something, she walks a few blocks away from the shrine with her fists closed tightly, then she stops and punches really hard a wall.

Serena: Why?! Why the hell am I feeling this…. this…. anger!! towards them…. towards everything!!

Then she looks at her fist, it's bleeding, she really punched hard.

Serena: Ow….. great idea Serena, blame the wall… I'd better go to rest, I hope everything goes back to normal tomorrow.

She walks home, more calm now, it seemed that only when she is alone she's able to be calm.

When she gets home, she goes straight to her room and closes the door, nurses her hand and then she sees a shadow coming from outside through the window, it's Luna.

Luna: Hi Serena

Serena doesn't say anything, she keeps nursing her hand.

Luna: You're so quiet tonight,…, what happened to your hand?

Serena: Again more questions, I don't have to justify myself to everyone It's nothing…. g'nite.

She finishes to cover her hand with a bandage, turns off the light and with no more words she goes to bed.

Luna: mmm….. Serena………. Good night.

Outside, down her balcony, the same silhouette, hidden in the shadows is watching her again.

To Be Continued…