A/N: Hello everyone! This is my first Sailor Moon fanfic! Heck, this is my first fanfic. period. Hope you enjoy and if you do, be sure to let me know by reviewing. Criticism is appreciated. I hope to do more in the future, but let me know if you like it! Also, I was curious, do most prefer the japanese or english names? ; P

Summary: This is a first season fanfic with the Serena and Darien pairing. Serena is feeling jealous of Raye and Darien's relationship. It doesn't help when she starts to see a new side to Darien? Do they have more potential than she realizes?

Who Knew?

by bluephoenixj

Andrew looked up from the glass he was drying mildly worried. Serena sat on the stool across the arcade counter twitching. Andrew eyed her in earnest, wanting to figure out what was bothering her. He feared that his concern might backfire though. Gathering all his courage, he proceeded on his quest.

"Hey. Serena. Is something bothering you?" he asked as gently as he could. Surprisingly she failed to reply. After clearing his throat he continued. "Did your mom yell at you again about-?" Serena closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and shook her head wildly from side to side. "Your little brother got on your case-." She shook her head again. "You failed-." This time she shook her head more furiously making her long blonde hair nearly slap Andrew and customers in a booth to her right. "Oh! I see! It was Darien! Serena, if he bothers you this much, I'll tell him to stop picking on you." Just as Andrew finished his sentence Serena stood up abruptly from the stool and looked at him with conviction.

"No! He is not bothering me! It is worse! Much worse! Now he's after my poor friend Raye!!!" Andrew laughed at Serena's performance. There goes the world's favorite ball of energy.

"Serena. They're just dating. I'm sure it'll be fine."

"Fine?! Fine!!" Her eyes were glowing bonfires. "That pig-headed insensitive creep doesn't know how to treat a girl!"

Andrew backed away nervously, scanning the area for an escape. "Serena, please quiet down. You're scaring my customers away," he pleaded.

"No. That's fine Andrew. I think I'll go find somebody who'll understand." On that note she grabbed her briefcase and stomped out the arcade as gamers watched with curiosity.

As Serena walked out the arcade doors she immediately spotted Raye clinging onto the cretin as they walked across the street. Stealthily, Serena ducked behind a pole and adopted the persona of Ninja Bunny. She overheard Raye chattering nonstop. Much to Serena's surprise though, Darien was nearly silent. This is a first. Heh heh. Then she snuck from pole to pole attempting to spy without incident. When the couple finally turned onto the Market district, Serena quickly replaced their spot and looked around the corner onto the street the just entered. From this distance she could overhear much more of their conversation. Raye once again was doing enough talking for the both of them.

"Hey, Darien, why don't you buy me a bracelet?" She asked passing a jewelry stand. Instead of replying, Darien hastily looked at his watch. For the first time, Ninja Bunny heard him speak.

"Um, I'm sorry Raye, but I really have to go, uh, meet a friend." Raye looked up at him, obviously disappointed, with a vague smile on her face.

"Umm, that's er…okay. Maybe another day this week, "she said looking up at him hopefully.

"Yeah, sure." With that Darien sped back down the street. "Whew," he sighed. Ninja Bunny slipped into the entranceway of a store unaware of the door that then smacked in the face. She slumped down to the ground in agony. However, before the customer could apologize, she revived and chased after Darien remembering her mission. About twenty-five yards ahead she spotted Darien entering a café. Meanwhile, a black cat with a crescent moon bald spot glanced up to see the blonde sneaking like a lioness upon her prey. What is that girl up to?

Darien sat in the café half-reading the newspaper before him. He was pondering both where his friend was at this moment and the feeling he had that someone was following him. Shortly after arriving, his phone rang and a number he'd expected appeared on his caller ID. He picked up eagerly. He looked out the window as he sighed to the professor.

"So you can't make it? That's okay. I'll have to find another time when we can discuss my thesis. Enjoy your conference. Okay, bye." Sighing deeply, he hung up and turned back to his newspaper. Instead, what he saw almost made him jump into the booth behind him.

"Meatball head?!" Across the table in the booth sat a young, yet familiar blonde with two pigtails glaring at him.

"Who might I ask was that," she cooed. Relaxing with great ease, he picked up his coffee, took a sip, and replied bluntly, "a friend."

Serena leapt across the table, "Ooooooooooo! If I find out that you've been two-timing Raye I'll-."

"If you must know, Meatball Head, it was an old friend named Frank that I wanted to meet here. Lucky for him, he can't make it." Serena sat back.

"Do you mean your college friend Francine?" she countered.

Coolly, he replied, "No. I mean Frank, as in a guy. Sometimes I swear your brain is upside down."

"That may be big shot, but I know that you're up to something," she said gritting her teeth.

"If u say so…"

"I know so."

"And what proof do you have?"

"Maybe the way you taunt and tease me daily. Or…the way you stomp on girls' feelings by insulting them!" Darien got up and set money on the table.

"No-just you," he said walking out the café. Sulking out the door behind him she felt a cat hop on her shoulder.

"Luna!"

"Just exactly what do you think you're doing? Instead of spending precious time studying you're out here stalking some boy," the cat nagged.

"I am not stalking him….I'm protecting Raye from scum."

"Oh, really? I think you're jealous."

"Me…jealous? I laugh at the face of jealousy. Ha ha haaaa!" Sweat dropped from Luna's forehead as they ambled to the Tsukino household. If I didn't know any better I'd say you liked arguing with Darien.

Luna was shaken awake by the movement of her owner. She glanced at the alarm clock. Two A.M?! Then, she saw Serena lying with eyes open, screwing her face in concentration.

"Serena! Just what are you doing up at this ungodly hour! You have school tomorrow."

"Oh….it's just Friday. I'll have the whole weekend to sleep."

"I thought you and the girls were having a sleepover at Raye's temple." Serena ignored the cat and focused once more.

"Why would that jerk treat her any different than he treats me," she mumbled.

"Huh?" Luna asked.

"Luna, I still can't understand why Raye would like a zero like Darien." Luna fell head first off the bed in shock.

So this is what was keeping her awake on a school night.

"I mean…he practically insults me everyday. If it's not my hair…it's my grades…if not that then it's my klutziness…then…it's my eating habits. But then again…Raye seemed so googly eyed walking with him…He is handsome, but…but that's still no reason to like that creep!!!" Luna pounced back on Serena's crescent moon patterned comforter.

"It seems like you just wish Darien would treat you the same way…"

"Well, why not…I've known him longer than she has…it's not fair---wait. No! I just don't think he's good for Raye."

"I highly doubt that they way you two bicker all the time. She calls you meatball head just as often as he does. Why else would you miss out on your favorite pastime to think of a boy unless you wanted his attention?" Serena quickly pulled the covers over her head.

"Good-night Luna!" In only a few seconds Luna could hear Serena's obnoxious snoring. Instantly, she regretted letting Serena fall asleep and expected a long night ahead.

Serena slumped on the fresh green lawn of her school. Forming a semi-circle around her was three of her closest friends, Amy, Lita, and Mina. They all stared with faces painted with worry as Serena simply picked at the lunch. Finally, she let out an exasperated sigh and set down her fork. The trio leapt off the grass in shock at Serena's reaction. She wasn't eating?! They tried unsuccessfully to read her distant expression.

This day just was not going well for Serena. First, she woke up even later than usual and landed a week of detentions. Then, she slept through her test from staying up so late the previous night granting her a score even worse than her usual failing grade. To top it off she couldn't figure out exactly why she was so worried about Raye dating Darien. As much as she tried to write it off as protectiveness for her friend, she couldn't help but feel unsettled by her concern. Amy then broke Serena's reverie.

"Serena…is something wrong?" Amy asked obviously aware that Serena had a burden on her shoulder.

"Yeah. You're not your usual happy self," Lita said.

"If something's got you down, you know you can tell us, girl," Mina added.

Serena looked up at the sky. What can I tell them? Good thing Raye goes to another school.

"Well…it's Darien…," Serena began. Mina perked.

"You mean that guy that Raye's dating?" Serena's twin asked. Serena nodded in confirmation. Lita tensed.

"Is he picking on you again?" Lita said prepared to fight. Serena looked back at them. Here goes nothing.

"Nothing more than the usual. That's not what's bothering me, though," Serena blushed. Amy understood.

"Serena? Do you like Darien, too?" Amy pried.

"NO! Of course not!" Serena was suddenly unsure of herself. Nah. It can't be. Lita relaxed as she noticed a change in Serena. However, Mina was the first to see that Serena was battling a certain emotion.

"Serena? May I ask you a few questions," Mina asked. Serena nodded in reply. "Okay. You have to answer each of these truthfully. Here goes. Where did you first meet Darien?" Serena was surprised by this random question. However, she was even more surprised that she knew the answer.

"In front of Osa-P jewelry store. It was the day Molly's mom had that huge sale." The trio already knew where this line of questioning was going but Serena was oblivious until the next question came.

"Do you think Darien is handsome?"

"He's pretty good looking for a jerk!" Serena said more adamantly. Well it's true. No use denying that. But why is Mina- Uh oh! Serena blushed profusely. Mina giggled to herself. How cute! Lita was the one who asked the next question.

"Are you feeling jealous that Darien takes Raye out for boat rides and only teases you?" Lita asked giving her a scary look of intense interest. After hearing the question, Amy and Mina joined her. Serena backed into the tree she was leaning on in fear.

"Er…well….um…" Serena tried to clear her throat but it was futile. She felt as an interrogation light bulb was set on her face and reflected this by sweating. Amy brightened.

"So I was right! My hypotheses are never wrong. You have a thing for Darien," Amy stated excitedly. The other two nodded in complete agreement.

"Uh-huh. Uh-huh," Mina and Lita said. Serena was the last to share their revelation.

"Well it doesn't even matter. One, he's dating Raye. And two, if he wasn't, he'd still only pick on me," Serena said pointedly. This sucks. "Since he likes to be that way, I see no reason to act any different." Serena became oddly adamant. The trio fell over with helplessness. They all saw why Serena wanted to keep her feelings to herself. Serena looked down at her food and let her face droop as she thought about it once more. I like Darien, the jerk…

After school that day the four girls walked to the arcade to meet Raye for their sleepover. As they entered the glass doors they saw her sitting across from a guy, though her face was strangely, not as dreamy as it was before. Serena looked at the guy and realized that the man, in fact, was not Darien. The girls decided to find out who the guy was and began to move in. They all stopped beside Raye's booth and had a closer view of the mysterious man. He had long brown hair, looked slightly scruffy, but had an unusual cuteness. He bowed his head and pleaded repeatedly with Raye.

"Are you sure you don't want anything? I'll pay," he asked in a deep, but whiney voice. Raye looked as if she enjoyed the attention.

"No thank you, Chad. I'm fine," Raye said as she noticed the girls hovering above her. "Oh, hey guys. Amy, Mina, Lita, Serena, meet Chad. My grandpa just hired him to work at the temple and I'm showing him around a bit." The girls smiled at Chad. "Er…Chad. Do you think you can find your way to the temple from here? Today is kind of a girls' day and-."

"Whatever you want Raye. I'll see you back at the temple. Bye everyone," Chad ambled out of the arcade looking like a lovesick puppy. The girls then filed into the booth.

"What happened to Darien, Raye? Given up on him already?" Lita said relaying everyone's sentiments exactly.

"Well…kind of. I still have a soft spot for Darien, but yesterday I could tell he wasn't interested. Then, I met Chad last night and though it's annoying that he wants to cater to my every need, it's really flattering. It's more fun to tease him than chase someone who doesn't like me that way," Raye replied. The girls all sighed. Serena herself was a little relieved.

Now it doesn't feel like I'm after my friend's guy.

"Well, guys. Ready to go?" Serena said a little too cheerful for her school mates. Raye missed the mood shift.

"Okay!"

Raye tapped her foot as Serena rushed into her house. Leave it to Serena to forget her pajamas. Finally, they made it to Raye's temple where Chad was outside sweeping.

"Hey Raye!" Raye visibly blushed, then brushed the redness in her cheeks away.

"Oh. Hey Chad. Keep up the good work," she said. She was about to continue walking away when Chad spoke again.

"Thanks Raye. So what are you doing tonight?"

"I told u Chad. I invited my friends to spend the night." She gritted her teeth. Man this guy never quits.

"Oh. Well if there's anything you want just let me know. I'm here. I can fluff your pillows or…" Raye stopped attempting to walk with her four friends. Meanwhile the rest of group trudged into the temple to prepare for the sleepover.

"Chad, give it a rest okay…."

"But I was just…" The last the girls saw of the duo, Raye was insulting his manliness and Chad was apologizing.

"Chad! Stop groveling!"

After some time Raye rejoined them. A lot of giggling, gabbing, and pillow fighting followed until each girl was exhausted. Serena alone stayed awake long after everyone was asleep.

It's not fair. All he ever does is tease me and make me self-conscious. Eww…and that attracts me? Serena cringed and stuck her tongue out as if a bug lay on it. Then, she thought more.

At least he knows I exist…Maybe that's not such a good thing since I'm known as Meatball Head Serena crumbled into a fetal position very confused and rolled over. When she opened her eyes she saw Raye's eyes looking into hers. Serena's skin crawled.

"What are you doing awake?" she whispered to her friend. Raye closed her eyes.

"I could ask you the same question Meatball Head!" Raye barely whispered back. Serena cringed under the familiar nickname. "So it's true…you DO like him…" Raye saw the startled look on Serena's face. Raye became slightly annoyed. "Don't play dumb, Serena! First, you spy on us. Then, you were all down in the dumps this morning. You nearly jumped off the roof when I said I gave up on Darien." Serena gulped. Raye sat up and looked at her with a caring smile on her face. "I'm your best friend. Underneath all our fighting I know you better than anyone. I understand."

"You didn't give up on him 'cause of me didya?" Serena sat up next to Raye feeling guilty. Raye stood up, pushed open the sliding door, and beckoned Serena after her. The two sat on the porch feel the warm night air. The moon hung a bright yellow above them. Crickets made low noises in the trees, but the eve remained peaceful.

"You have known him longer," Raye joked. She spied the sad look on Serena's face. "That's not it, though. Darien was a complete gentleman when we went out. But, he treated me more like a sister than anything else. When he left our date yesterday I realized there would be nothing between us. You two are different, though. You have some kind of connection that can't be broken. You guys actually have some potential." Serena looked at her thankful, but still sad.

"Sure wish I could see things the way you do." Before Raye could refute her, she continued. "So tell me about you and Chad. Eh, eh?" Serena nudged her friend. Raye turned a cherry color.

"Well…I don't let him onto it, but he's really nice guy." She looked at the stars. "He's really nice to me and obviously interested." Her face tightened a bit. "Still, he's a spineless little brat. His music is loud and painful, even. He's almost as ditzy as you." She smiled. "But you turned out pretty cool, huh?"

"He seems nice….so….," Serena said twiddling her thumbs together. "You sure you're not mad at me?"

"I'm sure," Raye said standing up. "In fact, I'm going to root for you, okay?" Serena stood up, too.

"And I'm going to root for you and Chad! Yahoo!" Serena was happy she now had the approval of her friend. Raye rested her forehead on her finger and sighed at Serena's new goal.

"Now, Serena. Back to bed," Raye said.

"Okay." Serena chuckled at Raye's motherliness.

Saturday the girls all got up and agreed to go to the arcade to hang out with Andrew. On the way there the girls spotted Darien walking ahead of them into the arcade. Serena shuddered at the thought on running into him with the information she now had. Just play it cool Serena. Act as if nothing has changed. Raye saw Darien, and then looked at Serena.

"Relax, girl. Everything will be fine," Raye assured Serena. Mina, Raye, and Amy blinked twice, while Serena merely nodded and grinned. They continued their walk behind Darien. Serena walked behind them. She scoffed when they lined up at the counter next to Darien conveniently leaving her a seat right next to Darien. Why me?

"What's up Meatball Head?" Serena refused to let her reflexes fail just because she had feelings for the cretin.

"What do you want today amoeba?"

"I wanted to know what's wrong." Darien said grinning at her. Serena looked at him in a mixture of surprise and fear. Was she that transparent? "You haven't crashed into me for a whole week?" Whew? That was a close one-Wait? What does he mean?

"Hey! I wouldn't crash into you so much if you watched where you were going? Did you finally refocus your eyes or something?"

"Actually, I did. I looked at the last test you threw at me and thought I saw an F. I double-checked and realized it was closer to a Z." Score! Angry looks good on Serena. Heh heh. The five girls sighed before Andrew appeared from the back hearing an argument heating up.

"Darien, why do you constantly tease poor Serena? What did she do to deserve it?"

Nothing really. But I'm not about to say that in front of her.

"I know Serena's klutzy, but as often as she runs into me, she must have some mafia against me. I'm just exacting revenge."

"Andrew. I don't know how you put up with him." Serena glared at her blonde haired ex-crush. Andrew's so nice. Nothing like old Darien.

Amy, Mina, Lita, and Raye looked at each other wary of the fact that Serena and Darien maybe needed a little space to mature before getting to know each other. Can't they just grow up!

"Hey girls," Amy spoke up. "You ready to go?"

"No!" Serena said. "I will not surrender to this punk. He'll have to leave before I do!" The girls decided to back away and save helping Serena for another day.

"Serena, meet us at the park when you're ready," Mina said before the quartet sped off.

"You know what, Serena. I've got better things to do than battle it out with you. You win! Adios!" Darien said with that stupid grin on his face.

"Oooh! Coward! Go ahead!" she yelled to his back. When Darien was out of sight she slumped on the counter unaware that Andrew was still there. Meanwhile, Darien hid back in an alley to ponder the feelings he had. Why can't I stop picking on her? She really doesn't deserve it. Something about her brings out another side of me, though.

Serena let the tears flow from her eyes. Life isn't fair. What made me think he would treat me any different? She laid her head on her arms and tried to fall asleep and forget everything.

"Serena?" Andrew asked. She looks worse than she did Thursday. "You know Darien doesn't mean anything he says, right?"

"Then why does he say the things he does?" Serena muttered.

Andrew sighed. That's something I'd like to know myself, Serena.

"You know what, Serena. I'll talk to him. Maybe someday he can show you he's not as insensitive as he seems…"

"That'll be the day," she said standing up. "I'm gonna go find my friends again. They're probably waiting. Thank you, Andrew." She gave Andrew her best smile and was off.

That jerk! Why can't he do anything but bring me down? Even when I like him, he hurts me. Serena walked down the street surrounded by spring couples that seemed to appear for the first time today. When she passed Osa-P she felt tears coming, yet again. She sighed. Cheer up, Serena! Don't disappoint Raye and the others! She decided she could skulk as she crossed the street, before letting her sadness shrink away.

Darien let his feet lead him to his destination. When he looked up from the book he saw the Meatball Head ready to step onto the road. Did she notice the green light?! Guess not! Instead of backing up she continued to walk as a red car sped in her direction. Darien raced to help her. Serena heard a horn blare and shrieked.

"Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!" she screamed. Seconds before a collision could take place a warm hand grabbed hers and dragged her across the street. When she and the figure stopped she was panting profusely.

"Darien?!" she shrieked. He held her in a protective manner. "Serena, are you, okay?"

"You saved me!"

"I couldn't let my verbal sparring partner become road kill," he grinned at her.

"Oh…I…uh…gotta go."

"To meet your friends? Let me walk you there. You might trip and fall into the street. I may not be able to save you twice in a row?" he chuckled while simultaneously scolding himself. There you go again idiot.

"Hmph! If you must." A little time passed with neither of them teasing. Serena attempted again and again to ask him the question that bothered her most. Finally, the silence made her so crazy she simply spat it out.

"Why are you always so mean to me?! Why is it that I'm the only girl you taunt? Everybody else thinks you're such a nice guy, but I just don't see it!" Darien winced and looked at something in the sky. Ouch! His look was pensive so Serena gave him a little time to respond. Darien decided to let what was on his mind flow.

"Well…I'm not really sure, Serena. Maybe it's because you're not like other girls. Somehow when I first met you I knew you were different. For some reason you make me react differently than I do to anyone else." Serena tried to take in everything he said.

"So it's not that you dislike me…"

"Well I wouldn't even bother talking to you if I didn't like you," he said as a matter of fact. The park loomed ahead of the pair. Serena was blushing, but also sad that she had this epiphany just as she had to leave. "Well, I guess, here's your stop."

"Yeah I guess it is."

"Well, see ya Meatball Head!" he teased as he walked casually away.

"Hey! It's Serena!" she laughed after yelling in his direction.

The four girls sat in the park.

"Maybe we can have some time to plan now," Mina, the matchmaker, said. Two girls nodded their heads. One girl was confused.

"Huh?" Raye spied Amy's lost expression.

"Wow, girl, you gotta get out of the books more often. To get Serena and Darien together of course!"

"Oh!" Amy nodded embarrassed.

"Ooh! Ooh! I have an idea!" Lita paused for suspense.

"Well…" Mina asked impatiently.

"How about we…." Lita spread out the plan to her friends as they all agreed to it.

Serena arrived just as the finishing touches were set. She looked extremely happy. A little too happy.

"Why are you smiling so much, Serena," Amy asked curiously.

"Oh…nothing," Serena giggled to herself. He doesn't hate me. I have a chance. "Hey. What were you guys in such deep conversation about?"

"Oh…nothing," the girls said in unison with devilish grins on their faces.