Chapter three:
Serena was sitting at the park on a bench…. Starring at her phone that was now in the lake in front of her
'They send me to Japan and here I thought because I was getting into too much trouble for them… BUT NO… it was because they had arranged for me to be married.'… She grunted in anger …
She had called her parents immediately after she stormed out of her grandparent's house in protest
Flash back:
Serena shook her head back and forth in a negative response to her grandfather's announcement…. "Grandfather, I'm not even dating anyone! How can I have future In-laws?!"… Serena questioned in shock
Her grandfather sat up firmly… " you come from a family that has arranged for its daughters to be married since before my great, great, great, great, grandfathers time… it is a tradition that has been in our family for generations. When your parents moved away you were next in line to be married and your great grandfather choose the perfect family for you. I was great friends with this man's father"… Serena noted that he pointed to the man that was supposed to be her father in law
Serena stood up… "Grandfather with all due respect this isn't ancient Japan anymore. We are in a modern society where girls have a say in who they marry."
Suddenly Serena saw her grandfather grow extremely agitated and that her grandmother had gripped her grandfather's hand and held it tightly….
"Serena, you might live in a modern society that thinks that it knows what's best from them but I know what's best for this family. Your mother had an arrange marriage and she loves your father very much, they were a perfect match."… Her grandfather debated with her
Serena stood shocked; she never knew that her parent's marriage was arranged. They were always so in love that you just knew they found a romantic courtship with one another…. "I can't believe this family any more. Sammy dies and mother and father act like nothing happened and now they send me to Japan to be married off.. IM STILL IN HIGH SCHOOL!"…
With her loud display of disapproval Serena stormed out the door, making sure that she slammed the door behind her. She wasn't sure that her future in-laws thought much of her now but she didn't care anyways
She immediately took out her phone and dialed her parents. Her mother picked up
"Hello?"… Her mother answered calmly
"MOM! How could you?"… Serena wailed off
Her mother held her breath knowing what her daughter called her about, deciphering her tone… "Sweet heart your father and I…"… her mother was cut off
"YEAH I KNOW… grandfather told me. How could you keep this from me? How could you do this to me? I'm only 17 and I was planning on returning to America."…. Serena reasoned with her mother
"Serena I know that this is all very sudden but your partner is a very important person and if you had taken the time to get to know your in laws, you would know how important you are to their family already."
"I can't believe your actually telling me this right now…"… Serena was seeing blurry as tears where starting to well up in her eyes… "You're just getting rid of me"
"Serena NO" … her mother begged to differ… "We are only seeing what is best for you"
Inside of Serena arose a great anger … "NO YOUR NOT"…. She shouted… and into the pond went her phone
End of flashback
Serena still sat on the bench, which was now hours. She contemplated on whether or not to go back but where else could she really go…. School she reasoned
School was the last place she wanted to be but it was better than being at her grandparents. She walked back towards the school grounds but on her way there she saw the arcade that she had been in front of earlier… 'Crown arcade'
Serena shrugged her shoulders and went in and a smile spread across her face…'Arcade games' her mind screamed… even she reasoned how she could get married when her favorite pass times were video games and manga… 'Parents'..
Serena searched her pockets and found some change and wondered around looking at the many video games that were there… the most popular one seemed to be the simulated motorcycle race. There was a large group around the machine and Serena peeked over the people and saw a handful of guys trying to beat what seemed like the fasted finishing time…
When the guys on the machine were done she smiled and pushed in her money into the slot and mounted the attached motorcycle that started the simulated game…. She put on the 3D eye visors and it was like she was really racing… her heart started to pump and she gripped the handles and curved her body into starting position and when she saw the flag go down she took off….
She glided with every turn, passing up all the computer generated people, and enjoyed the rush of knowing she was wining… she suddenly started to hear a loud applause around her and noticed that her time on the first lap was the fasted time recorded and t… she continued and noticed she was beating the record all together with effortless trying.
When the game ended and she removed her 3d simulated visors that she had been wearing, she saw that everyone was cheering and shaking her hand and she just smiled. That was until she saw a familiar face.
"Wow, that's some skill to beat the top player on here."… The tall blond hair guy remarked
Serena just smirked… "It was easy"
She saw the guy smile and Serena suddenly felt like she was blushing…
"Usagi, right?"… The guy asked
Serena nodded yes… then the guy stuck out his hand… "I'm Andrew. My father owns this arcade and I must congratulate you for beating the top score."
Serena felt comfortable around this guy even though she knew that he was that jerks friend… "Thanks"… she replied… "Should I be nervous about whom it is I beat?"… She jokingly asked
Andrew just slightly laughed… "Well, if I told you who it was that you beat I think you might get too much gratification out of it"
Serena quirked her eyebrow… "Huh?"
Andrew shook his head " you really are more innocent than you put on but if you're a bit curious about who it is, just ask him yourself"… then Andrew pointed to the incoming crowd of people, which included the jerk
"I should have known"… she looked at Andrew… "Thanks but I'm outta here"…
With that Serena turned the opposite way trying to get through the crowd of people trying to congratulate her, it seemed like a big deal to them all… she just wanted to play a video game
Suddenly she heard her name being shouted
"Usagi!"
She stopped and gripped her hands tightly at her side… then she turned and crossed her hands in front of her and sure enough it was HIM…. He was leaning against the game like he was some king or something…. "Congratulations"… he taunted at her
Serena just turned back around and began to walk away faster, knowing that his sarcasm was only going to get worse
"Video games are for kids…real riders play for real stakes"… he chimed toward her back as to challenge her
Serena stopped, seeing that he was degrading her, if there was ever an insult that meant something to Serena, it was calling her a fake rider… she was a real rider with heart
She turned and glared at him… "What stakes are those?"
The crowd 'oooo'ed' and Darien smirked as he had captured her right where he knew he could get her… "Let's have a real race…"
Serena thought about it… "Fine but you know I don't have a bike"…
But before Serena could go any further a pair of keys had been thrown towards her… she looked at who they came from… Andrew…
She looked at him with questioning eyes… he shrugged his shoulders… "I've been dying to see if someone can really hand him his ass on a platter and I'm willing to see if you can do it."
Serena smirked this time and then turned to Darien… "What are the stakes then?"
"If you win I give you my bike"… he smiled knowing she really admired his bike… "BUT if you lose… you leave our school "
Serena smiled… "Seems like I win both ways"…
Darien looked at her with a death glare; she was really starting to irritate him… "Follow us, if you can keep up."… With the announcement the whole arcade almost cleared following the princes up to a place called narrow road.
Serena straggled behind looking for Andrew, she wanted to see how he was getting there, since she had his bike, but before she could find him, she saw him wiz by her in a nice BMW…. 'Figures'… Serena chimed
She then took off herself getting a feel of the bike as she rode it. She was learning its curve and it's weight when she turned and she played with its speed, then she noticed one thing though… what she was wearing… if there was one thing she knew was that safety was always something her brother taut her… she wasn't wearing any safety equipment
When she arrived it seemed like Darien was waiting on her but she noticed his egoistical smile…
Serena got off the motorcycle, removed her helmet… "What about safety gear?"… Suddenly the crowd laughed and Serena seethed inside, she was serious
"What about it?"… Darien retorted… then began to remove his motorcycle vest with protective spine guard… "Now we're both on even grounds"
"I might be blond but I'm not stupid… I'm not risking my life for you"… with that she placed the helmet on the seat of the motorcycle and began to walk away, the crowd booing
Darien saw that his chance at easily getting rid of her and continuing his scare tactics were slowly dwindling… "HEY! Lets raise the stakes then"… he saw Serena stop and turn hesitantly… "If you win I will withdraw from the school and you get my bike but if you lose you still withdraw from school BUT you must also never been seen on a motorcycle in Tokyo Japan"
Serena laughed… "Who made you the boss of who can and can't do things?"
"Don't you know who I am?"… Darien asked sarcastically… "I have every cop, thug, and politician eating out of my hands; I am the next to inherit Shields incorporated which owns over three fourths of Japans stocks and trades… I own Japan"
Serena scoffed; she had had enough of all his egoistical banter… "FINE!"… She yelled in a furry as she walked back to the bike and mounted … "We will see who you really are when you're quietly walking away".
Darien smirked and they were all ready to get the race under way
Andrew sat back and watched as did the other two princes… all intrigued that this little blond girl had rattled there powerful leader to his core that he would make such a wager… as the flag went down in front of the two battling teens Serena's mind was blurry at best
Darien was determined to make her suffer for daring to make him look like a fool… it was a simple straight shot for about 2 miles… he had it in the bag
The flag went down and they both launched forward with speed… Serena saw that she was lagging behind but she smiled inside knowing that Darien had already shifted into his fasted gear but she had not… she got right on his tail and then shifted into her last gear flying past Darien
It was then that Darien smiled… 'she really thought this was all about a race?'… He mentally chimed, but deep down inside Darien knew she was beating him
Darien slowed down slightly and Serena saw him in her left mirror slow down.. 'why is he slowing?'… to the naked eye most people would not have noticed he slowed down, then suddenly there was a bright white light that blinded Serena… it was a car coming her way
And it didn't slow down or detour from her lane… so immediately she switched lanes but the car did the same. The car was aiming at her
She grew nervous and looked back and Darien was nowhere to be seen… it was then she remembered a trick her brother once showed her... she slowed the bike down to a stop and put the bike on its side, then revved the engine… causing the tires to spin fast… sending up a heap of smoke in the air… the car was blinded and turned out of her way into the other lane…
Serena got back on the bike now realizing what was really going on…she raced back towards the starting line… she saw that most people had gone but she saw the Princes still there laughing at one another… Darien the main one laughing
Darien saw her coming and shook his head….
She stopped the bike and threw it down on the ground, not caring how much it was worth … walked right up to Dairen and removing the helmet and shoving it into his stomach… "You stupid pompous jerk you could have killed me!"…
She had hit him hard in the stomach taking his breath away but he saw her eyes full of fury and knew he had her just where he wanted her… "That car came out of nowhere"… saying it as if he were a victim himself.
The guys looked at him for questions and Serena realized this was all Darien's doing and she saw Darien's look in his eyes… it gave her a tingle down her spine… he was crazy…
There gaze was broken when they all heard the sirens and looked at one another…
"Time to go"… Andrew told them gripping Serena's hand and about to put her in his car
"Leave her here"… Darien shouted in a command
Andrew looked at him, hearing the sirens… "You can't be serious?"
Darien took Serena's other hand and jerked her away from Andrew, throwing her to the ground…
"Darien!"… Andrew shouted about the run towards Serena when Darien looked at him
"if you still want to be friends tomorrow leave her"… Darien walked away and Andrew saw the look in Darien's eyes and knew he wasn't playing
Serena sat up on the ground the sirens now closer… "you can't be serious. you can't just leave me here. It's like 10 miles till we reach town,"… Serena tried to defend why she shouldn't be left there… "IM NOT SOME ANIMAL"… she shouted getting the response of the prince's leader Darien
"Can't all dogs find their way home"… with that he got on his bike and zoomed off the rest following in tout
Serena was left there on the ground holding her wrist, which she was sure, was hurt from being thrown on the ground… Serena got up and looked at the bike that she threw on the ground still there…
She picked it up and saw that it was busted so she looked down the road that she came up and began to walk and stayed to the side of the road, making sure to be kept out of sight… the cop car flew by her and she felt relief
Serena walked tiredly along the road for almost five miles before she saw car lights come along side of her… she looked up and saw the driver, rolled her eyes, and kept walking..
The car followed her… " I will take you home, please get in the car"… the voice from the car shouted and Serena stopped and turned and looked at the driver again
"Seiya right?"… Serena questioned and the young man nodded … "thanks but I don't think your cousin is going to like that you took in a stray dog, as he might so eloquently say"… she kept walking
"Hey my cousin was out of line and we all thought so. He can be a handful sometimes but he really isn't that bad"… Seiya shouted towards the still walking blond who paused and faced him, looking tired
"Who are you trying to convince? Me or yourself" ?…. Serena turned back around and continued to walk home… "Thanks but I've enjoyed the walk so far"
Seiya smiled… she sure was different…. "You're the first person to ever stand up against him you know?"… Seiya shouted at Serena's back and he just saw her hand go up and he watched her walk away, completely amused by her… 'I'm intrigued with you'… he said ever so lightly and sat back down in his car
Something told him that life was going to get more complicated soon
To be continued….