My Girlfriend's A Cheerleader
Chapter Two
By: Rainhe
(PG13)
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AN: Thanks for the reviews. ^-^ And in answer the question "If Serena's a klutz, how can she be a cheerleader?", Serena IS a major klutz. That's why she wanted to try something new - something she might actually be good at. The cheerleaders are really desperate so they'll take just about anybody. Serena was their best shot.
Enjoy this chapter.
-----
"Where is she?" a fiery, raven-haired girl ranted, her brows knitting together in agitation.
"Calm down, Raye," a blonde perked, hoping to offer some sort of consolation. "She'll be here soon. You know how Serena is."
"But she's always late!" Raye screamed.
"Maybe she got in trouble again," a short, blue-haired girl commented.
"Or maybe she's in another fight with Sammy," a brunette suggested.
Raye glared at the three other girls. "Stop trying to side with her! We all know this is not the first time Serena's been late. With new enemies on the rise she could at least make it on time! It's bad enough that she zones out most of - "
"Hey!" Serena yelled, racing up the temple steps and rushing next to Raye's side. "Sorry I'm late. Practice - "
"You idiotic meatball head!" Raye fumed. "What do you think you were doing?"
Serena cowered back, stepping next to the brunette. "I said I'm sorry! I had practice!"
"You moron! Haven't you kept track of all the new attacks we've been having?"
"But I - "
"No but's!" Raye hissed. She was infuriated. "I told you five million times - "
"Wait, Raye!" The brunette stepped in front of Serena. "Didn't you hear what she said?"
"What?" Raye blinked. Her brow twitched in irritation. "What excuses are you listening to now?"
"It's not an excuse!" Serena wailed.
"She said she had practice," the perky blonde blurted out, distracting Raye for a moment. She stared at Serena in confusion.
Serena stared back, sniffing and choking back tears. "Thank you, Mina. At least someone heard me!"
"Wait!" the blue-haired girl spoke up, eliminating any chances of further arguments. "What practice?"
Serena was silent. She stared at the four girls, feeling reluctant and terribly embarrassed. She wasn't sure if she could tell them. Cheerleading practice? They would surely laugh at her, and word would reach Darien sooner than she could protest. But wasn't that what she wanted? Didn't she originally sign up to prove she could do something right?
"Um…"
"Well?" Raye sneered, growing impatient again.
"Um…" Serena lowered her gaze. She couldn't prove she was good at cheerleading yet. She just got accepted. But wasn't that an accomplishment? Getting accepted - particularly by a guy - several minutes after trying out?
"Serena…" the brunette eyed her curiously.
"I was at cheerleading practice," Serena stated firmly, meeting everyone's gaze.
They simply stared at her, dumbfounded. Mina looked amused.
"You're a cheerleader, Serena?" the brunette asked cautiously.
Serena grew furious. She didn't know why, but she got the sudden feeling that they were mocking her. "Yes, I went to try out for a cheerleading squad today and got accepted!"
Raye frowned. "Stop being so defensive! Lita was just asking you a question."
Serena glared at her. "Well, now you know. I'm a cheerleader now. I'm gonna have practices every now and then. That means I won't be able to attend any more scout meetings."
"Since when have you properly attended them anyway?" Raye snapped.
Tears welled up in Serena's eyes. Her cheeks were puffed, their color matching the light pink shade of her nails.
"Raye, calm down," the blue-haired girl warned.
"It's true, Amy! Serena's always late or distracted - "
"Well then I guess it won't make much of a difference if I skip a couple of meetings," Serena said indignantly. She could barely speak. "I gotta go," she muttered, then turned swiftly on her heels. She ran off, leaving a stunned group of scouts in her wake.
Meanwhile, back at Riverdale High, lights blared vibrantly and showered several cheerleaders in a warm glow. One of the girls, Jessica, was leaning over the same table that stretched about halfway across the gym - the one the cheerleaders had used for try-outs.
"She's pissed," Jessica told Amanda who had her legs sprawled across her side of the table once again.
Amanda shrugged. "I know. Everyone knows that," she chuckled. "I think it's sad. She was actually starting to be okay around that new girl…"
"Wasn't her name Serena?" Jessica cocked her head, twirling a bright red strand of hair around her finger.
"Yeah. Yeah, now I remember. Eric's all over her."
"Eric?" Jessica raised her brows. "Eric likes her? Our football Eric?"
"Our football Eric," Amanda confirmed. "Megan's Eric. Well, he was."
Jessica parted her lips to reply but was cut off by the sudden sound of whispers. All the cheerleaders murmured practically inaudible comments to those next to them or, in some cases, themselves. One girl chuckled to no one in particular. Such behavior would usually be considered off, but in their case it was pretty normal and even something to be expected.
Megan had entered the gym. She had changed into sweatpants and a ripped t-shirt - one with a low neck-line that exposed too much of her cleavage. Her blonde hair was set high into a ponytail, and her nails were painted red. Despite the horrendous tryouts and constant demonstrations, her sneakers were white - ultimately spotless. A blue bag hung casually on her shoulder. It was as if the tryouts never happened. It was as if she never met Serena, as if she didn't work out and teach cheers and yell.
But her face defied all that.
Her grayish eyes, shaded by contacts, were tired and worn down by bags. Her brows were dangerously low - right above her lids - and her lips were set into a firm line. It was obvious that she carelessly brushed a few strokes of make-up here and there, for small marks or poorly blended blush dotted her cheeks. She failed to conceal the small lines around her eyes - lines that miraculously popped up over the afternoon as she cursed and stomped and released her envious frustration in the privacy of the girl's locker room.
Her hand clutched her bag tightly, pulling it close to her chest. Her back was straight as ever, and her cheekbones were just as high as always. However, they gave her an arrogant air this time. Megan looked tired, defeated, and incredibly jealous.
Amanda cleared her throat. "So when do we celebrate?"
Megan stopped right in front of her, arching one thin brow. "Celebrate?" she muttered, her voice flat and ominous.
"Yeah…" Amanda slurred the word, fully aware of the dangerous edge in Megan's voice. "You know…because we finally have a new cheerleader?"
The corner of Megan's mouth twitched. She looked irritated. "It's not some big event. No need to celebrate."
"Well…then maybe we should just go out for pizza or something. Mr. Parks is still outside. As long as he's around we can always go out and come back…"
"Just to freshen up," Jessica interrupted, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. "I mean, you know…after all the try-outs and teaching Serena and all."
Megan flinched when Jessica mentioned Serena's name. Her eyes sparkled icily. "You can go if you want. I'm gonna stay here and pick out moves for our routine."
"I wanna stay then," one girl perked up, sliding down next to a mini TV set.
Megan ignored the girl and pulled out a tape from her bag. She popped it in the VCR and took a seat on the floor right in front of the screen. All the other girls cautiously sat around her.
Amanda plopped down next to her. "This from last year?"
Megan shook her head gravely. "Three years ago. The best nationals ever," she sighed. It was almost sarcastic.
The screen fizzled a little, blackened, then flashed a video of several cheerleaders performing a routine.
"That's Saint Elizabeth's," Amanda whispered. Megan simply nodded.
The routine was complex - sophisticated yet beautiful. The choreography was brilliant. There was both motion and rhythm. Several stunts were pulled off - all perfect and synchronized. The girls were all flexible yet their arms were stiff, huge smiles gracing their faces. The voices melted into one loud cheer. The music had a good beat to it, but it didn't seem to satisfy Megan.
Her brows knitted together in deep thought. "We're gonna have to change the music," she said, "and add more stunts. More Scorpions. We need more fliers." She paused for a moment, then eyed the way all arms waved across the air, forming an almost butterfly-shaped pose. "And we need to make the skirts swish more."
Amanda blinked. "What? But Saint Elizabeth's placed first that year. How could it be any better?"
"We obviously can't keep the exact moves to the routine," Megan stated as a-matter-of-factly. "We're gonna change it a bit and make it better. More stunts, more poses, more pom-poms and flashy colors. Just more spirit."
One girl looked hesitant. "I don't know... We can pull that off, but what about Serena? Think she can handle it when we only have about a month to go?"
Megan's eyes iced over. "We'll pull it off. Serena's going to get it. I'll make sure she does."
-----
Sunlight filtered through Serena's bedroom windows. The sky was clear, a cool breeze stirred several autumn-tinted leaves, and the sun was bright a warm. It showered over Serena's body like a golden blanket. Serena was sprawled out in her bed as usual. Her legs were draped over pillows and her arms were entangled in her blanket. Her golden hair, which seemed to be a mere part of the sunlight, was spread out across the remaining pillows under her head. How it never strangled her while she tossed and turned was a miracle.
Red birds chirped outside on a tree branch, singing songs of a fairly early morning. Eight o'clock. For Tokyo, eight in the morning was as good as noon. There were signs of an early morning traffic. Rush hour. People were finishing off their breakfasts, stuffing bagels into their mouths, and jumping into their cars. The sidewalks were already packed. Very few people weren't up and about by eight in the morning.
Well, Serena was always an exception, wasn't she? She was one of the few people who couldn't distinguish night from day. Serena was oblivious to the time. Instead, she drooled and hugged pillows - sometimes her cat Luna - and occasionally, she talked in her sleep. "Darien" was always the name that escaped her lips, but that night she was silent.
Serena's eyes twitched. She flipped onto her back, unconsciously stretched, then eased back from a half slumber to her usual deep slumber within a matter of seconds. She turned her head and began to snore softly. A small smile was tugging at the corner of her mouth. She would've giggled had Luna not scratched her cheek.
The cat, impatient and tired from trying to wake Serena up for the past few minutes, jumped onto her shoulder and gently but firmly scratched Serena's cheek. It wasn't enough to harm the girl. It was just enough to wake her.
Or perhaps it wasn't. Serena's small smile disappeared instantly. For a minute she looked as if she was going to wake up and start yelling, for her brows had descended upon her eyelids. Instead, she turned on her side and angrily tossed her arm up in the air - knocking Luna halfway across the room.
Luna was furious. She slid on her side and was slightly dumbfounded. She stood still for a moment and shook her head, trying to wear off a brief dizzy spell. As soon as her vision was completely clear, she ran full speed at Serena, landed on the girl's back, and scratched her cheek even harder.
Serena sat up with a jolt. She screamed a piercing scream, one that nearly matched the scream she always gave out when her brother Sammy had pulled a prank to wake her up.
Luna was knocked off the bed. It wasn't as bad as being thrown up to Serena's bedroom door, so she simply sat down and looked up at Serena, satisfied.
"Luna!" Serena wailed. "What did you do?"
Luna purred. "I woke you up. Took you long enough."
Serena growled and rubbed her red cheek. "Ugh! You could've just told me to wake up...actually speak and not scratch! What's the use of having a talking cat if the cat never talks?!"
"I did talk to you!" Luna protested. "You talked back and told me to shut up. Nothing else worked."
Serena frowned, still rubbing her cheek.
Luna looked content. "I had no choice. Even your alarm clock failed to wake you."
Serena stared at the cat for a moment, confused, then fixed her gaze on her bedside table. It was bare. Her alarm clock, as she soon discovered, was on the floor. She blinked, then, as if lightning had struck her, suddenly jumped out of bed.
Luna stepped back.
"Practice! Oh my god! I forgot about practice!"
Luna looked confused. "Practice?"
"What times is it?" Serena muttered, ignoring Luna's question. She bent over and picked up the alarm clock. She quickly placed it back on the table then stared at the time. 8:15.
"What practice?" Luna asked again.
Serena started whining. "I forgot all about it! Oh my god, the girls are going to kill me!"
Luna was growing impatient. "Serena, what practice are you talking about? If you mean a scout meeting then - "
"No, no!" Serena shook her head vigorously, finally acknowledging Luna's comments. "I didn't mean that! Megan's going to be furious! I can't believe I'm late!"
"What? Late for what practice? What are you talking about?"
Serena, in the midst of panic, pulled her drawer open and scooped out several clothes in her arms. She grabbed a brush and rushed to her bathroom, muttering something about blowing it already along the way.
Luna listened intently as Serena slammed the door shut. She was muttering inside and seemed to be bumping into several objects. Luna could hear her whimpering and shrieking a few "Ow's!"
The door suddenly flew open. Serena ran out wearing sweatpants, sneakers, and a random tank top. She rushed to her mirror and stared at her reflection. For a moment, her mumbling ceased.
Luna stared at her curiously. "Serena, what practice are you talking about?" she asked once again.
"I'm brand new and I'm late already! Amanda's going to kill me. Megan's going to kill me! Practice was at eight!" Serena shrieked, deciding that she had no time to arrange her hair into meatballs. She grabbed a handful of her hair, twisted it up, then tied it into a somewhat messy yet miraculously decent bun. Her stomach rumbled. "Lovely. I'm hungry, I'm late, and I'm disappointing everyone already! What's that guy gonna think? Why do I even care about him?" Serena mused, suddenly caught up her thoughts. She muttered several other things, not realizing she was bluntly speaking her mind.
Luna sighed. "What practice? What guy? Who's Megan?"
"What am I going to tell them? Do I remember the cheers?" Serena rambled, still talking to herself.
Luna turned bright red. "What practice?!"
"Cheerleading practice," Serena yelled as she rushed outside, leaving a stunned Luna behind.
As soon as Serena stepped outside her house, she became one of the people who made their way through the large crowds of Tokyo. That was a rare event, if not a first, for Serena was usually sleeping while pedestrians hurried through a sea of honking cars, may it rain or shine. She finally knew what it felt like to be late and delayed by endless rows of people. She felt like a fish trying to swim upstream. Without a car and feeling sleep deprived, Serena felt like a zombie who simply moved but couldn't think.
She didn't want to think. She could barely reply when she rushed out of her house and left her dazed family behind. Her lips were dry. She was hungry. She couldn't function. Perhaps she didn't want to. She couldn't remember the new moves she learned the previous day. She didn't know what to tell the girls when she arrived. She didn't have any excuses. She was afraid of what they might do to her - what they might think of the new cheerleader. She was brand new and already failing miserably. Perhaps she really was born a failure.
Just as she figured her thoughts couldn't be any darker, she crashed into someone as she turned a corner. A short yell stunned her as she fell back, her butt hitting the hard pavement. Serena sat silently on the street, her eyes wide and her mind a blur. She was dumbstruck and slightly bruised from the hard impact. People immediately passed by her, quickly following some new straight line that had formed around her and whoever she bumped into. They were like robots - quick to run and quick to avoid an accident. She suddenly felt like some construction sign in the middle of the sidewalk.
A rough grunt snapped her back to reality. Serena blinked, taking note of the man she had bumped into. She felt a sudden rush of emotions stir her dull and still sleepy senses - panic, worry, sympathy, regret, astonishment, and eventually rage.
Darien.
Miracle of all miracles, Serena had collided with her boyfriend. Darien was staring at her, obviously a little stunned himself. For a moment he looked slightly irritated, then his eyes sparkled with amusement upon recognition. "Serena?" he chuckled, standing up.
Serena was silent. She simply stared up at him.
"I didn't see you there. Are you okay?" He stretched his hand out to help her up.
Serena frowned and turned away. She ignored the hand and, with a small grunt of her own, stood up.
Darien looked a bit confused. Seeing that she didn't need his help, he reluctantly lowered his hand. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Serena brushed dirt off her pants and shirt, completely ignoring his questions. She was too furious to think of anything to tell him. As if being late for her first real cheerleading practice wasn't bad enough. The man didn't even know she had a grudge against him.
"Serena?" Darien eyed her curiously, a faint look of worry caressing his handsome features.
Serena's heart melted. She felt a pang of pain stab her heart. She never thought she'd ever manage being cold toward Darien. The man looked clueless - he really didn't know she was upset. He had no idea she was disappointed with him. Regret wore her down, tiring her out further more.
In a matter of seconds, however, any sympathy Serena had for Darien faded. The man cracked a grin when he noticed her hairstyle. She became furious again.
"I see you still have your new hairstyle. What's wrong with the meatballs?" He tilted his head and grinned at her, as if she was a little girl. "Where are you going anyway?"
Serena stomped her foot, oblivious to the curious glances several people were giving her. "I was going to cheerleading practice. I was late enough! Thanks for delaying me more."
Darien's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to protest, but he was too late. Serena ran off and blended in with the crowd, leaving Darien in the middle of chaos.
Much to his ignorance, Darien failed to notice a man dressed in black by a nearby café. He had been watching the whole scene, a small smile playing across his lips. Auburn strands of hair caressed his emerald eyes - the same cat-like eyes that eyed Serena's every curve and admired them...craved them.
-----
AN: I smell the scent of a relationship about to end. Not to worry, Serena/Darien fans. We need some small twists here and there, eh? Who IS Eric anyway?
So we've got Darien - tall guy, black hair, blue eyes
Then we've got Eric - mysterious, auburn hair, green eyes
Who's better? XP
Please pardon any errors. Thanks.
Chapter Two
By: Rainhe
(PG13)
-----
AN: Thanks for the reviews. ^-^ And in answer the question "If Serena's a klutz, how can she be a cheerleader?", Serena IS a major klutz. That's why she wanted to try something new - something she might actually be good at. The cheerleaders are really desperate so they'll take just about anybody. Serena was their best shot.
Enjoy this chapter.
-----
"Where is she?" a fiery, raven-haired girl ranted, her brows knitting together in agitation.
"Calm down, Raye," a blonde perked, hoping to offer some sort of consolation. "She'll be here soon. You know how Serena is."
"But she's always late!" Raye screamed.
"Maybe she got in trouble again," a short, blue-haired girl commented.
"Or maybe she's in another fight with Sammy," a brunette suggested.
Raye glared at the three other girls. "Stop trying to side with her! We all know this is not the first time Serena's been late. With new enemies on the rise she could at least make it on time! It's bad enough that she zones out most of - "
"Hey!" Serena yelled, racing up the temple steps and rushing next to Raye's side. "Sorry I'm late. Practice - "
"You idiotic meatball head!" Raye fumed. "What do you think you were doing?"
Serena cowered back, stepping next to the brunette. "I said I'm sorry! I had practice!"
"You moron! Haven't you kept track of all the new attacks we've been having?"
"But I - "
"No but's!" Raye hissed. She was infuriated. "I told you five million times - "
"Wait, Raye!" The brunette stepped in front of Serena. "Didn't you hear what she said?"
"What?" Raye blinked. Her brow twitched in irritation. "What excuses are you listening to now?"
"It's not an excuse!" Serena wailed.
"She said she had practice," the perky blonde blurted out, distracting Raye for a moment. She stared at Serena in confusion.
Serena stared back, sniffing and choking back tears. "Thank you, Mina. At least someone heard me!"
"Wait!" the blue-haired girl spoke up, eliminating any chances of further arguments. "What practice?"
Serena was silent. She stared at the four girls, feeling reluctant and terribly embarrassed. She wasn't sure if she could tell them. Cheerleading practice? They would surely laugh at her, and word would reach Darien sooner than she could protest. But wasn't that what she wanted? Didn't she originally sign up to prove she could do something right?
"Um…"
"Well?" Raye sneered, growing impatient again.
"Um…" Serena lowered her gaze. She couldn't prove she was good at cheerleading yet. She just got accepted. But wasn't that an accomplishment? Getting accepted - particularly by a guy - several minutes after trying out?
"Serena…" the brunette eyed her curiously.
"I was at cheerleading practice," Serena stated firmly, meeting everyone's gaze.
They simply stared at her, dumbfounded. Mina looked amused.
"You're a cheerleader, Serena?" the brunette asked cautiously.
Serena grew furious. She didn't know why, but she got the sudden feeling that they were mocking her. "Yes, I went to try out for a cheerleading squad today and got accepted!"
Raye frowned. "Stop being so defensive! Lita was just asking you a question."
Serena glared at her. "Well, now you know. I'm a cheerleader now. I'm gonna have practices every now and then. That means I won't be able to attend any more scout meetings."
"Since when have you properly attended them anyway?" Raye snapped.
Tears welled up in Serena's eyes. Her cheeks were puffed, their color matching the light pink shade of her nails.
"Raye, calm down," the blue-haired girl warned.
"It's true, Amy! Serena's always late or distracted - "
"Well then I guess it won't make much of a difference if I skip a couple of meetings," Serena said indignantly. She could barely speak. "I gotta go," she muttered, then turned swiftly on her heels. She ran off, leaving a stunned group of scouts in her wake.
Meanwhile, back at Riverdale High, lights blared vibrantly and showered several cheerleaders in a warm glow. One of the girls, Jessica, was leaning over the same table that stretched about halfway across the gym - the one the cheerleaders had used for try-outs.
"She's pissed," Jessica told Amanda who had her legs sprawled across her side of the table once again.
Amanda shrugged. "I know. Everyone knows that," she chuckled. "I think it's sad. She was actually starting to be okay around that new girl…"
"Wasn't her name Serena?" Jessica cocked her head, twirling a bright red strand of hair around her finger.
"Yeah. Yeah, now I remember. Eric's all over her."
"Eric?" Jessica raised her brows. "Eric likes her? Our football Eric?"
"Our football Eric," Amanda confirmed. "Megan's Eric. Well, he was."
Jessica parted her lips to reply but was cut off by the sudden sound of whispers. All the cheerleaders murmured practically inaudible comments to those next to them or, in some cases, themselves. One girl chuckled to no one in particular. Such behavior would usually be considered off, but in their case it was pretty normal and even something to be expected.
Megan had entered the gym. She had changed into sweatpants and a ripped t-shirt - one with a low neck-line that exposed too much of her cleavage. Her blonde hair was set high into a ponytail, and her nails were painted red. Despite the horrendous tryouts and constant demonstrations, her sneakers were white - ultimately spotless. A blue bag hung casually on her shoulder. It was as if the tryouts never happened. It was as if she never met Serena, as if she didn't work out and teach cheers and yell.
But her face defied all that.
Her grayish eyes, shaded by contacts, were tired and worn down by bags. Her brows were dangerously low - right above her lids - and her lips were set into a firm line. It was obvious that she carelessly brushed a few strokes of make-up here and there, for small marks or poorly blended blush dotted her cheeks. She failed to conceal the small lines around her eyes - lines that miraculously popped up over the afternoon as she cursed and stomped and released her envious frustration in the privacy of the girl's locker room.
Her hand clutched her bag tightly, pulling it close to her chest. Her back was straight as ever, and her cheekbones were just as high as always. However, they gave her an arrogant air this time. Megan looked tired, defeated, and incredibly jealous.
Amanda cleared her throat. "So when do we celebrate?"
Megan stopped right in front of her, arching one thin brow. "Celebrate?" she muttered, her voice flat and ominous.
"Yeah…" Amanda slurred the word, fully aware of the dangerous edge in Megan's voice. "You know…because we finally have a new cheerleader?"
The corner of Megan's mouth twitched. She looked irritated. "It's not some big event. No need to celebrate."
"Well…then maybe we should just go out for pizza or something. Mr. Parks is still outside. As long as he's around we can always go out and come back…"
"Just to freshen up," Jessica interrupted, hoping to lighten the mood a bit. "I mean, you know…after all the try-outs and teaching Serena and all."
Megan flinched when Jessica mentioned Serena's name. Her eyes sparkled icily. "You can go if you want. I'm gonna stay here and pick out moves for our routine."
"I wanna stay then," one girl perked up, sliding down next to a mini TV set.
Megan ignored the girl and pulled out a tape from her bag. She popped it in the VCR and took a seat on the floor right in front of the screen. All the other girls cautiously sat around her.
Amanda plopped down next to her. "This from last year?"
Megan shook her head gravely. "Three years ago. The best nationals ever," she sighed. It was almost sarcastic.
The screen fizzled a little, blackened, then flashed a video of several cheerleaders performing a routine.
"That's Saint Elizabeth's," Amanda whispered. Megan simply nodded.
The routine was complex - sophisticated yet beautiful. The choreography was brilliant. There was both motion and rhythm. Several stunts were pulled off - all perfect and synchronized. The girls were all flexible yet their arms were stiff, huge smiles gracing their faces. The voices melted into one loud cheer. The music had a good beat to it, but it didn't seem to satisfy Megan.
Her brows knitted together in deep thought. "We're gonna have to change the music," she said, "and add more stunts. More Scorpions. We need more fliers." She paused for a moment, then eyed the way all arms waved across the air, forming an almost butterfly-shaped pose. "And we need to make the skirts swish more."
Amanda blinked. "What? But Saint Elizabeth's placed first that year. How could it be any better?"
"We obviously can't keep the exact moves to the routine," Megan stated as a-matter-of-factly. "We're gonna change it a bit and make it better. More stunts, more poses, more pom-poms and flashy colors. Just more spirit."
One girl looked hesitant. "I don't know... We can pull that off, but what about Serena? Think she can handle it when we only have about a month to go?"
Megan's eyes iced over. "We'll pull it off. Serena's going to get it. I'll make sure she does."
-----
Sunlight filtered through Serena's bedroom windows. The sky was clear, a cool breeze stirred several autumn-tinted leaves, and the sun was bright a warm. It showered over Serena's body like a golden blanket. Serena was sprawled out in her bed as usual. Her legs were draped over pillows and her arms were entangled in her blanket. Her golden hair, which seemed to be a mere part of the sunlight, was spread out across the remaining pillows under her head. How it never strangled her while she tossed and turned was a miracle.
Red birds chirped outside on a tree branch, singing songs of a fairly early morning. Eight o'clock. For Tokyo, eight in the morning was as good as noon. There were signs of an early morning traffic. Rush hour. People were finishing off their breakfasts, stuffing bagels into their mouths, and jumping into their cars. The sidewalks were already packed. Very few people weren't up and about by eight in the morning.
Well, Serena was always an exception, wasn't she? She was one of the few people who couldn't distinguish night from day. Serena was oblivious to the time. Instead, she drooled and hugged pillows - sometimes her cat Luna - and occasionally, she talked in her sleep. "Darien" was always the name that escaped her lips, but that night she was silent.
Serena's eyes twitched. She flipped onto her back, unconsciously stretched, then eased back from a half slumber to her usual deep slumber within a matter of seconds. She turned her head and began to snore softly. A small smile was tugging at the corner of her mouth. She would've giggled had Luna not scratched her cheek.
The cat, impatient and tired from trying to wake Serena up for the past few minutes, jumped onto her shoulder and gently but firmly scratched Serena's cheek. It wasn't enough to harm the girl. It was just enough to wake her.
Or perhaps it wasn't. Serena's small smile disappeared instantly. For a minute she looked as if she was going to wake up and start yelling, for her brows had descended upon her eyelids. Instead, she turned on her side and angrily tossed her arm up in the air - knocking Luna halfway across the room.
Luna was furious. She slid on her side and was slightly dumbfounded. She stood still for a moment and shook her head, trying to wear off a brief dizzy spell. As soon as her vision was completely clear, she ran full speed at Serena, landed on the girl's back, and scratched her cheek even harder.
Serena sat up with a jolt. She screamed a piercing scream, one that nearly matched the scream she always gave out when her brother Sammy had pulled a prank to wake her up.
Luna was knocked off the bed. It wasn't as bad as being thrown up to Serena's bedroom door, so she simply sat down and looked up at Serena, satisfied.
"Luna!" Serena wailed. "What did you do?"
Luna purred. "I woke you up. Took you long enough."
Serena growled and rubbed her red cheek. "Ugh! You could've just told me to wake up...actually speak and not scratch! What's the use of having a talking cat if the cat never talks?!"
"I did talk to you!" Luna protested. "You talked back and told me to shut up. Nothing else worked."
Serena frowned, still rubbing her cheek.
Luna looked content. "I had no choice. Even your alarm clock failed to wake you."
Serena stared at the cat for a moment, confused, then fixed her gaze on her bedside table. It was bare. Her alarm clock, as she soon discovered, was on the floor. She blinked, then, as if lightning had struck her, suddenly jumped out of bed.
Luna stepped back.
"Practice! Oh my god! I forgot about practice!"
Luna looked confused. "Practice?"
"What times is it?" Serena muttered, ignoring Luna's question. She bent over and picked up the alarm clock. She quickly placed it back on the table then stared at the time. 8:15.
"What practice?" Luna asked again.
Serena started whining. "I forgot all about it! Oh my god, the girls are going to kill me!"
Luna was growing impatient. "Serena, what practice are you talking about? If you mean a scout meeting then - "
"No, no!" Serena shook her head vigorously, finally acknowledging Luna's comments. "I didn't mean that! Megan's going to be furious! I can't believe I'm late!"
"What? Late for what practice? What are you talking about?"
Serena, in the midst of panic, pulled her drawer open and scooped out several clothes in her arms. She grabbed a brush and rushed to her bathroom, muttering something about blowing it already along the way.
Luna listened intently as Serena slammed the door shut. She was muttering inside and seemed to be bumping into several objects. Luna could hear her whimpering and shrieking a few "Ow's!"
The door suddenly flew open. Serena ran out wearing sweatpants, sneakers, and a random tank top. She rushed to her mirror and stared at her reflection. For a moment, her mumbling ceased.
Luna stared at her curiously. "Serena, what practice are you talking about?" she asked once again.
"I'm brand new and I'm late already! Amanda's going to kill me. Megan's going to kill me! Practice was at eight!" Serena shrieked, deciding that she had no time to arrange her hair into meatballs. She grabbed a handful of her hair, twisted it up, then tied it into a somewhat messy yet miraculously decent bun. Her stomach rumbled. "Lovely. I'm hungry, I'm late, and I'm disappointing everyone already! What's that guy gonna think? Why do I even care about him?" Serena mused, suddenly caught up her thoughts. She muttered several other things, not realizing she was bluntly speaking her mind.
Luna sighed. "What practice? What guy? Who's Megan?"
"What am I going to tell them? Do I remember the cheers?" Serena rambled, still talking to herself.
Luna turned bright red. "What practice?!"
"Cheerleading practice," Serena yelled as she rushed outside, leaving a stunned Luna behind.
As soon as Serena stepped outside her house, she became one of the people who made their way through the large crowds of Tokyo. That was a rare event, if not a first, for Serena was usually sleeping while pedestrians hurried through a sea of honking cars, may it rain or shine. She finally knew what it felt like to be late and delayed by endless rows of people. She felt like a fish trying to swim upstream. Without a car and feeling sleep deprived, Serena felt like a zombie who simply moved but couldn't think.
She didn't want to think. She could barely reply when she rushed out of her house and left her dazed family behind. Her lips were dry. She was hungry. She couldn't function. Perhaps she didn't want to. She couldn't remember the new moves she learned the previous day. She didn't know what to tell the girls when she arrived. She didn't have any excuses. She was afraid of what they might do to her - what they might think of the new cheerleader. She was brand new and already failing miserably. Perhaps she really was born a failure.
Just as she figured her thoughts couldn't be any darker, she crashed into someone as she turned a corner. A short yell stunned her as she fell back, her butt hitting the hard pavement. Serena sat silently on the street, her eyes wide and her mind a blur. She was dumbstruck and slightly bruised from the hard impact. People immediately passed by her, quickly following some new straight line that had formed around her and whoever she bumped into. They were like robots - quick to run and quick to avoid an accident. She suddenly felt like some construction sign in the middle of the sidewalk.
A rough grunt snapped her back to reality. Serena blinked, taking note of the man she had bumped into. She felt a sudden rush of emotions stir her dull and still sleepy senses - panic, worry, sympathy, regret, astonishment, and eventually rage.
Darien.
Miracle of all miracles, Serena had collided with her boyfriend. Darien was staring at her, obviously a little stunned himself. For a moment he looked slightly irritated, then his eyes sparkled with amusement upon recognition. "Serena?" he chuckled, standing up.
Serena was silent. She simply stared up at him.
"I didn't see you there. Are you okay?" He stretched his hand out to help her up.
Serena frowned and turned away. She ignored the hand and, with a small grunt of her own, stood up.
Darien looked a bit confused. Seeing that she didn't need his help, he reluctantly lowered his hand. "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Serena brushed dirt off her pants and shirt, completely ignoring his questions. She was too furious to think of anything to tell him. As if being late for her first real cheerleading practice wasn't bad enough. The man didn't even know she had a grudge against him.
"Serena?" Darien eyed her curiously, a faint look of worry caressing his handsome features.
Serena's heart melted. She felt a pang of pain stab her heart. She never thought she'd ever manage being cold toward Darien. The man looked clueless - he really didn't know she was upset. He had no idea she was disappointed with him. Regret wore her down, tiring her out further more.
In a matter of seconds, however, any sympathy Serena had for Darien faded. The man cracked a grin when he noticed her hairstyle. She became furious again.
"I see you still have your new hairstyle. What's wrong with the meatballs?" He tilted his head and grinned at her, as if she was a little girl. "Where are you going anyway?"
Serena stomped her foot, oblivious to the curious glances several people were giving her. "I was going to cheerleading practice. I was late enough! Thanks for delaying me more."
Darien's eyes widened. He opened his mouth to protest, but he was too late. Serena ran off and blended in with the crowd, leaving Darien in the middle of chaos.
Much to his ignorance, Darien failed to notice a man dressed in black by a nearby café. He had been watching the whole scene, a small smile playing across his lips. Auburn strands of hair caressed his emerald eyes - the same cat-like eyes that eyed Serena's every curve and admired them...craved them.
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AN: I smell the scent of a relationship about to end. Not to worry, Serena/Darien fans. We need some small twists here and there, eh? Who IS Eric anyway?
So we've got Darien - tall guy, black hair, blue eyes
Then we've got Eric - mysterious, auburn hair, green eyes
Who's better? XP
Please pardon any errors. Thanks.