AN: Well, this is the last chapter guys! Have fun!
Hahahahahaha! Oh I'm kidding, I'm sorry ;) A few more chapters to go...
Disclaimer: I hereby dis my claim that Sailor Moon belongs to me. Yeah. That's about it.
"Hey guys," Serena smiled, leaning on the doorframe, the party going on strong behind her. She held out a cupped hand in their direction. "I found these delicious truffles and thought Amy would like some. Amy sure does love chocolate!" She chuckled at the thought, holding her palm out for her friend. It was then that she noticed the tense atmosphere and the way that Scott was angled towards Amy.
"What's going on?" she asked, snapping from the doorframe, eyes darting between the two.
"Nothing –" Amy began, before Scott cut her off.
"Your friend here was brilliant." He turned to the blonde with a blank expression, his tone sarcastic and snappish. "You must be so proud." Serena frowned. "What did you do? Drag her along so you could split up and cover more ground?"
Serena's mouth made a perfect 'o' shape.
"Was she here to seduce the first guy she saw? Get him to open up to her, with her obvious innocence?" He sneered at her, continuing in his stride. Amy's horror matched Serena's. "Was she just trying to weasel in some pathetic loser? Get a story out of him for you? Or did you pick me out especially for her, as her own little assignment for the night?"
"Scott!" Amy tried, reaching for his arm. He jerked it back.
"I really can't believe you, Ames." He sounded disappointed, before adding spitefully, "If your name even is Amy."
"What are you talking about?" Serena asked, even though she knew full well what was happening.
"Like you don't know," scoffed a deep voice at Serena's ear. Serena gasped and stumbled forward in fright, nearly tripping on her dress as she dropped to a lower step.
She spun around. "Darien?!"
The millionaire stood above her, arms folded and glaring thunderously. She took an involuntary step back, putting herself two paces below him.
"Darien?" she repeated quietly, brows creasing.
He snorted to himself. "You can cut the act. We know what you're here for."
"What I'm... What I'm here for?" Serena asked.
"Don't play stupid with us; we know what both of you were doing," Scott said venomously from behind her. Serena turned, feeling like she was caught in the middle of a tennis match. Her eyes met Amy's; they were wide and unblinking.
"Tell us," Darien said in a bitterly amused voice. "How did you two get in, anyway? Did you take down the security outside? Mug the invites off real guests? Go on. How did you do it?"
Serena's heart was racing a mile a minute and it wouldn't slow down. The blood pounding in her ears made it hard to think. She licked her lips, opening her mouth and trying unsuccessfully to answer several times, before Darien nodded with unimpressed eyes.
"I thought so," he said. "Can't even keep track of the lies, can you?"
"Scott," Amy managed to croak out. He held up a hand, eyes trained on Darien. The wind picked up and swirled around them all, giving the girls goose bumps and mussing up everyone's hair.
"Do you think we're just toys?" Darien asked, disgusted. "People you can play with? Use and throw away? Is that how you treat everyone?"
"No! Darien, I -"
He continued over her. "You're a reporter!" He spat the word like it was poison, causing Serena to flinch. "And we really hate snoops around here."
"Journalist," Serena corrected quietly, willing her eyes to lower, though they wouldn't listen.
"For?" he asked, descending down the stairs. No one noticed that they were beginning to draw attention to themselves now. Crowds gathered at the balcony doorway, milling around the scene.
"Gleam," Serena whispered, barely audible. But Darien caught the words – his upper lip curled.
"Scott, please!" Amy cried, taking a bold step towards him, but shying away when he threw her a scathing look.
"Let it go, Amy." His cold, furious eyes locked in on her frightened and tearful ones. "You're not wanted here." He turned his head to Serena, who was blinking back tears. "Either of you."
Darien wasn't paying attention to anyone but Serena. "You work for that jackass?!"
"Darien," she begged. "It's not like that! Please!" She covered her mouth as she stifled a sob.
The crowd around them muttered, unimpressed.
"I don't know what's worse!" He laughed without humour. "That you lied to everyone, including me, and got a story out of it," – his eyes darkened– "or that I actually believed you, and brought this on myself."
"No!" Serena pleaded, grabbing his hand in an attempt to make him listen. He snatched it away, and the sudden movement made Serena lose her balance. She wobbled for a second before slipping off the step and crumbling to the ground below.
"Don't touch me," he spat, glaring at the girl on the floor.
Amy was frozen in her spot. She knew she had to help her friend, but she couldn't remember how to move.
"Darien," Serena whispered, not even bothering to get up. She looked so small and fragile sitting there; her silver gown spread out around her, the picture of remorse. Amy's brain forced her legs work again, marching her over to where her friend was slumped.
"Serena!" she whispered, embracing her friend. She could hear Scott inhale behind her, but right now, it was her friend who needed her. Serena was choking on her own sobs now, and couldn't reply. Her wide, wet eyes were still glued to Darien. Darien was glaring murderously at Amy now.
"You!"
Amy looked up to his towering form.
"And you were in on it, too." he seethed between his teeth. Amy gulped; any previous opinions she'd had of the man flew right out the window as she shivered in the cold air. He was downright terrifying.
"Darien, what's going on?" an intruding voice asked. Amy remained cowering on the cold marble floor by Serena as Raye Hino pushed her way through the spectators, flanked by a tall man and the blonde from before. Her eyes flickered from Darien, to Scott, then finally landing on Serena and Amy. "What's going on?" she repeated, this time in panic.
"It seems there's been a snitch at the party all along," Darien told her coldly.
Raye glanced up at him. "What?" Her eyes passed back to Serena and Amy. Serena looked down in shame.
"Gate crashers," Darien continued.
Serena sniffled as she wiped the back of her hands across her eyes; smearing the black clumps of her mascara and eyeliner. Her red-rimmed eyes looked up at Raye as she shook her head slowly.
"No... Raye!" she tried, but her throat was too constricted, her voice was too thick. She couldn't speak.
"Daniel," Darien barked without removing his eyes from the girls on the floor. "Call security."
Daniel nodded from behind Raye and darted off into the crowd; who were still watching the scene intently.
"Did you decide what kind of article you were going to write about?" Darien sneered.
"Or who your first victim would be?" added Scott from behind.
"What is going ON!?" Mina shrieked, eyes shimmering with tears.
Raye put a calming hand on Mina's shoulder, who shrugged it off. She sidestepped her friends and deflated; the hurt reflecting in her eyes.
"Serena, is it true?" she asked quietly.
Before Serena could answer, Darien held up his left hand. Serena and Amy squinted to see what he was holding. Serena's heart seized when she recognised it. She quickly glanced at the ground around her, seeing nothing but spilled chocolate truffles, and realised what was missing.
"Recognise this?"
Everyone looked at the mystery object. It was a small, black tape recorder – the one from Serena's bag.
"My...!" she whispered, as Darien began to nod, his mouth twisting into an unkind smile.
"I thought so." He raised his right hand, and Serena recognised the silver clutch in his grip.
"My... bag? But how...?" She struggled for the words as her brain tried to catch up with what was happening.
Darien stuffed the tape recorder back into the silver clutch. "You've got your story. You've got your scoop." He gripped her hand and hauled her up. He leaned in until they were close enough that their breath mingled. "You can leave now," he told her quietly, eyes searching hers. Serena almost doubled over as the wind was knocked out of her – he'd shoved her clutch into her hands. Stepping back, he raised an arm and indicated the stairs that led to the gardens.
"Security can show you out," he said.
Amy rose gracefully to her feet, not meeting Scott's accusing gaze, but he spoke anyway.
"At least you can pride yourself on the fact that you were convincing."
Amy inhaled sharply, the breath cutting into her lungs. She would straighten things out. She would.
"This way," an authoritative voice sounded. Darien raised his eyebrows as if to say 'here we go', and everyone turned towards the doors. Three men in black suits emerged from the crowd, led by Daniel. He pointed to the girls, and the men pushed past Lita and Andrew, who had just arrived, and made their way to the shivering girls.
One grabbed Serena roughly by the elbow and another gripped Amy's upper arm. The third stood behind them.
Raye and the others gathered around Darien and Scott as Serena and Amy stood opposite them. The girls had never felt so isolated in their lives.
"Come on," the third security guard said gruffly, prodding Serena in between her shoulder blades. She jerked in surprise and began walking towards the stairs, being steered by the tight grip on her arm. Amy was not far behind.
They were led down the long, steep driveway until they reached the tall iron gates. Each had a twisted rose in the middle. The man not holding Serena or Amy pulled out a set of keys and put one in a panel that was hidden behind the ivory and vines on the wall beside the gate. Turning it, the gates began to move, opening towards them. It didn't take long until they were standing ajar and the girls were released. Pushing them out of the driveway and onto the street, the security guards smirked as the gates began to swing shut.
"Looks like you won't be trying that again so soon, eh?" one chuckled from behind the bars.
Neither girl said anything as they both stared wistfully at the balcony just within sight. It was empty by now, the others having gone inside; but though neither would admit it, each could have sworn that they'd seen a shadow in the window, watching them intently.