"So have you thought of what you plan to do next, Serena?" The midnight colored cat sat regally beside her master as Serena devoured her lunch. Crumbs dotted Serena's face and school uniform. One of Lita's famous lunches spread itself out in front of her.

"Mmhmm," Serena said, swallowing her last cookie. Then she wiped her mouth and spoke seriously.

"I only know of one other thing I can do. I'm just not sure how I can…"

Luna opened her mouth to question Serena further, but was interrupted by the sight of a geeky looking young man. His hair flew in all directions and his coke bottle glasses seemed to swirl when you looked at him.

"Hi Serena!!" he enthused. Serena's hairs rose and she sat straight up. It was Melvin, King of Nerds.

"You hear this new buzz?" He asked, preparing to pantomime the latest gossip in front of her. Serena looked at her cat and at Melvin. At Melvin and then her cat.

"Er…no…can't say I have," she uttered awkwardly. If she were dumb academically, he needed to study general social rules; he could make anybody feel uncomfortable with his enthusiasm for the strange.

"Well, sources tell me that a certain caped crusader regularly stands on top of the Juuban district apartments watching the moon. He stays up there between the hours of three and four still as stone." As he told the tale, Melvin stood like an army commander, mimicking what he had seen. When he finished he launched down into a frog-like position to await Serena's response.

Once again, Serena looked at Luna, then Melvin. At Melvin then Luna.

"Batman??" she ventured.

"Not Batman! Only the greatest, most daring superhero of our time. Tuxedo! Mask!!" he announced. He arose once again to mimic the superhero. His arm was held in front of him as if he wore a cape. Had he have been paying attention, he would have seen both Serena and Luna tense. Before Melvin could refocus his attention, Serena had cleaned up her lunch and stood ready to leave.

"Well, thanks for the information, Melvin. Gotta book it! See ya!" Serena said jogging off to an isolated part of the yard. There she could let her mind mull things over. Maybe her plan would work after all.

After all the city's lights had disappeared and children and adults alike had gone to sleep, Serena alone stood awake. That is, unless you counted Darien Shields on the other side of town who forcefully awoke from his sleep in the heat of the night. He had dreamt of a princess….

For the umpteenth night in a row, red numbers beamed at him. It was 2:55 A.M…He sat on the edge of his bed in the lonely apartment. Everything around him wore shades of blue or stainless steel. He couldn't decide which was colder the breeze from outside or the room in which he sat, suffocating. Just as he had done nights before, he stepped onto his balcony. The wind waved past him and in seconds his pajama pants disappeared and he wore his trademark tuxedo. Now, as Tuxedo Mask, he leapt to the roof of his apartment building.

He stood regally and let his mind wander. He thought about his dream for a while, but before long his mind travelled to this afternoon, at the arcade.

"Hiiiii Darien! No book today?" Serena cheerfully asked. The normally astute student sat staring at his drink, with no book in hand and his glasses tucked away. He was lost in the depths of his caramel colored coffee; for some reason he couldn't leave it black today.

It took him a few seconds, but eventually he looked up into the blonde's innocent eyes. She beamed down at him, waiting for a response. Still, half in a trance he looked the blonde over, from her now short-sleeved uniform to her slender but strong arms. His eyes gazed over her blue skirt and down to her elegant legs. They rested on her tiny feet in her school shoes and then Darien quickly raised his head to look into her face again. She now looked at him worried, kind of like a nurse who realizes her patient has a fever. He blushed.

"Oh, hi Serena! How are you?" Darien replied in a meek attempt at regaining conversation. Serena burst into giggles.

"Yes, Darien. Re-enter planet Earth why dontcha?" On some odd impulse she scooted into his booth, but not opposite him. She sat in the space right next to him and laid her head back, eyes closed.

"I'm having an interesting day by the way." She peeked over at Darien who was still red, but focused once again on his coffee. She closed her eyes again, thoroughly amused.

"Why were you so deep in thought when I came over? Is everything fine?" Serena asked out of curiosity. She surprised herself even. Was she starting to…care?

Darien finally got full control of his emotions. Her question was a solemn reminder of what had been festering in his mind all day.

He decided to come out with it, "I have a question." Serena lowered her head and began watching him, waiting. He had her full attention; his tone had changed so she knew something was up.

"How would you feel about accomplishing something at the expense of others? I mean…it seems like if you get what you want, you should be happy with that. But what if you're not?!"

Read and Review so more chapters will come….and sooner….yipes!