Late Night Escape
Chapter 4
For the fifth night in a row, Serena found herself tossing and turning in her sheets. Feeling hot and bothered. Intimate images flashing behind her closed eyes. She threw her covers off her in the darkness of her room, and made her way to the open window. The approaching summer breeze was cool and refreshing, so she sat on the edge of her windowsill. Her blue eyes captivated by the full moon, by its serene stillness, she sighed. If only it's beauty could ease her racing heart and still her confused mind.
As Sailor Moon, she had enough worries on her shoulders. She didn't want to welcome the distraction that Darien was proving to be. If she could have allowed herself to be with a guy, the chemistry that they shared would have been welcomed. Honestly, she had always felt the attraction between them during their squabbles and spats. With time, Serena had gotten to know him and grown curious. But it didn't matter anymore. Darien had suddenly seen her other side, that's why he suddenly wanted her. He wasn't in love with her klutzy bubbly blonde personality. He just wanted into her pants like all the other jerks from the club. It wasn't love…
None of them wanted her heart. None of them wanted to share her burden.
None of them ever would…
Afterall, her original crush on Andrew had vanished with the appearance of Tuxedo Mask. Serena had mistaken gratefulness for the clerk's attention for love. Someone who spoiled her while she had to protect the whole world; like a big brother. But, after being held by Tuxedo Mask, she had felt real attraction. Her rescuer was dashing, mysterious and supportive. All any girl could ask for. Until she realized he represented a fantasy.
The masked hero had never made a move to form a bond with the real girl behind the heroine. They hadn't seen each other often, as the attacks were spaced out sometimes weeks or months apart. And as she matured, her crush and admiration for her saviour made her feel foolish. Yes, foolish. He was older. He was composed. He had seen her from the very beginning as she face planted, wailed, and cried. How could she ever try to capture the heart of a man that had seen her at her worst?
Which was ironic, because it was the same thing with Darien. He had watched, then mocked her clumsiness and childishness. But that is where the comparison would end. Tuxedo Mask was calm, caring, confident. Darien was egocentric, obnoxious and derogative. And yet, both were sexy as sin in their own way. But, she would take neither as a lover.
'Yes, lover.' She sighed. Serena pulled one knee closely to her bosom and wrapped her arms comfortingly around it. Her other dangled over the edge, swinging lightly with the breeze. 'I'm so… lonely.'
And that loneliness made her want to share her heart with someone. But if she got attached, if someone got close to her, two things would occur. One, that person could obviously get hurt or killed by her enemies. Two… That person could be used as leverage against her. Either way. She couldn't get attached. Already she had to worry about her family and friends.
She really didn't need the extra complications. Something in her just screamed that she couldn't handle losing the one she loved, again.
Again… That thought, that feeling hunted her.
That's how the whole idea of finding a lover started. Someone to pass the time with, without getting attached. Yet her heart was filled with uncertainty. Serena wasn't sure if she was ready to lose her innocence. Only a couple years ago, she had promised to wait to have sex till she was married. But things weren't so black and white anymore. Her future was uncertain… Blue eyes shut tightly, teeth grinding, her head fell in exasperation on her knee. 'Could I really go trough with it?'
Lita yanked Serena back into the changing room as all their classmates headed for the next period.
"Rena, what are you doing!?" Green apprehensive eyes burned into her blue ones. "If you stop visiting the Crown Arcade right before graduation, someone is going to figure out something is off."
"I know Lita." Serena leaned back against the lockers, letting her head fall back hard against the metal. Her eyes closed, her fists clenched. "I just… How am I suppose to face Darien?" Her voice didn't carry the anger that it usually did when it was focused on her nemesis.
"Like you treated Alan. Like it never happened. He already promised to keep your secret. If… If he was going to spill about it, he would have done it by now." Lita made sense. She was the wise one. The calm in the storm. Well, the fighter was when it was needed.
Serena looked at her feet, her whole face turning a bright red suddenly. She was biting her lip timidly.
"How can I act normal after we danced? Lita! I… We practic… It was almost as if we made out!" Serena was embarrassed. It had been a first for her, she was too conscious of the memories and implications. She might dance wantonly at a club, but that didn't change the fact that she had no guy experience.
Lita bear hugged her then whispered into her ear as new students came into the changing rooms.
"Easy! Remember? It's payback for teasing you. By being indifferent, you're going to destroy his male ego!"
Serena nodded, her shoulders lifted as she regained her spirit and bounciness. She cheerfully skipped out of the room, followed by the tall brunette. Lita didn't bother to hide her knowing grin.
"Final exams on top of waiting for College acceptances! Seriously, how can we focus on the upcoming vacation with all this pressure! It's barbaric I tell you!" Serena was on her typical rant to her four friends.
"Serena, you should be more serious about this. Concentrate on which study groups you should be taking to pass everything!" Amy massaged her temples and shook her head in exasperation.
"Please, as if Meatball here ever takes anything seriously?" Rei drawled haughtily with a roll of her eyes.
After a week of high stress, Serena didn't want to listen to her friends. 'Right, friends…' She didn't have the patience though they were right. But it was Friday, they were relaxing at the Crown Arcade. She just wanted to act as if everything was normal. Because things would never be quite the same after that summer. 'Is it SO wrong for me to indulge in a little immaturity?'
"Guys, give it a break. Rena is just trying to lighten the mood." Lita growled low at Rei when Serena approached the counter to talk to Andrew.
"I know… I'm just worried about her Lita." Rei's face crumpled, and Amy nodded.
"All of us have basically chosen what to do, but what about Serena?" Amy glanced worriedly back at the bubbly blond. "You're going to culinary school, Rei's going to take over the temple, Mina has her acting-modeling career and I'm heading to med school. But all Serena has ever dreamed of seriously being was a bride."
"Amy, why is that so bad exactly!?" Mina frowned in anger and disbelieve. "We all want to fall in love deep down! Not all women are driven by careers; some are driven by their nurturing natures!"
"Mina, chill! That's not what Amy meant…" Rei's burst out then whispered. "It's just with us being scouts, Serena is not going to settle and have babies. All of us have found something other to keep us going, to concentrate on other than our mission. Serena doesn't get that break. Luna and Artemis have seen to this."
"It's true, they've been the hardest on her because she is the most caring, kind and unselfish one out of all of us. And they know that she'll do what is expect of her. Even putting aside her own dreams." Lita groaned and let her head fall on the table.
"It's just painful to watch her now. I know she's putting up a brave façade." Amy's eyes slid to her leader with hope. "I just want her to find some happiness… I miss her bubbly carefree self."
The sliding doors opened for Darien and his frustration instantly vanished. Serena had avoided the arcade all week. She had even managed to avoid colliding into him since the club. Which had driven him crazy. Which was why his patience was next to nautch as his eyes focused on his prey. He wasn't going to let her escape this time.
Serena sensed him coming in, watching her. With great effort, she took steadying breaths. She could do this. 'Payback. Payback! PAYBACK! Payback… Right?' Her mantra was failing her somehow. But how could she not feel apprehensive. He was the epitome of pure perfect masculinity. His soft ebony hair, the midnight blue eyes, those rippling muscles. Even his arrogant confidence reminded her of exactly what had happened on Saturday. The feel of his arms around her, the trails of his lips, the intensity of his desire.
This was the first time she was dealing with this kind of situation. How she wished she could have now Rei's confidence or Mina's natural flirtatious tendencies. But she didn't. She was sweet lil Serena, and she would play the innocent card for all she could. It was her safety blanket. Her shield. It would come more naturally for dealing with him.
"Hey Meatball Head!" Darien spoke loudly just behind her. He watched her jump slightly but she didn't turn to face him as she usually would have. He decided to act indifferently and sat next to her looking at his buddy. "Hey Andrew, how was your day?"
"Make a girl feel comfortable, will you!?" Serena glared in his direction. "You scream in my ear like a caveman without any remorse. What was it you had said last week about common sense of propriety?"
"I could think of several ways to make a girl feel comfortable," Darien murmured huskily into her ear as Andrew turned to give an order to some kids beside them.
"Well the day was great until some frustrated kid spilled a coke on one of the games. It's good the insurance will cover it. Oh, did you get the result on that paper you did with Alan?" Andrew turned back to them completely oblivious to what happened. He frowned for a millisecond as he watched a slight blush disappear off of Serena's cheeks.
Serena turned to look back at her friends sitting in a back booth, hiding the blush that had appeared on her cheeks. 'Ignore what he said, just ignore Darien!' The girls seemed to be discussing something serious. Completely leaving her out. She felt sort of betrayed. Disappointed. Would she ever be able to live up to all their expectation and show them she could be a great leader? She didn't want to think about that now. Her spoon drew patterns in her ice cream as she drowned out the conversations around her. 'Maybe I just need to go on a little vacation this summer? Not too long, because I can't leave Tokyo defenceless… Maybe a weekend getaway? The beach? The mountains?'
"Andrew, can you get me a coffee and a burger please?" Darien had kept up his conversation easily with his friend, but his periphery vision had taken in the sullen look on Serena's face. Was she thinking of Saturday? He needed a minute alone with her.
"Sure, I'll be right back." As soon as Andrew turned to the back, Darien scooted over startling the girl beside him. She looked up at him, eyes opened wide innocently.
"I didn't tell anyone. Alan and Andrew both think it's your cousin." He spoke low, but his eyes were roaming her body appreciatively. "I must say, I never really thought makeup and different clothes could make a girl look that naturally older until I saw you Saturday. It was really a shock."
"Darien, the subject is closed. And though I appreciate your silence, it doesn't change anything between us." She pushed herself away from the counter ready to leave the arcade. She never got a chance as Darien yanked her swiftly back on her stool and got even closer to her.
"It changes everything, my little bunny!" His breath hissed into her face. His midnight eyes held a storm of emotions that froze her on her spot.
"Let me go!" Serena snapped suddenly back, her anger burning through her veins. "I'm not, nor will I EVER be your little bunny, you pompous Jackass!"
She moved quickly out of his grasp using her senshi strength and agility without thinking about it. Within seconds she found herself in the safety of the evening, outside the arcade. Her feet didn't stop moving as she beelined for the safety of her home. 'Payback, right? Trample his ego, right?! … You're hopeless Serena!'
Rough arms grabbed her, yanking her against a building in the entrance of an alley. She was about to knee the buffoon and take out her frustration on the stupid mugger, but stopped all movement. Darien was holding her, panting lightly, eyes cold and furious.
"Yes, you are! You have a month of freedom left. Then you're all mine."
"A month? Have you gone crazy, you stupid Jerk! What the hell? What makes you think I would want to be with you?"
"Serena, you'll be 18 in a month. And then I'll show you just how much I want you AND how much you want me!"
The girl's mouth flew opened for a couple of seconds, but then complete outrage overtook her. Serena couldn't believe she had almost considered him as a lover. She had hoped that maybe Darien had been different. A guy that would respect her, treat her as an equal, understand that she couldn't get attached but would at least bring some sort of comfort.
Well the truth was quite apparent now, all the tall dark man wanted was to claim her. Make her his new toy, his new trophy.
Her knee rose brutally and impacted into his unprepared abdomen. His arms fell from her sides and he clutched his abs. As he staggered back, her fist impacted with his jaw.
"You asshole! Teasing and bullying me wasn't enough for you!? I never knew you could stoop so low. This is beyond low even for you! I wouldn't sleep with you if you were the last man in the world."
With that, she turned on the stunned man, her proud shoulders high, walk confident, hair flowing behind her in the evening breeze.
'That was not how this was suppose to go,' groaned Darien.
