Revolving Love: The Miracle Is On The Ice!

Miracle 4 - The Rain And Lockers

This is a revised chapter of the original so rereading will be at your best interest. Thank you so much!

Narrator

Having come to some awkward understanding, our two main characters have established their relationship on a foundation of truth and trust, openness and honesty. Or so Miss Tsukino believed. Ever trusting, ever accepting, she had no clue to the dark thoughts of betrayal brewing through the head of her newly acquired lover. How was she supposed to know that on the very day she asked out the soccer ace, he had made love to another woman? The same woman who was now plotting her revenge for the humiliation she had suffered.

Left untold and hidden in the darkness of his heart, that one act of betrayal began to eat away at the consciousness of Mr. Shield. Contemplation to finally confess his sin against her ended in a futile pile of excuses and confusion. After all, the act was committed before he and Tsukino became serious, technically he hadn't done anything wrong. So he argued to himself.

Whether or not he will find the courage to tell his new lover before any chaos threatens to tear them apart is still for us to discover through the thoughts of Mr. Shields.

Darien's Pov

I couldn't believe it. She did it again! As soon as the bell rang signifying the end of the school day, she was out of the classroom before I could blink! Why did she keep doing that? Did she have something important at home to do that she was always rushing away or was she just going to be late for work? If she worked that is. I was determined to find out what that was all about.

But as elusive as Serena was, so were her friends. As soon as Molly saw me heading in her direction, she disappeared and so did Melvin. Apparently it was a trade mark of hers, disappearing from school as soon as the bell rang. All her other friends said it's something she had always done so they never questioned it.

I shook my head and let it go; I would ask her myself in the morning. Besides, we had a game in three days, it was best to stay focus in practice. We practiced later than normal; we always do when game days were three days away.

Focus on the game!

I kept telling myself but my mind had other ideas. Instead of focusing on the soccer I was playing with my teammates, it was more focused on Serena's unguarded smile, her large cerulean eyes and the heart shaped face hidden behind the afro net like hair of hers. And what about those ridiculously big glasses she put on? It made no sense to me. She didn't need to wear glasses to see, that much I had figured it out at the rooftop when she didn't complain and seemed to have seen fine without the glasses. And with her personality and confidence, she seemed to be the kind who would belong into our circle. Yet at the same time she was so very different from us, so single minded.

The more I concentrated on her face, the more familiar it felt to me. Had I met her somewhere before?

I was starting to think all nerds were like Serena, only nerdy on the outside. Thinking about Serena made me wonder about her home life, her life outside of school. Did she hate school that much? Nah…nerds were supposed to love school. Then again, nerd or no, she seemed to be an exception from a lot of things. She was an enigma, a cross word puzzle I intended to figure out.

I hope she comes to watch our game. I found myself thinking.

"Darien! Snap out of it!" I came back to realityinstantly. I had been standing in one place dribbling the ball up and down for whoever knew how long.

"What's got you in such a daze ha ace?" couch asked I shook my head.

"I apologize." I said.

"Probably thinking of his girlfriend." One of my teammates said and chuckles answered it. I grinned and turned around; the look in Jason's eyes could kill. I passed him the ball. He was never going to like Serena, but I didn't really care anymore.

I was finally able to get my head in the game for the rest of practice, by the time it came to an end, we were soaked through by the rain that had started falling in the middle of practice. It was getting dark and lightning and thunder was flapping about everywhere.

"Go go go Go!" Coach ordered and we hurried inside. Quickly we undressed, showered and changed into drier clothes before we caught a cold. Ready to leave for home, we all groaned as we realized we would have to walk through the rain to get to the car. We all turned to look at Jason.

"Oh hell no." he answered.

"Come on, last time I had to do it!" I said.

"Yeah well last time it wasn't raining like cats and dogs!"

"All I see is water, not some felines and canines." Glaring at us, he groaned miserably before plunging himself into the freezing rain. We waited for about five minutes before we began to worry.

"What's taking that fool so long!?" Zaiden complained, his face caress with irritation and slight worry.

"Probably trying to pay us back. What a brat." I replied, earning a nod from Kagan.

"Guys!" we heard and within seconds, Jason returned soaked but with no car. We all just stared at him appalled.

"The car isn't there!" he huffed, catching his breath. Alarm went off in our heads.

"What do you mean the car isn't there!?" Kagan demanded, his normally calm silver eyes flashing.

Jason shrugged. "It wasn't where we parked and I looked around some more to see if someone had moved it but there was nothing."

We stared at him, confusion mirror our faces. And just before we were about to break out in chaos of questioning, Zaiden's voice of understanding had us turning to stare at him.

"Oh yeah that's right. Neal said there was something wrong with the engine so he would take it to the shop and come pick us up when practice was over." Zaiden answered.

"And you let me walk out there in this pouring rain looking for a missing car?!" Jason nearly screamed, his hair dripping for emphasis.

"So-rry." But we all knew Zaiden wasn't the least bit repentant.

"So now what?" I asked, already pulling the phone out of my pocket to dial Neal's number.

"I'm gonna kill that son of a bitch!" Jason declared. Just before the phone rang, we saw our car pull up front. I pocketed my phone and like the rest, we rushed into the warm depth of the car. Inside, radio music was playing and Neal was grinning at Jason like a bob cat. The glower Jason turned on him could have killed anyone that wasn't the thick headed Neal.

"Chasing fairies in the rain eh Jason?" Neal said conversationally and Jason lunged at him. It took several minutes for us to calm down the ensuring chaos. The ride home was very quiet until Kagan began to talk.

"Are you planning on inviting Serena to come watch the game?" he asked, causing all of us to look at him. Neal did so through the review mirror.

"What?!" Jason hissed.

"I'm thinking about it but with her mad dash at the end of every day I am starting to think she might be busy." I replied casually.

"You should invite. It will be nice for us to finally find our footing with her. After all, if she manages to become your girlfriend, we're going to have to accept her regardless of our own prejudice." He replied just as casually.

"Darien I swear if you dare…" Jason began but I cut him off.

"I'll ask her tomorrow."

I sat back onto the chair, ignoring Jason's murderous looks and the uncomfortable silence that had engulfed us all.

"Darien?" Neal said, his voice low but serious. I sighed.

"What now?" I asked.

"What about Georgie?" I expected this question to come up and yet here I was unable to answer right away. It took me a few minutes in which I decided to play it cool and casually. Honestly, I didn't want them to know the havoc that question was having on my emotions.

"What about Georgina?" I asked.

"This isn't fair to her Darien." Zaiden answered instead.

"Keep your nose out of my business." I said sharply. I hadn't intended for that but it was out and there was no taking it back now.

"No we won't! Fuck you Darien! You fucking take Georgina's virginity and just when another fresh meat comes along, you throw her away like some garbage!" Jason ranted and I counted backwards from ten hoping to prevent the anger ignited in me by his false accusation. I knew that Jason wasn't aware of the total facts of Georgina and my strange relationship but he still had no right to say what he did and lord I wanted to punch the mess out of him.

"Jason that is uncalled for!" Kagan reprimanded.

"No, he deserves it. I hope Georgie teaches that whore a lesson." He replied smugly. It's funny. I did not react to his insults towards me but the second he called Serena a whore, his face was smashed to the car wall, blooding dripping from his nose and other injured parts. Honestly, it felt like somehow I was having an out of body experience; words I had never intended to ever say to anyone came pouring out of my mouth.

"What the hell would you know!" I found myself asking. The anger that vibrated through my entire being was on the explosion and I was in no position to control my actions or my words.

"You fucking asshole! All your worth is tied into your parents riches. Your spoiled brat, a high class wannabe clown! You thing you fucking have the right to tell me who the fuck I should be with huh?! How the hell would you understand anything about how I feel when your fucking ass is forever plugged into my sister's ass! You've got a fucking family and a girlfriend who loves you even though you ain't got shit to offer! How the hell would you know how it feels to be used just for popularity sakes!"

"Darien, stop it!" Some said, grabbing my shoulders.

Somehow along the shouting and beating, I was dragged off of him, my name ringing from several voices and when I managed to come down to earth from my high anger ride, I stormed out of the car, walking the opposite direction from home.

Something inside me was boiling and going home was not an option. And yet somewhere in all the anger and madness, I remembered a tiny hole, a bell like voice trying desperately to dig me out of the hole I had fallen into.

Looking up into the darkened rainy sky, I could not help but picture Serena's innocent sleeping face on the rooftop.

I began to walk, having no idea where I was headed but moving just the same. There were no thoughts in my head, just an unexplained need to get away from everything that had haunted me my whole life.

And to my surprise, I found myself back at the school. Entering the quiet compound, I ghostly headed to my locker but when I reached Serena's locker two lockers before mine, I could do nothing but leaned against it as the tears poured down my face. To be honest I didn't even know why I was crying. Everything felt so surreal, so dull to me then and yet a pain so keen bubbled up inside me, taking over my emotions and shattering the walls of protection I had spent my entire life building around me. And in that moment, realizing that I was so bare and unprotected I started to laugh. I laughed so hard that my stomach began to hurt. I laughed and cried so hard that I didn't hear the hesitating footsteps that approached me until I felt a gentle touch on my shoulder.

Looking up sharply, senses coming to life, I bared my soul to the cerulean eyes that stared at me in fear, wonderment, confusion and pain.

"Darien…" she didn't finish what she was about to say before I grabbed her hand, pulling her as if she was the oxygen I needed so desperately to breath and crashed her small frame against my own overwhelmingly tired body.

And before I knew it, my lips were on hers, blindly assaulting, tasting, raping her full moist pink lips and minty fresh breath.

Serena's Pov

"Love what's wrong?" Aunt asked as we were heading home from the rink. She was asking because I was fumbling through my book bag looking for my English assignment so I can read while we were in the car heading home. It was round sevenish, dark clouds crying heavy tears of rain. I was desperately searching for this assignment because I am afraid of thunder. The sound shook my very foundation, causing me to jump and twitch each time the dreaded noise would boom. I was hoping that by reading the English assignment, I could immerse myself in it somehow, making the thunder disappear from my conscious mind.

"I can't find it….my English book." I said, answering Aunt Luna's question.

"Do you think perhaps you left it at school?" she said, which caused me to pause for a minute, recollecting the day's event and sighing in defeat.

"Yes, I did leave it in my locker."

"Well the school is closer than the house so we can pass by there." Aunty offered kindly and I nodded with a smile, screeching a minute later when a great lightning flashed through the darken sky, lightening up for a moment the rain drowned city followed closely by that dreadful beastly roar. My heart was racing a mile per second.

"Sssshhh, it's ok love. You are alright." Aunt murmured soothingly, her tone calm and gentle and worried all at once. I nodded to no one in particular, trying to keep her words in my head as I pulled my legs off the car floor, onto my seat and draped my arms around my legs. I shakily put my head down, shutting my eyes tightly.

I don't remember why I started to hate thunder but I remember that in the beginning, in my toddler years I had not been afraid of it. One minute I was not afraid of thunder and boom, the next I was a screeching mess every time thunder would inflict its massive sound waves on us. Scattered memories long lost between my fifth and tenth birthdates held the answers to why I was so afraid of thunder and yet each time I tried to remember, I felt fear and I pushed it away.

For many years I have speculated about the cause of my fears but nothing seem plausible and the more I meddle with my memory, the more things starts to open up only to be closed a minute later by my own fear of the unknown. What was hidden in my missing memories that frightened me so much?

Outside, lightning struck and thunder boomed, paying no particular attention to me as I whimpered in fear.

It didn't take long for us to reach the school and the moment the door opened, I sped from the small confines of the car into the interior of the building, the large immovable construction promising a kind of safety and security a moving metal car could never provide during a thunderstorm.

I paused for a minute to catch my breath and oriented myself. It might be late but some of the teachers pretty much lived in the school. That's why the school building always stays open until 9, giving students possibilities to come study there if studying anywhere else was impossible. As I walked down the lonely corridor, I could help but think how different it felt without the force of life that was the students. It felt peaceful, calm and somewhat isolated.

I giggled at my own incoherent thoughts before a sob penetrated my amused mind. I stopped dead in my track, listening but the sob did not come again. What came was sort of hysterical sobbing laughter. I continued moving, this time faster and a little more urgent.

Please let me not be another victim of whatever horrible crime is taking place this night. I thought. Shaking my head, I thought it was probable best and safe to turn right back around and run for it. These sobbing sounds could mean anything, rape, people at gun point, murder and lord only knows what else.

As soon as my body turned about 90 degrees, the sob came again, breaking through the hysterical laughter and halting my escape. I closed my eyes and groaned.

What if someone was seriously hurt? what if someone was being raped? If I could sneak up on the rapper, I could take him down and save the innocent soul. What if it was murder? I could take a good look at the murderer and bring justice and peace for the poor victim.

Or you could be the offender's next victim. I groaned at myself. Sighing and taking a deep breath, I took hesitant steps in the direction of where I had heard it and strangely enough it was leading towards where my locker would be. At this point I couldn't help but think of all the plots those bratty classmates of mine were hoping to play on me. Were they going to try to make me the victim of some horrible unfortunate event? Grandma would have field day. I thought rolling my eyes.

I reached the edge of the hallway I was creeping at, about to turn into the hallway that contained my locker when muffle sound of heart breaking sobs wrenched at my heart. All thoughts flew out of my head, my only desperation being to comfort whoever's heart was so obviously wounded.

I turned the corner sharply and came to a dead stop.

I gaped, I stared, eyes wide and uncomprehending for a full minute before my eyes could truly see the scene before me.

That unruly mass of ebony hair, that body that I could recognize from miles away…..my heart throbbed painfully.

"Darien." I breathed, tears pulling at my eyes but I refused to have them fall. What had happened to my strong and brave soccer ace? Who had hurt my Darien?! I began to see red, murderous thoughts rampaging through my own angered mind. I would kill whoever had dared to put my Darien in this heart crumbling state!

But a soft whimpering sob escaping him, his body violently shaking restored me back to my senses and with slow movements so not to frighten him, I approached my sobbing someday boyfriend.

When I reached within touching distant, I called his name but he didn't seem to hear me. I reached out and touched his shaking form, his name a whisper of breath from my lips.

He turned immediately to me, a look of utter despair, loneliness and sadness marring his normally cold, emotionless face. I had no time to process these findings when all hell broke loose.

One minute I was sympathetically reaching a comforting hand to him, the next I was crashed to his massively strong body only to find his lips forcefully pressing against mine. It all happened so, so very fast that by the time my brain came to its senses, his tongue had already invaded my mouth.

It's easy to picture me moaning, clinging to him, offering myself to him if that would make him feel better but that was opposite of what I did. As soon as I could grasp what was happening, my first thought was,

'He's going to rape me!'

Panic gave me the strength to push myself five or so feet away from my assaulter. This man before me, he was going to hurt me. My body began to shiver, quivering and yet I had no strength to rise up and run to save my life. Fear rooted me to my spot, my eyes glazed, fearful, filled with tears and all I could see was the enemy trying to hurt me.

God please not again. Somewhere in my scared shitless mind, that was the thought that most lingered in my brain. In my current overwhelming fearful state, I was not keen on discovering what that thought meant. It would be later that I would sit, hoping to unravel what those words meant.

The dark face twisted into sick pleasure as he took a step towards me, his massive step bringing him half way towards me, causing me to scoot back unsuccessful as something pressed against my back, cutting off my range of maneuvering.

He smiled cruelly, his poisonous yellow teeth gleaming a sickening vomit color in the low candle light.

"Please don't hurt me." I heard my own tiny little voice pleading, the tears finally cascading down my face.

His laughter, rough, cracked and terrible once again echoed through the dark wooden cabin, outside thunder stuck. I screamed, pulling my legs to my chest in this terrifying moment.

Then I felt his rough hand grasp my chin and yanked my head up to look into dark almost black eyes. A sick smile perpetually crafted on the villain's face.

"I'm going to teach you what pleasure is little girl and you will love every minute of it. Love it enough to come begging me every day to teach you again and again."

My whole body shook, terrified beyond belief as his evil grin widened and before I could speak his head drove down in a blinding speed, the destination of his lips….my own.

"Shhh, it's aright Serena. I would never hurt you. It's ok. You're safe, you're safe." These words managed to pull me out of the hell my mind had transported to, reorienting my brain back into the present where I found myself being held gently by Darien as I sat on his lap. His hand ran soothingly down my face and arms, restoring order to my momentary chaotic world. I turned my head around a bit to look into his eyes and there I found fear, anger, and worry and something else I could not completely grasp. Possessiveness? Protectiveness? Care? Love? I don't know what it was but I found relief and safety in it. I threw my arms around his neck as a sob wracked through my body and he held me gently but firmly, stroking my hair, murmuring sweet nothingness, soft kiss filtering across my face and a strong barricade of arms behind my back to keep me safe within his warm embrace.

Where were you when I needed you? Was all I could think for the entire time he held me so protectively, so lovingly. Enfolded in his warm embrace, all things passed away, leaving me content and happy. Nothing mattered but him and the solid security he provided me.

Darien's Pov

To be honest, seeing Serena there had done something to me till this day I cannot explain. I saw her worried gaze, her sympathy and I lost it. I lost it even me more when her supple body became pressed against mine and in a moment of uncontrolled desire, I crushed my lips to hers, groaning pleasurably into the kiss. She tasted heaven with a sharp ting of mint freshness.

I want more. I thought, my senses fully aroused and my body even more so. Brushing her lips apart, I drove my wanting tongue into her open mouth and the delicious taste nearly crippled all my rational senses. The need to rip her clothes open, to find myself in her deepest core blindingly guided my hands to her ass, ready to push or rip the pants off of her, whatever came easier and allow me faster access.

But that chance never came. I felt her tiny hands pushed against my chest, my back slamming to the locker, her body some feet away from me. I was in shock. To be honest, I am not sure which put me more in shock. Was the shock a cause of the heaven I was tasting that had been violently taken away from me? Was it caused by the fact that her tiny body, which could easily break under mine had possessed enough strength to push me away so effortlessly or was it the unbearable fear that masked her entire body, making her look at me as if I was her personal hell?

I stood back against the locker, my head rolling back to stare up at the ceiling, hoping to gain a sense of control and more importantly, a sense of balance. Remorse at what I had almost done to Serena began to seep through me with icy touch.

How many times would I have to hurt her? Twos days had barely passed since we became almost boyfriend and girlfriend and of those two days, I have manage to hurt her inexplicably. I was a despicable, disgusting, corrupted individual.

God I hated myself that moment. Hated myself more than I ever had before.

"Please don't hurt me." My head snapped up at the plea that came from Serena. Looking at her with large eyes, I realized that her whole body was shaking, her eyes glazed, scared beyond measure and tears falling down her fac. I also realized at that particular moment that her afro-like hair was no more and in its place, the weirdest hairstyle I had ever seen. Two buns atop her head, the rest trailing behind her in a river fall of gold. But I paid little attention to all that, her whimpering rising alarms in my head instead.

I took a step toward her and watched in unconcealed fear and concern as she tried to wiggle back and away from me even though her back was pinned against the wall of the hallway.

"I won't hurt you Serena." I whispered, the irony of that statement causing a bitter taste in my mouth. I had already done so and would have done more if she hadn't been in control of the situation.

"I am so sorry." I said miserably, my own act of shame producing tears into my own eyes. For the very first time in my life, I wanted to protect someone other than myself. As I walked closer, her body shaking and yet something in her eyes told me that it was not I who was causing her fears but a nightmare in her own eyes. It made me wonder if a scene like this had ever taken place in her life before and maybe it hadn't been with a nice guy. Had someone hurt my Serena before?

Two things happened with that thought. A possessiveness like I'd never felt before lunged forward from my heart, protectiveness right behind it. The idea that someone had hurt my girlfriend before also rouse feelings of supreme anger in me and the need to do bodily harm to this villain became an entertained thought. Lastly, watching her so terrified, an emotion I could not yet name blossomed. It was as if I had finally found my calling, the purpose for my birth. I understood then that I was born to protect. What was I born to protect I didn't know exactly but one thing I knew without a doubt was that I was born to protect something or someone and since Serena was the one who helped me identify this purpose, I decided then that it would be her that I would protect. Against all odds, come what may I would protect this frightened bunny.

Taking courage from that thought, I rushed to her quickly, plopping myself on the tiled floor and raising her onto my lap as I tried to comfort her. Eventually my whispering of safety got to her because when she looked up at me, a look of recognition entered her eyes and to my utter relief, she allowed me to hold her as cried on my shoulder, her arms wrapped tightly and desperately around my neck.

"It's alright Serena. I am right here. I will always protect you." I said, holding her to me, daring anyone to claim otherwise. I don't know how long I held her for but I couldn't complain. I was content just to hold her and let her cry away her fears.

Serena's Pov

Eventually and somehow I stopped crying and enjoyed the feeling of utter care that Darien's arms provided me. I eventually untangled my arms from his neck, pulling my whole body back to stare into the worried midnight eyes that watched me so adoringly.

Through the eye contact, an understanding was reached. We would talk about what happened but not this night. This night we both had much to think about and the comfort we had found in each other was best left unbroken by words that could take away from us this moment of certainty. Unexpectedly, he leaned forward and awarded my forehead a soft kiss, causing my heart to hammer in my ribs.

Warmth crept up my body and into my cheeks and suddenly I found myself very shy in his presence.

"Why are you here?" he whispered, his hands rubbing my shoulder in a soothing manner. I blinked at him, confusion mirroring my face.

I didn't understand. What was he asking? I looked up just then and saw the school digital clock and it read 8:45 pm. Alarm shot through my body as finally understanding dawn on me.

"Luna!" I gasped out, jumping off of Darien. As I worried about what I was gonna tell Luna, Darien tried to stand and he went tumbling back on the floor. We both looked at him, uncomprehending for a brief second what had happened and when it finally registered in my brain the cause of his clumsy stumbling, I could not help but burst out in jubilant laughter.

He on the other hand definitely didn't think it was a funny event because he sat there glaring at my laughing form. Rolling his eyes, he tried to stand up again and I reached out to help support him.

"My legs went to sleep because of you." He said accusingly but his tone was light and teasing, his eyes warm and a tiny almost imperceptible smile lifted the corner of his lips.

"I know." I said, not wanting to fight him this night. We both stood, staring at each other a little shyly. His hand lifted silently to my cheeks, stroking my skin and causing all sorts of mayhem in my already overly beating heart.

"I want to kiss you." He said, surprise both himself and me. I knew he was surprised at his own words, his eyes widening as big as my own in shock. Further shock came when my body, out of its own volition stepped up, chest puffed up and on my tiptoes I leaned up and touched my lips to his softly. We both gasped but didn't pull apart. His hands rested at my hips, my own hands finding a holding spot on his clad chest.

We kissed again and again. Nothing crazy or passionate. Just whispering of souls recognized on lovers lips. It was almost as if we were breathing in each other, taking in each other's essence. Our lips brushed and locked and brushed again, tongues dancing on the surface, never entering but always present.

I knew that sooner or later I would want more than this chaste kisses but for tonight, this was more than enough. Darien's soul had met mine and for once, we were on equal ground.

"Serena?" Luna's worried voice penetrated our loving caress from several hallways down. Sighing I pulled back from the kiss, Darien's hold on my waist tightening, as if saying I won't let you go.

"My aunt. I came to grab my English homework while she was waiting for me in the car. I better get the book out now." Darien nodded but letting go was hard for him, I noticed. It was hard for me too. We had finally made a breakthrough in this clouded relationship. I wanted to be with him, stay with him longer….anything that would keep this harmony we had found in each other tonight.

Turning my back, I went to my locker, opened it and took out the book I needed. I slammed it just when Luna rounded the corner.

"I'm coming Aunt Luna!" I said, turning to face her as she walked briskly toward me.

"What the mess happened to you. Rena do you know I just went about crazy thinking all kinds of things have happened to you." I saw the worry in my aunt's face and I felt guilty for my actions.

"I'm sorry." I said to her, looking down.

"It's my fault Ma'am. I was trying to convince her to come to the game Friday night." Darien said, directing Luna's attention on him. I was surprised but I quickly hid it, nodding along with him.

"Who are you?" Aunt asked, her voice not entirely pleased.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance ma'am. My name is Darien Mamoru shields, Serena's…..um….recent acquaintance." He finished smoothly. I knew he was about to say my boyrfriend and though that pleased me to no end, I didn't want Luna to ever get a wind of the fact that I had a boyfriend. Grandma would be informed and boy there will be hell to pay. I had managed to shake my head and pleaded with my eyes to Darien not to say what he was about to say. He had understood my message but I knew he wanted answers.

Luna's eyes narrowed. Maybe Darien hadn't been as smooth as I thought.

"Well Mr. Shields, it is a pleasure to meet you but refrain from keeping my ward out this late. I cannot guarantee her safety if she is not within my sight I'm sure you understand that." Aunt's voice broke no nonsense. I sighed but for some reason Darien merely smiled.

"What place could be safer than the learning center of education with cameras everywhere as well as teachers? I assure you Miss Luna; it was not my intentions to break your protocol. I shall keep in mind if I am afforded this opportunity next time Madam." I was impressed with Darien. He might be able to handle Luna's over protectiveness after all.

I looked at Luna. She was not impressed, not one bit.

"I assure you Mr. Shields that such an opportunity will not be permitted in the future. And it is not Miss but Mrs." She said, taking my hand in hers and steering me away.

"A goodnight to you ladies." Darien called after us. Then something clicked in my head, making me wrench my hand out of Luna's and running quickly back to Darien's side. His smile was so welcoming that if Luna hadn't been there boy I would have kissed him hard.

"Do you have a ride home?" I asked, remembering the predicament I had found him in.

"Um….no…" He said running his hand through his already messy head. "I'm sure I can find someone to pick me up."

Shaking my head, I grasped his hand, pulling him behind me and walking towards Luna.

"We're dropping him home." I said to her, still pulling Darien close behind me.

I heard a sigh from Luna and I smiled.

Darien's Pov

Serena sat at the back with me in the car, pulling a big blanket around her. I had asked her if she was cold she had said yes but as the car began to drive off campus, I understood the true purpose of the blanket. Inside the blanket, she grabbed my hand and held it in hers. I was happy she was holding my hand. I had wanted to wrap my arms around her or touch her; I wanted to feel her somehow, to believe that this night truly had happened and though it had been painful and upsetting, it had also brought Serena and I closer.

Our fingers mingled with each other under the blanket, tracing each other's palm and occasionally causing Serena to giggle out loud and her aunt raising a questioning brow. But other than that we behaved, content with our little display of affection.

Sooner than I wanted, we arrived at the mansion I called home. I turned to Serena, trying to find something, anything to stay just a little longer by her side. But her Aunt's eyes watched us like a hawk through the review mirror. I wouldn't have cared about her watching us if I wasn't aware that for some reason, Serena did not want this woman to have a wind of our relationship. I would question her relentlessly tomorrow.

I tried to smile even though that was the last thing I wanted to do. Taking both her hands underneath the blanket, I let my eyes say all that my lips wanted to say.

"I'll see you at school tomorrow k?" she said, trying to reassure me that tomorrow was just a couple hours away. I didn't know why I was suddenly so attached to her. It wasn't love like the romantic love expected to exist between lovers, that's something Serena and I would have to discover along the way. But I loved her in a different sense, as if she was my savior.

"Will you come watch the game Friday night? It starts at 6 and it's going to be our last biggest game. We have two more games after that but those are easy." I didn't realize I was babbling. Serena looked at me as if ready to decline but something on my face must have changed her mind. I could almost see her mind rearranging, trying to find an acceptable answer for the both of us.

"Let me see what I can do Dar. I can't promise you anything but I will see if my schedule will allow."

"Do you work?" I asked.

"Something like that." She responded, not really meeting my eyes. I realized that there was something she wasn't telling me but whatever it was, I would leave it to her to tell me on her own.

"Please just think about it. You don't have to be there the whole time." I pleaded. I knew the Aunt was watching but I couldn't help it. Serena's presence kept my sanity in check.

She surprised both her aunt and me when she leaned forward and hugged me tight. I returned the hug, glad for the full contact. Her aunt didn't matter anymore. When she pulled back, she brushed hair out of my eyes, her eyes and lips smiling at me gently, causing knots to tie up in my stomach. In that moment I realized just how beautiful she was.

"Like I said, I can't promise you anything but I will do the best I can to try and make it to your game. Play the best game you've ever played Darien and even if I do not make it physically, I will be with you in spirit. Just look for me in your heart." She said, gently touching my chest. I held her two hands and lowered my head, placing lingering kisses on the back on her hands.

"I've never been one to believe in making a wish on the stars but from now till the game, that's what I will be doing for you to come!" I replied cheesily but it was worth it to see the bright flush that covered her face and the happy laughter that bubbled up from her stomach.

It was a beautiful laughter, one I would never get tired of hearing.

"Darien I never pegged you for the romantic type." She finally said.

"There's a lot you don't know about me. Stick with me and I will teach you the joys of being a teenager." I said, causing both of us a minute of good laughter. For a brief second I could have sworn I saw a smile cross Luna's lips but it was gone as soon as it came, her glaring eyes telling me to get the mess out of her car.

Not wanting to cause any unwanted friction, I opened the car door. Cold wind buffeted around me and the rain had let up a bit but the dark clouds still loomed ominously above us.

"See you tomorrow?" I said to her.

"Maybe." She replied with a teasing grin.

"You better be there!" I said, causing her to laugh and the automatic door closed shut. I looked at Luna and glowered at her, she had a smirk on her face.

Quickly she pulled out of the drive way and was gone in less than two seconds. Shaking my head, a smile remained on my lips until I reached the door that would take away all the warmth I had gain from Serena the moment I walk in.

For a minute, I considered turning right back around and going to sleep at a hotel or someplace else for the night.

I sighed and turned the knob.

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