Author's Notes: Thanks everyone for all the reviews. It's finally spring break and I'm able to write a new chapter for this story. I have some news about possibly two new fanfics that are in the process of writing, so keep an eye out for those in the summer. So anyways, please enjoy this new addition to Perfect Strangers. Hopefully this chapter was written better than the last chapter. I tried adding more descriptions of the characters while they're interacting with each other. Please don't forget to review, and enjoy!
Special thanks to my friend, Michael, who edited this story for me.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or the songs: Say Goodbye by Chris Brown, Say Goodnight by The Click Five, and How Do I Breathe by Mario.
Chapter 7: Goodnight to Goodbye
His digital clock read in bright green, 2:51AM. The moonlight permeated through the apartment window, hitting Darien's sleeping face. The moonlight highlighted Darien's handsome features. It softened Darien's chiseled jaw and cheekbones, his hair fell upon his eyelashes. He was peacefully sleeping in his full-sized bed. He was exhausted from the previous events that night.
Darien played three and a half quarters straight during the football game. After the game, all he wanted to do was go straight home. After he arrived home, he took a quick shower to wash off the excess sweat. He got ready for bed and jumped into his bed. Nothing ever felt so good. A few hours later, it was almost the renewal of a new day. Meanwhile, on his night stand his cell phone began vibrating making buzzing noises in the quiet bedroom. Then the phone loudly broke out into lyrics.Darien cursed under his breath and ignored the phone call. Darien was relieved as the annoying phone stopped ringing, but he thought too soon. It rang once again; he buried his face into the pillow. The phone wouldn't stop, so he decided to see who was calling him. He extended his arm from the bed to reach for his phone. He patted hand around the nightstand until he grasped his phone. The phone was off the hook: ringing and ringing. The caller ID was blurry, so he narrowed his eyes as he pulled the phone closer. He couldn't read it, and now he had to find his glasses. He sat up and put his thick-framed glasses on. The phone finally stopped ringing. He checked his phone:
11:48 PM
TESSA- 4 MISSED CALLS.
'Why is Tessa calling so late at night?' Darien thought. He finally realized that he had forgotten to respond to Tessa's note from earlier this week. It asked him if they wanted to hang out Friday night. Darien had no idea how to approach the note and it was the last of his worries during the week. He heard the doorbell. He got up from his bed, shirtless and wearing black pajamas. He figured it was Tessa at the door since she was trying to contact him. Darien looked through the peep hole, and lo and behold, it was Tessa. He hesitated before he opened the door halfway. Tessa stared straight at him, analyzing that she had woken him up. Tessa admired the sight in front of her: a shirtless Darien with disheveled hair falling into his sexy blue eyes. Darien quickly glanced at Tessa's attire. Her hair was thrown into a messy bun, and she wore a pink zip-up sweater with dark blue sweatpants that read, PINK, along her left leg. She looked cute like always…
"Hey…" he coldly said as he leaned against the door, "It's late. Why are you here?"
"Hi…can…can I come in?" she asked nervously. Darien fully opened the door and let her in. She silently followed him and waited for Darien to talk.
Darien switched on the light of the kitchen, "Here take a seat, I'll be right back…" he wearily said. She sat down on a nearby chair. Meanwhile, Darien went back into his bedroom and grabbed a plain white t-shirt from his dresser. When he returned to the kitchen, he pulled the shirt over his bare chest. Tessa sat there anxiously with her right leg moving up and down in habit.
"So why are you here, Tessa? It's late..." he asked again as he took a seat across from her at the kitchen table and leaned back.
"I know…it's late. I'm probably bothering you… but I wanted to ask you something…" she answered slowly.
He put a hand through his silky black locks and said, "You're here because I didn't respond to your note, right?"
"Y… yes…" she shakily said.
"Are you okay, Tessa? You seem like you're worried or something," Darien said with a concerned look.
"Sorry, it's nothing… it's just…," she began, "maybe I should go." She turned herself to face the living room and got up from her seat.
"Well you went out of your way to come here, so tell me what's wrong commanded Darien. Tessa knew he was worried about her, so she gradually sat back into her chair.
"Why?" she blurted out.
"Why?" he questioned as he cocked an eyebrow.
"Why didn't you respond to my note?" she asked.
"I've been busy, Tessa." He dryly said and looked past her. He stared at the full moon, trying to ignore the situation.
"What do you mean you're busy?! I saw you with Serena!" she raised her voice.
"Huh?" asked a confused Darien. He thought, 'How did she find out?'
"Don't lie to me, Darien. I know you went out with Serena yesterday…" she said with grief. Her vision began to blur as tears formed.
"It wasn't a date, Tessa. Please don't cry," he said trying to clear things up.
"How can I not cry, Darien?! I've been crying every night since we've separated!" she said as tears fell against her rosy cheeks like raindrops gracefully falling against the windshield.
"Tessa…" was the only thing he managed to say.
"You like her, don't you?" she asked.
"No, I don't. I owed it to Serena. I went too far with the jokes yesterday. I thought it would be a nice way of saying I'm sorry…" he protested.
"You're lying! It was a date. I followed you guys! You guys looked so happy! Is that why you didn't respond to my letter and-,"she exclaimed as more tears fell with jealously and damage.
"Like I said,it wasn't a date! Don't jump into conclusions, Tessa," he said, trying to convince to Tessa that she wasn't with Serena.
Tessa got up from her chair and ran towards the door. Halfway, Darien caught her and gave her an embrace. 'It feels so good to be in his arms again…' she thought, 'oh how I've missed you, Darien…'
She murmured, "Darien…" as she buried her face into Darien's chest, breathing hard against his pounding heart. Tears stained his shirt.
"Shh… Tessa, calm down…" he suggested.
"Ugh why am I doing this!" she asked herself and pulled away from Darien.
"Tessa, I should apologize…" he began, "I'm sorry…" Darien thought maybe saying sorry would calm her down… even though he didn't know what he was sorry for.
"How much longer do I have to wait, Darien!?" she asked loudly, looking away. "I can't wait forever!"
Darien was speechless. He didn't know much longer she had to wait.
Her eyes looked up at Darien's face, "Please… please say something!"
He crossed his arms and looked away. Finally, having the courage to tell her, sternly he said, "I don't know how much longer you have to wait, Tessa!"
"What are you trying to say?" she pleaded looking straight at him. "Look at me!" she commanded. He turned his head towards her. Tessa looked like a train wreck; her eye makeup was smeared around her watery eyes.
"Tessa… we can't keep going like this…" he said and stared at her.
"Are you trying to break up with me?!" she said as she laid her right hand to her forehead.
"I…"
"How much more time do you need, Darien!? Tell me!" she demanded.
"I don't know!" he yelled.
"Well, I'm tired of waiting!"
"Then why don't you just break up with me, if you're so tired of waiting!" he lashed out. She had aggravated him.
"BECAUSE I LOVE YOU!" she cried and got onto her knees, "I've waited for you ever since school started and today… I waited for you all night for you to show up! I'm sick of this, Darien!"
"Tessa…You know, I had a football game tonight and I played almost the whole game! I'm worn out and all I could concentrate was going to bed!" he explained.
"You should've just called!"
"Well I didn't think of that, okay?!"
"Why don't you want to be with me!?" she questioned looking down to her knees. She was still on the floor. She gathered her legs and wrapped her arms around them.
Darien was breathing hard, looking down, and said, "I just can't right now."
"Why not?!" she whined looking at his chest.
"I just can't, damnit!" he exclaimed and began walking back into the kitchen. He grabbed something to drink.
"Is it because you don't love me?" she asked with sadness as he sipped his drink. He nearly choked on the water when she asked the question that he's been debating on.
He cleared his throat, but nothing came out.
"You don't…right?" she said and got up. She walked towards him and looked him straight in his eyes. She could never figure out his emotions, his eyes never told his true feelings like most people. With other people, you could stare into their eyes you could see how hurt, happy, or in love they are. Darien's didn't say anything. Tessa tiptoed to reach Darien's lips. She kissed him with so much passion and love. Darien's eyes widened and gently pushed her away. Still Darien didn't say anything. "You didn't feel anything did you?"
"I…" he mumbled as he put his right hand to his lips.
"Then why did you tell me you loved me!?" she questioned, "Did you just say it because you wanted to sleep with me?!"
"…" Darien didn't say anything. He tilted his head and stared at the floor. In his head, he was debating whether he actually said it because he was horny and what not.
"You did, didn't you?! And I thought you were different… but I guess you'rejust like every other guy out there…" she cried and ran towards the door. Darien grabbed her by her wrist.
"WAIT! We're not finished yet…"
"Then answer the question!"
"I'm sorry…" he said with his head down and hands in his pajama pockets, "I don't know, but… I just don't feel the same about you as I once did…"
"Why??" she asked in despair.
"I… I think we've just drifted apart…" he admitted.
"What do you mean? How did we drift apart?! We were always together!" she protested.
"Face it, Tessa. We did, our relationship changed. It wasn't as carefree as it was in the beginning, then we started fighting all the time and-."
"DARIEN! YOU were the one that DRIFTED away from our relationship! We were always fighting over how you NEVER SHOWED how much you cared about me and how we never hanged out!" yelled Tessa.
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But I gotta make the first move
'Cause if I don't you gonna start hating me
Cause I really don't feel the way I once felt about you
Girl it's not you, it's me
I kinda gotta figure out what I need (oh)
There's never a right time to say goodbye
But we know that we gotta go
Our separate ways
And I know it's hard but I gotta do it,
And it's killing me
Cause there's never a right time
Right time to say goodbye
Girl I know your heart is breaking
And a thousand times I
Found myself asking, "Why? Why?"
Why am I taking so long to say this?
But trust me, girl I never
Meant to crush your world
And I never
Thought I would see the day we grew apart
"Tessa, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for everything I've done to you. You don't deserve a guy like me! I don't know how to express my feelings! And maybe you're right! I was the one who drifted away! I've been debating if I should run back to you, but the truth is: I don't feel the same as you feel for me! I'm sorry for making you wait so long! I think we should just break up!"
There he said it; all the things that have been bottled up were unraveled. He wasn't in love with Tessa. Honestly, he liked being single the past months. He wasn't as distracted as he was with Tessa.
"Break up?" she said. Shock overcame her body and she didn't move, but her eyes said everything. Her eyes wide open with revelation.
"Yeah…" he sighed and he put a hand behind his neck.
"No…" she answered, "I don't want it to end like this…"
"I think we need to, Tessa. I'm only hurting you…I think in the long run, I will just hurt you more… You don't need a jerk like me…" Darien explained.
"But Darien, I'm in love with you. I love everything about you. Your flaws, everything! All I can do is think about you, your touch…I MISS YOU!" she cried as she clenched her fists.
"But I don't feel the same about you! I don't know why, but I'm NOT in love with you. You were right, when we went to the beach…I love you as a friend, but I'm not in love with you, nothing more..." he clarified.
"So our relationship didn't mean anything to you?" she began.
"Of course it meant a lot to me, you were a great girlfriend! But nothing lasts forever, Tessa…"
"True love does last forever…" she whispered to herself.
Darien clearly heard her and said, "You call this true love, you and me? You're in love with me but I can't do the same… How can this be true love?!"
"I just don't get it! We slept together for the first time last summer. That night was so special Darien! I thought you slept with me to show me how much you loved me… and then a few weeks later you wanted a break!"
"Tessa, I can't do this anymore!" he said and banged his hand against the wall. Tessa was silent. She was still processing everything that just happened.
"So we're over?" she inquired and placed her hand around his wrist to his hand.
"I guess so…" Darien said. He was still facing the wall and ignored her touch.
"All I wanted was for us to be together again and go to the dance together…" She began to cry. He felt her hand slip away from his arm and she let go. Tessa fell against the kitchen cabinet. She finally realized it was officially over between them. Darien didn't love her, but she loved him. Darien glanced at Tessa, weeping against his wall. He walked toward her.
"Tessa?"
"What?" she said bleakly, not looking at him.
"I know its over between us, Tessa, but we can still be friends…" Darien insisted as he kneeled next to her and swept her bangs to her ear.
"How can we ever be friends?"
"Tessa, I still care about you… To be honest, you're one of my best friends, besides Andrew. We had so many great times when were just friends. Doesn't that count as something? I know, it will take time, but if you want…" he hesitated before he suggested, "If you still need a date to homecoming, I'll be your date…"
"I don't know, Darien… It would be too hard for me, but thanks though…" she said.
"Here, let me help you up," he said as he offered his hand, so she could get up from the floor.
"If you change your mind, I'm free. I wasn't planning to go, but if you need a date, I'm here for you," he said.
"Thanks, Darien…" she thanked and gave him a quick hug.
"That's what friends are for…" he softly said.
"I guess I'm going to go…" Tessa said and headed to the door.
"I'm sorry for what went down tonight. I feel like I took advantage of you… and I'm sorry." He apologized.
"Shh… I know…" she said sadly as she put her index finger on his lips.
They were at the door. Tessa was now in the hallway and Darien standing in his apartment. Tessa stared at her toes and Darien diverted his attention to his hand on the side panel.
"I guess this is goodbye to us…" Tessa courageously said.
"Yeah…" Darien sighed.
"Goodbye, Darien…" Tessa said and a tear fell from her sorrowful, green eyes.
"No…There's no easy way to say goodbye…so baby just say goodnight…" Darien recited the same lyrics, when he first broke it off. She gave him a half smile and he watched her walk to the elevator. His eyes began to water… it's been awhile since he last cried. He still watched her until she got into the elevator. She waved bye to him and the doors dramatically shut like the curtains during a Broadway show after a scene.
Tessa stood quietly in the elevator. Her eyes still watery from their break-up and stained cheeks. She reached the lobby and exited Darien's apartment complex. She got into her car and started the engine. She backed out of her parking space and completely left Darien's. She hardly concentrated on driving, so she put on the radio. The first song that came on was, "How Do I Breathe" by Mario. More tears fell. She decided to go to the park, since it was nearby. She parked her car and Tessa ran towards the swings.
How do I breathe (yeah)
How do I breathe (yeah)
It feels so different being here
I was so used to bein' next to you
Life for me is not the same
There's no one to turn to
Don't know why I let it go too far
Starting over it's so hard
Seems like everywhere I try to go
I keep thinkin' of you
After a few minutes, still gazing at the elevator, Darien finally shut the door. He leaned against it and slid down the door until he reached the floor. 'I'm sorry, Tessa…'
I just had a wake up call
Wishin' that I never let you fall
Baby you are not to blame at all
When I 'm the one who pushed you away
Maybe if you knew I cared
You would never went nowhere
Girl I should have been right there
Tessa got on to the swing and swayed with the light wind. She stared into the starry sky with tear-filled eyes. 'How do I breathe? Without you here by my side... When you're not with me…How do I breathe? How do I breathe?'
Author's Notes: Well that's it for Chapter 7. Sorry it's short. But! Since it's spring break, maybe I'll have more time to write a few chapters for this story. So look out for updates. Tell how you guys liked the new chapter in your reviews!
