*Hope you guys are still around. I am really sorry for the lack of updating, I had a hell of a time finishing the last chapter. I just could not focus as I wrote, thankfully the bug bit me once again so I am hoping to get a few chapters done. I am planning on bringing on the drama now. So I hope you guys are still enjoying the story, I'm still unsure about the number of chapters but I will let you know J R&R*
Ps. This is for firecracker2010. I'm still debating whether or not to add in the 'secret brawl' but, there may be something close to it. Still working on it. ;)
**I don't own Sailor Moon**
Chapter 7
Serena awoke the next morning with mixed emotions. Now that she actually had time to process what had taken place in Darien's car after prom, she knew it had been a big mistake. She should have never allowed him to be so close, they were just friends and that was it. Deep down she had known it but she had allowed herself to get carried away with such raw emotions. As she laid on her bed, staring at the ceiling and gently scratching Luna's head she swore to herself right then, she would not allow herself to fall for Darien. The negatives outweighed the positives and Serena agreed they were better friends than lovers, at least now they were civil.
"Luna, you should have seen it though. The way he held me as we danced, it was if we were two puzzle pieces we fit together perfectly," Serena sighed as she hauled herself out of bed and glanced down at her cat. "Oh well, we'll probably go back to normal now I think he was just being nice cause of what happened."
Irene's voice called from the bottom of the stairs announcing breakfast and Serena wandered to her closet as she slipped into a pair of skinny jeans and a light pink baby doll shirt. Just a few more weeks and high school would be only a memory and she intended on making those final weeks as Darien free as possible.
**June 25th**
Graduation had been amazing yet typical, prior to the ceremony Serena and the girls were 'attacked' by Tokyo's new found paparazzi aka Irene Tsukino. Every step of dressing for graduation was documented which was followed by a never ending photo session with the girls and their families in Serena's backyard. By the end Serena was complaining her cheeks hurt from smiling so much but it was in good fun, this had been the day she and the girls had been working so hard to reach.
The ceremony was filled with many emotions she would never be able to describe, the best moment, in her opinion had been Amy's valedictorian speech. No one but Amy could have delivered such a heart felt speech and truly inspired the group of students now preparing for the next step of their lives. Her words had been capable of speaking to every student individually helping to light the fire to succeed or simply just to try. They spoke volumes to Serena, she knew it would be a battle but as long as she tried anything could be possible. By the end of the speech, Serena along with Rae, Mina and Lita had tears rolling down their cheeks and were the first to jump out of their seats to applaud their friend. They were quickly followed by the other students and families; cheering and wiping their own tears. Her worst moment was taking those few steps across the large stage to receive her diploma and it was the worst because she knew the moment the paper touched her hand, she was no longer a carefree teenager, she was one step closer to be an independent adult.
"Earth to Serena, you have been staring off into space for a while. You okay?" Darien asked with a hint of concern.
Her plan to not see Darien plan had lasted a whole two hours, the moment his number flashed on her phone her heart did a summersault. Since that day, they had been almost inseparable, of course Serena's reasoning for their frequent visits were simply him helping her prepare for college; that was at least what Serena continued to tell herself. The memory of the 'almost kiss' still flashed through her mind almost every second of the day and seemed to appear most often when Darien was around, naturally. He had obviously forgotten about it and for Serena, that was painful but just fine; if he had forgotten about it then she could, eventually it would fade away but for now she found herself back in his car, so close yet so far.
"Yeah sorry, I'm alright, just been doing a lot of thinking lately. You know with college and that I'm going to be eighteen in a few days." Her voice was quiet near the end and she could not help but lightly blush at the thought, she would be an adult, free to make her own decisions. One thought constantly followed the idea of turning eighteen, yes naturally she would be classed as an adult but, she would be legal and that meant she could be with anyone she chose.
"Most girls freak out about turning thirty not eighteen," Darien laughed as he readjusted his sunglasses. "You are making it sound like its a death sentence or something."
He could not help but to smile as Serena shot him a glare which in turn slowly faded away into a smile, before she turned away trying to hide her now red cheeks. It was hard to deny that she was a beautiful girl but when she blushed, Darien's heart just melted. She became real when she blushed, for how could such a kind, caring, funny, beautiful creature such as Serena be real? He had dated many girls but none had ever seemed as perfect as Serena, there was just a spark that made her unique, almost angelic. Just looking at her now, Darien mentally kicked himself for not kissing her after the best night of his life, it stunned him how one girl could make him feel so alive and it amazed him how perfect they seemed together.
The almost kiss had haunted him ever since and with each moment they spent together, he realized how badly he wanted this intoxicating angel. Even now, he was fighting the urge to turn her towards him and giving in that spell she cast on him long ago but he couldn't, she was obviously still hurting over that jerk of a being, Seiya.
"You still have not given me any ideas on what to get you." He said with a smile.
"You don't have to get me anything, I'm serious. I'm happy with just spending the day with my friends, you know, nothing special." She said with a shrug. The birthday celebrations had rarely crossed her mind even with the girls pressing her almost everyday. In all honesty, Serena would be happy as can be with dinner and then a night of dancing and maybe if she was lucky, a moonlit walk with only Darien and the best birthday present would be. It was best for her to just stop there, wishing for a kiss that will never.
Darien sensed something was troubling her and draped his arm over her shoulders and pulled her close, he figured it had to with the Seiya. That creature had broken this sweet girl and it tore at every part of his heart and he swore right then, he would do all in his power to heal her and make her realize how special she truly was.
"I have a few days and I'm sure I can weasel some information out of the girls since you are refusing to give me any ideas. Still as stubborn as ever meatball." Darien squeezed her shoulders and was relieved to a see a smile, that was a step.
Hours later Serena waved goodbye as the red car sped down her street and smiled as she shut the door behind her and skipped up the stairs and into her bedroom. The smile had rarely left her her face since that moment Darien's arm draped over her shoulders and pulled her close, the arm had remained their as they talked about almost everything. She had confessed her dream to become a fashion designer, it would never bother her if she became known world wide all she wanted was to broadcast her designs. For now, those designs remained hidden in her various sketch books littered across her room. One day she hoped that some day, women across Tokyo would die to wear her clothes and if everyday wear was out of the question, she would happy just to design wedding gowns; all she wanted was to design.
"I swear I am a sucker for punishment, that man is going to be the death of me Luna and he has no clue was his touch does to me. I should just cut off contact, every moment I'm with him I just want to throw myself into his arms and let him take me away." She sighed as she rested against her bedroom door, it was almost as if she could still feel the weight of his arm on her shoulders, a simple gesture had made her the safest she had ever felt and just like when they danced at prom, she felt like she was home. The sudden feeling of her phone vibrating in her pocket brought her out of the perfect daydream.
Her hands shook as she watched his number flash on the screen, why the hell would he be calling her now? They had been over for weeks now and even though Seiya had said he wanted to remain friends neither of them had made the effort to remain even that both just going on with their lives but now, there he was, attempting to reappear into her life with a simple phone call. At first she planned on just ignoring him, he would take the hint that she wanted nothing to do with him and give up but a part of her wondered, did he want her back; had he realized his mistake and was attempting to fix it? With a breath to calm herself, Serena slowly flipped open her phone.
"Hello?" Her voice shook slightly as she slowly sat down on the edge of her bed and began playing with the edge of her comforter.
"Hey Serena, listen I'm sorry for not staying in touch I have felt like such an idiot. I said we could stay friends, but I figured I would give you some time to yourself."
"Right... Avoid me for a few weeks and it all is okay?" Her temper was rising, how dare he call her out of the blue and just expect she be fine with what had happened. A voice buried in the back of her mind was screaming for her to just hang up the phone. She had to be practically insane just to pick it up in the first place, thinking about it now, it was as if Serena loved torturing herself. Just hearing his voice was ripping open the wounds in her heart and she found herself thinking back to the good days, curled up in his arms watching television or some random. Remembering how she curled into his body as they kissed. No, they were broken up and that was final.
The phone was silent for some time and for a moment she thought he had hung up but then she could hear the sounds of him breathing, he was most likely waiting for her to calm down.
"Listen I have an idea. I know I was a jerk, I just was not ready for anything serious you know? Anyway, I planned on calling you sooner but I figured you didn't want to hear from me ever again plus you had graduation and everything but, I want to make it up to you." He seemed sincere, there had been countless times he had been a jerk and proceeded to make up for it with presents, romantic dates, etc. This time though Serena doubted anything he had thought up would ever make up for the pain she had gone through.
She took a deep breath and once again debated whether or not to just hang up and forget the whole conversation never happened, she had done it for a few weeks, it would be easy for the rest of her life. Though it was hard to deny that she was curious about his plans and how maybe this was just another one of life's cruel tests; one final meeting to prove that she was truly over him and capable of moving on.
"I'm listening Seiya."
