Serena moaned in pain as she walked up the stairs to old factory that might as well be on top of a mountain. She regretted denying Lita's offer to go grocery shopping with her because of Lita's invitation to cook with the founders of her school. She sighed in relief when the metal building came into view. You'd think after years of living in the middle of nowhere she'd want to live in the city, well city living was pretty pricy. Serena still preferred her tiny fishing village in the middle of nowhere. It wasn't the living aspects, heaven knows where she'll be without Wi-Fi now but she loved the people. As she walked closer, she saw Darien leaning against the metal rusty door. Serena rolled her eyes and made her way to the door to confront the creeper.
"How are you here?" Serena growled as she hit him with gallon of milk in one of her sacks as she made her way to the lock. Why were they so complicated?
"Well my parents decided to have intercourse for an heir so-" Darien smirked as Serena opened the door and set the bags on the floor. This was the fastest time she ever opened her door. Her house didn't like Darien either. Serena turned around and punched him in the arm, hard.
"Shut up, I had an awful day, I failed my exam, Ami's going to go off on me tonight so I need to prepare for that, and I need to finish up by 10 page essay tomorrow and I haven't even touched so let's skip the polite stuff. What the hell are you doing here?" Serena yelled as Darien winced at the high pitch her scream was brought to. Who knew that tiny little thing could produce such a high note? Did that note even exist?
"I need to talk to you-" Darien began, but Serena quickly interrupted him.
"Business hours or my phone, why do you need to come to my home? This is where I can get away from people, not a place to conduct business. If it's about your love life, I already told you I'm done." Serena screeched as she heard the upper level bang something on the floor.
"It's about Maddie." Serena groaned before going to one of her bags and grabbed her Chinese takeout and sat on the couch, gesturing for Darien to do the same.
"This is going to be a long talk."
"...so that's why I think you should do your stuff on my grandmother." Darien ended as Serena stopped eating her chicken, dropped her chopsticks and stared at him.
"I didn't think it was that bad. Your family is a piece of work." Serena replied, hearing the details of their attitude.
"So you'll do it?" Darien asked with an eager smile.
"You want me to corrupt my business, bend my morals, just because you have various problems with your grandmother and girlfriend?" Serena questioned slowly as if to a four year old as Darien nodded.
"So you'll do it? That's wonderful, you should receive a check once you do what you do then..."Darien said happily, but Serena immediately cut him off.
"I didn't say I would do it." Darien stopped his ramblings and turned to look at the blonde.
"Why not?"
"Because that goes against everything I've been raised to believe. Love is not a subject to play around with Mr. Shields. Also from my reading the other day, I highly doubt your family will believe me even if I decided to help you on your crusade." Serena lectured as Darien rolled his eyes at the statement.
"Is this about your parents?" Darien asked receiving a glare on Serena's end. He gave a sheepish smile, "Sorry."
"No and no it's not the curse either. It's…complicated." Serena sighed putting the take out on the coffee table.
Darien followed her actions, "How so? What's in the mind of a meatball brain?"
Serena chuckled, "You know this hairstyle is very significant way back when. My ancestors ruled over the entire solar system."
"Bullshit." Darien replied as Serena giggled.
She leaned against the orange couch, "My job is to bring two people together, but I can't guarantee forever and always. It doesn't make me the most reliable source when it comes to love."
"Zane said your grandmother is stronger."
Serena nodded, "She is. She wasn't always like that, I think you have to learn something before you're granted with your full powers. By then, love doesn't matter as much anymore."
"Do your siblings have your power?" Darien asked.
Serena paused before answering, "I don't think Rini has it. She hasn't shown any signs. Sammy doesn't see it, but he feels it."
"What does that mean?"
"He doesn't see lights like my grandma and I. He feels a pair is a bad idea or a good one. Not as powerful, but he feels soul mates. I see everything but soul mates are blurry for me." Serena replied, "He also doesn't have that need to pair up the world together. I mean it's good for him, he doesn't have a criminal record."
"What?" Darien yelped at the sudden statement.
Serena rolled her eyes, "I've gotten into some pretty odd situations because of my need to pair people up. Some of them happened to be illegal."
"Interesting." Darien mused, stroking his chin as if he had a beard.
"Why?"
"I finally believe the mumbo jumbo about your ability. I always thought you were lying still even though you have proven time and time again that what you see is real." Darien said then dodging the California roll aimed at his head.
"Stop that!" He exclaimed, jumping from his seat when a remote control, which might as well have materialized on her palm, was thrown at him.
Serena smirked then threw chopsticks, pillow cushions, and whatever was lying around. Darien eventually found his way to the kitchen where he was able to retaliate. Serena dove behind her couch when his weapon of choice flew by. She crawled over to see a frozen meatball.
"Seriously? A freaking meatball!" Serena yelled, but it remained quiet.
Serena stood up behind her fort, tiptoeing to the direction of the kitchen. As soon as her head poked out behind the wall, she was covered with flour. Darien fell to the floor in laughter of her expression and what he had just done. It was pretty perfect. Serena glared at him, her blue eyes standing out with the flour covering her face. Serena smiled in a far too innocent manner before launching herself at him spreading the flour over his designer suit.
"You are going to regret that meatball brain!" Darien exclaimed beneath her.
Serena giggled, "You're going to have to catch me first."
The pair didn't realize how compromising their positions were on the ground until an unexpected 'Hmph' sound broke off their banter on the floor. Both of them froze, turning to see Lita with a guest behind her.
Darien blushed, "Hi Mrs. Sparrow."
Elsie Sparrow smirked, "Darien, what a lovely surprise."
"You know each other." Lita asked.
Elsie nodded, "He's best friends with my son, Nate."
Serena hopped off of Darien, "I thought you were going to be at their house."
Lita chuckled at her friend's appearance, "We were until Mrs. Sparrow's son caused a ruckus of the kitchen with one of his made up recipes."
"Nate never makes such a mistake as if he were a novice, but he's only human." Elsie explained, pulling Darien back onto his feet. She dug through her purse for her small box of tissue and handed it to him. She smiled at Darien, "I heard Miss Blanc is back in town. You must be happy."
Darien nodded, "I really am."
"That's why you're spending your evening with another lady." There wasn't any judgment in her voice only amusement. Darien looked to see the false look of concern. She had no opinion of his love life, but found his to be a wonderful source of hilarity.
Serena announced, "I going to go clean up." She ran up the stairs afterwards, trekking flour on the cement floors.
"You better clean this up!" Lita yelled, as Serena made some noise in reply. Lita shook her head before turning back to her teacher, "I'm sorry about the mess. I doubt my kitchen is in a suitable state either."
"That's fine darling, now I get to test your take out skills." Elsie replied, she turned back to Darien, "I have spare clothes in my trunk of Nate's. I sure you can fix yourself up a bit."
Rei finished her photo shoot earlier than expected. This meant she could finish her speech for class tomorrow. She felt motivation sink into her bones as she began to type away, unaware of how time was flying by. Her phone on her desk kept buzzing with excitement that she tried to ignore. Rei gave into the temptation, grabbing her phone. She tapped on the screen to see the usual texts from the other models, one from her father about her tuition, but the last one caught her attention.
"What happened?" Rei asked as Lita picked up.
"You don't think Serena's stupid enough to fall for a client?" Lita asked, concern in her voice.
"No, why?"
"You know when Serena's flirting she gets that look of mischief in her eyes and she eggs on her target?" Lita said, "She did that to Darien the other night."
Rei's eyes widened, this was better than her speech. "How did you know? Lita you're as oblivious as Ami is when it comes to those actions."
"I am not! Look I just know. I live with Serena remember?"
"Did she know?"
Lita shook her head before realizing she was on the phone, "I don't think so. I think Darien reciprocated too."
"Why don't you ask Mina? She's better at this relationship stuff than me." Rei suggested.
"Because you have interaction with Darien's boys."
Rei groaned, "You cannot be serious! Lita, he's the lord of morons."
"And you've got a violent temper. I don't know his friends the way you know one of them." Lita said, "It's for Serena."
Damn her for being a good friend. Rei placed her phone down before screaming for a minute in her pillow. When she felt calm enough she picked the phone back up. "Fine. For the blonde harpy."
"That's the spirit." Lita encouraged before Rei heard a click. She sighed before clicking on Bastard. The phone only ran once before the annoying voice travelled to her ears.
"Hello beautiful, how may I be of service to you?" Jerry drawled when 'Princess Pyro' suddenly called him.
"You know." It wasn't a question.
Jerry chuckled, "Darien came distraught to my office. Luckily today is a day I decided to work. I heard what happened."
"What do you mean you decided to work today? Don't you have to go to work every day?" Rei asked, confused over his odd schedule.
"I'm the CEO of a mall. I have chairmen to suggest things and I veto it. I only come in two days a week." Jerry explained nonchalantly. Rei rolled her eyes. Typical rich boy.
"You know what Rei, if I didn't know any better I would say you are curious about me too." Jerry said in amusement, pulling the phone away from his ear when he heard colorful curses through the phone. He smiled, he had never met a girl like Rei. It was her fiery personality that kept him intrigued. He remember the first time he saw her fuming to the sky and he's been entranced ever since.
"Well thank god that you know better." Rei retorted once she somewhat calmed down. Jerry laughed at her statement and for some unknown reason, Rei found herself laughing with him. Her eyes drifted over to her graduation picture on her desk, her eyes centering on the petite blonde.
"Do you think Darien may like Serena?" Rei asked seriously cutting his laughter right away.
Jerry leaned against his chair, running a hand through his hair. He sighed, "I don't know. I know that he must feel something more than distain for her as he claims. Darien doesn't let anyone get that close to him."
"Serena's the same way. She's a lot to take in."
"Well, what does Serena have feelings for Darien?" Jerry asked.
Rei twirled a strand of her hair between her fingers, "Serena doesn't want to fall in love herself. She hasn't had a crush since high school. What did she say about Madeline?"
Jerry smirked, "She pretty much told Darien that his relationship will sink like the Titanic."
Rei smiled, "She's good at harsh realities."
"What if Darien does like Serena?" Jerry asked out of curiosity.
"He'll be in for an inevitable heartbreak. She's going to deny it forever." Rei said in a quiet voice.
Jerry didn't like that, "If Serena likes him?"
"You tell me, he's not my best friend."
"I think he'll accept it. He won't be with Madeline if fate says they aren't meant to be together. I think they could be pretty good together." Jerry said, then a mischievous thought struck him, "We could be pretty good together."
"In your dreams creep!" Rei screeched, the serious moment stopped altogether.
"Fair maiden, you still won't give me a chance?" Jerry asked imagining her reaction. If she could, she'll light him on fire and it'll be worth it.
Rei snorted, "I would rather marry Madeline than date you."
"That's cold. I'm ten times hotter in a dress than she is. You'll be missing out." Jerry waited for the insult, but surprisingly he received laughter. It wasn't like the giggles other girls did because it sounded prettier. Rei was giving him a chance to hear her laugh that could make her belly hurt. Those silly insects came to live in his stomach at the sound, knowing he's the cause of it felt even better.
"You've tried on a dress?" Rei asked.
Jerry grinned, "Yes, it was fuchsia, I was six. My sisters wanted another sister so I became that sister. I can tell you right now though, I owned that dress better than any girl."
"I would pay to see that."
"If you agree to go on a date with me, I'll bring the pictures." Jerry suggested. He heard silence for a few seconds too long making him squirm in his seat. Was that a little too forward? He almost fainted at her next words. Almost.
"Only if I can have copies of them."
Jerry jumped from his chair, spinning around in excitement. "I have an album of me in dresses and makeup with my hair grown out to my shoulders. You can have it!"
"It's not a date!"
"I don't even care about that! For you it's not a date, for me it is one so win win for everyone!" Jerry exclaimed.
Rei rolled her eyes, but she was still smiling, "You're weird."
"I got you to say yes to a non date so insult me to your heart's content!"
Ami was early as usual to her class. She sat down at the desk in front next to the desk. It was surprising how much the professors let Zane get away with. The Aragon name is a powerful tool. Ten minutes later, the rest of the class began to enter one of them her boyfriend. Greg smiled at his girlfriend planning to talk to her about their plans when Zane came out of nowhere and sat down. Greg glared at Zane who paid no attention to his surroundings, only focusing on the sandwich he was devouring. Ami gave him a small smile in apology, but received the cold shoulder. She frowned at his reaction. He was becoming cold to her ever since she became an acquaintance to Zane.
Sweat was dripping down his forehead and he was breathing heavily after every bite of his sandwich. Ami looked at him with concern, "Are you ok?"
Zane to her, looking startled that she was there to begin with. He smiled sheepishly, "I was sleeping at the on call room in the hospital where I volunteer. My phone died so I didn't have an alarm clock."
"Why do you always look like you go to war before neuroscience?" Ami asked then looked down at her notes. Did she sound as if she were prying? She didn't mean to. Hopefully Zane wouldn't think she was nosy.
Zane chuckled, "On Wednesdays my friends and I always have our weekly get-togethers. We eat a lot a meat, sometimes we drink a little. I don't, but they do. We always stay up late and I'm passed out at one of their homes. I never think about my alarm clock."
"How disorganized." Ami commented. She once again found herself in awe of Zane. Especially how he talks to people, it was polite but genuine.
Zane shrugged, "As long as I have food in my mouth during class, I'm fine."
"That's an interesting quirk. One of my friends is like that too only in high school our teachers were stricter so they never let us eat so she slept instead." Ami said as Zane's left eye began to twitch.
"Are you talking about Serena?"
"Yes..." Ami trailed off as Zane forced his entire sandwich in his mouth before reaching for his water bottle and chugging the contents down. She waited until he was finished with his outburst. Zane wasn't the typical medical student.
"Are you ok?"
Zane nodded, "Serena caused my anxiety. I thought after all these years it'll go away but thinking back to her chemistry tests and biology makes me want to cry."
Ami tried to contain it, but she couldn't help herself and broke out into giggles. Zane glared at her, "It's not funny. Your friend gave me nightmares."
"I'm sorry, it's just Serena is a tiny girl with a bright smile and you're terrified of her." Ami giggled some more at the image.
Zane flipped his hair to his back, "Have you met her? She's scary!"
"She's my best friend. She's excessive and out of the box, but she's not that scary."
Zane folded his arms, "Have you ever tutored her one on one?"
Her giggles stopped right away. So maybe he had a point, but his reaction was still dramatic. "I admit she's…difficult, but she's better than before."
"Has she ever turned your tutor sessions to match making time?" Zane waited for her answer, but received silence as well as a faint blush on Ami's cheeks. Thankfully for Ami, the professor began his lecture at the right moment. Being the diligent student, Ami began to scribble down her notes and as usual Zane didn't lift a finger. She knew he was listening as he munched on his snacks because his eyes followed the professor, but unlike the rest of the students around him he didn't take any notes. She still didn't understand how he was #1 when he didn't do anything! It was worse in the beginning of the year because he fell asleep often, but he still got better grades then the majority of the class. When the professor believed that Zane wasn't listening and randomly shoots him a question, Zane answers them flawlessly. This happened so often the professors stopped the pop quizzes altogether for Zane. When it came time for partner work, Ami was itching to ask as she watched him write down the answers without having to refer back to textbook or notes.
"How are you doing that?"
Zane looked up, his green eyes flashing with confusion. "Doing what?"
"You're haven't wrote a single note since class started, but you know the answers. All you do is eat or sleep in class." Ami stated, her jaw dropped, her mouth forming an 'o'. She placed her hand over her mouth, closing her eyes.
Zane ran a hand through his already messy copper hair, "I have an eidetic memory or as close to one as it is."
"So you never take notes?" Ami questioned.
Zane shook his head. He dug through his backpack and threw a folded crinkly blue notebook. He flipped through the pages of doodles until he got to where he wanted. He pushed his notebook towards Ami. Ami's eyes widened at the details written in different colors as well as drawings.
Zane chuckled at her shocked expression, "I take notes a few days before the lecture."
"I thought I was the only one that took these kinds of notes." Ami said, revealing her notebook with highlighter and underline including color coded and drawings.
Zane's eyes widen in excitement, "Do you know what this means? We can each take notes of the alternate chapter then let each other borrow it! It'll be more efficient that what we're doing now!"
Ami beamed while nodding, "That's a good idea."
"We'll meet in lab after classes today and get a head start." Zane said as the professor began to draw the class back into discussion. Ami smiled and nodded in confirmation. She finally had an efficient study buddy. Sure there was Bertie and Greg, but they didn't pay attention to those details believing her note taking strategies to take forever and it did. She couldn't wait until classes ended today! Ami was so caught up at the discovery of the insanity of Zane Aragon that she forgot about one person she had made plans with prior.
Greg wasn't happy. He was scowling the entire time in class as his girlfriend gushed over all that is her lab partner. It didn't help that the two were partners in almost every class. Because of assigned seats based on scores, Ami and Zane were always paired off. Ami assured him countless times they were just friends, but he had a hard time believing that especially now.
"We had plans Ami!"
Ami frowned at his tone, "I forgot, but it's studying."
"You study all the time. I thought we were going to take a break from school and just catch up. I feel like I never see you." Greg expressed, his voice going back to normal.
Ami's ice blue eyes softened, "And we will. Tomorrow before class starts we can go out to lunch just the two of us and catch up."
"Can't you reschedule?"
Ami shook her head "Zane is pretty much living at the hospital his family owns as a lab assistant. I'm busy with my lab work too. Today is probably the only day we can meet up outside of school."
Greg glared, "So you're going to blow off your boyfriend for another one!"
Ami's eyes turned back to ice, "Are you accusing me of something Greg?"
"Maybe I should start." Greg realized his choice of words, "Wait…that's not what I meant…"
Zane had found the couple a few doors down from the library. Oblivious to the tension surrounding them he flashed a smile in greeting. "Hey, you ready Ami?"
Ami's eyes narrowed at her boyfriend, "I'm ready. Call me when you decide to grow up."
Ami stomped away with Zane trailing after her with a look of concern. He tried to get her attention, but that failed. After calling her name plenty of times and receiving nothing, he grabbed onto her wrist to stop her strides. Ami turned her icy glare on him that sent shivers down his spine. If looks could kill, he'll be obliterated right now. He effectively dragged her not to the library, but his favorite section of the school. With the key card the door opened to reveal the plants the science building was growing on top of the roof.
"Now that we're alone, can you tell me why you look like you want to commit murder?" Zane asked with concern.
Ami crossed her arms looking around the rooftop, "How did you get access here?"
"I know people. Actually it's an interesting story how I got it…" Zane began before frowning, "Hey we're not here to talk about me."
"We're not friends. It's none of your business." Ami state coldly, but Zane wasn't deterred. His best friend was a more effective stone wall than she was.
"I want us to be friends." Zane stressed out, "You'll be my first friend here. If you haven't noticed, my circle of friends is severely lacking in school."
Ami unfolded her arms, "I've seen you talk to other people. You talked to Bertie a few times."
"She's my cousin, that doesn't count and I can't stand her guts." Zane replied.
Ami's eyes widened, "She's your cousin?"
"We don't like each other so we try to avoid each other and act as if the other person doesn't exist. I mean I didn't even know she existed until I was 8, but still." Zane rambled.
"Do you really want to be my friend?" Ami asked skeptically.
"Yes. No ulterior motives at all." Zane said with an easy smile, "Medical school is hard enough. I need a friend to help me get by."
"Ok, we're friends." Ami smiled.
"Great! So what happened between you and the boyfriend?"
Ami sighed, "Greg's great. He's the first guy to pay attention and wanted to be around me other than because I'm smart. He's a good guy until he accused me of cheating on him today."
Zane raised an eyeybrow in confusion, "With who?"
"You."
"Me?!" Zane exclaimed, "Why me? We're so obviously platonic."
"That's not what a lot of people say." Ami said playing with her hands, "You never talk to anyone and now we're suddenly talking."
"I'm going to quote my best friend, Nate Sparrow, so excuse my language," Zane said, before trying to get the correct voice for this, "Fuck them."
Ami stifled a laugh at the force of his tone. He still sounded uncomfortable. "That's all I've been doing since school started, but you can't say that to your boyfriend."
"Greg will have to get over it. We're friends. Does he want us to make friendship bracelets to express that?" Zane commented.
Ami shook her head, "That may make him more worried."
"No offense to him, but I don't want this friendship to end because he can't get over his man ego." Zane said as Ami laughed at his words. They stayed up on the roof top surrounded by plants and their notebooks and textbooks. So much better than the library
Serena ran to the doorbell that morning and found someone she never thought would grace her door step.
"We need to talk." Madeline stated as the two stared at each other.
