Thanks to all those that are continuing to review… I get so excited… but I am also sorry for the late update… Life has been busy… I've found out I'm pregnant with my first child and kind of got lost in doctor visits and such Plus the kid is draining the life out of me…
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Chapter nine:
One month later:
"Now pose sexy"
It was the one millionth time Serena was posing "Sexy" for the photographer. The lights were flashing and she was tired. She had entered into the photo shoot at 5 am to start makeup and clothes and it was now 7pm, it was starting to take at toll on her
The photographer finished his photos… "Okay Sere sweet heart I'm all done, go and throw on something from the wardrobe and I'll finish the printouts and we'll look at them over dinner"
Serena nodded... "Sounds great Sapphire."... She paused and turned back... "Do you mind if we go to Constellations? I haven't been over there in forever and I want to see everyone."
Sapphire smiled at the beautiful blond… "Whatever you want you're the boss."
Serena smiled remembering Mina and her conversation about the word "BOSS" and it's backwards meaning. She rushed to the wardrobe room and got out of the getup that she had on, it was beautiful but it was way too classy for constellations, maybe for a ball or something
She picked out a simple baby blue shirt and blue jeans that hugged her hips, and cute sandals. She played in her hair, to loosen the curls that fell into soft spiral tendrils, playing off her sexy figure.
She was excited, she missed her friends, she hadn't seen them in many weeks, once she accepted the contract with the Starlight's her life took off. She was in the studio recording her songs, doing photo shots and small appearances at places with the starlight's, who would introduce her to the press as the NEW and UPCOMING star of their recording label
She was amazed at first, it was so fun and exciting but after the first three weeks of non stop life, she was exhausted and not to mention Seiya's contant flurting… she barely slept a full night's sleep, she was handled from one person to the next, they dolled her up with makeup, clothes, and hairdos, but she loved to be simple… but she was getting what she always wanted… her music was going to be heard and people all over the world would be able to hear it
"SERE BABY ARE YOU READY?"
The call from Sapphire broke her thoughts… "Yeah, I'm coming"
They retreated to the lounge and she walked in giddy and laughing at Sapphires joke he had just made, when she saw Mina, she ran to her and threw her arms around her… "Mina I've missed you soooo much!"
"Serena, is that you?"
Serena stepped back… "OH stop! It's hasn't been that long."
"Oh Sere, we've missed you. Andrew is going to be so happy that you're here. I'll go get him, Go and take any seat you want… it's your place."
Serena took Sapphire by the arm and lead him to a tall table for two… "Here, I love this seat I can see the stage perfectly."
Sapphire looked at her… "I didn't know you owned this place."
Serena blushed… "I'm a women of many secrets..SHHH… Don't tell…".. She giggled and looked around the place she felt at home… "This was my first love but I found music and it became a new passion and I had to pursue it."
"Well it's a lovely place".. Sapphire compliment as he took out Serena's photo shots.. "Here are your photos."
Sapphire took out a huge stack of snapshots there were millions of them and they all looked like someone else and Serena looked on in amazement… she barley recognized herself... 'Boy what makeup and clothes can do', she mentally chimed while shifting through the bunch
"Wow is this me?"
"Who else could pull off those poses and that smile, you're a natural."
He winked at her and smiled, he liked flirting with her but it was all in innocent fun, Sapphire actually felt a strange tingle to watch over her and protect her.
As Serena was looking through the photos she never saw Andrew come behind her and start to look over her shoulder at the pictures as well.. and he was amazed at them…" WOW…SERENA… these are amazing.."
Serena was startled but when she looked up she saw it was Andrew.. "DREW!"
Serena jumped off her chair and flung herself into his arms and held him in a long embrace before Sapphire cleared his throat to separate the two …Serena giggled
"Andrew this is Sapphire, he is my Photographer that Seyia assigned me to."
Andrew gave him the lookdown and Sapphire saw the protective stare that he was given and reached out his hand to the man in front of him… "I've heard a lot about you."
"You have? I hope that she also told you that I have to interrogate everyone she dates."
"ANDREW"… Serena slapped his arm… "We're not dating and we don't plan on it either.."
Sapphire threw her hurts eyes... "Rena I thought our relationship was deeper than that… I'm hurt"
His theatrical performance made her giggle and Andrew sat down again.
The trio talked but at the bar there sat a business man that had become stiff at the sudden announcement of a certain blond in the lounge. He turned to see her there… 'wow, she looks amazing'… her hair was playfully sexy and her body was well defined by her clothing, leaving everything to the imagination but everything to be desired.. 'I should go over there and say something'…he fought with his conscience… 'Like hi? It's good to see you. You've been my every thought since the last time I saw you.'…. he mentally kicked himself.. He had been so conflicted the last few weeks after the charity benefit
He had even been shopping with Setsuna for her wedding gown and she when she asked for his opinion at how she looked… Darien looked at Setsuna and saw Serena and his heart ached, Setsuna had set boundaries after their last moment together. She was jealous and Darien knew it but he felt ashamed to say that he was thinking about her when Setsuna would make love to him, he was longing for her, he wanted at least some sort of contact with her
"Hey you."
Darien was snapped out of his thoughts and looked up to see Mina… "What?"
"I don't know? How about that fact that you're over here fighting with the thoughts when you should be over there getting rid of that cocky guy."… Mina growled while wiping the counter
Darien rolled his eyes and turned around again, he now saw what Mina was talking about, sometime between his rethinking and reflecting, Seyia had walked in, Darien growled and then turned around again
"like I care?"… he said in an annoyed tone to Mina
" LOOK!"… Mina stood there with a hand on her hip.. "You're not fooling me, maybe Setsuna but not me."
" you have no right to make comments about my feelings."
Mina looked dead into his eyes… "I have the right to protect Serena's feelings and for unknown reasons she is rather fond of you, even if you did break her heart."
Darien looked at the fiery blond with contempt…she was right and he knew it… "She hates my guts and if I were her I would forget about me too..I broke my promise to her and I should have wrote or called… maybe she would have done the same… we could still be friends"
Mina looked at him in shock.. "What the hell are you talking about?"… she yelled out in a whisper
Darien looked at her with wide eyes.. "DO I have to repeat myself? I should have WROTE or CALLED because she would have wrote and called me back, there is no need to make me say it again..I FEEL HORRIABLE OKAY!"
He stood from his chair and Mina immediately grabbed his hands… "SIT"… Darien did like he was asked as she barked out the comment catching Darien by surprise; she leaned in to a close whisper… "You mean to tell me YOU NEVER got a letter from Serena?"
Darien shook his head "no"
"AND you NEVER received any of her messages that she left at your building?"
Darien was starting to see the picture, he had never received any letter or a phone call, he had always hacked it up to the fact that it was too painful for Serena to do those things and with his busy schedule, he hadn't done it and when he realized that months had passed he was too embarrassed to call and too scared to hear her voice in pain from not hearing from him.. so he waited to see if she would make the first move…
"She wrote me didn't she?"… Darien asked in confusion
Mina nodded in complete amazement that he never knew… "She wrote you almost every day but you never responded then she would call and they took messages and promised to forward them to you but then one day her mail came back 'return to sender', it broke her heart, she went into depression and if it hadn't been for Andrew sticking by her side, she could have been a lot worse but she grew wings and she is the beautiful butterfly that you see before you today but I've never seen the sparkle in her eyes like when your around BUT don't tell her I told you that."
Darien stood with a new found confidence and a burning desire, she had written him, called him, she cared enough to do those things, even if it had pained her.. he walked in the direction of the talking group
"Hey Drew, you left me to fend for myself over there against the crazy blond."… Darien shouted while walking away from the Bar area and Drew turned to see Darien…
"SORRY but Come and see these picture of Serena..She's a knock out."
Darien walked up to the table and stood looking at her, her cheeks blushed red… "She's always been a knock out."
Serena looked at him with a twinkle in her eye and Seiya noticed…
"So Darien how's Setsuna?"… Seiya swiftly asked
Serena broke her stare and looked at the table. Waiting for his response. Serena had to admit that everynight after there confrontation she had thought about him and couldn't forget, even if she was mad, the way he held her…
Darien's whole composure changed, he stood straighter and his business like mannerism were all of a sudden turned on when he responded to Seiya's question … "She is doing great. She's all done with the wedding arrangements."
All the talk about Wedding stuff made Serena want to run again, Run far away but she needed to face the fact that Darien had made a decision like she had.. "Well I'm happy for you two."
Darien looked at Serena again and the sparkle her eyes held a moment ago faded….they were back in their realities… "Thanks I'm happy for you to."…
Darien looked down at the pictures spread across the table…"Wow there's so many of them and wonderfully taken, someone has a great eye"
"Please Darien don't boast his ego anymore.", Serena said playfully trying to rectify the awkwardness
Darien smiled at Serena then at the man that her comment was made towards… "Are they for a portfolio?"
Seiya was the one to make the next comment… "No there for her CD that will be coming out SOON.".. He looked at Serena with Wide eyes, she about jumped out of her seat
"ARE YOU SERIOUS SEIYA?"
Seiya nodded, he loved when he had her full attention… "Yes, we finished ahead of schedule and were wrapping it up, Yaten is working through the night, he is excited about it BUT that means that we need to find the right photo for your cover..SO PICK ONE ALREADY!"
Serena jumped up and down and did the cabbage patch, her dance of over enthusiasm, she turned beat red as she realized that everyone was staring at her, including Darien, who had fallen again for the blond, she was still that giddy youth that loved life to the fullest
Serena scrunched her noise up in the cutest way and crossed her arms to the group of guys.. "Don't act like you guys are cool all the time okay! I can have my moments."
At that… she sat down again and her fingers roamed the pictures.. "I can't make up my mind, they all look beautiful but I want something… UM..Umm"… she pondered what it was that she was looking for
"Rare." , Darien whispered out
The whole group of guys looked at the tall dark haired man, who was holding a picture in his hand and examining it, he placed it down in front of all the others and he looked at her and no one else
"This one captures you the best, it's rare."
Sapphire snatched the picture… "This was just a picture I took of her to test the camera.. I mean the lighting is perfect but where's the SEXY TO IT?"
Serena suddenly realized why Darien had picked that picture and she took it from Sapphires hand and examined it,
It was a picture of her sitting on the cherry wood floor of the studio staring out the window. She wasn't in makeup and wardrobe yet, she was wearing nothing but a black baggy sweater, that sagged off one shoulder, and her black undergarments. It was raw… not sexy on purpose, but there was the innocence in the picture that made it sexy, the venerability… she was looking out that window wondering if this was worth what would be sacrificed, it was defiantly "rare"… she had exposed herself in such an intimate way that was much deeper than bearing her skin, she was bearing her soul in this picture… "I love it."
"WHAT?"… Sapphire was shocked… "You can't be serious Sere Baby. Look at this one, you are Super sexy in this one, no guy would turn you down in this picture..SHIT I WOULD TURN STRAIGHT."
Serena rolled her eyes and stood up… "I don't think that's the point. I want that picture." … she looked at Darien… "Thanks, tell Setsuna I said Hi"
She turned to the group of people… "I'm going home. I've had a long day and I need my rest."
"Can I walk you home?"... The sentence came out of Dariens mouth so fast that the whole group stared at him, including Seyia who was upset that he was beat to the question
Serena smiled and nodded "yes" to his question… "I'll see you tomorrow Drew, I've missed you, hug that beautiful fiancé of yours for me."… with that she kissed his cheek and Darien walked towards the Door and held it open for her.
The group of guys looked from one man to the next
"He is so HOT"… Sapphire blurted out once Darien and Serena had officially excited the building
Drew looked at Sapphire and rolled his eyes
"WHAT?".. "I'm just saying what everyone else is thinking including Sere, she is in over her head but SHIT I would be too after a man like that."
Seiya looked at Sapphire… "A married man…"
Drew correct him.. "An engaged man they're not married Yet."
At that Drew whistled away and went to Mina who was wiping the counter top and smirked at Andrew… " So I take everything went well with Serena?"
Andrew stared at the blond and knew that she had put Darien up to walking over to talk to Serena, there was no way Darien was going to do it on his own unless he had some motivation… "What did you say to him?"
Mina rolled her eyes… "What makes you think that I said something to him?"
"Maybe because when I left him he was in complete despair over what happened a month ago and whether he was making the right choice by marrying Setsuna and there was only one other time in Darien's Shields life that he has ever questioned his decision and that was when he left Serena here in Japan, then he walks over to us like he was king of the world, FLIRTING WITH HER.. OPENLY FLIRTING!"
Mina giggle she had done her job , she leaned forward to whisper in a clear message of intent…
" I only told him what HE and Everyone else sees is so Obvious and that includes Setsuna, who sees the way he looks at Serena, the MANS whole mans demeanor changes and I only made him aware of a big mistake he was making if he just ignored his feelings for her."
Andrew shook his head… "You're putting your two senses into a situation that isn't yours to deal with, YOU'RE MEDDLING."
"Whatever Andrew I am just doing what you want to do but because you can't get past "THE PAST", you are letting Darien make one of the biggest mistakes of his life."
Andrew was starting to get very annoyed, she was right…. she was always right when it involved matters of the heart… BUT…. that didn't mean that HE had to give into her every idea… "It doesn't matter what I think, Darien needs to make up his own mind, he is set to Marry a women because she's perfectly fit for his Business life, and that can get boring, I'm just making sure that he's not just seeing Serena as the NEW exciting thing in his life that he has to chase down."
At that he crossed his arms in self defense, it was true what he said but he knew that he was letting Darien Marry a women that was an obvious control freak, every aspect of their lives had to revolve around the company and there images… it annoyed Darien but Darien knew it was great for company growth but it was so obvious that they were meant to be better business partners than Married but he just couldn't get past Serena's many nights of heartache, he didn't want to see her hurt again, even if he liked Darien and their friendship was growing again
Mina could read right through Andrew's bullshit and she just huffed… "Something tells me that you don't believe that Darien would intentionally hurt Serena and from what he told me tonight they are both being deceived by someone other than themselves and they need to realize that"
Andrew looked perplexed…. "What's that suppose to mean?"
"It means Darien never received one letter Serena wrote him or any messages that she left him and something tells me that it wasn't a mistake in the mail system."
Andrew looked like he had been hit with a freight train… "Really?"
"REALLY!"…. "BOSS I need to get back to real work around here."
oooOOOooo
It was a slow walk and both looked awkwardly strained to stay composed, Darien strolled with his hands in his pockets and Serena did the same looking at the moon and stars
"Wow, the moon is beautiful tonight."… she couldn't help the comment, the night was breathtakingly beautiful
Darien looked up from his current state of watching the cement… "Yeah, it is."… he looked over to the blond besides him and admired her profile. She was every bit as beautiful as he had remembered but she was ten times more intoxicating because there were so many more dimensions to her now
"Your starring.".. She stopped walking and looked at him
"Huh?"… he was oblivious to her statement and blushed a little because he had been caught starring at her… "Sorry, I'm just remembering the last time we had a walk like this. We were just starting our friendship."
Serena looked down, this wasn't a conversation she was ready to have… she continued to walk again but words flowed out like water…." There are many things that I've always wanted to tell you.."… She stopped again and looked at him… "But right now I can't bring myself to tell you any of them. You left and I thought I would never have to cross that bridge of conversation but yet you stand here in front of me and AS MAD AS I WANT TO BE AT YOU"… her voice softened its tone… "I can't."… But that didn't mean she was going to let him off the hook..She looked at him with stern eyes… "You are an Ass Darien Shields for leaving me thinking that you cared enough to continue to at least be my friend"
Darien stepped up and held her shoulders… "I CARED SERENA"
She threw his hands off her shoulders.. "You cared enough to ignore me."
At that she stormed off walking fast to get away from him
"Serena, please stop."… he walked faster to catch up to her and griped her shoulder and violently turned her to face him… "Listen to me."….He suddenly let go of her and stood straight, he looked into her cerulean blues eyes that were pouring forth tears… "Bunny?"
She slapped him… "Don't call me that."
Darien stood there in shocked at her display of emotions but he knew that he deserved every inch of pain that his face was suffering. .. 'twice'… he thought bitterly about the slapping… it was becoming a habit… but He knew that she was in pain; but now he was seeing her retreating back and shouted
"I CARED SERENA… I LOVED YOU!"
Serena stopped dead in her tracks her heart beating five times than normal … 'did he just say what I thought he did'.. she turned back to him, looking at him, his posture in a stiff position of defeat but his eyes were bearing all of his emotion
"I cared Serena but I wasn't the friend I should have been. I left you and I regretted it for many months. My life was missing something and I threw myself into my work wanting the pain to go away. I wanted something to fill the void and I knew you would call, I knew you would write a letter to tell me it was okay but I never got any, I never got a call… I never got a letter… I waited Serena and I let you go because I thought it was best for both of us. I thought I was living in a fantasy world where I would Love you from afar and you would love me back, I was a fool Serena."
Serena stood there in shock as she absorbed all that he was saying… "WHY?"
He walked a bit closer to her… "Why what Serena?"
"Why wait till now to tell me this?...Till the month your getting married?"
"Because I want you to understand I didn't ignore you. I never knew… and I didn't reach out to you because I thought that's what you wanted."… Darien looked down and was at a lost for words he hadn't planned on telling her anything but those tear filled eyes tore open his heart and it just all spilled forth… "and Because I want to be your friend."… Darien hated saying that statement
Serena got angry… it was like the whole night before he left "Friends", she glared at him with desperation and uncertainty about what she was going to say, but she had to or she could never move forward, she hesitated that night to say something but she couldn't keep it bottled up any longer… "You stand here and tell me that you love me but you just want to be my friend?...I can't be your friend Darien… I could never just be your friend…."
Her voice became very shaky as she calmed herself to finish her statement and Darien watched her gain her composure as his heart was being ripped out, he wanted to have her… have some part of her in his life…
"I want more than your friendship… I've always wanted more than your friendship, I love you Darien "
At that she took off running and Darien stood there stunned at her statement. His hands at his side in a tight grip.. he was mentally killing himself… he looked up at her running away from him… 'Bunny I love you too… what am I doing?'.. his mental whispers falling on deaf ears
Darien turned around and walked in the opposite direction, this was the best and worst night of his life. He finally confessed his feelings to the one girl that ever truly mattered to him and it was eight years and an engagement to late.
He walked for hours till he reached his tower pent house and he pushed the button to go up to his suite and when he walked in Setsuna stood before him furious
"I've been calling Andrew asking where you've been and he tells me that you left over three hours ago with SERENA after we discussed the fact that I don't like your relationship with her."
Darien was annoyed… "I can be friends with whoever I want to be friends with Including Serena, I am tired of your jealous act… it's tiring already and very unbecoming."… he walked past her and to the bar and pulled out a shot glass and looked at the selection and gripped the tequila and in his mind he starting playing back his short exchange of ego wars with Serena when she downed a shot of tequila and he was left downing Crank.. she was plaguing him now, he poured a shot and pounded the glass on the counter top
Setsuna stood behind Darien watching how he's eyes went into another world again… He was doing that quite often and Setsuna felt a feverish jealously takeover
"Darien, don't act like you don't see the way she is with you and that other man ANDREW… She wants to be more than a friend with you Darien, I SEE the way she looks at you."
That did it…He was already furious from knowing that fact…and then having to deal with Setsuna's jealousy… "You have no right to talk about her like you know her. Andrew loves her like a sister and she loves him the same."… His voice was like thunder shaking even Setsuna's usually cocky attitude
"I know she has feeling for you."… Her statement definite
Darien glared at her… "I've had enough of this tonight. I'm going to bed."
With that Darien stormed off and went to his room. He was angry but more with himself than any other individual. Setsuna had her reason but if she wasn't so malicious in her antics maybe He thought, he would feel remorse for his feelings
But the more Setsuna showed her true self the more Darien was realizing that she wasn't what he wanted.
He closed his eyes, laying on his bed, knowing that Setsuna would spend her night in there guest room like she had been doing on more than one occasion, and he would suffer in utter annoyance at himself because Serena had loved him and still loved him and HE was committed to marrying the women in the other room
To be continued…..
