Chapter 10. The Other Side of Me.

"Hello. I'm Andrew's girlfriend, Lita. Are you okay in here? Boys are getting a little worried." Lita walked over to Serenity's stall. Serenity stumbles with the toilet seat but catches herself before she fell into the toilet seat. She took a deep sigh of relief that she didn't mess up her outfit which would cost a fortune to dry clean and Luna would nag her about not being able to keep her clothes stainless.

Lita looked down at the only stall that feet could be seen. She wondered why the girl wouldn't answer her. Lita titled her head and noticed her shoes.

"Nice shoes. My friend has those. She's a real big fan of yours like I am. She kind of looks like you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," replied Serenity wishing that Lita would go away.

"Aren't you going to come out?"

"In a minute."

"Serena is going to be so envious of me. She would never believe that I'm talking to you. I'm going to call her." Lita speed dials Serena's cell phone number.

Inside the stall, Serenity started to panic and started to grab her cell phone from her purse to put it on silent, but her purse fell to the ground letting the cell phone slide under the stall door toward Lita's feet.

"Oh shoot," said Serenity cursing herself for not being careful.

Lita hears the phone ring on the other line then she hears Serenity's cell phone ring almost in unison with whom Lita was calling. She found it strange and looked down. Lita found a very familiar phone ringing on the floor. She picked it up and looked at the caller Id. It said Lita. She then looked at her phone.

Serenity exited the stall and saw Lita starring at her in shock. Serenity wanted to say something but couldn't because Lita just fainted before she could say anything.

"Shoot, Lita. What a girly thing for you to do." Serenity kneel down beside her and took the two phones turning them off.

Outside of the restroom, Darien and Andrew both heard a loud thump, which brought them out of their conversation. The two looked over at the restroom doors then looked at each other.

"We better check that out," they both said at the same time as they took off toward the restrooms.

"Serenity," called Darien.

"Lita," called Andrew.

"Are two okay?"

Serenity freaked when she heard the boys calling and quickly placed herself on the door like a barricade. Breathing heavily and praying that Lita would wake up soon, Serenity felt a push at the door by one of the boys outside.

"We're fine," replied Serenity. "Nothing to worry about in here."

"Serenity something fell in there," said Darien in a concern voice which made Serenity feel all warm inside. "We heard it."

"It's nothing." Serenity saw Lita stir a bit. "Wake up Lita." Lita looked up and gasped at seeing Serenity against the restroom door.

"Give us a second," said Lita. "We'll be out soon."

The guys seem to believed them and retreated from the door allowing Serenity to pull away from the door. Lita stared at her in awe as Serenity took some deep breaths.

"I can't believe it," said Lita.

"Lita," said Serenity.

"We've been best friends since we were in diapers."

"I know."

"How could you not tell me this?"

"It's complicated."

"Serena this is big. No wonder every time I invited you to one of the concerts you'd always bail."

"Cause I was at the concert on stage."

"Does anyone else know?"

"Minako. She's covering for me tonight. I had a press release."

"Wow, I'm still pretty shock."

"But you can't tell any body. Not the girls, Andrew, and especially not Darien. He'd freak if he found out he…"

"…was going out with sixteen year old." Serenity nodded her head. "Andrew talked to me about that. That's why he wanted me to meet him tonight. Maybe we can convince him other wise. You can't keep hiding it forever."

"Not forever. Just till I'm 21."

"I think he'll notice when your birthday comes along."

"He really doesn't like the fact of going out with a sixteen year old. Lita I really like him. I don't want to lose him because of something stupid like that."

"Don't worry." Lita patted her on the back. "We'll think of something." They decided to exit the restroom. Darien and Andrew looked over at the girls as they made their way to the counter where they were seated at.

"What happen in there?" asked Andrew directing his question at Lita.

"The stall wouldn't open," replied Lita.

"The stall wouldn't open," Andrew repeated.

"Yeah, I guess it was stuck. Serenity tried to push it open but it wouldn't budge."

"Why didn't you just go under the stall," said Darien looking at Serenity.

"And dirty this outfit," said Serenity. "The dry clean is a fortune."

"We eventually got the door opened. That was your loud thump that you guys heard," said Lita. Darien and Andrew both looked at each other then at the girls who had hopeful looks on their faces. Looks that were hoping for the guys to fall for their lame excuse. "Okay, um chocolate milk shake. Coming right up." Lita grabbed Andrew by his apron and dragged him into the kitchen.

Serenity sat back on the stool next to Darien feeling a little uncomfortable. She was thinking about the fact that Darien doesn't feel comfortable dating a 16 year old and began feeling really guilty for not telling him the truth, even though the subject of her age had never come up. Darien noticed her uncomfortable-ness and gave a her look of concern.

"You okay?" asked Darien. Serenity's blue eyes met with Darien's deep ones. She put on a fake smile and nodded her head.

"Darien what do you think…" Serenity began but was interrupted. Andrew came out with a big glass of chocolate milk shake with two straws. Darien stared at the glass and looked at Andrew.

"We asked for two Andrew," said Darien.

"It's the only clean glass we have," said Andrew. "There is enough for two. The others are in the dish washer."

"Andrew…" Andrew ignored his friend and re-entered the kitchen meeting Lita as he entered.

"How'd they react?" asked Lita sipping a milk shake of her own in a glass.

"Darien wasn't too happy about it but Serenity didn't say anything," replied Andrew.

Back at the counter, Darien turned to Serenity who was completely spacing out on him. He couldn't think of what to do. Either share the shake or allow Serenity to have it since she's his date. It'd be very gentlemen of him to do so.

"You can have it," said Darien. "I'm kind of full."

"I can't drink all that," said Serenity finally coming out her spaciness. "Let's just share it."

"Fine." The two sip from the straws together. "Hmmm they added the vanilla."

"It does give a good flavor." Serenity smiled. "This is really good."

"You don't have to finish it all. I could…"

"Ha, you're the one that was full." Then the two began sipping away faster and faster. After they were sipping the last bit they both held their heads getting brain freezes from sipping too fast. They both laughed at each other. From the kitchen, Lita and Andrew peeked and laughed along with them. They then decided to come out.

"So, Serenity best milk shake around," said Andrew.

"Yes," replied Serenity.

Lita turned on the radio then she began to wipe down the counter. Andrew took away the glass to get it washed then station himself in front of the couple. He was about to ask them about how their date was going so far but the radio interrupted them.

"Here is the new one from Pop princess Serenity 'We Got the Party'" said the announcer.

"Come on guys tell me what we're doing
We're hangin' around when we could be all over the pla-a-a-ace
The sun is shinin' just the way we like it
Let's get out of this hallway
Show the world our face
Its Friday but there's nowhere to go
Anywhere is cool but we're not going ho-ome
And we can do anything we wanna do
It's all up to me and you
Turn this park into a club
the stars and lights and the moon is above from us
These skateboard's here's our ride
So pull on up everyone is waiting for us
So anywhere we are
Anywhere we go
Everybody kno-ows
We got the party with us
Anywhere we are
Anywhere we go
Everybody kno-ows
We got the party with us
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
We got the party with us
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
We got the party with us"

Lita started to dance as she cleaned the tables. Serenity started to dance too and remembered one of her slumber parties when the girls were little. Lita grabbed the mop from the side wall and handed it to Serenity. She used it as a microphone and started to sing along with the song.

The boys were amused by the girls actions but Serenity was not letting Darien off. She pulled him over to her and started dancing with him. Andrew joined the party and grabbed Lita starting to dance with her. Serenity still held onto the mop as her mic and danced around with Darien.

When the song slowed a little Darien danced slowly with Serenity and she forgot the lyrics for that part. They're eyes met and the two felt like if they were in their own little world for a couple seconds. Then the song sped up and he twirled her around.

As the song ended the DJ began to talk about Serenity and song being her new single being played for the first on live radio.

"And if you want to meet the pop princess herself," said the DJ. "You can. Tonight she…" Darien reached over to the radio and turned it off. Andrew found it weird that he did that and was going to protest.

"We better get going," said Darien. "Promised Serenity's parent's I'd get her home early."

"Early?" said Andrew. "Why? She got school tomorrow?" Andrew looked at Lita and she elbowed him. "Ouch." Serenity smiled at the two.

"A pop star needs her beauty rest," said Lita. "Right?"

"Yes," said Serenity. "Thanks for the milk shake. It was delicious." Serenity went over to Andrew and kissed him on the cheek. He blushed a little as Serenity turned over to Darien. Darien took her hand then with his other he pulled out his wallet to pay for the shake. The two then headed for the exit. Andrew shook his head as he took the money.

"Hey, it was two milk shakes," said Andrew.

"You gave one glass," said Darien as he opened the door for Serenity. "That's one. Thanks."

"He got you there," said Lita.

"This was your idea," said Andrew.

"Why didn't you pay it? He's your best friend."

"If I'd do that and Darien would rearrange my face. Almost did the last time I did it."

"Why?"

"He doesn't like people paying for him. Doesn't feel good about it. All his life he's been doing stuff all on his own and he feels like he doesn't need any sympathy from anyone. Not even his best friend."

"Oh." Lita grabbed the mop and put it away. "I think Serenity will be good for him."

"How do you know? You just met her."

"It's just a feeling."

AN: This was a fun chapter to write. I hope you all enjoy it. Peace!