NEVER LEAVE YOU BEHIND - Chapter 1 - Sudden Surprise
It was a lazy day in the Tsukino house, and Serena was in the living room sitting on the couch in front of the TV. She just finished watching D4 PRINCESS on DVD. She shuts off the DVD player and removes the DVD from the player and places it back in the case. She then takes a DiGi CHARAT DVD from the case and installs it in the player. The telephone rings, and her mother answers it.
"Hello, Tsukino residence?.....oh, hi, how are you doing, Molly?.....oh, yes, Serena is here. Would you like to talk to her?.....oh, sure, I'll go get her", Mrs. Tsukino calls out to Serena, "Serena, Molly is on the phone for you. She wants to talk to you".
"Ok, mom, i'll get it from the cordless phone here in the living room", replies Serena as she puts the DVD player on pause and picks up the phone, "Hi, Molly, how's it going?"
"Hi, Serena, not too bad", uh, Serena, may I ask you something?"
"Yeah, sure, Molly, what is it?" wonders Serena.
"Serena, may I spend the night at your house?", asks Molly. Serena was a bit surprised because Molly doesn't always ask to sleep over at her house. But Serena noticed something didn't sound right when Molly asked. There was a tremble in Molly's voice when she asked, pausing nervously in between words.
"Sure, I don't think there should be a problem with that, Molly", replies Serena, "if you like, I'll ask my mom if you can join us for dinner".
"You can do that, Serena?", asks Molly.
"Sure can", replies Serena, "hang on, I'll ask my mom now". She puts Molly on hold and calls out to her mother, "mom, can Molly join us for dinner?"
"It's no problem, Serena", asnwers Mrs. Tsukino, " Molly is more than welcome to join us".
"Thanks, mom", smiles Serena, and then turns to the phone, "Hey, Molly, everything's cool. You're welcome to join us".
"That's wonderful, Serena", beams Molly, "I can't thank you enough. Can I stop by around 4 in the afternoon?"
"Sure, Molly", agrees Serena, "we usually eat a little after 5 anyway, but at least it will be hot and ready".
"Alright, Serena", nods Molly, "I'll see you around 4, then".
"Great", smiles Serena, "I'll see you then. C'ya!" She puts down the phone and starts up the DVD player. Rini and Sammy enter the living room.
"Who was that, Serena", Sammy asks.
"That was Molly, Sammy", answers Serena, "and she's going to be our guest for dinner tonight, and she'll be spending the night here tonight".
"Yaaay!", cheers Rini, "Molly is so cool. She's joining us for dinner and spending the night. I know how much she just loves LICCA-CHAN, just as much as I do".
"Are you planning to show Molly your collection of LICCA-CHAN dolls and collectables?" wonders Serena.
"Umhmm", nods Rini, "And I just might have a LICCA-CHAN marathon for Molly. Non-stop LICCA-CHAN all day, all night".
"Well, I don't know about that, Rini", says Serena, "some of us here in the house may want to use the TV as well. So you may want to take a number".
Later that afternoon...............
It's a little after 4PM, and the doorbell rings. Serena runs to the door to answer it, opens it, and is greeted by her best friend, Molly.
"Hey, Molly", smiles Serena, "glad you can make it".
"Thanks for letting me stay over, Serena", adds Molly happily.
"Well, come on it", grins Serena as she grabs Molly's overnight bag as she enters the house.
"Hey, mom, Molly's here", calls out Serena to her mother.
"That's nice, Serena", answers Mrs. Tsukino, "would you two like to take a bath before dinner? It'll be another hour yet, and your father will be bringing home Tira Misu for dessert".
"Sounds like a plan, mom", agrees Serena, and then turns to Molly, "so, what do you say, Molly? Wanna hit the bath before dinner?"
"I'm up for it, Serena", nods Molly, "a bath sounds like a great idea".
"Wonderful!", smiles Serena, "Let's go!" As both friends head upstairs to the bathing area. but something is still laying heavy on Serena's mind, earlier when Molly called. The tone of voice, the slight shudder when she spoke. She wanted to ask her friend, but decided to let Molly tell her first. Serena didn't want to be the kind of person who wants to meddle in the affairs of others, so she held off the inquiring until later.
In the bath area, Molly and Serena, were sudsing and lathering themselves up, cleaning up before dinner.
"Here, Molly, let me wash your back", offers Serena.
"OK, Serena", smiles molly as she turns her back to Serena so she can wash it. Serena takes a soapy sponge and glides it across Molly's back.
"You have really soft skin, Molly", compliments Serena, "and it's really shiny".
"Oh Serena, really?", blushes Molly.
"Yes, you do", smiles Serena as she washes off the suds from Molly's back.
"Now, it's my turn to wash your back, Serena", grins Molly, as Serena pulls her hair up and turns her back to Molly. Molly takes the soapy sponge to Serena's back.
"Serena?" asks Molly as she continues to run the sponge across Serena's back and shoulders.
"What is it, Molly", inquires Serena.
Molly takes a bowl of warm water and rinses off Serena's back. "Serena, how would you feel about me possibly moving to America?", Molly asks as her eyes fill with tears
"Hey, Molly, what's this all about?", says Serena as she turns to face her best friend.
"My mother just got an offer from a big jewelr distributor in New York", explains Molly, "and if she takes the offer, that means she'll have to sell the shop and move to New York and work for the company there".
"That's great, Molly", exclaims Serena, "your mom will be making more money there, and the both of you will be living quite comfortably and you can make new friends there and...." she stops when she sees the tears stream down Molly's face, "awwwww, Molly, what is it?"
"I-I-I-I don't want to leave Tokyo, Serena", stammers Molly tearfully, "I don't want to leave my friends, and most of all, I don't, I-I-I-I d-d-don't want......"
"Don't want what, Molly?" asks Serena softly.
"I don't want to leave you, Serena", blurts Molly, and starts crying. Serena takes her gently in her arms and holds her closely.
"Molly", whispers Serena as she holds a crying Molly tighter, "I really mean that much to you. I wouldn't know what to do if you left. Did she sign the deal?"
"N-N-No, she didn't, not yet", answers Molly softly, "she still has tomorrow to make up her mind. I'm so scared, Serena".
"I'm here for you now, Molly", whispers Serena, "something will work out. Maybe your mom will change her mind and won't sell the shop", she runs here hand through Molly's hair, stroking it tenderly, "and she can stay right here in Tokyo".
"I don't know, Serena", sobs Molly softly, "the offer sounded really good, an offer too good to pass up. It would have to take some serious persuasion to turn it down".
"Hey, Molly, don't cry", Serena whipsers softly, " I'm you're here with me, and you can always turn to me when you need someone to talk to". She takes her fingertips and wipes Molly's tears with them, "believe in me, Molly".
"I do believe in you, Serena", smiles Molly weakly as her crying subsides, "my mom and I have always been happy here in Tokyo, and I've heard some parts of New York may not be too safe. It's not like my mother's being pressured or anything into making a hasty decision. She still has tomorrow to make up her mind, and right now, she's confused about it herself. She doesn't know what to do either".
Serena plants a tender kiss on Molly's cheek. "Something will work out. I can feel it. Now dry those eyes. My parents wouldn't want to see someone who just missed out on tickets to the last Speed concert. Let's head for the soak and then enjoy a nice homecooked dinner. What do you say?"
"Sounds like a good idea, Serena", smiles Molly, " besides, next to Lita's cooking, I enjoy your mother's as well".
"Great", beams Serena, "I know a soak will help put your troubled mind at ease". As both girls walk hand-in-hand to the tub for a nice warm soak before dinner.
TO BE CONTINUED........................