Scene 2

(Once SERENA reaches the arcade, she is joined by AMI, LITA, RAYE, and NINA, with the talking cats ARTEMIS and LUNA not too far behind.)

ALL BUT SERENA
(Cheerfully.)
Hey, Serena!

SERENA
(A little sad.)
Hey, guys.

LITA
You look bummed.

RAYE
Yeah, what's wrong?

SERENA
(Sees the fantasy of herself at her birthday party, and wonders why no one remembered her birthday. Lies to RAYE.)
Nothing.

AMI
(Smiling.)
Come on, Serena. You can tell us.

NINA
(Putting an arm around SERENA.)
Yeah, we're, like, your closest friends.

RAYE
(Laughing as she puts her arm around SERENA, too.)
Yeah, we're, like, your only friends.

SERENA
(Pulling away from NINA and RAYE.)
Oh, thanks. That makes me feel a whole lot better.

RAYE
I'm sorry if the truth hurts, Serena, but some things I just have to be honest with you about.

SERENA
Oh, we're being honest with each other, now? Okay, Raye. Remember that sweater of mine you borrowed the other day?

RAYE
(Suspicious.)
Yes... You told me I could wear it, remember?

SERENA
Oh, yeah. I remember that. But remind me. Did I tell you how bad it looks on you?

RAYE
(Angrily lunges for SERENA, but LITA holds her back.)
Oh, that's it!

SERENA
(Mocking.)
What are you gonna do about it? Put a hex on me? Oh, I hope you don't. You might mess up and actually do a spell right!

RAYE
(Still trying to go after SERENA.)
I'll give you a spell! Come over here so I can pound you!

ARTEMIS
Stop it, you two!
(RAYE and SERENA stop.)

LUNA
You're acting like immature teenagers.

RAYE
(Mutters as LITA releases her.)
What else is new?

SERENA
My sentiments, exactly.

ARTEMIS
Come on, you guys. This is no time to be fighting. We have work to do.

SERENA
Work? What are you talking about? There's no Study Buddies today.

ARTEMIS
(Realizing his near-slip.)
Uh, I mean...

LUNA
(Saving him.)
Mid-terms are only a week away, and you have to dedicate your time to studying, not arguing over your petty differences.

ARTEMIS
She's right. We're all friends here.

RAYE
(Glaring at SERENA.)
Right. As I was saying earlier... Some of us only have the friends who are here.

LITA
(Shoving RAYE.)
That's not true, Raye!

AMI
Yeah, what about Amara and Michelle? And Trista?

SERENA
(Laughs.)
You call those guys friends? Amara is so stuck up!

AMI
But Michelle and Trista are nice to you, right?

SERENA
(Stops laughing, softening.)
Yeah, I supposed you're right...
(Gets stuck-up again at the thought of AMARA.)
But Amara still has one bad attitude problem!

RAYE
(Laughs.)
Ah, you're just mad that she turned out to be a female.

SERENA
(Yells as the other girls giggle.)
What?!

NINA
(Changing the subject.)
You know, if you really think about it, Serena's social life revolves pretty much around the Sailor Scouts.

ARTEMIS
And saving the universe.

LUNA
(Smiling.)
And boys.

RAYE
(Cruelly.)
In other words, if Serena wasn't Sailor Moon, she'd have no social life.

SERENA
That's it. I'm going home.

RAYE
(Smiling evilly.)
Okay.
(Begins to pull the other girls toward the direction of her house.)
We'll be at my house if you feel like studying.
(Under her breath.)
Like that would happen...

SERENA
I heard that, Raye. I'm really going home now. See ya!

ALL BUT SERENA
(Shout as they go leave SERENA, smiling.)
Bye, Serena!

SERENA
(In a huff.)
Good riddance.
(Starts walking home again.)

NINA
(Waits till SERENA is out of sight; turns to Artemis.)
Well...

ARTEMIS
(Confused.)
Well, what?

RAYE
(Almost yelling.)
You almost let it slip that we're throwing a surprise party for Serena!

ARTEMIS
(Nonchalant.)
So?

AMI
I think you should go after her.

ARTEMIS
(Surprised.)
You mean Serena?

LITA
(Smiling.)
Yeah, to make sure she doesn't make it home until we're ready for her.

ARTEMIS
(Worried about what they might say next.)
How am I supposed to do that?