Author: Hikari
E-mail: Machi_NO_Tenshi@Excite.Com
Story: Tenderly
Part: Chapter 2
Rating: PG


Ok Minna-san... Here we go again!!!

I finally finished Chapter 2 of Tenderly, meaning -for most of
you- that you'll be getting Chapter 8 of Twilight pretty soon.
Aren't ya excited?!! I'm getting these things out faster than
before! WOO HOO! Hurray for SUMMER VACATION!!

(Minna-san start giving Hika-chan impatient stares)

Anyway, I know that what you really want to do is read the
story... so I'll just hush up.

(Minna-san start cheering!!)

*sheesh!* I didn't know Minna-san disliked my speeches so
much... WELL TOO BAD! 'CAUSE I'M GONNA KEEP MAKING THEM!
(HAHAHA!) Ok-Ok, On with the story...




@TENDERLY@
by Hikari.


CHAPTER2:

A sleepy hand made it's way from underneath the sheets
in search of the ringing phone. Patting around the zone of her
nightstand, she found the receiver. "Hello..." she yawned.
"This is she." Then, the recognition of the voice on the other
end of the phone kicked in. "DAVID!" Serena said as she shot
up in bed.

"Who did you expect it to be?!" Came his angry reply.

"No- no one, I just didn't expect you to call me this
early."

She could hear his controlled intake of breath. "Did
you forget that you were supposed to come to my apartment this
morning and accompany me to the luncheon that I have with some
of my colleges!"

"David, sweetie..." She tried to even her voice. "I-
I'm sorry, I forgot."

"And what good does that do!" He snapped back. "Just
get ready, and get over here in 20 minutes."

"Al-"

"*Good-bye* Serena!" And then she heard the dial tone.

Getting out of bed, she hurriedly opened up her drawers
and began the search on what to wear. She didn't have that much
time, but if she drove a little past the speed limit... she might
be able to get there before eleven. She picked out what she was
going to wear, and as she was about to get into her bedroom's
bathroom, Serena heard the phone ring once again.

"Hello?"

"Hey Serena! How's it going?"

It was the bright cheerful reply that gave it away.
"Hi Darien. How'd you know it was me?"

She heard his chuckle over the line. "Lucky guess."
But Serena knew better.

"Yeah... right!"

"Are you saying that I *LIE*?!" She could picture him
already: phone in one hand, as he placed the other one over his
chest in a mockery of insult. His beautifully handsome, face
making a quirky grin at her.

Serena couldn't help but laugh. "Oh Darien, really!"

"Serena... you're too much." His voice was soft and sweet.
"I love to hear your laugh."

Her phone almost dropped at the sound of his comment, her
cheeks blushing bright pink.

"Aw, come on." He pleaded, "don't stop... giggle some
more."

"Maybe I want to torture you... did you ever think that?"

"You wouldn't do that," he argued. "You love laughing
too much."

She smiled with pride into the phone. "You forgot
Darien... I would never want to hurt you."

"So Bunny, do you wanna do something with me today?"
He asked, using his old nickname for her.

Through out the weeks that they had been seeing each
other again, Darien and Serena had started recovering the
friendship that they had lost with the pass of years. They
would go out together to eat something, to a movie, or just
out to dance... like they had done yesterday night. It was a
strange feeling for Serena every time they went out because
-somehow- she felt like she didn't have to watch what she was
saying, what she was doing. And she could just be.

"Well..." She giggled as she twirled the phone's cord
around her finger. "I guess I could-" Then she stopped. Serena's
gaze was on the clothes on her bed and it hit her that she had
to be at David's house before eleven. With fear, her eyes moved
towards the clock on her nightstand... It was eleven already!!
She dropped the phone in horror, 'David is gonna *kill* me!'

"Hello?" Darien's voice came muffled by the sheet.
"Bunny?"

Serena remembered the phone call and grabbed the receiver.
"Darien... I gotta go. I had forgotten that I had a date with
David today and I'm already late. I'm sorry, I'll call you
later, 'k? Bye."

It was a rushed reply but once she finished, she hung
-up not waiting for Darien's reply and ran into the shower.


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Serena took a deep breath. It was eleven-thirty. Raising
her trembling hand to the buzzer, she rang the doorbell. She heard
some noise on the other side of the door, and the footsteps of
someone approaching. She could feel David's eye on her through
the peephole, burning with fury.

The door opened.

At the entrance stood David. Cold gray eyes looking at
her through the dark blond mass of bangs that saw his hair. He was
dressed in a pair of orange cargo shorts and a dark blue t-shirt
with a character of "Dragon Ball Z" drawn in white. His lips
curved into a thin smile of contempt. "What to do you want?"

"I-" Serena began as she took a step back. She didn't
trust this 'cool & collected' pose that David was displaying for
her. "I know I'm late, but I came as soon as I could." She
tried to smile. "We can go to the luncheon now."

His smile stopped. The angular planes of his face
tightening as he said, "Do you really think that they will hold
the start of the luncheon until *you* show up?"

"But," she lowered her head. "We can still make it,
can't we?"

"You fool!" He screamed. "Can't you tell I'm not going
anymore?!"

"But David, if you just get ready I'm sure they wouldn't
care if we got there a little late."

"Serena," He told her as he grabbed her by her arm,
yanking her towards him. "Get it through your stupid *blond*
head that I-AM-NOT-GOING!" Then shoving her out into the hall
again, he slammed the door shut after her.

"David! Please!" She begged as she ran to the closed
door and pleaded. "Sweetie, we can still go if you want." Her
hand gently traced the smoothness of the wooden door. "I'll say
it was all my fault." Her voice lowered. "I'll say anything
you want." But she knew it was pointless. David wouldn't open
that door to her today. He was too angry. 'Oh if he'd just hit
me and get it over with!' She thought, 'If he'd just give me what
I deserved.'


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


There wasn't a cloud in the sky as Serena strolled down
the sidewalk. 'It's such a sunny day,' Serena thought. 'I should
be out with David at a park.' She bent down her head as a single
tear trickled down her cheek. 'Oh! Things were so different when
we started... I wander when our relationship changed?' She shook
her head, 'I must be imagining things. David never changed when
we got together... it was only that he behaved *different* when
we were just friends.' Serena's closed fist hit the palm of her
left hand in a decisive gesture. 'Of course! He was merely taking
on the role of a responsible boy-'

"Umph!" Serena staggered backwards from the impact of
bumping into someone.

The broad back of the man in front of Serena slowly began
to turn. She saw a sharp glance from his deep-blue eyes, and out
of nowhere felt a hand grab her arm and help to steady her.
"Serena! What a surprise!" He smiled down at her. "I thought
you said you where going to go out with David today."

Serena could sense the underlying tone of distaste coming
from Darien at the forced mention of David's name. "Yeah... but-"
Serena searched for what to say. "We decided to postpone it for
another day." Serena still couldn't understand why Darien
disliked David. 'He's such a great guy. I'm sure they would be
good friends if they just talked.'

"So," he began, hand moving to brush his silky black bangs
from his blue eyes. "Does this mean you have the afternoon free?"

"I guess it does."

"Are you hungry? Do you wanna grab a bite to eat?"

She thought for a second. David wouldn't like it if
after their broken date she decided to go out with the first guy
she met... but then again, this was Darien, her old bo- her old
friend. David would simply be a little angry but he would see
how much fun Serena had with Darien and David would be happy for
her. Right? Right?! 'Yeah, that's right.' "Ok Darien. Sure."

Darien took her hand gently in his and lead the way
towards a place where they could eat. He pulled on her arm,
giving her body a nudge forward. "Hurry up Bunny!" He then
looked back and gave her one of his famous dazzling grins. "I
thought you'd be more pumped. With the way you eat..." He said
while giving her a little piggy-snort. "Hahaha..."

Serena stopped in her tracks. Her face began to burn.
It's natural shade of creamy white turning into fire red. Her
eyes slit as a crease on her forehead became pronounced. "HA-HA!
Very funny!" With her hands balled into fists, she strode past
him with her head held high. Then, turning around to look at him,
she rose her hand towards her face, extended a finger and pulled
on her lower eye lid- sticking her tongue out at the same time.
"That's to your little piggy idea of me!" Sticking her tongue
out to him again. "And that one's for *you*!"

Darien's grin began to widen in a way that scared Serena
thoroughly. She knew what he was up to and she'd be d*mned if
she let him catch her that easily. So began the chase...

Serena's joyous laugh could be heard as she sped through
the streets, trying to avoid getting caught. 'It's like before.
The way it always is with him.' She felt the wind hit her face
as she swerved people on the sidewalk. 'I feel like a little kid
again. So free and light.'

Then without warning, Darien's strong arms wrapped
themselves around her waist, bringing her to a sudden stop.
"Hahaha... So you thought you could escape me, did you?"

"Oh- pooh!" Like a little smiling girl, Serena turned
her face to him. "You're gonna let me go," batting her eyelashes.
"Right?"

"We'll see." His hands slowly re-placing themselves
around the curves on her sides. "We'll see." Then, his long
fingers began to strum on her sides, making swift movements that
caused a prickling feeling on her skin.

Serena started to squirm, fitting as hard as she could
to not give into the laughter the feeling caused her. But it was
all hopeless. Darien knew what buttons to push... and if he
wanted her to laugh, he could *make* her laugh! "Alright!!"
She sobbed in between breaths. "I give up!" Breathe. 'He's
going to make me say it isn't he?!' She thought. "I do eat
like a pig!"

His hands seized their movement, as they brought her
into his embrace. "So you *do* wanna eat?"

"Yeah..." She gently placed her hands on top of his.
"So let's go."


*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


"Darien, I had a great time today."

It was nine o'clock as they stood at the foot of her
doorstep. After a day of food, sun in the park, and a rousing
arcade games competition, it seemed only right that they should
retire home at an early time... even if they both wanted more
than anything to continue the evening.

"Yeah Bunny. Me too."

Serena placed her hand behind her and wrapped it around
the doorknob, ready to go in. "Well, g'night."

Darien approached Serena, cupping her cheek with one of
his hands. His head bent towards her as Serena's lids lowered.
His lips kissed the right corned of her mouth, a combination
between cheek and lips.

A few feet away, the shadow of a tall man retreated into
the unknown.

Darien looked into Serena's eyes smiling broadly.
"Sleep tight, Bunny."



To be continued...