Chapter 2
Chances To Be Given
A solemn reflection stared back at her in the mirror.
"A new day, Serena, a new day."
She untied her hair from its bun and slowly stroked it with the gold brush she held in her hand. She closed her eyes, imagining her Mother there behind her.
"Serena Tsukino, I don't know what I'll do with you," her mother's voice came through. "One minute, you're asking for our help and the next…you run off again." Her Mother would be brushing her hair for her.
"I'm sorry, Mom…I just…" with her eyes closed, she felt her mother's strong arms wrap around her small body. What she was about to say, she couldn't, it had gotten stuck in her throat. Her mother finished for her.
"I know, Serena, you just had to give it another try. It shouldn't be one of your flaws, but it is." She bathe in her Mother's presence, hugging her back.
"He's changed, Mama." She said as she opened her eyes. Dark blue empty eyes fell on the woman staring back at her. Her mother was not behind her, a disappointment she felt deeply. She sighed and continued brushing her hair, finally beginning to braid the long silky blonde mounds.
A sudden burst of loud music came from the other side of the wall. She frowned, but instinctively enjoyed the lyrics. She could only imagine what the singer was singing, but either way, she didn't bother to state her complain. For all she knew, a gruesome couch potato lived there. She laughed at the thought.
She finished braiding her hair and went out of the bedroom to the living room where she turned the TV on.
Her favorite anime was on, "Sailor V!"
"I can't believe this show is still on!" she exclaimed. Her eyes traveled to the coffee table where she found a newspaper.
"Hmm, well, I suppose I could look up a job now." Listening with her ears, but searching with her eyes, Serena found an interesting add.
FULL TIME SECRETARY NEEDED FOR DR. HEERO.
APPLY WITHIN THE OFFICE, LOCATED AT
________________(FILL IN AN ADDRESS..??)
BUT PLEASE MAKE AN APPOINTMENT BY CALLING
222-2222 (I JUST MADE THE # UP, IT'S ACTUALLY A
PIZZA HOTLINE NUMBER)
"Hmm…I could try it out." She looked around and searched for the phone. She found one just under the television. She picked up the receiver and hesitantly but confidently dialed the number on the ad.
"Dr. Heero's office, his daughter speaking." A cheerful voice came from the other line.
"Hi, I'm inquiring about the secretary job posted in the classified space in the newspaper this morning. I was wondering if that was taken or if not, if I could make an appointment?"
"Well, you're lucky, Miss, the job is still available, and there's an opening today after lunch. Would that be possible for you?"
"Um…sure, what do you need me to bring, like a resume or something?"
"Oh, nothing really, my Father wouldn't mind about your credentials or anything, he just needs a secretary. Just between the two of us, I don't think he's liking how I work right now. He isn't in, but I'll be telling him about his new appointment." Serena laughed,
"Well, I'm sure you're not doing such a bad job," she heard the girl laugh on the other line.
"You have no idea! Yesterday I screwed up his schedule so by lunch time, he made me cancel everything!" Serena laughed again, a friendly laugh she shared with the girl at the office.
"My name's Rena by the way, and you are?"
"Serena, Serena Tsukino."
"Well, hajimemashite, Serena Tsukino, would one o'clock be all right for you?"
"Hajimemashite, hai, one would be great, thank you."
"See you later then," Serena pictured the girl smiling before both of them hung up.
"Well, I guess I'm in luck. Huh, who would've thought luck could find it's way back to me?"
~~~
Serena put on her best dress, a white summer dress with blossoms on them. She left her hair in a braid, put on a dash of make up, grabbed her purse, then went on the elevator, hoping the bus hadn't come yet.
Unfortunately, by the time she had arrived at the bus stop, the bus had gone over the road hill, leaving her with a feeling of anxiety.
"Oh, great! This isn't good! It's all ready 12:30 and the bus doesn't come again until 12:45! Good job, Serena!!" She lectured herself. She sighed, hoping maybe her luck had stayed and she would make it just in time.
15 minutes seemed like eternity and when the bus finally came, Serena's anxiety had grown. She got on and sat down in the front.
"Come on, faster, faster!" she whispered through gritted teeth.
"Late?"
"Huh?" a man in his late 40's sat beside her, watching her from behind his sunglasses.
"Yah…a little,"
"Me too, I'm Derek by the way," Serena bowed her head and so did the man.
"Serena,"
"Well, I'm sure neither of us will die if we're only a little late, right?"
"I hope so." The man laughed, wrinkles appearing under his eyes.
"Yes, yes, well," he said. Serena glanced at her watch. 12:40…12:55 and her street finally appeared in front of her.
"Would you please pull the line for me? Next stop is mine,"
"Oh, not at all, it's mine too."
"Well, then, we'll get off together." And that they did. What was weird was they were both going the same direction. Serena frowned, feeling a little scared.
"So, where are you going, Serena?" Derek asked her.
"Well, I have a job interview with a Dr. Heero."
"Ah, I see now."
"What about you?"
"Well, I'm going to be interviewing someone applying to be my new secretary." Serena's eyes widened.
"Dr. Heero?"
"Ms. Tsukino, well, I guess neither of us was late after all." Serena smiled in relief, then a small laugh escaped from her throat.
"Iie, I guess not."
"Dad! I thought you'd miss this one…whose this?" A tall girl of about 16 stood behind the desk, a cheerful smile pasted on her face, red hair surrounding her face and purple eyes staring warmly at Serena.
"Konnichiwa, it's me, Serena,"
"Serena!! Well, I was wondering where you were too. Well, welcome to the office, oh by the way Dad, Aunt Celia called, she said to call her back after the interview." Rena went on. Serena fell in love with her right away. It was pretty hard not to.
"Well, come on in my office Serena. You want to go get some lunch Rena or have you all ready eaten."
"Nope, I was hoping to get your permission to go out to lunch with a friend."
"Well, go on ahead then." Rena jumped and grabbed her jacket, flung her arms around her Father, smiled at Serena, and was gone in a minute.
"Wonderful girl, come on in." Serena couldn't believe how spacious his office was. A leather couch stood in front of his desk, a glass coffee table in between, and flowers everywhere.
"How do you like my office?"
"It's much better than my room, that's for sure," she answered. Dr. Heero laughed.
"Sit down, so, you want to be my secretary?"
"If that's possible, I don't have much experience with being a secretary. But, I'm really friendly with people, and I can adapt to just about anything! I might be late once or twice, but I can't help that, I was born with it in my genes. I might make mistakes once or twice, but after that, no more! And I might talk a lot too…which is what I'm doing now…but, really, I'll learn." Dr. Heero wore an amused smile on his face. Listening to this young lady talk reminded him of his wife.
"Well, then, I suppose, we could give it a try."
"REALLY!!"
"Hai! Besides, you remind me so much of my wife that I couldn't possibly refuse. Your hired, when can you start?"
"Um…now, if you want. Or tomorrow, or as soon as possible." Dr. Heero couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, I suppose the sooner the better. Come on, I'll give you a tour and show you everything. This way, I won't have to ruin Rena's summer."
~~~
"WHERE IN THE WORLD WERE YOU!!" Serena felt herself land against the wall, Alec's grip pressing her against it hard. She closed her eyes with the pain.
"Alec, please, you're hurting me." He paid no heed to her words.
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT TIME IT IS? DO YOU?!" He screamed at her, his grip on her shoulders getting tighter, his push getting even more stronger.
"Alec, you're hurting me," she repeated once more, pain so visible in her voice.
"DO YOU REALIZE WHAT TIME IT IS?!" he repeated, ignoring her once more.
"I'm sorry…but I found a..." she winced at his fingers digging into her shoulder blades, the words getting cut off.
"FOUND A F****** WHAT?!"
"Oww, Alec…please…let me go…it…hurts." She whispered again, trying hard not to scream so that she wouldn't alarm anybody. Alec only stared at her, flames of anger replacing his wise eyes.
"FOUND A WHAT?!"
"A…j…o…b…" she finally managed to say. His grips loosened on her and he let her go completely, taken back by her answers. Suddenly regretting what he had just done.
"Serena, oh my God, gomen, I'm so sorry," he ran to her crumbled form on the walls, her arms rubbing her shoulders.
"I'm so sorry." He gathered her up in her arms and carried her in his arms. Holding her closely to him, with affection and perhaps love. "I'm so sorry, Serena, I didn't mean to get…I'm sorry." Serena's closed eyes filled with tears.
"It's okay," she said, her voice breaking. "It's okay." She wrapped her arms around him, still deeply feeling the pain he had inflicted on her shoulder blades. But, she didn't want to see him like that; it made her love him even more.
"I'm so sorry." he walked in the bedroom and laid her down on her bed. Kneeling beside her, he took her hands and began softly kissing them. To Serena, she could see the sparkling reflection of the light in his eyes. Was he crying?
"I want to be left alone," she told him, turning away. He kissed her hands once more, then did as she said, leaving her in the room, closing the doors behind her, and the lights.
Serena let her tears fall free. She sobbed, with all her pain.
"God, dear God, it hurts," she said to herself, feeling the pain more in her hurt, than where his fingers dug into her skin. She cried and cried, not stopping until she had no more tears to cry.
She got out of bed and wiped her face and went to find her husband.
~~
sorry this is so short....longer chapter 3 though.
