ch. 2: The Weeping Willow
When Sunlight meets Moonlight

Ch.2: The Weeping Willow

Serena lifted up her hand to shade the sunlight creeping glaring across her face. Lita, Darien, and her were eating lunch on the patio of Rye Christi's dining room. Underneath them was the sparkling blue lake and above them was the blazing sun.

" Serena, tell me about-" Darien started.

" Darien! Darling! There you are!" a voice interrupted behind him.

Annoyance flashed across his face. As he turned a group of 5 girls ran across the patio to him. Their skirts were blowing gently in the breeze and caught the attention of many young men sitting on the patio. Well, all the men except for the scowling Darien. As they neared, Serena could tell why so many of the men's jaw dropped.

The ringleader of this group seemed to be the tall girl Lita pointed out to her before. " I believe her name is Raye." Serena mused in her head. Her purple ebony hair reached past her waist, but wasn't as long as Serena's. Her flashing dark purple eyes held anger in them, as she looked at Serena.

" Darien, what are you doing here? You promised to take me to lunch." Raye pouted, changing her frown to a pouting smile as she looked from Serena to Darien. " Who's that?" she said in disgust staring at Serena. " Well? Lita answer me." She demanded.

" Oh, take a Mydol." Lita snapped back. She didn't like being ordered around by this rude girl. " Raye Kiandall this is Serena Tenor. She's new here." Lita sighed, and then continued eating her Greek salad.

" Oh. Are you here on a scholarship?" Raye said looking Serena haughtily over and raising an eyebrow.

" No. My father's a captain in West Point. He and his comrade Rye Christi founded this academy you are in. But I understand, that if thinking that I'm on a scholarship will boost your already high esteem by all means believe so." Serena said dryly. " I do believe that if you say I'm on a scholarship it must be a compliment."

" How so?" Raye demanded her face red.

" You think I'm smart. That is how you get a scholarship, you know. Your academic and athlete abilities attract scouts, and they give you money to go to their school." Serena replied winking in Raye's beet red face.

The girls behind Raye, Darien, and Lita snickered and tried to hide their laughter.

" Well, if you father founded this school why is it named after Rye Christi?" Raye snapped back, not liking the fact of being embarrassed in front of Darien and her friends.

" Well, this is Rye Christi's first and only academy. Although it is very prestigious, it is still the second most elite academy you know. My father was named after the first most elite academy, so they both decided Rye Christi would be named after this one." Serena smiled sweetly. " Have you ever heard of Scott Tenor's Academy for the Gifted?" she asked.

Before Raye could answer, Amy the blue haired girl spoke up. " Of course she does. She got turned down there, so that's why she's here."

" Amy!" Raye shrieked.

" Its true." Amy shrugged. " Hi Serena. My name is Amy Michelesson. I hope you enjoy your stay here." Amy held out her hand.

" I hope I do, for your sake." Serena said as she shook the delicate hand.

" I'm Nisi Cleo." A bronze girl with short brown hair said.

" Kyra McCann." A dark red head piped up from the back of the group.

" Pleased to make your acquaintance. Thy name is Mignon Cordillera." A soft voice said. A slim girl with red-brown eyes and green ebony hair smiled.

" Please. Stop talking like that." Kyra groaned into her hands.

" Oh shut up. Its for the play." Mignon snapped back in an entirely different voice.

Serena smiled. Suddenly Mignon transformed from a soft speaking British girl to a New York gal.

" Darien? You owe me lunch, sweetie." Raye cooed moving close to Darien.

" I'm having lunch with Serena and Li-" Darien said.

" Oh, no problem. Lita and I are done. Lita will you show me the gardens?" Serena asked turning to the angry brunette.

Lita smiled. " Sure. Bye Darien." She said sweetly as disbelief and shock crossed Darien's face.

" But. But." Darien's voice drifted off as Serena and Lita walked down the steps from the patio to the lake.

They walked simultaneously but with a comfortable silence. As they reached the gardens and sat down underneath a weeping willow, Serena broke the stillness.

" Tell me about this game of seduction." She asked quietly.

Lita leaned against the tree trunk, closed her eyes and began to speak. " It all started with Darien. He is the Mr. Perfect and the most sought out guy in the school. He's passed as number one in his grade for all the years he has been here. He's the captain on the sports here. He plays the piano and the electric guitar like a pro. He is the handsomest guy and charming. He's mysterious. And I can't find a fault in him."

" I can." Serena muttered dryly.

Lita didn't hear her and continued. " Each year he picks the girl. The girl is his rival. They each chose two people for the other one to seduce. Finally, to end the game of seduction, he and the girl seduce each other. Whoever breaks the person's heart first wins. It's a cruel and harsh game. But if the girl wins, Darien's respect and he is her date for the last dance. If Darien wins he gets….the glory." Lita finished.

Serena was speechless. " But….I don't want to win! I don't want Darien to be my ball date! And why is this game so crucial? All it does is hurt people."

Lita smiled sadly. " Believe it or not, but during his first year here, Darien fell for a girl named Cassandra April Trysting. Everyone called her ' Cat'. Not only is it her initials but Cassandra was a senior and sneaky. She breaks guys' hearts right and left. She is sly and a seductress. When she broke Darien's heart, he took it hard and made a vow never to care for any girl again. He started the game of seduction after Cassandra left that year. He relishes the game. From then on he turned into the mysterious cold heart throb of Rye Christi Academy." Lita said sadly.

" Well, this year he's going to realize how much the game of seduction hurts." Serena declared out loud.

" But Serena, Darien's never lost. All the girls here are already in love with him. It'll be easy for him to seduce them. Even if they know its part of the game and they will get hurt in the end, they cherish the moment they have with him." Lita murmured. In a louder voice she added, " And all the guys know about this game. They try as hard as they could not to be seduced. One because it would be embarrassing when they get dumped and two they all want Darien to win."

" Don't worry. Darien may win the first two rounds, but he has one more round and it's against me. How can he ever win me?" Serena whispered, sending shivers down Lita's back.

" Anyways, it's getting late. Let's go back." Serena said cheerfully.

Their afternoon classes and dinnertime went by as a blur. Serena and Lita got closer, while Serena pointly ignored Darien. Darien felt angry by this and jealousy whenever she talked with another guy. He made a vow then and there to win her heart.

Laughing that night Serena and Lita walked into their apartment. When they got close they asked the director if they would room together. Since all the two bedroom dorms were full, the director gave them the next best thing. It was a connected apartment. There were two rooms, each with a study, bedroom, and bathroom. It was connected by the living room and kitchen in the middle. They had given their things to the bellmen and they put their suite cases in their room.

" Goodnight Lita!" Serena said. " After I shower, I'm going to bed. I'm really tired after that flight. We can party tomorrow night!" Serena winked.

Lita smiled back at the wink. " Sure. Night Sere." She said as she walked into the hallway through the connecting door.

Serena opened her connecting door. She stepped into the hallway and flipped on the light switch. There were two switches and Serena flipped one up. Candles burned through the hallway. The walls were pale pink with scattered white roses. There was a dark mahogany table to one side of the hallway wall with some scented pink candles. Above the table was a mirror. Lanterns of candles were positioned along the wall. Serena looked in awe. When she flipped up the other switch, the hallway became cherry and bright. The chandeliers and other lamps hung on the ceiling blazed with light. Serena flipped it off and was welcomed with the eerie glow of the candles. " I'm going to like this hallway." Serena thought. " Its sort of like one switch turns on the sunlight and other turns on the moonlight. Vivid and mysterious. Pale and dark." Serena frowned at the last phrase.

She walked into one room. It was obviously her bedroom. In the center was a polished wooden canopy bed. The sheets were just like the wallpaper in the hallway; pale pink with scattered white roses. To one side was the mahogany wooden vanity. Opposite to it was the walk in closet and the empty bookshelf. Then there was the corner desk with a computer, printer, and scanner. There were two French doors and Serena was curious of where it led her. She opened them and was amazed of the view of the moon. Its milky white rays shone on the garden below her. Squinting Serena saw the weeping willow that she and Lita sat under this afternoon. As Serena walked to the right of her balcony she saw steps that led to the trail to the garden. Serena decided to visit the garden tonight, as she was suddenly full of energy and excitement.

Serena looked down at her outfit. She was still in her uniform. " That's not an outfit you wear to go out to the garden under a full moon." She scolded herself. She smiled as the perfect outfit came to her mind. She went and opened her suite case that was set near her closet. She pulled a white silky nightdress out of it. It had thin straps and was long and layered. The waist was tapered and the rest flowed down in white waves on the ground. It was perfect. Slipping it on, Serena went out to her balcony once again. As she went quickly down the steps her dress trailed slightly behind her.

Serena stepped into the garden. She looked at the weeping willow. In the moonlight it looked lonely but powerful. The breeze whipped through its flower buds and sent them scattering. A few landed in Serena's hair as she settled underneath the willow. It was so relaxing Serena almost fell asleep. Then out of the corner of her eye she thought she saw a shadow. " Hello? Who's there?" Serena said softly. The shadow ran away. Frowning, Serena got up and followed. She pursued it till she reached the rose section. The shadow stopped. It slowly turned around.

To be Cont'd…………

AN- how is it? You may notice some similarities between this story and my two other ones When the Sun's Rays Dance off your Face and Through Ice and Betrayal. ^_^ Not big differences but the little things like clothes and rooms. So check them out!!!! And REVIEW! or no more stories ! ^_- ~Jo~ aka the author