Try me - Part 5
By Henra
HenraM@tuxedomask.com
PG rated
Hiyee! Me again…this time with part 5! Please, please, everyone,
email me with your comments! They're really important to me! And I want
to thank everyone who emailed me on the last part of the story. I
greatly appreciated every single one of them.
Sailor Moon does not belong to me.
**************
What was she supposed to say at this moment?
Serena took a look into his eyes, and suddenly stiffened. "Why
does this concern you?"
"It matters a lot. More than you think." His voice was hard, but
she could hear the slight crack. She couldn't find her voice for a moment
to reply.
"Well? Aren't you going to tell me what you're doing?"
She started to walk back to the house. He followed her close
behind. "I'm putting away luggage. What do you think I'm doing?"
"Luggage? For what?" He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
Somehow, it made her stop also. She sighed, and turned around.
"I'm going away. I'm going to stay at a friend of mine for the rest of
this crappy summer."
He was silent for a moment. "Does any of this crappy summer
have to do with me?"
She forced a dry laugh. "What? Why you? Why do you always
think that you're so important? Sometimes, Darien, not everything is
about you." She picked up her feet again.
"Then why are you going away?"
She stopped. She didn't turn around. "I don't have to answer
that, you know."
"It did mean something to you, didn't it?"
She looked at the ground, and felt as he walked up behind her.
"What did?"
"The dream."
Two words, and they shot through her heart like two hard
bullets. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "I really have no idea
what you're talking about."
"Come on, Serena, the dream--it, it DID mean something to you…
something greater than you want to admit, and that's why you lied,
isn't it?" There was something in his voice…as if he really wanted her
to admit that.
"Lied?"
She whirled around, suddenly angry, "What the hell do you mean by that?
I didn't lie, dammit."
A smile slowly spread across his face.
Serena swallowed, and tried to stay angry. "What are you
smiling for now?"
"You are lying. You were lying before, and you're lying now.
Come on, Serena, just admit it," he told her softly, his eyes boring
into hers.
She felt a tremble go through her. "Listen, Darien, I have a
train ticket for a train ride at 3:35 this afternoon, and right now, I
am going back to the house to get something to eat, to finish whatever
there is left to do, and then I'm going to leave." She walked up to the
front porch, and stepped inside, slamming the door after her.
Darien stood outside still, and stared at the door.
He couldn't believe his ears.
She was going away? Right now, right this day, when everything
wasn't sorted out yet?
He sighed and shook his head. There was still something
hangingbetween them. Even though the talk they had the other day left
things pretty obvious, he still felt that there was some business left
unfinished between he and Serena. And he had thought that no one would
go anywhere until it was finished.
He thought. He didn't
understand why Serena would want to leave when things between them were
just so messy. So unrealistic.
He looked at his own car, still warm, since
he came back not a few minutes ago. He felt the urge to go out again.
But he knew he should be inside, getting a better understanding
of all of this.
He sighed, and muttered a curse. He was afraid to find out the
real truth why Serena was going away.
He stood in front of the door, and looked at the knob. He turned
it and walked inside.
Raye and a girl he didn't recognize were sitting on the sofa,
talking animatedly with one another. Darien managed a small smile at them
when they saw him, and looked around for Serena.
"Uh…Serena's upstairs. In a bit of a bad mood when I saw her…do
you know what's wrong?" Raye asked, widening her eyes on purpose for
effect.
Darien shot her a glare, and started upstairs. His heart was
drumming in his chest, and his hand left a sweaty mark on the handrail
each time he put his hand on it to support himself. Serena's door was
closed, and suddenly, while looking at it, he wasn't so sure of himself.
Slowly, he came to stand in front of the door. Funny, lately it
seemed like all he did was standing in front of doors and looking at
doorknobs. He breathed deeply. Just as his knuckles were about to hit the
door, it swung open.
Serena came into view, and immediately, she gave a big gasp and
stepped back.
A hand came over her chest, and she put the other hand on the
opened door to support her leaning body. "My god, Darien, you scared me
to hell! What were you doing, just standing there!?"
"Oh." He stuck his hands in his pant pockets. "Sorry about
that."
After a few seconds, Serena's breathing became slower, and she
fixed her eyes on him steadily, and suddenly frowned, as if suddenly
remembered that he was at her door. "Um…is there…anything you want?"
"I…" His mouth suddenly felt dry, and his hands sweaty. He
rubbed them down the sides of his pants, but new sweats soon came out
after that. What was wrong with him? He never was this nervous with
girls--with ANY girl.
She looked at him, and he could just see a bit of impatience
in her eyes. "Well?"
"Don't go," he blurted out. Immediately, he felt like kicking
himself. When was the last time that he had no control over his own
words?
Disbelief came over her features, then suddenly, sadness.
"Don't say this right now, Darien, I beg of you. I'm going to go--I
NEED to go. Please." Her eyes were lowered.
Undoubtedly, he was surprised. He thought she would reply
with something similar to what she had said a few minutes ago outside.
But what she had just said was nowhere near that. "Serena…you need to
stay. We have to get this, this…thing that's between us over with.
I don't like it lingering even a day longer."
Her face hardened. "There's nothing between us, Darien."
"Oh no? Then why are you leaving, and in such a rush, too?"
"I want to take a vacation! People do take vacations in
summertime, you know!"
"But the fall semester's about to start!"
"Not for another three weeks!"
She looked at him, and sighed. She walked back into her room
and sat down on the bed heavily. "So what do you want me to do, Darien?
Just tell me, what the hell do you want me to do?!"
His mouth was hanging slightly open. Was that what she felt
like? Why was she asking questions like this? He had no idea what to
say.
Suddenly another thought entered his mind. Perhaps Serena
did need to get away. He didn't know why he was thinking that abruptly,
but maybe Serena did need a vacation. Maybe he didn't know her as well
as he thought he did.
"Okay, Serena, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry, if I really crossed
the line or something. I don't want to make you not take the break you
want just because of something that…I want. Go. I won't say anything."
Her eyes widened.
"But, before you go, I really want to know…I mean, I can't
stand being in suspense, and--god." He sighed, and ran a hand through
his hair. "Just tell me. Why ARE you going away?"
From the look in her eyes, he knew he was not going to get a
straight answer. But he could tell that he was going to GET an answer,
and he was willing to take any kind at this minute. He looked into her
eyes, not daring to glance anywhere else.
"Fine. I'll tell you." Her eyes became sort of glassy. "It is
because of the dream, like you said. But that's not all. It's only…a
part of the--many reasons. And…" She bit her lip, casting her gaze to
the floor.
"And?"
"And they all are connected to you." She let out a sigh.
"There, you happy now? You got an answer. Now, can I go?"
He couldn't suppress a small grin. "Didn't I just say that I
won't say anything to stop you from taking the vacation that you want?"
She flushed. "Yeah." She started to go out of her room.
He gently grabbed her wrist when she passed by him. He let go
immediately after she stopped and turned around to face him.
"What now?"
He smiled. He looked down at her, and felt his heart skipping a
beat at how beautiful she looked at the moment. There wasn't any
accusation on her face, wasn't any resentment…her eyes were questioning,
and he couldn't see any annoyance in them. And that, to him, was rare.
"I wanted to know another thing."
"Uh-huh, I can see that."
His lips stretched into a lopsided grin. "When you said it has
something to do with the dream…it's only the kiss in the dream that
you're talking about, isn't it?"
She was silent for a moment. Then she sighed. "I think we
both know the answer to that. You had the same dream. Was waiting on
the porch by yourself interesting to you?"
Ah. Even in the last minute she had to be smart.
He grinned. "All right, all right…I guess that was a stupid
question." He paused for a minute, the grin on his face gone. He looked
at her seriously, and for a moment, wasn't sure how to say goodbye.
"Well, I have to go now."
He racked his brain for the correct words to say. "Uh…I guess
I'll see you when you get back. I mean, of course…" he said softly,
tentatively, "you are coming back, right?"
She smiled, and nodded her head. "Yes. Hey, I did pay this
whole month's rent, you know."
"Right. Bye, Serena. For now." He flashed another glance at
her, then walked to the stairs and went down to the first floor.
Serena stood there, staring after him. Then, a soft smile
crossed her features, and she sighed.
"Bye, Serena, I'm going to miss having you around," Raye said,
hugging Serena tightly.
Serena hugged Raye back. "Raye…?"
Raye let go and looked at her with a smile on her face. "Yeah?"
Serena bit her lip. "Um…never mind."
"Okay…" Raye gave her a curious smile.
Serena grinned, and couldn't help but add, "Take care of Chad,
all right?" She winked at Raye.
Raye blushed.
"Chad? What's this about Chad?" Mye, who had just come back
from the bathroom, asked.
Raye groaned. "Serena!"
Mye grinned and took the hint. "All right, all right, almost
time to go. I'll let you go this time, Raye." She flashed a smile at
Serena. "Come on, Serena."
Serena looked at Raye, and hugged her again. "Thank you so
much. I'll see you when I come back, okay? And say goodbye to Chad for
me."
"Sure."
Serena lingered in the living room, looking at Darien's closed
door. She bit her lip, wondering whether or not she should go knock
and say bye to him.
Raye noticed the expression on Serena's face. She smiled and yelled, "Darien! Come out and say
bye to Serena! She's leaving!"
Serena glanced at her friend, and flashed her a grateful
smile.
Darien's door swung open, and he stepped out. His eyes
immediately found Serena's, and he leaned against a side of the
doorframe while he flashed her a lazy grin. "See you in a few weeks."
Serena's heart pounded against her chest. She really was going
to miss him…miss all the little arguments that they always had… "Bye,
Darien." She looked at Mye, who was looking back and forth between her
and Darien with a curious expression on her face. "Ready?"
"I was ready a long time ago. Come on." Mye smiled and went
out the front door.
Serena followed suit, forcing herself not to look back.
"Amy!!" Serena opened her arms wide.
A huge grin spread across Amy's face as she threw her arms
around Serena and hugged her back. "Oh my god, I cannot believe you
are actually here! I thought I would never see you again!"
Serena walked in Amy's apartment and dropped her luggage
against the wall. She glanced around and smiled at Amy. "Wow…so neat.
I see some things have changed since the last time I had been here."
She narrowed her eyes and suddenly realized something. "The pictures!
The pictures of you and Greg! They are all gone!"
Amy stayed silent, and watched Serena as she walked around.
"And the books…the computer…Amy! What…?!" Then, she gasped, a
thought entering her mind. "You got rid of everything that have some
kind of a connection to Greg…" she stared at Amy, waiting for a reply.
Amy sighed, and forced a smile. "You noticed. You always
notice everything." She walked over to the couch in the middle of the
room and sat down.
Serena came to sit next to Amy. She put an arm around her.
"All right, you have to tell me everything now. Right from the
beginning."
Tears filled Amy's dark blue eyes. She sniffled and sighed
deeply. "Oh Serena…we broke up because…well, because we are too alike."
"What? I don't get it. I mean, I WANT someone who's a bit
more like me, honestly." She rolled her eyes. "But lately, I can't
seem to find anyone that even has ANY similarities with me." Darien's
face suddenly popped up in Serena's mind, and she quickly forced it
gone.
"It's like…we wanted to do everything the same that it was
getting boring, you know? I mean, when Greg and me first met, I
thought it was so amazing how much we had in common, and Greg thought
the same thing. But…as time went on…there wasn't really anything to
talk about anymore, I mean--I actually wanted us to fight once in a
while! We are too alike even for that…can you believe it?" Amy looked
at Serena with incredulous eyes.
"Trust me, when you guys start to argue all the time, it won't
be fun, either." Darien's name once again popped up in Serena's mind,
and this time, she shoved it away with a bit of annoyance.
Amy smiled sadly. "Well, that didn't happen, and that's not
going to happen anytime soon." She forced a brighter smile on her face,
and stood up. "Come on, I'll show you to your room."
"You know, you should get a smaller apartment. I never
understood why you rented a two bedroom one," Serena said thoughtfully
as she followed Amy.
Amy opened a closed door and stepped in the room. "There you
go." She flashed Serena a genuine smile.
Serena glanced around. A bed to the corner with dark green
patterned set, light green curtains decorating the window, which
replaced one side of the walls…a pretty room. There was a desk across
the bed, a green lamp on it and a chair by it. The last side of the
walls was the closet…and the sliding doors were big mirrors. The whole
room smelled of fresh spring. She turned to Amy, and gave her a big
grin. "I love it! Lots of green, though."
Amy smiled. "Yeah, well, I was getting tired of seeing blue
all over."
Serena laughed. "Let me get my luggage."
"Hey, Serena?"
She turned around and looked at Amy. "Yeah, Ames?"
"I'm really glad you're here." Amy smiled softly.
Serena smiled back. "Me, too." She hugged Amy, and closed her
eyes, smiling.
Amy almost choked on her juice. "What? Seriously?"
Serena grinned and started to laugh at the look on Amy's face.
"I am telling you, it SO happened. I couldn't believe it either…but oh
well!" She grinned again, and then took a gulp of her soda.
Amy giggled, and put her cup down. "Oh my god…I don't believe
it! How could I not notice it? I was around him AND her practically
everyday!"
"I guess I have good eyes," Serena answered easily, smiling.
"Oh, man…hey, what time is it?" Amy suddenly asked, glancing
around the bedroom.
"Don't ask me--I don't know. It's your house."
Amy focused her eyes on the clock standing on her nightstand.
"Wow! It's one forty-two already!"
Serena's eyes widened, and she turned a whole angle to look
at the clock. "Seriously? Oh, man…I didn't know it was that late
already."
"Oh well, tomorrow's Saturday--and we don't have anywhere to
go, so we can sleep all we want!" Amy exclaimed, stretching in her
pajamas--a tank-top and baggy cotton pants.
Serena stood up from where she was sitting on the floor, and
yawned. "I guess I'll be going to bed now. Night, Ames." She smiled
and started to leave.
"Serena." Amy called after her, her dark blue eyes sparkling.
"I haven't laughed so much in just two hours ever since I attended
college. Thanks."
"No, thank YOU. Thank you for letting me stay here, Ames. I
mean it." The laughter died from her eyes, and she gazed down at the
floor, thinking of Darien and all the complications between them.
Amy smiled. "Night, Serena. See you in the morning."
"See ya." Serena walked out of the bedroom, and went into the
room that she temporarily lived in. I wonder when will Amy get a
smaller place--if she ever will…
She flipped open the green comforter and sheets, and crawled
into bed.
The phone rang endlessly in his ears. Darien groaned and
turned on his bed. The ringing still went on. His eyes blinked open,
and he muttered a curse as he slowly struggled to get himself out of
bed and answer the phone.
He picked up the phone and pressed the Talk button. "Hello?"
he said groggily.
"God, what is wrong with you people? It's eleven in the
morning, you know--if I didn't know you better, I would've hanged up,
like, twenty rings ago."
He was suddenly more awake now. The voice… "Lita? Is that
you?"
"Of course it's me, Darien! Who else do you think it is?"
Lita's voice was more cheerful now, and had a bit of a teasing tone
in it. "So, what's happening with you guys, anyway? Why did you wait
so long to answer the phone?"
He rubbed his hands, and sat up straighter. "I just barely
woke up."
"Aah. Still isn't a morning person, I see. What about Raye?
Or Chad?" Lita questioned.
"I don't know. Probably out to someplace together, I guess."
There was a pause. "Together? As in, dating together?"
He couldn't help but chuckle at the sound of Lita's voice.
"Yes. They're actually together right now."
"Oh my gosh, I don't believe it! And I can't believe Raye
didn't even bother call to tell me!"
He became more serious. "So, how are you, Lita? Everything
good at your new place?"
There was another slight pause. "Actually…that's what I
called to tell you guys about."
Something in her voice stopped him cold. "Lita…is something
wrong?"
She sighed, a sad sigh--something that he hardly ever hear
from her. "God, I feel so stupid. I-I stayed at the new apartment for
about two weeks, and then one of my really close friends at college
called, and without phoning the manager, I just went with her on this
vacation thing--she provided everything. She was planning to go with
her boyfriend, but that didn't work out." Another sigh. "Anyway, I
didn't think it was necessary for me to call the manager. Who knew
that the vacation would last so long? I just barely got back last
week. God, Darien, you should see the manager. He practically threw
me out. I missed the paying due date for like, what, ten days? And
now he's asking me to pack and leave."
It was sort of hard to keep up, with him still groggy from
his sleep, but he mostly got what she had said. "So basically, you're
saying, you're without a place to stay right now, and you want to
come back?"
There was definite relief in her voice. "Oh, I'm so glad you
understand. You have no idea how much I've fussed over whether to call
you guys or not. I mean, I left in such a hurry, not giving you time to
find another roommate, leaving you guys to pay the rent three-way for
the expensive house, and--"
"Hey, hey, Lita, it's okay. Actually, we found a roommate not
long after you left, and we got her just in time for the rent starting
the new month, too." That brought him thinking of Serena again. Darien
forced to keep himself concentrated on Lita's problem.
"Oh." She sighed sadly over the phone. "Oh, that's really
great for you guys, finding another roommate and all…but…god, Darien,
do you know any place that I can crash in temporarily?"
Darien hesitated, not knowing whether or not he should tell
Lita that Serena was gone for now. "So, uh, how long do you mean by
'temporarily'?"
"Until I find another apartment to live in, of course."
He softly pulled the cord of the phone, still hesitant. He cleared his
throat. "Hey, Lit…listen, Serena--that's the roommate's name, she's
gone…for like, three weeks or something. I think you can live here…
until she comes back, of course."
"Oh, my god! You mean that? Ooh! God, Darien, thank you sooo
much! You don't know how much this means to me! I'm going to be moving
my stuff in tomorrow, okay? No, wait, how about right now? It's only an
hour away from here. My gosh…I'm so excited, just think, us four
together again, just like old times!" Lita laughed joyfully. "Oh man…"
"Lita…" Darien felt a bit tense, "You do realize that once
Serena comes back from her vacation, you'll have to move out, right?"
But Lita didn't seem to hear him. "Remember what we used to do
on Friday nights where we all didn't have dates? Ooh, we can do that
again now! I really am sorry that I moved out so unexpectedly…but I'm
going to be with you guys now! Ooh, Darien, I'm so happy!"
He couldn't say anything. He listened to her while she rambled
on and on. He sighed to himself. Hopefully Lita would remember to move
out when Serena came back.
He looked away, concentrating on the scene outside of his
window. When was Serena coming back? In three weeks, like she said? He
seriously hoped Serena was good at keeping her words.
"You did…what?" Raye stared at Darien, her eyes huge.
"I just…sort of invited her back in. I mean, come on, what
was I supposed to do, anyway?" Darien shoved his hands into his khaki
pockets,and looked back at Raye with as much cool on his face as he
could make.
Chad nodded his head seriously. "True. But…what about
Serena?"
Darien stiffened. "There's nothing 'about' Serena. When she
comes back from wherever, Lita will move out."
"And what if she hasn't found an apartment by then? What will
happen then? Have them both here or something?" Raye pressed, her
eyes narrowed at him.
Darien threw up his hands. "I don't know! God, don't act like
it's my fault, all right? I was just trying to be a decent friend.
Lita needed a place to stay, and I told her that she could stay here
for a while. That's no big deal, is it?"
"No, not right now, it isn't," Raye said, "But when Serena
comes back, and sees Lita living here…" She sighed, and shook her head.
"Then you tell me if it is a big deal or not." She flashed another
look at him, then left the room.
Chad looked at Darien. "I think you did the right thing…but
I don't know if it is quite so right when Serena comes back…" He put
a hand on Darien's shoulder. Then he left the room also.
Darien stared at the gray-carpeted floor, and cocked an
eyebrow.
"The fall semester's going to start in another week, you
know," Amy told Serena, studying her with a serious expression.
Serena looked back at her, her face expressionless. "Yeah,
I know. What, you want me to get out of your house? You tired of me
now?" She teased.
Immediately, Amy's face became panicky. "Oh, come on,
Serena, you know that's not true. I love having you here. But…don't
you want to get ready for it when the year starts?"
The smile on Serena's face faded. "Yeah," she said quietly,
"I know. I just…I don't know if I should go back there…I mean…" She
stood up from the bed and walked to the window. She pulled open the
curtains.
Amy also got up, and came to stand next to Serena. "You do
want to go back, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. But yet…" She turned away, and leaned her back
against the wall. "I don't…you know? He's so complicated…and I don't
know if I can be myself if I'm around him. Hell, I almost never am
myself when I'm around him."
"Aren't you? Or is he bringing out another side of you that
you never knew about?"
Serena almost smiled, because she thought Amy was joking, but
when she looked at Amy's serious face, she dropped her gaze. "Look, all
I know is, when I'm with you, I'm always cheerful, happy…hyper. When
I'm with him, I feel…not like myself."
Amy smiled this time. "Well…it's getting late. I should go to
bed now." She leaned over and gave Serena a hug. "Good night."
"Good night, Amy. Sleep tight." Serena watched Amy go out of
the room. She reached over and pulled the curtains back, then fell
flat on her back to her bed. "Oh…" She sighed, and stretched over to
turn the light off. She turned so her left side was facing down, but
her eyes weren't ready to close just yet.
She stared in the darkness, feeling a million thoughts
rushing in and out of her brain. She remembered the poems that she
read of Darien…the ones that she wasn't supposed to look at…probably
ever. Suddenly, she smiled. She couldn't believe that a guy like
Darien would write poems…especially poems about her. She stopped her
smile cold. "You're not sure that they were about you. They could be
about anyone…anything."
Still, she liked the thought of Darien writing poems about
her. It was…flattering, and it was a nice feeling, inspiring him like
that. Her eyelids were becoming heavy. She let out a small sigh,
tucked a hand under her face, and closed her eyes completely.
Lita let out a laugh. "That has got to be the most funniest
blooper I've ever seen…"
Raye, who was sitting in Chad's lap on the couch, laughed
also. "Yep, I have to agree."
"You know, have you guys realized that commercials, nowadays,
are getting sillier, scarier, more daring, and…just plain better?"
Chad asked, glancing around at the other three.
"Yeah, I don't even mind watching commercials that much
anymore, except, of course, when it's interrupting my favorite shows
or something," Lita replied, smiling at the TV screen.
Raye groaned loudly. "Yeah…don't you just hate it when that
happens?"
"Flip the channel, yeah? This talk show's getting boring,"
Darien said to Lita, who was holding the remote control.
"Sure. Just let me know when you wanna stop." Lita held up
the remote, and started pushing the Channel button.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down! How am I supposed to know what
kind of show it's showing when you flip through it so quickly like
that?" Darien protested, and grabbed another handful of popcorn.
Lita automatically slowed down.
"You guys, I'm suddenly so craving for ice cream right now.
Do we still have some left in the freezer? I think I bought some last
week…did you finish it?" Raye narrowed her eyes at Lita, "I know you
love ice cream, Lita…but you better not tell me you finished it."
Lita laughed, and handed the remote to Darien. "You see which
one you want. Raye, I know you know I love ice cream, but this time,
I absolutely swear that I did not eat any of your ice cream. But NOW…"
Raye sighed, but smiled, and got off Chad's lap. "I'm going
to get some. Anyone else want any?"
"I hate ice cream," Chad said in a disgusted tone.
"I'll have some…these popcorn are getting softer…I hate
popcorns that aren't crunchy," Darien said, looking at the popcorn
sitting on the glass table in front of the couch.
Lita shook her head. "My oh my, picky little people we have
here."
Raye came back with three plates, each having two scoops of
vanilla ice cream on them. She handed Darien and Lita spoons, and
then sat down on the floor next to Chad's legs. She licked her ice
cream. "Aah…delicious."
"Just watch, when I wake up tomorrow, I'm going to have a
major stomachache," Darien said, eating a spoonful of ice cream.
"Why?" Lita asked, eyes on the TV screen.
"That's how I always get when I eat ice cream."
"Well, then, hand it over, since you don't want it!" Lita
went over to get a hold of Darien's plate.
Darien held his plate up high. "No, no, no, I didn't say I
didn't want it!"
"Well, you didn't say you wanted a stomachache, either, so
hand over the plate of ice cream!" She put her plate down, and
stretched her hand out even more.
He chuckled. "If you're that desperate for ice cream, have
Raye get you more!"
"No way! Let me finish this mouth watering plate first!"
Raye immediately replied, leaning farther against the bottom of the
couch.
Chad shook his head. "You guys are in COLLEGE, and you can
act SO immature sometimes…"
Lita stopped fussing with Darien and slowly turned to Chad.
"WHAT did you say…?"
Raye's eyes widened as a smile spread across her face. "Uh-oh.
Wrong thing to say, Chad…you KNOW how much Lita HATE to be called
immature…"
"Oh, shit." A grin appeared on Chad's face, and he held up
two hands in front of his face.
Lita laughed. "Aww…scared of a little girl now, aren't you,
Mr. Man?"
Darien laughed out loud. "Mr. Man?" He laughed again, "That
has got to be the gayest name I've ever heard…but it fits Chad!"
Raye went over and smacked Darien's leg. "Watch what you're
saying about my boyfriend, cousin!"
Suddenly, they heard a door close.
"I'm glad you guys are having so much fun."
The four stopped, and turned toward the voice.
"Serena." The name automatically slipped out of Darien's lips.
A big grin spread across Raye's features. "Serena! You're
back!" She jumped up, put her plate of ice cream down, and ran toward
Serena to give her a hug. "How did you come back? How did you get back
from the train station? Oh! Who cares, you're back!!" She hugged Serena
tighter.
Serena hugged Raye back, her eyes still on Lita. "Yeah…I'm
actually…back."
Lita stood up straighter, and smiled politely. "This is the
other roommate, right?"
Raye turned around and nodded, beaming. "Yep. Serena, I'd like
you to meet, Lita. Lita, Serena. Now you two know each other."
Serena smiled back, and went over to Lita. "Hi." She looked
around. "So, uh," she began confusedly, "Are you moved back in here or
something?"
"Well, yes, I guess," Lita answered, and let out a laugh,
"They miss me so much that they want me back desperately."
It was only a small change, but Darien noticed Serena's eyes
lost their sparkle when Lita said that. He immediately opened his mouth,
"No, no, she's not moved back in. She just needed a place to crash
temporarily, and now that you're back--"
"I'll move out, no problem," Lita continued without missing a
beat. She grinned.
Serena looked at Lita in surprise.
"Of course, I'll have to find another apartment in the
meantime, but I'll be okay," Lita said in a quieter voice, but kept the
smile on her face.
There was silence in the room for a few seconds.
"You know what, it's okay. I can just go back to Amy's…until
the semester starts. Or I can find another apartment--" Serena heard
her voice crack, and she stopped talking.
"No!" Raye immediately protested, and put an arm around
Serena. "What the hell are you talking about? You're not moving out to
anywhere! Lita just needed a place to stay temporarily, that's all,
she'll move out…" She shot a death glare at Darien. 'Look what you've
done now.'
Darien didn't notice it, because he was still staring at
Serena.
Serena was hesitant. "Are you sure?" She looked at Lita, her
eyes a bit wide.
"Uh…yeah! You did pay this month's rent, after all, so you're
still the roommate," Lita replied, looking around the house while she
talked.
"But where would you stay?" Chad suddenly asked, his brows
furrowed together.
Raye turned and gave another glare to him. Then, she turned
back to Lita, and smiled, "We'll help you find another apartment that's
near enough to the college and good, too, don't worry."
Lita smiled. "Thanks." She rubbed her hands together. "So, I
guess, I'll be moving my stuff."
Serena looked at her own luggage that was still placed by the
door. "I'll get my stuff…into the room." She went to get them, and
started up the stairs after Lita.
After they were out of sight, Raye immediately walked to
Darien, and punched him in the arm. "See what I meant? God! Where do
you expect Lita to go right now? And if you let Lita stay, then where
the hell is Serena supposed to go? Man!!" She let out a grunt.
Darien exhaled. "I'm going to go talk…to her."
"No, let me!" Raye eyed him carefully, "I'm afraid that you're
going to say something that's going to ruin it even more." She started
toward the stairs.
Darien sighed again, then followed after his cousin.
Chad stood there, looking after the two with a confused
expression on his face.
Lita wrapped a piece of paper around her marble pencil vase,
and then put it in her duffle bag. She went over to the closet, and
got out her shirts and a few pants. She tossed them on top of the bag.
She smiled an apologetic smile at Serena. "Sorry. I have too much
stuff, don't I?"
Serena shook her head. "No, It's okay. But what happened to
all of your other stuff? I mean, you can't just have this little bag
containing all of your belongings."
"Yeah, some other things like pictures frames and stuff are
in another bigger, MUCH bigger suitcase," Lita pointed deeper into
the closet, "It's in there. Luckily, I don't have furniture from my
last apartment--it provided everything. That's why it was so
comfortable there. Well, this house does, too, but…that was bigger.
But stupidly, I forgot to pay the rent…" She sighed, and shook her
head, as if disapproving herself.
"Where are you going to go now?" Serena couldn't help but
ask.
"I really don't know. Maybe I can crash at my friend Ken's
house…but…" Lita bit her lip, and lowered her eyes. "He's a guy, and
he has a one bedroom apartment…I don't know…"
Serena frowned, feeling frustrated. She barely knew this
Lita, but she knew it wasn't Lita's fault that she was staying here.
Still, she couldn't help but feel weird that Darien and them didn't
even bother to tell her.
"Lita, you need any help?" Darien appeared by the door.
Lita smiled. "No. What, you can't wait till I'm out of the
house?"
"No!" Raye also appeared, and then walked into the room. "Of
course not. But…Lit--are you going to be all right?"
Lita sighed. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll give Ken a call. I
think he'll let me stay there, but I can't stay long. You know, I was
about to go and stay there when I was thrown out of my apartment, but
since he's a guy, and we used to be…you know, I figured it would be a
little bit…uncomfortable. So I gave you guys a call instead." She
turned to folding and putting her clothes in the suitcase.
"Well, you don't have to go now. I mean, at least stay
until tonight. We'll all go out for pizza or something," Darien
offered, looking at Lita apologetically.
"Yeah, Lita. I mean, if you hadn't moved out in such a
hurry--we would still go out for pizza or hamburger today, anyway--it's
Friday night, we always do that when we don't have dates, remember?"
Raye said, smiling at Lita, her eyes sparkling.
Serena dropped her gaze. "Excuse me for a moment." She walked
out of the room, and started to climb downstairs.
Darien gave Raye a sharp look, but didn't open his mouth. He
got out of the room also, and went after Serena to the first floor.
Raye suddenly realized what she had just said. "Oh my god…I
just SO excluded Serena! How can I be so stupid?" She felt like
smacking herself. If Lita weren't there, she would've actually.
"Wow. You guys sure developed a strong friendship with Serena
in such short time," Lita remarked, not really looking at Raye, and not
really concentrating on packing, either.
Raye watched Lita as she put the folded clothes into the bag.
"Yeah…I guess…Serena's very…lovable." She suddenly had a flash of Darien
and Serena in her mind. She smiled slightly.
"I'm going to give Ken a call right now." Lita fished a small
phone pad out of her purse. "Let's see…" She picked up the cordless
phone in the room, and dialed.
After a few seconds, someone picked up. "Hey, Ken? It's Lita."
Lita's face was forming a smile. "Yeah…listen, I really need to ask you
a favor. I need a place to stay. Not forever, definitely, and I can't
really say how long, but it's only for right now. So, is it okay?"
Raye watched Lita's face carefully for any reaction.
"Yeah, I know the new semester's about to start. Something just
happened to my apartment…yeah, I KNOW it was perfect…did you have to
remind me?" A laugh escaped Lita's throat. "Yeah, sure, sure, of course,
that's what you're here for, right?"
Raye thought as she looked at Lita admirably. Suddenly
she thought of Chad. Then she shook her head to get rid of the thought.
Serena leaned against the wall in the so-called family room.
She sighed quietly, and closed her eyes. She should've stayed at Amy's
longer. Then she snorted. Yeah, right. How much "longer" could she have
stayed? The fall semester was to start on Monday.
"Serena."
She knew immediately who it was. She turned to look at him,
with no surprise on her face. She felt stiff when her eyes landed on
his face.
"You okay?" Darien asked, coming closer to her so that they
were only about a foot apart.
Serena looked up into his blue eyes, and felt herself soften.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why shouldn't I be?" She frowned slightly for effect.
He shrugged. "I don't know. I thought maybe you…feel
uncomfortable or something."
"Oh really? Well, for your information, I don't. Honest." She
turned away from him, and went to sit in front of the fireplace. She
stared at the wooden sticks in it.
He came to stand behind her. "Lita did say she just needed a
place to stay in for a little while. And she's such a good friend of
ours, I couldn't say no. And I told her that when you come back, she
has to go."
She looked at him, and for a moment, didn't say anything.
He stared back at her, his midnight blue eyes locked with baby
blue ones.
Then she smiled. "You know, you didn't have to explain. It's
really no big deal…I mean…" She let out a small sigh. "Okay, I admit it.
Watching the four of you laughing together like that when I came back…
just somehow reminded me that you four were together in the first place,
and I'm just a, a person that can help pay the rent when Lita is gone.
I just get this feeling…that, that whenever she feels like coming back,
she can just stay and I have to go."
He looked at her, not sure what to say. He frowned, and then
gazed into her eyes, "Serena. Lita is a really great friend. But…" He
cleared his throat, "you are, too. I mean…yeah, you are someone who
helps pay the rent for this house--but it's also because…we like you.
I mean, if we didn't like you as a friend, we would've kicked you
out--at least, Raye would've." He offered a smile.
She smiled back. "Yeah."
"So you have nothing to worry about. Lita's staying is
temporary.You see--she's packing right now, and she's going to leave.
And you're going to be back here again…and then the semester's going
to start."
She groaned. "Don't remind me…time to get into studies again."
He couldn't help but grin at the expression on her face.
Serena watched Darien. "You know…I believe you were actually
being nice to me."
His grin widened, and his eyes had a glint in them. "Well,
don't expect it too often."
She laughed. "Of course not." Then, in a more serious tone,
"Thanks, Darien, for coming down after me. You didn't have to,
honestly. I was fine, and I AM fine. Next time take that hint."
He looked at her. "Depends on the circumstances." He started
to walk out of the family room.
"Do you guys actually spend any family time here?" She asked,
stopping him. She glanced around the cozy room, wondering.
He turned back and looked around also. "Well…not really. We
never are in here together. Like, when I want to study for some exam,
and Raye is watching TV out in the living room, I come in here, where
it's quieter, and cozier--since my room is just right beside the TV."
"Oh." She stayed in the room for a few more seconds, then
walked out. "We should spend some time in there together," she murmured
under her breath.
He looked after her, a bit confused. He followed her out to
the living room. "What do you mean?"
She turned around, surprised. "You heard me?"
He nodded, a half-grin on his face. "Yeah."
A quick smile appeared on her face. "I didn't realize."
"So you gonna tell me what you're thinking inside that
beautiful head of yours?" He smiled at her, eyes holding an amused
glint.
Her eyes widened a bit--she couldn't believe that he had
actually called her beautiful. She felt her face getting hot, but she
controlled herself to keep cool. Act like nothing just happened.
"Nothing, actually. I was just thinking how a waste it is to be called
a family room when no 'family' rarely spends any time in there."
"Because there isn't a family to spend with."
She looked at him, and smiled, shaking her head. "Aren't we a
family? Sure, we are not blood related, but we act like one, don't we?"
He smiled back. "We argue, we constantly get on each other's
nerves, we have love--yeah, I guess you can say that we are a family."
"We actually have love in this family?" She teased, "Wow. I
didn't know love even existed in this household."
"Oh, it exists all right…it's just not…obvious yet," he
replied, in a quieter voice.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "You know…something's
changed since I came back." She looked at him, tightening her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"The way we are acting right now, to each other…we act like,
like…"
"Like we don't feel like squeezing each other's throats?" A
lopsided grin formed on his face.
She sighed, smiling. "Yeah." Her voice was barely above a
whisper.
For the next few minutes, no one said anything. They stayed
in a comfortable silence, looking at each other closely.
He was glad she was back. Very glad.
____________________________________________________________
Visit my website at http://www6.ewebcity.com/moonieround
By Henra
HenraM@tuxedomask.com
PG rated
Hiyee! Me again…this time with part 5! Please, please, everyone,
email me with your comments! They're really important to me! And I want
to thank everyone who emailed me on the last part of the story. I
greatly appreciated every single one of them.
Sailor Moon does not belong to me.
**************
What was she supposed to say at this moment?
Serena took a look into his eyes, and suddenly stiffened. "Why
does this concern you?"
"It matters a lot. More than you think." His voice was hard, but
she could hear the slight crack. She couldn't find her voice for a moment
to reply.
"Well? Aren't you going to tell me what you're doing?"
She started to walk back to the house. He followed her close
behind. "I'm putting away luggage. What do you think I'm doing?"
"Luggage? For what?" He suddenly stopped dead in his tracks.
Somehow, it made her stop also. She sighed, and turned around.
"I'm going away. I'm going to stay at a friend of mine for the rest of
this crappy summer."
He was silent for a moment. "Does any of this crappy summer
have to do with me?"
She forced a dry laugh. "What? Why you? Why do you always
think that you're so important? Sometimes, Darien, not everything is
about you." She picked up her feet again.
"Then why are you going away?"
She stopped. She didn't turn around. "I don't have to answer
that, you know."
"It did mean something to you, didn't it?"
She looked at the ground, and felt as he walked up behind her.
"What did?"
"The dream."
Two words, and they shot through her heart like two hard
bullets. She swallowed a lump in her throat. "I really have no idea
what you're talking about."
"Come on, Serena, the dream--it, it DID mean something to you…
something greater than you want to admit, and that's why you lied,
isn't it?" There was something in his voice…as if he really wanted her
to admit that.
"Lied?"
She whirled around, suddenly angry, "What the hell do you mean by that?
I didn't lie, dammit."
A smile slowly spread across his face.
Serena swallowed, and tried to stay angry. "What are you
smiling for now?"
"You are lying. You were lying before, and you're lying now.
Come on, Serena, just admit it," he told her softly, his eyes boring
into hers.
She felt a tremble go through her. "Listen, Darien, I have a
train ticket for a train ride at 3:35 this afternoon, and right now, I
am going back to the house to get something to eat, to finish whatever
there is left to do, and then I'm going to leave." She walked up to the
front porch, and stepped inside, slamming the door after her.
Darien stood outside still, and stared at the door.
He couldn't believe his ears.
She was going away? Right now, right this day, when everything
wasn't sorted out yet?
He sighed and shook his head. There was still something
hangingbetween them. Even though the talk they had the other day left
things pretty obvious, he still felt that there was some business left
unfinished between he and Serena. And he had thought that no one would
go anywhere until it was finished.
He thought. He didn't
understand why Serena would want to leave when things between them were
just so messy. So unrealistic.
He looked at his own car, still warm, since
he came back not a few minutes ago. He felt the urge to go out again.
But he knew he should be inside, getting a better understanding
of all of this.
He sighed, and muttered a curse. He was afraid to find out the
real truth why Serena was going away.
He stood in front of the door, and looked at the knob. He turned
it and walked inside.
Raye and a girl he didn't recognize were sitting on the sofa,
talking animatedly with one another. Darien managed a small smile at them
when they saw him, and looked around for Serena.
"Uh…Serena's upstairs. In a bit of a bad mood when I saw her…do
you know what's wrong?" Raye asked, widening her eyes on purpose for
effect.
Darien shot her a glare, and started upstairs. His heart was
drumming in his chest, and his hand left a sweaty mark on the handrail
each time he put his hand on it to support himself. Serena's door was
closed, and suddenly, while looking at it, he wasn't so sure of himself.
Slowly, he came to stand in front of the door. Funny, lately it
seemed like all he did was standing in front of doors and looking at
doorknobs. He breathed deeply. Just as his knuckles were about to hit the
door, it swung open.
Serena came into view, and immediately, she gave a big gasp and
stepped back.
A hand came over her chest, and she put the other hand on the
opened door to support her leaning body. "My god, Darien, you scared me
to hell! What were you doing, just standing there!?"
"Oh." He stuck his hands in his pant pockets. "Sorry about
that."
After a few seconds, Serena's breathing became slower, and she
fixed her eyes on him steadily, and suddenly frowned, as if suddenly
remembered that he was at her door. "Um…is there…anything you want?"
"I…" His mouth suddenly felt dry, and his hands sweaty. He
rubbed them down the sides of his pants, but new sweats soon came out
after that. What was wrong with him? He never was this nervous with
girls--with ANY girl.
She looked at him, and he could just see a bit of impatience
in her eyes. "Well?"
"Don't go," he blurted out. Immediately, he felt like kicking
himself. When was the last time that he had no control over his own
words?
Disbelief came over her features, then suddenly, sadness.
"Don't say this right now, Darien, I beg of you. I'm going to go--I
NEED to go. Please." Her eyes were lowered.
Undoubtedly, he was surprised. He thought she would reply
with something similar to what she had said a few minutes ago outside.
But what she had just said was nowhere near that. "Serena…you need to
stay. We have to get this, this…thing that's between us over with.
I don't like it lingering even a day longer."
Her face hardened. "There's nothing between us, Darien."
"Oh no? Then why are you leaving, and in such a rush, too?"
"I want to take a vacation! People do take vacations in
summertime, you know!"
"But the fall semester's about to start!"
"Not for another three weeks!"
She looked at him, and sighed. She walked back into her room
and sat down on the bed heavily. "So what do you want me to do, Darien?
Just tell me, what the hell do you want me to do?!"
His mouth was hanging slightly open. Was that what she felt
like? Why was she asking questions like this? He had no idea what to
say.
Suddenly another thought entered his mind. Perhaps Serena
did need to get away. He didn't know why he was thinking that abruptly,
but maybe Serena did need a vacation. Maybe he didn't know her as well
as he thought he did.
"Okay, Serena, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm sorry, if I really crossed
the line or something. I don't want to make you not take the break you
want just because of something that…I want. Go. I won't say anything."
Her eyes widened.
"But, before you go, I really want to know…I mean, I can't
stand being in suspense, and--god." He sighed, and ran a hand through
his hair. "Just tell me. Why ARE you going away?"
From the look in her eyes, he knew he was not going to get a
straight answer. But he could tell that he was going to GET an answer,
and he was willing to take any kind at this minute. He looked into her
eyes, not daring to glance anywhere else.
"Fine. I'll tell you." Her eyes became sort of glassy. "It is
because of the dream, like you said. But that's not all. It's only…a
part of the--many reasons. And…" She bit her lip, casting her gaze to
the floor.
"And?"
"And they all are connected to you." She let out a sigh.
"There, you happy now? You got an answer. Now, can I go?"
He couldn't suppress a small grin. "Didn't I just say that I
won't say anything to stop you from taking the vacation that you want?"
She flushed. "Yeah." She started to go out of her room.
He gently grabbed her wrist when she passed by him. He let go
immediately after she stopped and turned around to face him.
"What now?"
He smiled. He looked down at her, and felt his heart skipping a
beat at how beautiful she looked at the moment. There wasn't any
accusation on her face, wasn't any resentment…her eyes were questioning,
and he couldn't see any annoyance in them. And that, to him, was rare.
"I wanted to know another thing."
"Uh-huh, I can see that."
His lips stretched into a lopsided grin. "When you said it has
something to do with the dream…it's only the kiss in the dream that
you're talking about, isn't it?"
She was silent for a moment. Then she sighed. "I think we
both know the answer to that. You had the same dream. Was waiting on
the porch by yourself interesting to you?"
Ah. Even in the last minute she had to be smart.
He grinned. "All right, all right…I guess that was a stupid
question." He paused for a minute, the grin on his face gone. He looked
at her seriously, and for a moment, wasn't sure how to say goodbye.
"Well, I have to go now."
He racked his brain for the correct words to say. "Uh…I guess
I'll see you when you get back. I mean, of course…" he said softly,
tentatively, "you are coming back, right?"
She smiled, and nodded her head. "Yes. Hey, I did pay this
whole month's rent, you know."
"Right. Bye, Serena. For now." He flashed another glance at
her, then walked to the stairs and went down to the first floor.
Serena stood there, staring after him. Then, a soft smile
crossed her features, and she sighed.
"Bye, Serena, I'm going to miss having you around," Raye said,
hugging Serena tightly.
Serena hugged Raye back. "Raye…?"
Raye let go and looked at her with a smile on her face. "Yeah?"
Serena bit her lip. "Um…never mind."
"Okay…" Raye gave her a curious smile.
Serena grinned, and couldn't help but add, "Take care of Chad,
all right?" She winked at Raye.
Raye blushed.
"Chad? What's this about Chad?" Mye, who had just come back
from the bathroom, asked.
Raye groaned. "Serena!"
Mye grinned and took the hint. "All right, all right, almost
time to go. I'll let you go this time, Raye." She flashed a smile at
Serena. "Come on, Serena."
Serena looked at Raye, and hugged her again. "Thank you so
much. I'll see you when I come back, okay? And say goodbye to Chad for
me."
"Sure."
Serena lingered in the living room, looking at Darien's closed
door. She bit her lip, wondering whether or not she should go knock
and say bye to him.
Raye noticed the expression on Serena's face. She smiled and yelled, "Darien! Come out and say
bye to Serena! She's leaving!"
Serena glanced at her friend, and flashed her a grateful
smile.
Darien's door swung open, and he stepped out. His eyes
immediately found Serena's, and he leaned against a side of the
doorframe while he flashed her a lazy grin. "See you in a few weeks."
Serena's heart pounded against her chest. She really was going
to miss him…miss all the little arguments that they always had… "Bye,
Darien." She looked at Mye, who was looking back and forth between her
and Darien with a curious expression on her face. "Ready?"
"I was ready a long time ago. Come on." Mye smiled and went
out the front door.
Serena followed suit, forcing herself not to look back.
"Amy!!" Serena opened her arms wide.
A huge grin spread across Amy's face as she threw her arms
around Serena and hugged her back. "Oh my god, I cannot believe you
are actually here! I thought I would never see you again!"
Serena walked in Amy's apartment and dropped her luggage
against the wall. She glanced around and smiled at Amy. "Wow…so neat.
I see some things have changed since the last time I had been here."
She narrowed her eyes and suddenly realized something. "The pictures!
The pictures of you and Greg! They are all gone!"
Amy stayed silent, and watched Serena as she walked around.
"And the books…the computer…Amy! What…?!" Then, she gasped, a
thought entering her mind. "You got rid of everything that have some
kind of a connection to Greg…" she stared at Amy, waiting for a reply.
Amy sighed, and forced a smile. "You noticed. You always
notice everything." She walked over to the couch in the middle of the
room and sat down.
Serena came to sit next to Amy. She put an arm around her.
"All right, you have to tell me everything now. Right from the
beginning."
Tears filled Amy's dark blue eyes. She sniffled and sighed
deeply. "Oh Serena…we broke up because…well, because we are too alike."
"What? I don't get it. I mean, I WANT someone who's a bit
more like me, honestly." She rolled her eyes. "But lately, I can't
seem to find anyone that even has ANY similarities with me." Darien's
face suddenly popped up in Serena's mind, and she quickly forced it
gone.
"It's like…we wanted to do everything the same that it was
getting boring, you know? I mean, when Greg and me first met, I
thought it was so amazing how much we had in common, and Greg thought
the same thing. But…as time went on…there wasn't really anything to
talk about anymore, I mean--I actually wanted us to fight once in a
while! We are too alike even for that…can you believe it?" Amy looked
at Serena with incredulous eyes.
"Trust me, when you guys start to argue all the time, it won't
be fun, either." Darien's name once again popped up in Serena's mind,
and this time, she shoved it away with a bit of annoyance.
Amy smiled sadly. "Well, that didn't happen, and that's not
going to happen anytime soon." She forced a brighter smile on her face,
and stood up. "Come on, I'll show you to your room."
"You know, you should get a smaller apartment. I never
understood why you rented a two bedroom one," Serena said thoughtfully
as she followed Amy.
Amy opened a closed door and stepped in the room. "There you
go." She flashed Serena a genuine smile.
Serena glanced around. A bed to the corner with dark green
patterned set, light green curtains decorating the window, which
replaced one side of the walls…a pretty room. There was a desk across
the bed, a green lamp on it and a chair by it. The last side of the
walls was the closet…and the sliding doors were big mirrors. The whole
room smelled of fresh spring. She turned to Amy, and gave her a big
grin. "I love it! Lots of green, though."
Amy smiled. "Yeah, well, I was getting tired of seeing blue
all over."
Serena laughed. "Let me get my luggage."
"Hey, Serena?"
She turned around and looked at Amy. "Yeah, Ames?"
"I'm really glad you're here." Amy smiled softly.
Serena smiled back. "Me, too." She hugged Amy, and closed her
eyes, smiling.
Amy almost choked on her juice. "What? Seriously?"
Serena grinned and started to laugh at the look on Amy's face.
"I am telling you, it SO happened. I couldn't believe it either…but oh
well!" She grinned again, and then took a gulp of her soda.
Amy giggled, and put her cup down. "Oh my god…I don't believe
it! How could I not notice it? I was around him AND her practically
everyday!"
"I guess I have good eyes," Serena answered easily, smiling.
"Oh, man…hey, what time is it?" Amy suddenly asked, glancing
around the bedroom.
"Don't ask me--I don't know. It's your house."
Amy focused her eyes on the clock standing on her nightstand.
"Wow! It's one forty-two already!"
Serena's eyes widened, and she turned a whole angle to look
at the clock. "Seriously? Oh, man…I didn't know it was that late
already."
"Oh well, tomorrow's Saturday--and we don't have anywhere to
go, so we can sleep all we want!" Amy exclaimed, stretching in her
pajamas--a tank-top and baggy cotton pants.
Serena stood up from where she was sitting on the floor, and
yawned. "I guess I'll be going to bed now. Night, Ames." She smiled
and started to leave.
"Serena." Amy called after her, her dark blue eyes sparkling.
"I haven't laughed so much in just two hours ever since I attended
college. Thanks."
"No, thank YOU. Thank you for letting me stay here, Ames. I
mean it." The laughter died from her eyes, and she gazed down at the
floor, thinking of Darien and all the complications between them.
Amy smiled. "Night, Serena. See you in the morning."
"See ya." Serena walked out of the bedroom, and went into the
room that she temporarily lived in. I wonder when will Amy get a
smaller place--if she ever will…
She flipped open the green comforter and sheets, and crawled
into bed.
The phone rang endlessly in his ears. Darien groaned and
turned on his bed. The ringing still went on. His eyes blinked open,
and he muttered a curse as he slowly struggled to get himself out of
bed and answer the phone.
He picked up the phone and pressed the Talk button. "Hello?"
he said groggily.
"God, what is wrong with you people? It's eleven in the
morning, you know--if I didn't know you better, I would've hanged up,
like, twenty rings ago."
He was suddenly more awake now. The voice… "Lita? Is that
you?"
"Of course it's me, Darien! Who else do you think it is?"
Lita's voice was more cheerful now, and had a bit of a teasing tone
in it. "So, what's happening with you guys, anyway? Why did you wait
so long to answer the phone?"
He rubbed his hands, and sat up straighter. "I just barely
woke up."
"Aah. Still isn't a morning person, I see. What about Raye?
Or Chad?" Lita questioned.
"I don't know. Probably out to someplace together, I guess."
There was a pause. "Together? As in, dating together?"
He couldn't help but chuckle at the sound of Lita's voice.
"Yes. They're actually together right now."
"Oh my gosh, I don't believe it! And I can't believe Raye
didn't even bother call to tell me!"
He became more serious. "So, how are you, Lita? Everything
good at your new place?"
There was another slight pause. "Actually…that's what I
called to tell you guys about."
Something in her voice stopped him cold. "Lita…is something
wrong?"
She sighed, a sad sigh--something that he hardly ever hear
from her. "God, I feel so stupid. I-I stayed at the new apartment for
about two weeks, and then one of my really close friends at college
called, and without phoning the manager, I just went with her on this
vacation thing--she provided everything. She was planning to go with
her boyfriend, but that didn't work out." Another sigh. "Anyway, I
didn't think it was necessary for me to call the manager. Who knew
that the vacation would last so long? I just barely got back last
week. God, Darien, you should see the manager. He practically threw
me out. I missed the paying due date for like, what, ten days? And
now he's asking me to pack and leave."
It was sort of hard to keep up, with him still groggy from
his sleep, but he mostly got what she had said. "So basically, you're
saying, you're without a place to stay right now, and you want to
come back?"
There was definite relief in her voice. "Oh, I'm so glad you
understand. You have no idea how much I've fussed over whether to call
you guys or not. I mean, I left in such a hurry, not giving you time to
find another roommate, leaving you guys to pay the rent three-way for
the expensive house, and--"
"Hey, hey, Lita, it's okay. Actually, we found a roommate not
long after you left, and we got her just in time for the rent starting
the new month, too." That brought him thinking of Serena again. Darien
forced to keep himself concentrated on Lita's problem.
"Oh." She sighed sadly over the phone. "Oh, that's really
great for you guys, finding another roommate and all…but…god, Darien,
do you know any place that I can crash in temporarily?"
Darien hesitated, not knowing whether or not he should tell
Lita that Serena was gone for now. "So, uh, how long do you mean by
'temporarily'?"
"Until I find another apartment to live in, of course."
He softly pulled the cord of the phone, still hesitant. He cleared his
throat. "Hey, Lit…listen, Serena--that's the roommate's name, she's
gone…for like, three weeks or something. I think you can live here…
until she comes back, of course."
"Oh, my god! You mean that? Ooh! God, Darien, thank you sooo
much! You don't know how much this means to me! I'm going to be moving
my stuff in tomorrow, okay? No, wait, how about right now? It's only an
hour away from here. My gosh…I'm so excited, just think, us four
together again, just like old times!" Lita laughed joyfully. "Oh man…"
"Lita…" Darien felt a bit tense, "You do realize that once
Serena comes back from her vacation, you'll have to move out, right?"
But Lita didn't seem to hear him. "Remember what we used to do
on Friday nights where we all didn't have dates? Ooh, we can do that
again now! I really am sorry that I moved out so unexpectedly…but I'm
going to be with you guys now! Ooh, Darien, I'm so happy!"
He couldn't say anything. He listened to her while she rambled
on and on. He sighed to himself. Hopefully Lita would remember to move
out when Serena came back.
He looked away, concentrating on the scene outside of his
window. When was Serena coming back? In three weeks, like she said? He
seriously hoped Serena was good at keeping her words.
"You did…what?" Raye stared at Darien, her eyes huge.
"I just…sort of invited her back in. I mean, come on, what
was I supposed to do, anyway?" Darien shoved his hands into his khaki
pockets,and looked back at Raye with as much cool on his face as he
could make.
Chad nodded his head seriously. "True. But…what about
Serena?"
Darien stiffened. "There's nothing 'about' Serena. When she
comes back from wherever, Lita will move out."
"And what if she hasn't found an apartment by then? What will
happen then? Have them both here or something?" Raye pressed, her
eyes narrowed at him.
Darien threw up his hands. "I don't know! God, don't act like
it's my fault, all right? I was just trying to be a decent friend.
Lita needed a place to stay, and I told her that she could stay here
for a while. That's no big deal, is it?"
"No, not right now, it isn't," Raye said, "But when Serena
comes back, and sees Lita living here…" She sighed, and shook her head.
"Then you tell me if it is a big deal or not." She flashed another
look at him, then left the room.
Chad looked at Darien. "I think you did the right thing…but
I don't know if it is quite so right when Serena comes back…" He put
a hand on Darien's shoulder. Then he left the room also.
Darien stared at the gray-carpeted floor, and cocked an
eyebrow.
"The fall semester's going to start in another week, you
know," Amy told Serena, studying her with a serious expression.
Serena looked back at her, her face expressionless. "Yeah,
I know. What, you want me to get out of your house? You tired of me
now?" She teased.
Immediately, Amy's face became panicky. "Oh, come on,
Serena, you know that's not true. I love having you here. But…don't
you want to get ready for it when the year starts?"
The smile on Serena's face faded. "Yeah," she said quietly,
"I know. I just…I don't know if I should go back there…I mean…" She
stood up from the bed and walked to the window. She pulled open the
curtains.
Amy also got up, and came to stand next to Serena. "You do
want to go back, don't you?"
"Yes, I do. But yet…" She turned away, and leaned her back
against the wall. "I don't…you know? He's so complicated…and I don't
know if I can be myself if I'm around him. Hell, I almost never am
myself when I'm around him."
"Aren't you? Or is he bringing out another side of you that
you never knew about?"
Serena almost smiled, because she thought Amy was joking, but
when she looked at Amy's serious face, she dropped her gaze. "Look, all
I know is, when I'm with you, I'm always cheerful, happy…hyper. When
I'm with him, I feel…not like myself."
Amy smiled this time. "Well…it's getting late. I should go to
bed now." She leaned over and gave Serena a hug. "Good night."
"Good night, Amy. Sleep tight." Serena watched Amy go out of
the room. She reached over and pulled the curtains back, then fell
flat on her back to her bed. "Oh…" She sighed, and stretched over to
turn the light off. She turned so her left side was facing down, but
her eyes weren't ready to close just yet.
She stared in the darkness, feeling a million thoughts
rushing in and out of her brain. She remembered the poems that she
read of Darien…the ones that she wasn't supposed to look at…probably
ever. Suddenly, she smiled. She couldn't believe that a guy like
Darien would write poems…especially poems about her. She stopped her
smile cold. "You're not sure that they were about you. They could be
about anyone…anything."
Still, she liked the thought of Darien writing poems about
her. It was…flattering, and it was a nice feeling, inspiring him like
that. Her eyelids were becoming heavy. She let out a small sigh,
tucked a hand under her face, and closed her eyes completely.
Lita let out a laugh. "That has got to be the most funniest
blooper I've ever seen…"
Raye, who was sitting in Chad's lap on the couch, laughed
also. "Yep, I have to agree."
"You know, have you guys realized that commercials, nowadays,
are getting sillier, scarier, more daring, and…just plain better?"
Chad asked, glancing around at the other three.
"Yeah, I don't even mind watching commercials that much
anymore, except, of course, when it's interrupting my favorite shows
or something," Lita replied, smiling at the TV screen.
Raye groaned loudly. "Yeah…don't you just hate it when that
happens?"
"Flip the channel, yeah? This talk show's getting boring,"
Darien said to Lita, who was holding the remote control.
"Sure. Just let me know when you wanna stop." Lita held up
the remote, and started pushing the Channel button.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Slow down! How am I supposed to know what
kind of show it's showing when you flip through it so quickly like
that?" Darien protested, and grabbed another handful of popcorn.
Lita automatically slowed down.
"You guys, I'm suddenly so craving for ice cream right now.
Do we still have some left in the freezer? I think I bought some last
week…did you finish it?" Raye narrowed her eyes at Lita, "I know you
love ice cream, Lita…but you better not tell me you finished it."
Lita laughed, and handed the remote to Darien. "You see which
one you want. Raye, I know you know I love ice cream, but this time,
I absolutely swear that I did not eat any of your ice cream. But NOW…"
Raye sighed, but smiled, and got off Chad's lap. "I'm going
to get some. Anyone else want any?"
"I hate ice cream," Chad said in a disgusted tone.
"I'll have some…these popcorn are getting softer…I hate
popcorns that aren't crunchy," Darien said, looking at the popcorn
sitting on the glass table in front of the couch.
Lita shook her head. "My oh my, picky little people we have
here."
Raye came back with three plates, each having two scoops of
vanilla ice cream on them. She handed Darien and Lita spoons, and
then sat down on the floor next to Chad's legs. She licked her ice
cream. "Aah…delicious."
"Just watch, when I wake up tomorrow, I'm going to have a
major stomachache," Darien said, eating a spoonful of ice cream.
"Why?" Lita asked, eyes on the TV screen.
"That's how I always get when I eat ice cream."
"Well, then, hand it over, since you don't want it!" Lita
went over to get a hold of Darien's plate.
Darien held his plate up high. "No, no, no, I didn't say I
didn't want it!"
"Well, you didn't say you wanted a stomachache, either, so
hand over the plate of ice cream!" She put her plate down, and
stretched her hand out even more.
He chuckled. "If you're that desperate for ice cream, have
Raye get you more!"
"No way! Let me finish this mouth watering plate first!"
Raye immediately replied, leaning farther against the bottom of the
couch.
Chad shook his head. "You guys are in COLLEGE, and you can
act SO immature sometimes…"
Lita stopped fussing with Darien and slowly turned to Chad.
"WHAT did you say…?"
Raye's eyes widened as a smile spread across her face. "Uh-oh.
Wrong thing to say, Chad…you KNOW how much Lita HATE to be called
immature…"
"Oh, shit." A grin appeared on Chad's face, and he held up
two hands in front of his face.
Lita laughed. "Aww…scared of a little girl now, aren't you,
Mr. Man?"
Darien laughed out loud. "Mr. Man?" He laughed again, "That
has got to be the gayest name I've ever heard…but it fits Chad!"
Raye went over and smacked Darien's leg. "Watch what you're
saying about my boyfriend, cousin!"
Suddenly, they heard a door close.
"I'm glad you guys are having so much fun."
The four stopped, and turned toward the voice.
"Serena." The name automatically slipped out of Darien's lips.
A big grin spread across Raye's features. "Serena! You're
back!" She jumped up, put her plate of ice cream down, and ran toward
Serena to give her a hug. "How did you come back? How did you get back
from the train station? Oh! Who cares, you're back!!" She hugged Serena
tighter.
Serena hugged Raye back, her eyes still on Lita. "Yeah…I'm
actually…back."
Lita stood up straighter, and smiled politely. "This is the
other roommate, right?"
Raye turned around and nodded, beaming. "Yep. Serena, I'd like
you to meet, Lita. Lita, Serena. Now you two know each other."
Serena smiled back, and went over to Lita. "Hi." She looked
around. "So, uh," she began confusedly, "Are you moved back in here or
something?"
"Well, yes, I guess," Lita answered, and let out a laugh,
"They miss me so much that they want me back desperately."
It was only a small change, but Darien noticed Serena's eyes
lost their sparkle when Lita said that. He immediately opened his mouth,
"No, no, she's not moved back in. She just needed a place to crash
temporarily, and now that you're back--"
"I'll move out, no problem," Lita continued without missing a
beat. She grinned.
Serena looked at Lita in surprise.
"Of course, I'll have to find another apartment in the
meantime, but I'll be okay," Lita said in a quieter voice, but kept the
smile on her face.
There was silence in the room for a few seconds.
"You know what, it's okay. I can just go back to Amy's…until
the semester starts. Or I can find another apartment--" Serena heard
her voice crack, and she stopped talking.
"No!" Raye immediately protested, and put an arm around
Serena. "What the hell are you talking about? You're not moving out to
anywhere! Lita just needed a place to stay temporarily, that's all,
she'll move out…" She shot a death glare at Darien. 'Look what you've
done now.'
Darien didn't notice it, because he was still staring at
Serena.
Serena was hesitant. "Are you sure?" She looked at Lita, her
eyes a bit wide.
"Uh…yeah! You did pay this month's rent, after all, so you're
still the roommate," Lita replied, looking around the house while she
talked.
"But where would you stay?" Chad suddenly asked, his brows
furrowed together.
Raye turned and gave another glare to him. Then, she turned
back to Lita, and smiled, "We'll help you find another apartment that's
near enough to the college and good, too, don't worry."
Lita smiled. "Thanks." She rubbed her hands together. "So, I
guess, I'll be moving my stuff."
Serena looked at her own luggage that was still placed by the
door. "I'll get my stuff…into the room." She went to get them, and
started up the stairs after Lita.
After they were out of sight, Raye immediately walked to
Darien, and punched him in the arm. "See what I meant? God! Where do
you expect Lita to go right now? And if you let Lita stay, then where
the hell is Serena supposed to go? Man!!" She let out a grunt.
Darien exhaled. "I'm going to go talk…to her."
"No, let me!" Raye eyed him carefully, "I'm afraid that you're
going to say something that's going to ruin it even more." She started
toward the stairs.
Darien sighed again, then followed after his cousin.
Chad stood there, looking after the two with a confused
expression on his face.
Lita wrapped a piece of paper around her marble pencil vase,
and then put it in her duffle bag. She went over to the closet, and
got out her shirts and a few pants. She tossed them on top of the bag.
She smiled an apologetic smile at Serena. "Sorry. I have too much
stuff, don't I?"
Serena shook her head. "No, It's okay. But what happened to
all of your other stuff? I mean, you can't just have this little bag
containing all of your belongings."
"Yeah, some other things like pictures frames and stuff are
in another bigger, MUCH bigger suitcase," Lita pointed deeper into
the closet, "It's in there. Luckily, I don't have furniture from my
last apartment--it provided everything. That's why it was so
comfortable there. Well, this house does, too, but…that was bigger.
But stupidly, I forgot to pay the rent…" She sighed, and shook her
head, as if disapproving herself.
"Where are you going to go now?" Serena couldn't help but
ask.
"I really don't know. Maybe I can crash at my friend Ken's
house…but…" Lita bit her lip, and lowered her eyes. "He's a guy, and
he has a one bedroom apartment…I don't know…"
Serena frowned, feeling frustrated. She barely knew this
Lita, but she knew it wasn't Lita's fault that she was staying here.
Still, she couldn't help but feel weird that Darien and them didn't
even bother to tell her.
"Lita, you need any help?" Darien appeared by the door.
Lita smiled. "No. What, you can't wait till I'm out of the
house?"
"No!" Raye also appeared, and then walked into the room. "Of
course not. But…Lit--are you going to be all right?"
Lita sighed. "Yeah, I'll be fine. I'll give Ken a call. I
think he'll let me stay there, but I can't stay long. You know, I was
about to go and stay there when I was thrown out of my apartment, but
since he's a guy, and we used to be…you know, I figured it would be a
little bit…uncomfortable. So I gave you guys a call instead." She
turned to folding and putting her clothes in the suitcase.
"Well, you don't have to go now. I mean, at least stay
until tonight. We'll all go out for pizza or something," Darien
offered, looking at Lita apologetically.
"Yeah, Lita. I mean, if you hadn't moved out in such a
hurry--we would still go out for pizza or hamburger today, anyway--it's
Friday night, we always do that when we don't have dates, remember?"
Raye said, smiling at Lita, her eyes sparkling.
Serena dropped her gaze. "Excuse me for a moment." She walked
out of the room, and started to climb downstairs.
Darien gave Raye a sharp look, but didn't open his mouth. He
got out of the room also, and went after Serena to the first floor.
Raye suddenly realized what she had just said. "Oh my god…I
just SO excluded Serena! How can I be so stupid?" She felt like
smacking herself. If Lita weren't there, she would've actually.
"Wow. You guys sure developed a strong friendship with Serena
in such short time," Lita remarked, not really looking at Raye, and not
really concentrating on packing, either.
Raye watched Lita as she put the folded clothes into the bag.
"Yeah…I guess…Serena's very…lovable." She suddenly had a flash of Darien
and Serena in her mind. She smiled slightly.
"I'm going to give Ken a call right now." Lita fished a small
phone pad out of her purse. "Let's see…" She picked up the cordless
phone in the room, and dialed.
After a few seconds, someone picked up. "Hey, Ken? It's Lita."
Lita's face was forming a smile. "Yeah…listen, I really need to ask you
a favor. I need a place to stay. Not forever, definitely, and I can't
really say how long, but it's only for right now. So, is it okay?"
Raye watched Lita's face carefully for any reaction.
"Yeah, I know the new semester's about to start. Something just
happened to my apartment…yeah, I KNOW it was perfect…did you have to
remind me?" A laugh escaped Lita's throat. "Yeah, sure, sure, of course,
that's what you're here for, right?"
Raye thought as she looked at Lita admirably. Suddenly
she thought of Chad. Then she shook her head to get rid of the thought.
Serena leaned against the wall in the so-called family room.
She sighed quietly, and closed her eyes. She should've stayed at Amy's
longer. Then she snorted. Yeah, right. How much "longer" could she have
stayed? The fall semester was to start on Monday.
"Serena."
She knew immediately who it was. She turned to look at him,
with no surprise on her face. She felt stiff when her eyes landed on
his face.
"You okay?" Darien asked, coming closer to her so that they
were only about a foot apart.
Serena looked up into his blue eyes, and felt herself soften.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Why shouldn't I be?" She frowned slightly for effect.
He shrugged. "I don't know. I thought maybe you…feel
uncomfortable or something."
"Oh really? Well, for your information, I don't. Honest." She
turned away from him, and went to sit in front of the fireplace. She
stared at the wooden sticks in it.
He came to stand behind her. "Lita did say she just needed a
place to stay in for a little while. And she's such a good friend of
ours, I couldn't say no. And I told her that when you come back, she
has to go."
She looked at him, and for a moment, didn't say anything.
He stared back at her, his midnight blue eyes locked with baby
blue ones.
Then she smiled. "You know, you didn't have to explain. It's
really no big deal…I mean…" She let out a small sigh. "Okay, I admit it.
Watching the four of you laughing together like that when I came back…
just somehow reminded me that you four were together in the first place,
and I'm just a, a person that can help pay the rent when Lita is gone.
I just get this feeling…that, that whenever she feels like coming back,
she can just stay and I have to go."
He looked at her, not sure what to say. He frowned, and then
gazed into her eyes, "Serena. Lita is a really great friend. But…" He
cleared his throat, "you are, too. I mean…yeah, you are someone who
helps pay the rent for this house--but it's also because…we like you.
I mean, if we didn't like you as a friend, we would've kicked you
out--at least, Raye would've." He offered a smile.
She smiled back. "Yeah."
"So you have nothing to worry about. Lita's staying is
temporary.You see--she's packing right now, and she's going to leave.
And you're going to be back here again…and then the semester's going
to start."
She groaned. "Don't remind me…time to get into studies again."
He couldn't help but grin at the expression on her face.
Serena watched Darien. "You know…I believe you were actually
being nice to me."
His grin widened, and his eyes had a glint in them. "Well,
don't expect it too often."
She laughed. "Of course not." Then, in a more serious tone,
"Thanks, Darien, for coming down after me. You didn't have to,
honestly. I was fine, and I AM fine. Next time take that hint."
He looked at her. "Depends on the circumstances." He started
to walk out of the family room.
"Do you guys actually spend any family time here?" She asked,
stopping him. She glanced around the cozy room, wondering.
He turned back and looked around also. "Well…not really. We
never are in here together. Like, when I want to study for some exam,
and Raye is watching TV out in the living room, I come in here, where
it's quieter, and cozier--since my room is just right beside the TV."
"Oh." She stayed in the room for a few more seconds, then
walked out. "We should spend some time in there together," she murmured
under her breath.
He looked after her, a bit confused. He followed her out to
the living room. "What do you mean?"
She turned around, surprised. "You heard me?"
He nodded, a half-grin on his face. "Yeah."
A quick smile appeared on her face. "I didn't realize."
"So you gonna tell me what you're thinking inside that
beautiful head of yours?" He smiled at her, eyes holding an amused
glint.
Her eyes widened a bit--she couldn't believe that he had
actually called her beautiful. She felt her face getting hot, but she
controlled herself to keep cool. Act like nothing just happened.
"Nothing, actually. I was just thinking how a waste it is to be called
a family room when no 'family' rarely spends any time in there."
"Because there isn't a family to spend with."
She looked at him, and smiled, shaking her head. "Aren't we a
family? Sure, we are not blood related, but we act like one, don't we?"
He smiled back. "We argue, we constantly get on each other's
nerves, we have love--yeah, I guess you can say that we are a family."
"We actually have love in this family?" She teased, "Wow. I
didn't know love even existed in this household."
"Oh, it exists all right…it's just not…obvious yet," he
replied, in a quieter voice.
She swallowed a lump in her throat. "You know…something's
changed since I came back." She looked at him, tightening her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"The way we are acting right now, to each other…we act like,
like…"
"Like we don't feel like squeezing each other's throats?" A
lopsided grin formed on his face.
She sighed, smiling. "Yeah." Her voice was barely above a
whisper.
For the next few minutes, no one said anything. They stayed
in a comfortable silence, looking at each other closely.
He was glad she was back. Very glad.
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