Disclaimer: Still not mine
Chapter 1
"Darien, Rini wait up for me!" I yelled running after them.
They always did this, run off by themselves leaving me behind. I guess they just have this special bond I don't understand. I'm not a part of it really.
"Owww!" I whined as I tripped and fell on the pavement. I skinned my knee, and blood was trickling down my leg. Again I proved to be less than graceful. I glanced up to see Darien and Rini were out of sight, they didn't even notice I had fallen.
I decided to just go home. Recently I've just felt like I was an annoyance around those two. My 16th birthday had passed not too long ago. I'm practically an adult but I sure don't feel like it.
"Serena, aren't you Darien and Rini suppose to go to the zoo today?" the black cat perched on my bed ask.
"Yeah, but they went on without me. I doubt they even realize I'm gone. Don't get me wrong I love the little munchkin but when she's there…it's like I'm not."
"Please tell me you're not jealous of that little girl again. Granted she can be a bit trying at times but that's no reason to be jealous of her. Really Serena you're 16 now!" Luna exclaimed.
Suddenly the phone rang and I picked it up, "Hello."
"Serena, why'd you ditch us?" Darien asked.
"Me ditch you? Ha! You guys ditched me. I fell and when I looked up you were gone. It's been over an hour and you've just called now. You didn't even miss me, did you?" I shouted.
"Calm down. You always blow things out of proportion. I'm dropping Rini off cause I have to get to work. When you want to talk about things like an adult, call me!" he stated angrily.
*
At The Temple…
"Serena, you're late again! What's your excuse this time? Let me guess, you fell and knocked yourself out resulting in amnesia and forgot about the meeting." Raye said in a sardonic tone.
"Sorry Darien dropped Rini off late." I said huffing and puffing from my run over here.
"Weren't you suppose to go with Darien and Rini to the zoo?" Lita asked while twirling her long brown hair.
"Yeah but they left me behind, like usual. Really the little fungus manipulates him. He always pays attention to her and just ignores me. Oh do you have anymore of those delicious cookies?"
"Girls we do have business to attend to. We all have heard Serena whine before. So does anyone have anything important to report? Related to the Negaverse, evil and stuff? Not boys!" Artemis said.
"All my readings have shown things are normal. Nothing brewing, everything is peaceful." The resident genius Amy explained.
"Great, everything is of the norm so Lita and I won't be late for our dates. See ya next week!" Mina shouted.
"What dates?" I questioned.
"Oh these totally babelicious twins we met at the arcade. Mina and I make a great babe hunting team. Catch ya later!" Lita said as they rushed out the door.
"Well, I guess I better go now. I said I'd meet Greg at the park if I could. I'm so glad he's back." Amy said slightly blushing.
"Amy, I thought you were going to help me study tonight."
"Gosh Serena, I forgot. We'll do it another time. You have to learn to study yourself anyway. Also this week I'm traveling with Greg's family to the country. So I'll be back next Sunday. Bye!"
"Guess it's just you and me, Raye. Wanna go see the new Freddie Prinze Jr. movie? He is so hot!"
"Serena unlike you I actually have a life. Which means a job and responsibilities. But of course the word responsibility is foreign to you."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
"You're 16 still you have no responsibility. You're Sailor Moon, our leader, and we bail you out all the time. You can barely pass your classes or walk down a city block without falling. No evil force to blame for all your faults now. No, excuses so why don't you just grow up!"
How could she say such things? I walked out in to the warm summer night. Does she really believe that? Sure Raye and I fight a lot but she was never that cruel before. She has a point though all the Scouts are moving on but me. Lita and Mina are best friends. Amy has Greg and her and Raye are really close. That leaves me with a boyfriend who can hardly stand me, though he is destined to love me, a daughter who detests and ridicules me, a family who has no cue who I really am, a guardian cat who loves to berate me.
Ugh I hate being depressed. Must think happy thought…cake and ice cream, TV, comic books. Okay I'm going home to pig out, watch TV and read comic books. Problem solved…for now.
*
Later That Week…
"Oh I can't believe I failed another math test. Moms going to kill me. I tried to study, really I did. But Rini ripped apart my room and I had to clean it up. And Amy left me to be with Greg. And—"
"Serena, for once will you take responsibility for your actions. You had days to study and you didn't. Instead you spent your time gorging yourself on TV, food and comic books." Luna stated as we walked down the crowded streets.
"I was depressed and I needed to distract myself. No time for studying."
"Every time you and Darien have a fight, you neglect your schoolwork. Remember Darien is older than you, he probably expects you to be …well, um…more mature."
I walked into the house contemplating Luna's words. Lately everyone has been hinting I should just grow up. They don't understand I don't know if I can even explain it. Ut oh here comes Mom.
"Hello dear how was school? How'd your math exam go?"
"My math exam it was, um…I took it. And the result was…" I stalled.
"Was what Serena? Give me that?" she said as she grabbed my test. On the test in bright red marker was my grade, a 43. Her face became flushed with rage, she tried to control her anger but…
"Serena Tsukino what is wrong with you? You wonder off doing God's know what. You're always with that older boy. I just don't know what to think. Now your grades are falling. If you don't keep your grades up you'll never get into college. What about your future? Do you ever think of that? Just go up to your room. Your Father and I will talk to you later."
I quickly ran up the stairs. I entered my room to find the pink haired munchkin on my bed and on the phone.
"Rini how many times have I told you to stay out of my room! Who are you on the phone with?"
"Yeah Darien she's here but I don't think you want to talk to her. She's in a bad mood again. Her mom was just yelling cause she bombed another test. Okay. I'll talk to you later. Serena its Darien." She said handing me the phone.
"Hello, so you've decided to talk to me again." I said stiffly.
"Yeah well we were both being kind of childish. So I hear you failed another test."
I grimaced, "I'd rather not talk about it."
"Fine, I was talking to Andrew he says 'hello'. He says that he hasn't seen you for a while. He's seen Mina and Lita pretty often. They're always after some guy. And I hear Amy's always with Greg." Darien said trying to make conversation.
"Uh huh they went with his family to the country for a week. They're really cute together. I just wish I had Amy's help studying." Serena added.
Darien sighed "You have to learn to do the work by yourself. Amy and the others won't always be there. You have to learn to stand on your own like I did."
"Darien look, I know you've had a rough childhood and you were always very independent. I like being able to count on my friends and family to help me. I always have and hopefully always will."
"Serena will you come back from your fantasy world. Focus on something for once. You always said that you wanted a normal life. Well here's your chance. Take it."
"Serena! Please come down. We'd like to talk with you." My mother's voice sounded.
"I gotta go. I'll call you later okay?" Bye Darien."
"Bye Meatball head." He said as he hung up the phone.
I slowly walked downstairs to where my parents sat side by side on the sofa. The test lay on the coffee table the dismal red number glaring at me. I took a seat on the carpet and looked at them expectantly. You know I've faced all kinds of evil but this meeting brought a new feeling of dread.
"Serena your mother and I have discussed this thoroughly and decided it is for your best interest. You are grounded until further notice. You will go to school and come directly home, no stopping at the video arcade. You can watch TV only when your homework is done and shown to one of us. You may talk on the phone but only for a limited amount of time. Also you may not see that older boy from now on. Until you can prove to us that we can trust you to keep good grades and come home at a regular time, after you've told us where you'll be. You are under house arrest." He father decreed.
My jaw dropped through the speech. I knew I was in trouble but this? I was to be kept a prisoner. .
"All this for a bad grade?" I sputtered.
"Not only for a bad grade but for what we have been putting up with. Leaving and coming in at all hours without telling us where you'll be or who you've been with. You seem so distant at times. We love you and we worry about you. This is for the best." My Mother stated calmly.
"You can't do this to me! It isn't fair!" I shouted.
"We already have." My Father yelled back.
I ran up to my room and threw myself on the bed. I wanted to cry but no tears would come. Luna padded softly into my room. She had heard everything.
"Their punishment is a bit harsh but it can't hurt you." She said.
"Have you forgotten I'm Sailor Moon? Champion of Love and Justice ring a bell? I can't fight evil if I'm grounded! Did you think about that Miss Smarty Cat?" I spat angrily at her.
"No I hadn't but then again nothing has arose recently. The Scouts are capable. You should be able to concentrate on your schoolwork."
"I can't see Darien. We've gone through so much only to have my parents do this. He'll move on. Why would he want a girlfriend he can never see? I hate this." I said bitterly. "What about the scout meeting on Sunday? I'll never be able to make it."
"Darien loves you so don't worry about him. I'll go to the meeting like usual and I'll give you all the details. I really do think this isn't a bad thing for you." Luna said effectively ending the conversation.
*
Sunday, At The Temple…
"So Amy how was your week away with Greg?" Lita asked.
"It was great. I really like his family. I just hope I didn't miss much in school."
"Oh Amy, like you could ever fall behind." Mina said with a smile.
"Not like that ditz Serena. I can't believe she got grounded. Not like they'll be a big difference here. Just more food and less fighting." Raye announced.
"Poor Serena, that girl can never keep herself out of trouble." Artemis said shaking his head.
"So to sum it up, nothing new on the evil battle front. And gossip wise, Amy and Greg had a great time and are now officially a couple. Lita and Mina have a second date with the hunky twins. And Raye…?"
"Nothing new here, Luna." She said with a shaky smile.
"Okay then I'll go report back to our little jailbird. Goodbye." Luna said as she sprinted off into the night.
All the scouts eventually left. Amy was heading out the door when she turned to Raye.
"Raye is everything okay?" she asked with a concerned look.
"Sure, why do you ask?"
"Well I noticed you were pretty quiet during the meeting. And you looked anxious and worried. You were as klutzy as Serena tonight. If you need to talk I'm here."
"I know Amy. I was just preoccupied tonight. But I'm fine really. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye Raye!"
"Bye!" Raye responded trying to sound cheerful.
Raye started to clear away the food Lita had brought when the phone rang. She jumped, startled. Grandpa had gotten it. She waited a few minutes and then silently walked into the room where he was. He was sitting on the chair with his head on his hands.
"Grandpa what did they say?" she asked trying to control the tremble in her voice.
Her grandfather looked up, "The doctor said the tests confirmed his thoughts…it's cancer. I'm to go check into the hospital tomorrow. Hospital! What does that doctor know?" he said gruffly.
"Grandpa he knows more than you do. Don't be foolish; you are going to that hospital. I don't care how stubborn you are. You're going to go to that hospital and get better!" Raye shouted.
"But what about the temple? I can't leave it." He said waspishly.
"Chad and I will be fine. Don't you dare worry about us. You should go pack. I'll come and see you after school."
"Fine, but first I want to go over some things with Chad." He went to leave the room and paused, "Raye, please don't worry about me. Cancer can't stop me! Nothing can! Now don't you going doing anything stupid while I'm away."
"Yes, Grandpa. I'm going to go finish cleaning up now." She said as she tried to fight the tears that clogged her throat.
She ran outside and stood in the moonlight as tears ran down her cheeks. It just wasn't fair, she thought. But then again life never was fair.