Oct 2000
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing them. The story,
however, is mine.
It Matters To Me.
Chapter 6
Serena walked slowly home from school, her book bag in one hand, her
side still aching from the beating it had taken Friday night. Sunday there
had been another attack and she'd been tied, by her friends, to Mina's bed so
she couldn't participate. From the sound of it the monster had been very
weak to lightning and combined with Mercury's water attack it had quickly
dissolved. Serena was thankful for the extra rest, though she hated the
thought of her friends in battle without her. They knew she was still
weak and had even refused to let her try and speed up their recovery. Today
there were none the worse for wear and for that she was grateful. She winced
as she took a particularly hard step that sent a wave of pain shooting
through her body. Her hand flew to her side and she closed her eyes, willing
for the spasm to pass.
The doors to the arcade opened as she hit the censor and she stepped in,
her steps mincing and careful, her eyes looking around the room. "Hey
Andrew," she called, resisting the urge to wave as she normally did. Her
bandaged hand was wrapped around her school bag, her good hand was twined in
the fabric of her shirt near her side, pressing on it slightly to keep some
of the physical pain away.
"Serena!" Andrew came over quickly from his position behind the counter
and looked at her, "Something is different about you, but I can't place
what."
Serena turned, feeling her tails of hair hitting her hand where it
rested on her waist. "My hair is shorter," she told him, forcing a smile.
She didn't feel much like smiling but she did anyway.
Andrew grinned, and pulled her into a hug, releasing her immediately as
she shrieked, bending over her side protectively. "Serena? Are you
alright?" Andrew knelt next to her, a hand hesitantly going to her shoulder.
"Fine, I'll be fine," she bit out shortly. She closed her eyes,
blinking back tears. Andrew was a lot stronger than he looked and the
squeeze he'd just put on her proved it. He'd hugged her hard and managed to
get his elbow right on the most sensitive part and hug. She felt nauseous
and put out one hand to steady herself. Andrew's hand met hers and she
grasped his in a death grip, causing him to exclaim in surprise as all
feeling left his fingers and her knuckles turned white. She took in a sharp
breath and exhaled, finally letting go of his hand and rising painfully to
her feet, keeping most of her weight slanted away from her injury. "Sorry
about that, I managed to crack a rib or something in gym Friday."
Andrew looked at her sceptically, "You sure you're alright? You should
have that looked at."
Serena sighed, walking over to a booth and quickly sitting herself down,
wincing as she did, "I did have it looked at. She wrapped it up and told me
to take it easy so I'm taking it easy."
"You should really be in bed." Andrew slid into the booth across from
her, keeping an eye on the counter and the door. "Were you resting all
weekend?" She nodded, folding her hands in her lap. "So what did you do to
your hand, then?"
She shrugged, not meeting his eyes, "I burned it in cooking class,"
"Darien has a burn on that hand too. Was he giving you lessons?"
Serena turned her head to look out the window, "He's not talking to me
Andrew."
Andrew reached across the table and gently turned her chin so that he
could see her eyes. His heart went out to her seeing the confusion and pain
swimming in their clear depths. He also saw a shimmering of tears on her
lashes and wanted to kick himself. "I know about you and Darien, Serena. He
came in and told me on Saturday. He was looking for you."
She tugged her chin out of his gentle hold, "Sure he was. Probably to
remind me to stay away from him," a tear slipped down her cheek, "Oh, Andrew,
what did I do to deserve this! Surely I wasn't that horrible to him!" she
buried her face in the arm she placed on the table, her hair falling about
her face like a golden waterfall.
"You didn't do anything Serena," Andrew told her, seeing his best friend
coming towards the entrance of the arcade, "But if you let him explain, maybe
you'll see it was never anything to do with you."
She continued to sob, her face buried, as she refused to look at him.
She heard the doors to the arcade open and the rustle Andrew's clothes as he
slid out of the booth. She pulled her other arm from under the table and
blocked out all light getting to her face. She sniffed and wiped her eyes,
finally raising her face. She took in a shuddering breath and looked out
across the arcade, freezing as her gaze clashed with Darien's. She blanched
and pushed out of the booth, ignoring her side but hissing in pain as she
moved as quick as she dared to the exit. Both hands went to her side as she
walked quickly out of the arcade, not looking at him after that first
fleeting glance.
Darien shook off Andrew's restraining hand and watched Serena, obviously
in pain, flee from the arcade and him. He turned to look at his friend.
"She forgot her book bag, you might want to make sure she gets it back,"
suggested Andrew. His eyes spoke volumes as to why he hadn't let Darien
confront Serena in the arcade. Darien nodded, quickly grabbed Serena's stuff
from the booth and tore out after her.
Tears blurred her eyes as she walked, her hands pressed firmly against
her side. Every jarring step she took hurt, sending shock waves of pain
through her system and causing her vision to blacken a little more around the
edges. Determinedly, she walked along the outside edge of the park leading
home. She hadn't been home since Friday and her parents were in for a shock.
Her steps slowed as she realized she really didn't want to go home. She
moved to the edge of the sidewalk and sat on the curb, burying her face in
her knees as she felt dizzy all of a sudden. She felt tears escape from
under her eyelids and pressed one hand even firmer against her side. The
pain had her head spinning faster, seeing white spots in her gaze as she
looked through the dark blue fabric at her knees.
"Serena?"
Her head shot up, going straight to the source of the words, "Darien?"
she whispered disbelieving before she could stop herself. She bit her lip and
looked away from him, whimpering in pain as she pushed herself to her feet and
took an unsteady step. She wavered and fell, the world tilting
beneath her and she felt herself falling... falling...
Cool water slid over her forehead and she sighed, her eyes blinking
open. Her gaze focused on the firm hand that held what looked to be a hanky
dripping with water. The droplets splashed against her face and she turned her
head. Her mouth gaped open as she looked up at the man who held her cradled
against his chest. Her sore side was pressed gently to his side, the faintest
of pressure on it.
"Feeling better?"
She nodded, seeing him smile gently as he closed her jaw. She saw his
eyes search hers, looking over every inch of her face. She underwent his
scrutiny, searching his face in return, her gaze returning to his eyes time
and time again. "Let me go, Darien." She said finally.
His gaze flew to hers, "I don't want to," he admitted softly.
She pushed against his chest, her eyes shutting him out as she met his
gaze, "You already did. Put me down or I'll scream."
His jaw dropped as he put her on her feet, keeping a cautionary hand
extended towards her in case she fell. She didn't. She straightened slowly
to her full height, leaving her hand hanging loosely at her sides. "You cut
your hair," he murmured, fingers a lock of it.
She jerked her head sharply, pulling the hair from his fingers, "Don't
touch me,"
He dropped his hand and looked at her, his heart in his eyes, "Oh god, I
deserve this, I'm so sorry, Serena."
"Why? You made it perfectly clear you want nothing to do with me. Why
change now?" her eyes stung with unshed tears but she refused to cry with him
so near. It was then, as she looked past his shoulder, she realized where
they were. They were on the bank of the man made lake, on the small alcove
where they'd fed the ducks many a time together.
"I didn't mean it," he told her slowly. "Serena, please, look at me. I
owe you so much, there's so much to-"
"I don't want to hear it Darien," she told him sharply, cutting him off.
At least now she was looking at him.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "So very sorry."
Her gaze softened and he saw the pain she was trying to hide. Both the
physical and the emotional were reflected in her glazed eyes, and he saw the
fear there too. The fear she had of trusting him again, of loving. "So am
I, Darien. I trusted you and look what you did to me. You broke me heart,"
her voice caught and she swallowed before continuing, "you took what we had
for a millenum and tarnished it with lies and half truths. You told me you
would love me forever and at the first sign of trouble you tuck tail and run.
You promise to protect me and then you don't appear when I need you most.
What kind of love is that, Darien? What kind of love is one that gets
questioned when things don't go your way, or that seems to crumble when
problems become to tough to get through easily. What is a love that last
through two lifetimes only to be stopped by age or lies? I can't do this
anymore Darien, you're killing me with this! Can't you see how much you're
hurting me?!"
Darien winced, "I have no choice," he returned, his eyes flashing.
Serena took a step back at the furiously burning pain and frustration she saw
there, "You think I would do this to you and me if I had a choice?" His
laughter was harsh grating on her ears, "Fat chance, Sere. I've seen us move
heaven and hell and fight life and death and you've been key to all those
battles. I've seen you draw so much of yourself and give so much for others,
for me, that how could I not love you? And love you I do, more than my own
life, more than my happiness. If I could I would be with you, the last weeks
I've seen us both go in a downward spiral. I know if I am to be near you it
could cost you your life, I know it, and yet here I am! I see you hurt and I
hurt, you get hurt, and I hurt. We are linked and I have to fight it. With
every breath I take I feel you near me and I have to resist the urge to go to
you. Friday I did and I will never make that mistake again. I almost lost
you because of a nightmare so real it made me doubt my sanity. I love you
Serena, I never stopped, I need to know if you can forgive me one day for the
hurt I've caused you."
She looked at him, her eyes traveling from his face down across his lean
body to his shoes and then back up. Her fingers itched to brush his hair
from his eyes but she refrained from it. She focused on his eyes which were
weary, defeated and completely open for the first time in their relationship.
A detached part of her mind found it darkly amusing that it had taken a break
in their relationship to bring them to this. "No Darien." She said at last,
"I'm going to need proof this time, words won't be enough to convince me that
you're telling me the truth this time. I'm sorry, but until you prove I can
trust you again, we're through." She turned smartly on her heel, her back
ramrod straight, and walked away from him.
Darien stared after her, his mouth slack. 'If proof is what you need,
proof is what you'll get.' He vowed softly. He picked up her bag and
followed her.
Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing them. The story,
however, is mine.
It Matters To Me.
Chapter 6
Serena walked slowly home from school, her book bag in one hand, her
side still aching from the beating it had taken Friday night. Sunday there
had been another attack and she'd been tied, by her friends, to Mina's bed so
she couldn't participate. From the sound of it the monster had been very
weak to lightning and combined with Mercury's water attack it had quickly
dissolved. Serena was thankful for the extra rest, though she hated the
thought of her friends in battle without her. They knew she was still
weak and had even refused to let her try and speed up their recovery. Today
there were none the worse for wear and for that she was grateful. She winced
as she took a particularly hard step that sent a wave of pain shooting
through her body. Her hand flew to her side and she closed her eyes, willing
for the spasm to pass.
The doors to the arcade opened as she hit the censor and she stepped in,
her steps mincing and careful, her eyes looking around the room. "Hey
Andrew," she called, resisting the urge to wave as she normally did. Her
bandaged hand was wrapped around her school bag, her good hand was twined in
the fabric of her shirt near her side, pressing on it slightly to keep some
of the physical pain away.
"Serena!" Andrew came over quickly from his position behind the counter
and looked at her, "Something is different about you, but I can't place
what."
Serena turned, feeling her tails of hair hitting her hand where it
rested on her waist. "My hair is shorter," she told him, forcing a smile.
She didn't feel much like smiling but she did anyway.
Andrew grinned, and pulled her into a hug, releasing her immediately as
she shrieked, bending over her side protectively. "Serena? Are you
alright?" Andrew knelt next to her, a hand hesitantly going to her shoulder.
"Fine, I'll be fine," she bit out shortly. She closed her eyes,
blinking back tears. Andrew was a lot stronger than he looked and the
squeeze he'd just put on her proved it. He'd hugged her hard and managed to
get his elbow right on the most sensitive part and hug. She felt nauseous
and put out one hand to steady herself. Andrew's hand met hers and she
grasped his in a death grip, causing him to exclaim in surprise as all
feeling left his fingers and her knuckles turned white. She took in a sharp
breath and exhaled, finally letting go of his hand and rising painfully to
her feet, keeping most of her weight slanted away from her injury. "Sorry
about that, I managed to crack a rib or something in gym Friday."
Andrew looked at her sceptically, "You sure you're alright? You should
have that looked at."
Serena sighed, walking over to a booth and quickly sitting herself down,
wincing as she did, "I did have it looked at. She wrapped it up and told me
to take it easy so I'm taking it easy."
"You should really be in bed." Andrew slid into the booth across from
her, keeping an eye on the counter and the door. "Were you resting all
weekend?" She nodded, folding her hands in her lap. "So what did you do to
your hand, then?"
She shrugged, not meeting his eyes, "I burned it in cooking class,"
"Darien has a burn on that hand too. Was he giving you lessons?"
Serena turned her head to look out the window, "He's not talking to me
Andrew."
Andrew reached across the table and gently turned her chin so that he
could see her eyes. His heart went out to her seeing the confusion and pain
swimming in their clear depths. He also saw a shimmering of tears on her
lashes and wanted to kick himself. "I know about you and Darien, Serena. He
came in and told me on Saturday. He was looking for you."
She tugged her chin out of his gentle hold, "Sure he was. Probably to
remind me to stay away from him," a tear slipped down her cheek, "Oh, Andrew,
what did I do to deserve this! Surely I wasn't that horrible to him!" she
buried her face in the arm she placed on the table, her hair falling about
her face like a golden waterfall.
"You didn't do anything Serena," Andrew told her, seeing his best friend
coming towards the entrance of the arcade, "But if you let him explain, maybe
you'll see it was never anything to do with you."
She continued to sob, her face buried, as she refused to look at him.
She heard the doors to the arcade open and the rustle Andrew's clothes as he
slid out of the booth. She pulled her other arm from under the table and
blocked out all light getting to her face. She sniffed and wiped her eyes,
finally raising her face. She took in a shuddering breath and looked out
across the arcade, freezing as her gaze clashed with Darien's. She blanched
and pushed out of the booth, ignoring her side but hissing in pain as she
moved as quick as she dared to the exit. Both hands went to her side as she
walked quickly out of the arcade, not looking at him after that first
fleeting glance.
Darien shook off Andrew's restraining hand and watched Serena, obviously
in pain, flee from the arcade and him. He turned to look at his friend.
"She forgot her book bag, you might want to make sure she gets it back,"
suggested Andrew. His eyes spoke volumes as to why he hadn't let Darien
confront Serena in the arcade. Darien nodded, quickly grabbed Serena's stuff
from the booth and tore out after her.
Tears blurred her eyes as she walked, her hands pressed firmly against
her side. Every jarring step she took hurt, sending shock waves of pain
through her system and causing her vision to blacken a little more around the
edges. Determinedly, she walked along the outside edge of the park leading
home. She hadn't been home since Friday and her parents were in for a shock.
Her steps slowed as she realized she really didn't want to go home. She
moved to the edge of the sidewalk and sat on the curb, burying her face in
her knees as she felt dizzy all of a sudden. She felt tears escape from
under her eyelids and pressed one hand even firmer against her side. The
pain had her head spinning faster, seeing white spots in her gaze as she
looked through the dark blue fabric at her knees.
"Serena?"
Her head shot up, going straight to the source of the words, "Darien?"
she whispered disbelieving before she could stop herself. She bit her lip and
looked away from him, whimpering in pain as she pushed herself to her feet and
took an unsteady step. She wavered and fell, the world tilting
beneath her and she felt herself falling... falling...
Cool water slid over her forehead and she sighed, her eyes blinking
open. Her gaze focused on the firm hand that held what looked to be a hanky
dripping with water. The droplets splashed against her face and she turned her
head. Her mouth gaped open as she looked up at the man who held her cradled
against his chest. Her sore side was pressed gently to his side, the faintest
of pressure on it.
"Feeling better?"
She nodded, seeing him smile gently as he closed her jaw. She saw his
eyes search hers, looking over every inch of her face. She underwent his
scrutiny, searching his face in return, her gaze returning to his eyes time
and time again. "Let me go, Darien." She said finally.
His gaze flew to hers, "I don't want to," he admitted softly.
She pushed against his chest, her eyes shutting him out as she met his
gaze, "You already did. Put me down or I'll scream."
His jaw dropped as he put her on her feet, keeping a cautionary hand
extended towards her in case she fell. She didn't. She straightened slowly
to her full height, leaving her hand hanging loosely at her sides. "You cut
your hair," he murmured, fingers a lock of it.
She jerked her head sharply, pulling the hair from his fingers, "Don't
touch me,"
He dropped his hand and looked at her, his heart in his eyes, "Oh god, I
deserve this, I'm so sorry, Serena."
"Why? You made it perfectly clear you want nothing to do with me. Why
change now?" her eyes stung with unshed tears but she refused to cry with him
so near. It was then, as she looked past his shoulder, she realized where
they were. They were on the bank of the man made lake, on the small alcove
where they'd fed the ducks many a time together.
"I didn't mean it," he told her slowly. "Serena, please, look at me. I
owe you so much, there's so much to-"
"I don't want to hear it Darien," she told him sharply, cutting him off.
At least now she was looking at him.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly, "So very sorry."
Her gaze softened and he saw the pain she was trying to hide. Both the
physical and the emotional were reflected in her glazed eyes, and he saw the
fear there too. The fear she had of trusting him again, of loving. "So am
I, Darien. I trusted you and look what you did to me. You broke me heart,"
her voice caught and she swallowed before continuing, "you took what we had
for a millenum and tarnished it with lies and half truths. You told me you
would love me forever and at the first sign of trouble you tuck tail and run.
You promise to protect me and then you don't appear when I need you most.
What kind of love is that, Darien? What kind of love is one that gets
questioned when things don't go your way, or that seems to crumble when
problems become to tough to get through easily. What is a love that last
through two lifetimes only to be stopped by age or lies? I can't do this
anymore Darien, you're killing me with this! Can't you see how much you're
hurting me?!"
Darien winced, "I have no choice," he returned, his eyes flashing.
Serena took a step back at the furiously burning pain and frustration she saw
there, "You think I would do this to you and me if I had a choice?" His
laughter was harsh grating on her ears, "Fat chance, Sere. I've seen us move
heaven and hell and fight life and death and you've been key to all those
battles. I've seen you draw so much of yourself and give so much for others,
for me, that how could I not love you? And love you I do, more than my own
life, more than my happiness. If I could I would be with you, the last weeks
I've seen us both go in a downward spiral. I know if I am to be near you it
could cost you your life, I know it, and yet here I am! I see you hurt and I
hurt, you get hurt, and I hurt. We are linked and I have to fight it. With
every breath I take I feel you near me and I have to resist the urge to go to
you. Friday I did and I will never make that mistake again. I almost lost
you because of a nightmare so real it made me doubt my sanity. I love you
Serena, I never stopped, I need to know if you can forgive me one day for the
hurt I've caused you."
She looked at him, her eyes traveling from his face down across his lean
body to his shoes and then back up. Her fingers itched to brush his hair
from his eyes but she refrained from it. She focused on his eyes which were
weary, defeated and completely open for the first time in their relationship.
A detached part of her mind found it darkly amusing that it had taken a break
in their relationship to bring them to this. "No Darien." She said at last,
"I'm going to need proof this time, words won't be enough to convince me that
you're telling me the truth this time. I'm sorry, but until you prove I can
trust you again, we're through." She turned smartly on her heel, her back
ramrod straight, and walked away from him.
Darien stared after her, his mouth slack. 'If proof is what you need,
proof is what you'll get.' He vowed softly. He picked up her bag and
followed her.