April 2002

Disclaimer: These character's aren't mine, but the story is..


Chapter 15


Selenity opened the door with a smile. "Rita. Raye."

Raye grinned, holding up a bag, "We come bearing gifts."

Selenity motioned for them to come in, "Charles would have opened the
door, but he's off making sure the press are behaving themselves. Daddy
seems to think if he's gone for more than a week they get restless."

Rita chuckled, "Are you serious?"

Selenity nodded, "Unfortunately, yes. He hasn't even been gone for a
couple of weeks and still seems to think I need him fighting my battles for
me. I think this whole issue with me wanting to break my betrothal is
unsettling for him."

Raye handed her the bag, "Well, maybe we can get your mind off it.
Mina contributed the sneakers and jeans since she said your only pair was
ruined in the car accident. We can hit the thrift stores today and pick you
up some casual clothes."

Selenity fairly beamed, "Is Mina coming with us?"

"She's meeting us there."

Selenity stepped into the main room off to the right and closed the
curtains securely. Making sure the main door, and the servant access door,
were closed she shucked her skirt and hoes before slipping into the blue
jeans in the bag. They were worn, faded in places, and they fit almost
perfectly. She zipped them up, standing barefoot as she stretched. They
were a little loose in the hip and waist, and she rummaged through the small
bag for a belt. Seeing none, she reached for her skirt and pulled the
decorative belt from the loops. She slid the black leather into place and
tucked her shirt in, smiling. A skirt and t-shirt didn't seem to fit, but
her black shirt went well with the blue jeans. She found a new pair of
socks in the bag and slipped those on before sliding her feet into the
sneakers. She wiggled her toes, trying to get used to the new sensation.
Finally she placed her skirt in the bag with her nylons and flat dress shoes
before rejoining her friends.

Rita nodded, "Looking good, Princess. Is there something else we can
do with your hair?"

She chuckled and, depositing the bag at the base of the stairs,
motioned for them to follow her into the kitchen, "Easily solved, Rita."

Her curious friends stepped into the kitchen behind her to see the
Princess take down her hair style. The molten gold dropped to the floor and
pooled around her feet. Rita whistled while Raye stood dumbfounded. She
had never seen anyone with hair that long! Then, to her amazement, Selenity
picked a knife from the rack on the counter.

"Selenity, no!" she cried as the Princess grabbed her hair and
slashed viciously at a spot just above her hand.

Selenity lifted the five feet of hair in her hand, placing the knife
in the sink, as she turned to Raye. "No, what? Oh, you mean my hair?
Relax, Raye, it will grow back."

"How can you be so casual about it? Aren't you worried people will
recognize you when they see you with short hair tomorrow?"

Selenity laughed. "Raye. I have hair that grows at a rather...
alarming rate. Relax, it will be as long as it was before by midnight."

Raye blinked. Rita blinked. Selenity laughed at their expressions,
"Believe me, I wouldn't have done such a radical change if I hadn't expected
it."

"If you say so."

They watched as Selenity put the length she'd removed in the garbage
before following her back into the foyer. They couldn't help but marvel at
the straight edge she'd cut. "You've done this before, haven't you?"

Selenity nodded, "Many times. Though I try not to let the media see
me like this. It leads to questions." She shook her head, her hair barely
brushing against her shoulders, "This is a nice change, one day I hope I can
keep it this short and keep the weight off my neck."

Raye laughed softly, "I hear you. So, what do you want to do first,
Selenity?"

Selenity picked up her wallet from the table in the main hall way and
slipped it into her back pocket before turning to look at them, "The mall.
I want to see everything."

Raye opened the door and stepped out, Rita on her heels, "Let's get
to it then, this should be a fun shopping day."


A few hours later Selenity was waiting for Raye and Rita, looking
through a rack of swimsuits. They'd been through a dozen shops already,
trying on things with few purchases. Selenity had been a little
uncomfortable about trying things on and not buying anything, after all, it
wasn't like she couldn't afford it, but Raye and Rita had insisted she wait
until all three of them could find an outfit or two they agreed upon. If it
wasn't unanimous, it wasn't bought.

Rita stepped out of her changing room in a two piece and stood in
front of a mirror, twisting this way and that. "Selene, what do you think
about this one?"

She turned and shook her head. The green and red stripped two piece
did nothing to flatter the red head, "Too red. Try the black and silver
one."

"I've already got a black and silver suit."

"Well, how about the peach one?"

Rita rolled her eyes and stepped back into her change room. Raye
stepped out next wearing a purple and black one piece that had a large piece
missing from the back. "What do you think, Princess?"

Selenity nodded, "I like it. It flatters your figure and matches
your eyes."

Raye looked pleased. So far she hadn't tried on a suit that Selenity
had liked. "Rita, time for your opinion."

Rita peaked out of her change room, "Wow, do they have that in my
size? It looks good, Raye. A little unconventional but then, so are you."

Raye smirked. "Why thank you, Rita. This is the suit then. Now we
have to find something for each of you."

"Oh no, I have a dozen suits already," Selenity protested, "I don't
need another one."

"Yes you do, Selenity," Raye scolded, shaking her finger at the
Princess, "We want to hold a pool party and you need something to knock
Darien's socks off."

"I've already got something-"

"Something new, Selenity." Rita piped up, stepping out in a peach two
piece. It was little more than two pieces of fabric, each one held by a
couple of strings that could easily be untied.

Raye whistled, "I like it. Andrew will go into convulsions if you
show that much skin at the party though."

"That's the idea, Raye," scolded Rita good naturedly as she examined
herself in the mirror. She was an extremely beautiful woman and she knew
it. The color set off her hair color and brought the focus to her dark
eyes.

Selenity nodded, "It's very flattering... and very sexy. I'm with
Raye on this one, Drew won't know what hit him."

Rita twirled, hugging herself, "You guys really are awesome. I've
found my suit, Selene's turn in the dressing room."

Selenity rolled her eyes, "Honestly guys, I don't need another
bathing suit."

Raye and Rita returned to their dressing rooms and began changing
back into their jeans and t-shirts.

Selenity was loathe to tell them why she was thinking about not
coming to the pool party. If she went she'd have to show more skin than
normal and almost all of her scars would be visible. Explaining them was
not something she was looking forward to. She was staring off into the
distance when a hand suddenly waved back and forth in front of her eyes,
"Earth to Selenity."

She blinked, jumping back.

"Woah, easy, Selene." she recognized Raye's voice and inhaled
sharply.

"Sorry, I was just thinking."

"So I see. We're done, there's no harm in you trying on a suit or
two, even if you don't buy anything."

Selenity sighed, regretfully, "I'm sorry, Raye, Rita, but I really
don't want to try anything on. Can we just pay for your suits and get out
of here?"

Raye shrugged, "I guess."

The trio was silent as they made their way to the till. "Hey,
Selene, I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

"You're forgiven, Raye."

"Thanks."

"Girlfriend!"

The excited squeal brought all three heads up, Selenity smiling
widely as a bundle of blonde energy raced towards them and enveloped her in
a hug. "Hello Mina. You're late."

Mina smiled exuberantly, "Sorry about that. Come on, we have to get
you a killer suit. I promised myself I'd see you in something skimpy that
would knock Darien's socks off."

Selenity tried to protest but the loud blonde paid no attention to
her words as they made their way back towards the change rooms. Mina looked
at her critically before grabbing a half dozen different suits of all shapes
and colors and shoved her into a change room. "You're not coming out until
I see some skin!"

Selenity swallowed hard. She didn't want to be in here, she hated
small closet like spaces. "Mina, please, let me out."

"Not until I see you in something, Selene. I won't take no for an
answer on this. You may be rich and have awesome taste in clothes, but you
need something new."

"Please Mina?"

"Nope. Change or I'll come in there and change you myself."

Selenity swallowed hard, feeling the familiar panic welling up inside
her. The change room was too small, too enclosed. She closed her eyes,
trying to take a deep breath. Put it into perspective, she told herself
silently, there is no threat here, no man to force you into doing something
you don't want to; you're not trapped. Calm, peace, it's like changing in
the bathroom.

With a steadying breath, and considerable willpower, she tramped down
the fear and opened her eyes. Her own determined, frightened face stared
back at her. She swallowed hard and began to change. Carefully she pulled
a red one piece fro a hanger and slid into it. It scooped to show cleavage
and high over her hips. The fabric clung to her curves and she folded her
underwear underneath it before knocking on the door, feeling foolish for
doing this.

Mina peeked in and grinned, "Wow, Selene." She threw the door open
and allowed the Princess to step out.

Selenity took the chance to take a deep breath before stepping
slowly, regally, out into the hall by the mirror. Rita smiled, "It's nice,
but it's no bikini."

Selenity shook her head, "No bikinis. I won't wear one."

"But, Selene, you've so got the figure for one."

She turned a hard glance on Raye, "No."

Raye held her hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright."

Selenity walked back and forth for them, refusing to answer their
questions about the scars on her legs and arms, and a couple on her upper
chest before stepping back into the change room. She modeled a half dozen
other suits, ignoring the two pieces in the bunch. She slid them back over
the top, refused to accept any, and wore only one pieces. Finally, her
friends seemed to accept her choice and passed her daringly cut one pieces
and suits with gaudy decorations.

"This is the last one I try on and then we should move to another
shop,"

Raye made a noise of rebellion, "But Selene, we need to find your
suit."

Selenity slipped into a strapless, daringly cut, black and pink suit.
She made sure the fabric clung to her curves before stepping out for their
inspection. She laughed at the looks on their faces. "I say this is the
suit." Without waiting for their approval she stepped back inside and
quickly changed back into her street clothes.

"Wow, Selene, talk about crazy. Will you really wear that in
public?"

Selenity chuckled, "Yes, Mina, if you guys insist on making me come
to this party I might as well look the part."

They were silent as she exited the booth with the one suit. "Let's
pay for these things and get out of here. There are a lot more shops to
see!"

Mina, Rita and Raye burst into smiles as they headed for the till.


Raye relaxed in her chair, patting her stomach, "That was great, I
couldn't eat another bite."

Mina echoed the sentiment as she pushed a half finished burger away.
Rita and Selenity looked at them amused as they continued to nibble on
their chicken nuggets. Selenity took a sip of her soft drink, "So what else
is there to do?"

"We could hit the book store or the music store," suggested Rita,
glancing at the others, "I mean we've been to every shoe, clothe and stuffed
animal place in the mall. Not to mention the candy stores and novelty
stores." She glanced at the numerous packages that littered the area around
their table, "Or we could call it a night, put this stuff in my car and hit
a movie or something."

Selenity nodded eagerly, "Oh yes, I'd love to see a movie in the
theatre for a change. Something with a general rating would be great."

"Guess that's been decided. Do you have the rest of the night free,
Selenity?"

She nodded, "Daddy worked some free half days into my schedule for me
to spend time with my friends."

Raye suddenly glanced at her pocket as something started to beep.
"Ummm.." she reached into her pocket and glanced at something below the
table before looking at Mina, "Mina and I need to go make a phone call, will
you two be alright for a while?"

Selenity nodded as Mina and Raye darted from the table.

"Those two are into something strange."

"How so?"

Rita shrugged, "They tend to get up and go at the oddest moments
because of something urgent, but they never say what or where, just that
they'll be back."

Selenity frowned, "I guess you're right. I never really noticed it
before, then again I'm not really around them enough to find it strange. I
do that sometimes so I guess it's second nature to me not to wonder."

"Happens a lot in the court, huh?"

Selenity sighed, nodding, "Unfortunately, yes. Rita, have you talked
to Darien lately?"

"No, is something wrong?"

"I don't know. I was going to talk to Mina, but you're one of his
best friends, I figured if something was going on with him you'd know about
it."

Rita smiled gently, "Trouble in paradise?"

"I don't know," she pushed her food away from her in frustration,
"I've seen him a couple of times since daddy left, but he's so preoccupied,
almost like he doesn't want to be with me, or he has something better to do.
I can't really explain it, but I'm worried."

Rita nodded, "I understand, Selenity. He was so attentive and
understanding when you first got here and now he's gone back to being the
University student and friend. He had little time before you came back to
stay. Now he has next to no time for himself with all of his classes and
trying to juggle a relationship. You have to understand that he's under a
lot of strain."

"But I think it's more than that. It's almost like he doesn't want
to spend time alone with me anymore."

Rita patted her hand, "Selene, I'm sure that's not the case. Darien
adores you, never doubt it. Ever think he might be trying to improve his
image with your father to make things easier on the both of you?"

"Ugh. That's a mess if I've ever seen one. I suppose. Do you think
he'll tell me what's on his mind in his own time?"

Rita nodded, "I'd bet on it. Come on. Help me get these things to
the car and we can go get tickets for the movie you want to see."

Selenity smiled gratefully at the other woman as they collected the
assorted bags and boxes and headed out to the parking lot.



"That was fun, thanks for a great night, Rita."

"Anytime, Selenity. It's a shame Mina and Raye skipped out. I'll
run their things by their houses, but you get some sleep and don't worry
about Darien. He's a very protective person, just give him time, things
will work out."

Selenity smiled, packages in hand, "Thanks again. See you later."

Rita winked at her, "Count on it. Maybe next time we can keep the
other girls around."

Selenity grinned and darted up the stairs into her house before
closing the door behind her. She hit the gate switch and let Rita out
before collecting her bags and heading up the stairs. Deciding to hold her
peace and wait for Darien to speak to her, she mentally prepared herself for
his next visit. The next couple of weeks were going to be interesting.



Author's Note: Comments, Questions, Suggestions, flames... all go to

Jademax@hotmail.com

Unless of course you'd like to write a review!

Thanks for reading!

Jade_Max