* Changed Perspectives *

Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face

AN: I hope this chapter makes sense…so bear with me ^_^. Oh yeah…I don't know the English names for half of the characters and made some of them up.

Disclaimer: SM does not belong to me.

Chapter Six: Past Reflections

"Serena." The small petite form of Amy Anderson called out as she witnessed her long time best friend walk in the front door. She quickly snaked her way around the desks and cubicles of the employers a huge smile on her face. "You will never guess who got transferred here?"

Serena returned her smile. Being around her friends was a comfort especially Amy. There was always a bubbly air in her quiet personality. "Hi Ames.."

They both walked back to her cubicle where Amy sat Serena down on her seat then excitingly began her story. "Well, I came in this Saturday to do some last minute touches on my story right and Greg was here, oh my he is not so bad you know Sere. I guess he only gets huffy when he's under great pressure." She added hastily as the expression on Serena's face turned into a slight frown as if the name was poison to her ears. "Anyways, we were talking and...." Amy blushed her blue eyes sparkling at some distant memory imprinted on her mind.

"And what?" Serena asked getting excited as she began to suspect something. Amy looked at her as if she didn't understand what she was doing there then she remembered her news she wanted to tell her.

"Oh, you remember high school, six years ago right?" Amy said her excitement adamant she didn't see her friend slightly tremble nodding her head in response. "I found out from Greg that a Esmeralda Stone will be transferred from the newspaper at Osaka and should be arriving today. Isn't that great. Wow! I can't remember the last time we were all together, it was that long ago."

Serena paled as she heard the name, her heart had stopped a beat or two and now she was fidgeting as she heard Amy ramble about the "good-old-times" which was making her more nervous.

"Sere I'm so excited, I can't wait. We can introduce her to Rei, Lita and Mina then we could all go out to the beach or somewhere just like we used to only with three more people." Obviously Amy had not noticed Serena through all her delight and she didn't want to dampen Amy's mood by burdening her with her own thoughts.

"That's great news Ames." Serena said controlling her voice sounding as pleasant as she possibly could. "That's great."

Amy was too excited to notice her change in behaviour. "Oh look, Rei and Lita have just come in. I'll go get them." Then Amy had disappeared in a blur of wind leaving Sa pale Serena shaking as if she had been sitting in a cooler room. She heard the familiar voices round the corner behind a cubicle and not wanting to be found like this she quickly left heading to the bathrooms. 'Oh no, please no!'

Serena turned the faucet on washing her face letting the cool water bring some colour back to her cheeks and as she looked in to the mirror her eyes caught on her reflection staying there the water still running over her still hands. Her face was somewhat thinner, her high cheek bones accentuated by her big almond shaped eyes. Her hair fell to her waist half being put up in a messy bun the other like a ponytail. Her blonde hair was dimmer in colour, more limp then usual. Her crystal blue eyes were sad, they glistened with unshed tears. Her lips had turned blue and were trembling. Esmeralda! It seemed the long hidden secret of her past was finally catching up with her. Esmeralda Stone is coming...here. And Jason Night is already here. What does he want? Why is he doing this to me? And why her? Her of all people. How could she do that? How could he? I trusted him. I loved him.

"I loved him." She murmured in frustration an angry glower in her eyes. A pang of pain could be felt in her mind as she focused her eyes clearly remembering the water, which was now cold as ice. Her hands were blue and numb and her wrist hurt when she moved it suddenly. She turned the faucet off and sat down on the bathroom floor resting her head on the wall closing her eyes for a moment. She cleared her mind of all her previous thought and began to relax.

"Hmm...Darien." She murmured a small smile tugging at her lips. What! She opened her eyes and found herself staring at the wall. Why was I thinking about Darien? She frowned a little at her absurdity. Get yourself together Serena, remember Andrew? Now there's a guy who could please you. 'Yes, but Darien could too.' Who cares about him? Andrew is tall, blonde, not to mention gorgeous plus he owns his own cafe-arcade. And Darien well, he doesn't have a job, 'but he works for Andrew' and he's...he's....hmmm. Serena couldn't find any fault with him. In fact she didn't even know him that well. They just exchanged letters by mail. She didn't even know what his favourite colour was, or what kind of movie he liked. Serena frowned. The more she thought about it, she didn't even know him at all. Then why did she like him? Because he was a good friend. And he still is. He looked out for you and he's still doing it. "Like my big brother." No, like something more. Serena mentally debated these things in her mind for quite a while she didn't realize she had been sitting there like that for a long time. But I like Andrew, 'yet you feel something for him, you're too afraid to admit it.'

Serena sighed. A pair of deep cerulean blue eyes stared back at her, his raven hair fell messy around his face, small strands falling over his eyes making her breath short stop. The vision of him dressed in a casual pair of black khaki pants and a clean white shirt that clung to his muscles danced before her eyes. "Not what I'd expected for my knight in shining armour." She muttered.

"Living in your own fairytale Sere?"

Serena looked up suddenly and saw Lita standing by the door a grin on her face. She sighed in relief. Maybe I was just imagining things.

"Thank god I found you, you had Amy worried disappearing like that and you know if you don't come out now and make yourself visible you'll be late. Greg wants to make an announcement." Lita held the bathroom door open for Serena while she exited then they both headed towards their cubicle. Only a person in high authority had a private room and the personnel's that was greatly valued had a desk of there own. The juniors or lesser-valued employers had a cubicle, four to one cubicle which got kind of crowded and messy.

When they got to their own cubicle they found both Amy and Rei talking animatedly with a third person. They seemed to be very intent on what she was saying then Amy looked up and saw Serena and Lita standing by the doorway.

"Sere, come on." She said grabbing one of her arms and dragging her towards a young woman about their age with dark olive hair with streaks of green. She turned around at the mention of Serena's name, a small triumphant look glinted in her grey-green eyes.

"Hello Serena." She said extending a hand out. "It's been a long time hasn't it?"

Serena just glared back at her, her face placid but her eyes were burning. "Esmeralda."

Amy looked troubled. For two best friends who hadn't seen each other for the last six years they looked like they were ready to kill each other. Well Serena looked like she was ready to kill her and Esmeralda just had a smug expression on her face.

"Is that a way you treat an old friend Sere?" Esmeralda said innocently.

One of Serena's brow lifted, "You got to be kidding. After everything I've been through you have a nerve to still call yourself a friend of mine."

"Sere," Amy interrupted. "What are you doing?"

"You want to know Amy, ask her. That thing knows what I'm talking about." Serena snapped.

"Oh please Serena, you're overreacting. Calm down…"

"Calm down." Serena screeched. "After all these years did you come back to taunt me Esmeralda? Did you think I wouldn't know what you and Jason are doing here? It isn't going to work again. I- I-" Serena stumbled backwards and Lita just managed to grab her before she fell. "I loved him." That was the last thing she whispered before she fainted. Everyone was silent and awkward.

Finally Amy broke the silence. "Esmeralda, I think you had better leave now." She said quietly but firmly with an air of superiority.

Esmeralda just snorted a sound that sounded like a humpf. "Fine." She briskly left the room not even asking to see if her long time best was alright.

"Phew! What was that all about?" Lita said a nervous chuckle escaping from her lips.

"I don't know but," Rei turned to a quiet and thoughtful Amy, "What do you think Ames?"

"I don't know." Amy replied shaking her head, "I just don't know."

* * *

"Thanks for dropping me off. I'm so late." Mina said grabbing her purse.

"No problem. I'll see you tonight?" her companion asked as she opened the car door. Mina turned around and looked in his green eyes and smiled.

"Of course." She leaned over and kissed him softly on the lips. "I'll see you tonight, around seven?"

She closed the car door and ran inside the building her honey blonde locks flying into disarray around her face. 'I'm so late.'

Her companion watched as she ascended the steps quickly flying into the building, his free hand unconsciously touching his lips where she had kissed him. He grinned from ear to ear putting his car into gear. "I can't wait."

* * *

Serena with a hot cup of coffee in both her hands watched the froth swirl before dissolving into the hot liquid. Lita had wrapped her in her coat to keep her warm and now all her friends were sitting around her, concern in each of their eyes. She looked up and saw Mina walk in and frowned slightly. In all the years she had worked with Mina she had never been this late to work.

"Mina, where've you been?" she asked casually.

A small blush burned into Mina's pale cheeks. Everyone noticed it but chose to say nothing. "I overslept." They excepted her excuse.

"So come on Sere. What's going on?" Rei asked Serena changing the subject back to her and that morning.

"What do you mean?" Mina asked joining their little circle. Lita filled her in on what had happened that morning while she overslept and soon she too was concerned.

"It was six years ago." Serena replied so softly they couldn't hear her at first. "Jason Night. Remember Amy I had the biggest crush on him for years." Amy nodded confirming this. "Well what you didn't know was that he had asked me out," Serena saw the look of utter amazement on her friends face and smiled wryly. "The day before my birthday, he gave me a locket with the inscriptions I love you written on the back..."

* Flash Back *

She was cuddled up against his strong body. He held her firmly, pressing her body close to his. With his free hand he stroked her long soft locks of golden hair, taking in it's scent. He easily recognized the shampoo she had used. He got up turning Serena to face him. He tilted her chin so he was looking into her beautiful crystal blue eyes. He smiled down at her. Her features expressed confusion, her gaze expressed longing.

"I'll never leave you." He whispered in her ear nibbling on her neck.

Serena laughed "That tickles." She turned around so that she was facing him. She gazed adoringly into his green eyes. "Promise." She asked smiling.

"I promise." He said taking her chin and tilting her head back so that she looked directly at him. He had reassured her, that was part of the plan. He smiled at her. Serena blushed.

"Because I don't think I could live without you." She whispered softly. She snuggled in closer to his body. Resting her head on his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. The rhythm was steady.

"You'll never have to. I'll always be here. Right by your side." He had such a soothing voice, so calm.

Serena sighed contented. She hugged him closer never wanting to let him go. She didn't know what she would do if he wasn't there and she didn't want to think about it. She had his promise and that was all that mattered.

They stayed in that position a little while longer, Serena snuggled up close to him, savouring his scent of after shower cologne. His arms were wrapped around her slim waist another stroking her long golden locks. "Serena," he mumbled.

She looked up at him, a look of content and smiled, "umhm."

He let her go and reached into his pocket and took out a small velvet box. Serena's eyes widened in surprise. Oh no! "Jason, I…what I'm trying to say is…well I-"

"Shh." He placed a finger over her lips, opened the box with a huge smile on his face, "An early gift. Happy Birthday Serena."

Serena gaped at the beautiful piece of jewel in it's box. The heart shaped locket with it's intricate and delicate designs. The beautiful gold chain it hung from. She watched as he took the chain from the box and put it on her then kissed her neck. She fingered the locket mesmerised, opening it she found a small picture of her and Jason together and smiled.

"Look at the back." He murmured into her ear while nibbling on it.

Serena felt her heart race and turned the locket over. An inscription in perfect intellible flowing handwriting with the three words she had been waiting to hear her whole life.

"I love you." She whispered, her eyes welling with tears. She tore her gaze away from the locket and looked deep into his eyes full of pure admiration. "I love you." She said louder and jumped into his arms kissing him with all the force she could. He responded to her kisses and together she allowed him to show her how much he loved her by the warmth of the fire in the fireplace.

* * *

"Happy Birthday darling."

Serena's face lighted up as her mother handed her a carefully wrapped box. She tore the paper anxious of its contents and beamed. "Oh thank you mum. It's what I've always wanted."

"I know dear, you've been raving on about those pair of shoes for the last three weeks. You didn't think we were that dense not to take your hints did you?"

"Well actually I did, so I couldn't take the risk." Serena put on her pair of designer shoes and gingerly walked towards her mother and hugged her. "Thank you."

"Your welcome." Then with a stern face she looked her daughter square in the eye. "You had better look after those shoes, your father almost had a heart attack when he found out what the price was."

Serena nodded her head to happy to take this seriously and smiled at her father who stood a little away with a big scowl on his face then he lightened up and handed her another present. "This one I found outside."

Serena look stunned. "Really," she said sounding excited then grabbing the box she tore it open. A little card was inside and all it said was 'Happy Birthday' in gold italics and inside the box itself was a single red rose. She picked up the flower and inhaled its sweet fragrance closing her eyes and seeing a pair of green eyes looking at her. Jason Night. The memory of the passion they had shared was still fresh in her mind.

"Amy brought this over this morning but had to leave and wanted to tell you she'd meet you later at the mall." her mother piped in. "Oh and Esmeralda called to wish you a happy birthday too dear. She was also too busy to come."

"Thank you." Serena said to no one in particular, opening her eyes a hazy look etched in her features. She was now officially seventeen and she planned to spend all her time with Jason. This plan grew in her mind and it was soon settled. Her smile deepend and a blush spread in her cheeks giving them a rosy colour.

* End of Flashback *

The loud gasp coming from Amy stopped Serena from explaining and she was glad for the diversion. Even for a few minutes.

"Serena you didn't?" Amy said astounded, she couldn't believe what she had heard. "You wouldn't, I mean you were always so I don't know but your parents..."

Serena felt her cheeks warm to a reddish  colour, her eyes cast down finding the floor more interesting.

"I wouldn't have taken you for that type of person Sere." Lita acknowledged a sly grin on her features. Mina and Rei just smirked.

Amy came to the rescue, "Serena's parents were what you would say 'old fashioned.' They didn't believe in sleeping with a man who wasn't your husband, so when Serena said she slept with Jason the night before her seventeenth," Amy smiled, "I couldn't believe it. That kind of thing would have brought shame to her family."

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you Ames..."

"I know you are. And I forgive you."

"Well go on." Rei suddenly said reminding them of her story.

Serena took in a deep breath. Here goes. "A few weeks after my birthday, I had been seeing a lot less of Jason and I was starting to miss him. When I called he would say he had work to catch up on or he was too tired to go out and I got a little frustrated. So, I got dressed up and went to see him. I was going to surprise him with lunch..."

* Flash Back *

Serena pushed the button for his floor impatiently. She smiled as she thought of him. She was going to surprise him at his apartment. He had told her that he was going to be busy working that day but she had figured that he wouldn't mind having lunch with him. 'His got to have lunch sometime doesn't he' she kept telling herself 'might as well have it with me. And besides, I have to tell him something.'

She arrived at the apartment and was about to knock but she noticed the door was unlocked and she let herself in. She checked to see if what she was wearing would get his attention. She was wearing a tight v-neck top that sat just above her chest. Her miniskirt rested slightly above her knees a small slit up one thigh exposing an adequate amount of leg. She had put on the gold locket he gave her the day before her birthday and to finish the touch she had worn her hair the way he liked it. In two buns on the side of her head the rest of her locks loosely flowing around her sides.

She smiled as she foresaw his facial expression. A small giggle erupted from her throat and she clamped her hand over her mouth so as not to make a sound. She wanted to surprise him after all. She heard a noise coming from the bedroom. She sneaked towards his room, the door was slightly ajar and peeked in. She gasped at what she saw clamping a hand over her mouth, her eyes filling with tears.

Two bodies were entangled together under the sheets. She recognized Jason on top but couldn't make out the girl's features.

"Ugh...Jason!" Serena's eyes widened. No! She heard a moan escape her lips and then watched as Jason turned over getting of her breathing in heavily. There she was, all sated and heaving heavily, a smile on her lips. Esmeralda!!! She observed as Esmeralda lifted a hand to stroke his blonde hair behind his ear the way she use to do it.

"So how is it going with little-miss-goody-goody-two-shoes?" Esmeralda asked still stroking his hair.

Jason snorted and laughed. "I have her in the bag. She'll do what ever I ask her to. She can't help herself."

"So she bought it then. Gullible fool." Esmeralda and Jason both laughed at this picture of her. Serena listened disheartened every word slicing through her heart like a sharp knife through butter and then saw Esmeralda snuggle up against him stroking his chest now. In a more quiet voice she added, "I can share you for one more year, if it takes that long. But when I see you two together I just burn with jealousy."

"What? You shouldn't worry baby, it was your idea remember." Jason reassured her stroking her bare back.

"Yes, but I didn't know you were going to sleep with her."

"It's all part of the plan. Don't worry she means absolutely nothing to me."

"You really mean that?" She said through giggles.

Jason laughed. "She can't satisfy me the way you can."

Serena gasped, turned and fled. Behind her just before she reached the door she heard the sound of a door opening and someone cursing but she didn't care.

She quickly ran out of the building shaking uncontrollably as the tears rolled down her cheeks her lower lip trembling. She could hear the laughter play over her mind taunting her, intimidating her. She covered her ears trying not listening to the thoughts that haunted her. She closed her eyes trying to erase the image that blurred her vision. His voice was different. His appearance was different. Those eyes, she had loved looking into them. Now they made her sick. She ran not knowing in which direction she was heading and bumped straight into someone. She would have fallen onto the pavement if his strong arms hadn't reached out and grabbed her in time. Her crystal blue eyes puffy from all that crying snapped up only to be staring into the strangers own searching deep blue ones.

"Are you al-?" he started but was cut short by the sound of her voice.

"Gomen nasai." She whispered quickly trying to avoid his questions; her voice barely audible. She picked herself up and kept on running. Her long blonde locks fell out around her shoulder shaping her tearstained face. The stranger stared after her now disappearing form. An angel he gasped. Her image stayed lingering on the back of his mind.

Eventually, exhausted from all that running she stopped and found herself at her favorite spot. Her secret garden near the edge of a cliff overlooking the city of Tokyo. The breath taking view would have made her smile and forget all her troubles, but tonight was different. She felt so alone, unloved and hurt. But most of all, she felt the pain of heart break. She cried out so hard her side began to hurt.

"I will never forgive you. NEVER." She silently vowed sniffling.

She absentmindedly walked forward cutting her foot from the sharp stones on the ground.

"Ouch." she cried out.

She looked down realizing she had lost a shoe from all that running and she had no idea where she could have lost it.

"Great and these are the pair mother got me for my birthday." She said quietly. She looked down at what she was wearing. Her outfit was covered in a fair amount of dirt. Her arms bruised from when she hit the corners of the building wall. Her legs trembling unable to support her weight anymore. A headache was coming on and she felt terrible. She ached all over.

She slumped to the ground as the water works started over again, flashbacks of the pain and humiliation haunted her thoughts of the night's events.

"Why...." she mumbled.

After several minutes of silence she crawled over to the edge of the cliff. Stood up, and looked over the side.

'It's a long way down' she thought. She didn't think it would come down to this. But what else was there left for her. Everything she had believed in turned out to be a lie. She believed he was honest but that also turned out to be a lie. "He was just using me." she cried out gently. She let the tears flow from her eyes.

Suddenly an image of a tall green eyed blonde came to mind and her beautiful face scowled. She was a fool to have let things get so far, but being young also meant making mistakes. After all, she was only human.

'Why did you do that when you had nothing to lose and everything to gain?' That was a question she didn't want to get into. She could probably figure out why he had done it. But she was too upset. Her headache only made things worse for her.

With that last thought in mind she took a step forward feeling the gravity pull her body down. She closed her eyes waiting to make contact with the rocks below. But she never made it. She felt her body was still. The gravity wasn't doing it's job. Surprised she opened her eyes and there was the most beautiful blue eyes staring down back at her. His face placid but there was a look of concern in them.

Why should he worry about me? He doesn't even know who I am? Why doesn't he just let me go? He should no better than to be seen with me. I'm nothing but a disgrace.

"Where do you think you're going?" He said in a controlled voice. He lifted her up and was surprised at her weight. For someone was so slim she sure is heavy.

He got her safely on the ground and then Serena burst into tears. She covered her face in her arms letting her hair fall over her shoulders. She felt him pull her into his arms and whispered comforting words. When he pulled away he asked her, "Are you alright?"

That was when she knew she had seen him before. "You're...you're the guy I bumped into."

He laughed at her then presented her with something. "Here you dropped this, Cinderella." There was a twinkle of amusement in his eyes when he said that and Serena turned to see what it was. It was her shoe. The missing pair of her mother's gift. She stared in silence as he lifted her feet and slid the shoe in place. He was still smiling at her when he extended a hand. "My name is Darien."

* End of Flash Back *

Serena looked up and saw in  all her friends faces the look of pure horror. They were all speechless.

"That's how I met Darien." She continued. "And he has been looking after me these past years."

"Sere you just...you just tried." Rei stammered.

Amy nodded her head, "Now I understand." She began to feel guilty for putting Serena through all her excitement at seeing Esmeralda.

Lita was dumbstruck and couldn't find words to describe what she was feeling. And Mina, she was horror stricken and guilty. One train of thought kept running through her mind. What am I going to do? Oh no, what if she finds out about me and Andrew? She almost killed herself because her best friend was cheating on her six years ago and now...Oh my gosh, Andrew. What will I do? I have to give him up. But I love him. Boyfriends come around and go but friends will always be friends. I have to give him up. I will. Tears began to well in Mina's eyes and she threw herself at Serena. "I'm so sorry."

Serena was confused. Why does she have to feel sorry for? She had nothing to do with it. Getting up she told them she was going to get a drink.

When she had left, they all said whet they wanted to say but couldn't in front of her. But what Amy had to say got their attention more than the rest.

"I can't believe she would just commit suicide." Amy said thoughtfully.

"But you heard her Ames," Lita replied, "Her boyfriend,"

"The one she lost her virtue to..." Rei said.

"cheated on her."

"With her best friend." Mina said softly wiping the tears from her face.

"Still, I know her. She would never...She's not telling us everything. There's something more to this."

Greg suddenly appeared in their cubicle a huge smile on his face. "Where's Serena?" He asked.

"She went to get a drink."

Greg nodded still feeling jubilant his eyes lingering on Amys glowing face. The others watched in fascination. Greg was acting different. Usually he would scold somone for taking a toilet break during work but...he was still smiling. Something was definitely up. "Deadline today 4:00 pm." Then he left leaving the girls confused except one who felt the tingling sensation of butterflies in her stomach and another who felt a dark void creeping into her heart.