* Changed Perspectives *

Chick-a-tee-in-ur-face

AN: lol...okay, I just read my entire story right from the beginning for the first time since I wrote this and shees...I found a LOT of mistakes and to tell you the truth, half of it didn't even make any sense (to me anyways). SO I thank all of you who have put up with my sad attempt at story writing and given me a review. And hopefully I'm getting better if not than I'm in dire need of a tutor.

Disclaimer: SM does not belong to me

Chapter seven: Haunted Memories

Serena sighed as she strolled down Park Avenue. She was happy to know when work was finished and was glad to leave. After her confession the air in a room she walked in was tense. She knew her friends all meant well but they were hurting her. Conversation was scarce and Serena noticed they all thought about saying something before saying it. They were all on guard doing their best not to mention anything that might relate to her 'attempted suicide'. She was also confused. She had told Mina a little bit of her past before today and her reaction to the rest of it was hurting. Mina had at one point refused to look at her and when she did, she had tears in her eyes. But why?

She sat on one of the park benches across a lake and took up her time observing people. Across the lake a mother was playing with two children. A girl and a boy with blonde hair. Serena felt her heart pull, yearning for a child and cringed back. No...I made my decision. She looked away and saw a woman pushing a baby stroller pass her, the baby was sleeping a thumb in its mouth. Coming from the other end a pregnant lady walked slowly supported by an older man and they both took up the bench a little further away from her. Serena watched as he felt her stomach one ear close to it. She saw the look of amazement and admiration in his face as he stared at his wife. She smiled at him. Serena turned her head as he leaned in to kiss her; tears were swelling in her eyes.

She left hurriedly keeping her head lowered pulling her jacket closer around her body. She passed a mother holding a crying baby. Across the road she could hear a child calling out to its mum. Away at the playground adjacent to the park the sound of playing children reached her ears. Every where she went she always came upon a family. A mother, with her child and a father. They all looked so happy.

Serena covered her ears with both her hands and started running. She couldn't take it anymore. She ran taking corners so as not to pass a pregnant woman, turning her head every time a stroller went by. She pushed her hand harder against her ear when the bubbling murmurs of babies and children seeped in to her mind. Stop it! She saw all the weird looks people were giving her as she ran but paid no attention to it. She ran until she saw her building and quickly locked herself away in the confines of her quiet apartment.

* * *

Seven o'clock rolled by and Andrew was waiting anxiously at the restaurant looking out the window every so often hoping to see a blonde walk by. Five minutes passed and no sign of her. He was nervous. He saw a waiter and waved him over.

"May I help you sir."

"Could you tell me if there have been any messages for an Andrew Phillips?"

"Won't be a moment sir." The waiter disappeared and soon enough he came back. "No messages sir."

"Thank you." Andrew sat in silent contemplation. Maybe she's just late. Women usually take their time getting ready. Or maybe she's just stuck in traffic. Yeah that could be it. She was getting ready and got caught in traffic. His spirits up high Andrew waited ordering a drink for himself. Ten minutes and still no sign of her, not even a message. Another thirty and nothing. He had gone through several glasses of wine and his head was beginning to hurt. The waiters looked on him feeling pity. An hour and the place was starting to empty. Finally he was the only one sitting at his table, his tie loose around his neck, drinking another glass of wine. She stood me up. I can't believe Mina stood me up. Andrew stood up paid for his drinks and sauntered out the door. The waiter just shook his head.

* * *

While Andrew was sitting at the restaurant Mina huddled up close to the fireplace watching TV. Every now and then her gaze would linger on the phone. Maybe I should call him. NO. He needs to know you don't want to see him anymore. But he'll think I stood him up. That's the whole point. It'll hurt him. And it'll hurt you too. And Serena's friendship is more important. More important then my happiness. You had to choose. What if I could have them both? No. Serena would understand. No. Mina felt the tears run down her cheeks and angrily wiped them away. Why did I have to fall in love with you Andrew Phillips? Why? Her gaze went back to the phone. No. Mina went to bed and cried herself to sleep. She didn't trust herself to stay up longer.

* * *

Serena sat in the dark as still as a statue. She heard the door unlock and open and knew Darien was there. The lights went on and she heard the startled gasp escape his lips.

"Serena, what are you doing?" He managed to say after the shock of seeing her ceased. She was sitting somewhat still a half bottle of vodka in front of her and a glass in her hand. He saw the empty bottle of tequila on the floor and began to worry. "Serena?"

"Darien come have a drink with me." She said her words slurring. "Here." She handed him a glass of straight vodka taking one herself and shot it down her throat.

"Serena what..."

"You know Darien." She interrupted. "I have just realised that I don't know anything about you."

"What do you mean?"

"You know, what you like? Your favourite colour? If you have a girlfriend?" The impropriety and the informality of the last question shocked Serena and Darien and made them both wonder why she would ask something like that.

"Black, no and what I like...I haven't made up my mind about that yet."

"Oh, so you don't have a girlfriend?" Serna asked surprised.

"No."

"Hmm...Darien, you haven't touched your drink."

"Serena I think you've had enough. Why don't you give me your glass and I'll put away the vodka."

"NO." She screeched. "I am going to finish this bottle. I am going to keep drinking until I can't hear the damned noise anymore."

"What noise? Serena what noise?"

"That noise. The one in my head. The wailing and crying and it keeps getting louder. I'm going to drown it out together with my sorrows...I can't...I can't stand it anymore. Please...you can stay and drink with me or go to bed and leave me alone." She said firmly.

Darien looked grim. He watched as she shot down yet another glass of straight vodka, her eyes puffy and red and hazy. He took the glass from her hand before she could take another drink and carried her to her room.

"Darien what are you doing? Let me go this instant."

He didn't pay the slightest attention to her and tucked her in pulling the covers up. "Darien." He stopped and watched as she sat up. I can't sleep in this I have to change."

"I'll be outside." He walked towards the door.

"Darien. Can you help me?"

"Of course I will, tomorrow morning we'll go see a doctor."

"No I mean...Darien I meant can you help me...get undressed." Darien flushed a red colour. "I wouldn't ask but I don't think I could get as far as taking my clothes off without blacking out."

"Serena I don't know..."

"Darien..." Just then Serena tripped over her blanket and fell to the floor. Darien was immediately by her side. They both looked into each others eyes and then Darien nodded his head. He carried her to the bed and sat her down.

He first let go of her hair until it flowed down her back and then slowly began to undress her. He started with the buttons of her shirt sliding it down her arms feeling her soft skin and dropped it on the floor. The lacings of her bra curved to support her creamy breasts that was just a few inches from his face. He gulped. He let his hand slide up her thigh slowly then peeled off her stocking taking in the feel of her creamy leg then repeated the same with her other. He laid her on the bed and unzipped her miniskirt pulling it down and dropped it where her top lay. He stopped taking in a deep breath. Serena was lying on the bed with her hair around her in her underwear. She looked so beautiful and alluring. He felt himself tightening and fought to relax.

Serena on the other hand was watching as Darien slowly stripped her of her clothes. She felt the electricity in his fingertips when he was removing her stocking feeling her legs and she had also noticed his hand trembling when he unbuttoned her shirt. She smiled, now he was looking at her with a longing in his eyes. She noticed the bulge in his pants and her smile widened. She wasn't stupid, she may have had a lot to drink but her mind was still sharp although she knew she could fall and black out at any second. She pointed to a drawer where Darien went and got out a silk night gown. She slowly stood up and went towards him watching him take in a deeper breath. She pulled her hair to one side and turned around.

With trembling hands Darien felt for her bra clasp and undid it. He moved his hand up her arm and slid her bra off and it fell to the ground. What happened next, he couldn't tell. Who made the first move, he didn't know. Serena had turned around, her breasts exposed. She had pressed herself closer to him and whispered in his ear. "Thank you." Before he knew it he was kissing her with all the pent up emotion flowing out, carrying her to the bed. And she was kissing him back. He slid his tongue into her open mouth exploring it, sliding his hand down her side before finding a breast and kneading it. He let go of her mouth and sucked on her other breast. He heard her sharp intake of breath and felt her hands running through his hair, wrapped around his neck pressing him harder.

Serena was burning with desire as she felt him pleasure her the way she wanted. She slid her hand under his shirt feeling the ripples of muscles on his chest. She wanted him, she knew that now. She ached with the desire of wanting him. When ever he was around she felt happy and content and she knew she loved him. Whether he loved her back, she didn't know. She pulled of his shirt breaking them apart and felt for his pants, then unzipped them pulling it down his knees. She watched as he hovered above her smiling, "You are so beautiful."

Darien laid there a sleeping Serena in his arms. He looked down on her face. A wave of guilt washed over him at the realisation of what he had done. He slept with her, nothing could change that now. The feeling of taking advantage of her while she was drunk soon grew forcing him to leave. He untangled his body from hers, collected his clothing and left. He loved her that much he found out. But that was no excuse to sleep with her. What if she didn't love him back, with Jason back in the picture. What if she begins to hate him for taking advantage of her. He couldn't live with that. No, he couldn't live knowing she despised him. He would rather see her happy with another man then know she hated his guts for using her the way he did. Darien sighed. It was going to be another long night. What happened that night was going to haunt his dreams for a very long time.

* * *

Serena woke up feeling sated and mellow. It was the first time she felt good in a long time. The memory of what happened last night brought a smile to her face. She opened her eyes and found herself alone. "Darien"...What if it was all a dream? But it felt so real. And if it was a dream then I don't want to wake up. Serena sighed and got up, a huge smile on her face. "Darien." She called out after wrapping a robe around herself. The apartment was empty. The doorbell rang. Serena smiled, He forgot his keys again.

When she opened the door the smile on her face evaporated. Jason Night was standing in the hall way, a bunch of roses in his hand. "These are for you."

Serena frowned, "Jason I want you to leave me..."

He stopped her by capturing her lips and kissed her hard. She tried to pull away but one of his hands was behind her head holding her there the other wrapped itself around her waist. When he let her go she was breathless panting for breath. "Hello Serena, can I come in?"

Before she could say anything he walked past her into the living room. Serena glared at him and closed the door behind her. "What do you want?" She said none to politely.

"Serena I want to apologise."

"You're six years too late."

"I know what I...we did must have hurt you..."

"Damn right it did. You used me Jason. I thought you cared about me but I guess I was wrong. It's no wonder you didn't want me to tell anyone we were going out. 'Our little secret Serena, just you and me. It'll be more fun Serena.' But no, whatever you have to say you can forget about it cause I'm done with you."

"Will you at least hear what I have to say?"

"What do you have to say? I heard enough that night, your plans to make me feel loved, you even slept with me to reassure me you loved me even when you knew about my family conditions. God Jason, you slept with me and took away the one thing I can't replace...my virginity. At first I didn't know why you did it, but I got to thinking, 'one more year' she said. I suppose Esmeralda was the one who told you. On my seventeen after I graduated I would have come to age and receive a very large trust fund my grandfather left for me. That was it wasn't it. And like the fool I was, I would have given you anything...anything. But I just so happened to come by and foil your plans isn't that right."

Jason who was listening was clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white. His face was getting red with anger. "That's right you little slut. Why did you come by that day? I thought I said I was busy."

Serena snorted. "Busy, you mean doing the bedroom rumba, with my best friend. I came to surprise you with lunch and to tell you something important."

"What was so important it couldn't wait?"

"I was pregnant." With this out at last Serena felt the tears come down her cheeks. Bringing up the past was painful. Jason just stared at her. Unbelieving. "I was six weeks pregnant and I wanted to tell you."

"I heard enough of this."

"You don't believe me?" Serena asked surprised.

"How would I know it was my child?" Jason retorted.

Serena fumed. "How dare you, you know it was your child. You were the only one."

"Don't lie to me you little whore. And what did you do to the bastard?"

"Get out." Serena yelled, "Get out now."

Jason angrily walked past her stopping to say something, "I came here to tell you I missed you and I regret letting you go. It was a mistake listening to Esmeralda and I would have let you back in my life. I also wanted to tell you that even though I didn't love you when we started going out, I grew to love you." Then he left. Serena slid to the floor and gasped, her eyes widening. She clutched at her chest cringing as she felt the pain in her heart. Her head began to ache with a splitting headache.

* * *

Darien was back from his run trying to clear his head but all he could think about was Serena. He had decided he was going to tell Serena how he felt when he got back and settled on it. He had stepped out of the elevator when he saw something that made his heart sink. Serena was in Jason's arms, kissing him and he saw him go in.

He didn't know what to think. He stood out there at the hallway and finally resolved not to tell her. Maybe all the alcohol made her forget it ever happened. Maybe she doesn't remember. He slowly walked to the apartment and waited there. He could hear talking inside. 'His telling her he loves her' he thought sadly. But the voices were raised and soon he could make out a little bit of what was being said.

"That's right you little slut. Why did you come by that day?"

Darien burned with anger. He had no right calling her that. Then he felt a flicker of hope in his chest. There was a chance for him. If he was telling her he loved her, he wouldn't be calling her that.

"I came to surprise you with lunch and to tell you something important."

"What was so important it couldn't wait?"

"I was pregnant. I was six weeks pregnant."

Darien's heart sank. Pregnant! She was pregnant...with his child... He couldn't take it anymore. He ran his hand through his hair in frustration and walked back to the elevator. Pregnant... He was confused and hurt but what made it more unbearable was that he still loved her.

* * *

Cherry Hill Temple

"Where are they?" Rei growled standing at the top of the flight of stairs looking out on the road. "We have to finish this assignment."

"Relax Rei," Lita said leaning against one of the poles her arms crossed. "They'll get here."

"I don't believe this. It's understandable for Serena to be late but both Mina and Amy."

Lita snickered watching her friends violet eyes flaring. "Hey isn't Serena's birthday coming up?" She suddenly said.

"Yeah, but you know she doesn't like celebrating...I guess we know why now huh." Rei answered sadly.

"Sixteen...wow she was so young, I mean I didn't lose my virginity until I was nineteen and that was to my first love."

Rei rolled her eyes at the dreamy look on Lita's face, "Let me guess...your old boyfriend?"

"Yeah, how did you know?"

"Lucky guess." Suddenly Rei caught a blonde head bobbing up and down. "Hey look Mina's here."

"Sorry I'm late." She panted bending over. "Where are the others?" She asked noticing the two.

Lita shrugged and Rei just glared at no one in particular. "By the time they get here I'll be dead and buried." She muttered under her breath.

"Hey Rei." They heard Chad's voice coming from inside the temple. "Serena just called to say she can't make it."

"WHAT!!!" Rei bellowed her face turning red.

Chad stepped back nervously stuttering, "She said she's sorry..."

"I know I heard you the first time, but did she tell you why?"

"She's not feeling well and she has a splitting headache."

Rei bowed her head in frustration. "Okay thanks Chad."

"One down, one to go." Lita remarked.

"Hang on wait, I remember Amy telling me something about not coming today." Mina said.

"When?" Lita asked curiously.

"Yesterday, I don't know my mind was elsewhere. But I'm sure she said she wasn't coming today. Yes I'm sure she did." She said a little more firmly.

"Way to go Mina." Rei snapped angrily, "looks like it's just the three of us."

"I think something's up with Amy...and I think it has something to do with Greg." Lita interjected thoughtfully.

"Oh please...Greg is the last person in this world Amy...no, anyone would ever consider going out with." Rei snorted.

"No, think about it...it makes sense. I mean did you see the looks on their faces yesterday?"

"That could mean anything."

"And Greg has definitely changed...for the better."

"He's probably in one of his rare good moods."

"Can't you just consider it?"

"No because who in their right minds would go for someone like 'that' anyways?"

"Don't be so shallow." Rei just shrugged her shoulders and flicked her long raven locks over her head in her 'much superior' attitude.

Lita shook her head giving up at the idea and Rei just smiled in triumph. Mina said nothing the whole time her thoughts kept going back to Andrew and what he might be thinking about her at that moment. Does he hate me? Oh god, anything but that. Does he still love me? Can he ever forgive me? She remembered him showing up on her doorstep a bunch of flowers in one hand. She remembered their long walks and talks, sharing the double scoop chocolate sundae at his arcade. The way he made her feel special with a candlelit dinner for two. It was so romantic and the whole weekend was so magical. Will he ever forgive me?