Chapter Three
The Nervous Heart's Confession
The lake shimmered like a living entity as ripples played across the silver surface causing the reflected clouds to distort slightly. Despite the sun that rose high above the park, the air was chilled with the mid autumn weather. But the park's grass was still green and pleasant to view as the trees bore the many colors of the season. There were few in the park that day but couples watched the lily flowers drift across slowly, the lake was the park's namesake of Lily Lake Park.
For one pair walking along the lake this was a place of new beginnings. The dark haired man thought back to the events of that day. It had been an oddity for him, for he didn't jog through the park much. Indeed he hadn't known why his course had led him there. Glancing at the blonde haired beauty beside him, Darien thought curiously to himself.
'Did I know somehow that she was in trouble?' a slight smile graced his lips as his companion looked at the beauty of the lake. Sapphire eyes widened with pleasure at the sight and her slim form knelt down to take a lily from the chill waters. Cupping it in her long, slender fingers, Serena closed her eyes and wished.
It was local legend that if one made a wish on a lily that it would come true. No one knew where that had come from but they liked to entertain such superstitions. For her wish though, the young woman thought to the seemingly endless questions in her heart. A glance to the silent figure beside her and she wished silently.
'Please…I wish to understand what I feel for him…please…' laying the flower back on the lake, Serena gently blew it adrift to the rest of the lilies that lay in the center of the rippling water. For a moment she stood side by side with her friend wondering where their relationship stood. The young man gave her a gentle smile as strong hands slid into the pockets of his black jeans.
A smile so charming in it's gentleness caused her to shiver slightly as a cool wind played through the dark locks slowly. Thinking her cold, he surprised her when she felt the warmth of his leather jacket engulf her. Surprisingly the scent of roses and cinnamon sprang up as well. The sudden action made the two look at each other, both startled for a moment.
The change in temperatures caused Serena's cheeks to flush a light pink color. Fighting the impulse to put his hand over her cheek Darien's dark eyes looked into the lake. Wearing a black t-shirt that accented his strong shoulders and back but did little against the cold, he nonetheless declined her offer to return the jacket he had given her.
"But you'll freeze Darien," she spoke gently but her shimmering eyes regarded him with concern.
But the gentle smile he gave her caused her heart to skip a beat, "I will be okay dear friend, with you in my heart I shall never grow cold."
"D…Darien…" the young woman whispered. She couldn't think very clearly and had to keep looking away from him. Wind danced through the golden locks of hair as she stepped onto the nearest of the park's several bridges that spanned the thin rivers, but offered good views of the lake itself. As she walked Darien noticed her form and was a bit surprised as he had never noticed it before.
Lithe and tall she was with her blue jeans showing many of her curves, despite the slightly larger jacket she was wearing he could still see the t-shirt she was wearing. But the thing he found most beautiful were the full shimmering sapphires that glittered in the morning sunlight. The serene smile on her face brought peace to his heart as he walked over to her side.
Without warning she laid her head on his shoulder and his arm went around her slim waist gently without thinking about it.
Unknown to the two on the bridge four girls watched from afar. They were crouched in a bush and two shared the only set of binoculars. Since the arcade the four friends had watched Darien and Serena. Now all of them, Mina especially, were convinced that the two were in love. When Darien slid his arm around their friend's waist the two with the binoculars gasped.
The blond haired one cried out as her right sapphire fixed on the lens, "I see some major contact guys…and it's soo romant…ACK!!"
She choked as the binoculars around her throat were wrenched to a pair of dark green eyes as Lita watched, her eyes filled with hearts, "Well I'll be who'd have guessed?!"
Rei was next to make a grab for the instrument and looked on in shock, "I never would have believed it!"
Ami looked down guiltily, "I don't think we should be spying on them like this you guys."
Rei grinned, "You were the first to do it Ami, like you weren't curious?!"
Someone tapped Rei on the shoulder and the young priestess muttered irritably, "In a minute Lita I am still looking."
Lita shivered and stammered, "R…Rei, that's n…not me!"
The young priestess turned and looked at the none too happy face of the park's caretaker. Shaking hands dropped the field glasses for which Mina was eternally grateful and the four girls were ushered not so gently towards the park's entrance. Despite their outcries the caretaker warned them that if they were caught spying on people again he'd call the police.
Mina rubbed her throat as she spoke quietly, "So what now??"
"Well it's obvious they like each other, but I don't think they know how to admit it to each other," this from the genius of the group.
Mina smiled slightly, "Then we see if we are right, tomorrow we'll find Darien and get his feelings, then we'll meet with Serena. We'll go from there agreed?"
The foursome nodded and went their separate ways leaving their friend for the time being together alone on the bridge.
Early morning sunlight filtered through the clear windows to fall on the countertop. Video game machines whistled with their various activities. Sitting at the counter at the front of him the young collage student sipped his coffee from the mug in his strong hands. Being a Sunday the arcade was deserted save the dark haired man and his blonde haired friend who ran the restaurant/hangout place.
Andrew had noticed that his best friend had been very thoughtful of late but he didn't know what was on his mind. HE realized he almost never knew what Darien was thinking. The double doors opened and four young woman entered, Andrew was surprised to see them without their meatball haired friend. They stood together just inside the entrance and the arcade's manager shook his head, silently defying anyone to look at the four woman and not notice they were lovely in their own ways.
But so lost in thought was Darien that he hardly noticed them, the forgotten coffee in his hand as he let his thoughts drift away to the park. Lita was beginning to make her way towards the counter, but Rei, Ami and Mina managed to pull the impetuous brunette back, but not easily. She glared at them disliking the idea of tactfully approaching the subject as Ami put it, preferring the direct approach. The young women huddled together at the farthest part of the arcade. Andrew watched them curiously whatever they were plotting had to be trouble.
But his friend still had not noticed the girls nearby indeed he sat with his closed and they thought that he might be asleep. Finally he opened his eyes and almost dropped his coffee in surprise as he found himself surrounded by the four femme-fatales. They each regarded him in a different emotion, Ami nervously looked at the ground and wrung her hands, Mina smiled broadly and her eyes shimmered the way she did when she saw something romantic. The martial artist stood with her hands on her hips firmly waiting with barely curbed patience and finally the priestess stood grinning like a mad woman, and Darien knew that that was never a good sign.
Setting his coffee on the table he waited, his face a cool mask as he was waiting to hear what they wanted from him. Seconds ticked by as the arcade manager slowly disappeared to the back for a minute. Darien silently vowed to get him back for leaving him when he needed backup. Still none of the girls spoke as Lita grew more impatient.
Mina swiped a hand before his eyes grinning now as she called, "Darien hello? Darien come in Darien, Earth calling."
The college student blinked, "What…huh??"
But the blond who could have been related to Serena given her similar looks, only their hair styles were different, chuckled and proceeded to walk around him slowly nodding as if a doctor, "Hmm yes let me see here, dazed look, pulse unusually high," she felt his palm, "Palms sweaty and cheeks flushed, my examination girls is he's got it bad."
His deep voice spoke in surprise as he snatched his hand from the grinning girl, "What do you mean I've got it bad?"
But Rei stepped forward to speak first for the others, "Listen Darien we need to ask you something important…err…well…" she hesitated looking back to see if she could get assistance.
Lita was all too eager to help, "we want to know if you have the hots for Serena or not?!"
Darien blinked as the other woman groaned, the blonde haired Mina hit her head lightly on the wall as Lita stood unperturbed by the actions of her friends. She wanted an answer and figured that the best way to get it was to ask a direct question. Sipping from his cup the college student hesitated and looked up as all the girls had recovered from their shock.
"I really am not sure, I mean if by…as you put it Lita 'having the hots' for her you mean do I love her?" he got several nods and sighed, "I think I am falling in love with her…or maybe just realizing that I've really loved her all this time and never knew it. But I am not sure if she feels the same."
All four of them sighed at the romantic words and he swore that it would be awhile before they stopped smiling. But his heart was bursting with joy as he finally let out what had been hidden in his heart. A smile slipped to his usually emotionless face and the girls smiled more. Darien thought of Serena for a moment and his smile was glowing in the bright sunlight before the arcade.
Before he could drift off again Ami touched his arm gently, speaking in her soft voice to ask "What makes you say that you have loved her for so long and yet never said anything?"
"Well it's something I never realized before…I mean I secretly wanted to see her everyday and would go out of my way just to run into her, how she was always so happy and she brightened my days, but recently I really noticed some things, like when I found her at the lake. I knew somehow that something was wrong and knew that I would do anything to protect her….and I still will. Even if it means not telling her how I feel. Because it would hurt her if she doesn't love me back….and I don't want to hurt her, or allow anyone else to hurt her. Because I love her…."
He looked at the girls, Mina and Rei were crying softly, Ami wiped her eyes with a handkerchief and Lita even looked down tears sliding from her eyes. In the back room Andrew wiped a sleeve across his moistened eyes as well as he realized what his friend had said. Darien Chiba was in love with bright, happy go lucky, meatball headed Serena Tsukino?!
But the college student was surprised by the reactions of his secret love's friends. When he asked about it, a barely composed Mina spoke for the group, "It's just that you made such a beautiful speech Darien, I am going to tell my boyfriend to take a lesson."
The other girls nodded about their reason behind the tears. The young man asked slowly, "So now what do we do?"
"Well you my friend are going to have to tell her how you feel, she won't know if you don't tell her right??" Rei asked.
"But what if she doesn't feel the same??" his doubts came from the heart and the girls sympathized gently.
"We'll find out for you," Rei winked, "And we'll let you know okay??"
"Sounds like a plan, but girls, just…don't tell Serena what I said for now, I want her to tell you without knowing."
They all nodded gently and he smiled, "And by the way…thanks…for all you're doing. She's lucky to have such wonderful friends."
The four girls blushed and left smiling gently. Knowing they were headed to Serena's house the young college student looked at his coffee now cold from overly long non-drinking. He didn't really care, but when he saw Andrew he chuckled softly and looked at his long standing friend.
"And don't you tell her Andrew or I swear I'll knock you flat for a month," he shook his fist mockingly at his friend which caused both men to laugh heartily. When they recovered Andrew looked at him.
"Who would ever have guessed that you and Serena would get together??" Andrew's voice was solemn and with good reason. Events had changed things so much around her that it was a little over whelming.
"Well we aren't together yet…" he said this gently, afraid of the thought that he might not ever really be with her if she didn't love him back.
But Andrew grinned, "You've never seen those girls work at a relationship have you??" the arcade manager grinned, "Those girls know what they are doing when it comes to getting people together. And Mina's so good at picking who is a good match for whom it's scary."
"Oh really she had a crush on you and now you're with Rita right?"
"Yea but she admits it was just a crush, she hasn't found hers, but everyone she's ever put together has stayed that way, so try to do something new and be a little optimistic Darien okay?" Andrew went back to work at the countertop disposing of the coffee cup as the rain clouds blotted out the sun. But for once Darien didn't see the clouds as gloomy, but as a renewal of nature's beauty with life giving rain. And he knew who he had to thank for that brighter lookout on life.
The house was relatively quiet, indeed the only sound In the living room was the steady ticking of the large grandfather clock in the corner. Three of the four person household were away at the store. But the young woman laid on the couch hugging one of the embroidered pillows to her as she thought to herself silently. The swirl of emotions within her caused shivers down her spine and a blush to her cheeks as she twirled one of her long blonde pigtails in her slender fingers.
"What should I do?" the soft voice whispered to the empty house, "I mean every time I am with him I feel so…warm and happy, no one's ever made me feel that way…does that mean I love him??"
A slight smile appeared as she thought of the idea of being his girlfriend. was becoming even more appealing. Her eyes closed and effortlessly a mental picture of a horseback ride through a forest path to a cliff overlooking the ocean. Serena swore she could feel the breeze, smell the salt air and see the gorgeous sunset painting the sky brilliant oranges, pinks and reds. Then they would sit at the picnic he had set up there earlier for just this moment.
They would sit in each others arms, with her cheek pressed against his shoulder gently, his arm around her waist. As the first stars appeared in the sky and the wind whispered through the jet black hair, carrying with it the scent of roses and cinnamon. Then his midnight eyes shimmer with joyful tears and slowly his gentle hand would touch her cheek softly. Slowly their lips would move closer and she could feel her heartbeat quicken with anticipation of the kiss…
The sudden ringing of the doorbell caused Serena to jump in surprise and she landed hard on the floor. The doorbell rang again and she scrambled to the door, she practically threw it open when she saw all four of her best friends. They entered and soon enough were all sitting comfortably in the living room. None of them said a word then they made small talk. A very little on school, all four knew that their friend's grades had shown remarkable improvement since Darien had begun tutoring her. Another mark in his favor.
Mina, her smile broad and happy looked at Serena, and she saw the tell tale signs of a blush on her cheeks when Mina pointed this fact out Serena the girl blushed even further. Her friends chuckled to themselves and slowly they began to get the girl's thoughts from a few moments ago. As the story unfolded every one of the girls sighed with hearts in their eyes.
But the entire time Mina was making mental notes for future references, but they hadn't learned whether Serena loved Darien. For she had made it a point not to mention who the man in her thoughts was. But her friends, sipping tea and munching on cookies were quick to point this minor detail out. Serena looked down and there was a silence in the room as she could almost hear her heart screaming the name joyfully, but it hung unspoken against her lips. The fear that had held her now filled her with doubts.
Mina gently touched her shoulder gently, "It's alright Serena you can tell us," the smile the young girl gave her was gentle and reassuring, "No one else will know."
"It's not that I don't trust you guys," she hesitated, how could she tell them she was in love with someone who had always teased her and been nothing to her before a month or two ago. And now she wanted to love him with all her being, "I'm scared….scared that he won't return what I feel."
Each of the girls looked at each other and then to her. It was due to what had happened with Tom, the normally happy girl was still scarred emotionally from that encounter. But if they were sure who she meant and that he was feeling the same and they grinned a bit as Ami of all people took charge and spoke what they were all thinking.
"What if we asked the guy for you…subtly of course? We could find out without telling him who you are and let you know what he's saying, it might save you future heartache." the young genius smiled gently to her eccentric, but joyful friend, the first Ami had made when she moved to her new high school. And the smile Serena gave made the foursome want to protect her always.
It was so gentle, and peaceful that it fit her namesake perfectly and she looked at each of her dearest friends, "You would do that for me??"
"Of course we would 'Rena" Lita smiled and used her favorite nickname for the girl she saw as he sister.
"Alright…but only if you promise not to laugh," she gave a look at Rei for a moment then grinned to salve any hurt the priestess may have felt, "It's…Darien…"
The foursome secretly cheered and Mina bore a smug look for predicting this one months ago. Indeed ever since seeing the two in the restaurant she had persisted that the two were meant for each other. The meatball headed girl was looking down expecting fits of laughter and shock, but she saw only gentle smiles and encouraging eyes.
"About time you told us," but the martial artist was grinning a bit crookedly but it was a smile of true friendship, "Mina over there's sworn up and down that it was true for two months now."
The five chuckled to themselves Serena most of all but then they turned to where to go from there. The four remembered their promise to Darien, but now they had promised their dearest friend that they would try to find out how Darien felt. When Serena left for the bathroom the four huddled to figure out a plan. Then Rei decided they should let Darien know and then see where he wanted to take it.
Later the girls were on their way out, but Rei hesitated and drew Serena aside to speak to her friend in private. Those large, emotion filled sapphires regarded the priestess as she spoke slowly, "Listen Serena, I know Darien really well and I know both from my own experiences and what I've seen with you and him that he would do anything to keep you from harm. And he won't hurt you with this, not like Tom. So keep your chin up, because he's a wonderful guy, who I am sure likes you as much as you like him."
Before Serena could respond the priestess had left with the other girls and she closed the door. She still worried, but knew that Rei was right. And with that thought she smiled and closed her eyes letting the dream wash over her again and her heart was bursting with the joy of love and hope.