Sweet Surrender
Part 3/?
By Elisabeth James
liz221@ameritech.net
Website: http://www.crosswinds.net/~liz221/
Wow I am on a roll! Who knows where this
could lead?! Maybe even a new chapter to Forbidden
Hearts if the cards are right!
I decided to put my thank yous at the beginning
this time, in case you find this so boring you can't even
make it to the end. A special thanks to Mehg who has
been with me every step of the way on this dratted thing,
forcing me to write. Meredith for all the wonderful help
she gives me on my fics, they're less than perfect before
she steps in to help. And Clare for her continued support
of everything in my life, LYLAS babe!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon
This uses US names, but is not a dub fic, it's an
AU, you have been warned.
*~ Chapter 3- A Matchmaker At Large *~
"What am I doing here?" Serena glanced at the
large mansion that loomed in front of her as she stepped
out of her station wagon onto the Harrison property for
the second time that night. When Mehgan had called her
an hour ago, she had been extremely surprised to hear
from the girl but had accepted the invitation. She was
pleased at the aspect of making a new friend.
She slung her bag over her shoulder, grabbed her
pillow from the backseat and made her way to the kitchen
door. Drawing in a deep breath, Serena rapped sharply
on the screen door.
It flew open and a dark haired girl quickly pulled
her into the house. Serena opened her mouth to say hello,
but Mehgan held a finger to her lips, "Shhh... Darien will
kill me if he finds out you're here."
"Mehgan, he doesn't know I'm going to be here?"
Serena whispered, curious about why her presence was
such a big secret. The dark haired girl grinned in reply
and pulled Serena up the stairs and down the hall to her
bedroom.
Mehgan was almost identical to her big brother,
dark ebony hair, big blue eyes and dark skin. Her hair
was pulled back in a messy ponytail but it was long,
down to the middle of her back and those blue eyes were
sparkling with mischief and one could almost see the
little devil perched on her shoulder. There was one major
difference between the two siblings that Serena could
see, Mehgan was approachable and open while Darien
seemed to have a wall built around him to keep unwanted
guests out. It didn't take a genius to figure out that aside
from appearances Darien and Mehgan were as different
as night and day when it came down to their
personalities.
Mehgan shut the door to her room and turned on
the lights. The bedroom was massive, bigger than
Serena's entire apartment. "Wow, you're room is
beautiful." she breathed as she glanced around at all the
pictures and knick knacks that adorned the walls and
shelves. It seemed more like a princess dwelled here
than a normal teenaged girl.
"Thanks, I just redecorated a few months ago."
Mehgan studied the blond haired girl in front of her,
trying to see what her brother would find so special. It
wasn't everyday he opened himself up to a complete
stranger, there had to be something about her... "I know
this is awkward, me calling out of the blue and all but I
was lonely and you didn't look all that happy when you
left earlier."
"You were watching us?" Serena asked, surprised
that she hadn't noticed the dark haired girl watching her
and Darien.
"I caught the tail end of the conversation, I was
coming downstairs to get something to eat before I went
to bed when I spotted you two talking. Naturally I waited
until you guys were done before I barged in." Serena
nodded slowly, it seemed plausible but there was still
something... off about Mehgan's whole story. "He likes
you, you know." Mehgan continued slyly, watching
emotions she couldn't identify flash across Serena's face.
"It was one conversation, no big deal." Serena
told her weakly, taking a seat on the queen sized bed.
Mehgan only giggled in reply, "I have never seen my
brother look at anyone like he looked at you tonight. I'm
telling you, there's something there."
"Mehgan listen, I'm starting to see what this is all
about. You invited me over here because you think
something could happen between me and your brother.
I'm sure he was just being nice tonight because I fell and
got hurt in your yard." Serena kept her eyes focused on
her hands. Mehgan didn't need to know that she had
questioned the nature of Darien's feelings herself when
she had gotten home. She had sensed something there
just as Mehgan had, something in this voice, something
in then way he looked at her. But she refused to get her
hopes up, she didn't want to build something wonderful
happening up in her mind and then have it fizzle out into
nothing.
"He's helping up with your paintings tomorrow
Serena, he wants to see you again! I'm an expert in
matters of the heart, trust me about this one." Mehgan
plopped down on the bed next to Serena and placed an
arm around her shoulder. "I'll leave this whole mess
alone for the rest of the night okay? I can tell it's
upsetting you. I'm going to run downstairs to the kitchen
and make some popcorn and then we can watch some
movies." Serena nodded and reached for her duffel bag,
"Where can I change into my PJs?"
Mehgan bounced up and opened the bedroom
door, "There's a bathroom right down the hall, second
door on your left." She flashed Serena a toothy grin,
"Darien's room is right next to it, it's the first door on the
left. Feel free to pop in and say hello." Serena rolled her
eyes at the other girl's antics and started to dig through
her bag for her bunny pajamas. She listened as Mehgan
bounded down the stairs and disappeared into the
kitchen.
She had to shake her head at her new friend, she
was a ball of energy, waiting to explode. Serena
wondered if Mehgan really wanted to be her friend or if
she just wanted to set her up with her brother... Suddenly
the sound of another door opening up down the hall
startled her back to reality. She watched as Darien
walked toward Mehgan's doorway, still half asleep.
"Mehg, could you please keep it down, some of us
are trying to slee-" he stopped as he finally recognized
the girl sitting on the floor of his sister's bedroom as
Serena. "Serena, what are you doing here again?"
The blond looked very nervous all of a sudden,
"Umm... Your sister called me not long after I left and
asked me if I wanted to spend the night..." She stood up,
PJs in hand, ready to excuse herself to go to the
bathroom.
"Where did she get your phone number?" He
smacked his head as he realized he had left it sitting on
the kitchen table, "Never mind, I think I know. I left it
sitting out in the open and Mehg loves to get involved in
other people's business. It's like a hobby of hers."
Serena smiled at the obvious affection in his
voice, despite his words it was clear that he loved his
little sister dearly. And that she could push his buttons
like no one else ever could.
"I'm sorry to intrude again, I was surprised when
she called me. I'm not quite sure why I even accepted
the invitation in the first place." She desperately wanted
to get away from him, she could see the bathroom over
his shoulder, beckoning to her...
"Yes well, it's nice to see you again. Maybe if
you two become friends you'll be hanging out over more
often."
"Yep, the world is full of possibilities." she told
him blithely, effectively covering her insecurity about
being so close to him. Earlier she had been in a daze,
unsure about what was happening but the haze that had
clouded her head had dissipated and things were crystal
clear. Darien Harrison was ten times hotter than she had
thought he was before.
"Darien, how nice to see you up and moving!" A
new voice chimed in, causing Serena to breath a deep
sigh of relief. Mehgan walked toward the two of them
with two big bowls of popcorn and three cans of soda. "I
took a chance and brought extras in case you wanted to
watch the movie with us Darien." With that, Serena's
relief morphed into a full on heart attack.
"I'm just going to go change into my PJs, so I can
be more comfortable." She zipped out of the room and
down the hall. Darien watched her retreating back and
grinned to himself, she really was adorable.
"You're welcome." Mehg giggled as she set the
popcorn down on the desk by her bed. "You can make it
up to me later, by letting me borrow your car."
Darien spun around, all traces of amusement gone
from his handsome features, "Look Mehg I told you not
to mess around with my personal life. This whole Serena
thing is my business and I would appreciate it if you
would just butt out."
"You're cute when you're angry." she smiled
coyly at him, goading him further. "She's my friend
Darien, or at least she's going to be. You don't play a
role in everything I do. She's a nice girl, and she looks
like she needs more friends. Can't you see she's lonely?"
Darien ran a hand through his thick black hair,
"Yeah, I think you're right. She does look lonely..."
"Get a grip Serena!" she told herself firmly as she
splashed cold water on her face. "He's no different than
any other guy." God, that was such a lie... Her mind
combated that logic with the fact that he was rich, mature
and completely out of her reach. He wasn't just some
silly schoolboy, he was in college while she was just
going to be a junior in high school.
She studied her reflection in the mirror, trying to
find what he might think was so special about her.
Mehgan thought he was interested in her for some reason
or another, but everything she saw was completely
ordinary.
"Just forget it, you're dreaming if you ever think
anything will happen between you two. Even if Mehg is
right, it's useless to believe that he would date a measly
16 year old." With that said, Serena jerked open the door
and walked back down the hallway to Mehg's room, her
heart guarded with extreme care.
They spent the rest of the night watching movies
and gossiping about the few people they both knew.
Darien watched silently as Serena and his sister bonded
almost immediately over a bowl of popcorn and the
movie Sixteen Candles. He was unsure of how Mehg did
it, how she could just open up to people the way she did.
The effect she had on most of them was startling, she
could make even the sternest man crack a smile.
He soaked up the information Serena provided
about herself, the fact that she lived alone with her
mother in a tiny apartment, that she loved to paint (which
he already knew), that spring was her favorite season (not
because of the flowers that bloomed but because of how
the air smelled after a rainstorm) She was a treasure, a
gem untarnished by high society, and he found himself
wanting to keep her that way. What would have been a
depressing night, as he contemplated what went wrong
with his failed relationship with Rachael, had turned into
a charming surprise.
Around three in the morning the trio split up to
get some well deserved sleep. Darien crept back to his
own bedroom and the two girls laid awake for another
hour chatting about nonsense. Finally Mehg dosed off
midsentence and Serena snuggled into her sleeping bag, a
smile playing across her lips as she too drifted off into
dreamland.
"Wakey Wakey Princesses!" the voice cut straight
through the sleep that held Serena tightly in its grasp.
She pulled a pillow over her head to block out the noise,
while mumbling a slurred, "Go away."
"Darien, do you have any idea what freakin' time
it is!" Mehg grumbled from her bed above her.
"It's around nine, mom wants you awake and
downstairs in five minutes. She made breakfast." The
words hung in the air until Mehg finally realized what her
brother had just said. "Our mother cooked?"
"She did, she made pancakes."
Mehg let out a huge groan, "There is no God."
Serena pulled the pillow off her head and turned
her bleary eyes up to look at Darien, "Why is it so bad
that your mother made breakfast?" Darien let out a deep
chuckle as he watched the blond haired girl struggle to
stay awake, "She's not much of a cook."
Mehg slowly sat up, shaking the last dregs of
sleep from her body, "One time she made chili, it tasted
like dog food." Serena made a face, she usually ate
anything placed in front of her but dog food... "Come on
Serena, let's go attempt to eat." Mehgan dragged the
blond to her feet and started pushing her out of the room
and down the stairs
"After breakfast, I'll help you set up those
paintings at the college." Darien added as the Serena
finally seemed to be awake enough to comprehend what
he was saying.
"I completely forgot all about that." Serena
mumbled, "Everything is still out in my car." The three
entered the kitchen and were greeted by smell of burning
pancake batter...
Serena choked down a couple of runny pancakes,
while Mehgan and Darien just avoided them all together.
She washed up and changed into jean shorts and a
T-shirt. Darien was waiting outside by the car when she
came outside.
He opened the car door for her without saying a
word and she flashed him a quick smile for his courtesy.
The two were on their way not five minutes later, having
an idle conversation about nothing in particular. Serena
found herself becoming more and more relaxed in his
presence and enjoyed his company. Darien made it no
secret that he enjoyed hers.
"So how long have you been interested in
painting?" he gazed at her lazily, immersing himself in
the details of her face. Her face was lovely with delicate
cheekbones, a pert little nose and big azure eyes framed
by long sooty lashes. She could have easily been a
model, but he doubted she had the type of personality to
make it in such a harsh career.
She grinned in spite of herself, "There's a picture
that my mother has framed on the bookcase in our living
room of me holding a paintbrush standing next to an
easel. I was probably about five when the picture was
taken. I've always been an artist for as long as I can
remember, it's part of who I am."
"I wish I had something like that to cling to, I've
always been to busy to paint or write or do anything
artistic. I was trained in the ways of business so I can
take over my father's company in few years." he tried
hard to keep the bitterness out of his voice, if any
managed to sneak through, Serena didn't pick up on it.
"How wonderful, I'm sure you're looking forward
to following in your father's footsteps." a snort of
laughter was her reply, "Did I say something funny?"
"Everyone always just assumes that I'm willing
and eager to take over my father's career. I wasn't given
a choice in the matter, when I was little all my friends
wanted to be firefighters or rock stars. I was going to be
a corporate slavedriver, no ifs ands or buts about it." his
eyes turned cold, Serena could sense him pulling away
from her. Drawing back into that ball she had always
seen him tucked inside, unwilling to open up.
"That must have been terrible for you, no child
should have to go through something like that." she told
him weakly, praying to return the atmosphere to how it
was just moments before.
Darien could sense that she was suddenly
nervous, he cursed himself silently. He scared people
away, it was just his nature. No one ever bothered to
stick around long enough to brave it out. Somehow
though, he knew that Serena was different than everyone
else.
They pulled into the college parking lot and into a
space close to the exhibition hall doors. There were
already close to thirty students milling around and
hauling paintings inside. Serena got out of the car and
walked around to the trunk, feeling Darien's cool blue
eyes on her the entire time.
"Umm, the one on top is the heaviest." she told
him as she opened the trunk. He reached for it, carefully
pulling it forward. The colors caught his eye and he
leaned forward to get a better look. The canvas was a
swirl of reds, oranges and deep purples representing a
sunset. Two perfect moons were rising in the sky as the
sun sunk below the horizon.
"Serena, this is absolutely beautiful. I never
imagined that you had such talent." she beamed under his
praise, "Thanks Darien, this is my main piece, I'm hoping
to win first place in the fantasy category."
"I don't think any other painting stands a chance."
he told her sincerely, watching a becoming blush spread
across her cheeks. "I hope you're right..."
He picked up the heavy piece of artwork and
Serena lead him inside the hall. She was given one of the
rooms near the back to display her work. White
temporary walls surrounded the tiny space, ready and
waiting to adorned with artwork.
She studied the space for a moment, "Let's put
that one there." she pointed to a spot near the entrance,
where the painting could be spotted from the doorway.
Darien hung it up carefully and they stepped back to
make sure it looked all right.
After an hour and a half everything was set up and
in Darien's humble opinion Serena's work was the best
there. For being only sixteen she captured light and color
like a master and her imagery was spectacular.
"When is the art show?" Darien asked as he
opened the car door for her to get in.
She paused for a moment, "Saturday night. It's a
major event for the college, there's a raffle and a bunch
of other fundraising events taking place that evening as
well. It's almost a black tie event."
"Do you have a date?" the question caught Serena
so off guard that she dropped her keys under her seat.
"Umm..." she kept her eyes focused on him as she felt
around the carpet for them. "No, no I don't."
A smile lit up Darien's face as he snatched
Serena's small hand in his own, "Would you allow me
the honor of accompanying you"
"You really want to go to a college art show with
me?" her voice sounded strange to her ears, it was soft
and melodious, so unlike the way she usually was. Dear
God, she was flirting! Well sort of... Her heart was
screaming not to let this be a joke, for him not to
suddenly drop her hand and shout "hell no!" in her face.
"It would be my great pleasure to have the most
beautiful artist in the world on my arm, if she would
grace me with her presence." he placed a feather soft kiss
on her hand and she felt her insides turn to mush.
"Pick me up at 7:30?" she asked hopefully,
watching with extreme delight as his eyes seemed to light
up with happiness of their own.
"I'll be five minutes early." he quickly found her
keys and handed them to her. She started the car and
backed out of the parking lot.
~To Be Continued...~
Okay, please please please send me feedback :) I
really want to know what everyone thinks about this fic.
In case you didn't catch it earlier, the address is:
liz221@ameritech.net
Write me! Write me! Write me! Write me!
Liz-chan