Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G-PG13+
Chapter: 9- Hocus Pocus

Last time on "Winter Snow"…

"Watch where you're walking Meatball Head." Darien didn't shift his attention from his book, and continued walking.

"What was that all about?" Lita asked, quite confused.

"I…I don't know." Serena stuttered, dazed. "He didn't even say hello…" She continued her walk to the mall in silence, with her head hanging.

*What's going on Darien?* Crystal mentally asked, sternly

*It's none of your business* Darien replied in a tone that he hadn't used with Crystal before, which scared her.

*Yes it is, it concerns the happiness of one of my best friends and my brother, so it concerns me. Tell me Dare. Come on* Crystal pleaded.

*Fine!* Darien started.


*A couple of guys at the arcade were saying that Serena already had a boyfriend. One of the guys even saw her on a date with him. There, I told you, but don't tell anyone I told you this.* Darien confessed.

*I'll get to the bottom of this…* Crystal thought

*You don't tell anyone, got it?* Darien said, demanding to get an answer that he wanted to hear

*Yes, yes alright…* Crystal confirmed. She didn't believe that Serena had a boyfriend. Serena would've told the girls. Crystal decided to investigate. First, she went to Serena's closest friend in the group of scouts, Mina.

"Hey, Mina…" Crystal started, smiling warmly.

"Yes…" Mina said in the same tone.

"Would you know if…" Crystal paused "If Serena has a boyfriend?" Crystal whispered into Mina's ear so no one else could hear.

"Other than your brother? Of course not, why?" Mina asked

"Well just because…umm… I've been hearing rumors that she had a boyfriend, and I just wanted to clear things up." Crystal half lied.

"Well, I think she would've told us if she did. But no, I'm certain she doesn't have a boyfriend, that is, besides your brother." Mina winked

*That's it! Darien IS Serena's boyfriend!* Crystal mentally exclaimed, feeling like an idiot for not drawing that conclusion earlier. The girls entered the mall and walked into their favorite shops. Crystal then noticed that Serena was still upset from this morning's 'Incident'.

"Hey Serena!" Crystal smiled cheerily.

"Oh, hey Crystal, what's up?" Serena faked a smile

"There's not much up with me, but what's wrong?" Crystal asked sympathetically.

"Oh, nothing" Serena sighed

"Come on Sere… something's obviously wrong. I might be able to help…" Crystal smiled warmly. Serena sighed again.

"It's what happened this morning, when I ran into Darien. He seemed so cold. One minute we're fine, and he's so sweet, and literally a few hours later he's back to being the cold arrogant jerk that he used to be. I don't know what to do anymore!" Serena slumped against a wall.

"You know what, if I were you, then I really wouldn't care… he probably misplaced his car keys somewhere and wasn't in the best of moods that morning, he'll get over it." Crystal comforted.

"Really?" Serena's mood had lightened already.

"Yeah, sure… now let's get some shopping done, girl!" Crystal grinned.

"Crystal…?" Serena asked.

"Yep?" Crystal asked cautiously

"Thank you." Serena smiled genuinely and hugged Crystal.

"Any time…" Crystal smiled. They all shopped until their bank accounts virtually protested in agony and it was 5pm. The six girls headed back to Serena's house to gather their belongings and go back home.

*Darien you big doofus! It's all a bunch of Hocus Pocus! Where are you!?* Crystal asked

*What.* It was apparent that he was still in a bad mood, coupled with his lack of sleep, It was not going to be an easy conversation.

*The guys were right, Serena does have a boyfriend* Crystal teased. Darien went silent

*Ok* He replied simply. He was obviously upset. Crystal gathered up all her gear, said her good-byes to everyone and started to walk home.

*You idiot! I meant you…* Crystal told Darien mentally.

*Huh? What are you talking about?* Darien asked, still in his gloomy mood.

*You!* Crystal exclaimed *You're Serena's boyfriend, Darien. You're the boyfriend that the guys at the arcade were talking about*

*Are you sure?*

"Yeah I'm pretty sure" Crystal said, coming through the door. "But that means you've got a lot of making up to do mister!" Crystal handed Darien a piece of paper with Serena's phone number on it and the phone.

"But… but." Darien stuttered.

"Call her." Crystal said firmly. Darien obeyed and began dialing the number. A little boy picked up.

"Hello?" It was Sammy

"Hi, is Serena there?" Darien's voice trembled slightly

"Yeah, sure Darien, I'll go get her." Sammy knew who it was.

"Hello?" Serena sighed deeply into the phone.

"Erm… hi… Serena?" Darien didn't know what to say.

"Darien?" Serena asked, becoming nervous all of the sudden.

"Hi, Serena… um how are you?" Darien asked, finding it hard to get started. Crystal whacked him across the head for his stupid comment, which caused him to grimace and frown.

"I'm fine." Serena said simply.

"Umm… ok…" Darien faltered. Crystal sighed and began writing on her mini whiteboard, with a black marker. It said 'I'm sorry for being the…" Crystal lifted up the board to show Darien, then began writing again "biggest jerk this morning it's just…" she lifted it up to show her brother and started writing again 'that I wasn't in the best of moods and' she held the board up and Darien began saying what he had read 'I'd like to make it up to you in some way' Crystal held up triumphantly while Darien read from it.

"Really?" Serena smiled, Crystal had been right.

"Yeah really…" Darien confirmed while writing on the board 'help, what next?' and lifting it up to show Crystal, who shook her head to show that she wasn't going to help him out anymore. He was on his own.

"Umm… how about dinner, tomorrow night? Nothing too fancy, just you and me." Darien said smoothly and Crystal smiled.

"Ok sure!" Serena became happy and she felt on top of the world again.

"Great, well I'll pick you up at 6 then." Darien danced around the room. Crystal shook her head.

"Nuts I tell you! He's lost it!" She said to herself

"6 it is" Serena agreed

"Ok, goodnight" Darien grinned broadly.

"Bye!" Serena also beamed

"Goodbye"

"See ya"

"Later"

"Bye"

"Bye"

This obnoxious conversation continued for some time later as both struggled to hang up the phone. Neither one wanted to concede.

"Just hang up already! Both of you! HANG, UP!" Crystal yelled, getting sick of all the mushy gushy love thing. Serena heard Crystal and giggled.

"Ok bye handsome," Serena said

"Bye bye Princess" Darien replied. Crystal rolled her eyes as the couple hung up at the same time.


[Meanwhile- At Serena's House]

"LUNA?! " Serena bellowed

"Yes Serena? What is it THIS time?" Luna came out from under Serena's table

"My diary! Have you seen my diary Luna? It was on my desk this last night and now its missing!" Serena searched frantically, everywhere. She wrote down her deepest and most intimate thoughts and feelings in that diary. It was too precious to lose.

"No, I'm sorry Serena, but I haven't seen your diary since last yesterday morning, maybe you dropped it in the kitchen or took it to the arcade and forgot it there." Luna informed.

"That's it! The Arcade! I must've left it there in my hurry to go on the date. I hope Andrew didn't read it!" Serena thought out aloud to herself and raced out the door towards the arcade. She got there just before Andrew was about to leave.

"Hey Andy!" Serena waved

"Hi Serena, isn't it a bit late for you? You're usually in BEFORE I close the arcade." Andrew smiled

"No no, I was just wondering, have you seen a little pink book with a picture of a crescent moon on the front, anywhere?" Serena asked, worriedly.

"Actually… yes, I have seen it, I thought it looked familiar." Andrew handed Serena her diary. "Some guys had found it earlier and started reading through a few pages, but I took it off them, since it obviously didn't belong to them." He smiled

"Oh my gosh! Thank you sooooo much Drew!" Serena hugged Andrew. "You didn't read through it did you?" Serena pulled away cautiously.

"Actually… yeah, but only the first few pages, I needed to know who owned the book, I didn't know it was a diary. Honest!" Andrew panicked slightly.

"No, it's ok Drew, I believe you, and besides, you already know about the scouts and Darien, so what else was in there that you didn't already know?" Serena shrugged

"Yeah, I suppose. Well I gotta go. See ya!" Andrew waved goodbye

"Byyyyee!" Serena started back home but didn't get very far when she ran into a group of guys from her school.

"So, you like Darien Chiba huh?" One of the guys smirked

"Y…y…you read my diary?" Serena stuttered

"Yeah, champion of justice, Sailor Moon hahaha!" Another boy added

"Y…you know?" Serena became very fearful

"Yeah, and if you don't fight us, we'll tell the whole world who you are." A redhead boy laughed wickedly "We'll take you on. We'll show everyone that we're stronger and better than Sailor Moon."

"Oh no, please don't!" Serena pleaded, falling to her knees.

"Oh, we will, now get up and fight!" The first boy nudged Serena with his foot

"Hey Serena, I forgot to give you this." Andrew chased after Serena, holding out a test paper which had the mark '62%' on it. The gang of boys ran away.

"Oh, thanks Andy!" Serena sighed. She was safe… for now.

"You're getting better!" Andrew smiled warmly. Serena stared at her feet and nodded silently. "Are you alright?" Andy picked up the hint.

"No, I'm fine Drew…" Serena smiled wearily "Just… a bit tired" She sighed.

"Hmm…alright then, I'll get going." Andrew smiled and patted Serena on the shoulder. "Get some rest alright?" He grinned broadly before walking away. Serena sighed deeply.

"Oh my gosh, what am I going to do?" She said to herself before hiccupping back a tear. She didn't want to start crying just in case someone saw her. She really tried her best but failed. A tear rolled down her cheek as she slowly turned around to walk home.

"No, No Serena, no more crying, that's it! Just one tear! No more." Serena coached herself but it didn't work. The pavement seemed blurry as another tear formed, and another and another. "I'm so stupid! What am I going to tell the scouts and my family when they find out? And, and Luna! She's going to be so disappointed in me!" Serena hiccupped as the tears flowed more freely now. She was thinking to herself when she ran into a solid wall. She didn't even look up when she hit it "Stupid wall!" She mumbled to herself.

"Are you OK Meatball Head?" The wall began talking, but Serena did not hear. She was too busy blaming herself. "Hello?! Serena?" The wall waved his hand in front if Serena's face to get her attention. He felt a warm drop fall onto his hand. It was a tear. stopped in front of Serena and lifted her chin up. He was right, she had been crying.

"Oh, Darien." Serena quickly wiped her tears away so Darien wouldn't see them.

"What's the matter?" Darien asked sympathetically, getting Serena to sit on a nearby bench. Serena stayed silent for a few moments. "Come on, Ser. You know that you could tell me anything." He kneeled down in front of her. She hesitated for a second.

"It's all my fault…" She whispered.

"What is?" Darien asked becoming interested.

"A bunch of guys found my diary at the arcade." Serena began, as another tear trickled down her cheek.

"Aw… that's not too bad… listen, I'll go get it for you." Darien got up to go find Serena's diary.

"No, wait." Serena grabbed his arm. "I've got it." Serena explained.

"Then what's the matter?" Darien kneeled down again.

"They read it." Serena said simply. Darien gave her a questionable look.

"That's not too bad, is it?" He wiped away a stray tear from Serena's face.

"The thing is, I wrote everything in that book, EVERYTHING!" Serena emphasized. "About being Sailor Moon and the scouts' identities and, and… and stuff about you." Serena looked up to face Darien. She expected him to be frustrated with her, but his eyes were warm and inviting.

"Listen, it'll be alright." He placed an arm around Serena's shoulder and pulled her close to him.

"I'm so sorry" She tried to hold back her tears. Once again, it didn't work.

"Everything will be fine." Darien smiled warmly.

"No it's not, I'm so stupid! They said that they'll tell everyone if I don't fight them. I've put the scouts in danger too by revealing their true selves. How will they ever be able to trust me with anything again?" Serena sobbed.

"Listen, I'll take care of them, don't worry about them. And another thing, you are not stupid." Darien took the test paper that he saw popping out of Serena's shoulder bag, and carefully unfolded it.

"No, don't look at that!" Serena felt embarrassed. She fully expected Darien to burst out into laughter and call her a stupid lazy Meatball Head, but once again, she was wrong.

"See? 62% you're obviously improving, which is good. It's good to see that you're trying harder. You're not stupid at all. You and I both know that you're not, you're just a little lazy, that's all, but you're a very smart young woman" Darien said proudly. Serena smiled. He called her a woman.

"Thank you" She whispered very quietly as she placed the test paper back into her bag.

"That's alright, but we better get you home before your family begins to worry." Darien stated, knowing that her parents would be home by now and it was going to be dark pretty soon. "Come on, I'll walk you home." Darien extended his arm out for Serena to take. She did so quite willingly and they began walking. "So, do you want to postpone the date this Sunday?" Darien suggested.

"Oh, No! Definitely not!" Serena was obviously excited about it.

"Ok" Darien chuckled.

"That reminds me, where are we going and what are we doing?" Serena asked.

"Well that's a surprise…" Darien smiled proudly.

"Oh come on… please!" Serena pleaded with a pair of puppy dog eyes. Darien couldn't resist.

"Oh, well, Ok." Darien sighed. "We are going to…"


Crystal Saturn