(Disclaimer, I don't own anything, not Sailor Moon, but what the hell…any references to anything owned by anyone is a complete accident sry. On with the chapter, hope you guys like this and please REVIEW.)
Btw, this chapter may be a bit rated R cause of some blood and a bit of violence.
"words" – spoken
'words' - thought
Chapter 1: Memories
Madison fitted her glossy black helmet and sped off into the empty streets towards her gang and the loud music that soothed her aching soul. She made it to the club in record time, 25 minutes, granted she had swerved a truck, run two red lights, almost hit a fire hydrant and missed a tree by a couple centimeters, but nothing was going to make her miss her favorite underground band, The Howling Bats. Granted it was a strange name but they were one of the best rock bands ever.
It was just what she needed that day, just to get out of her house, her head, to just get out and drown herself in music and dancing, it was just what she needed.
"Finally Madison!" Her friends Sara, Rita, Lisa and Anna called out to her, "we were wondering when you'd get here"
"Calm your selves, I'm here I'm here it's all good." They all laughed at her level headedness.
"Man Madison, I don't know how you do it!"
"Do what Anna?"
"Every day you go to school, do your homework and are a great daughter, then at night you come out and party with us like there's no tomorrow…how in the hell do you find the energy to do all of that?"
"Hey, I'm a Night Cat, what can I say?"
"Hey, we're all Night Cat's and we can't run on as little sleep as you do!" Rita chimed in.
"What can I say, I'm just extremely talented."
"Hey, enough babbling you guys, more dancing!" Sara yelled as she began to dance to the loud bass.
With in two hours of Madison getting to the rave it was broken up leaving Madison and the Night Cat's to roam the streets. The wind began to blow hard as the five girls walked down the empty streets of Manhattan, with the exception of the occasional drunk.
"Smoke?" Lisa offered Rita.
"Lisa! I though you quit!"
"Um…oh yeah I um… I did, I was just joking. You know, it's a…trick cigarette, you know one of those candy ones!" Lisa pointed to the box worried.
"Candy huh?" Sara quipped, "Then eat one."
Lisa looked distraught…the though to eating a cigarette kind of disgusted her.
"Um…eat?"
"Lisa, you've got to quit, we don't need more dead people around us, especially not ones we care a lot about!"
"Oh come on guys, its just one cigarette every once in a while."
"Once cigarette every once in a while is going to kill you after a while you know that!" Sara scolded; she hated seeing people hurt themselves like that. It was one thing to fight for your life. It was another to give it up to propaganda and big buck companies.
"Lisa, what happened that's made you start up again?" Madison spoke nonchalantly.
"Nothing, Lisa bent her head down."
"Lisa."
"Look really it's nothing, don't worry I won't smoke, it's just I had them from before I quit and all and I just found them and thought what the hell, I'll see if any of the girls want one?" She questioned whether they'd believe her. 'Whew, that was good I thought I'd have to explain myself.'
"Like hell, you know none of us like that shit. " Madison barked.
"Oops, I think she's a bit peeved…" Lisa looked on at her two friends, Madison with her back to everyone debating with Lisa.
"She should have come up with something better like I don't know, she lost her nicotine patch or something…" Rita retorted.
"Damn it Madison, You don't have to be so harsh you know." Lisa cursed.
"Me? I'm being harsh? I'm not the one who is smoking again, and causing all of her friends to worry, I'm not the one making up stupid lies which make no sense."
"Well you know what Madison, maybe I did make up a lie! Maybe I did start smoking again, but what do you care? You don't care about anything anymore, not us not anyone all you care about is YOU." Lisa was screaming, tears welding up in her eyes.
Suddenly Madison pivoted around, her palm coming into full contact with Lisa's cheek.
"Fuck Madison, you don't have to hit her!" Anna was in shock; it was the first time that Madison had ever hit any of them any harder than a light tap.
"Maybe next time you won't smoke." And with that Madison headed down the empty street, alone leaving the four girls standing in shock and in a state of confusion.
"What the hell was that!" Rita was now just a bit angry with their friend whose figure was quickly disappearing into the night.
"None of you remember what day it is…do you?" Sara was gazing at the retreating figure of her friend with much pain held in her eyes.
"Day?" Lisa was confused her face flushed from the impact of Madison's hand to her face.
"Anyone know the date today?" Sara looked worn as she turned to her friends.
The other three girls shrugged, they didn't live in the now, they didn't live in the real world. The three girls were creatures of the night. Lived life in the moment; the only planning they made was where they were going to go that night. They had long since forgotten the days, weeks, months of a year. They knew only two things, the time currently thanks to their watches and that they were in 2003. Other than that, they felt no need to keep track of anything else. There was always someone around to tell them what day it was and if there was anything important. So because of that the three girls just stood there with blank faces waiting for Sara to tell them.
Sara just stood there as if trying to will them to come up with the answer themselves.
"Come on! Today…!"
"Would be…" Anna prompted.
"Arg!" Sara threw her hands up in frustration. "Today is the 6th…the 6th of April, remember what day that is?"
"Today is the 6th…" Rita was trying to poolh her memories.
"The 6th…why does that sound so familiar?" Lisa was a bit lost…she had been detached from the world longer than anyone and had difficulties remembering important dates…it was a coping mechanism she had developed long ago, weed out the bad and forget it until someone else remembers it first.
"How long has it been? 3 years?" Anna took sat down on a cool green painted bench, sending slight chills up her spine.
"Two actually." Sara replied solemnly, her head bent towards the cement walkway.
"What was two years ago?" Lisa was still lost, she couldn't for the life of her remember so she knew it was something bad.
"God, I can't believe we didn't remember…two years…I can't believe it's been two years since we've really seen her happy…since we've seen…………him…" Rita had finally remembered, the pain returning to her heart as tears began to weld up in her eyes.
"Oh my god, Aaron…" Lisa fell to her knees at the painful memory. "Crap, no wonder she got so pissed off at me today." The words escaped her lips just above a whisper. "Oh man and the things I said to her."
"Lisa, it's true that you probably shouldn't have said those things today, or started smoking again in general …but the truth of the matter is that you were right." Rita spoke softly.
"How could you say that!" Anna jumped off the bench as if it had just bitten her. "She's our best friend. I understand that Lisa was angry when she spoke, but how can you say that she was right for calling her self-centered. At least not today."
"Exactly Anna, you said 'at least not today' meaning you thinking it too."
"Cut it out. You think she's been self-centered Rita? Why don't you try losing someone who means that much to you. She may seem self-centered but I just think that she's receded into some sort of a cave is all. So she hasn't spent as much time with us as she used to, so she's careful about how she acts, but she's still there when we need her, and that's not being self-center. After all, a part of her died when Aaron left, I know I can't blame her for changing…can you? We all miss him, and we all coped with it differently. While you guys decided to ignore it, and forget about it, she's dwelled on it for two years. It's got to be tough on her, it's true that we lost a friend that night but she didn't only lose a close friend like we did, she lost the one guy who she's ever loved. So if you still think that she doesn't have the right to be a bit self-centered then I don't know what world you guys are living in. Cause I sure as hell can't blame her." Sara was breathless, she hadn't spoke of Aaron that much in a long time, she hated to admit that she followed the same tactics as her care-free friends but she too had tried hard to forget the painful memories.
The four stayed silent, contemplating the events that had taken place two years ago.
***
Madison walked down the lonely street. She sniffed; the sound of her boots clicking loudly on the quite sidewalk was all that could be heard. The wind blew and stung her tear-streaked face. She pulled her flimsy jacket closer to her body as she walked silently towards an invisible destination. She couldn't remember where she'd left her bike, where she'd left her friends. Hell she couldn't even think about anything. All that was running through her mind was Aaron. The pain was still evident. She had never stopped loving him. Even after he'd left her, she loved him. She knew she'd have to get home eventually so she signaled for a taxi to take her home, there was no point going to look for her bike in her condition, she was too sad, too weak, too tired to think of anything but her bed and Aaron, there was nothing else that she wanted to think of anyway.
*Two years ago*
"Alright you guys, you all know that this is not going to be easy at all, we're going in for our money and our collateral. They stole from us now we're going to hit back harder! Now if you're not going to put all of your energy into this then leave now and I'll see you tomorrow cause I don't need you to be there fucking us up and getting us killed if you're unsure." Madison looked around the room at the people she had. Everyone was decked out in dark baggy clothes and ready to go and pick up their 'supplies' and money. No one made a move to leave all of the faces were emotionless, they knew that this was a dangerous job but that's what made it fun, what made if exciting and worthwhile. "Ok, since none of you are leaving let's lock and load!"
Everyone began to move, picking up their guns and loading up. Black bags were being loaded into two large vans as people pilled in ready to go.
"Madison!" She spun around, recognizing the agonizingly soulful voice. Madison gave a bright cheerful smile to her boyfriend Aaron. He was her world and she was his they were meant for each other and everyone knew it.
Aaron gave Madison a quick soft kiss on the lips. "Good luck." He smiled a smile that made girls go weak in the knees. His soft blue eyes and golden locks made all the girls swoon.
"Hey, luck's got nothing to do with it. You're the best and I'm second, we'll be fine."
"Man Madison, you always have so much confidence, I admire that in you."
"Hey, you're the one who gives it to me." Madison gave an award-winning smile as she climbed into the van closely followed by Aaron.
***45 minutes later***
"They've been expecting us take cover!" Madison was yelling orders right and left making sure no one got hurt. "Everyone be careful!"
Aaron, Madison and the others were trying desperately to escape the building with what they had come for. They only had 20 more feet to go; all of the guys could see light spilling in from the door, they had their packs full of money and computer parts, which held high prices on the black market. 10 more feet, they had only 10 more feet until they got to the vans parked outside, they could make it.
The group of 15 had entered the complex, taken what was theirs and escaped with no casualties, only minor injuries here and there.
"Haha Madison! We did it!" Aaron helped Madison out of the van and spun her once they reached the parking lot of the Night Cat's warehouse. Aaron planted a sweet kiss in Madison's lips.
"Let's celebrate!" Aaron began to walk backwards cheering and riling up his friends into a frenzy, he opened the door slowly and entered the warehouse backwards.
In one simple instance a world can be changed. One moment in time can sometimes feel like an eternity. When you live in a world of danger, lives and instances flash in and out of ones mind. A lot of things happen in a matter of seconds, people are born and people die. In this instance, once second dragged on for an eternity for Madison, and Aaron.
One single shot, one single bullet piercing one single heart is all it takes. In one single instance, Aaron was on the floor, lying in a puddle of blood and his shooter in another deep red puddle just a couple of feet away. In one second, Madison's heart was wrenched out and placed on the floor next to Aaron. She ran towards him tears streaking down her face uncontrollably.
"Aaron!" Madison slid onto the floor, she cradled his head in her lap. The blood was escaping his body too quickly for her to stop it. "Aaron, please stay awake p-please! P-please don't leave me, you can't l-leave." The tears were escaping Madison's eyes as fast as the blood was leaving Aaron's body.
"Madison the paramedics are on their way." Joe, the only one of the 15 who was able to keep a level enough head to make the call told the distraught girl.
"Hear that Aaron, the paramedics are coming, just hold on please!"
"Madison, please smile for me, I don't want to see you sad."
Madison, laughed a bit, here she was so concerned for him and he just wanted her happiness, just like him, always thinking of others.
"Madison, *cough* promise me that you'll always smile, that you'll *cough* take care of everyone."
"Of course I'll always smile, only for you, but, but, you'll take care of the others." Madison was trying to stay happy, but she knew in the depths of her heart that she was lying. His once cheerful face was paling, his deep blue eyes were losing their gleam and his lips were turning blue.
"Madison, I love you, always remember that I love you more than anything in the world you are my world."
"Aaron." Madison shook her head
"Listen Madison *cough* just remember always that I love you."
"I love you too." Madison was now crying un-controllably. She lent down to kiss him on the lips, their last kiss ever. She kissed him and he kissed back but only for a second before his life was snuffed out like a candle. His body went limp in her arms. "Aaron! AARON! No Aaron, Aaron please, oh god, please wake up! Aaron you can't leave me! You can't leave me here alone Aaron please don't leave me."
Madison sobbed into his chest, the chest that held so much warmth for her on those cold nights, one that would never rise again from his breathing. His arms and hers were covered in his blood; his arms, she could feel how his arms would wrap around her small frame to protect her from everything, why oh why couldn't she have protected him from this? Her mind screamed, why couldn't it have been him instead of her? Why had he been the one to walk into the door first. She longed to her his voice assuring her that everything was alright, she longed to feel his strong arms hugging her, longed to fell his chest rise and fall with hers as they sat all those long nights gazing at the stars. But none of that would happen again.
Everything after that moved in slow motion. The sound of the sirens, the paramedics scrambling in, everything had suddenly slowed. For Madison, her world had come crashing down on top of her. Everything was blurring up, she couldn't see much of anything, couldn't hear, couldn't feel, the last thing she saw before falling to the ground in a heap of emotions was the sight of a white cloth over her love's face slowly turning deep red.
***********************************************************************************************
Serena raced to get into class on time; she just couldn't be late, not again. Serena bolted through the double doors, up the stairs and head on into something solid.
"Woah, are you ok?" A pair of strong hands gripped her arms preventing her from falling flat on her ass.
'This feeling…it's so…familiar…' Serena looked up slowly at the person who she'd bumped into. Suddenly her eyes met with deep blue ones. Her heart jumped as their eyes met. 'Did my heart just jump? No, that's impossible.'
"I'm sorry, I wasn't watching where I was going." The tall ebony haired male said.
"…" Serena looked at his eyes, why did those eyes seem so familiar to her, she felt lost in those eyes. "…oh no, I'm sorry it was my fault, I'm in a rush to get to class."
"Oh, well then, I guess I shouldn't keep you then." At that, he let go of her arms, smiled and walked down the hall. Serena glanced behind her at the guy who she'd just bumped into. 'I wonder who that was…'
"Sere, you're on time, that's great!"
"Hmm, now I can't decided if that is a complement or not…" Serena and Fiona laughed about this and that until homeroom started.
"Ms. Young, you are required at the main office." Ms. Silvan announced at the end of homeroom. "Now Ms. Young, you will be excused if you miss first period class." Serena stood slightly confused picked up her note from Ms. Silvan and headed towards the main office.
Serena headed towards the office, deep in thought, her feet were walking the halls with out her mind so much that she didn't realized the guy walking down the hall deep in a piece of paper. Suddenly Serena collided with a solid object for the second time that day.
"Oh, it's you again, sorry I didn't see you there." The same guy whom she'd collided with earlier was standing before her again. His eyes still a blue as ever.
"Oh, I'm so sorry, you must think I'm a complete klutz for walking into you twice already." Serena looked down a bit embarrassed and re-adjusted her glasses.
"After you um…"
"Serena Young, and you would be?"
"Darien, Darien Chiba."
"Well Darien, nice bumping into you again." Serena smiled and offered her hand up for a shake, which he gladly took.
She though again how nice his eyes were, and how his hair framed his face.
Serena walked into the office and over to the reception desk.
"Hi, I was called down to the office."
"Note please." The secretary said mechanically as Serena handed the note to her. "Ah, yes the principal is waiting for you, right through that door please."
"I'll see you around Darien." Serena glanced back once more before she slid into the room.
"Good morning Ms. Young."
"Hello principal Silver." Serena took a seat in one of the arm chairs.
"Ms. Young, I take it you didn't make it in time to reach me last night." The principal spoke in a kind tender tone, he was an aging man well into his fifties but a nice one.
"Yes, I'm sorry about that I left a message with you…"
"Yes, yes I got it but no matter, all I wanted to tell you that I would like to you show a new student around. At least until he gets settled in, used to the school and everything."
"Oh, but Principal Silver, I don't know if I-"
"No buts Ms. Young, this is a student requirement."
"Oh, but are you sure it has to be me? I mean can't someone else do it?"
"I'm sorry that you feel so strongly that you can't help another student but you have all the same classes as this young man and you have the grades to prove that you are responsible."
"But-"
"I'm sorry to hear that you don't want to show me around the school Ms. Young" Serena turned in her seat to meet eyes once again with Darien Chiba.
"Ah, Darien, wonderful timing. I take it you know Ms. Young."
"Yes, we've bumped into one another."
"Wonderful, now Ms. Young, no more arguments, you will help Darien around the school, now take these tardy slips and head off to class."
"Yes Principal Silver." Serena stood and headed out the door.
"Hey, Darien, sorry about the whole not wanting to take you around, it's just I've been stuck with this job a lot of times, and I was starting to get sick of showing around hot shot guys is all.
"Hey that's cool with me, are you up to it now?"
"Sure, follow me Biology is just down the hall."
Serena walked slowly to class followed by Darien. 'Maybe this will work out after all, I mean he doesn't seem all that bad…'
'Maybe this school will work out, after all at least she doesn't seem all that bad…kind of cute too…'
