Us
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Thirteen
"Wait, Serena!"
She turned around to find Ryan with a strange, determined look on his face.
She was still standing on the stone steps leading up to the professor's house.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I... I know you're tired and everything, so this will only take a minute."
Serena nodded.
"I... wanted to ask you who that guy was, the one who pulled you off.
He was the same guy who waited outside your room at the hospital, wasn't he?"
"Oh, you mean Darien..." Serena asked.
"Yeah... I think that's his name..."
"He's... my ex-boyfriend."
"Oh..." Ryan said, "Sorry I brought it up..."
"It's all right," Serena said softly.
"He seems to still care about you..." Ryan commented, "A lot."
"I... guess," Serena said weakly, looking downwards, embarrassed for some reason.
"But I guess you're not bound to him anymore... So..."
He began to fidget nervously.
"Serena... How about giving me a chance?"
Serena's head shot up in surprise, looking at Ryan.
"I..."
* * *
Erin scanned the crowds.
Where was Darien?
Tonight was the night she would force him to tell her who the princess was.
If only she could find him...
* * *
"And that's why, I... I can't do it, Ryan," Serena said, genuinely sorry.
"No, please don't look like that, Serena," Ryan said, almost desperately,
"It's not your fault. Bad timing, I guess."
Serena gave him a sad smile, "Yeah..."
"Whatever's happened, it seems complicated..."
"It is," Serena said truthfully.
A second later, Serena had a small grin on her face, "So are we friends?"
"Of course," Ryan said as he returned his smile.
As if it was the most natural thing to do, Ryan encircled Serena in his arms.
Serena returned the hug, thinking that everything was okay.
But she didn't see that Ryan had his eyes closed, trying to block out
the pain of not being able to be closer to the girl he'd fallen in love with.
Then, over Ryan's shoulder, she suddenly noticed a pair of eyes watching them,
filled with pain and disbelief.
"Darien?" she whispered.
He fled.
* * *
She found him, five minutes later, out on the same balcony where he had pulled
her to.
But this time, he was sitting on the floor, only half-conscious.
Cautiously, Serena walked over to him, not sure what had happened.
"Darien?" she whispered carefully.
Then his hand shot out and grabbed hers.
His grip was strong, but his voice was quiet.
"Serena..." he murmured.
Serena gasped when she saw his eyes.
He was drunk!
"Darien, what happened?" Serena exclaimed.
"Stay with me, Serena," Darien whispered, "Stay with me forever..."
Serena got down on the floor in front of him, "I can't, Darien... I've
already told you..."
Suddenly, Darien reached for her and grabbed her.
She gasped in surprise when he pressed his lips to hers.
Electricity washed over her, and she almost surrendered to the moment.
'No', Serena thought desperately, 'This can't happen. Not again!'
She forced herself to open her eyes.
Slowly, her small hands fell at his chest.
"Uh-" she protested, and proceeded to push him away.
He fell back on to the floor with a groan.
"Serena..." he said, almost whimpering.
Very shocked, Serena backed away from him and stood up. She had never seen him
so emotional before.
Never seen him so... needy...
Did he really feel that strongly about her? Or was it just the alcohol?
"Darien," Serena said, hiding tears, "You're so drunk..."
She shook her head silently, to clear her thoughts.
'What am I going to do with you?' she thought, 'Never dealt with a drunk guy
before...'
Meanwhile, Darien seemed to have fallen asleep.
'Maybe I should get some help...' Serena decided, and rushed back into the party.
Darien slowly opened his eyes as Serena walked back into the main hall.
'She's leaving me again...' he thought, barely conscious.
Out of nowhere, Erin appeared before him.
"I know you're hurting, Darien," Erin said, "Why don't you and I go do something
fun?"
Not knowing what else to do, Darien nodded dumbly.
* * *
Erin smiled as she helped a staggering Darien to his car.
She took his keys and got him into the passenger seat. Then she got into the
driver's seat and looked at him.
"Don't worry, Darien," she said sweetly, "I'll take _good_ care of you."
She stepped on the gas pedal.
* * *
"Huh?" Serena exclaimed, "Where did he go?"
"Miss?"
Serena turned around and found Edward smiling at her.
"Don't worry about your friend," the professor said, "A brown-haired young lady
took him home."
Serena's mouth opened slightly in shock.
Oh no...
"Are you all right, miss?" Edward asked.
She trembled. What was she going to do?
She had no choice but to follow him.
"Thank you, uh, sir!" she said quickly and ran back into the main hall.
Serena looked around the room and finally spotted Ryan, sitting on a chair,
staring blankly at the floor.
"Ryan..." she said, trying to catch her breath.
Ryan looked up, startled, "Serena, what are you doing back here?"
"I..." Serena said, still breathing hard, "Can you do me a favour?"
"Of- of course," Ryan stammered.
"I need a ride..." Serena said.
"Home?" Ryan asked as he took out his car keys.
"No..." Serena said, "I... I don't know where yet."
As the two walked to Ryan's parked car, Serena frowned, and fear swept over her
heart.
What did Darien think he was doing anyway? Leaving, drunk, with a woman he barely
knew?
'Oh, the nerve of that guy...' she thought angrily.
She suddenly had a very, very bad feeling about this.
* * *
Meanwhile, Darien began to stir again.
He groaned, trying to touch his aching head, but not finding the strength.
"Where am I?" he asked, his vision blurred.
Erin was shocked. In her experience, most humans needed at least a day before they
could recover from the effects of alcohol.
Perhaps it was because of his powers that he could regain consciousness so quickly.
Erin didn't answer him.
"Oh, it's you..." he said quietly.
He suddenly remembered what had happened. He had agreed to go with her, but right
now, he didn't know why.
"Where are we going?" he asked, groaning.
"To my place," Erin said with a smile.
"Uh..." Darien said, a little worried, "Actually... this may not be a good idea.
It's getting late anyway. We'll stop at your place and I'll take the car back,
okay?"
"Just stay and chat for a while," Erin said.
Darien considered it.
He wasn't about to share his feelings with someone he didn't know very well, and
frankly, didn't quite trust either.
But... He was pretty depressed right now. Maybe some company would get his mind
off of things.
Darien sighed and nodded.
'Serena,' he thought.
He remembered leaving the mansion to find Serena in the arms of Ryan, and Serena
certainly did not push him away.
Not like the way she pushed him away from her when he was trying to...
He shook his head.
That was a mistake. He hadn't expected her to come back to the party, so he didn't
think he would have to deal with seeing her while he was drunk.
'Why did you leave me, Serena?' he thought, 'Am I really not good enough for you?'
He took a deep breath.
'Why do you keep pushing me away?'
Abruptly, Erin interrupted his thoughts, "Did you enjoy the party?"
Darien almost laughed, "No, not really."
"Hmm, what was wrong with it?" Erin asked.
"Nothing," Darien said, "Just... some... weird things happened."
"I saw your ex-girlfriend with that guy..." Erin said.
Darien didn't say anything after that.
'I miss you so much, Serena,' Darien thought, 'Until you broke up with me, I had no idea
this was how I really felt.'
Unnoticed, half a tear fell from his eye.
Erin's eyes flashed dark when she saw it. She smirked.
'Don't worry, Prince Darien...' she thought, 'Soon, your pain will be completely wiped
away... Forever...'
Author's Notes:
I made this chapter slightly longer cuz I was so
happy with the great reviews from last chapter.
You people are so nice.
For those of you who got confused with the plot:
Yes! Erin is Mistress Nine.
And yes, she's planning on doing horrible things to him!
Anyway, I know I said before Ryan doesn't have any
romantic feelings for Serena, but I changed my mind
about that, hehe.
Please drop me a review :)
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Thirteen
"Wait, Serena!"
She turned around to find Ryan with a strange, determined look on his face.
She was still standing on the stone steps leading up to the professor's house.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I... I know you're tired and everything, so this will only take a minute."
Serena nodded.
"I... wanted to ask you who that guy was, the one who pulled you off.
He was the same guy who waited outside your room at the hospital, wasn't he?"
"Oh, you mean Darien..." Serena asked.
"Yeah... I think that's his name..."
"He's... my ex-boyfriend."
"Oh..." Ryan said, "Sorry I brought it up..."
"It's all right," Serena said softly.
"He seems to still care about you..." Ryan commented, "A lot."
"I... guess," Serena said weakly, looking downwards, embarrassed for some reason.
"But I guess you're not bound to him anymore... So..."
He began to fidget nervously.
"Serena... How about giving me a chance?"
Serena's head shot up in surprise, looking at Ryan.
"I..."
* * *
Erin scanned the crowds.
Where was Darien?
Tonight was the night she would force him to tell her who the princess was.
If only she could find him...
* * *
"And that's why, I... I can't do it, Ryan," Serena said, genuinely sorry.
"No, please don't look like that, Serena," Ryan said, almost desperately,
"It's not your fault. Bad timing, I guess."
Serena gave him a sad smile, "Yeah..."
"Whatever's happened, it seems complicated..."
"It is," Serena said truthfully.
A second later, Serena had a small grin on her face, "So are we friends?"
"Of course," Ryan said as he returned his smile.
As if it was the most natural thing to do, Ryan encircled Serena in his arms.
Serena returned the hug, thinking that everything was okay.
But she didn't see that Ryan had his eyes closed, trying to block out
the pain of not being able to be closer to the girl he'd fallen in love with.
Then, over Ryan's shoulder, she suddenly noticed a pair of eyes watching them,
filled with pain and disbelief.
"Darien?" she whispered.
He fled.
* * *
She found him, five minutes later, out on the same balcony where he had pulled
her to.
But this time, he was sitting on the floor, only half-conscious.
Cautiously, Serena walked over to him, not sure what had happened.
"Darien?" she whispered carefully.
Then his hand shot out and grabbed hers.
His grip was strong, but his voice was quiet.
"Serena..." he murmured.
Serena gasped when she saw his eyes.
He was drunk!
"Darien, what happened?" Serena exclaimed.
"Stay with me, Serena," Darien whispered, "Stay with me forever..."
Serena got down on the floor in front of him, "I can't, Darien... I've
already told you..."
Suddenly, Darien reached for her and grabbed her.
She gasped in surprise when he pressed his lips to hers.
Electricity washed over her, and she almost surrendered to the moment.
'No', Serena thought desperately, 'This can't happen. Not again!'
She forced herself to open her eyes.
Slowly, her small hands fell at his chest.
"Uh-" she protested, and proceeded to push him away.
He fell back on to the floor with a groan.
"Serena..." he said, almost whimpering.
Very shocked, Serena backed away from him and stood up. She had never seen him
so emotional before.
Never seen him so... needy...
Did he really feel that strongly about her? Or was it just the alcohol?
"Darien," Serena said, hiding tears, "You're so drunk..."
She shook her head silently, to clear her thoughts.
'What am I going to do with you?' she thought, 'Never dealt with a drunk guy
before...'
Meanwhile, Darien seemed to have fallen asleep.
'Maybe I should get some help...' Serena decided, and rushed back into the party.
Darien slowly opened his eyes as Serena walked back into the main hall.
'She's leaving me again...' he thought, barely conscious.
Out of nowhere, Erin appeared before him.
"I know you're hurting, Darien," Erin said, "Why don't you and I go do something
fun?"
Not knowing what else to do, Darien nodded dumbly.
* * *
Erin smiled as she helped a staggering Darien to his car.
She took his keys and got him into the passenger seat. Then she got into the
driver's seat and looked at him.
"Don't worry, Darien," she said sweetly, "I'll take _good_ care of you."
She stepped on the gas pedal.
* * *
"Huh?" Serena exclaimed, "Where did he go?"
"Miss?"
Serena turned around and found Edward smiling at her.
"Don't worry about your friend," the professor said, "A brown-haired young lady
took him home."
Serena's mouth opened slightly in shock.
Oh no...
"Are you all right, miss?" Edward asked.
She trembled. What was she going to do?
She had no choice but to follow him.
"Thank you, uh, sir!" she said quickly and ran back into the main hall.
Serena looked around the room and finally spotted Ryan, sitting on a chair,
staring blankly at the floor.
"Ryan..." she said, trying to catch her breath.
Ryan looked up, startled, "Serena, what are you doing back here?"
"I..." Serena said, still breathing hard, "Can you do me a favour?"
"Of- of course," Ryan stammered.
"I need a ride..." Serena said.
"Home?" Ryan asked as he took out his car keys.
"No..." Serena said, "I... I don't know where yet."
As the two walked to Ryan's parked car, Serena frowned, and fear swept over her
heart.
What did Darien think he was doing anyway? Leaving, drunk, with a woman he barely
knew?
'Oh, the nerve of that guy...' she thought angrily.
She suddenly had a very, very bad feeling about this.
* * *
Meanwhile, Darien began to stir again.
He groaned, trying to touch his aching head, but not finding the strength.
"Where am I?" he asked, his vision blurred.
Erin was shocked. In her experience, most humans needed at least a day before they
could recover from the effects of alcohol.
Perhaps it was because of his powers that he could regain consciousness so quickly.
Erin didn't answer him.
"Oh, it's you..." he said quietly.
He suddenly remembered what had happened. He had agreed to go with her, but right
now, he didn't know why.
"Where are we going?" he asked, groaning.
"To my place," Erin said with a smile.
"Uh..." Darien said, a little worried, "Actually... this may not be a good idea.
It's getting late anyway. We'll stop at your place and I'll take the car back,
okay?"
"Just stay and chat for a while," Erin said.
Darien considered it.
He wasn't about to share his feelings with someone he didn't know very well, and
frankly, didn't quite trust either.
But... He was pretty depressed right now. Maybe some company would get his mind
off of things.
Darien sighed and nodded.
'Serena,' he thought.
He remembered leaving the mansion to find Serena in the arms of Ryan, and Serena
certainly did not push him away.
Not like the way she pushed him away from her when he was trying to...
He shook his head.
That was a mistake. He hadn't expected her to come back to the party, so he didn't
think he would have to deal with seeing her while he was drunk.
'Why did you leave me, Serena?' he thought, 'Am I really not good enough for you?'
He took a deep breath.
'Why do you keep pushing me away?'
Abruptly, Erin interrupted his thoughts, "Did you enjoy the party?"
Darien almost laughed, "No, not really."
"Hmm, what was wrong with it?" Erin asked.
"Nothing," Darien said, "Just... some... weird things happened."
"I saw your ex-girlfriend with that guy..." Erin said.
Darien didn't say anything after that.
'I miss you so much, Serena,' Darien thought, 'Until you broke up with me, I had no idea
this was how I really felt.'
Unnoticed, half a tear fell from his eye.
Erin's eyes flashed dark when she saw it. She smirked.
'Don't worry, Prince Darien...' she thought, 'Soon, your pain will be completely wiped
away... Forever...'
Author's Notes:
I made this chapter slightly longer cuz I was so
happy with the great reviews from last chapter.
You people are so nice.
For those of you who got confused with the plot:
Yes! Erin is Mistress Nine.
And yes, she's planning on doing horrible things to him!
Anyway, I know I said before Ryan doesn't have any
romantic feelings for Serena, but I changed my mind
about that, hehe.
Please drop me a review :)
