Chapter 12

Serena yawned, stretching. Reaching across the bed for a warm body, all she found was the soft fur of Luna. Groaning she opened her eyes. Every morning had been the same, all week. She would wake up in the morning, totally forgetting where she was, and would look for Darien. Not finding him just an arm's length away had made her miss him even more. She hadn't seen him all week, not even on the weekend just passed. The day after she left things had gone wrong at the hospital. That was what he told her when they talked on the phone. Things had finally settled down yesterday. When he called her last night, he had told her that he started his college classes again, so he would be working evenings instead of days. That meant she would be able to see him at the arcade after school. All she had to do was get through the day, hopefully without a detention....

Sitting up suddenly, knocking Luna off the bed with a startled meow, she looked at the clock. "OOOOHHHHHHH NNNNOOOOOO!!" she wailed. "I'm going to be late!"

Despite having been out of practice for the past two months of summer holidays, Serena was dressed and out the door in record time. "Why didn't you wake me Luna!" she cried as she ran down the street.

"I tried," the cat explained for the tenth time. "You were to busy dreaming to listen to me."

"Oh, I can't get a detention. Not today, please not today."

Unfortunately, the last bell rang just as she was entering the front doors. Running down the hallways, she entered her homeroom, once again Ms. Haruna's, and slid into the last seat available.

"Isn't this a lovely way to start the year," Ms. Haruna commented, "Late on the first day?"

Serena's face fell, "Oh please Ms. H. Don't give me a detention. It is only the first day after all. Please!"

"I don't know Serena. I really don't want a repeat of last year."

"I'll try harder, I promise," Serena assured passionately.

"That's what you said the first day of last year, and the year before that." Half the classes tittered behind their hands. "Since I let you off then, I may as well do the same this time. But please, get here on time tomorrow."

"Yes, Ms. Haruna." Serena settled more comfortably in her chair. With that accomplished, she had just made sure she would see Darien a half an hour earlier than she expected.

For Serena, the day flew by in a flash. After last class, she almost headed to detention hall out of habit, but remembering she actually didn't have a detention today she let out a whoop of joy and headed toward the arcade at full speed. About a block away, she slowed to a walk and straightened her school uniform. Running a hand over her hair, she pushed hair bangs out of her face, 'They really need to be cut,' and attempted to tame her ponytails. She stopped abruptly when she remembered what Darien had told her 'You have to promise me one thing. Never, ever try to be who you aren't, ever again.' She had promised, and here she was, making herself presentable when she had never bothered before. 'But I haven't seen him in a week. What if he remembers me as being a little neater? I mean, I wasn't running a whole lot while staying at his place.'

Then the doubts started to settle in. It had been a week. What if she had only imagined all the times she thought she saw love in his eyes? What if he had realized how stupid she was and was wondering why he ever got involved with her? What if, 'Oh god,' Serena stopped in her tracks. What if he thought the whole thing was a joke and he had used her as Raye had first suggested. She couldn't stand the thought, but she also couldn't stand not knowing. Gathering up the bit of fragile courage she had gained back, she continued walking.

The automatic doors to the arcade slid open as she approached them. The first thing she did when she entered was scan the tables for a familiar head of black hair. Not seeing him, Serena felt her doubts grow. Knowing that if she just sat and waited she would lose her courage she decided to distract herself by playing a game of Sailor V.

She was nearly there when she realized that someone else was already playing. She made it to the game console beside it when she realized whom it was that was already playing. Just then, the screen flashed Game Over and Aaron looked up. Upon seeing her, he leered up at her. Before she could back away, she felt him grab her and pull her into his lap. "Now doesn't this feel familiar," he purred in her ear. Serena shivered, she couldn't figure out how she had once associated his voice with velvet wind. It sounded more like the hiss of a snake.

"Let go of me Aaron," she commanded, fighting to control her fear and anger.

Aaron sniggered. "That sounds awfully familiar too. I wonder why?" Holding her tight so that she couldn't get away, he pretended to think. "Oh, I remember now. Wasn't it that night you stayed at my place. We had our own little party. Even though you put up a pretty good fight, I know you wanted it just as much as I did. Has Darien been keeping you happy? Or do you miss me."

Serena shivered in disgust as his hand moved up her leg, starting at her knee. Her skirt had been hiked up to mid-thigh and that was where his hand stopped. The same as before, Serena felt as if his touch was ripping her skin away.

Just then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Darien enter the arcade. She couldn't see his face clearing but she knew when he saw them. She felt his anger; she just wished she knew who it was aimed at.

Closing her eyes she repeated, "Let go of me Aaron."

She never heard Darien approach them, but she was so glad to hear his voice. "I believe the lady wants to be let go."

"She isn't a lady. She's a slut and you know it."

"No one," Serena looked up at the sound of deadly menace in Darien's voice, "No one calls my girlfriend a slut."

Serena stopped breathing, 'He called me his girlfriend. He called me his girlfriend.'

"If that's what you want to call her, that's up to you." Aaron lowered his voice,

"But remember, I got there first." With those final words he pushed Serena off his lap.

She stumbled foreword, glad Darien was there to steady her. He started to lead her away, but she fought his grip and turned back to face Aaron. Her eyes seemed to glow with anger. "That's what you think. What you did. That was not 'getting' anything. When you get something that usually implies that someone gave it to you freely. Which I so did not. You forced me Aaron, but you never truly touched me." With her say in, Serena caught up with Darien and happily let him lead her to a table.

When they were seated Darien said, "No wonder you do so well against the negaverse. If you give them looks with even half the power of the one you gave Aaron, you don't need your tiara. The look alone would dust them."

Serena smiled across the table at him. All her doubts were gone. How could she ever doubt the love she saw shining in his eyes? Add to that the fact that she didn't have to worry about Aaron anymore and everything was perfect.

Her life, for the moment, was totally perfect.