How To Catch A Guy
Serena Style
Author's Note: Yeah...for some of you out there..
Andrew is ONLY her friend...b/c he'll never think
of her like that. :) But it did seem like
they would fit together..That was just not what
I was going for. So sit tight..and read the rest
CP
ReCaP:
We joined the gang and talked long into the
night. We finally parted ways when the cafe was closing
and I returned home from a busy day, exhausted and ready
for sleep. Today had been a rather good day, rather
taxing, but great nonetheless. As I slipped under the
soft comforter and settled into the bed my mind drifted
back to when I had been in high school, and I fell asleep
dreaming over my Senior prom.
**********************************************************
Chapter 8
The PhotoShoot from Hell - And the Blow-Up
(I do NOT mean the blow-up Antonio Banderaz doll
Mina keeps in her closet either!)
Splashing my face with cold water after I had
bolted from my bed and into the bathroom, I felt
slightly relaxed. Today would be an adventure,
and I planned to cherish every moment I had when I
was with Darien. Alright, I knew I wasn't over him,
but there was no reason that I couldn't try to move
on, just a little.
I spotted a few people I remembered from
school and waved to them as I went passed. Stopping
at the arcade for a quick coffee, I was relieved to
be informed that Darien still lived in the same
apartment as before. Andrew looked at me oddly
as I tried to explain the photoshoot before smiling
and inquiring about my apartment search.
"How about you swing by after the photoshoot
and we'll have some lunch, before packing your bags
and moving you to my apartment?" He was sounding
way too enthusiastic to be planning my demise, so
I smiled and sucked in some of the vanilla milkshake
he had made for me.
"Alright. Most of my bags are still packed.
I'm going to send for my belongings in London, when
I get my own apartment." I took one more sip of the
coffee before bidding my farewells and exiting the
arcade. I drove over to Darien's apartment and he
was waiting, which was a good thing, because Mitch
believed that if you were on time you were late,
and if you were five minutes early, then you were
on time. I navigated through the streets trying
to look for his building and finally made a lucky t
urn and found it, with seven minutes to spare.
I raced Darien into the building and up to his floor.
"About time Serena. You had twenty seconds
before you were late." Mitch replied as he was
adjusting a light, not bothering to look in my
direction. I smiled cooly and waited for Darien to
move out of the way to shut the door. He gave me a
strange look but said nothing.
Tsuki, his assistant, ushered Darien into a
makeshift dressing room and I went to my own,
knowing exactly what to do.
"Uh..Serena?" Darien's uncertain voice made
me pause. I turned to him and smiled.
"Her name is Tsuki. She's Mitch's assistant.
Just do what she tells you." I offered my best
encouraging smile before disappearing into my dressing
room, my outfit hanging on the back of my door. I
stared at it for awhile before the knock on my door
made me jump back to reality.
"Sorry Sere, but can I come in?" her soft
hesitant voice filtered in through the crack in the door.
"Of course, Tsuki. Don't worry about it."
I opened the door for her and began to take the outfit
off the hanger.
"Mitch thought this outfit would suit you
perfectly. That's why he flew here to have you model
it." Tsuki helped me into the safari outfit and I
smiled in the mirror.
"Let me guess," I paused and did a small turn.
"me Jane, Darien Tarzan?" I couldn't help but crack
a smile. Tsuki giggled slightly and nodded, smiling
brightly.
"Of course, Sere. He never forgot the day you
waltzed into his office in your scientist outfit. He
was quite taken with the outfit, and apparently, so
were some of the designers. Ralph demanded you model
this outfit specifically." My face took on the expression
of worry and I frowned.
"How's Darien doing in his room? Is he doing
alright?" Tsuki smiled and patted my shoulder.
"He's doing fine. I must say, he looks quite
handsome in his jungle ensemble. Ralph was very
thourough in his research and design of the safari look."
"I'm sure he'll be ready to trapse through the
rain forests with me right after he takes his first
step out of his dressing room." I remarked as I laced
the tan knee high boots. I think Ralph was rather odd
to make shorts this short, but I was not about to
comment. I was only the pretty face behind the clothes,
not the designer critic. I was finally ready to move
onto hair and makeup. Tsuki was not just the assistant,
but one of the best hair stylists in Europe. She braided
my hair into two pigtails and tied them with camoflage
ribbons. My eyes were done in a smokey green and black,
making it look like I had come out of a fox den or
something. My full pink lips were only given gloss,
and a camoflauge ribbon/bandanna was tied around my
forehead and I smiled when I was finally done.
"Tsuki, you're my number one stylist." I hugged
her tightly before exiting the room, her in tow, smiling
at her work. Darien was conversing with Mitch and seemed
to be highly amused. He turned to me and his face went
blank. I paused a few feet away from him and turned to
Mitch.
"Give me a turn, darling." he made a turning
motion with his hand and I did as asked.
"What do you think?" I asked both of them.
Darien regained his senses and I smiled a knowing smile.
"I knew Ralph was right about you." Mitch
commented and then turned to Darien. "See what I mean?"
Darien nodded mutely. I raised an eyebrow but decided
not to ask.
"Where do you want us?" I snatched Darien's hand
and pulled him over to the place Mitch had pointed to.
"Serena, I want you to pick up the blade and
Darien, I need you to hold the plant leaves back so that
we can see you both." And the photoshoot commenced.
Two hours later I was slipping into a pair of
faded green pants with drawstrings so you could adjust the
length and a simple black beater. A matching green lacey
undershit was slightly visible underneath the black shirt.
A pair of black stilletto-heeled shoes were strapped onto
my feet and I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail, using
the camo ribbon to tie around the base of it. My golden
locks were in gentle curls and I added a little touch up of
lip gloss because I had accidentally came in contact with
a 'jungle leaf' and the gloss had been history after that
incident.
I pushed open the door of my dressing room just in
time to see Darien dart behind the side of my enclosed
changing area.
"You can come out, Darien. I saw you." I heard
him sigh and he slowly stepped from his hiding spot. He
grinned sheepishly and I merely raised an eyebrow.
He was standing directly in front of me, his
warm breath playing with a few stray strands of my golden
mane, and I shivered inwardly at the distance between us.
Well... or lack there of.
"You know, Serena,.." he paused and a thougtful
smile graced his kissable lips. "I haven't had this much
fun in a very long time." And then he brought his strong
arms around me to wrap me in the shelter and I wished
profusedly that he was mine to hold. That Charlotte had
never appeared, and I had never left. "Thank you." I
longed to travel back into the past, nevermind the
inevitability that things would have turned out exactly
the same.. And then the moment was shattered, by a single
movement. One fast hand that had captured it with the
flash of a camera. Darien jumped back, and I glared over
to Mitch, no longer being startled but highly pissed off.
He could see it in my gaze and his grin left his face.
"I'll write out your checks." he mummbled and
slunk away.
I forced back the tears and rubbed furiously at my
arms that had seemed so warm moments ago, but had turned
into ice suddenly.
"I should probably be heading back soon." Darien
said as he looked out the window into the afternoon sky.
I looked at him, my wounded eyes brokenly and hungrily
devouring the site of him. Mitch returned with an
envelope in each hand and we took the ones with our
names on them.
"Thanks Mitch. I'll see you sometime in awhile"
I called as we left the studio. We rode in silence to
Darien's apartment, neither of us willing to subdue the
tension. When I pulled up infront of his building he
turned to me suddenly.
"You're going back, aren't you?" his question
caught me off guard, but I masked my pain well and
patted his arm.
"I'm sure you'll all do fine without me here for
awhile." I replied as positively as I could, not
bothering to look at him, but I stared at the steering
wheel instead.
"Well, good-bye, Serena." with that, he exited
my car and went into his building. I didn't bother to
allow my eyes to follow his form and I drove away. On
the way home I remembered I had agreed to meet Andrew
at the arcade and then I cursed upon realizing I was
going the wrong way. After a quick U-E I went off in
the direction of the arcade, hoping Andrew wouldn't
be too mad. He was just the opposite when I ran in
panting. He hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek.
"I talked to your parents and they seemed
alright with you moving in with me for awhile. Until
you find your own place and get on your feet." He led
me to the counter stools where an empty coffee mug was
sitting. I turned it upsidedown and waited while
Andrew grabbed a pad and pencil to take my order.
I asked for a cup of chicken noodle soup without
the chicken pieces and a glass of water. He gave
the order to the cook and then we settled into a booth.
"You know, I was wondering how you had been
doing in London. Tell me what you had been doing
while you were gone." His pleading eyes made me
spill my past few years to him. I told him about
anything and everything I could remember, from
my first photoshoot to my departure for home.
Our lunches had come in the middle of my story
and we ate in comfortable silence.
Well, I ate, having felt as if a large
load had been lifted from my shoulders, and
Andrew gobbled his sandwich in such a manner
that made me cringe. When we were finished
he followed me home in his car and I packed
my bags into both vehicles. After bidding
my parents farewell we trecked across town
to his apartment and unloaded my things in a
spare room Andrew had designated as my abode.
We unpacked all my clothes and he helped me hang
up a few of the dresses before claiming he was
suffering from carpal tunnel and escaped to the
living room where he turned on the news. I changed
into a pair of comfortable dark blue flood pants
and a baby blue form-fitting t-shirt before joining
him just intime to see Seiya's picture display
across the screen.
The newsanker claimed he had been seen with
Megan Marron, the famous actress and I felt happiness
swell inside me, where anger and hurt should have
been.
"Hey Sere, isn't that your boyfriend?" he
nudged me. I nudged him back.
"He was. We decided it wasn't going to work,
and I broke it off." I replied, not daring to reveal
how it had really happened. I still felt terrible for
doing it over the phone, but it was something that
couldn't have been avoided. "I should go call and
congradulate him."
I started to get up and move to my newly claimed room
before the door to Andrew's apartment opened and in
strolled Darien and Charlotte. They weren't paying
attention to me and Charlotte was hissing at him as
if she were an offended kitten who's tail had just
been trampled on. I disappeared into my room to get
my cellphone.
"I do NOT want to know why you went to a
photoshoot with HER! All I want to hear is that
you'll never go anywhere with her, alone!" I could
hear her high-pitched voice even with my door shut.
"Look, Charlotte, I don't understand why
you're getting so upset. It was just a photoshoot.
We weren't doing anything else and we certainly
were not alone. Her photography friends were there."
Darien's slightly annoyed voice I had to strain to hear.
"She's way too pretty, Darien. She obviously
is trying to play some cruel game with your head." was
her hauty reply.
I could stand it no longer, and marched out of
the room, my baby blue stilletos sounding like shots
fired from a gun.
"Quite the contrary, Charlotte." I glared at
her and saw her artfully made up face turn pale, a look
of surprise overtaking her.
"You-you-you're HERE?" she squeaked. I showed
no mercy.
"Charlotte, I've tried to be nice to you." I
changed to the nonchalant tone slightly tinged with
annoyance. "I really have tried. You have to quite
possibly be the biggest bitch in the world." I picked
up my purse and keys before turning back to her. "Darien
was my friend long before you visited, and he'll be my
friend long after you fade from our world. If you don't
like that, I suggest you get over it." with that I
glared hatefully at her and flipped open my cellphone
as I strolled over to the still slightly ajar door. A
ring was heard in the hall and I stopped dead in my tracks.
Hanging up the phone I pulled the door open the rest of the
way, making Seiya's tall form visible in the doorway.
"Serena-" he reached out to grasp my arms.
"Seiya, what are you doing here?" I felt the blood
drain from my face.
*************************************************************
That seemed like a good place to end Chapter 8. I hope you
all aren't too upset with me. ::grins evilly::
Anyways, you know the routine. I'm not sure when I'll be
able to put out another chapter, because I'm going off to
journalism camp soon and I've just started my first job..
well..my first REAL job.. and I haven't had much time on
my hands juggling that, my crazy hyperactive friends, and my
boyfriend. Summers are for relaxation...but well..damn..
it feels like school to me! Anyways, I'm going to regret
staying up till 3 AM to finish this for you, but I'm sure
it's worth it. Lets hope my sacrifice of sleep did not
go to waste.
READ
REVIEW
and this next one is VERY important!
WRITE ME!
expressoncream@hotmail.com
CP
Serena Style
Author's Note: Yeah...for some of you out there..
Andrew is ONLY her friend...b/c he'll never think
of her like that. :) But it did seem like
they would fit together..That was just not what
I was going for. So sit tight..and read the rest
CP
ReCaP:
We joined the gang and talked long into the
night. We finally parted ways when the cafe was closing
and I returned home from a busy day, exhausted and ready
for sleep. Today had been a rather good day, rather
taxing, but great nonetheless. As I slipped under the
soft comforter and settled into the bed my mind drifted
back to when I had been in high school, and I fell asleep
dreaming over my Senior prom.
**********************************************************
Chapter 8
The PhotoShoot from Hell - And the Blow-Up
(I do NOT mean the blow-up Antonio Banderaz doll
Mina keeps in her closet either!)
Splashing my face with cold water after I had
bolted from my bed and into the bathroom, I felt
slightly relaxed. Today would be an adventure,
and I planned to cherish every moment I had when I
was with Darien. Alright, I knew I wasn't over him,
but there was no reason that I couldn't try to move
on, just a little.
I spotted a few people I remembered from
school and waved to them as I went passed. Stopping
at the arcade for a quick coffee, I was relieved to
be informed that Darien still lived in the same
apartment as before. Andrew looked at me oddly
as I tried to explain the photoshoot before smiling
and inquiring about my apartment search.
"How about you swing by after the photoshoot
and we'll have some lunch, before packing your bags
and moving you to my apartment?" He was sounding
way too enthusiastic to be planning my demise, so
I smiled and sucked in some of the vanilla milkshake
he had made for me.
"Alright. Most of my bags are still packed.
I'm going to send for my belongings in London, when
I get my own apartment." I took one more sip of the
coffee before bidding my farewells and exiting the
arcade. I drove over to Darien's apartment and he
was waiting, which was a good thing, because Mitch
believed that if you were on time you were late,
and if you were five minutes early, then you were
on time. I navigated through the streets trying
to look for his building and finally made a lucky t
urn and found it, with seven minutes to spare.
I raced Darien into the building and up to his floor.
"About time Serena. You had twenty seconds
before you were late." Mitch replied as he was
adjusting a light, not bothering to look in my
direction. I smiled cooly and waited for Darien to
move out of the way to shut the door. He gave me a
strange look but said nothing.
Tsuki, his assistant, ushered Darien into a
makeshift dressing room and I went to my own,
knowing exactly what to do.
"Uh..Serena?" Darien's uncertain voice made
me pause. I turned to him and smiled.
"Her name is Tsuki. She's Mitch's assistant.
Just do what she tells you." I offered my best
encouraging smile before disappearing into my dressing
room, my outfit hanging on the back of my door. I
stared at it for awhile before the knock on my door
made me jump back to reality.
"Sorry Sere, but can I come in?" her soft
hesitant voice filtered in through the crack in the door.
"Of course, Tsuki. Don't worry about it."
I opened the door for her and began to take the outfit
off the hanger.
"Mitch thought this outfit would suit you
perfectly. That's why he flew here to have you model
it." Tsuki helped me into the safari outfit and I
smiled in the mirror.
"Let me guess," I paused and did a small turn.
"me Jane, Darien Tarzan?" I couldn't help but crack
a smile. Tsuki giggled slightly and nodded, smiling
brightly.
"Of course, Sere. He never forgot the day you
waltzed into his office in your scientist outfit. He
was quite taken with the outfit, and apparently, so
were some of the designers. Ralph demanded you model
this outfit specifically." My face took on the expression
of worry and I frowned.
"How's Darien doing in his room? Is he doing
alright?" Tsuki smiled and patted my shoulder.
"He's doing fine. I must say, he looks quite
handsome in his jungle ensemble. Ralph was very
thourough in his research and design of the safari look."
"I'm sure he'll be ready to trapse through the
rain forests with me right after he takes his first
step out of his dressing room." I remarked as I laced
the tan knee high boots. I think Ralph was rather odd
to make shorts this short, but I was not about to
comment. I was only the pretty face behind the clothes,
not the designer critic. I was finally ready to move
onto hair and makeup. Tsuki was not just the assistant,
but one of the best hair stylists in Europe. She braided
my hair into two pigtails and tied them with camoflage
ribbons. My eyes were done in a smokey green and black,
making it look like I had come out of a fox den or
something. My full pink lips were only given gloss,
and a camoflauge ribbon/bandanna was tied around my
forehead and I smiled when I was finally done.
"Tsuki, you're my number one stylist." I hugged
her tightly before exiting the room, her in tow, smiling
at her work. Darien was conversing with Mitch and seemed
to be highly amused. He turned to me and his face went
blank. I paused a few feet away from him and turned to
Mitch.
"Give me a turn, darling." he made a turning
motion with his hand and I did as asked.
"What do you think?" I asked both of them.
Darien regained his senses and I smiled a knowing smile.
"I knew Ralph was right about you." Mitch
commented and then turned to Darien. "See what I mean?"
Darien nodded mutely. I raised an eyebrow but decided
not to ask.
"Where do you want us?" I snatched Darien's hand
and pulled him over to the place Mitch had pointed to.
"Serena, I want you to pick up the blade and
Darien, I need you to hold the plant leaves back so that
we can see you both." And the photoshoot commenced.
Two hours later I was slipping into a pair of
faded green pants with drawstrings so you could adjust the
length and a simple black beater. A matching green lacey
undershit was slightly visible underneath the black shirt.
A pair of black stilletto-heeled shoes were strapped onto
my feet and I pulled my hair up into a high ponytail, using
the camo ribbon to tie around the base of it. My golden
locks were in gentle curls and I added a little touch up of
lip gloss because I had accidentally came in contact with
a 'jungle leaf' and the gloss had been history after that
incident.
I pushed open the door of my dressing room just in
time to see Darien dart behind the side of my enclosed
changing area.
"You can come out, Darien. I saw you." I heard
him sigh and he slowly stepped from his hiding spot. He
grinned sheepishly and I merely raised an eyebrow.
He was standing directly in front of me, his
warm breath playing with a few stray strands of my golden
mane, and I shivered inwardly at the distance between us.
Well... or lack there of.
"You know, Serena,.." he paused and a thougtful
smile graced his kissable lips. "I haven't had this much
fun in a very long time." And then he brought his strong
arms around me to wrap me in the shelter and I wished
profusedly that he was mine to hold. That Charlotte had
never appeared, and I had never left. "Thank you." I
longed to travel back into the past, nevermind the
inevitability that things would have turned out exactly
the same.. And then the moment was shattered, by a single
movement. One fast hand that had captured it with the
flash of a camera. Darien jumped back, and I glared over
to Mitch, no longer being startled but highly pissed off.
He could see it in my gaze and his grin left his face.
"I'll write out your checks." he mummbled and
slunk away.
I forced back the tears and rubbed furiously at my
arms that had seemed so warm moments ago, but had turned
into ice suddenly.
"I should probably be heading back soon." Darien
said as he looked out the window into the afternoon sky.
I looked at him, my wounded eyes brokenly and hungrily
devouring the site of him. Mitch returned with an
envelope in each hand and we took the ones with our
names on them.
"Thanks Mitch. I'll see you sometime in awhile"
I called as we left the studio. We rode in silence to
Darien's apartment, neither of us willing to subdue the
tension. When I pulled up infront of his building he
turned to me suddenly.
"You're going back, aren't you?" his question
caught me off guard, but I masked my pain well and
patted his arm.
"I'm sure you'll all do fine without me here for
awhile." I replied as positively as I could, not
bothering to look at him, but I stared at the steering
wheel instead.
"Well, good-bye, Serena." with that, he exited
my car and went into his building. I didn't bother to
allow my eyes to follow his form and I drove away. On
the way home I remembered I had agreed to meet Andrew
at the arcade and then I cursed upon realizing I was
going the wrong way. After a quick U-E I went off in
the direction of the arcade, hoping Andrew wouldn't
be too mad. He was just the opposite when I ran in
panting. He hugged me tightly and kissed my cheek.
"I talked to your parents and they seemed
alright with you moving in with me for awhile. Until
you find your own place and get on your feet." He led
me to the counter stools where an empty coffee mug was
sitting. I turned it upsidedown and waited while
Andrew grabbed a pad and pencil to take my order.
I asked for a cup of chicken noodle soup without
the chicken pieces and a glass of water. He gave
the order to the cook and then we settled into a booth.
"You know, I was wondering how you had been
doing in London. Tell me what you had been doing
while you were gone." His pleading eyes made me
spill my past few years to him. I told him about
anything and everything I could remember, from
my first photoshoot to my departure for home.
Our lunches had come in the middle of my story
and we ate in comfortable silence.
Well, I ate, having felt as if a large
load had been lifted from my shoulders, and
Andrew gobbled his sandwich in such a manner
that made me cringe. When we were finished
he followed me home in his car and I packed
my bags into both vehicles. After bidding
my parents farewell we trecked across town
to his apartment and unloaded my things in a
spare room Andrew had designated as my abode.
We unpacked all my clothes and he helped me hang
up a few of the dresses before claiming he was
suffering from carpal tunnel and escaped to the
living room where he turned on the news. I changed
into a pair of comfortable dark blue flood pants
and a baby blue form-fitting t-shirt before joining
him just intime to see Seiya's picture display
across the screen.
The newsanker claimed he had been seen with
Megan Marron, the famous actress and I felt happiness
swell inside me, where anger and hurt should have
been.
"Hey Sere, isn't that your boyfriend?" he
nudged me. I nudged him back.
"He was. We decided it wasn't going to work,
and I broke it off." I replied, not daring to reveal
how it had really happened. I still felt terrible for
doing it over the phone, but it was something that
couldn't have been avoided. "I should go call and
congradulate him."
I started to get up and move to my newly claimed room
before the door to Andrew's apartment opened and in
strolled Darien and Charlotte. They weren't paying
attention to me and Charlotte was hissing at him as
if she were an offended kitten who's tail had just
been trampled on. I disappeared into my room to get
my cellphone.
"I do NOT want to know why you went to a
photoshoot with HER! All I want to hear is that
you'll never go anywhere with her, alone!" I could
hear her high-pitched voice even with my door shut.
"Look, Charlotte, I don't understand why
you're getting so upset. It was just a photoshoot.
We weren't doing anything else and we certainly
were not alone. Her photography friends were there."
Darien's slightly annoyed voice I had to strain to hear.
"She's way too pretty, Darien. She obviously
is trying to play some cruel game with your head." was
her hauty reply.
I could stand it no longer, and marched out of
the room, my baby blue stilletos sounding like shots
fired from a gun.
"Quite the contrary, Charlotte." I glared at
her and saw her artfully made up face turn pale, a look
of surprise overtaking her.
"You-you-you're HERE?" she squeaked. I showed
no mercy.
"Charlotte, I've tried to be nice to you." I
changed to the nonchalant tone slightly tinged with
annoyance. "I really have tried. You have to quite
possibly be the biggest bitch in the world." I picked
up my purse and keys before turning back to her. "Darien
was my friend long before you visited, and he'll be my
friend long after you fade from our world. If you don't
like that, I suggest you get over it." with that I
glared hatefully at her and flipped open my cellphone
as I strolled over to the still slightly ajar door. A
ring was heard in the hall and I stopped dead in my tracks.
Hanging up the phone I pulled the door open the rest of the
way, making Seiya's tall form visible in the doorway.
"Serena-" he reached out to grasp my arms.
"Seiya, what are you doing here?" I felt the blood
drain from my face.
*************************************************************
That seemed like a good place to end Chapter 8. I hope you
all aren't too upset with me. ::grins evilly::
Anyways, you know the routine. I'm not sure when I'll be
able to put out another chapter, because I'm going off to
journalism camp soon and I've just started my first job..
well..my first REAL job.. and I haven't had much time on
my hands juggling that, my crazy hyperactive friends, and my
boyfriend. Summers are for relaxation...but well..damn..
it feels like school to me! Anyways, I'm going to regret
staying up till 3 AM to finish this for you, but I'm sure
it's worth it. Lets hope my sacrifice of sleep did not
go to waste.
READ
REVIEW
and this next one is VERY important!
WRITE ME!
expressoncream@hotmail.com
CP