Serena paced around her room. She stopped at the window above her
computer and stared, wondering. What was she going to do??
Restless, she walked to her Queen sized bed and sat. She took a
nervous look at the phone on her nightstand. Should she call him. She
looked at her clock. 8:09. Would he be home?
Her hand reached out to grab the phone. Her mind put the phone
back down. What was she going to say to him?? She had no clue. Stop
being a wimp, she told her self. Never in her life had she hesitated to
call her best friend. She knew his number like she knew that 2 plus 2
equaled four. How was she going to solve this??
She grabbed the phone. She dialed his number and felt a pang of
uneasiness as each ring came through.
"Hello?" came the voice of Darien's mom on the line.
"Hi Mrs. Chiba. Is Darien there?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Serena, you just missed him."
"Oh, okay. Thanks. Bye."
"Bye."
Serena hung up the phone. Where was Darien?? Was he on a date?
She closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about that. But he
wouldn't get off of her mind and she had to do something.
Basketball. Serena jumped off the bed and quickly changed into
her basketball shorts. She looked out of the window, opened it up
feeling a torrent of warm air. It was too hot to wear a t-shit. She
would wear a sports bra.
She headed out of the house 5 minutes later, yelling a quick
'goodbye' to her mom as she headed out of the door. And for the first
time, she had not worn her hair in a hat. She had it pulled back into a
bun. She dribbled the ball as she walked to the park.
There was no one there when she arrived. She smiled. She had
wanted to play alone anyway. She opened the metal fenced gate and
started dribbling and shooting. She faked, did a cross over, and then
did a lay up. She practiced all kinds of moves. When she got a little
tired, she turned toward the fence. She almost expired of fright and
shock when she saw Darien watching her from the other side of the
fence. He was dressed in all black, looking dangerous and debonair. He
wasn't smiling. But nor was he frowning. He stood there like a creature
of the darkness, staring at her with his beautiful blue eyes. She felt
her chest well up.
"What are you doing here?"
He walked through the gate, towards her and stood just staring.
She felt a pang of uneasiness. What was he staring at?
"What's with you??" She was beyond nervous and she was squirming
under his gaze.
"We've been friends for how long Sere?" His voice was a caress
and she wanted to revel in it.
"What does this have to do with anything Dare?"
"We've been friends for eleven years. I was 6 and you were 5. I
understood you, we were best friends."
Serena felt her heart cracking at the word 'were'.
"We're still best friends Darien. You just-" She broke off,
looking to the side. "You just have to give me a little time to…
settle."
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight, Darker than usual. They were
filled with determination; was that anger she read in their depths.
"For the first time ever, you walked away from a fight. I wanted
to know what you were thinking but you closed yourself off from me. How
is that being a friend Serena?"
She cringed at his use of her full name.
"Darien," She started, her voice breaking. "I couldn't, I mean I
can't explain, not right now. It's not the time. Come on, you can't
take this in any other way. It's just- oh, please. I'm sorry alright.
Just leave it be for right now."
She was just as determined at the moment for him to leave it
alone as he was to get everything cleared.
"I'll think about it." Was all he said. He departed as slick as
he entered. Serena stood there for some moments, just staring and
wondering just how she would come around to telling him. What would she
say, Darien I love you more than a best friend and I think I've been
feeling this way all of my life??
Mina Roberts was the matchmaker of the school. She wasn't too
bright but she had the looks to make up for it. She wasn't too tall,
standing at 5'4'' but she was slim and wore clothes like they were made
for her. She was a charmer, and broke a thousand hearts a day.
She stood at the edge of the basketball court with her boyfriend
Andrew, wondering. She watched this mysterious she-male Serena Tsukino
with eyes of an eagle looking for its prey. Was Lita right?? Did Serena
have more than best friendly feeling toward that chunk of a hunk Darien
Chiba?? She would find out.
Lita walked up to her a few moments later. She leaned down
whispering something in Mina's ear, then pointing towards the court.
"Now, see here Mina. Look at the way Serena looks at him. It's
hidden very carefully but I'm sure you'll be able to see the signs."
Mina smiled in satisfaction, like a cat that got the cream. The
signs were there indeed.
"Great work Lita. I might just make you my matchmaking
assistant."
Lita sneered. "Like I want to be caught up in your silly
matchmaking. I'm just helping you out this time because this will be
the first and only interesting match you will set up."
She stalked away, Mina looking after her trying to understand
what she was saying. She shook her head and looked to the court where
more important matters played.
She glided towards the bleachers to get a better look. She took a
seat next to her 3 best friends. There was Amy Anderson, a smart one,
and quite pretty for someone with her intelligence. She was shy but had
a layer of inner steel in her that only a best friend could recognize.
Then there was Raye Hino. She shook her head. There was fire in
that one. Thought Raye was a good friend, her temper was just not in
the right place most of the time. She liked to pick fights over
everything. She was definitely a heartbreaker and could end up beating
a guy to pulp but she wouldn't risk the breaking of a finger nail. If
any of her friends was closer to Serena in actions, it would be Raye.
Though she didn't know if Serena had such a temper. If Raye was a man…
She shuddered.
Then there was Lita Charleston, a magnificent cook. Her hands
worked miracles on the dinner, lunch, breakfast, and snack table. It
was a wonder because Lita had some rough edges and yet she cooked with
such delicacy. She liked to pick fights but her temper did not even
come close to Raye's. And she was hooked like a fish on her boyfriend
Ken. To her, the sun set and rose in his eyes. She had a great sense of
humor and a reckless side that not to many people had seen nor wanted
to see.
A pretty good match, she decided, as far as friends went. Though
she couldn't say personality wise if they were much too compatible.
They were totally different. But she loved them anyways.
"Raye, I need you to help me out." Mina gestured toward the
court. "See that Serena girl. She's my next mission."
Raye rolled her eyes. Another mission, she thought in
exasperation. Mina needed to get a life. "Yeah, yeah. What of it Mina?"
"Well," Mina paused, looked from Raye to the court, then back
again. "I need to know how to get to this Serena girl. She needs our
help because Lita and I have both concluded that she is in love with
that hunk Darien."
Raye sucked in a surprised breath. Serena, she she-male? No way.
She focused her violet eyes on the court like a lion guarding his
prey. She watched Serena, decked out in her atrocious hat, Nike t-
shirt, and baggy shorts.
Darien had the ball now, and Serena was guarding him. Though Raye
didn't know much about basketball, she conceded that Serena was doing a
pretty good job. And that's when she saw it. IT was almost invisible,
but it glowed. Her eyes, they held that one emotion that was the
hardest to hide. Raye wondered reflectively why, if Darien was this
she-male's best friend, did he not see it.
She looked from the court back to mina. Her eyes glowed.
"I think that this is going to be very… interesting Mina. I'll
help out. What do you want me to do?"
Mina smiled, her eyes gleaming.
"Here's the plan…"
Serena ran to Darien as he started off the court.
"Darien."
He turned but didn't smile. His looked seemed to be saying 'say
what you have to say and leave me alone'.
Serena tried her hardest to keep emotions in check, and damned if
she'd let him see her cry again. Though, she couldn't stop her eyes
from watering.
"I just wanted to say that I wanted to be your best friend
again."
"How, Serena, when you can't even tell me what's wrong. We're
supposed to have mutual trust."
"Darien-"
"Serena," he said with force. "You asked me the other day, 'is my
nose too big?'. Now you being.. you, it confused me to death. And I
wondered what the hell is she talking about. Then you got all uppity
and started crying and for God sakes Sere, I had never seen you cry
that easily. I mean you didn't even cry when you broke your leg falling
out of a tree. I was worried and you couldn't even tell me. I don't
need you to tell me everything but when it's something that I cause or
am around to see, you can't just hide. So it's up to you Sere,"
Serena took a deep breath.
"Darien, I can't tell you. It's very, very personal. What if I
promised, that when I get my head together, and I'm settled, I'll tell
you what I've been afraid but anxious to tell you. I hope what I will
have to say wont end our friendship. I just need some time."
Darien sighed.
"Okay. Alright? But I aint waiting forever for you to tell me so
start building you strength."
A tremulous smile filled Serena's face.
"You're alright Dare."
"Not too bad yourself Sere. Now I've got to go, I got a hot
date." He grinned at her, "I'll see you later."
And if he would have looked a moment longer, Darien would have
seen on lonely tear fall down Serena's unsmiling face.
Oh God! What was she going to do?
Raye, who was hidden behind a bush at the moment, grinned. Now to
report to Mina. This was going to work out. Very definitely. She
walked, away, hidden by the row of bushes, and headed toward Mina's
house. She granted herself one last look, felling for the forlorn look
that clouded Serena's features, grateful for the prospect of an
interesting match. She ventured off into the distance.
computer and stared, wondering. What was she going to do??
Restless, she walked to her Queen sized bed and sat. She took a
nervous look at the phone on her nightstand. Should she call him. She
looked at her clock. 8:09. Would he be home?
Her hand reached out to grab the phone. Her mind put the phone
back down. What was she going to say to him?? She had no clue. Stop
being a wimp, she told her self. Never in her life had she hesitated to
call her best friend. She knew his number like she knew that 2 plus 2
equaled four. How was she going to solve this??
She grabbed the phone. She dialed his number and felt a pang of
uneasiness as each ring came through.
"Hello?" came the voice of Darien's mom on the line.
"Hi Mrs. Chiba. Is Darien there?"
"Oh, I'm sorry Serena, you just missed him."
"Oh, okay. Thanks. Bye."
"Bye."
Serena hung up the phone. Where was Darien?? Was he on a date?
She closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about that. But he
wouldn't get off of her mind and she had to do something.
Basketball. Serena jumped off the bed and quickly changed into
her basketball shorts. She looked out of the window, opened it up
feeling a torrent of warm air. It was too hot to wear a t-shit. She
would wear a sports bra.
She headed out of the house 5 minutes later, yelling a quick
'goodbye' to her mom as she headed out of the door. And for the first
time, she had not worn her hair in a hat. She had it pulled back into a
bun. She dribbled the ball as she walked to the park.
There was no one there when she arrived. She smiled. She had
wanted to play alone anyway. She opened the metal fenced gate and
started dribbling and shooting. She faked, did a cross over, and then
did a lay up. She practiced all kinds of moves. When she got a little
tired, she turned toward the fence. She almost expired of fright and
shock when she saw Darien watching her from the other side of the
fence. He was dressed in all black, looking dangerous and debonair. He
wasn't smiling. But nor was he frowning. He stood there like a creature
of the darkness, staring at her with his beautiful blue eyes. She felt
her chest well up.
"What are you doing here?"
He walked through the gate, towards her and stood just staring.
She felt a pang of uneasiness. What was he staring at?
"What's with you??" She was beyond nervous and she was squirming
under his gaze.
"We've been friends for how long Sere?" His voice was a caress
and she wanted to revel in it.
"What does this have to do with anything Dare?"
"We've been friends for eleven years. I was 6 and you were 5. I
understood you, we were best friends."
Serena felt her heart cracking at the word 'were'.
"We're still best friends Darien. You just-" She broke off,
looking to the side. "You just have to give me a little time to…
settle."
His eyes gleamed in the moonlight, Darker than usual. They were
filled with determination; was that anger she read in their depths.
"For the first time ever, you walked away from a fight. I wanted
to know what you were thinking but you closed yourself off from me. How
is that being a friend Serena?"
She cringed at his use of her full name.
"Darien," She started, her voice breaking. "I couldn't, I mean I
can't explain, not right now. It's not the time. Come on, you can't
take this in any other way. It's just- oh, please. I'm sorry alright.
Just leave it be for right now."
She was just as determined at the moment for him to leave it
alone as he was to get everything cleared.
"I'll think about it." Was all he said. He departed as slick as
he entered. Serena stood there for some moments, just staring and
wondering just how she would come around to telling him. What would she
say, Darien I love you more than a best friend and I think I've been
feeling this way all of my life??
Mina Roberts was the matchmaker of the school. She wasn't too
bright but she had the looks to make up for it. She wasn't too tall,
standing at 5'4'' but she was slim and wore clothes like they were made
for her. She was a charmer, and broke a thousand hearts a day.
She stood at the edge of the basketball court with her boyfriend
Andrew, wondering. She watched this mysterious she-male Serena Tsukino
with eyes of an eagle looking for its prey. Was Lita right?? Did Serena
have more than best friendly feeling toward that chunk of a hunk Darien
Chiba?? She would find out.
Lita walked up to her a few moments later. She leaned down
whispering something in Mina's ear, then pointing towards the court.
"Now, see here Mina. Look at the way Serena looks at him. It's
hidden very carefully but I'm sure you'll be able to see the signs."
Mina smiled in satisfaction, like a cat that got the cream. The
signs were there indeed.
"Great work Lita. I might just make you my matchmaking
assistant."
Lita sneered. "Like I want to be caught up in your silly
matchmaking. I'm just helping you out this time because this will be
the first and only interesting match you will set up."
She stalked away, Mina looking after her trying to understand
what she was saying. She shook her head and looked to the court where
more important matters played.
She glided towards the bleachers to get a better look. She took a
seat next to her 3 best friends. There was Amy Anderson, a smart one,
and quite pretty for someone with her intelligence. She was shy but had
a layer of inner steel in her that only a best friend could recognize.
Then there was Raye Hino. She shook her head. There was fire in
that one. Thought Raye was a good friend, her temper was just not in
the right place most of the time. She liked to pick fights over
everything. She was definitely a heartbreaker and could end up beating
a guy to pulp but she wouldn't risk the breaking of a finger nail. If
any of her friends was closer to Serena in actions, it would be Raye.
Though she didn't know if Serena had such a temper. If Raye was a man…
She shuddered.
Then there was Lita Charleston, a magnificent cook. Her hands
worked miracles on the dinner, lunch, breakfast, and snack table. It
was a wonder because Lita had some rough edges and yet she cooked with
such delicacy. She liked to pick fights but her temper did not even
come close to Raye's. And she was hooked like a fish on her boyfriend
Ken. To her, the sun set and rose in his eyes. She had a great sense of
humor and a reckless side that not to many people had seen nor wanted
to see.
A pretty good match, she decided, as far as friends went. Though
she couldn't say personality wise if they were much too compatible.
They were totally different. But she loved them anyways.
"Raye, I need you to help me out." Mina gestured toward the
court. "See that Serena girl. She's my next mission."
Raye rolled her eyes. Another mission, she thought in
exasperation. Mina needed to get a life. "Yeah, yeah. What of it Mina?"
"Well," Mina paused, looked from Raye to the court, then back
again. "I need to know how to get to this Serena girl. She needs our
help because Lita and I have both concluded that she is in love with
that hunk Darien."
Raye sucked in a surprised breath. Serena, she she-male? No way.
She focused her violet eyes on the court like a lion guarding his
prey. She watched Serena, decked out in her atrocious hat, Nike t-
shirt, and baggy shorts.
Darien had the ball now, and Serena was guarding him. Though Raye
didn't know much about basketball, she conceded that Serena was doing a
pretty good job. And that's when she saw it. IT was almost invisible,
but it glowed. Her eyes, they held that one emotion that was the
hardest to hide. Raye wondered reflectively why, if Darien was this
she-male's best friend, did he not see it.
She looked from the court back to mina. Her eyes glowed.
"I think that this is going to be very… interesting Mina. I'll
help out. What do you want me to do?"
Mina smiled, her eyes gleaming.
"Here's the plan…"
Serena ran to Darien as he started off the court.
"Darien."
He turned but didn't smile. His looked seemed to be saying 'say
what you have to say and leave me alone'.
Serena tried her hardest to keep emotions in check, and damned if
she'd let him see her cry again. Though, she couldn't stop her eyes
from watering.
"I just wanted to say that I wanted to be your best friend
again."
"How, Serena, when you can't even tell me what's wrong. We're
supposed to have mutual trust."
"Darien-"
"Serena," he said with force. "You asked me the other day, 'is my
nose too big?'. Now you being.. you, it confused me to death. And I
wondered what the hell is she talking about. Then you got all uppity
and started crying and for God sakes Sere, I had never seen you cry
that easily. I mean you didn't even cry when you broke your leg falling
out of a tree. I was worried and you couldn't even tell me. I don't
need you to tell me everything but when it's something that I cause or
am around to see, you can't just hide. So it's up to you Sere,"
Serena took a deep breath.
"Darien, I can't tell you. It's very, very personal. What if I
promised, that when I get my head together, and I'm settled, I'll tell
you what I've been afraid but anxious to tell you. I hope what I will
have to say wont end our friendship. I just need some time."
Darien sighed.
"Okay. Alright? But I aint waiting forever for you to tell me so
start building you strength."
A tremulous smile filled Serena's face.
"You're alright Dare."
"Not too bad yourself Sere. Now I've got to go, I got a hot
date." He grinned at her, "I'll see you later."
And if he would have looked a moment longer, Darien would have
seen on lonely tear fall down Serena's unsmiling face.
Oh God! What was she going to do?
Raye, who was hidden behind a bush at the moment, grinned. Now to
report to Mina. This was going to work out. Very definitely. She
walked, away, hidden by the row of bushes, and headed toward Mina's
house. She granted herself one last look, felling for the forlorn look
that clouded Serena's features, grateful for the prospect of an
interesting match. She ventured off into the distance.