A Friend From the Past
By: Alys
E-Mail: mazzei@isoc.net, Tiamat135@hotmail.com
Rating: G-PG
Part: 1
*Serena*
"Well Serena, this is your new home. For now at
least. Hopefully soon we will be able to find some family of
yours that can take you in. You were really lucky to survive
that crash."
"Yes, I know," said 15-year-old Serena to the man
who had dropped her off at the orphanage. As she looked at
her new home she felt anything but lucky. The building
looked dark and cold to her, not at all like a welcoming
place. But as she told herself earlier she would not
complain. She had no right. After all she now had no one or
anything to compare the orphanage, so it was not like she
was used to anything better. At least from what she knew.
"Come on lets go. We need to check in and get you
settled."
With that Serena's escort started walking towards
the front door. Serena grabbed her one and only suitcase and
jogged to catch up with him. When they reached the front
door the man knocked twice and then waited for the door to
open. After a few minutes a lady in her later 30's opened
the door with a smile.
"Welcome. My name is Miss. Dahl. You must be Serena.
Please come in. I will take her from here. Thank you for
bringing her here Mr. Titan."
"It was no problem. Now Serena I hope to see you
soon with some good news for you."
With that Serena watched Mr. Titan walk back down
the walk to his car.
"Well let's take you to your room. Come on. This
way."
Miss. Dahl led Serena down the hall and up a few
flights of stairs. Finally after what seemed like forever
the Serena Miss Dahl stopped in front of a room.
"We have fifty rooms in this orphanage. This house
was once a huge manor house to a very rich family hundreds
of years ago. The last living relative sold it to our
organization about thirty years ago. Almost all the rooms
are filled, but we hope one day that they will be empty
because all children will have good homes. I am second in
charge here. I manage stuff like the budget, and other
important files. I am also in charge of the library. Now
lets get you unpacked shall we?"
Serena decided right away she liked Miss. Dahl. She
seemed to be very nice, and understanding. Once the door was
opened, Serena walked in and gasped. The room was pretty
big. It was just an empty room, but it has a dresser, a bed
and an old desk in it. Serena could tell that there was
probably more because there was defiantly the room for it
but it was most likely sold or moved somewhere else. The
walls were painted a soft blue, and it had a stormy blue rug
in the center. There was one window in the room the faced
the back of the house. Bellow she could tell that the front
of the manor was probably the least cared for even though
that didn't make much sense to her. In the back there was a
nice sized yard, and a beautiful flower garden filled with
all sorts of flowers. She would also have a perfect view of
the sunset.
"Are all the rooms as nice as this? I can't believe
that an orphanage was such a nice place."
"Well not all the rooms are this big. A lot of them
are smaller. But this was the only one we had ready for you.
Feel free to hang up anything you want. If you need anything
don't hesitate to ask ok?"
"Well I don't have much. But thanks."
"Now we must check you in with Mrs. Stantine. She is
in charge here. We need to tell her you are here. Lets go."
Again Serena was lead through the building. Along
the way she noticed a ton of old paintings hung up on the
walls. All the people seemed to be finely dressed and had a
snobby look to them.
"Are these the people who used to own the house?"
asked Serena.
"Yes. The Shields had a big family. Well in the fact
that there were a lot of side families, you know Aunts,
Uncles. The main family had only one son. But he disappeared
one day and they never saw him again. SO the house was
passed from relative the relative."
"Oh."
"Well we're here. Now I must warn you, Mrs. Stantine
can be a little frightening at first, but don't worry once
she gets to know you she will lighten up."
With that Miss Dahl opened the door and left. Serena
walked in and immediately noticed a difference in the
atmosphere. Looking over the desk Serena for the first time
noticed Mrs. Stantine. She had a cool, almost cold look to
her. Her eyes were set in a deep studying look, and her lips
pressed in a thin line. Her dark brown hair was pulled up in
a bun at the base of her neck.
"So you are Serena. Lets see. According to this
report here, your parents died in a crash. Correct?"
"Yes. That's right."
"It also says here you had a nasty bump to the head,
and don't remember much."
"Yes. The doctors say my memory might come back, but
they were unsure. Right now they are checking to see if they
can find any relatives that can take me," after saying that
Serena realized that Mrs. Stantine did not look pleased with
her.
"I know that already young lady. So it looks like I
get to deal with you till then. Well first I must tell you I
will not have you talking to me like a little know it all.
Second, I expect you to follow all the rules here. You are
to do what you are told. Understood."
Serena nodded her head and decided right there and
then to stay out of her way. She did not want to spend any
more time then necessary with then woman.
"You may go now. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm
sharp. Do not be late."
"Yes. I will be there. Thank you."
Serena turned and left the office without a second glance
behind her. She decided since she would be staying here she
might as well look around. For about 15 minutes she wandered
the nearby halls trying to figure out where she was. It hit
her then she did not see any other children. Turning the
corner she mumbled to herself,
"I wander where everyone is."
No sooner were the words spoken did she see a group
of kids ahead of her. She walked up to them, noticing that
none of them saw her.
"Did you here about the new kid? I here she has no
clue who she is. Lost her parents in a crash," said one
girl.
"Did you hear where she is staying," asked another.
"Nope where?" ask the first.
"Up stairs, floor three. With those huge rooms."
"No way," said the boy standing with them. "No one
ever gets those rooms. Why would she get one?"
"Don't know. Mrs. Stantine wouldn't tell me. Said
she wouldn't be staying long."
"That is so not fair. The little…"
That is when they notice Serena backing away slowly. She had
heard what they said and had decided not to get involved.
"Hey! Were you listening to us? Don't you have any
manners? Or did you forget them too?"
"N-no I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen in. I was
just wandering around. I'm sorry." Serena, who did not want
to stay around any longer turned and ran crying away from
the kids. Some how she managed to get back to her room.
There she sat on the bed and cried out her frustration. She
couldn't believe her life. She knew right away that this
place was going to be torture, and she had nothing of
comfort. After a while of crying she sat up and looked
around again.
"O well might as well unpack my bag."
With that she walked over to where she laid it and opened it
up. It held a few things. Some clothes she had received from
the hospital, and a few things found in the crash. While
sorting though the bag she found a small green pouch tided
with black ribbon. Opening it up, Serena dumped out what was
inside. In her hand she found a palm sized star locket the
color of gold.
"What's this?" Serena asked herself. "Something from
my past. Has to be. I wonder what's inside."
Turning it around in her hand Serena looked for a
latch of sorts. Finally she found it. Using her fingers she
slowly opened the locket. When it was opened it started to
play a sweet song.
"Its so beautiful," Serena whispered to herself as
she listened to it play over and over. Suddenly she
remembered dinner. Checking her watch, which had survived
with her, she saw that she had only 5 minutes to find the
dinning room. Putting the locket into her pocket she rushed
out of her room down the hall hoping to find someone to show
her the way. While she was running through the halls she
couldn't help but remembering the sweet melody of the song.
Finally she saw some kids heading towards the dinning and
she followed at a safe distance. When she entered, she
noticed several glances and whispering heading her way.
She knew instantly that she situation had been
spread around to everyone. Heading towards a table she
received some very cool glares and decided to sit at the
end, away from every one. She could tell that she had no
friends here. They all seemed to be upset about something,
most likely the room or some other rumor that had been
spread.
After dinner, Serena headed straight to her room not
wanting to be around the others any longer. Laying on her
bed she watched the sun setting outside her window listening
to her locket play. She was crying. She only wanted to be
accepted. She saw now that she would not be. Laying there
she cried herself to sleep, listening to the comforting
music. Little did she know that some one had seen how she
was treated, and had decided to become her friend, somehow.
*Darien*
He watched over her for the next few days. He could
not say she did not try. She did her best, getting up every
mourning, and going through out day. She seemed to be
ignored by the others. He knew from being there that the
first group she had run into had been the more popular kids
that made the rules there. No one dare disagree with them.
So when they had decided to make the poor girl miserable the
others just followed without question. She did seem to have
one friend there. That was Miss. Dahl. But then again Miss.
Dahl was "friends" with everyone. She was friends' with even
old Mrs. Stantine.
"And soon she shall have another," he said to
himself in the empty hall. He had decided to introduce
himself to her when she was outside. That way if she got
scared and screamed it would be less noticeable. He was
heading out there now. Then suddenly he stopped.
"What am I doing?" he thought to himself. "I have
never showed myself. What if she doesn't care? What if she
doesn't want to know me? What if she just screams and runs?"
"Maybe I shouldn't do this."
But then he remembered the look on her face the first night.
It was a look of total abandonment. She had no one. Not one
true friend.
"You've got to do this Darien. She needs you."
After finally convincing himself again he headed outside to
look for her. At first he didn't see her, but then he
finally spotted her in the garden. She was walking through
the lanes looking at all the flowers. He watched her
occasionally stop the think over a decision then walk over.
She then came to a bunch of rose bushes. He watched her
looking and then suddenly stop, bend over, and pick one of
the flowers. He floated closer to see what she had found. It
was a beautiful white rose, with red swirls in it.
"It must be some kind of mix," she said.
At first he thought that she was talking to him. But he then
realized that she was just talking to no one. He then
noticed that she had put the flower in her hair, next to one
of the buns that she kept her hair in. He decided right
there to make himself known to her.
"The roses are beautiful aren't they?"
She looked up and around to the sound of the voice. When she
saw him she seemed to pause for only a second before she
started backing up.
"Wh-who are you? What are you?" she said.
"Please, don't be scared I am not going to hurt you.
I am a ghost. I live in the house. My name is Darien," he
said in a rush.
"What do you want?" She was shaking now. He thought
about leaving right there and then, but remembering her
sadness… He wasn't going to give up.
"Well I, well. I have been watching you. You seemed
to need a friend. None here is going to lighten up. So I
thought I might offer my friendship to you."
He saw several emotions go across here face, but the
one that stayed was annoyance. Not the one he was expecting.
"I don't need your pity. I am fine by myself. I
don't need you."
WHAT!?, he thought, here he was trying to be nice
and she was annoyed with him. That little, little meatball
head. Here he was revealing himself to her, putting his
existence on the line and she was just blowing him off.
"Fine. You don't want me around that's fine with me.
See what I care. Sorry if I ruined your day by trying to be
nice." With that he started to fade away. See what he cared.
If she wanted to be alone let her. She can go ahead and be a
little…
"Please wait. I'm sorry. I didn't have a right to
snap. I'm sorry."
That stopped him. He turned to her and stayed where
he was, almost invisible to her.
"I would like to be friends. It was very nice of you
to offer. Plus I doubt anyone else is ever going to lighten
up around here. I guess you already know, but my name is
Serena. What did you say yours was again?"
"Its Darien. But you got to promise one thing."
"Sure what?"
"You can't tell anyone. Everyone here mostly
believes I am a myth. A story. I would like to keep it that
way."
"You mean no one knows about you besides me? You
don't have any other friends?"
"No. I guess we have that in common. One friend
each."
He wanted to stay and talk to her more, but the
dinner bell was ringing, and she had to go. He promised her
that he would meet up with her again later. She wanted to
know where but he told her that he was just show up, and not
to worry.
"I must warn you though," he said to her, "Only you
will be able to see me. No one else. Not unless I chose them
too."
"So basically your telling me not to make it look I
am talking to some one not there and make an idiot of
myself. I can do that. Well I got to go now. See you later."
With that final sentence she ran off to dinner. He
could already see a difference in her. When she turned
around one last time he could see a true smile on her face.
He watched turn and skip into the building off to eat by
herself.
Oh why not? He thought to himself as he followed
after her. When he got to the dinning hall he looked around
and saw her sitting by herself as he expected. He walked
over to he and sat on the table next to her. At first she
did not notice him but she did when he placed his hand on
her shoulder.
"Brrr. What in the world?" she said as she looked
around. Finally noticing him next to her, she looked around
and then smiled at him.
"Oh. Hi. I thought we were going to meet later.
What's up?" she said in a soft voice.
"I just thought I would keep you company while you
eat. I noticed you were alone."
"Yea, I usually am. I really don't mind though. I
mean I would rather be alone, and left alone then try to sit
with everyone else and get tortured."
He again felt sorry for her. She really didn't deserve this,
no one did. But like a lot of people, she was one of the
unlucky ones in life.
He did not know what to say to her, so he just
stayed with her though out the meal, being what she needed,
a reassuring friend. After dinner the dinning hall cleared
of kids. After everyone was gone Serena cleared her place
and headed out into the hall. She automatically headed for
her room where she spent most of her time, or at least that
is what he had noticed. Darien could still tell she was in
one of her better moods. Reaching her door she opened it and
headed in. But when Darien got there he paused. She did not
invite him into her room and he did not want to float in.
"Serena? Is it ok if I come in?"
"Huh? Oh sure come on in. Sorry," she said returning
to the half closed door, "I should have invited you in. I
guess I am not used to having a friend yet." She gave him a
half grin with a look that had asking forgiveness written
into it.
"It's ok. I just didn't want to float in unexpected
if you know what I mean."
She was about to open the door for him but he decided the
float through it instead. Turning around he was welcomed
with a look of shock and curiosity.
"That's neat. Wish I could do it. By the way I
wanted to ask you. When you touched me earlier, well, that
is, is your touch always that cold? I don't mean to be rude,
but it was kind of scary. One minute it was slightly to warm
then it was like a chilly breeze was only touching my
shoulder."
"Yea, it is always like that. You didn't mind though
did you?"
"Oh no. It will just take some getting used to.
That's all."
He stayed with her for a couple of hours, talking with her
about anything she wanted to bring up. He listened to her
talk about how alone she had felt, and how she felt so
unwelcomed at the orphanage. She asked a few questions about
himself.
"So how old are you?"
"Well," he started, "I have been here for around 400
years."
"Wow. That's long. Can't you leave?"
"No place better to go. Besides I like it here. Lots
of people to scare when ever I want." He gave her a smile
that meant he was just joking around but he still got
snapped at.
"That's mean. Why would you want to scare people?
They never did anything to you. That's just plain out, out,
well plain out mean."
He gave a small laugh. He knew he would like this
girl. There was just something about her that he couldn't
place his finger on, but he knew that his choice of becoming
her friend was a good decision on his part.
End Part 1
By: Alys
E-Mail: mazzei@isoc.net, Tiamat135@hotmail.com
Rating: G-PG
Part: 1
*Serena*
"Well Serena, this is your new home. For now at
least. Hopefully soon we will be able to find some family of
yours that can take you in. You were really lucky to survive
that crash."
"Yes, I know," said 15-year-old Serena to the man
who had dropped her off at the orphanage. As she looked at
her new home she felt anything but lucky. The building
looked dark and cold to her, not at all like a welcoming
place. But as she told herself earlier she would not
complain. She had no right. After all she now had no one or
anything to compare the orphanage, so it was not like she
was used to anything better. At least from what she knew.
"Come on lets go. We need to check in and get you
settled."
With that Serena's escort started walking towards
the front door. Serena grabbed her one and only suitcase and
jogged to catch up with him. When they reached the front
door the man knocked twice and then waited for the door to
open. After a few minutes a lady in her later 30's opened
the door with a smile.
"Welcome. My name is Miss. Dahl. You must be Serena.
Please come in. I will take her from here. Thank you for
bringing her here Mr. Titan."
"It was no problem. Now Serena I hope to see you
soon with some good news for you."
With that Serena watched Mr. Titan walk back down
the walk to his car.
"Well let's take you to your room. Come on. This
way."
Miss. Dahl led Serena down the hall and up a few
flights of stairs. Finally after what seemed like forever
the Serena Miss Dahl stopped in front of a room.
"We have fifty rooms in this orphanage. This house
was once a huge manor house to a very rich family hundreds
of years ago. The last living relative sold it to our
organization about thirty years ago. Almost all the rooms
are filled, but we hope one day that they will be empty
because all children will have good homes. I am second in
charge here. I manage stuff like the budget, and other
important files. I am also in charge of the library. Now
lets get you unpacked shall we?"
Serena decided right away she liked Miss. Dahl. She
seemed to be very nice, and understanding. Once the door was
opened, Serena walked in and gasped. The room was pretty
big. It was just an empty room, but it has a dresser, a bed
and an old desk in it. Serena could tell that there was
probably more because there was defiantly the room for it
but it was most likely sold or moved somewhere else. The
walls were painted a soft blue, and it had a stormy blue rug
in the center. There was one window in the room the faced
the back of the house. Bellow she could tell that the front
of the manor was probably the least cared for even though
that didn't make much sense to her. In the back there was a
nice sized yard, and a beautiful flower garden filled with
all sorts of flowers. She would also have a perfect view of
the sunset.
"Are all the rooms as nice as this? I can't believe
that an orphanage was such a nice place."
"Well not all the rooms are this big. A lot of them
are smaller. But this was the only one we had ready for you.
Feel free to hang up anything you want. If you need anything
don't hesitate to ask ok?"
"Well I don't have much. But thanks."
"Now we must check you in with Mrs. Stantine. She is
in charge here. We need to tell her you are here. Lets go."
Again Serena was lead through the building. Along
the way she noticed a ton of old paintings hung up on the
walls. All the people seemed to be finely dressed and had a
snobby look to them.
"Are these the people who used to own the house?"
asked Serena.
"Yes. The Shields had a big family. Well in the fact
that there were a lot of side families, you know Aunts,
Uncles. The main family had only one son. But he disappeared
one day and they never saw him again. SO the house was
passed from relative the relative."
"Oh."
"Well we're here. Now I must warn you, Mrs. Stantine
can be a little frightening at first, but don't worry once
she gets to know you she will lighten up."
With that Miss Dahl opened the door and left. Serena
walked in and immediately noticed a difference in the
atmosphere. Looking over the desk Serena for the first time
noticed Mrs. Stantine. She had a cool, almost cold look to
her. Her eyes were set in a deep studying look, and her lips
pressed in a thin line. Her dark brown hair was pulled up in
a bun at the base of her neck.
"So you are Serena. Lets see. According to this
report here, your parents died in a crash. Correct?"
"Yes. That's right."
"It also says here you had a nasty bump to the head,
and don't remember much."
"Yes. The doctors say my memory might come back, but
they were unsure. Right now they are checking to see if they
can find any relatives that can take me," after saying that
Serena realized that Mrs. Stantine did not look pleased with
her.
"I know that already young lady. So it looks like I
get to deal with you till then. Well first I must tell you I
will not have you talking to me like a little know it all.
Second, I expect you to follow all the rules here. You are
to do what you are told. Understood."
Serena nodded her head and decided right there and
then to stay out of her way. She did not want to spend any
more time then necessary with then woman.
"You may go now. Dinner will be served at 6:00 pm
sharp. Do not be late."
"Yes. I will be there. Thank you."
Serena turned and left the office without a second glance
behind her. She decided since she would be staying here she
might as well look around. For about 15 minutes she wandered
the nearby halls trying to figure out where she was. It hit
her then she did not see any other children. Turning the
corner she mumbled to herself,
"I wander where everyone is."
No sooner were the words spoken did she see a group
of kids ahead of her. She walked up to them, noticing that
none of them saw her.
"Did you here about the new kid? I here she has no
clue who she is. Lost her parents in a crash," said one
girl.
"Did you hear where she is staying," asked another.
"Nope where?" ask the first.
"Up stairs, floor three. With those huge rooms."
"No way," said the boy standing with them. "No one
ever gets those rooms. Why would she get one?"
"Don't know. Mrs. Stantine wouldn't tell me. Said
she wouldn't be staying long."
"That is so not fair. The little…"
That is when they notice Serena backing away slowly. She had
heard what they said and had decided not to get involved.
"Hey! Were you listening to us? Don't you have any
manners? Or did you forget them too?"
"N-no I'm sorry. I didn't mean to listen in. I was
just wandering around. I'm sorry." Serena, who did not want
to stay around any longer turned and ran crying away from
the kids. Some how she managed to get back to her room.
There she sat on the bed and cried out her frustration. She
couldn't believe her life. She knew right away that this
place was going to be torture, and she had nothing of
comfort. After a while of crying she sat up and looked
around again.
"O well might as well unpack my bag."
With that she walked over to where she laid it and opened it
up. It held a few things. Some clothes she had received from
the hospital, and a few things found in the crash. While
sorting though the bag she found a small green pouch tided
with black ribbon. Opening it up, Serena dumped out what was
inside. In her hand she found a palm sized star locket the
color of gold.
"What's this?" Serena asked herself. "Something from
my past. Has to be. I wonder what's inside."
Turning it around in her hand Serena looked for a
latch of sorts. Finally she found it. Using her fingers she
slowly opened the locket. When it was opened it started to
play a sweet song.
"Its so beautiful," Serena whispered to herself as
she listened to it play over and over. Suddenly she
remembered dinner. Checking her watch, which had survived
with her, she saw that she had only 5 minutes to find the
dinning room. Putting the locket into her pocket she rushed
out of her room down the hall hoping to find someone to show
her the way. While she was running through the halls she
couldn't help but remembering the sweet melody of the song.
Finally she saw some kids heading towards the dinning and
she followed at a safe distance. When she entered, she
noticed several glances and whispering heading her way.
She knew instantly that she situation had been
spread around to everyone. Heading towards a table she
received some very cool glares and decided to sit at the
end, away from every one. She could tell that she had no
friends here. They all seemed to be upset about something,
most likely the room or some other rumor that had been
spread.
After dinner, Serena headed straight to her room not
wanting to be around the others any longer. Laying on her
bed she watched the sun setting outside her window listening
to her locket play. She was crying. She only wanted to be
accepted. She saw now that she would not be. Laying there
she cried herself to sleep, listening to the comforting
music. Little did she know that some one had seen how she
was treated, and had decided to become her friend, somehow.
*Darien*
He watched over her for the next few days. He could
not say she did not try. She did her best, getting up every
mourning, and going through out day. She seemed to be
ignored by the others. He knew from being there that the
first group she had run into had been the more popular kids
that made the rules there. No one dare disagree with them.
So when they had decided to make the poor girl miserable the
others just followed without question. She did seem to have
one friend there. That was Miss. Dahl. But then again Miss.
Dahl was "friends" with everyone. She was friends' with even
old Mrs. Stantine.
"And soon she shall have another," he said to
himself in the empty hall. He had decided to introduce
himself to her when she was outside. That way if she got
scared and screamed it would be less noticeable. He was
heading out there now. Then suddenly he stopped.
"What am I doing?" he thought to himself. "I have
never showed myself. What if she doesn't care? What if she
doesn't want to know me? What if she just screams and runs?"
"Maybe I shouldn't do this."
But then he remembered the look on her face the first night.
It was a look of total abandonment. She had no one. Not one
true friend.
"You've got to do this Darien. She needs you."
After finally convincing himself again he headed outside to
look for her. At first he didn't see her, but then he
finally spotted her in the garden. She was walking through
the lanes looking at all the flowers. He watched her
occasionally stop the think over a decision then walk over.
She then came to a bunch of rose bushes. He watched her
looking and then suddenly stop, bend over, and pick one of
the flowers. He floated closer to see what she had found. It
was a beautiful white rose, with red swirls in it.
"It must be some kind of mix," she said.
At first he thought that she was talking to him. But he then
realized that she was just talking to no one. He then
noticed that she had put the flower in her hair, next to one
of the buns that she kept her hair in. He decided right
there to make himself known to her.
"The roses are beautiful aren't they?"
She looked up and around to the sound of the voice. When she
saw him she seemed to pause for only a second before she
started backing up.
"Wh-who are you? What are you?" she said.
"Please, don't be scared I am not going to hurt you.
I am a ghost. I live in the house. My name is Darien," he
said in a rush.
"What do you want?" She was shaking now. He thought
about leaving right there and then, but remembering her
sadness… He wasn't going to give up.
"Well I, well. I have been watching you. You seemed
to need a friend. None here is going to lighten up. So I
thought I might offer my friendship to you."
He saw several emotions go across here face, but the
one that stayed was annoyance. Not the one he was expecting.
"I don't need your pity. I am fine by myself. I
don't need you."
WHAT!?, he thought, here he was trying to be nice
and she was annoyed with him. That little, little meatball
head. Here he was revealing himself to her, putting his
existence on the line and she was just blowing him off.
"Fine. You don't want me around that's fine with me.
See what I care. Sorry if I ruined your day by trying to be
nice." With that he started to fade away. See what he cared.
If she wanted to be alone let her. She can go ahead and be a
little…
"Please wait. I'm sorry. I didn't have a right to
snap. I'm sorry."
That stopped him. He turned to her and stayed where
he was, almost invisible to her.
"I would like to be friends. It was very nice of you
to offer. Plus I doubt anyone else is ever going to lighten
up around here. I guess you already know, but my name is
Serena. What did you say yours was again?"
"Its Darien. But you got to promise one thing."
"Sure what?"
"You can't tell anyone. Everyone here mostly
believes I am a myth. A story. I would like to keep it that
way."
"You mean no one knows about you besides me? You
don't have any other friends?"
"No. I guess we have that in common. One friend
each."
He wanted to stay and talk to her more, but the
dinner bell was ringing, and she had to go. He promised her
that he would meet up with her again later. She wanted to
know where but he told her that he was just show up, and not
to worry.
"I must warn you though," he said to her, "Only you
will be able to see me. No one else. Not unless I chose them
too."
"So basically your telling me not to make it look I
am talking to some one not there and make an idiot of
myself. I can do that. Well I got to go now. See you later."
With that final sentence she ran off to dinner. He
could already see a difference in her. When she turned
around one last time he could see a true smile on her face.
He watched turn and skip into the building off to eat by
herself.
Oh why not? He thought to himself as he followed
after her. When he got to the dinning hall he looked around
and saw her sitting by herself as he expected. He walked
over to he and sat on the table next to her. At first she
did not notice him but she did when he placed his hand on
her shoulder.
"Brrr. What in the world?" she said as she looked
around. Finally noticing him next to her, she looked around
and then smiled at him.
"Oh. Hi. I thought we were going to meet later.
What's up?" she said in a soft voice.
"I just thought I would keep you company while you
eat. I noticed you were alone."
"Yea, I usually am. I really don't mind though. I
mean I would rather be alone, and left alone then try to sit
with everyone else and get tortured."
He again felt sorry for her. She really didn't deserve this,
no one did. But like a lot of people, she was one of the
unlucky ones in life.
He did not know what to say to her, so he just
stayed with her though out the meal, being what she needed,
a reassuring friend. After dinner the dinning hall cleared
of kids. After everyone was gone Serena cleared her place
and headed out into the hall. She automatically headed for
her room where she spent most of her time, or at least that
is what he had noticed. Darien could still tell she was in
one of her better moods. Reaching her door she opened it and
headed in. But when Darien got there he paused. She did not
invite him into her room and he did not want to float in.
"Serena? Is it ok if I come in?"
"Huh? Oh sure come on in. Sorry," she said returning
to the half closed door, "I should have invited you in. I
guess I am not used to having a friend yet." She gave him a
half grin with a look that had asking forgiveness written
into it.
"It's ok. I just didn't want to float in unexpected
if you know what I mean."
She was about to open the door for him but he decided the
float through it instead. Turning around he was welcomed
with a look of shock and curiosity.
"That's neat. Wish I could do it. By the way I
wanted to ask you. When you touched me earlier, well, that
is, is your touch always that cold? I don't mean to be rude,
but it was kind of scary. One minute it was slightly to warm
then it was like a chilly breeze was only touching my
shoulder."
"Yea, it is always like that. You didn't mind though
did you?"
"Oh no. It will just take some getting used to.
That's all."
He stayed with her for a couple of hours, talking with her
about anything she wanted to bring up. He listened to her
talk about how alone she had felt, and how she felt so
unwelcomed at the orphanage. She asked a few questions about
himself.
"So how old are you?"
"Well," he started, "I have been here for around 400
years."
"Wow. That's long. Can't you leave?"
"No place better to go. Besides I like it here. Lots
of people to scare when ever I want." He gave her a smile
that meant he was just joking around but he still got
snapped at.
"That's mean. Why would you want to scare people?
They never did anything to you. That's just plain out, out,
well plain out mean."
He gave a small laugh. He knew he would like this
girl. There was just something about her that he couldn't
place his finger on, but he knew that his choice of becoming
her friend was a good decision on his part.
End Part 1