****************************************

Serena turned off of the main street and onto a smaller one, lined with cozy looking houses and kids playing in their yards. She pulled into her driveway and she removed the keys from the ignition. Darien climbed off, and he pulled the helmet off, handing it to Serena, who had also dismounted the bike. She placed the extra helmet under the seat, and she carried hers into the garage. She walked her bike inside the garage, and she led Darien to the door. She turned back to say somethng to him, but instead she burst out laughing. Darien looked at her confused, and Serena cleared her throat in an attempt to stop laughing.

"Ummm, Darien," she said, laughing a little more, "your hair is so crazy. I think you must have gotten some of that helemet hair I've heard so much about." She laughed again, and she pushed him in front of the mirror on her mother's car. Darien's dark black hair was sticking up crazily in every imagineable direction, and he looked as if he had just climbed out of the dryer. He looked at Serena, and he laughed.

"Well hey, if flying down the asphalte on that motorcycle of yours costs me one bad case of helmet hair, I think I'll be able to deal. That was amazing. Maybe I'll have to look into buying me one of those," he said, the last part mostly to himself. Serena smiled, though she had been expecting him to pitch a fit over the hair thing. Very cool she thought as she opened the door, Darien trailing behind her. They were hit with the most delicous smells upon entering the house, and Serena smiled, rubbing her stomach eagerly.

"Looks like mom went all out with the cooking tonight," she said, walking with Darien into the kitchen. The table was covered with food, all of it looking delicous. There was a variety of foods, from chicken and dumplings, to teryaki pork, golden fried rice, and even some tender steak, and every ounce of the lovingly prepared food was inviting. Serena smiled at Darien, who looked almost as hungry as she was. She smiled to herself.

So maybe he's a hottie, and maybe he can handle riding on my bike with me, but there is no WAY he'll be able to keep up with me here. I can probably out eat this guy three times over! Serena shook her head, laughing silently, and then she let her long hair free from being looped about her meatballs. Her hair fell to the floor in a golden wave, and Darien looked at her, smiling to himself, fully apreciating her beauty.

Now that's a hairstyle I've never seen before. Meatballs with long pigtails coming from them. Hmmm...on anyone else, it would be weird. She kinda works it though... Darien ran a hand through his own hair, and he cleared his throat.

"Hey Serena," he said, "can you show me where my things are? I'd like to freshen up a little, maybe try to fix my hair some...ya know, don't want to make your parents think I'm some crazy person." Serena laughed, answering back with an "Of course". She led him upstairs to the former guest bedroom, and she opened the door.

"Mom set it up for you," she began. "There's clean sheets on the bed, and your stuffs over there in their boxes. Just come downstairs whenever your ready." Darien smiled at her, and she left the room, heading into her room. She shut the door and plopped down on the bed. Luna came and sat in her lap.

"Oh my God!" she sighed, "Luna, he is SO hot!" Luna looked at her, and then she smiled, as much as a cat can smile anyways.

"I'm glad you like him Serena," Luna said, "but don't forget, you still have things to take care of. The Negaverse never quits, and I want you out there tonight. Things have been too quiet lately." Serena sighed, rolling her eyes. She absentmindedly stroked Luna's fur, and then she smiled.

"Its been kinda nice," Serena said, "not having to fight these past couple of days. I wish it was always like that. But, alas, I am not blessed with an ordinary life. Back to my nightly battling." Serena set Luna on the floor as she stood up, checking her reflection in the mirror. She fixed back a stray hair from one of her meatballs, and she opened her door. Darien's door was still closed, and Serena walked down the stairs. Who knew a guy could take so long to fix his hair?

Serena walked into the kitchen where her mother stood, gathering the bowls and plates from the cupboard. Serena laughed at her mother, ladden with all of dishes, and she took the load from her.

"Here, let me help," Serena said, as she laid them out on the table, a bowl, a plate, and the already set out silverware for each place. Serena walked back to the cupboard, grabbing some cups, and she then laid those out. Her mother came into the dining room, carrying the pitcher of cold milk, and she stared at Serena who was, to be quite honest, in an amazingly good mood. Serena stood there, humming to herself, and she laid the napkins out with such care, as if to make everything perfect. She was shaken from her dream-like state by a soft chcukle from her mother.

"What?" Serena asked, looking at her mother, confused.

"He must be quite a young man to have you humming," her mother said kindly. "You haven't done that in quite a while." Mrs.Tsukino walked back into the kitchen, leaving a thoughtful Serena behind. She shook her head and walked into the linving room, having heard her father's car, and she hugged him as he entered the door.

"How was work today?" she asked, taking his briefcase and setting it on the cofee table.

"Oh, the usual," her father replied. "But my day just got much better. I can't wait to meet our young guest. And it seems your mother's spent the day preparing as well. Dinner's gunna be extra fillig tonight." Serena laughed, and her father walked into the kitchen, kissing his wife gently on the cheek. Serena smiled at Darien as he came down the stairs. he still wore his dark jeans and black shirt, but his jacket had been left upstairs. It was quite apparen to Serena that he was in excellent shape, his finely chisseled muscles slightly apparent through the shirt. And his hair was back to normal, still roguish and wild, but no longer suffering from its case of helmet hair.

Ok, its definate. This guy is a total babe!. Serena smiled again, flashing him one of her flirtatious ones, and she gestured for him to follow her into the dining room. He followed her, and he smiled as he watched her and the way she moved with such fluid grace.

Man, this girl is so hot! And I'm gunna be living with her...oh man, I think I like it here already. The pair walked into the room, and Serena presented him to her parents.

"Mom, Dad, this Darien Chiba," she said, nudging him forward. He smiled nervously, shaking hands with Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino. Serena showed him to his seat, which coincadentally, was right beside hers. They sat down, and the food was served out, Serena taking rather large portions, and Darien doing the same. Serena smiled again, and she nodded approval. Chow down big boy she thought to herself. I'm just warming up. Light conversation was shared around the table, with her father talking of his job at the law firm "Tsukino & Whitfield", where he was cohead of the firm, with James Whitfield, father of Serena's best friend (not to mention fellow scout) Mina. MrsTsukino however asked Darien about where he was born (Japan), and when he moved to America (when I was 7), and how he liked his room (Its great, much bigger than the room I have in my apartment back home). Serena ate happily, amused at how well Darien was keeping up. She was on her second serving with Darien on his as well. The family ate happily, still more light chatting going on. Serena was in the process of reaching for another helping of chicken and dumlpings, when Darien was reaching for it as well. Their hands brushed, and they both withdrew them, Mrs.Tsukino laughing.

"Well darien, it seems we've finally found someone who can keep up with Serena!" Everone laughed, Serena making mental notes in her mind.

Hott: check. Good sense of humor: check. Likes my bike: check. And now i have to add "Keeps up with my eating". definate check there. The table was cleared, and Serena seated herself in the living room. Darien joined her, sitting on the couch across from her.

"So you're taking all junior classes, even though you're only a sophmore? That's impressive," Darien commented, running his hand through his hair yet again. Serena smiled kindly at him.

" I guess," she said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a folded piece of paper. She handed the paper to Darien, and he read over it. "Its your schedule," she began again. "Its really quite amusing. We have all of the same classes this semester." Darien smiled, and he put the piece of paper in his pocket.

"Well, at least I'll know someone then," he said cheerfully. "You must be pretty popular at your school, huh?" Serena laughed. She shook her head no, and she tried to catch her breath. That was a really good laugh.

"No, not really," she said, laughter still in her voice. "I don't really fit in so well. Everyone is so serious at that school. Its like they don't know how to have fun or something. Me, well I definately have fun, and it doesn't really bother me that the kids there don't approve. I just couldn't see myself with my nose crammed in a book every second of every day." Darien smiled. This girl was definately something else.

"Well then, I guess we're pretty much gunna be in the same boat,' he said. Serena looked at him, slightly confused.

"What do you mean?" she questioned. "Your hear as an exchange student, and aren't they, well, aren't they usually real book worms?" Her question produced a laugh from Darien, a real, honest laugh that he hadn't had in quite a while.

"Uusually," he said, "but not always. I just thought it would be a great way to see the place I was born." Serena nodded her head. He was right. He got to come and spend a whole year of his life going to school in the place he was born, and he didn't have to pay a single penny. Then, Serena looked at him again.

"But won't you miss your family?" she asked. Darien's eyes looked pained for a second, and then he forced that pain bcak inside.

"Well, you see, I don't really have any family," he began, his voice quite a bit softer than it had been before. "After we had moved to America, my parents and I were in a car crash. I made it out, suffering only a concusion and some bruises, but my parents didn't make it out at all. I don't even really remember them. But, I grew up in an orphanage until I could get a place of my own." A tear fell down Serena's face, which she quickly wiped away. Darien was shocked momentarily by her display of caring for him, someone she barely knew.

"I'm sorry," she said gently, "that must have been really hard." Darien smiled at her, and he laughed a little.

"Hey, let's not talk about sad stuff any more," he said, sort of glad he had told her. "What's there to do around here?" Serena smiled, glad to be on a topic other than the one before.

"Well, since tonight is Friday, I know where a really cool rave is going on," she said. Darien looked at her, slightly questioning. Serena laughed and said, "Don't worry, there's no drinking, no drugs, just great music and tons of dancing." Darien smiled.

"Sounds great, let's go." Darien and Serena parted ways when they reached the top of the stairs, going into their own seperate rooms to get ready. When Serena walked into her room, Luna looked at her questioningly.

"Just where are you going, Serena?" she asked, staring at her intently. Serena sighed. Geez, she's worse then my mom...

"I'm taking Darien out to a rave tonight," she said. Luna looked at her with a look that cried "oh really?", and Serena rolled her eyes. "Think about it Luna! if the Negaverse decides to attack, its one of the first places they would go. Tons of people, all in one place...geeze Luna." Luna thought for a moment.

"I guess you're right," Luna said slowly. "You can go, but you had better be alert, and I expect you to take your communicator with you, in case the Negaverse strikes." Serena laughed, she already knew this.

"Of course it'll be with me," Serena said. "It'll be in my pocket, like usual, and 'll know if it goes off. Now, please close your eyes so I can change." Luna placed her small, black paws over her eyes, and Serena changed into clothes more suitable for going out. "All done," Serena said, looking in the mirror. She was wearing a pair of dark, lowrise jeans and a black halter. Her feet were adorned with black open-toed heels that made her taller, for she was only 5'2. Serena nodded her head, and she sat herself down at her vanity, taking down her meatballs, brushing her hair, and redoing them, much tighter then before. She put a pair of silver hoops in her ears, and she did her make up. She put on a little mascara, some blush, and a little bit of shiny lip gloss. She checked herself in the mirror one more time, and then she grapped her locket, which she has fastened on a silver chain, and she put it around her neck. She slipped the pocket communcator into her pocket, and she grabbed a crisp twenty dollar bill from her purse on the bed. She walked out of her room, and she knocked on Darien's door. He opened the door, wearing the same jeans, but now he was wearing a navy blue t-shirt that said "Abercrombie" across the front in white letters, and he wore a pair of Rebok classics on his feet. Serena looked him up and down, his amazing good looks not lost on her. And, almost at the same time he was soaking in the sight of Serena right then. Serena shook her head slightly, and she spoke.

"You ready?" she asked. Darien nodded yes. "Ok then, I guess we'll take my car then." Darien looked at her sideways.

"Your motorcycle?" he asked, worried that he would have to go to some rave with his hair loking like he had just elecricuted himself. Serena laughed, knowing his fear.

"No, my car," she said. Its on the other side of my mom's car. Its nothing special." Darien smiled, relieved. Serena led the way downstairs, telling her mother on the way through the door that they were going out, and they shut the door behind them. Serena opened the garage door, and Darien's jaw dropped. Serena pulled out the keys from her pocket, and she unlocked the door. The car that was "nothing special" was a black Escalade with 20' spinners, creme leather interior, and real wood grain on the dash board and steering wheel. Serena climbed into the driverside, and she looked at Darien, who was staring at her as if she was insane.

"THAT'S your car???" he said, amazed. "I've never seen a car that beautiful!" Serena laughed, gesturing for him to get in. He took his seat in the passenger side, and he buckled his seatbelt. Serena put a cd into the cd player, and Darien felt the song wash over him. Serena buckled up, dancing in her seat a little.

"What song is this?" he asked as Serena pulled out of the driveway with ease. "I've never heard it before. This song is hot!" Serena laughed.

"Its called 'Yeah', and its by Usher featuring Ludacris and Lil' Jon. Its not out yet, thats why you haven't heard it before," she said, looking intently at the road. "I heard it once on the radio as kind of a sneak peak thing, and so I went into Kazaa and downloaded it. I love this song." It was quite obvious that she liked it, she was dancing in her seat. Darien could barely keep his eyes off of her. She drove down the street, and she pulled into a large warehouse-looking building with a neon sign that read "The Warehouse" on the side. She parked, and she climbed out, Darien following her lead. They walked up to the door, and they could hear a faint beat pulsating from the building. Serena walked up to the bouncer, and she smiled.

"Hey George," she greeted him cheerfully. He smiled back.

"Hey Serena," the huge man replied. "I should have know you'd be here tonight. Who's that?" He pointed at Darien.

"Oh, that's Darien," she said kindly, as if she was introducing a close friend or family member. "He's staying with my family, ya know, like with that foreign exchange program. He's cool." George smiled at him, and he let them in, no cost. When the door opened, a wave of loud bass, beats, and singing hit them. Serena felt the music in every part of her body, and she smiled.

"Let's dance!" she said, taking Darien out onto the dance floor.