With You: Chapter 7
The day had finally come. Serena had been sent to school for the day despite her protests. The Smith's dressed and headed to the courthouse.
On the other side of town, Darien fixed his tie and looked in the mirror nervously. He shook his head and walked to the door.
Well here goes nothing, Darien said as he exited.
Darien sat nervously in the court room. He glanced over at the Smiths who sat with confident smiles. He then glanced up at the judge. The judge was an older man with graying hair.
Darien let out a low sigh. Serena would not be here today. He hoped that she wasn't in class, but he knew she probably was. Darien looked back at Mrs. Carter who in return gave him a reassuring smile.
Serena couldn't concentrate at all. How could the Smith's do this to her? She shouldn't be in class, she should be in the court room. Serena sighed as she realized it would be a few more hours until she would know her future.
The judge silently flipped through the folder. He had reviewed the case before the court date. He glanced at Darien, then to the Smith's.
"Mr. And Mrs. Smith," the judge started. "Would you like to explain why you would be the best suitable guardians for Serena?"
Mr. Smith stood slowly. "Thank you your honor. Well... my wife and I believe that we would be the best candidates to care for Serena Tsukino. She has already lived with us for three weeks now. We have enrolled her back into school and we are looking to get her a job. This way, when the time comes for her to leave and go out on her own, she will be ready. Also, our financial status is fine. We have a good roof to put over her head, and the money to put food on her plate."
With that being said, Mr. Smith sat down proudly. In his mind, the decision was already made.
Darien stared down at his hands. The Smiths' were older, well known, and well respected. Darien was still nervous, but he still felt that he had a better home to offer Serena then they did.
"Is that all you have to say?" The judge asked towards the Smiths. They just nodded.
"Very well," the judge then focused his attention on Darien. "Mr. Chiba, do you have anything you would like to say?"
"Yes Sir."
Darien stood up and cleared his throat. "Much like the Smiths, I can provide a roof and food for Serena. I may not have as much money as them or as big of a house. But I can offer Serena more. When I was six, I lost my parents to a car accident. I know what Serena is going through. Right now she needs comfort from someone who understands. She doesn't need to be pushed academically. Don't get me wrong though, I do plan on her continuing school, but only when she is ready. Also, Serena will be welcome as long as she needs it. From the way Mr. Smith spoke, I feel once Serena is of age, she will be set out on her own. She has a place with me as long as needed."
Darien paused for a second to collect his thoughts. His eyes fell on those of Mrs. Carter. He gave her a smile then turned back to the judge.
"Your honor, I know I'm younger and still in college... but I am responsible. I plan on making it my duty to make Serena happy. She is a friend of mine, a close friend. I had to go through my parent's death alone, and I don't want to see that happen to Serena."
Darien walked back to his seat. "Thank you, your honor." Darien sat down and stared at his hands.
The judge rubbed his chin slightly and stood. "I am going to my chambers to review the cases. Court will be back in session in one hour."
The judge then stepped down while everyone stood.
Darien ran his fingers through his hair roughly. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked behind at Mrs. Carter.
She gave Darien a soft smile. "You did fine Darien. I'm proud of you."
Darien gave her a small unsure smile and turned back around to await the court's decision.
Serena walked extra slowly. Fear and anticipation was running rampant. Serena dreaded finding out the court case decision. Each step she took was harder and harder. Her backpack felt extra heavy as well.
As Serena neared the house her hopes that Darien would be waiting was smashed. Neither him nor his car was anywhere in sight. Tears seeped to her eyes, blurring her vision as she entered the driveway.
This was it. She would stay here. This was to be her home now.
Serena stood at the door for a little while trying to recover her composure. She was determined to be strong. Enough with the crying.
Taking a deep breath, Serena turned the knob and entered the house.
Her eyes were closed as the door opened.
"Hello Serena."
Serena's eyes opened slowly, and met those of Mike.
"How was school?" He asked.
"Fine," Serena replied ready to take off her shoes.
"Don't bother Serena," Mike said quickly. Serena looked at him in shock. That's when she noticed her bags sitting there packed.
She glanced up at Mike oddly. He just stepped aside to reveal Darien standing there.
Serena's eyes grew wide as Darien opened his arms to her and smiled brightly. Serena flung herself into his arms and allowed herself to cry while he held her.
"Shh... it's ok Serena."
"Please tell me you're not here to say good-bye Darien," Serena sobbed.
Darien held her tight and whispered, "of course not silly. I'm here to pick you up and take you home."
Serena looked up at Darien. "Home?" She questioned.
Darien kissed her forehead and answered, "yes Serena. Home."
The End.
The day had finally come. Serena had been sent to school for the day despite her protests. The Smith's dressed and headed to the courthouse.
On the other side of town, Darien fixed his tie and looked in the mirror nervously. He shook his head and walked to the door.
Well here goes nothing, Darien said as he exited.
Darien sat nervously in the court room. He glanced over at the Smiths who sat with confident smiles. He then glanced up at the judge. The judge was an older man with graying hair.
Darien let out a low sigh. Serena would not be here today. He hoped that she wasn't in class, but he knew she probably was. Darien looked back at Mrs. Carter who in return gave him a reassuring smile.
Serena couldn't concentrate at all. How could the Smith's do this to her? She shouldn't be in class, she should be in the court room. Serena sighed as she realized it would be a few more hours until she would know her future.
The judge silently flipped through the folder. He had reviewed the case before the court date. He glanced at Darien, then to the Smith's.
"Mr. And Mrs. Smith," the judge started. "Would you like to explain why you would be the best suitable guardians for Serena?"
Mr. Smith stood slowly. "Thank you your honor. Well... my wife and I believe that we would be the best candidates to care for Serena Tsukino. She has already lived with us for three weeks now. We have enrolled her back into school and we are looking to get her a job. This way, when the time comes for her to leave and go out on her own, she will be ready. Also, our financial status is fine. We have a good roof to put over her head, and the money to put food on her plate."
With that being said, Mr. Smith sat down proudly. In his mind, the decision was already made.
Darien stared down at his hands. The Smiths' were older, well known, and well respected. Darien was still nervous, but he still felt that he had a better home to offer Serena then they did.
"Is that all you have to say?" The judge asked towards the Smiths. They just nodded.
"Very well," the judge then focused his attention on Darien. "Mr. Chiba, do you have anything you would like to say?"
"Yes Sir."
Darien stood up and cleared his throat. "Much like the Smiths, I can provide a roof and food for Serena. I may not have as much money as them or as big of a house. But I can offer Serena more. When I was six, I lost my parents to a car accident. I know what Serena is going through. Right now she needs comfort from someone who understands. She doesn't need to be pushed academically. Don't get me wrong though, I do plan on her continuing school, but only when she is ready. Also, Serena will be welcome as long as she needs it. From the way Mr. Smith spoke, I feel once Serena is of age, she will be set out on her own. She has a place with me as long as needed."
Darien paused for a second to collect his thoughts. His eyes fell on those of Mrs. Carter. He gave her a smile then turned back to the judge.
"Your honor, I know I'm younger and still in college... but I am responsible. I plan on making it my duty to make Serena happy. She is a friend of mine, a close friend. I had to go through my parent's death alone, and I don't want to see that happen to Serena."
Darien walked back to his seat. "Thank you, your honor." Darien sat down and stared at his hands.
The judge rubbed his chin slightly and stood. "I am going to my chambers to review the cases. Court will be back in session in one hour."
The judge then stepped down while everyone stood.
Darien ran his fingers through his hair roughly. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He turned and looked behind at Mrs. Carter.
She gave Darien a soft smile. "You did fine Darien. I'm proud of you."
Darien gave her a small unsure smile and turned back around to await the court's decision.
Serena walked extra slowly. Fear and anticipation was running rampant. Serena dreaded finding out the court case decision. Each step she took was harder and harder. Her backpack felt extra heavy as well.
As Serena neared the house her hopes that Darien would be waiting was smashed. Neither him nor his car was anywhere in sight. Tears seeped to her eyes, blurring her vision as she entered the driveway.
This was it. She would stay here. This was to be her home now.
Serena stood at the door for a little while trying to recover her composure. She was determined to be strong. Enough with the crying.
Taking a deep breath, Serena turned the knob and entered the house.
Her eyes were closed as the door opened.
"Hello Serena."
Serena's eyes opened slowly, and met those of Mike.
"How was school?" He asked.
"Fine," Serena replied ready to take off her shoes.
"Don't bother Serena," Mike said quickly. Serena looked at him in shock. That's when she noticed her bags sitting there packed.
She glanced up at Mike oddly. He just stepped aside to reveal Darien standing there.
Serena's eyes grew wide as Darien opened his arms to her and smiled brightly. Serena flung herself into his arms and allowed herself to cry while he held her.
"Shh... it's ok Serena."
"Please tell me you're not here to say good-bye Darien," Serena sobbed.
Darien held her tight and whispered, "of course not silly. I'm here to pick you up and take you home."
Serena looked up at Darien. "Home?" She questioned.
Darien kissed her forehead and answered, "yes Serena. Home."
The End.
