Just A Coincidence Ch. 6
-----------------------------
Dear Jay,

I'm alone at the Arcade today, and I'm going to try to kill some time before I go to Mina's.
Yeah another LOUSY afternoon of more waltzing action.

And anyway...

Well, as you already know, I had another dream of him this time. But now the
setting is different. It's as different as the one like in the Masquerade Ball.
No beach, no garden, just a whole new place.

It starts off with me going through double doors. And they're huge. And when I walk
inside, there are lights on! I mean you know how my dreams usually are... they're always
in the dark. But this dream, it's as bright as daylight... okay so im exaggerating. I think
the source of the light comes from chandeliers hanging up on the ceiling.

And the room... Everything in it is so beautiful. It looked like another formal party. With
big round tables, a few champaign bottles, folded napkins and silver utensils...

Yeah of course there were people inside, but I couldn't see their faces clearly. No, you'd
think they'd have masks on but, I couldn't tell... everyone's faces were a blur. And then he...

Yeah dream boy shows up. But he's the only one wearing a mask. He was in a tux again.
But he looked more... real. I mean okay I know I've been saying he feels real and he smells
real (I don't know how that could happen because it's all in a dream), but he looks more clear.
His eyes, his physique... I mean he was just clear. He stuck out of the blurry-faced crowed
like a sore thumb... but he's still covered by that damn mask, so I still can't tell who he is.

Well, for sure I knew I was wearing a gown (yet again...) But now I couldn't tell what I was
wearing. This was the strangest dream yet! I mean I always know what the hell I'm wearing but
this-

The both of us as usual tried to approach each other but then all of a sudden I woke up.
The dream was kind of...

Incomplete.

--------------------------

I sat back and stretched, blinking my eyes repeatedly and then relaxing them.

This was the first time I had taken the journal out of my house to write in, since I bought
it at the mall. Yeah of course I didn't want to take it out. Can't let any body read it! But today
I had to make an exception because in the morning, I was studying for another
absolutely-grueling test for none other than Mrs. Haruna.( Man, it's lame that she even had to be
the choreographer for the waltz... and to think I have to see her double time for the next month
or so... And all thanks to Mina and Amy.)

So I'm sitting in a booth alone, on the window side of course, taking occasional sips from a
'chocolate' milk shake. (Oh the sudden transition from Strawberries to Chocolate! How
terrifying!) But seriously... I was enjoying the simple treat. However, I wasn't enjoying the
document that I was holding.

It was a copy of the conversation I had with sxytuxboi from two weeks ago. The one where he
asked me the most terrifying question that I was ever asked in my life.

He wanted to meet me.

That night, I had engaged myself in a very serious conversation with Amy. Remembering that
she had 'mentioned' (or Mina had 'brought' out of her) the little tidbit of having a cyber
boyfriend herself, I had called her for some advice (thanks to Mina's un-available ear I had
no choice but to call my blue haired friend.) And I really do have to thank Mina because, Amy
was exactly what the doctor ordered.

She had advised me, of course, to be more 'cautious' and to actually...

Meet him.

Well, it may seem that Amy should have given me a different answer to the question of 'what
should I do', and she would have suggested that I shouldn't meet this strange guy. Because at
first, she DID tell me to not go and meet him. But then something altered her opinion about the
whole situation.

I told her everything that happened to me.

Including the dreams that had lasted me for more than a year now, the Masquerade Ball, and the
cyber boyfriend. And this I had done intentionally. I felt like I could trust her, as well as Mina.

After telling her, she saw the connections. And she believed me.

"Well, in that case. It's only natural to meet this man if he really claims to be the guy you've
been dreaming about. And if he says that he's been dreaming about you and says that he has also
seen you at the Masquerade Ball, might as well give him the peace of mind too." Her words
were still etched in my mind.

That really did make some sense. And the only way to find out if he's 'the one' and 'to make the
connections possible with him' was to see this guy for real.

But now the question was when?

After that, the conversations that followed with sxytuxboi had been... more awkward. He hadn't
mentioned wanting to meet again since. Was that a bad sign? I dared not to bring up the subject
of meeting him again myself because even though I do agree 'now' about doing it -

I'm not ready.

I'm not ready to meet him.

And would anybody want to know why?

I'm scared.

Yes I am.

Well, who wouldn't be?

Sure I'm afraid the guy could actually be a psychotic murderer or be some crazed sex addict but
something else added to that fear.

It was a fear of rejection.

It's also the fear of knowing that I might-

fall in love.

"What do you got there, Meatball head?"

"Huh?"

He slid into the other side of the booth startling me.

"Yeah... What do you have there?"

My eyes widened in surprise as I realized my journal was open, most of the contents
sprawled out on the table, out for Pretty Boy's view.

"Oh, Crap" I instantly shut the journal closed, some edges of paper sticking out of the book.
I grabbed my backpack and stuffed it inside simultaneously zipping the bag up.

"Hey, isn't that the journal I saw you buy in the mall way back when?" He asked with a raised
eyebrow. "What do you have in it?"

"Nothing Chiba. None of your business. It's something personal of mine." I then wedged the bag
between my body and the window side of the booth... to keep it away from his now curious eyes.

My heart began to pound, and my infamous ulcer returned. I noticed this always happened
when... Nah. That's a stupid idea. It couldn't be Pretty Boy.

"Oh I know. It's a diary. You girls and your diaries..." He chuckled as he proceeded to take my
somewhat full 'chocolate' milk shake from the table, taking a satisfying sip. Yuck. There's no
way I'm going to have my lips around that straw again. "You probably wrote my name in there a
hundred times. That should explain why you would try to hide it from me."

He then gave me a wink and an evil grin, sliding the shake back in the middle of the table.

"In your dreams you ass. There's no way in hell I'd ever take a 'liking' in you." I gave him a
smug look and a devilish smile of my own too. "Besides, I don't think you've got anything to
offer. All looks, but no assets."

He looked a bit taken aback, but as quickly as it had show, he returned to his 'wanna-be' sexy
grin.

'Well, I do have to admit the man IS kinda sexy. But that's the reason why I call him a Pretty
Boy.'

"And how would you know that? 'All looks and no assets' you say? So you've imagined me
naked?"

Shock was clearly written on my face but I disposed of it before I could let him see.

"What's with you Chiba? I'd say you're desperate for some sexual 'attention' so you harass the
nearest female hoping she would drop to her knees for you. And look at that..." I eyed around the
room and back to face him again. "I'm the only victim you've got."

"Oh, so you're saying you're dropping to your knees for me?" He leaned in dangerously close to
me. "If you want me that bad, I'm willing to share those assets with you."

My jaw instantly dropped.

'How DARE he...'

I began to blush furiously.

"You pervert. Is this your pathetic way to seduce women?" I nervously pulled the half empty
chocolate milk shake, taking the straw to my lips, sucking the life out of it. "Tell me. What other
lame pick-up lines do you have?"

'Hey this shake tastes more sweeter...'

As if he read my mind he added, "I've either turned you on or you're un-believably thirsty."

'Crap! HE SIPPED OUT OF THIS!' I instantly pushed the shake away, deciding whether to puke
or swallow the contents that was still left in my mouth.

"Bastard!"

"Oh, look at the time! Well, we better get going Meatball head. The practice is going to start
in about ten minutes. Come on, I'll give you a ride there." He slid off the booth and started
walking away, leaving me still in a shocked state.

'Was I turned on?'

ABSOLUTELY NOT!

--------

"Yes. Glide. That's right children. One and a Two and a Three and a Four..." Haruna kept time
for us and I... Kept glaring at Pretty boy.

Well come to think of it, I always frown at him.

And HE... He never seems to mind.

"Yes. Yes. That's right. Twirl, bow, and switch partners... That's right, twirl again...
And come back... and One and a Two and a Three and a Four..."

Yes. The eighteen of us had to occasionally switch partners so that would be the time I was
free from the paws of Pretty Boy... temporarily.

"Last twirl... and.... Bow."

Amazing! No foul ups today!

Well he hadn't been messing up since five weeks ago. Yes. I had manage to survive
dancing with Mr. Two Left Feet. All thanks to myself being more well alert and him
actually trying not to... be un-graceful.

"Good job Chiba, you're getting better everyday." I was afraid that didn't sound
too sarcastic enough.

"Why thanks Meatball Head. You're not bad yourself."

Yup that became a compliment.

"Okay everyone. That's the end of the practice. I'll see you all tomorrow. And don't
forget to do your homework...."

"Yeah, yeah. Sure." The only response Mrs. Haruna had received from us.

Everyone began leaving, happy that the practice was over. Hey so was I. And that meant
I could take another quick nap in Mina's room, then leave an hour later...

Boy am I wrong.

Lita, Raye, Andrew, Pretty Boy, and myself (except Amy who insisted that she had
mounds of homework to do) all stayed for another couple of hours.

Mina demanded that we all just hang out at her place, order a pizza, and watch a quick movie.

Being the idiot that I am, I stayed.

---------

All of us were scattered in her room.

Lita and Raye were on Mina's bed doing some homework (and of course with a side order of
gossip), Andrew and Mina on the floor attentive of the movie being played (It was one of those
romantic chick flicks), and consequently enough Pretty Boy and myself were bored. Yes. So
bored that I had absent mindedly leaned my head on his shoulder.

Well, what do you know? I guess I do take some 'liking in him'. Okay, yes the guy was and still
is an ass, a jerk, a pervert (recalling the incident earlier), but 'eh he was an OKAY kind of guy.
But I guess after Mina's birthday, things will be back to normal. The truce will end and he'll
be back to his many TABs.

"Hey, do any of you guys have paper?" Raye had asked loudly and the only replies she received
were murmurs and groans. "Seriously. Lita and I have to do our math homework and we can't do
crap without any."

"Will it shut you up if I give you some?" I rose my head from its 'comfortable' position and
pointed to my bag sitting next to Mina's bed side table. "Open my bag and look for a white
folder. There should be some paper in there."

Bad idea.

"Haha. Funny... Hey what's this?"

I turned around to see what Raye had thought was interesting.

Already she had the journal open on her lap, her eyes widening with curiosity.

"Hey, hey what are you doing?!"

"Lita you've got to see this! Look what Serena has in it!" She ignored my surprised question
and passed the journal to Lita.

I instantly got up, anger starting to surge through my veins.

"Hey give it back!"

I instantly pounced on Lita. But before I had reached her, she had closed it and had tossed it to
Raye.

For a couple of minutes Lita and I started to wrestle, myself actually trying to get Lita off me
(obviously I couldn't because Lita was actually the strongest one in our group) and trying
desperately to claw at her.

There was no use. I was instantly pinned down by the brunet.

And then the inevitable happened.

"My, my. Who is this Serena? Who's this guy you've been talking to? Who's this
sxytuxboi?"

My faced turned pale.

"And... What's this all about? Dreams?"

And if there was any color left in my cheeks, the last hue was drained.

"That's PRIVATE RAYE. What the HELL ARE YOU DOING?"

And then, to add more fear to my nerves...

"OH, LONE1IGRL! I wish you where here! I want to kiss the life out of you!" Raye placed the
back of her hand on her forehead, all the while swooning her voice to sound like one of those
damsels in distress. "OH, SXYTUXBOI... What we're doing is wrong! You have a girlfriend!"

I continued to struggle, my eyes tightly shut. I can't believe this was happening!

"But Lone1igrl... do you want to meet?" I realized what Raye was reading now. The dialogue
had been coming from the copy of the 'I want to meet you' conversation of two weeks ago.

"GET OFF ME!"

"Good bye sxytuxboi, good bye!"

Another voice had joined in the band-wagon of 'let's embarrass Serena like no tomorrow'.

"Let me see that."

I knew that voice.

"Serena? You have a cyber boyfriend? And I thought I was desperate..." Raye had burst out
laughing again, my eyes still completely shut. "Wow so you've been hiding it from us 'eh?"

"Meatball head. Where did you get this?" The voice had gone on, un-noticed.

As if summoning myself to gather any ounce of strength, courage, or any form of force for me to
just get Lita to stop pinning me down, I shot my eyes open.

"DAMN IT LITA! I SAID GET OFF ME!"

Lita got off me painfully slow, both she and Raye still bursting out in laughter.

"You guys are total asses!" I managed to get up looking around the room for the journal. It was
obviously not in both their hands. "WHERE'S THE JOURNAL?!"

"Hey, hey. Relax. I have it." My head snapped to the direction of the voice and it was Pretty Boy
holding the journal with wide eyes.

Losing not another second, I marched over to him and tried to grab my journal. But instead,
because of his quick response, I caught only air. He had turned a 90 degree angle with the
journal still in hand, like a child saying 'no', unwilling to give up what he had.

"Give it back Chiba." I seethed, both my fists clenched tightly, the whites of my knuckles
showing.

"Now, hold on just a second... Where did you get this?" He now stared at me with something
I never saw in his eyes before. Cool and collected Pretty Boy was no where near this guy.
"Where?"

"Damn it Chiba. I'm not kidding. Give that back." Tears began forming in my eyes.

It was bad enough that those stupid girls had to tell the whole world that I-

"Where?"

"Where my ASS." I felt my cheeks come back to life, as the anger brought along the color with
it.

"Seriously. Where did you get this?" He continued the same unidentifiable stare at the same
time taking out most of the copied dialogue from my journal and holding it up in the air.

"Are you deaf? And are you crazy? Why would I tell you that? It's MINE AND IT'S PRIVATE."

Tears threatened to fall now, blood pulsating through my head.

"Why don't you answer my question?" He walked closer to me now, at the same time shaking
his head slowly. He was looking at me now as if he didn't believe something. But what was it?

"Why are you even asking that?"

I knew this was my chance to get the item and I did. I had grabbed the journal and the papers
from his hands furiously, not caring if anything fell out now.

'Because they all know now...'

After obtaining the dreaded item, I snatched my backpack from the floor, and left the room
without a second thought, as tears started streaming down my face.

I had to leave.

And I did.

I never felt so humiliated in my life.

( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)

'No...'

I didn't know whether to laugh like a mad man, or cry like a balling woman at a
lame soap opera.

'Wait...'

Serena had left, leaving everyone in shock after she had slammed the door
of the bedroom.

'It can't be...'

But she had left, leaving me in a state of mixed emotions.

'Why?'

I felt like I was going to lose my mind.

"Oh my god..." The only words that I could form on my lips, as I looked at the door and at
the papers in my hand, alternating the glances with a mix of shock and awe.

When she had grabbed the journal, she did not give me enough time to loosen up my grip
on the object.

So as consequence, I had managed to cleanly rip two pages out from the spine of the journal.

'It can't be-'

"What the HELL is WRONG WITH YOU GUYS?" Mina had rudely interrupted my thoughts as
she began walking over to me and the girls. "You guys are BYTCHES you know that?!"

"Well It didn't look that important so we..." Raye had trailed off, guilt written
clearly on her face.

"We thought it would be fun." Lita added, seriously with a shrug.

"Fun?! That item was obviously private and you two HAD to flaunt that to the whole world."

"Hey Lita? Do you see over six billion people in this room? I don't think so..."
Raye automatically had narrowed her eyes at Mina and Lita began doing the same.

"Why I don't. Do you Mina?"

"Look you guys. Do you not understand what I'm trying to say?" Mina returned
the glare to the both of them, both hands on her waist. "You embarrassed the hell
out of that girl. So you BOTH will go to Serena tomorrow morning and APOLOGIZE to her-"

"Hell no. I don't have to apologize to anyone for trying to have a little fun here."
Raye cut in crossing her arms. "Besides, It's not like she had some important secret in there..."

'Oh but she does...' My mind inwardly replied.

"Yeah. There really wasn't anything in there."

"That may be but you still embarrassed her. So I still suggest you guys
apologize as soon as possible..."

Andrew and I were becoming the ignored spectators of this spectacular show,
but now I just wanted to leave.

'I have to go... and I have to go now.'

I turned to Andrew who seemed to look surprised at Mina.

"Hey. I'm going. I'll call you tomorrow."

I headed towards the door when-

"And where do you think you're going Mr.?"

My eyes narrowed as if Mina had stated something menacing to my ears.

"Yeah. I know. I'll apologize to her tomorrow..." I didn't bother to turn,
as I opened the door to step out.

'And I'll talk to her about everything...'

( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)

"Why THE HELL DID I HAVE TO TAKE YOU OUT TODAY?" I glared at the journal,
threatening it with a sharp pair of scissors. "No. I wanted to be smart. I wanted to
be convenient. I JUST HAD TO BRING YOU OUT OF THIS HOUSE!"

Then my eyes relaxed, and I began to sob.

I dropped the scissors to the floor.

The only question that ran through my mind was WHY?

"Because I am an idiot. A fool. A moron. That's why."
I had answered my own question, kneeling at the edge of the bed.

Tears started to form again, blinking furiously and trying desperately to hold
them back.

I never cried in my life.

Okay, well I never cried in a situation like this before.

'And all this because of the journal. I had to take it out...'

I stared blankly at the journal.

That simple black journal contained most of who I was.

Sure they were mostly all about the dreams and my so-called 'relationship'.
But it showed that I was a private person, I did have hopes of meeting the right
guy, not to mention I actually had one... online... but it was all private. And they
had violated that...

'But it was still my fault. And I had to let everyone in that room see.'

Now all of them think im crazy.

'Crazy enough to have the same dreams over and over again.'

Lita and Raye would have that gossiped immediately around school.

'And I'll become the laughing stock of Juuban City Highschool.'

And I'm going to be defenseless.

'They'll start to ridicule me...'

I remembered a time in my life that I had felt like this. Embarrassed. Worthless.
It had taken me three years to get over it. To get over everything that
happened that year. Yeah. I was a young then. But it still hurt. And that
journal just had to remind me of it.

And I closed my eyes as if to remember.

It was my freshman year in Juuban City Highschool. Me and my heavy backpack,
my weird hair style, and yes. I had a crush.

And even after three years, he still hadn't changed. The way he smelled, the
way he grinned, the way he made me feel inside.

The ulcers. The weird palpitations. I was one of his victims back then.

I had fallen for him.

He didn't know, and he will never know.

Darien Chiba was... the 'crush of my life' as I had said back then.

"Oh, but she's weird. I mean god she's such a dork." I had heard him whisper
as I had walked by his little clique. He made it clear to me that day that I would
never have a chance.

Never have a chance to fall in love.

And just like that, I dropped the feelings that I had for him without any hesitation.
And I became private. I didn't care if anyone wanted to get to know me a little more.
But Mina had broke down that metaphoric wall. She was the only one who saved me. But
she never knew that she did. No one will ever know of this secret.

'And I was such a kid back then. And I still am...'

My eyes slowly opened, and I looked at the journal again, opening the cover.

And all this because of this journal.

My eyes widened.

'But something's missing...'

I flipped through the pages frantically searching for whatever it was I had noticed was gone.
I even looked closer to the journal to inspect it closely and found that there were
clean ripped edges at it's spine.

'Two pages are missing!'

"Great and they even have evidence..." I mumbled with a sigh. "Well, there's
only one thing to do..."

I stood up taking the journal with me. Never again will I take it out.

"I Vow NEVER TO TAKE IT OUT. NEVER..." I repeated myself with such a passion.

So I placed it in a drawer, pilling other notebooks and junk onto it. I shut it closed.

I sighed in frustration, sitting down in front of my computer. I needed to talk to
someone. And I needed to talk to him.

But It has been nearly an hour and he still hasn't gone on.

'I'll just write to him instead.'

( ^_^) (^.~) ( '_') (~.^) ( O_O) (^.^) ( O.o) (~.~)

------

Dear Jay,

I've been having these dreams. They're
actually out of the ordinary so I might as well write
them down (for future personal reference maybe? Hell
no!). They've started last year and I have never
written them down. And I don't even know why.

For sure I know they're fakes. It must be a
psychological thing because there is no such thing as
a guy... going for me. Me, Serena Tsukino, being wooed
by a guy like that? I don't think so.

Well, in my dreams, there are a couple of
things that are repetitive...

He's always dressed in either a tux or in some
form of armor...

See, the setting would take place in either a
garden or on a beach with a castle sitting on top of
a cliff. And it's always dark. Actually it always
takes place during the night. The moon is always full
and it's light always shines on us in a weird angle.
The two of us would always meet at the same spot,
depending on the setting... Hell it's always
at a big tree. And what's even weirder...

Because the moon is shining in the weird
angle, I can't see his face. Instead I see a white
lining of a mask glowing sitting on what is suppose
to be his head...But hell he is beautiful, from what I can tell
anyway...

-------

I couldn't help but read it over and over again. The two pages in my hand had
continued doing wonders to my emotions. 'Mixed feelings' someone would rather say.
And all that coming from these two pages. These two un-believable pages.

I had totally believed now that Serena Tsukino, that girl with the weird hairstyle,
the one who managed to annoy me, try to insult me... was the girl online.

And... was the girl of my dreams.

Literally.

Everything that I wanted to know were on these pages. Everything that I had been
dreaming about for a year were on these pages. And now, I didn't know what to do.

What should I do?

But... this couldn't be it. This doesn't make sense. Why... her?

From the moment I saw her, there was something about her I couldn't place my finger on.
It was three years ago that I had first placed my eyes on her. She was interesting. New.
She possessed something that no other girl in that school had. And I didn't know what it
was.

But all that changed one day. I don't remember exactly what it was and she had changed.
She changed that day. That freshman year. And since then, I never bothered to know what it
was that caused her to change.

And now this.

'Should I go online and talk to her about this?'

I stared at my lap top, the screen blaring at me. The intensity of the light was somehow
mocking me, taunting me to go online.

'No... I shouldn't... should I?'

I was in a dilemma.

Was I going to let her know the truth, or drop it like it never happened?

But if I drop it, I'd never be sure if she was the girl online. Well, even though
the girls did mention our screen names... I just had to confirm it. A nagging feeling in
the back of my mind would always bother me if I never make sure she was the one.

And if I were to go through with talking to her about this... It would start a whole new
range of problems. And problems I'd be obliged to deal with.

'And all this because of the journal.' My mind had automatically thought.

And so I logged online.

She wasn't on, but I had e-mail.

-----------

TO: sxytuxboi@jch.ed.net
FRM: lone1igrl@jch.com
SUBJECT: HEY. NOT FEELING SO GOOD.

Hi.

I just wanted to talk to someone. Even if it means just e-mailing you.
I hope you don't mind listening to my problems. I don't think I would feel better if I didn't
let you know what happened to me to day.

I was so embarrassed. My friends had embarrassed me today.

I guess I never told you this but I've been writing down my dreams since ten weeks ago.
And I also saved a few of our conversations to keep as a memento. I know that probably sounds
stupid but I just wanted to keep a scrap book for this whole 'thing' that the both of us
are dealing with.

But I guess it was a mistake to do it.

I took the journal out of my house today. And I brought it over accidently to my best
friend's house. But then somehow a couple of my other friends found it and they embarrassed
the hell out of me.

And what's worse is that they took two pages out of my journal. They have evidence
to show that I might be crazy.

I'm sorry that I might have brought you into this.

-----------

I sighed.

It was now or never.

And there was only one thing for me to do.

I clicked the 'reply to e-mail' link

-----------

TO: lone1igrl@jch.com
FRM: sxytuxboi@jch.ed.net
SUBJECT: IT'S TIME WE SHOULD TALK

Lone1igrl,

I found out something very important today that I think I should let you know.

I really believe that the only way I can talk to you and tell you what it is
I have to say is by meeting you.

Meet me at the Crown Arcade tomorrow at 3:30 pm.

And bring a chocolate bar and a game so that I know it's you when I should find you.

And I'm really sorry you're friends embarrassed you today.

Hope you feel better.

----------