Just A Coincidence Ch. 8

"Hey, Serena."

"Eh."

My head was down on the table, body not responding to my commands.
It was lunch, the day after the 'supposed' meeting, and I was feeling
anything but 'dandy.' Oh yeah... and it looks like it's going to be
another long day. And did I say it was the day AFTER I was suppose to meet him?

"Serena? Hey, what's wrong?" Amy's friendly voice softened my bad
mood, as I rose my head slightly, giving a small smile.

"Everything. Just EVERYTHING."

"Oh that's right! You were suppose to meet you-know-who." The girl
sat in front of me, casting a bright smile then a wink. But then she
gave a quizzical look. "Wait. How could it be wrong? What happened yesterday?"

I sighed as I lowered my head to the table and bumped my head a
few times. Satisfied with the new aches, I sat up with a frown.
I blew a few strands of hair on my forehead, away from my eyes.

'Let's see... how do I explain?'

"He was... err... Unavoidably detained?"

Amy's eyes automatically widened, putting a hand to her mouth.

"You were set up?"

'Uh... sometimes having smart friends is a curse.' I rolled my eyes to
Amy's definition.

"No... he just... wasn't there."

"No. You were set up... How long did you wait?" Amy brought out a
Tupperware of sweet and sour chicken, gesturing me to have some.
I gladly complied, fork already stabbing one.

"Eh... not that long..." I innocently answered, taking some rice
along with the viand. Oh, chicken does go along with rice. Yummy.
"Just... an hour...long."

"Oh, my... you were set up!"

"And what's this all about? Who got set up?" Mina joined us, setting
her bag on the table. She sat next to Amy, keeping a watchful eye at
the food.

"I did. But it's not like that. He just didn't show..." I poked at
another piece of cold chicken.

Shoot. I forgot one thing.

My dearest and most closest friend Mina doesn't know anything about my situation...
I never told her...

"Mina... I'd like to tell you a little story... so listen closely because..."
I began chewing again, putting a solemn face towards Mina. The lump of food in my
cheek however, killed the power of the serious expression. "I don't want to repeat
myself... So here's my problem."

As I began to tell her EVERYTHING, like the dreams, the online situation, the
masquerade ball, etc... I watched as her face changed from interested, to surprised,
to shock, to... completely confused, to the normal face, then finally to an angry
expression.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" She immediately said when I was finished.
"This... this was serious and you didn't even tell me!"

"Mina, I was going to tell you... Okay. Do you remember when I called you
and you said you were busy with Andrew? Well because of that, I didn't get to
tell you..." My voice trailed off as her angry stare turned into a face of
slight guilt. "I really needed to talk to someone at the time so I called Amy
instead."

"Oh, well I'm sorry..." Mina closed her eyes and sighed. "It's just you really
called me at a bad time."

"It's alright. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier before that... but anyway.
That's everything you need to know..."

"Is... that what you have in your..." She trailed off, taking another piece
from Amy's container. She gave me a quick glance of hesitation then took a bite
from the piece of chicken.

"It's alright. You can say it. My journal..." I gave one nod, taking a bottle of
fruit juice from my own bag. "Yeah. Let's just say that 'private' item was a way of
me trying to figure things out just so you know."

"In other words, Serena tried to connect her situations together by writing down
the dreams she has been having and what the guy was telling her online. It makes perfect
sense. In terms of psychology anyway." Amy added, taking another piece of her own food.
"So now, this person didn't show up probably because-"

"Meatball head. Can I talk to you for a second?"

I instantly sat up straight when his hand gently tapped my shoulder.

"Oh, Chiba it's you." I turned around, giving a smile.

'Crap... what does he want now?'

"Um, do you mind if I steal you for a few minutes?"

"Sure."

I stood up from the seat, uncertainty written on my eyes. I looked over to my two
friends, the both of them giving a shrug.

"So Chiba..." I started as soon as he were far enough from my lunch table, the both
of us standing under a huge shady tree. "There's something I want to tell you too. I'm...
sorry... for the things I said yesterday. It's just that it was really bad timing that
you showed up and..."

"Does this mean you're going to forgive me?" He smiled now. No. Not a grin or a smirk
like he usually puts on. It was a genuine smile with his eyes actually showing sincerity.

'Hmm... so he's human after all...'

"Yeah... You can say that I'm calling it even. Anyway, I learned my lesson to...
never letting you push me over my limit again. I know you're an ass sometimes but I
got to admit, I shouldn't stoop as low as you."

"Wow. That makes me feel much better." He sarcastically remarked but then he chuckled,
both hands buried in his pockets. "Anyway, you're right. I should have respected you're
privacy so yeah. I apologize for that. But anyway there's something I need to explain into
why I had to do it-"

"Well, enough said Chiba. Case closed. No hard feelings. I'm going to the table now so...
enjoy the rest of you're lunch."

He was making me feel uncomfortable. The way he was smiling... his posture... they way
he couldn't look into my eyes but when he did... he couldn't stop staring... the guy
freaked me out.

So I just left him under the tree, not letting him finish what he wanted to say.

"What was that all about?" Mina asked as soon as I sat back down in the table again.

"Well... I kinda broke you're promise yesterday when I was waiting for 'cyber boyfriend'."
I opened the bottle of juice, taking one big gulp. "I hurt Chiba's feelings."

"You what? Had another fight?"

"Yeah but let's just say... we're friends now."

"Care to explain?"

I sighed as I began the tale of what happened yesterday. I waited for Mr. No Show,
and I had a very interesting conversation with Pretty Boy. I even told her the exact
insult that apparently blew up on his face.

When I was finished, her jaw had dropped, eyes widening again.

"You said that? You called him a what?"

"Yes. So that's the end of the story." I rolled my eyes, taking another sip from my drink.
It was fruit punch... Hmm not bad. "So now we're even."

"But Serena. He was sincere when he said he wanted to apologize to you before...
How come you didn't forgive him then?"

Now there are some things I still wanted to keep secret from Mina.

I was definitely not going to tell her that I had a crush on him once... Mr. Andrew's
best friend... Mr. Pretty Boy... Say that he had rejected me... back then.

That may have played a part in my inability to forgive him so soon.

"It... He... I was still mad so... I just couldn't forgive him right then a there...
you know?"

"I see. You were playing hard to get. Make the guy suffer a little. That was pretty
cruel of you." Mina took the last morsel inside Amy's container, Amy herself going back
to her romantic novel.

"No. It's not that. He... just hurt me. That's all."

"So did Raye and Lita. He did no worse than what they did. And I heard you had forgiven
them already." Mina took a sip of my own drink, already knowing she needed it after
swallowing the last bit of food. "You forgave them first before him? How ironic was that?"

"Hey, does it matter who I forgive first? Chronological order? I don't see any irony
in it."

"Serena, Darien isn't like those two. You know if you really take the time to get to
know the guy, I'm sure you'll agree with me."

'Get to know the guy? The guy's so damn annoying... so 'eh... He's a first class
jerk.'

"Nah, I'll take a pass on that. I'm only on that truce for you and I'm not in any need
to acquire new annoying-guy friends."

"But all I'm saying is, give the guy a chance."

'What? To hurt me all over again?'

I don't think so.

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

"Are you sure what I'm doing is right?" I felt like I took the biggest sip of coffee in
my entire life.

"Yes. In fact, this is the first RIGHT thing I've ever seen you do for a girl..." He
lifted my cup up and wiped at the wet ringlet that it had created on the table. "Trust me.
Nothing should go wrong here."

"But what if she takes it the wrong way?"

"Think happy thoughts. The girl obviously has it for you... well online anyway. Besides
she seemed pretty excited while she waited in here for you yesterday."

'Yeah. Excited to have a fight with me... but that's over now.'

"Well who wouldn't be? She was going to meet a stranger. Hell, I'd be nervous if I
didn't know who I was going to meet."

"Oh... but sir. You do." He chuckled, refilling the straw holder with a handful of new ones.
"She seemed pretty upset after she talked to you though yesterday. Why didn't you tell her
it was you then?"

"Are you kidding me? I tried! Each time I wanted to tell her, she would interrupt me!
And about her getting upset, we had a little dispute about... some things..."

"And what were those 'things'?"

"She didn't want to forgive me yesterday for that little 'privacy' issue that happened
two days ago. You know it. You were even there yourself." I took a tooth pick out from
the sliver container, deciding whether to stick it in my mouth or not. "I was practically
on my knees... well I was this close to begging."

"Well, just a question. Why did you want to read the journal?"

"Did you even know what was in it?" I looked at him incredulously, breaking the
toothpick in half.

"What? No. Don't say what she has in there. I doubt she'd want you to do the worst...
share with others what it contains."

"She had printed out our conversations online. That's all I'm going to say." I rose
one hand up, the other over my chest to assure him that was it. "That's the reason why
I was interested in the first place. Raye had blurted out parts of the dialogue in there.
So I just had to know if she was telling the truth."

"Oh I see. Hell I guess I would have done the same... But Serena still doesn't know why."

"And that's what I'm going to tell her. And when I do tell her, I intend to tell her
everything." I took another toothpick and started eyeing it.

"I got to hand it to you though Darien, this situation is definitely unique. I never
thought it could happen... and especially to you." He laughed again, putting another
refill into my cup of coffee. "It's as if fate had stepped in."

"What are you talking about? Fate? That's a bit going too far there.." I
raised an eyebrow at him.

"What? You're going to tell me that this is all just a coincidence?
Come on Darien. Open your eyes. There's something much more to this."

"Whatever you say Andrew."

---------

Now to put my plan to action.

All I needed to do was send her another invitation to the Arcade.

I had to meet her and I will.

I had sent her the e-mail, hoping like a mad man that she would comply to this.

I stepped out the door with letter and rose in hand...

I have to make this work.

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

----

"Home at last..."

I tossed my bag onto my bare table, quickly running to the seat in front of my computer.

To tell you the truth, I was feeling good today. For once, Pretty Boy had
managed to actually change my mood. He was quick to forgive me but I...
Well anyway, I had a feeling sxytuxboi had something for me.

'Sxytuxboi@jch.ed.net... SORRY ABOUT YESTERDAY.'

I was right.

My inbox only had one e-mail.

And that e-mail was from him.

-----------

TO: lone1igrl@jch.com
FRM: sxytuxboi@jch.ed.net
SUBJECT: SORRY ABOUT YESTERDAY.

Lone1igrl,

You're right. I do have a good reason why I didn't show up yesterday. But
if you don't mind I'd rather not say what it is...

And I'm sorry for what happened to you while you waited.

Instead of a friend you could trust, you only met an enemy.
Instead of having a good conversation with me, you only had
a good fight with somebody else.

But I can make it up to you.

Meet me back again at the Crown Arcade at 6:00pm this time.

And I promise I'll be there first before you arrive.

Look for a letter and a rose.

It will be on an empty booth.

----------

Sure.

I should say no to the second attempt in meeting him for the second
consecutive time, in the same week.

Yes.

I should remember that he had set me up.

Okay.

So I shouldn't go... right?

Then why am I walking at to the Arcade right now? Why are my legs moving
on their own? Why am I agreeing to this?

Simple.

It's called curiosity.

I stopped in front of the doors now, my legs unwilling to move.

'But they were moving a few minutes ago'

I shook my legs a bit to relax them. At this action the doors slid.

And I had no choice but to step inside.

Nothing unusual. It was just like yesterday... the air conditioner turned up way
too high... my heart beating like wild drums... butterflies...

Deja vu.

It did happen yesterday only I didn't meet him... Ugh... again with the nervousness.

'And people not having a care in the world.'

I looked across from me and I knew that back from anywhere, his form seated on the
stools, and looking like he was having a good conversation with Andrew.

'Okay... and this time Pretty Boy won't be bothering me.'

And then I continued to look around the room.

My heart stopped when my eyes landed on that one lonely booth. It contained what he
had promised me in the e-mail.

A rose and a letter.

I walk over casually to the booth, looking left and right, to noticed if anyone
was watching me.

'Hmm... that's funny... no one looking suspicious...'

I was finally in front of the booth, slowly picking up the red rose.

It was a nice rose too might I add. No thorns and it looked freshly cut.

I inhaled it with a smile.

And now the letter.

I picked it up and I slowly unfolded the simple white piece of paper.

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

Dear Lone1igrl,

It's amazing.

We're finally going to meet.

And to think the reason why we had met was because of sharing the same dreams...

I'm sorry I had not introduced myself to you.

To tell you the truth, I was here yesterday.

You had seen me.

You even spoke to me.

And I didn't know it myself until two days ago.

We were right under each others noses this whole time...

Now to see who I am, and to be fair to you...

Turn around and look at the person sitting at the stools.

I'll be talking to Andrew...

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

"What the-"

I turned around slowly and our eyes had locked.

His eyes... The eyes I had seen at the Masquerade Ball... The eyes that had
gazed at mine a thousand times in my dreams...

"No... NO!"

I numbly dropped the rose and letter to the floor.

"This... Can't be!"

I ripped my eyes away from him, making a mad dash through the double doors...

"Serena, wait!"

"No... Please god no..." The only words I could say over and over again.

'This CAN NOT BE HAPPENING... This... NO... IT CAN'T BE...'

"Serena... What's wrong?!" He had managed to grab the same wrist he had taken yesterday.

This time I didn't hesitate to turn around nor could I hold back the growing tears in my eyes.

I had let them fall.

And they fell freely.

"This? YOU'RE ASKING ME THIS?" I looked at him, a thousand questions already going
through my mind.

"What's wrong? It's me I'M sxytuxboi..."

"I know that... BUT WHY?!"

"Why? What's wrong Serena? What's wrong with it... to find out that it's me?" He firmly
held my shoulders to turn me around.

I couldn't bare looking into his eyes.

"Darien... NO... This can't be. This is all wrong! Why did you do this to me?" I struggled
from his firm grip. "YOU BASTARD!"

"SHYT SERENA! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" He had yelled all the
while letting me go.

"I should've known Chiba. I should have know you'd do this to me again..." Tears
wouldn't stop pouring now, my hands frantically wiping my eyes. They couldn't stop
flowing. They just wouldn't stop. "You bastard! You pathetic BASTARD! How could you
do this to me again? How could you play this cruel joke on me?"

"What?! What are you SAYING?!"

I began to turn around to start walking but he had stopped me again.

"DAMN IT SERENA. THIS ISN'T A JOKE. WHY THE HELL WOULD YOU THINK THAT
THIS WOULD BE A JOKE?"

"You... How could you? You pretended to be somebody else... I confided in you...
and you do this? You lied to me?"

"I never lied to you Serena. I only found out yesterday... When you're journal was out...
when Raye and Lita had embarrassed you... I had to make sure it was you... that's why
I had to read your journal... That's why I kept asking..."

"No Chiba... no. You played a cruel, sick, and pathetic joke on me. How could you do
this to me? You don't even know me! Why did it have to be YOU?!"

I ran away again, this time not caring about anything anymore...

Life is a bytch.

----------

I woke up 4:30 am.

Morning.

'Too damn early... for anything... I HATE MY LIFE.'

I rubbed my eyes as usual, but they seemed more swollen in their sockets..

"Please tell me that was a dream... please...'

I sat at the edge of my bed, looking across from me.

My computer was on... all night.

"No..."I merely whispered as tears started to form in my eyes again. It had all happened
yesterday.

Darien Chiba - had played a cruel joke on me.

I immediately stood up and looked through my drawer in my desk.

And I found what I was looking for.

My journal.

I don't need it anymore.

Forget the whole thing.

I don't need this.

I don't need anyone.

And I don't need HIM.

----------

"Good morning Chiba." I tried to state with no emotion.

"Serena I-"

"Don't say anything please." I cut in, desperately trying to control the
shaking of my knees. "I have something for you."

I carelessly shoved the black journal into his hands.

"It seems that this object is the source of all my problems. And since you're so
interested in dreams, I thought I should give it to you. I don't need it."

From the corner of my eye, I had seen him close his mouth, his eyes narrowing
but not into an angry stare.

I walked away.