Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon . . . in case that's not apparent by
now. ^_~
AN: Yah! So . . . finals are FINALLY over . . . and I can write more! Haha. Finals are FINALLY over. I'm such a loser, but yeah. Thank you to everyone who wished me good luck on my finals. ^_^ It made me happy!!! SOOOOO SORRY I TOOK SOOO LONG!!! FORGIVE MEEEE!!! ::hides::
Just to give you a "heads-up", I guess it could be called . . . Serena and Darien are NOT aware that they truly are in love yet. They just find a strange sort of attraction towards each other and are beginning to like each other, even though they are denying it. There's a lot more involved than that though . . . there's more to the story, just to warn you. ^_^ You'll see what I mean . . . I just didn't want you to get your hopes up and then begin to attack me when something bad happens. ^____^"
Thanks for all the suggestions and everything! I really appreciate them! I think I got it all worked out, in my head. ^_^" Read the comments at the end if you had a question or whatever that I answered, because I'm much too lazy to type it all twice. Anyway, I should get onto the story. So here it is, hope you like it!!!
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Chapter 18: Falling
"Darien!" Yori whispered, careful not to speak too loudly.
"Huh?" Darien tore his eyes from the television screen and glanced over at the other side of the couch, a slightly irate expression covering his face.
His face relaxed as his eyes fell upon Serena's sleeping form, curled over on her side, clutching a pillow in her arms.
"Should we wake her up?" Yori asked sleepily, her eyelids drooping from lack of sleep and exhaustion.
"Naw. I'll just take her to the guest room. Go ahead and get some sleep."
Yori nodded and trudged out of the room, rubbing her eyes blearily with her fists. She muttered a groggy 'good night' and staggered incoherently up the stairs.
Darien sighed wearily and glanced down at Serena.
She looked so peaceful - different from her usual bubbly self.
His hand shot up to the back of his head and mussed up his hair, trying to think of a way to take her to the other room without waking her. He carefully lifted her up, cradling her in his strong arms.
She stirred in his arms, heavy lids lifting to reveal cerulean orbs that stared at him dazedly before drifting slowly shut. He studied her face for a moment, soaking up the sight of her unparalleled beauty. Golden bangs fell over her closed eyes, her long, elegant eyelashes casting faint shadows on her face. Her porcelain skin shone brightly in the dark, its creamy color resembling that of an angel.
Her eyelids fluttered and she snuggled her face into his shoulder. Darien's body stiffened. Realizing that she had not woken up, he entered the room and laid her carefully on the bed.
Just as he was about to leave, she shivered and mumbled, blindly groping for a blanket.
"Serena . . ." he breathed.
He wanted desperately to hold her in his arms and thaw her freezing body with his warmth. Whenever he was around her, he wanted to comfort her, protect her.
No, he thought. I'm tired. I can't think straight. I'm just going to go to sleep and forget any feeling I might have for Serena. I mean, Meatball head.
He grabbed the blanket off the foot of the bed and tenderly placed it over her resting form.
She curled over on her side and engulfed herself in the thick, wooly material, snuggling her head and exhaling deeply.
He paused to look back at her before leaving the room.
Sighing, he closed the door behind him and banged his head softly on the adjacent wall.
"What are you doing to me, Serena?" he murmured. "Why can't I think whenever I'm around you?"
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Serena rubbed her eyes, blinded by the bright rays of sun shining through the clear, glass window. Sitting up in the guest bed, she curled her toes and stretched her legs, reflecting on how comfortable her sleep had been.
No dreams, no nightmares, just sleep.
Serena tore off the sheets and clambered out of bed, careful not to trip in the tangled blankets. Yawning, she made her way to the bathroom and sleepily got dressed.
"It must be early." She mumbled, seeing that no one was in the kitchen.
It was strange for her, waking up early, being alone in a kitchen in the morning. She rarely had a chance to be alone, engulfed in complete peace and silence.
She savored every second of it.
*Whack*
A noise came from the hallway. Serena frowned, wondering what it was. Due to her insatiable curiosity, she wandered down the deserted hallway, following the strange sounds, echoing throughout the seemingly abandoned house.
Suddenly, the sounds stopped and the house returned to its previous serene state. Serena continued down the hallway to a room, deprived of a door. It was simply a doorway, which led to a large room she had never noticed before.
Inside contained a punching bag, weights, tumbling mats, and a fine collection of both real and wooden swords. Besides those items, the room was bare, uncluttered by useless things.
Something - or rather someone - caught her eye. Darien. The source of the noise and her constant state of confusion.
She was surprised to see him shirtless; sitting on the mat with his bare back leaned up against the wall. He greedily drank the remaining water in his bottle, rose, and took a stance on the mat, grasping the wooden sword tightly in his hands.
He practiced a series of advanced maneuvers, performing each of them with ease and a grand air of confidence.
"Woah." She breathed, as she watched him train.
She stared at him, her jaw hanging open, not only by his great show of skill, but at the fluid movements of his exposed upper body. His muscular physique seemed to know all the stances and like clockwork, Darien's body performed them flawlessly.
Without any material covering the flawless flesh of his torso, she could fully appreciate the muscle that made up his impressive body. His shoulders were strong and broad; his arms well-toned.
He was not amazingly muscular, but enough so that she could see the ripples in his abdomen.
Serena watched him with interest, feeling slightly guilty about staring at his impressive form.
He paused, his breath ragged and panting with exhaustion. His body was saturated with sweat, his taut muscles sore and in need of rest.
Serena began to back away, afraid that he would leave the room and find her outside the doorway. In her nervous state, she knocked into a large vase, which began to topple off the table.
With her lightening fast reflexes, she managed to catch it before it fell, although she was unable to stop it from producing a loud noise that rang through the hallway.
She ducked into the room across the hall, still peering into the training room.
He casually wandered towards the corner of the room and grabbed a towel off the rack, seemingly unaware of any noise. Covering his face with it, he wiped off the excess sweat and threw it on an empty chair. Glancing towards the doorway, he saw a tiny part of Serena's hair disappear behind the wall. He grinned, as he wiped the sweat off his body.
It couldn't be. She couldn't be looking at him. Or could she?
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Serena exhaled, pleased that she had not been caught staring at him.
I can't boost that ego of his, she thought. He thinks enough of himself without having to know what I really think about him.
Wait, WHAT? What I really think about him is that he is an insensitive jerk who has no idea how he affects other people. He only cares about himself. Selfish pig, she convinced herself.
No, he's not, the ever-present voice in her head echoed. You're making excuses for liking him. Excuses that don't even make sense. Give it up, there's no way you can hide it anymore. You're beginning to fall in love, with Darien.
Serena slid down to the floor while leaning up against the wall, finally realizing that her inner voice was right. She couldn't help it. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how hard she fought it, no matter how much she denied it - she was falling hard, for Darien.
The one person who drove her insane, the one person she couldn't ever seem to get along with, the one person who always pushed her buttons, was now the one person she might be falling for.
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"Morning, Meatball head! Sleep well?" Darien greeted pleasantly.
"Um . . . y-yeah . . ." Serena responded, a bemused expression on her face.
She didn't bother to turn around to face him as he entered the kitchen. Serena was still so confused about her thoughts, her feelings that she could no longer deny.
I hate it, she thought. I don't even know how this happened! How did I get so fond of him? How did it go from utter loathing to practically head over heels?
"Are you okay? Earth to Meatball head!" Darien joked, waving his hand directly in front of her face.
"W-what? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." She assured him, as she turned to look at him.
Unexpectedly, she came face to face with his uncovered chest, a towel draped over his shoulder.
Attempting, yet failing, not to blush, she looked down at the ground, unwilling to look up at him. She scurried off to the countertop to eat her breakfast, determined not to gape at Darien.
"So . . ." Serena spoke with a full mouth, munching on her sweet, frosted cornflakes. "You're up early."
"I could say the same thing about you, Meatball head." Darien replied simply, as he sat down across from her with his own bowl of cereal. "As I recall, you're not much of an early riser. Why today?"
Serena shrugged, her eyes fixed on the sugary sweetness floating in her milk. She swirled it around with her spoon, creating a tiny whirlpool. She didn't no what to do with the awkward silence.
What am I supposed to say to him? 'Oh yeah, I woke up early so I could watch you train and drool over your muscular body.' Yeah, Serena, that'll do the trick, she thought.
"I guess, because it's the weekend. And I don't feel the need to wake up early, so I can just wake up whenever I feel like it."
"What are you babbling on about? You make no sense." He smirked.
"Whaat? YOU make no sense. If you're so cool, then why are YOU up this early?" she wailed miserably, unable to come up with a response full of wit and shrewdness.
"I always wake up early on the weekends."
"Good for you." She shot out bitterly, still beating herself up for her lack of cunning.
"Has anyone ever told you how strange you are?" he asked, his navy blue eyes twinkling.
"Yes, actually. On multiple occasions. By multiple people."
"Heh. I wouldn't doubt it!" he laughed.
Serena smiled back, pleased that she had made him laugh.
Oh great, she thought. I told myself I would stop liking him, but it seems like I just keep digging myself in deeper and deeper. What have I gotten myself into?
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He looked up occasionally from his breakfast to look at her. She was mesmerizing, whether it was asleep in his arms or swirling around milk in her bowl.
What is wrong with me? I went from bickering with her, to stealing glances at her across the table, he thought. And this feeling, in my gut, every time I look at her . . .
He stole another glance and watched curiously as she lifted the bowl up to her lips and downed the remaining liquid.
Setting the bowl down, she licked the sugary remnants off her lips.
Darien froze, not bothering to chew the cereal he had just placed into his mouth. Her lower lip was a pale pink, slightly fuller than the upper lip. Serena's lips looked so enticing, so alluring.
He tore his eyes away from her mouth and coughed, choking on the food that he had failed to swallow properly.
"What? Can't handle your food?" Serena asked scathingly with mock concern.
"Haha. Very clever." Darien shot back.
"I know." She responded as a matter-of-factly.
"Know what?" Yori asked, as she entered the kitchen.
"Nothing." They both responded simultaneously.
"The piggy over here was just being smothered by his food." Serena laughed derisively.
"Oh, and I assume, by 'piggy' that you're addressing yourself, correct?" he turned the tables on her, grinning at his own cunning.
"Pssh. Why are you so . . . insufferable?"
"Why are you?"
"I asked you FIRST!"
"I am, because you are . . . so in order to really answer that, we would need to discover why you're so insufferable. So let's have it, Meatball head!"
"Don't call me that!!! Can't you just call me by my GIVEN name?"
"Let's think about that . . . no. I'd much rather call you Meatball head."
"You unbearable jerk!"
"Whaaat? Immature brat!"
"Arrogant pig!"
"ACTUAL pig!"
"ARGH!" Serena screamed, balling up her fists. "Forget it."
She stormed out of the room, muttering something that closely resembled the word 'impossible'.
Darien's eyes laughed as she exited, while calming down to their normal stormy blue as his sister looked down on him disapprovingly.
"Name calling is immature, Dare. And you say I'M the little sister." Yori teased.
"That's because you are, squirt." He teased back, before heading to his room, a piece of toast clenched in between his teeth.
Yori marveled at the apparent change in her brother. He seemed so different - happier somehow. After their mother died, he was always quiet, his eyes reflecting the troubles of his soul.
For a while, Yori thought this "phase" of isolation would end, if only she gave him some space. But it didn't. Even years after their father deserted them and their mother passed away, he never regained that innocence, that carefree happiness that he had seemed to possess when he was younger.
Instead, she watched him hide behind a veil of insincere joy and doomed relationships, only seeing a hint of the 'old' Darien when he was with his true friends. That is, until now.
What exactly changed? Was it something that happened - or someone?
[AN: No, Darien is not depressed, if that's what you're thinking. He's just not as happy as he was before all that stuff happened. I mean, if you're mom died, father abandoned you, and you were forced to take responsibility for everything (which is his case in this story), you wouldn't be the same either. Am I right? Luckily, there's Serena to make him all happy again! ^_^]
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"Thank you so much, Yori!" Serena thanked her gratefully.
"No problem! Come over any time!" Yori replied happily as she escorted Serena out of the house.
"Uh . . . I don't think your brother would like that very much." Serena muttered hesitantly.
"I'm sure he WOULD." Yori teased, grinning suggestively. Serena rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. See you later!"
I WISH he would, she thought. But even I know that's never going to happen.
Serena walked down the pathway, turning to look back at the house.
The street was emptied, only the occasional roar of a passing car to distract her from her ubiquitous thoughts.
Dejectedly, she threw down her bag and glared at the sky, her neck arched towards the heavens.
"Why? Why me? Why him? OF ALL PEOPLE!!!" she yelled.
As if awaiting a response, she paused to stare up at the clouds hovering high above her. The sun shone brightly into the corner of her eye, but still she waited, desperately praying for an answer.
Nothing, only silence ensued.
She frowned distastefully and snatched up her bad, mumbling something along the lines of 'pointless' and began to head home.
Little did she know that someone was watching her, thinking and feeling the exact same way she did.
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Darien lay on his bed, arms cushioning his head.
He stared up at the pallid ceiling, trying to make sense of what he was feeling.
Her? NO, it can't be, he thought. Why did I choose her? Of all the girls I've ever noticed . . . why her?
Entertaining, funny, innocent, beautiful, intelligent (when she wants to be), stubborn, defiant, trusting, intriguing, captivating . . . words immediately popped up in his mind, but he quickly brushed them aside carelessly.
He heard the loud slam of the front door and sat up, pulling back to shades and glancing down at the sidewalk.
Serena.
He watched her curiously, observing her every movement. She stared up at the sky and said something that he couldn't quite seem to make out.
His stomach lurched, as he saw her stalk away.
How do you do it? How do you make me feel this way every time you're around?
He slumped back onto his bed, continuing his thoughts.
What is it that's got me falling for you?
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AN: Wow. I think that just might be my longest chapter!!! Well, I definitely have to thank all my great reviewers, who I can not seem to thank enough . . . ^_~
Usagi Usako Chiba: Hehe . . . well, I don't think I'm going to have her spying on them because that might take up too many chapters! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Ngan: Thanks for being so patient! I'm SOOO glad you enjoy reading my story! It makes me feel happy! ^_^ Thanks for the review!
Mae-E: Thank you for all your suggestions and nice comments! ^__^" I think I might have more fighting, but not as senshi. I haven't been able to watch Sailor Moon in such a long time, and can't really describe anything because the last time I was able to watch Sailor Moon was probably . . . oh . . . a few years ago. That's why I got the whole eye color thing messed up! ^___^" Thank you so much for your suggestion though! I really appreciate it! Thanks for reviewing!
Panda10s: Hahaha . . . You're a funny kid. Thanks for your suggestion. I think that's probably what I am going to do. Yep yep. Most likely! See ya lata! Thanks for reviewing!
DarkTenshi23: Thanks! I'm so glad you like it! I'm sorry I haven't read your stories, but I didn't realize you had any written because you didn't log in! I'll be sure to read them! Thanks for reviewing!
ThatsMsDiva2U: What? I thought I put a sentence in there that said he was the one! I'm pretty sure I did . . .yeah, after the part when they fall and Serena is thinking about his laughter. ^_^ Yep yep. Darien is rather oblivious, now isn't he? ^_~ I know a BUNCH of my guy friends are like that, so I just HAD to add it in! ^_^ Anyways, thank you for reviewing!
LiLKiKi15: Thank you for the luck on finals! I did pretty well, actually! Thank you for reviewing!
Moonlightshadows: Yah! I updated again! Woohoo! I still can't believe you actually wanted to put my story on your site! ^____^ Thanks again for reviewing!
JRTXLUVERX4LIFE: Wow! Do you really think so? That is so nice! I'm glad you like it! Thank you so much for reviewing!
Forever His: Yep yep! Power to the hopeless romantics! ^_^ I think there are many many of us though . . . Thank you for the luck on finals! I hope you did well, also! Thank you for reviewing!!!
Mage Raistlin: Thank you! Hmm . . . I'm contemplating that right now. What do you think? Should something bad happen to Mai, or should Serena befriend her and change Mai's ways? Thank you for reviewing!
Kuramie and Kaiaramith: ^_^ Thank you for reviewing!!!
Crystal jade2: I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing!!!
DancerSwT: Thank you for wishing me luck on finals! Thank you also for reviewing!!!
MOONPRINCESS: That's cool that you have a boyfriend! Good luck with him! ^_^ I'm so glad you enjoy reading my story! Sorry for making you wait! Thanks for reviewing!
A-Shoo-Lee: Dunno if you are reading this, but thanks for reviewing on your own! I'm sooo proud! ^_^ FINALS ARE OVERRRR!!! HOORAY!
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AN: I was reading this REALLY good fanfiction called JUST A COINCIDENCE by EtrnalRhapsodi. I thought it was really really really . . . (need I go on?) well written and the plot was great. I only wish my writing was half . . . no, a third as great as that one. I'd suggest you'd check it out. It's just a suggestion, but I think you might enjoy it . . . ^_^
OOH! That reminds me! I wanted to know whether you thought I should have something bad happen to Mai (if so, what? Nothing TOO bad . . .) or if you think Serena should befriend her and have Mai realize her wrongdoing, have them become friends, with Mai no longer fighting for Darien . . . you get the picture. PLEASE help me out! I'm SOOO stuck! I would really appreciate it!
Oookay. Well, I really hope you liked this chapter. I did my best, so hopefully it will be up to your standards. Thanks so much for all the reviews! Please review! Your reviews have really inspired me to continue! Plus, if you took the time to read through all my random comments, you might as well take the time to review, right? ^_~
AN: Yah! So . . . finals are FINALLY over . . . and I can write more! Haha. Finals are FINALLY over. I'm such a loser, but yeah. Thank you to everyone who wished me good luck on my finals. ^_^ It made me happy!!! SOOOOO SORRY I TOOK SOOO LONG!!! FORGIVE MEEEE!!! ::hides::
Just to give you a "heads-up", I guess it could be called . . . Serena and Darien are NOT aware that they truly are in love yet. They just find a strange sort of attraction towards each other and are beginning to like each other, even though they are denying it. There's a lot more involved than that though . . . there's more to the story, just to warn you. ^_^ You'll see what I mean . . . I just didn't want you to get your hopes up and then begin to attack me when something bad happens. ^____^"
Thanks for all the suggestions and everything! I really appreciate them! I think I got it all worked out, in my head. ^_^" Read the comments at the end if you had a question or whatever that I answered, because I'm much too lazy to type it all twice. Anyway, I should get onto the story. So here it is, hope you like it!!!
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Chapter 18: Falling
"Darien!" Yori whispered, careful not to speak too loudly.
"Huh?" Darien tore his eyes from the television screen and glanced over at the other side of the couch, a slightly irate expression covering his face.
His face relaxed as his eyes fell upon Serena's sleeping form, curled over on her side, clutching a pillow in her arms.
"Should we wake her up?" Yori asked sleepily, her eyelids drooping from lack of sleep and exhaustion.
"Naw. I'll just take her to the guest room. Go ahead and get some sleep."
Yori nodded and trudged out of the room, rubbing her eyes blearily with her fists. She muttered a groggy 'good night' and staggered incoherently up the stairs.
Darien sighed wearily and glanced down at Serena.
She looked so peaceful - different from her usual bubbly self.
His hand shot up to the back of his head and mussed up his hair, trying to think of a way to take her to the other room without waking her. He carefully lifted her up, cradling her in his strong arms.
She stirred in his arms, heavy lids lifting to reveal cerulean orbs that stared at him dazedly before drifting slowly shut. He studied her face for a moment, soaking up the sight of her unparalleled beauty. Golden bangs fell over her closed eyes, her long, elegant eyelashes casting faint shadows on her face. Her porcelain skin shone brightly in the dark, its creamy color resembling that of an angel.
Her eyelids fluttered and she snuggled her face into his shoulder. Darien's body stiffened. Realizing that she had not woken up, he entered the room and laid her carefully on the bed.
Just as he was about to leave, she shivered and mumbled, blindly groping for a blanket.
"Serena . . ." he breathed.
He wanted desperately to hold her in his arms and thaw her freezing body with his warmth. Whenever he was around her, he wanted to comfort her, protect her.
No, he thought. I'm tired. I can't think straight. I'm just going to go to sleep and forget any feeling I might have for Serena. I mean, Meatball head.
He grabbed the blanket off the foot of the bed and tenderly placed it over her resting form.
She curled over on her side and engulfed herself in the thick, wooly material, snuggling her head and exhaling deeply.
He paused to look back at her before leaving the room.
Sighing, he closed the door behind him and banged his head softly on the adjacent wall.
"What are you doing to me, Serena?" he murmured. "Why can't I think whenever I'm around you?"
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Serena rubbed her eyes, blinded by the bright rays of sun shining through the clear, glass window. Sitting up in the guest bed, she curled her toes and stretched her legs, reflecting on how comfortable her sleep had been.
No dreams, no nightmares, just sleep.
Serena tore off the sheets and clambered out of bed, careful not to trip in the tangled blankets. Yawning, she made her way to the bathroom and sleepily got dressed.
"It must be early." She mumbled, seeing that no one was in the kitchen.
It was strange for her, waking up early, being alone in a kitchen in the morning. She rarely had a chance to be alone, engulfed in complete peace and silence.
She savored every second of it.
*Whack*
A noise came from the hallway. Serena frowned, wondering what it was. Due to her insatiable curiosity, she wandered down the deserted hallway, following the strange sounds, echoing throughout the seemingly abandoned house.
Suddenly, the sounds stopped and the house returned to its previous serene state. Serena continued down the hallway to a room, deprived of a door. It was simply a doorway, which led to a large room she had never noticed before.
Inside contained a punching bag, weights, tumbling mats, and a fine collection of both real and wooden swords. Besides those items, the room was bare, uncluttered by useless things.
Something - or rather someone - caught her eye. Darien. The source of the noise and her constant state of confusion.
She was surprised to see him shirtless; sitting on the mat with his bare back leaned up against the wall. He greedily drank the remaining water in his bottle, rose, and took a stance on the mat, grasping the wooden sword tightly in his hands.
He practiced a series of advanced maneuvers, performing each of them with ease and a grand air of confidence.
"Woah." She breathed, as she watched him train.
She stared at him, her jaw hanging open, not only by his great show of skill, but at the fluid movements of his exposed upper body. His muscular physique seemed to know all the stances and like clockwork, Darien's body performed them flawlessly.
Without any material covering the flawless flesh of his torso, she could fully appreciate the muscle that made up his impressive body. His shoulders were strong and broad; his arms well-toned.
He was not amazingly muscular, but enough so that she could see the ripples in his abdomen.
Serena watched him with interest, feeling slightly guilty about staring at his impressive form.
He paused, his breath ragged and panting with exhaustion. His body was saturated with sweat, his taut muscles sore and in need of rest.
Serena began to back away, afraid that he would leave the room and find her outside the doorway. In her nervous state, she knocked into a large vase, which began to topple off the table.
With her lightening fast reflexes, she managed to catch it before it fell, although she was unable to stop it from producing a loud noise that rang through the hallway.
She ducked into the room across the hall, still peering into the training room.
He casually wandered towards the corner of the room and grabbed a towel off the rack, seemingly unaware of any noise. Covering his face with it, he wiped off the excess sweat and threw it on an empty chair. Glancing towards the doorway, he saw a tiny part of Serena's hair disappear behind the wall. He grinned, as he wiped the sweat off his body.
It couldn't be. She couldn't be looking at him. Or could she?
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Serena exhaled, pleased that she had not been caught staring at him.
I can't boost that ego of his, she thought. He thinks enough of himself without having to know what I really think about him.
Wait, WHAT? What I really think about him is that he is an insensitive jerk who has no idea how he affects other people. He only cares about himself. Selfish pig, she convinced herself.
No, he's not, the ever-present voice in her head echoed. You're making excuses for liking him. Excuses that don't even make sense. Give it up, there's no way you can hide it anymore. You're beginning to fall in love, with Darien.
Serena slid down to the floor while leaning up against the wall, finally realizing that her inner voice was right. She couldn't help it. No matter how hard she tried, no matter how hard she fought it, no matter how much she denied it - she was falling hard, for Darien.
The one person who drove her insane, the one person she couldn't ever seem to get along with, the one person who always pushed her buttons, was now the one person she might be falling for.
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"Morning, Meatball head! Sleep well?" Darien greeted pleasantly.
"Um . . . y-yeah . . ." Serena responded, a bemused expression on her face.
She didn't bother to turn around to face him as he entered the kitchen. Serena was still so confused about her thoughts, her feelings that she could no longer deny.
I hate it, she thought. I don't even know how this happened! How did I get so fond of him? How did it go from utter loathing to practically head over heels?
"Are you okay? Earth to Meatball head!" Darien joked, waving his hand directly in front of her face.
"W-what? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." She assured him, as she turned to look at him.
Unexpectedly, she came face to face with his uncovered chest, a towel draped over his shoulder.
Attempting, yet failing, not to blush, she looked down at the ground, unwilling to look up at him. She scurried off to the countertop to eat her breakfast, determined not to gape at Darien.
"So . . ." Serena spoke with a full mouth, munching on her sweet, frosted cornflakes. "You're up early."
"I could say the same thing about you, Meatball head." Darien replied simply, as he sat down across from her with his own bowl of cereal. "As I recall, you're not much of an early riser. Why today?"
Serena shrugged, her eyes fixed on the sugary sweetness floating in her milk. She swirled it around with her spoon, creating a tiny whirlpool. She didn't no what to do with the awkward silence.
What am I supposed to say to him? 'Oh yeah, I woke up early so I could watch you train and drool over your muscular body.' Yeah, Serena, that'll do the trick, she thought.
"I guess, because it's the weekend. And I don't feel the need to wake up early, so I can just wake up whenever I feel like it."
"What are you babbling on about? You make no sense." He smirked.
"Whaat? YOU make no sense. If you're so cool, then why are YOU up this early?" she wailed miserably, unable to come up with a response full of wit and shrewdness.
"I always wake up early on the weekends."
"Good for you." She shot out bitterly, still beating herself up for her lack of cunning.
"Has anyone ever told you how strange you are?" he asked, his navy blue eyes twinkling.
"Yes, actually. On multiple occasions. By multiple people."
"Heh. I wouldn't doubt it!" he laughed.
Serena smiled back, pleased that she had made him laugh.
Oh great, she thought. I told myself I would stop liking him, but it seems like I just keep digging myself in deeper and deeper. What have I gotten myself into?
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He looked up occasionally from his breakfast to look at her. She was mesmerizing, whether it was asleep in his arms or swirling around milk in her bowl.
What is wrong with me? I went from bickering with her, to stealing glances at her across the table, he thought. And this feeling, in my gut, every time I look at her . . .
He stole another glance and watched curiously as she lifted the bowl up to her lips and downed the remaining liquid.
Setting the bowl down, she licked the sugary remnants off her lips.
Darien froze, not bothering to chew the cereal he had just placed into his mouth. Her lower lip was a pale pink, slightly fuller than the upper lip. Serena's lips looked so enticing, so alluring.
He tore his eyes away from her mouth and coughed, choking on the food that he had failed to swallow properly.
"What? Can't handle your food?" Serena asked scathingly with mock concern.
"Haha. Very clever." Darien shot back.
"I know." She responded as a matter-of-factly.
"Know what?" Yori asked, as she entered the kitchen.
"Nothing." They both responded simultaneously.
"The piggy over here was just being smothered by his food." Serena laughed derisively.
"Oh, and I assume, by 'piggy' that you're addressing yourself, correct?" he turned the tables on her, grinning at his own cunning.
"Pssh. Why are you so . . . insufferable?"
"Why are you?"
"I asked you FIRST!"
"I am, because you are . . . so in order to really answer that, we would need to discover why you're so insufferable. So let's have it, Meatball head!"
"Don't call me that!!! Can't you just call me by my GIVEN name?"
"Let's think about that . . . no. I'd much rather call you Meatball head."
"You unbearable jerk!"
"Whaaat? Immature brat!"
"Arrogant pig!"
"ACTUAL pig!"
"ARGH!" Serena screamed, balling up her fists. "Forget it."
She stormed out of the room, muttering something that closely resembled the word 'impossible'.
Darien's eyes laughed as she exited, while calming down to their normal stormy blue as his sister looked down on him disapprovingly.
"Name calling is immature, Dare. And you say I'M the little sister." Yori teased.
"That's because you are, squirt." He teased back, before heading to his room, a piece of toast clenched in between his teeth.
Yori marveled at the apparent change in her brother. He seemed so different - happier somehow. After their mother died, he was always quiet, his eyes reflecting the troubles of his soul.
For a while, Yori thought this "phase" of isolation would end, if only she gave him some space. But it didn't. Even years after their father deserted them and their mother passed away, he never regained that innocence, that carefree happiness that he had seemed to possess when he was younger.
Instead, she watched him hide behind a veil of insincere joy and doomed relationships, only seeing a hint of the 'old' Darien when he was with his true friends. That is, until now.
What exactly changed? Was it something that happened - or someone?
[AN: No, Darien is not depressed, if that's what you're thinking. He's just not as happy as he was before all that stuff happened. I mean, if you're mom died, father abandoned you, and you were forced to take responsibility for everything (which is his case in this story), you wouldn't be the same either. Am I right? Luckily, there's Serena to make him all happy again! ^_^]
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"Thank you so much, Yori!" Serena thanked her gratefully.
"No problem! Come over any time!" Yori replied happily as she escorted Serena out of the house.
"Uh . . . I don't think your brother would like that very much." Serena muttered hesitantly.
"I'm sure he WOULD." Yori teased, grinning suggestively. Serena rolled her eyes.
"Whatever. See you later!"
I WISH he would, she thought. But even I know that's never going to happen.
Serena walked down the pathway, turning to look back at the house.
The street was emptied, only the occasional roar of a passing car to distract her from her ubiquitous thoughts.
Dejectedly, she threw down her bag and glared at the sky, her neck arched towards the heavens.
"Why? Why me? Why him? OF ALL PEOPLE!!!" she yelled.
As if awaiting a response, she paused to stare up at the clouds hovering high above her. The sun shone brightly into the corner of her eye, but still she waited, desperately praying for an answer.
Nothing, only silence ensued.
She frowned distastefully and snatched up her bad, mumbling something along the lines of 'pointless' and began to head home.
Little did she know that someone was watching her, thinking and feeling the exact same way she did.
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Darien lay on his bed, arms cushioning his head.
He stared up at the pallid ceiling, trying to make sense of what he was feeling.
Her? NO, it can't be, he thought. Why did I choose her? Of all the girls I've ever noticed . . . why her?
Entertaining, funny, innocent, beautiful, intelligent (when she wants to be), stubborn, defiant, trusting, intriguing, captivating . . . words immediately popped up in his mind, but he quickly brushed them aside carelessly.
He heard the loud slam of the front door and sat up, pulling back to shades and glancing down at the sidewalk.
Serena.
He watched her curiously, observing her every movement. She stared up at the sky and said something that he couldn't quite seem to make out.
His stomach lurched, as he saw her stalk away.
How do you do it? How do you make me feel this way every time you're around?
He slumped back onto his bed, continuing his thoughts.
What is it that's got me falling for you?
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AN: Wow. I think that just might be my longest chapter!!! Well, I definitely have to thank all my great reviewers, who I can not seem to thank enough . . . ^_~
Usagi Usako Chiba: Hehe . . . well, I don't think I'm going to have her spying on them because that might take up too many chapters! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Ngan: Thanks for being so patient! I'm SOOO glad you enjoy reading my story! It makes me feel happy! ^_^ Thanks for the review!
Mae-E: Thank you for all your suggestions and nice comments! ^__^" I think I might have more fighting, but not as senshi. I haven't been able to watch Sailor Moon in such a long time, and can't really describe anything because the last time I was able to watch Sailor Moon was probably . . . oh . . . a few years ago. That's why I got the whole eye color thing messed up! ^___^" Thank you so much for your suggestion though! I really appreciate it! Thanks for reviewing!
Panda10s: Hahaha . . . You're a funny kid. Thanks for your suggestion. I think that's probably what I am going to do. Yep yep. Most likely! See ya lata! Thanks for reviewing!
DarkTenshi23: Thanks! I'm so glad you like it! I'm sorry I haven't read your stories, but I didn't realize you had any written because you didn't log in! I'll be sure to read them! Thanks for reviewing!
ThatsMsDiva2U: What? I thought I put a sentence in there that said he was the one! I'm pretty sure I did . . .yeah, after the part when they fall and Serena is thinking about his laughter. ^_^ Yep yep. Darien is rather oblivious, now isn't he? ^_~ I know a BUNCH of my guy friends are like that, so I just HAD to add it in! ^_^ Anyways, thank you for reviewing!
LiLKiKi15: Thank you for the luck on finals! I did pretty well, actually! Thank you for reviewing!
Moonlightshadows: Yah! I updated again! Woohoo! I still can't believe you actually wanted to put my story on your site! ^____^ Thanks again for reviewing!
JRTXLUVERX4LIFE: Wow! Do you really think so? That is so nice! I'm glad you like it! Thank you so much for reviewing!
Forever His: Yep yep! Power to the hopeless romantics! ^_^ I think there are many many of us though . . . Thank you for the luck on finals! I hope you did well, also! Thank you for reviewing!!!
Mage Raistlin: Thank you! Hmm . . . I'm contemplating that right now. What do you think? Should something bad happen to Mai, or should Serena befriend her and change Mai's ways? Thank you for reviewing!
Kuramie and Kaiaramith: ^_^ Thank you for reviewing!!!
Crystal jade2: I'm glad you liked it! Thank you for reviewing!!!
DancerSwT: Thank you for wishing me luck on finals! Thank you also for reviewing!!!
MOONPRINCESS: That's cool that you have a boyfriend! Good luck with him! ^_^ I'm so glad you enjoy reading my story! Sorry for making you wait! Thanks for reviewing!
A-Shoo-Lee: Dunno if you are reading this, but thanks for reviewing on your own! I'm sooo proud! ^_^ FINALS ARE OVERRRR!!! HOORAY!
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AN: I was reading this REALLY good fanfiction called JUST A COINCIDENCE by EtrnalRhapsodi. I thought it was really really really . . . (need I go on?) well written and the plot was great. I only wish my writing was half . . . no, a third as great as that one. I'd suggest you'd check it out. It's just a suggestion, but I think you might enjoy it . . . ^_^
OOH! That reminds me! I wanted to know whether you thought I should have something bad happen to Mai (if so, what? Nothing TOO bad . . .) or if you think Serena should befriend her and have Mai realize her wrongdoing, have them become friends, with Mai no longer fighting for Darien . . . you get the picture. PLEASE help me out! I'm SOOO stuck! I would really appreciate it!
Oookay. Well, I really hope you liked this chapter. I did my best, so hopefully it will be up to your standards. Thanks so much for all the reviews! Please review! Your reviews have really inspired me to continue! Plus, if you took the time to read through all my random comments, you might as well take the time to review, right? ^_~