Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is NOT mine. And probably never will be . . .
AN: First off, let me tell you how incredibly SORRY I am for making you wait so long. We were remodeling the computer room, which just happens to be the computer with internet access. I tried to go to school and get online then, but I they told me I couldn't. I TRIED explaining to them that fanfiction IS school-related, but they didn't believe me. ^_^ So, I couldn't update. FINALLY, we got the computer hooked up and I can go online now! YAH! ::dance::
Plus, I had writer's block. Not much of an excuse, I know! This chapter is not that great. I rewrote it because my first idea didn't really make sense. I hope it's okay, though, even if it's not that great. Anyway, I'm sure you've waited long enough, so here is the next chapter! Hope you like it! ^_^
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Chapter 19: All That Matters
"Lita! Why don't you EVER eat lunch with us anymore?!?!" Mina whined, bouncing up next to Lita as they walked.
"Why don't you guys join me with the rest of Andrew's friends? They're really nice." Lita suggested.
"Heh. Nice, you say? How nice?" Mina grinned cheekily, winking.
"Ugh . . . a one track mind, Mina. A one track mind."
"Hey! Can I help it? I guess we'll eat with you and Andrew." Mina shrugged.
"WHAAT?" Serena burst out, as she caught up and began to walk alongside them. "We are NOT eating with HIM."
"Who? Andrew? What's wrong with him?" Lita inquired defensively.
"Not Andrew. DARIEN. I can't stand him!" Serena scowled.
"You know, Meatball head. They always say you can't stand the ones you love." Raye smirked, as they met up with her on the walkway.
"Ha! If THIS is love, I don't want to see what hate is like."
"C'mon Serena! Give the guy a chance! He's really not that bad." Lita admitted encouragingly.
"That's what YOU think. I bet you that he is actually his 'normal' self around me, and he keeps up this nice, sweet façade around everyone else. Either that, or I've done something terribly wrong to upset the gods and their punishing me by sending him to torture me."
"You're so cynical, Serena. Lighten up. Let's just eat lunch and forget that Darien even goes to this school." Mina advised firmly.
"Easier said than done . . ." Serena muttered, as she followed them to a secluded section of the school.
They sat down on the stone table and brought out their lunches, hungrily inspecting what everyone else had to eat, in case they wanted to trade.
"Ugh . . . I swear. I'm cursed. That's it. CURSED!" Serena moaned, a frown passing across her usually cheery visage.
Andrew, Darien, Mai, and a couple other people joined them, causing the table to fill up rapidly.
Andrew slipped in next to Lita, who blushed furiously. Raye and Mina, who sat opposite of Serena, were conversing with two of Andrew's friends, who both happened to be male.
They all seemed quite content with the seating arrangement, all with the exception of one disgruntled Meatball head.
To her left was Melvin, an extremely intelligent boy who seemed to lack the charisma and suaveness needed to be 'cool'. Somehow, he'd joined them and was excitedly breathing down Serena's neck, offering her a piece of cauliflower from his lunchbox.
"Uh . . . no thanks, Melvin. I think I'll pass." She said, straining her neck away from him.
"Are you sure? Cauliflowers are healthy, and mighty tasty if you ask me." He stated, in a wheezy voice that constantly sounded as if he had a nasal congestion.
She absolutely detested ANYTHING healthy, cauliflower included.
[AN: I have NOTHING against cauliflower. Honestly . . . I just couldn't think of anything else for Serena to dislike . . . and I heard a lot of people don't like it. ^_^]
"Y-yeah, Melvin. I'm fine, thanks." She persuaded him, an awkward, nervous smile on her face.
"O-oka . . . ACHOO!" he sneezed, as Serena's face dropped and she tried to inch further away from him.
"What are you trying to do, Meatball head? Push me off the bench?" the person to her right snapped. "I didn't realize you needed so much room."
She groaned inwardly. Not him too, she thought. Did I do something SO wrong that I deserved this?
"No, actually. I'm trying to eat my lunch without being smashed by two guys who aren't exactly on my number one choice of people to sit next to." She retorted.
Darien leaned back slightly to see who was on the other side of Serena. He grinned cheekily, as Melvin pushed his glasses further up his nose with his finger.
"Sucks for you."
"Yeah. I think I'm quite aware of that." She winced, as Melvin sneezed once more.
"Who knows, Meatball head. Maybe you two will get to know each other and fall in love, and then you can have little allergy-ridden mini-Melvins."
"Haha. Very funny."
"You never know. That could be YOUR dream guy, right there." He pointed at Melvin, who was picking cauliflower chunks out of his teeth.
Serena looked slowly at Melvin and hurriedly turned away, her eyes screwed shut.
"What? You don't want to gaze longingly at your future husband?"
"Argh! I can't TAKE this anymore!" she yelled, her temper rising. "I'm leaving."
She shoved Darien to the side and got off the table. Waving goodbye to her friends, she stalked off, trudging up the grassy hill.
"Serena! Wait!" a voice yelled.
Serena ignored the voice and continued to hike up the hill towards a nearby sakura tree. She dropped to the floor, leaned up against it, and folded her arms across her chest, staring blankly at the students walking past her.
What was his problem? What's MY problem? I can NOT like him. That is it. I'm over him. Completely. It was just a short-lived infatuation. He can go find some other girl to bother, she firmly decided.
Why does he bother me so much anyway? What is it about me that repulses him so much that he finds the insatiable need to bug me?
It's probably because I'm not pretty enough. Maybe the mere sight of me makes him cringe and he just can't resist poking fun at me.
Serena glanced back at the table of people, who were laughing merrily as if nothing had happened.
Some friends, she thought.
Darien threw a piece of trash into a nearby bin and took a bow, grinning smugly.
Arrogant jerk, Serena rolled her eyes. What a show off.
Darien was in standing with one leg atop the bench, towering above all the others. He spoke for a while and everyone immediately erupted in a sea of giggles and guffaws.
Her face changed from a scowl to a calm, almost happy smirk, as she watched him converse with the others at the table.
His charisma, his charm, his cockiness was so alluring. It drew her to him in the first place. But, no . . . she had made up her mind to end her ridiculous "obsession" with love and happiness and dreams.
I'm going to be alone, forever. And that's okay. That's fine. I can handle being alone for the rest of my life. I know! I'll become a hermit who takes care of stray cats and lives a life of solitude in the woods. THAT is my future, she thought.
Despite her recent decision to be cut off from all human contact, she had a feeling in her heart that it was far more difficult than she made it out to be.
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"Where'd Serena go?" Raye questioned, looking around wildly.
"I think I might have made her a BIT mad . . . I'll go talk to her." Darien offered guiltily.
He didn't know why he had acted that way. Whenever he was around her, he lost all sense of sophistication and charm, and instead morphed into a taunting, bumbling idiot.
"It's okay, Darien. I'll just go talk to her. I have some things to apologize for, myself." Mai offered, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.
It looks like Mai has changed a lot, he thought to himself. Maybe she's not the clingy, whiney girl I used to know.
"You're so nice, Mai!" Ai cooed, delivering the line that she and Mai had practiced earlier.
Serena's friends glanced over at each other, exchanging skeptical looks. They were each attempting to guess Mai's true intentions and eventually decided to assume that she was being sincere (being the trusting people that they were).
Darien nodded somewhat unsurely and stood up for a better view of the trashcan. Coolly, he tossed his trash into the bin like a basketball through a hoop. His onlookers applauded and whistled as he took an exaggerated bow.
"So, Darien . . . tell us about this oh-so-interesting incident in your class with Miss Tanuki." Mina demanded, giddy with excitement.
"Um . . . okay. So it all starts off when this kid next to me, Yousuke, who was practically snoring while Miss Tanuki was teaching . . ." Darien began.
Serena's friends pushed all worries about Mai to the back of their minds and focused on watching Darien play out that day's previous events, mimicking Miss Tanuki with charisma and accuracy.
Mai rose from her seat and smoothed out her school skirt with a quick brush of her hand. She pushed a sheet of her lengthy, silky hair behind her and began to walk up the hill, slightly swaying her hips with each step.
Once she reached the top of the hill, she gazed adoringly at Darien for a moment and smirked. He was perfect, and if her plan worked, he would be hers – all hers.
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"Tsukino!" Mai growled malevolently, as she approached Serena, who was pouting underneath a sakura tree, its blossoms floating down around her.
The sweet silence of Serena's tranquil meditation was shattered by Mai's harsh tones.
Serena rolled her eyes and shot Mai an irritating look. Why was SHE here?
"You called?" she asked, pitching her voice as cold and cruel as she could.
"I have something to tell you." Mai announced, watching with beady eyes as Serena hoisted herself up from the ground and became level with Mai.
"Oh. Do tell."
"You were right."
"I was? Right about what? What ARE you talking about?"
"You were right when you said you weren't a threat to me. Because I just realized that you're NOT."
"That's great, Mai. Now, if you would excuse me . . ." Serena rolled her eyes once more and began to head back towards the large group.
"You couldn't be a threat to me even if you tried, Tsukino. I mean, honestly. I can't believe I even thought that Darien would choose a scrawny little Meatball-headed brat like you. Over me!" Mai exclaimed smugly.
"I really hate to break it to you, but are you aware that you two are NOT TOGETHER? He broke up with you! Get over it!" Serena emphasized her words.
What was Mai trying to do by telling her this?
"You're just jealous. Do you see how he looks at me? Soon, we'll be together and you'll just be another one of his dorky sister's friends."
"Riiight."
Serena continued to walk away, as Mai followed her, insulting Serena as they walked.
"You're nothing to him, Tsukino."
"Fine. I didn't ask to be anything to him. Like I've said before, you can have him. I really don't care." Serena muttered, not bothering to look at Mai.
"That's what you say, but you're just afraid. Afraid that I'll take everything you have away from you. If I wanted to spend my precious time, I could ruin your life. I could take away your friends, your boyfriends, your pride."
Serena stopped dead in her tracks and spun around to face Mai. She stepped forward so that she was only a few inches away from her. Staring up slightly into Mai's lifeless orbs, she sent her the most hateful glare that she could muster. She sent Mai all the feelings of revulsion and detestation that she had been keeping inside her.
"Mai, nothing you do would even slightly faze me. I think YOU'RE the one who's afraid."
"Ha. I can prove it. I'll break up Andrew and your friend, what's her name? Lita? Ah, yes. Granted, Andrew isn't my first choice, but he'll do . . ." she grinned maliciously, knowing that she had struck a chord.
"Leave them alone." Serena snarled through clenched teeth, her hand tightened into a fist.
She shook of anger – rage building up inside of her.
Mai wouldn't try to ruin Lita's relationship with Andrew. She couldn't. Serena wouldn't let her.
"Well then. I thought you said that nothing I did would put you off?" Mai laughed derisively.
"You can do anything you want to ME. Don't involve anyone else. This is all between you and me. Though I don't even know why . . . why are you even associating with me if Darien is the person you really want?"
"Because everything you are. Everything you ever will be, makes me sick. You and your 'sweet' character. You're so naïve, believing in love and all those things. What? Do you expect a knight in shining armor to come sweep you off your feet? Life doesn't work like that. Fairy tales aren't real, Tsukino. Stop dreaming. You pretend to be so innocent and nice, but you're really a pathetic, friendless, dateless, manipulative, lying, devious, delusional b—"
In that one second, Serena did something no one ever thought she would have the heart to do. She punched her – hard.
Things seemed to move in slow motion in that brief moment in time. Serena couldn't stand hearing Mai say all those horrible things. They just weren't true.
She couldn't stand hearing how Mai planned to ruin Lita's relationship. Lita deserved to be happy, even if Serena wasn't.
She shook with resentment, trying desperately hard to contain herself. When Mai had commented on all her dreams of falling in love, she lost it. Then, she just kept spitting out insults. One after another. All directed towards her.
So, before she could control herself, her fist sprung out at Mai's face, making contact with her practically perfect nose. Serena heard a large crack and watched as a river of blood ran freely.
Mai cried out in anguish, twisting her facial features and covering her bloodied nose with her hands.
Ai and the rest of Mai's friends came rushing to her side, followed by Mina, Raye, Lita, and Amy.
"Mai! What happened?" Ai asked, holding back the evil laugh in her mind.
Mai's plan worked. Though it gave her a broken nose, provoking Serena was full-proof.
"S-She just broke my nose!" Mai stuttered, through forced sobs.
"She deserved it. That witch." Serena muttered under her breath.
"I tried to be your friend, and you just attacked me." She spat out scathingly.
Serena shook her head vigorously, stumbling back, a look of disbelief on her face.
"W-what? Liar! You were insulting me and threatening me!"
"Darien! Thank goodness! I think her nose is broken! Can you carry her to the hospital wing?" Ai requested, sending him sympathetic puppy-eyes.
Darien looked down at Mai, who continued her charade by writhing on the grassy hill. The corners of his mouth tightened and he stared piercingly at Serena, as if to look through her.
"Sure." He replied after a while.
Ai spun around and turned to Serena, making sure that Darien could clearly hear her.
"You know, Serena. I know what Mai did to you was wrong, but I never thought you'd stoop THIS low. I never thought you could be so cruel. She didn't ACTUALLY injure you that much. You couldn't just let her be happy. If her heart wasn't broken enough, now so is her nose. You're despicable."
Darien's face was completely stoic, deprived of any clue that would give away his thoughts.
He grabbed Mai's shoulders and directed her towards the hospital wing, pushing her in front of him.
Serena just stared blankly at him, her cerulean orbs full of hurt and innocence. She wouldn't let Ai's words get to her. They were all lies. She wouldn't.
His stormy blue eyes searched her face, trying to discover the truth. She didn't. She wouldn't. It just wasn't . . . Serena.
But why would they lie? What motivation did they have?
She couldn't have done it, he thought. Serena's not like that. She would've gotten revenge already if she wanted to. Or maybe this is her revenge.
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This can't be happening, Serena thought. They can't honestly believe that I would hurt her for no good reason.
"You couldn't just let her be happy. If her heart wasn't broken enough, now, so is her nose. You're despicable." Ai's voice rang through her brain.
Despicable. Is that what I am? How can they think that? She threatened to break up Lita and Andrew. I couldn't let that happen!
Serena stared blankly at the ground, fighting back the river of tears behind her eyes. She swore never to cry in front of them.
Then, she glanced up and her crystal blue orbs connected with stormy azure. She broke her gaze, as her eyes clouded with tears, threatening to fall at any second.
Forget it, Serena thought, tearing her eyes away from him. I don't care.
I know I had a reason to hurt her. And that's all that matters.
Who cares if stupid Darien doesn't believe me.
I don't care what he thinks, and I NEVER WILL.
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AN: I love all my reviewers! You're all so great! ^_^ I'm sooo soooo sorry it took so long to update, but I tried to make it longer! ^_~ Thank you so much for reviewing!!!
Chaosti: Really? Faithful follower? COOL! To answer your question, YES! But, that won't happen until the very end. Hehe. He calls her 'Serena' in his head, but eventually, he'll call her 'Serena' to her face. ^_^ Erm . . . I just put them training because I think in Japan, they train, like Kendo, or something. As a sport. Or they could just be training for fun! ^____^" Thank you so much for reviewing!
Panda10s: Aw! You're so sweet! Speechless? That's a relief! ^_^ Hahaha . . . did you notice that I modeled Mina after you? ONE TRACK MIND! Hahaha! Thanks for reviewing.
Ngan: Aw! I'm sorry you are unhappy! T_T I AM glad that you like my story though! Thank you so much for reviewing! I really hope you stop being so unhappy! Thanks again for the review!
Mo0onPrincess: Yeah, I guess there are! Seriously? A new car? That is so cool! I can't even drive yet! Ack! A few more months maybe. I'm glad you like my story! Thanks for reviewing!
Moonlightshadows: I DID update! Yay! Hehe. I'm so glad you like it! Thank you so much!
Angel girl 4-ever: That's okay! I FORGIVE YOU!!! Any review is better than none, no? Haha. Ooh, maybe Serena and Darien won't get together for a few more chapters . . . ^___^" Hehe. Sorry it took so long to update! Thanks for reviewing!
MOON PRINCESS: HELLO! I'm okay! Aww . . . sorry about your boyfriend. MEN are complicated! Pssh . . . ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
DarkSun: Yay! Reviews are always good! ^_^ I had to have my computer fixed too! That's why I couldn't update for a long time! I'm so glad you like my story! ^_~ IT makes me so happy! No problem! I'm happy to explain anything and everything! Hmm . . . I never thought of this ( ^m^ as folding hands! COOL! You learn something new everyday! Thanks for reviewing!
ThatsMsDiva2U: Thanks! I'm glad you like it! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Shiro-angel: Yeah, I doubt I could write a decent story about them as senshi. ^_^ You write fanfics too? What's your penname? Is it just shiro- angel? I'll check it out and review! I haven't updated in a while either! I'm glad you like my story! Thanks for reviewing!
LiLKiKi15: Hehe! Sorry I made you wait! Thanks for reviewing!
PoisonMoon: Thank you so much! That's so sweet! My story? Incredible? Thank you thank you! Thanks for reviewing too!
Mae-E: Thank you! I'm glad you think so! Thanks for reviewing!
Katana-hime: Yeah! I recently read it! It's a really great story! Thanks for the suggestions! MY STORY? Maybe even better than Just a Coincidence? I'm so glad you think so! That's a HUGE compliment! Thank you for reviewing! ^_^
Lill: You do? I was thinking that too! I'm not sure exactly what I'm planning on doing though. Thanks for reviewing.
DancerSwT: Hehe. Thanks! That means a lot to me! Thanks for reviewing!
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AN: So sorry I haven't updated in around 3 weeks. I'll definitely try to update sooner next time. In the meantime, PLEASE REVIEW! And tell me what you think should happen to Mai! I'm having extreme writer's block on this part of the story! Please give me any suggestions or comments or whatever! Thanks! REVIEWS are wonderful! So, PLEASE REVIEWWWW!!! ^__^"
AN: First off, let me tell you how incredibly SORRY I am for making you wait so long. We were remodeling the computer room, which just happens to be the computer with internet access. I tried to go to school and get online then, but I they told me I couldn't. I TRIED explaining to them that fanfiction IS school-related, but they didn't believe me. ^_^ So, I couldn't update. FINALLY, we got the computer hooked up and I can go online now! YAH! ::dance::
Plus, I had writer's block. Not much of an excuse, I know! This chapter is not that great. I rewrote it because my first idea didn't really make sense. I hope it's okay, though, even if it's not that great. Anyway, I'm sure you've waited long enough, so here is the next chapter! Hope you like it! ^_^
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Chapter 19: All That Matters
"Lita! Why don't you EVER eat lunch with us anymore?!?!" Mina whined, bouncing up next to Lita as they walked.
"Why don't you guys join me with the rest of Andrew's friends? They're really nice." Lita suggested.
"Heh. Nice, you say? How nice?" Mina grinned cheekily, winking.
"Ugh . . . a one track mind, Mina. A one track mind."
"Hey! Can I help it? I guess we'll eat with you and Andrew." Mina shrugged.
"WHAAT?" Serena burst out, as she caught up and began to walk alongside them. "We are NOT eating with HIM."
"Who? Andrew? What's wrong with him?" Lita inquired defensively.
"Not Andrew. DARIEN. I can't stand him!" Serena scowled.
"You know, Meatball head. They always say you can't stand the ones you love." Raye smirked, as they met up with her on the walkway.
"Ha! If THIS is love, I don't want to see what hate is like."
"C'mon Serena! Give the guy a chance! He's really not that bad." Lita admitted encouragingly.
"That's what YOU think. I bet you that he is actually his 'normal' self around me, and he keeps up this nice, sweet façade around everyone else. Either that, or I've done something terribly wrong to upset the gods and their punishing me by sending him to torture me."
"You're so cynical, Serena. Lighten up. Let's just eat lunch and forget that Darien even goes to this school." Mina advised firmly.
"Easier said than done . . ." Serena muttered, as she followed them to a secluded section of the school.
They sat down on the stone table and brought out their lunches, hungrily inspecting what everyone else had to eat, in case they wanted to trade.
"Ugh . . . I swear. I'm cursed. That's it. CURSED!" Serena moaned, a frown passing across her usually cheery visage.
Andrew, Darien, Mai, and a couple other people joined them, causing the table to fill up rapidly.
Andrew slipped in next to Lita, who blushed furiously. Raye and Mina, who sat opposite of Serena, were conversing with two of Andrew's friends, who both happened to be male.
They all seemed quite content with the seating arrangement, all with the exception of one disgruntled Meatball head.
To her left was Melvin, an extremely intelligent boy who seemed to lack the charisma and suaveness needed to be 'cool'. Somehow, he'd joined them and was excitedly breathing down Serena's neck, offering her a piece of cauliflower from his lunchbox.
"Uh . . . no thanks, Melvin. I think I'll pass." She said, straining her neck away from him.
"Are you sure? Cauliflowers are healthy, and mighty tasty if you ask me." He stated, in a wheezy voice that constantly sounded as if he had a nasal congestion.
She absolutely detested ANYTHING healthy, cauliflower included.
[AN: I have NOTHING against cauliflower. Honestly . . . I just couldn't think of anything else for Serena to dislike . . . and I heard a lot of people don't like it. ^_^]
"Y-yeah, Melvin. I'm fine, thanks." She persuaded him, an awkward, nervous smile on her face.
"O-oka . . . ACHOO!" he sneezed, as Serena's face dropped and she tried to inch further away from him.
"What are you trying to do, Meatball head? Push me off the bench?" the person to her right snapped. "I didn't realize you needed so much room."
She groaned inwardly. Not him too, she thought. Did I do something SO wrong that I deserved this?
"No, actually. I'm trying to eat my lunch without being smashed by two guys who aren't exactly on my number one choice of people to sit next to." She retorted.
Darien leaned back slightly to see who was on the other side of Serena. He grinned cheekily, as Melvin pushed his glasses further up his nose with his finger.
"Sucks for you."
"Yeah. I think I'm quite aware of that." She winced, as Melvin sneezed once more.
"Who knows, Meatball head. Maybe you two will get to know each other and fall in love, and then you can have little allergy-ridden mini-Melvins."
"Haha. Very funny."
"You never know. That could be YOUR dream guy, right there." He pointed at Melvin, who was picking cauliflower chunks out of his teeth.
Serena looked slowly at Melvin and hurriedly turned away, her eyes screwed shut.
"What? You don't want to gaze longingly at your future husband?"
"Argh! I can't TAKE this anymore!" she yelled, her temper rising. "I'm leaving."
She shoved Darien to the side and got off the table. Waving goodbye to her friends, she stalked off, trudging up the grassy hill.
"Serena! Wait!" a voice yelled.
Serena ignored the voice and continued to hike up the hill towards a nearby sakura tree. She dropped to the floor, leaned up against it, and folded her arms across her chest, staring blankly at the students walking past her.
What was his problem? What's MY problem? I can NOT like him. That is it. I'm over him. Completely. It was just a short-lived infatuation. He can go find some other girl to bother, she firmly decided.
Why does he bother me so much anyway? What is it about me that repulses him so much that he finds the insatiable need to bug me?
It's probably because I'm not pretty enough. Maybe the mere sight of me makes him cringe and he just can't resist poking fun at me.
Serena glanced back at the table of people, who were laughing merrily as if nothing had happened.
Some friends, she thought.
Darien threw a piece of trash into a nearby bin and took a bow, grinning smugly.
Arrogant jerk, Serena rolled her eyes. What a show off.
Darien was in standing with one leg atop the bench, towering above all the others. He spoke for a while and everyone immediately erupted in a sea of giggles and guffaws.
Her face changed from a scowl to a calm, almost happy smirk, as she watched him converse with the others at the table.
His charisma, his charm, his cockiness was so alluring. It drew her to him in the first place. But, no . . . she had made up her mind to end her ridiculous "obsession" with love and happiness and dreams.
I'm going to be alone, forever. And that's okay. That's fine. I can handle being alone for the rest of my life. I know! I'll become a hermit who takes care of stray cats and lives a life of solitude in the woods. THAT is my future, she thought.
Despite her recent decision to be cut off from all human contact, she had a feeling in her heart that it was far more difficult than she made it out to be.
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"Where'd Serena go?" Raye questioned, looking around wildly.
"I think I might have made her a BIT mad . . . I'll go talk to her." Darien offered guiltily.
He didn't know why he had acted that way. Whenever he was around her, he lost all sense of sophistication and charm, and instead morphed into a taunting, bumbling idiot.
"It's okay, Darien. I'll just go talk to her. I have some things to apologize for, myself." Mai offered, her voice dripping with mock sympathy.
It looks like Mai has changed a lot, he thought to himself. Maybe she's not the clingy, whiney girl I used to know.
"You're so nice, Mai!" Ai cooed, delivering the line that she and Mai had practiced earlier.
Serena's friends glanced over at each other, exchanging skeptical looks. They were each attempting to guess Mai's true intentions and eventually decided to assume that she was being sincere (being the trusting people that they were).
Darien nodded somewhat unsurely and stood up for a better view of the trashcan. Coolly, he tossed his trash into the bin like a basketball through a hoop. His onlookers applauded and whistled as he took an exaggerated bow.
"So, Darien . . . tell us about this oh-so-interesting incident in your class with Miss Tanuki." Mina demanded, giddy with excitement.
"Um . . . okay. So it all starts off when this kid next to me, Yousuke, who was practically snoring while Miss Tanuki was teaching . . ." Darien began.
Serena's friends pushed all worries about Mai to the back of their minds and focused on watching Darien play out that day's previous events, mimicking Miss Tanuki with charisma and accuracy.
Mai rose from her seat and smoothed out her school skirt with a quick brush of her hand. She pushed a sheet of her lengthy, silky hair behind her and began to walk up the hill, slightly swaying her hips with each step.
Once she reached the top of the hill, she gazed adoringly at Darien for a moment and smirked. He was perfect, and if her plan worked, he would be hers – all hers.
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"Tsukino!" Mai growled malevolently, as she approached Serena, who was pouting underneath a sakura tree, its blossoms floating down around her.
The sweet silence of Serena's tranquil meditation was shattered by Mai's harsh tones.
Serena rolled her eyes and shot Mai an irritating look. Why was SHE here?
"You called?" she asked, pitching her voice as cold and cruel as she could.
"I have something to tell you." Mai announced, watching with beady eyes as Serena hoisted herself up from the ground and became level with Mai.
"Oh. Do tell."
"You were right."
"I was? Right about what? What ARE you talking about?"
"You were right when you said you weren't a threat to me. Because I just realized that you're NOT."
"That's great, Mai. Now, if you would excuse me . . ." Serena rolled her eyes once more and began to head back towards the large group.
"You couldn't be a threat to me even if you tried, Tsukino. I mean, honestly. I can't believe I even thought that Darien would choose a scrawny little Meatball-headed brat like you. Over me!" Mai exclaimed smugly.
"I really hate to break it to you, but are you aware that you two are NOT TOGETHER? He broke up with you! Get over it!" Serena emphasized her words.
What was Mai trying to do by telling her this?
"You're just jealous. Do you see how he looks at me? Soon, we'll be together and you'll just be another one of his dorky sister's friends."
"Riiight."
Serena continued to walk away, as Mai followed her, insulting Serena as they walked.
"You're nothing to him, Tsukino."
"Fine. I didn't ask to be anything to him. Like I've said before, you can have him. I really don't care." Serena muttered, not bothering to look at Mai.
"That's what you say, but you're just afraid. Afraid that I'll take everything you have away from you. If I wanted to spend my precious time, I could ruin your life. I could take away your friends, your boyfriends, your pride."
Serena stopped dead in her tracks and spun around to face Mai. She stepped forward so that she was only a few inches away from her. Staring up slightly into Mai's lifeless orbs, she sent her the most hateful glare that she could muster. She sent Mai all the feelings of revulsion and detestation that she had been keeping inside her.
"Mai, nothing you do would even slightly faze me. I think YOU'RE the one who's afraid."
"Ha. I can prove it. I'll break up Andrew and your friend, what's her name? Lita? Ah, yes. Granted, Andrew isn't my first choice, but he'll do . . ." she grinned maliciously, knowing that she had struck a chord.
"Leave them alone." Serena snarled through clenched teeth, her hand tightened into a fist.
She shook of anger – rage building up inside of her.
Mai wouldn't try to ruin Lita's relationship with Andrew. She couldn't. Serena wouldn't let her.
"Well then. I thought you said that nothing I did would put you off?" Mai laughed derisively.
"You can do anything you want to ME. Don't involve anyone else. This is all between you and me. Though I don't even know why . . . why are you even associating with me if Darien is the person you really want?"
"Because everything you are. Everything you ever will be, makes me sick. You and your 'sweet' character. You're so naïve, believing in love and all those things. What? Do you expect a knight in shining armor to come sweep you off your feet? Life doesn't work like that. Fairy tales aren't real, Tsukino. Stop dreaming. You pretend to be so innocent and nice, but you're really a pathetic, friendless, dateless, manipulative, lying, devious, delusional b—"
In that one second, Serena did something no one ever thought she would have the heart to do. She punched her – hard.
Things seemed to move in slow motion in that brief moment in time. Serena couldn't stand hearing Mai say all those horrible things. They just weren't true.
She couldn't stand hearing how Mai planned to ruin Lita's relationship. Lita deserved to be happy, even if Serena wasn't.
She shook with resentment, trying desperately hard to contain herself. When Mai had commented on all her dreams of falling in love, she lost it. Then, she just kept spitting out insults. One after another. All directed towards her.
So, before she could control herself, her fist sprung out at Mai's face, making contact with her practically perfect nose. Serena heard a large crack and watched as a river of blood ran freely.
Mai cried out in anguish, twisting her facial features and covering her bloodied nose with her hands.
Ai and the rest of Mai's friends came rushing to her side, followed by Mina, Raye, Lita, and Amy.
"Mai! What happened?" Ai asked, holding back the evil laugh in her mind.
Mai's plan worked. Though it gave her a broken nose, provoking Serena was full-proof.
"S-She just broke my nose!" Mai stuttered, through forced sobs.
"She deserved it. That witch." Serena muttered under her breath.
"I tried to be your friend, and you just attacked me." She spat out scathingly.
Serena shook her head vigorously, stumbling back, a look of disbelief on her face.
"W-what? Liar! You were insulting me and threatening me!"
"Darien! Thank goodness! I think her nose is broken! Can you carry her to the hospital wing?" Ai requested, sending him sympathetic puppy-eyes.
Darien looked down at Mai, who continued her charade by writhing on the grassy hill. The corners of his mouth tightened and he stared piercingly at Serena, as if to look through her.
"Sure." He replied after a while.
Ai spun around and turned to Serena, making sure that Darien could clearly hear her.
"You know, Serena. I know what Mai did to you was wrong, but I never thought you'd stoop THIS low. I never thought you could be so cruel. She didn't ACTUALLY injure you that much. You couldn't just let her be happy. If her heart wasn't broken enough, now so is her nose. You're despicable."
Darien's face was completely stoic, deprived of any clue that would give away his thoughts.
He grabbed Mai's shoulders and directed her towards the hospital wing, pushing her in front of him.
Serena just stared blankly at him, her cerulean orbs full of hurt and innocence. She wouldn't let Ai's words get to her. They were all lies. She wouldn't.
His stormy blue eyes searched her face, trying to discover the truth. She didn't. She wouldn't. It just wasn't . . . Serena.
But why would they lie? What motivation did they have?
She couldn't have done it, he thought. Serena's not like that. She would've gotten revenge already if she wanted to. Or maybe this is her revenge.
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This can't be happening, Serena thought. They can't honestly believe that I would hurt her for no good reason.
"You couldn't just let her be happy. If her heart wasn't broken enough, now, so is her nose. You're despicable." Ai's voice rang through her brain.
Despicable. Is that what I am? How can they think that? She threatened to break up Lita and Andrew. I couldn't let that happen!
Serena stared blankly at the ground, fighting back the river of tears behind her eyes. She swore never to cry in front of them.
Then, she glanced up and her crystal blue orbs connected with stormy azure. She broke her gaze, as her eyes clouded with tears, threatening to fall at any second.
Forget it, Serena thought, tearing her eyes away from him. I don't care.
I know I had a reason to hurt her. And that's all that matters.
Who cares if stupid Darien doesn't believe me.
I don't care what he thinks, and I NEVER WILL.
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AN: I love all my reviewers! You're all so great! ^_^ I'm sooo soooo sorry it took so long to update, but I tried to make it longer! ^_~ Thank you so much for reviewing!!!
Chaosti: Really? Faithful follower? COOL! To answer your question, YES! But, that won't happen until the very end. Hehe. He calls her 'Serena' in his head, but eventually, he'll call her 'Serena' to her face. ^_^ Erm . . . I just put them training because I think in Japan, they train, like Kendo, or something. As a sport. Or they could just be training for fun! ^____^" Thank you so much for reviewing!
Panda10s: Aw! You're so sweet! Speechless? That's a relief! ^_^ Hahaha . . . did you notice that I modeled Mina after you? ONE TRACK MIND! Hahaha! Thanks for reviewing.
Ngan: Aw! I'm sorry you are unhappy! T_T I AM glad that you like my story though! Thank you so much for reviewing! I really hope you stop being so unhappy! Thanks again for the review!
Mo0onPrincess: Yeah, I guess there are! Seriously? A new car? That is so cool! I can't even drive yet! Ack! A few more months maybe. I'm glad you like my story! Thanks for reviewing!
Moonlightshadows: I DID update! Yay! Hehe. I'm so glad you like it! Thank you so much!
Angel girl 4-ever: That's okay! I FORGIVE YOU!!! Any review is better than none, no? Haha. Ooh, maybe Serena and Darien won't get together for a few more chapters . . . ^___^" Hehe. Sorry it took so long to update! Thanks for reviewing!
MOON PRINCESS: HELLO! I'm okay! Aww . . . sorry about your boyfriend. MEN are complicated! Pssh . . . ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
DarkSun: Yay! Reviews are always good! ^_^ I had to have my computer fixed too! That's why I couldn't update for a long time! I'm so glad you like my story! ^_~ IT makes me so happy! No problem! I'm happy to explain anything and everything! Hmm . . . I never thought of this ( ^m^ as folding hands! COOL! You learn something new everyday! Thanks for reviewing!
ThatsMsDiva2U: Thanks! I'm glad you like it! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing!
Shiro-angel: Yeah, I doubt I could write a decent story about them as senshi. ^_^ You write fanfics too? What's your penname? Is it just shiro- angel? I'll check it out and review! I haven't updated in a while either! I'm glad you like my story! Thanks for reviewing!
LiLKiKi15: Hehe! Sorry I made you wait! Thanks for reviewing!
PoisonMoon: Thank you so much! That's so sweet! My story? Incredible? Thank you thank you! Thanks for reviewing too!
Mae-E: Thank you! I'm glad you think so! Thanks for reviewing!
Katana-hime: Yeah! I recently read it! It's a really great story! Thanks for the suggestions! MY STORY? Maybe even better than Just a Coincidence? I'm so glad you think so! That's a HUGE compliment! Thank you for reviewing! ^_^
Lill: You do? I was thinking that too! I'm not sure exactly what I'm planning on doing though. Thanks for reviewing.
DancerSwT: Hehe. Thanks! That means a lot to me! Thanks for reviewing!
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AN: So sorry I haven't updated in around 3 weeks. I'll definitely try to update sooner next time. In the meantime, PLEASE REVIEW! And tell me what you think should happen to Mai! I'm having extreme writer's block on this part of the story! Please give me any suggestions or comments or whatever! Thanks! REVIEWS are wonderful! So, PLEASE REVIEWWWW!!! ^__^"