An Everly Tale
Chapter Six
By A Shot of Amber
Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter! Please be kind and do the ever wanted read and review approach. Otherwise please send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!
An Everly Tale Chapter Six
Sunday was a quiet day. Darien called and they set up a date for that week. She had done some work around the house hanging pictures and cleaning the woodwork along with her laundry which had taken some time.
On Monday she arose early and dressed with care in her favorite white blouse and black pants. She disregarded her usual buns and ponytails and instead pulled her hair up into a bun with some loose trendils falling down the back. Her make-up was easy and soon she was ready and out the door.
It was a quiet neighborhood so no one was out as Serena walked down the street. The usual newspaper stands were out when she hit the main town but she didn't even look at the headlines. She would see them inside the building when she got to work.
Inside the building the usual stream of people was walking around. On the lower floor there was a wedding consultant, a team of people who planned weddings. Serena smiled and waved to the secretary who just stared at her in shock. Feeling a little weirded out by this she climbed into the elevator. Inside a bunch of people looked up from their newspapers at her then begin to whisper among themselves. She looked around her but they were too quiet to hear over the hum of the motor. Finally the elevator stopped on her floor and she walked out into the busy newsroom. Almost immediately the sound in room plummeted. Serena stopped and looked around her. The others were just staring at her and some were holding newspapers in their hands.
"What is going on here?" She muttered to herself as she walked over to her office.
"Serena! Serena!" A small mousy girl with horn rimmed glasses ran over to her holding a newspaper in her hands.
"Hey Carina. What is going on here? Why is everyone staring?" Serena asked as she set down her bag on the floor and looked at the crowded desk top.
"Haven't you heard?" Carina slammed the paper down on the table top. "Your front page news."
"Nani?" Serena looked down at the paper vaguely wondering how she could be on the front page. Then it hit her. There was her picture on the front page of her and Darien sitting in the Japanese restaurant looking into each other's eyes.
"Oh Kami!" She picked up the paper and scanned over the headline. "Young Prince in Love? What prince? That's Darien and I! He's not a prince!" She started to laugh but stopped once she saw the look on Carina's face.
"What do you mean he's not a prince?" Carina asked.
"That's Darien! My boyfriend! Not the prince of Basalt!" Serena looked down at the paper again then opened it up to another page where there were more pictures including a picture of her and Darien kissing outside of her building. "That's Darien...my boyfriend." She sat down in her chair with a thump.
"Serena, dear." Carina came over to her side of the desk and sat down on it. "How long have you been here?"
"This is my fourth week," Serena moaned.
"And how could you not know what the prince looked like? He's everywhere! I mean he's always in the papers and you've never known?"
Serena sighed and put her head in her hands. "I never have time and anyway I work in a newspaper office. What's the point? I hear all the news during the day. Why should I read it again at night?"
"Then you've missed a lot." Carina picked up the paper and pointed to Darien's royal photo in the top left corner. "This is the prince of Basalt. His name is Endymion and yes his nickname is Darien and yes you are his new girlfriend and yes you are now famous."
"Enough of the yeses. What am I supposed to do?"
"Well that's up to you. Although I do suggest you get in contact with Darien and soon. He'll probably know what to do." Carina stood up and walked out of the office while Serena raised her head and picked up the discarded paper. It wasn't from her newspaper the Daily Times which she wrote for. Instead it looked like it was from another paper in a smaller town. She begin to read the article while outside the glass enclosure of her office people walked by whispering and pointing at her.
* * * * * * *
Darien was awaken by a newspaper being thrown in his face.
"Jesus Andrew! What the heck?" He asked sitting up in his bed and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Your on the front page."
"So what? I'm always on the front page." Darien laid back down and closed his eyes to go back to sleep.
"Your current girlfriend is on it too. What's her name? Oh yes," Andrew picked up the paper. "Miss Serena Tuskino the current fashion columnist for the Daily Times of our fair city. It says in here that she is new to our fair country and was last night being welcomed by our very own prince."
Darien sat up and took the paper from Andrew. He scanned the first page which showed him and Serena in the Japanese restaurant then turned to page two to see pictures of him and Serena kissing outside her apartment building.
"Oh my god," Darien groaned dropping the paper into his lap.
"Looks like you've been caught Darien. Do you think she did it?" Andrew asked giving him a sympathetic look.
"I doubt it. She's not the kind of girl to do that. She may be a newspaper womyn but I highly doubt that she would double cross me."
"Well what do you want to do?"
"Well I can't stop the press, that stupid law my grandfather passed keeps me from doing that." Darien threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. " I better call Serena. Now that the story is out everyone is going to be after her." He walked out of the room into the bathroom leaving Andrew where he was.
"Do you want me to call her? I could introduce myself and help her out. After all I am your personal assistant."
"Yea and my best friend. No thanks Andy I'll call her myself. She would probably wonder if I had my assistant do it."
"What ever you say buddy, but I say you do it quick. There is probably a mob of reporters surrounding her place right now."
His only response was the toilet flushing.
* * * * * * *
It had been a hectic day at work. All through it people had stared at her and whispered. A lot of them asked about her relationship. A few reporters from downstairs had even come up to her office to ask her some questions but she had flatly refused to answer them and locked herself away. Still the office felt like a glass cage where everyone was allowed to look in. She was very glad for the end of the day. Her work was barely done since she couldn't think of anything for a new column so finally at 4pm she gave up, gathered her stuff up and left.
It was utter hell downstairs. Some how or another reporters had found out where she worked and now crowded around her asking questions and shoving microphone's in her face.
"Miss Tuskino! What do you think of the fact that your beau is the prince of Basalt?"
"Serena what size do you wear?"
"Serena how does it feel to be the girlfriend of the prince of Basalt?"
Serena was blinded by the flash of bulbs going off in her face. She tried to push through the crowd but was unable to move due to the fact that she blinded and locked in a circle of reporters.
"Please let me through!" Serena cried feeling tears of frustration fill her eyes.
The reporters hardly moved but instead continued to throw questions her way. She could feel the tears flowing down her cheeks and was about to burst out crying when a beefy arm pushed through the crowd and grabbed her wrist.
"Miss Tuskino hold on and follow me."
Serena looked up through the haze of tears to see a man with dark hair and glasses had grabbed her wrist. Before she could say anything he begin to pull her through the crowd. Helpless to do anything else she followed him through the throng to the curve where a black limo was waiting.
"Get in." He opened the door and pushed her in.
Serena stumbled stepping down from the curb but quickly climbed in and sat down. The door was closed and the beefy man with the sunglasses climbed in the front passenger seat.
"Drive on James," Darien waved his hand then settled back into his seat and smiled at Serena. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet you inside. We got here a little late."
Serena didn't say anything but just looked around her. She was sitting across from Darien and a blond haired man who was talking on the phone. He smiled at her and nodded his head.
"I know this comes has a shock to you. I should have probably told you the truth on our first date but I didn't want you coming to any ideas about me." Darien said taking her silence for shock.
He was right. Serena turned her eyes away from Andrew to Darien who sat dressed in a pair of crisp gray slacks and a black sweater.
"You're the prince of Basalt? I've been dating the prince of Basalt?"
Darien looked slightly uncomfortable. "Yes I am. I wanted to tell you but I didn't really know how you would react. I mean you are a commoner and new to this country."
"You do know that Japan has a royal family. Its not like I'm new to a monarchy," Serena replied sitting back in her seat.
"The Emperor of Japan is not a monarch and I know your used to a royal family but you are also a reporter and if I told you before I could trust you then you may have gone and spilled the story."
"Are you saying that I spilled the story?"
"Alright yea, we have her now. Thanks, bye," Andrew said into the phone then shut it off with a snap. "Hi Serena, I'm Andrew, Darien's personal assistant. I know this is still a real shock to you but I'm here to answer any questions you have and to help you get through this."
"What do you mean by this?" Serena asked a fearful look on her face.
"Well now that its been leaked that you are the prince's new girlfriend you are going to have to deal with the press. People will want to know about you so they'll go to any lengths including paying your friends and family to dish on secrets about you."
"You mean I have no personal life?"
"Pretty much yes. You're a new figure in Basalt and because of that anything you do will be reported by the press. Now let me tell you, I don't want you answering any questions about the prince. We are trying to keep this as low key as possible so don't go and say you two are getting married or making up other lies."
Serena sighed and put her head in her hand then raised it again. " Obviously you think that I'm going to spill everything I know about the prince so let me tell you. I've only been on two dates with him! What can I say? We've had Asian food and went to a movie?"
"It was three dates. We did go to coffee together," Darien pointed out.
"Basically Serena we just don't want you to lie and take advantage of the situation. It would be best if you kept this low key," Andrew replied.
"I need to get out of here," Serena groaned looking out the window as the car pulled up to her building.
"You can't leave until we get this all done. The queen wants to meet you for tea and to discuss the situation," Andrew cried removing her hand from the door handle.
Serena looked out at the group of reporters standing outside the building looking into the windows of the limo. "The queen wants to meet with me?" She asked turning to look at Andrew.
"Yes."
"Serena," Darien spoke up. "Mother wants to meet you and judge you for marriage. She doesn't think you're a hussy or anything and I've told her all about you. I told her about what a great person you are and how sweet you are. Don't worry, it will just be a small tea with you and her. Strictly informal so you just need a nice classy dress and you'll be ready to answer any questions she has."
Serena looked at him. She was seeing him in a new light. He was a prince and she...she was a commoner of no special birth. What was going on?
"When does the queen want to see me?"
"Thursday at 4pm. James will pick you up and Eric will escort you in. I can't be there but I just want you to know that I'll be throwing all my support to you," Darien replied.
"Thursday at 4pm alright...I'll be there." Serena smiled at Andrew and Darien and climbed out of the car. Instantly the reporters begin to swarm around her shouting her name and asking questions.
"Serena! Were you just talking to the prince? Is he in there?"
"I'm sorry but I'm not at liberty to answer any questions except to say that I have no comment." Serena pushed the microphones out of her way and begin to fight through the crowd when all of a sudden a collective roar came from the crowd. Serena was suddenly alone standing on the sidewalk. The press had all left her and were surging around the limo. She turned around to see what was going on and was shocked to see Darien fighting his way through the crowd followed by Eric who was pushing people out of the way.
"Darien I can walk myself up to my own apartment," Serena cried as he came up to her and grabbed her arm.
"I know you can but I'm old fashioned and I want to talk to you in private." Darien steered her up the stairs and inside the building. "Eric wait for me down here, I'll be right back," he called as he and Serena begun to talk up the stairs.
On the third floor Serena looked over at Mina's and Lita's door but it was closed tight so obviously neither one was home. It didn't really matter, Darien kept pulling her along, up one more flight of stairs to her door.
"Could you please let go of my arm? Your hurting it," Serena said as they walked up to her door.
"What?" Oh I'm sorry Serena." He let go and stood there looking abashed, definetly a change from the business like man in the limo.
Serena pulled her arm closer to her body and rubbed the skin which was red and slightly bruised.
"Look Serena, I want to say that I'm really sorry about all this. I wanted to tell you on the first day but how would you take that?"
Serena smiled and let go of her arm. "I would probably not believe you at first but now how can I not? Its pretty obvious that you are a prince by the fact that the media is all around us."
"Yea," he rubbed the back of his head. "I don't want this to change anything between us. I still want to date you and be your boyfriend if you are willing to that."
"Why do I suddenly feel like a high school girl with her first boyfriend?" Serena giggled covering her mouth with her hands.
Darien grinned and dropped his hand. "Maybe because this situation is a little far fetched. We could think of it though as a freshman dating a high school senior."
"And I guess am I the freshman?"
"You have to be, I am four years older then you."
"Oh yea." Serena leaned against her door and sighed. "Kami, this is all so new to me. I'm dating a prince!"
"That doesn't change anything between us."
"Yes it does. How can we go to dinner or a movie together without being followed? We can't enjoy a normal life of dating. You know you are my first boyfriend. I never dated in high school so this is all new to me."
"We'll make it fun," Darien took her hand and brought it up to his lips. "We'll just take it step by step. You know this is the first time I've dated a girl who is not of royal birth."
"I feel really special," Serena replied but did grin up at him. " But yea, we'll just take it slow, one step at a time."
"Good. So how about you coming with me to my friend Rei's birthday party on Saturday? It won't be a fancy dress ball," he added seeing the alarm in her eyes. "She's turning twenty seven and would really like to meet you. It will be all casual, and I mean casual. Rei is really lenient on clothes, if she has to she'll dress up but otherwise you'll mostly see her in casual clothes. Now say your coming."
"I'd love too, but shouldn't I be jealous? I mean Rei from how you've described her seems like this beautiful perfect goddess, I'm surprised you haven't married her."
Darien threw back his head and laughed causing her to blush slightly. "Serena you have to meet Rei before you pass judgment on her. For one thing she's not a goddess but instead a politician's daughter and for another she hates men."
"Then why are you friends with her?"
"Because I'm one of those rare people who can break through her reserve and find the truth underneath her layers. Now are you coming?"
"I said yes, I would love to go," Serena replied.
"Wonderful. I'll pick you up at 3pm. I won't get out of the limo but Eric will and he'll escort you down."
"What about the tea ceremony?"
"Yes about that. Be prepared to be grilled by mother and wear a nice dress. Nothing flashy and sexy but instead something long and old fashioned. James and Eric will pick you up. I can't be there but like I said I'll be rooting for you."
"Thanks, I'll need all the support I can get."
"You'll do fine. Now I better get going before the press corps breaks into the building to find out what we're talking about. Now give me a kiss good-bye." He grabbed her other hand and pulled her closer.
Serena reached up on tip-toes and gently kissed him. She then backed away and smiled while reaching for her keys. "I'll talk to you Thursday about the ceremony."
"Good I want to know how it went," Darien replied backing away as well.
Serena unlocked her door and entered the apartment all the time smiling at Darien who was backing up towards the stairs.
"Good-bye," Serena waved to him then closed the door and sighed. Okay what was she getting herself into?
On the other side of the door Darien smiled and started down the stairs. He had the reporters to face and then later his mother who obviously seen the paper by now.
Chapter seven will be out soon. In the meantime please read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!
Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter! Please be kind and do the ever wanted read and review approach. Otherwise please send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!
An Everly Tale Chapter Six
Sunday was a quiet day. Darien called and they set up a date for that week. She had done some work around the house hanging pictures and cleaning the woodwork along with her laundry which had taken some time.
On Monday she arose early and dressed with care in her favorite white blouse and black pants. She disregarded her usual buns and ponytails and instead pulled her hair up into a bun with some loose trendils falling down the back. Her make-up was easy and soon she was ready and out the door.
It was a quiet neighborhood so no one was out as Serena walked down the street. The usual newspaper stands were out when she hit the main town but she didn't even look at the headlines. She would see them inside the building when she got to work.
Inside the building the usual stream of people was walking around. On the lower floor there was a wedding consultant, a team of people who planned weddings. Serena smiled and waved to the secretary who just stared at her in shock. Feeling a little weirded out by this she climbed into the elevator. Inside a bunch of people looked up from their newspapers at her then begin to whisper among themselves. She looked around her but they were too quiet to hear over the hum of the motor. Finally the elevator stopped on her floor and she walked out into the busy newsroom. Almost immediately the sound in room plummeted. Serena stopped and looked around her. The others were just staring at her and some were holding newspapers in their hands.
"What is going on here?" She muttered to herself as she walked over to her office.
"Serena! Serena!" A small mousy girl with horn rimmed glasses ran over to her holding a newspaper in her hands.
"Hey Carina. What is going on here? Why is everyone staring?" Serena asked as she set down her bag on the floor and looked at the crowded desk top.
"Haven't you heard?" Carina slammed the paper down on the table top. "Your front page news."
"Nani?" Serena looked down at the paper vaguely wondering how she could be on the front page. Then it hit her. There was her picture on the front page of her and Darien sitting in the Japanese restaurant looking into each other's eyes.
"Oh Kami!" She picked up the paper and scanned over the headline. "Young Prince in Love? What prince? That's Darien and I! He's not a prince!" She started to laugh but stopped once she saw the look on Carina's face.
"What do you mean he's not a prince?" Carina asked.
"That's Darien! My boyfriend! Not the prince of Basalt!" Serena looked down at the paper again then opened it up to another page where there were more pictures including a picture of her and Darien kissing outside of her building. "That's Darien...my boyfriend." She sat down in her chair with a thump.
"Serena, dear." Carina came over to her side of the desk and sat down on it. "How long have you been here?"
"This is my fourth week," Serena moaned.
"And how could you not know what the prince looked like? He's everywhere! I mean he's always in the papers and you've never known?"
Serena sighed and put her head in her hands. "I never have time and anyway I work in a newspaper office. What's the point? I hear all the news during the day. Why should I read it again at night?"
"Then you've missed a lot." Carina picked up the paper and pointed to Darien's royal photo in the top left corner. "This is the prince of Basalt. His name is Endymion and yes his nickname is Darien and yes you are his new girlfriend and yes you are now famous."
"Enough of the yeses. What am I supposed to do?"
"Well that's up to you. Although I do suggest you get in contact with Darien and soon. He'll probably know what to do." Carina stood up and walked out of the office while Serena raised her head and picked up the discarded paper. It wasn't from her newspaper the Daily Times which she wrote for. Instead it looked like it was from another paper in a smaller town. She begin to read the article while outside the glass enclosure of her office people walked by whispering and pointing at her.
* * * * * * *
Darien was awaken by a newspaper being thrown in his face.
"Jesus Andrew! What the heck?" He asked sitting up in his bed and rubbing the sleep from his eyes.
"Your on the front page."
"So what? I'm always on the front page." Darien laid back down and closed his eyes to go back to sleep.
"Your current girlfriend is on it too. What's her name? Oh yes," Andrew picked up the paper. "Miss Serena Tuskino the current fashion columnist for the Daily Times of our fair city. It says in here that she is new to our fair country and was last night being welcomed by our very own prince."
Darien sat up and took the paper from Andrew. He scanned the first page which showed him and Serena in the Japanese restaurant then turned to page two to see pictures of him and Serena kissing outside her apartment building.
"Oh my god," Darien groaned dropping the paper into his lap.
"Looks like you've been caught Darien. Do you think she did it?" Andrew asked giving him a sympathetic look.
"I doubt it. She's not the kind of girl to do that. She may be a newspaper womyn but I highly doubt that she would double cross me."
"Well what do you want to do?"
"Well I can't stop the press, that stupid law my grandfather passed keeps me from doing that." Darien threw the covers back and climbed out of bed. " I better call Serena. Now that the story is out everyone is going to be after her." He walked out of the room into the bathroom leaving Andrew where he was.
"Do you want me to call her? I could introduce myself and help her out. After all I am your personal assistant."
"Yea and my best friend. No thanks Andy I'll call her myself. She would probably wonder if I had my assistant do it."
"What ever you say buddy, but I say you do it quick. There is probably a mob of reporters surrounding her place right now."
His only response was the toilet flushing.
* * * * * * *
It had been a hectic day at work. All through it people had stared at her and whispered. A lot of them asked about her relationship. A few reporters from downstairs had even come up to her office to ask her some questions but she had flatly refused to answer them and locked herself away. Still the office felt like a glass cage where everyone was allowed to look in. She was very glad for the end of the day. Her work was barely done since she couldn't think of anything for a new column so finally at 4pm she gave up, gathered her stuff up and left.
It was utter hell downstairs. Some how or another reporters had found out where she worked and now crowded around her asking questions and shoving microphone's in her face.
"Miss Tuskino! What do you think of the fact that your beau is the prince of Basalt?"
"Serena what size do you wear?"
"Serena how does it feel to be the girlfriend of the prince of Basalt?"
Serena was blinded by the flash of bulbs going off in her face. She tried to push through the crowd but was unable to move due to the fact that she blinded and locked in a circle of reporters.
"Please let me through!" Serena cried feeling tears of frustration fill her eyes.
The reporters hardly moved but instead continued to throw questions her way. She could feel the tears flowing down her cheeks and was about to burst out crying when a beefy arm pushed through the crowd and grabbed her wrist.
"Miss Tuskino hold on and follow me."
Serena looked up through the haze of tears to see a man with dark hair and glasses had grabbed her wrist. Before she could say anything he begin to pull her through the crowd. Helpless to do anything else she followed him through the throng to the curve where a black limo was waiting.
"Get in." He opened the door and pushed her in.
Serena stumbled stepping down from the curb but quickly climbed in and sat down. The door was closed and the beefy man with the sunglasses climbed in the front passenger seat.
"Drive on James," Darien waved his hand then settled back into his seat and smiled at Serena. "I'm sorry we couldn't meet you inside. We got here a little late."
Serena didn't say anything but just looked around her. She was sitting across from Darien and a blond haired man who was talking on the phone. He smiled at her and nodded his head.
"I know this comes has a shock to you. I should have probably told you the truth on our first date but I didn't want you coming to any ideas about me." Darien said taking her silence for shock.
He was right. Serena turned her eyes away from Andrew to Darien who sat dressed in a pair of crisp gray slacks and a black sweater.
"You're the prince of Basalt? I've been dating the prince of Basalt?"
Darien looked slightly uncomfortable. "Yes I am. I wanted to tell you but I didn't really know how you would react. I mean you are a commoner and new to this country."
"You do know that Japan has a royal family. Its not like I'm new to a monarchy," Serena replied sitting back in her seat.
"The Emperor of Japan is not a monarch and I know your used to a royal family but you are also a reporter and if I told you before I could trust you then you may have gone and spilled the story."
"Are you saying that I spilled the story?"
"Alright yea, we have her now. Thanks, bye," Andrew said into the phone then shut it off with a snap. "Hi Serena, I'm Andrew, Darien's personal assistant. I know this is still a real shock to you but I'm here to answer any questions you have and to help you get through this."
"What do you mean by this?" Serena asked a fearful look on her face.
"Well now that its been leaked that you are the prince's new girlfriend you are going to have to deal with the press. People will want to know about you so they'll go to any lengths including paying your friends and family to dish on secrets about you."
"You mean I have no personal life?"
"Pretty much yes. You're a new figure in Basalt and because of that anything you do will be reported by the press. Now let me tell you, I don't want you answering any questions about the prince. We are trying to keep this as low key as possible so don't go and say you two are getting married or making up other lies."
Serena sighed and put her head in her hand then raised it again. " Obviously you think that I'm going to spill everything I know about the prince so let me tell you. I've only been on two dates with him! What can I say? We've had Asian food and went to a movie?"
"It was three dates. We did go to coffee together," Darien pointed out.
"Basically Serena we just don't want you to lie and take advantage of the situation. It would be best if you kept this low key," Andrew replied.
"I need to get out of here," Serena groaned looking out the window as the car pulled up to her building.
"You can't leave until we get this all done. The queen wants to meet you for tea and to discuss the situation," Andrew cried removing her hand from the door handle.
Serena looked out at the group of reporters standing outside the building looking into the windows of the limo. "The queen wants to meet with me?" She asked turning to look at Andrew.
"Yes."
"Serena," Darien spoke up. "Mother wants to meet you and judge you for marriage. She doesn't think you're a hussy or anything and I've told her all about you. I told her about what a great person you are and how sweet you are. Don't worry, it will just be a small tea with you and her. Strictly informal so you just need a nice classy dress and you'll be ready to answer any questions she has."
Serena looked at him. She was seeing him in a new light. He was a prince and she...she was a commoner of no special birth. What was going on?
"When does the queen want to see me?"
"Thursday at 4pm. James will pick you up and Eric will escort you in. I can't be there but I just want you to know that I'll be throwing all my support to you," Darien replied.
"Thursday at 4pm alright...I'll be there." Serena smiled at Andrew and Darien and climbed out of the car. Instantly the reporters begin to swarm around her shouting her name and asking questions.
"Serena! Were you just talking to the prince? Is he in there?"
"I'm sorry but I'm not at liberty to answer any questions except to say that I have no comment." Serena pushed the microphones out of her way and begin to fight through the crowd when all of a sudden a collective roar came from the crowd. Serena was suddenly alone standing on the sidewalk. The press had all left her and were surging around the limo. She turned around to see what was going on and was shocked to see Darien fighting his way through the crowd followed by Eric who was pushing people out of the way.
"Darien I can walk myself up to my own apartment," Serena cried as he came up to her and grabbed her arm.
"I know you can but I'm old fashioned and I want to talk to you in private." Darien steered her up the stairs and inside the building. "Eric wait for me down here, I'll be right back," he called as he and Serena begun to talk up the stairs.
On the third floor Serena looked over at Mina's and Lita's door but it was closed tight so obviously neither one was home. It didn't really matter, Darien kept pulling her along, up one more flight of stairs to her door.
"Could you please let go of my arm? Your hurting it," Serena said as they walked up to her door.
"What?" Oh I'm sorry Serena." He let go and stood there looking abashed, definetly a change from the business like man in the limo.
Serena pulled her arm closer to her body and rubbed the skin which was red and slightly bruised.
"Look Serena, I want to say that I'm really sorry about all this. I wanted to tell you on the first day but how would you take that?"
Serena smiled and let go of her arm. "I would probably not believe you at first but now how can I not? Its pretty obvious that you are a prince by the fact that the media is all around us."
"Yea," he rubbed the back of his head. "I don't want this to change anything between us. I still want to date you and be your boyfriend if you are willing to that."
"Why do I suddenly feel like a high school girl with her first boyfriend?" Serena giggled covering her mouth with her hands.
Darien grinned and dropped his hand. "Maybe because this situation is a little far fetched. We could think of it though as a freshman dating a high school senior."
"And I guess am I the freshman?"
"You have to be, I am four years older then you."
"Oh yea." Serena leaned against her door and sighed. "Kami, this is all so new to me. I'm dating a prince!"
"That doesn't change anything between us."
"Yes it does. How can we go to dinner or a movie together without being followed? We can't enjoy a normal life of dating. You know you are my first boyfriend. I never dated in high school so this is all new to me."
"We'll make it fun," Darien took her hand and brought it up to his lips. "We'll just take it step by step. You know this is the first time I've dated a girl who is not of royal birth."
"I feel really special," Serena replied but did grin up at him. " But yea, we'll just take it slow, one step at a time."
"Good. So how about you coming with me to my friend Rei's birthday party on Saturday? It won't be a fancy dress ball," he added seeing the alarm in her eyes. "She's turning twenty seven and would really like to meet you. It will be all casual, and I mean casual. Rei is really lenient on clothes, if she has to she'll dress up but otherwise you'll mostly see her in casual clothes. Now say your coming."
"I'd love too, but shouldn't I be jealous? I mean Rei from how you've described her seems like this beautiful perfect goddess, I'm surprised you haven't married her."
Darien threw back his head and laughed causing her to blush slightly. "Serena you have to meet Rei before you pass judgment on her. For one thing she's not a goddess but instead a politician's daughter and for another she hates men."
"Then why are you friends with her?"
"Because I'm one of those rare people who can break through her reserve and find the truth underneath her layers. Now are you coming?"
"I said yes, I would love to go," Serena replied.
"Wonderful. I'll pick you up at 3pm. I won't get out of the limo but Eric will and he'll escort you down."
"What about the tea ceremony?"
"Yes about that. Be prepared to be grilled by mother and wear a nice dress. Nothing flashy and sexy but instead something long and old fashioned. James and Eric will pick you up. I can't be there but like I said I'll be rooting for you."
"Thanks, I'll need all the support I can get."
"You'll do fine. Now I better get going before the press corps breaks into the building to find out what we're talking about. Now give me a kiss good-bye." He grabbed her other hand and pulled her closer.
Serena reached up on tip-toes and gently kissed him. She then backed away and smiled while reaching for her keys. "I'll talk to you Thursday about the ceremony."
"Good I want to know how it went," Darien replied backing away as well.
Serena unlocked her door and entered the apartment all the time smiling at Darien who was backing up towards the stairs.
"Good-bye," Serena waved to him then closed the door and sighed. Okay what was she getting herself into?
On the other side of the door Darien smiled and started down the stairs. He had the reporters to face and then later his mother who obviously seen the paper by now.
Chapter seven will be out soon. In the meantime please read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to Saphrians_Water_Reflection@hotmail.com. Thank you!