2002 Valentine's Special: Waiting for You

Part 4: The Match begins

By: Ghostwriter

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            'Hello, Serena,' Danielle said silkily. Everyone tensed, save Darien, all of them detecting the note of falsity beneath the look of friendliness. 'How are you doing?'

            'Fine, thank you,' Serena answered, wearing a strained smile.

            'Meatball Head, what are you doing in that ridiculous get up?' Darien frowned heavily at Serena's or rather Luna's choice of clothing.

            'Err – I,' Serena began but was cut short Mina.

'What Serena wears is none of your concern,' she said airily. 'You're not her father.'

'Or brother,' Lita added cheekily.

'Or her boyfriend for that matter,' Rei said flatly.

Serena shifted uncomfortably in her seat. 'I think I can speak for myself,' she mumbled to Mina but Mina just whispered back, 'Leave this witch to us.'

'I merely wanted to point out that it is quite an silly thing to wear such little and thin pieces of clothing and sit under a air shaft,' Darien pointed out. 'And I think you have fully realized the idiocy of it now,' he pointed at the shivering Serena.

'None of your business, Darien, even if I freeze to death,' Serena replied sweetly, but couldn't help wishing she had worn something less revealing.

'Of course it's not,' Darien replied easily as he started to shrug out of his green jacket. 'But being a gentleman that I am, I won't stand by and see a damsel freeze to death. Therefore, I've decided to loan you my precious green jacket,' he said audaciously, knowing how well Serena loathed his jacket. He stepped forward and handed her the green garment as he finished speaking.

This act startled all the other girls. Danielle looked put off and glared angrily behind his back.

'Was it my imagination, or did Darien just offered Serena his jacket?' Rei mumbled to no one in particular.

She looked around at the others and all of them wore the same expressions of bewilderment.

Serena stared longingly at the piece of garment Darien was holding out to her. He was actually offering her his jacket. Everyone knows Darien never parts with his jacket. Through the hazy fog in her mind's eye, she registered the looks of immense jealousy that came from Danielle's direction.

'Very well,' Serena said haughtily, accepting the jacket Darien held out to her. 'This damsel thanks you for your gallant deed.'

A few minutes ago, Danielle had been dressed to kill.

Now, she look as though she is about to kill.

And the prey is one unsuspecting blonde girl who was putting on the cherished jacket.

'Come, mademoiselle, your table waits,' Darien said as he gently guided his girlfriend to another table at the other end of the arcade. Danielled turned to leave, but not before one last glower in Serena's direction.

'Wow, what a fake,' Lita commented.

'She's a b*tch. Did you see the look she gave us? It was as though she thought we are far below her level,' Rei spat.

'Maybe we should give her a chance?' Amy suggested. 'She might be quite nice once she has gotten to know us better.'

'I disagree,' Mina said, 'That woman is a witch no matter how you treat her. Don't you say so, Serena? Serena?'

Serena was staring off in Darien's direction, tugging the green jacket closer to her, wearing a look of total contentment. To be able to wear Darien's coveted jacket was a taste of heaven. Mina swear she could see the word LOVE glowing clearly across her forehead. Rei, Lita and Amy too turned and look at their blonde friend when she failed to answer.

'Boy, she's got it bad,' Lita chuckled softly at the clouded gaze in her eyes.

Serena just sighed as she continued to stare in the same direction.

Everyone face faulted at the sight.

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'Why did you do that just now?' Danielle asked jealously as Darien led her to a secluded booth out of sight

'Did what?' Darien asked as he slid into his seat.

'Offering your jacket to that – to Serena,' Danielle said tightly as she slid into the seat opposite him. She wanted to say 'dumb blonde.'

'Of, I noticed that she was rather affected by the cold. It was senseless of her to dress this way and sit here at the arcade, where she obviously knows how cold it is in here,' Darien said as he cast a glance in Serena's direction. He could have sworn Serena was staring at him moments ago.

'Perhaps you should have thought that I might be cold too?' Danielle said as she pointed at her outfit. 'And I did not know how cold it is in here!'

'Oh, I'm sorry,' Darien apologized for his thoughtlessness. 'But I can't very well walk over and ask her to unhand my jacket.

'Why ever not?'

'Because – because I've offered it to her. And a gentleman never goes back on his word,' Darien said.

'Even though it means hurting your girlfriend's feelings?' Danielle challenged.

'My girlfriend understands my noble intentions,' Darien said charmingly. 'Besides,' he said as he walked over and slid in to the cushioned bench beside her, 'I'm here to warm you up,' he whispered huskily into her ear.

The dark haired supermodel could not resist a smile as her boyfriend's breath tickled her ear. He gently turned her head and captured her lips in a searing kiss. Danielle returned the kiss with ardor to match his.

Unknown to them, a certain blonde haired girl was watching them a few feet away. Serena bit back tears as she watched Darien's mouth trail down her chin and began to kiss her throat. Not wanting to see anymore, she quickly stepped up to the counter and called for Andrew.

'Wassup?' Andrew asked as she came up to him.

'Will you please give this to Darien later? I've got to go and he is rather – preoccupied at the moment,' she said flashing a grin at him as she handed the jacket over to her. Her fingers seemed to have developed a will of their own and her eyes were beginning to sting with tears, demanding to be shed. She took a deep breath and willed her fingers to release the smooth fabric. Rather blindly, she ran out of the through the automatic doors, unwilling to let anyone see her misery.

Andrew turned in his friend's direction. Darien was still kissing Danielle and he looked as though he wanted to bed her there and then. 'Hey! You two! Get a room!' he bellowed at them.

Darien turned and looked at him sheepishly. He whispered something to Danielle and slid out of the booth and started walking towards the counter.

'What's wrong, Drew? You never had a problem when your other customers make out here. Or is it because you're jealous cause I've got such a hot babe as my girlfriend?' he asked jokingly.

Andrew narrowed his eyes at the grinning man in front of him. Even though he is his best friend, Andrew would have dearly loved to land his fist into Darien's handsome face for causing Serena, whom he considered as the little sister he never had, pain. A tiny voice spoke in his head, it isn't entirely his fault! He doesn't know about Serena's feelings towards him!

'Serena asked me to pass this to you,' he said briskly as he handed Darien back his jacket.

'Oh, where is she?'

'She left,' Andrew said shortly and walked away to serve another customer that was signaling to him for the bill, leaving Darien to puzzle over his friend's odd behavior towards him.

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'Let's go,' Serena urged the rest as she met them outside the arcade. She began to walk briskly away from building, biting her lip to hold back tears.

'Serena, slow down,' Lita said as she caught hold of Serena's arm. Serena swallowed nervously before she turned to face the rest of her friends, 'Yes?'

'Serena, are you okay?' Amy asked, looking very concern.

'I'm fine,' Serena assured them. They didn't look very convinced.

'You shouldn't give up without a fight,' Rei exploded after several seconds of strained silence. 'That sl*t doesn't deserve Darien, and Darien doesn't deserve you, for that matter,' she added in a lower tone.

'Fight for what?' Serena asked, feigning ignorance.

'You very well know what Rei is talking about,' Mina said pointedly.

'How can I fight when there isn't a fight in the first place?' Serena asked bitterly. 'He loves her and that's that.'

'Then make him love you!' Rei couldn't help being infuriated as she shouted those words at Serena. This attracted the attention of a dozen strangers on their Saturday morning errands as they stopped by to look at the group of pretty girls.

'Go away,' Rei growled at them dangerously. Shifting her attentions back to Serena, 'Serena, do you love Darien?'

'No,' Serena lied.

'Liar liar, pants on fire!' Lita chanted in a sing song voice.

'Yes,' Serena admitted miserably. 'I like him.'

'That is all we need to know. You're coming with us,' Rei said as she determinedly marched Serena down the street with Serena protesting all the way.

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Disclaimer: I'm a ghost and ghosts can't really own anything beside their thoughts. So don't sue because there is no way you can sue a dead person. Thank you.

Hey People!

            What's up? I just finished another chapter. I just realized I've really made this fic draggy, so I'll try to hasten it a bit. I decided to use dub names because they can afford to be as OOC as they like, or rather as I like.       

Actually, what took me so long was that I couldn't access my account. Then I decided there is too much crying in the last three chapters. *shivers* So, I rewrote this part. Don't worry, you didn't miss out much.

            In respond to Kawaiigemini's words, about me having nothing to do between haunting the net and my rather unfortunate friends, I also need to write a 5 page essay on Isotopes for my Chemistry teacher, my debate speeches as well as practicing for my upcoming exam. So, be thankful I'm still writing *grinz*

            BUT, if you are all so kind to continue reviewing and mailing me, I'll continue to update this fic diligently until the end so you all don't have such a long wait. So review/mail/flame/encourage/beg me *smilez* and I'll post the next chapter soon.

            By the way, I think I'll just abolish the review system. Lords, I can't keep up with your pace!

Haunts of Love,

GHOSTWRITER…