Well, hey, all! I'm back with another chapter! I've been typing these damn things up so fast that my head is spinning! But I'm having so much fun! So here u go! Have fun! This chapter was fun to type up!

Chapter 4:

If Only I Had A Nickel

I'm not entirely sure about my life lately. I've been on a very twisty, turning roller coaster ride. I mean it. Two days after the incident at the museum, the girls and I won five free tickets to the new amusement park that was situated on the edge of Tokyo. We were all excited, but I was afraid that Darien would be there the day it opened, too, and that I would have to face him. I had been avoiding him.

Friday was the day that we were to go to the park, and since it was Thursday, and I was bored, I decided to hang out the arcade...after four o' clock, of course. Darien always left around four.

On the way, I couldn't help thinking about how lame my friends could be. They had already told me to give up on him, after only one try. Unfortunately, I agreed with them. One foiled plan was enough. I was afraid to try again. It's not like he found out that I was in love with him, but the fear of it was enough. I didn't want him to know, really. Not at the time, anyways. I was afraid of rejection and hurt. So at the time I had the fixed plan of giving up and avoiding him at all costs.

I walked into the arcade with my head hanging low. Taking my usual seat at the counter, I lifted my eyes for a moment to give Andrew my order, and then I plopped my head in my arms. I heard the jukebox playing a song nearby. I lifted my head to listen to it, and noticed that it was an American song. It was saying something about not ever giving up and wanting to take a chance in love. I sighed and called Andrew over.

"ANDY!"

He ran up, startled. "What is it, Serena? Are you okay?"

"What is that?" I pointed to the jukebox.

"Umm...it's a jukebox, silly." He scratched his head confusedly.

"NO! What is that playing?'

"Oh, I saw the CD in the music store this morning. I liked it. It's an American song. I Want to Live, I think, by some Josh Gracin guy."

"Oh...ok..." I plopped my head in my arms again.

Andrew raised an eyebrow and leaned against the counter. "Serena, do you want to talk?"

"Well...oh, Andy, everything is just awful!" I burst out crying for no apparent reason. To this day, I have no idea what really came over me at that point. Stress, maybe...maybe even failure came over me...

"Whoa, whoa! OK, honey, hold on, let me get your coke and get this guy's order and we'll talk. Ok?' He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. I nodded and he turned and took some old man's order.

I sat and fiddled with the saltshaker sitting in front of me. I heard someone say something to me, so I turned to see who it was, hoping it was one of the girls.

And, there by God, did HE sit. Two damn seats away from me. No, no, not GOD...stupids...DARIEN! I wanted to run, scream in terror, and get away! Instead...all I did was reply to him.

"Sorry, I wasn't listening to you. What did you say?"

"I said, 'What's worrying you so much that you go to Andrew for help instead of the girls?'" His eyes reflected concern, and again, I couldn't stand it. I let a small tear fall on my school skirt, and then I turned and buried my face in my hands so he wouldn't see me crying.

"I guess... I'm just having a rough couple of days." At this point, Andrew was back with my drink, and he pulled up a stool and sat in front of me, leaning his arms on the counter again, and gave Darien a look I didn't understand. Darien scooted to the chair next to me, so I had a full audience. Life sucks.

I sighed. "Look, I'm fine, really! I was just about to meet up with the girls. We're going to the opening of that amusement park, Roller Paradise, tomorrow, and we need to plan for it, so I'd better go."

I started to stand up and leave, but Darien grabbed my arm and pulled me back into the seat.

"You aren't leaving just yet. If you won't tell us what is bothering you, then you can at least tell me where in the hell you've been lately. I haven't been run over by you since that incident at the museum the other day, which I'm still trying to figure out. Fill me in, will you? You weren't skipping school to go to the museum, I know that, so tell me what is up!" His blue eyes were reflecting anger, hurt, and confusion all at the same time. It kind of freaked me out. I'd never seen him really ANGRY before...

Andrew just sat there and stared at us. I looked straight into Darien's eyes, and couldn't move. His hand was still gripping my arm, and he was watching me intensely. I gulped. His cologne was a deep, musky, woodsy fragrance, and it was filling my nostrils with pleasure. I couldn't think! He looked really good, and his eyes were gorgeous. I broke. AGAIN.

I started to cry. Words were spilling out of my mouth so fast that it was hard for me to breathe. "I'm sorry, Darien, but I just haven't been able to face you lately! I was at the museum cause of that stupid plan of Mina's and afterwards, when you recognized me, I just ran! I didn't want to talk or tell you what I was doing! You would laugh! And you still will! So I gotta go!" I squirmed out of his grasp and ran out of that arcade so fast that it made my own head spin.

I stopped running two blocks away from the arcade. I sat on a sidewalk bench and tried to gather myself. I looked around, and didn't remember this part of the town. I knew that I had gone the wrong way. I was in an unrecognizable park, in front of a very tall building. I clasped my hands together and shivered, even though it wasn't even cold. Someone was behind me. I knew it.

I turned and stared into cold, steely gray eyes. I gasped and turned to run, but the man grabbed me before I could take a step.

"Remember me, sweetie?" He said gruffly. He pulled me to him, and pressed his grimy lips against mine. I wanted to scream, but it was hopeless. He let me go for a second, thankfully.

I gasped in the clean air and looked at him cruelly. "You're that freaky guy from the arcade! I thought they put you in jail?"

He laughed, a mirthless, cold sound. "Honey, if you have connections, you can get out of those stupid police departments easily. Now, you almost got me in the big house again, so I think I'll tech you a lesson."

I was scared out of my mind. There was no place to run, and I knew he was going to try to rape me. I screamed as loud as I could, but I knew no one heard me. He grabbed me roughly by the waist and shoved me in the opposite direction that I had come from.

He had his hand over my mouth, so there was no way I could scream. I tried to bite him, but he didn't even flinch. I was trapped, or so I thought. Then, to my amazement, I heard someone familiar yell my name.

I looked behind me, and saw Darien running towards me. I was so happy to see him that I forgot about the creepy dude.

"DARIEN!!" My muffled sobs were drowned out by the guy's hand, but I was sure Darien saw that I was terrified.

"SHUT UP, YOU!" The man started to run, dragging me with him. His sprinting didn't last long. Darien caught up with us, and grasped the guy's neck.

"LET her go." He said, and I was dropped to the ground.

"Ouch! You know, you could have been a little kinder." I grumbled as I stood.

Darien grinned at me, then shoved the guy on the ground none too gently. "Now, if I were you, I would be still while I call the police."

"Um...Darien..." I poked his arm.

He turned and looked at me. "What?"

"The police are over there." I pointed to the men that were running up to us.

"Oh. Thanks." He said dumbly. He's so cute when he's acting stupid.

I giggled.

"So, are you okay?" Darien asked me as we sat on a bench overlooking a huge lake.

I nodded. "Yeah, but how did you know I was in trouble?"

He shook his head and thumbed to the tall building I had seen earlier. "I live there, so you'd better be glad I decided to go for a walk before calling it a day."

"I guess I should. "I smiled and continued to look out at the lake.

After they had taken the bad guy away, Darien and I had sat in front if the lake and hadn't moved.

"So...why did you run away from me earlier today? In the arcade?"

I glanced up at him, and then stared down at my nails. "I..."

"Serena...you've been worrying me lately. You ran out of the museum earlier, like you were scared to even talk to me anymore! And this afternoon, in the arcade, you kept breaking down and crying! What in the world is hurting you so much that you would avoid me at any cost, and cry all the time?"

"Darien...I don't really know what came over me in the arcade. I just kind of broke down. I have been discouraged lately. The girls gave up on me... told me to forget that I was in love with...this guy...but I can't help but still think about him...and love him...you know?" Ok, so I had to spill to someone, so Darien seemed liked the perfect candidate...as long as he had no idea as to who 'this guy' was.

He turned his head away from me. "Oh, I get it...that was why you were in the museum. You went there to see a guy. Well, I wouldn't give up because I spoiled all of your plans. And don't let the girls get you down. They probably just want to protect you, so you don't get hurt. Just be careful, ok? With whoever he is. I don't want anything to happen to you. You are my only Meatball head." He winked at me, and I smiled back slightly.

"Thanks, Jerk."

"Your welcome, Meatball head."

I stood up and stretched lazily. "I guess I better go. My mom is already going to be mad cause I'm late. It's past Seven!"

"Yeah, I guess so. Is this guy going to be at the opening tomorrow?"

I shrugged. "I have no idea."

He nodded. "Oh, ok. Well, good luck with him, whoever he is." He leaned down and briefly kissed my cheek, and then turned and walked in the direction of his home.

I stood there for the longest time, mainly out of shock that I had just been kissed (If only on the cheek) by the most handsome man in the world, but partly because I was certain that he looked disappointed as he walked away. I wondered about that for the longest time, but then I finally decided it was time to employ Match Maker's Mina And Raye once again, if only by force.

Ok, there you go everyone! Have a fun Memorial Day and God Bless! The next chapter will be out soon! Just as a preview, I'll let you know one little secret. Raye and Mina push the two lovers in a pond! Sounds fun, doesn't it? Well, bye!

Luv u all and God Bless!

LunaGirl