Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters.
Authors note: I know the first chapter was crappy and not at all interesting; I'll try and make this chapter better. =)
Rene was really interested in knowing what happened to her mother's life after meeting the dark haired stranger.
"The next day...
Mina got mad at me for not bringing her along for the ride on the wagon. Mina and I both decided to beg Smith to let us go on his wagon since I heard he had to go to town for some business anyway. Of course, who wouldn't give in to two sweet smiles? Then we went by the same road and I don't know if this was fate or not. At the same road curve, I saw the dark haired boy again. They were again digging at the ground and at the same time, the wagon hit a bump. Smith told me and Mina to get off the wagon while he fixes it. The dark haired boy came running up to me and he showed me the beetle he had in his hand...
"Ewww Serena! Don't touch that! It's so dirty!" Mina cried out
Serena could really care less and she looked at the boys eyes and touched the beetle a little then giggled. 'Wow she has a beautiful smile' thought Darien. Mina retreated back to where Smith is at. Serena said to the boy "My name is Serena."
"Oh! My name is Darien. Nice to meet you."
As Darien reached out to shake her hand, he realized his hands were filled with dirt.
Serena thought since Darien lived around here, he should know how to row a boat. Here is her chance. "Darien, I was wondering if you could row a boat."
"Um sure I can" Darien lied. He really wanted to see Serena again. "How about you meet me tonight at the dock at the river?"
"SERENA! Smith fixed the wheel! We have to get going!" Mina screamed to Serena.
Serena looked at Mina and nodded then turned back to Darien, "I'll be there tonight." Then she smiled at Darien and ran back to Mina.
Both girls jumped on the back of the wagon as the wagon started moving again. Serena couldn't wait until that night.
--Later that day...
Serena put a sleeping pill in Minas drink and so she wouldn't bother Serena on her date. She sneakily left the house with a small note on her bed saying she went to the dock then she left. She met Darien at the dock just as they planned. Darien had rented a rowboat earlier that day right after making the date.
Darien started to try rowing the boat but didn't succeed. Then he admitted to Serena that he really don't know how to row a boat. Expecting her to be mad at him for lying to her, he was surprised when she just giggled and said it's alright. For an hour, they both sat on the boat and let the small ripples of the river carry the boat away.
It was getting late and Darien learned how to row the boat, started rowing the boat back towards the dock. There, a group of people stood together with torches. Serena saw her father and knew she was in trouble but she didn't mind. As they were heading back to the dock, Serena took off the necklace she was wearing.
The necklace was silver and had a silver pendent hanging from it. It is oval shaped with designs on it and a small red stone in the middle. Darien looked confused at Serena when Serena bent over to him and put the necklace around his neck.
"Thank you for today. I really appreciate it and I want you to remember me whenever you look at this necklace."
Once she stepped on shore, her father held onto Serena's hand and pulled her to a carriage that was waiting for her. Then Darien just watched Serena's shadow as she went inside the carriage. Even minutes after she left, he kept looking at that direction and reminiscing the first date they had together.
... I had a great time that night."
Rene smiled as she finished reading about their first date. She bought the book to the library and continued to read there.
"Break ended...
and school started once again. I go to the Elite School for Young Women and I also found out that Darien went to the Elite School for Young Men...
"Hey Darien!" Seiya, Darien's buddy at school called out.
"Hey man" Darien said and smiled.
"You look happy. I got great news." Seiya said and his smile beamed.
"Really? Tell me about it"
"My old man arranged a marriage for me. The girl is this rich business man's daughter. Now what was her name again...? Serena! Right, that's it"
Darien was shocked. 'Serena..? It can't be my Serena can it?' Darien thought.
"I also got a picture of her. A real beauty she is." Seiya said and grinned.
It was a black and white photo of Serena. Darien's Serena. He couldn't tell his old friend that he was in love with his future wife-to-be. He just couldn't.
"Hey man, I know you're really good in English and poetry, I was wondering if you can um, help me write a love letter to Serena. You know, to get our feelings started."
"Sure, no problem." Darien forced those words out. But he told himself, it'll be like him writing it to her instead. He smiled to himself.
--Orchestra Night
The Elite School for Young Men and Women are having an orchestra night where the students perform their musical talents. Seiya told Darien that Serena will be performing. When it was Serena's turn to play the piano solo, Darien stood up in front of everyone else in the middle of the audience. Serena saw this and smiled. After her performance, Darien waited until she was alone to give her a bouquet of flowers he got for her.
Serena was surrounded by her teachers and her parents the whole time. Then her parents pulled Serena to leave with them. Serena kept looking back at Darien with sorrowful eyes. Darien thought how someone like her would want to be with him. He went outside and sat at a bench holding the flowers with his head down.
He sat there and thought she wouldn't be back to find him. Then he saw her running back into the school and then his hopes rose. He took the flowers and ran towards the school and tried catching up with her. He couldn't find her and ran back outside. Serena was inside the auditorium where she performed and found it empty. Then she ran back outside just in time to see Darien running towards her.
They both stood there smiling, and then Darien went up to Serena and gave her the flowers.
"You did great on the piano."
"Thank you and also for the flowers. They're beautiful."
Serena and Darien both hugged.
...Held on to each other waiting until the next time we can meet again."
Rene finished reading that part and then put the book inside her bag. She went home and changed to get ready for the school play that night. Elios always help out drawing the background for the play and therefore, he had free tickets for her and Marie to come along. Rene always liked the play because the background which was created by Elios looks mesmerizing. After the play, Elios went to congratulate his friends while Marie and Rene waited outside the door.
Marie happened to catch onto how Rene feels about Elios. She tried to discourage Rene from Elios and to separate them. After Elios came out from talking to his friends, he asked Rene if she would like to join him and Marie for dinner to celebrate.
"Rene said she's busy tonight. Right Rene?" Marie said with her piercing eyes.
"Yeah, right." Rene went along. Then Rene turned and started to leave. Then she heard someone running behind her. She turned and saw Elios there. He held two boxes. One tan and one light green.
"They're presents; I also got one for you. Choose one."
Rene chose the light green box and said "Thank you"
As Rene was walking on the streets, Marie ran up to behind Rene. Then took Rene's present out of her hands and put in her own present.
"Rene! Wait up! Here, let's exchange presents. I like your box better. I know you wouldn't mind. Now I have to go to dinner. Bye!" then Marie ran away.
Rene stared at the present that she laid on her bed. 'Should I open it?' she asked herself many times. Then her curiosity gave in. She lay on her stomach on her bed and opened the box. Inside was a small toy and there was also a note.
The note read: 'When the sun rises from the east, I love you. When the moon shines from the sky, I love you. Elios'
"Wow... Elios must love Marie a lot. He won't ever like me." Rene said to herself. 'I bet this note is also for Marie. I have to call and tell her.'
"REALLY?! That's what the note said?! Elios must love me a lot! Oh Rene, you must give me the note tomorrow! I'll come to your classroom during your violin lesson lunch break. Be sure to bring it tomorrow!" Marie shouted with excitement.
"Yeah... I'll remember." Rene said dully.
After the conversation with Marie, Rene went back to reading the old book.
"I never liked folk dancing, but I heard Darien joined the club and it's my chance of being together with him...
Darien saw Serena and a smile came naturally. Serena's smile beamed back at his own. Then Serena realized her husband-to-be was standing next to Darien, her true lover. Then Seiya took Darien's arm and pulled him towards Serena.
"Hey Serena. This is my good old friend Darien." Seiya introduced them.
"Hello Seiya. Nice to meet you Darien." Serena faked a smile.
They began practicing the folk dance. When Darien was partners with Serena, she questioned him and told him how shocked she was to see that they know each other. Darien also told Serena how he also knows about their marriage arrangement and he's okay with that. Serena smiled genuinely.
After the class, Serena introduced her friend Mina to Darien. Mina didn't recognize Darien as the dirty dark haired boy from the country. She was head over heels for Darien and talked to him non-stop even though she knew he wasn't paying attention.
Seiya walked with Serena as Darien walked with Mina together while walking down the road back to their houses. At the middle, Seiya suggests that he and Serena have to walk a different path to her house. After they left, Mina just kept talking as Darien looked at Serena's direction and kept looking even after she was gone. While Mina wasn't looking, Darien stopped walking with Mina and hid behind a bush. Mina turned and saw that Darien wasn't there; she sighed with her head down and walked home alone.
After he seen Mina leave, Darien leapt out of the bushes and ran where Serena and Seiya went.
"Good night Serena."
"Good night Seiya."
Seiya bowed down at her and then turned to leave. Serena was about to ring her doorbell when she saw a light flicker behind her. She turned and saw her lamp post turned off at the bottom of the stairs but she could make out the shape of a head. The light flicked back on. She saw Darien.
Without saying anything and jumping two steps at a time, her smile grew bigger as she and Darien hugged each other."