Serena paced back and forth across her room. What on earth was she going to do? She didn't know the first thing about seducing someone and she sure as hell wasn't about to ask one of her friend for help. 'I know I'll read some of my mom's cheesy romance novels. And there's always movies.' Serena decide to start with the movie collection. Dangerous beauty was her first pick, her mom had always said she was to young to watch it, she figured a story about a women becoming a courtesan could only help in her endeavors. She continues her movie night with cruel intentions, and a couple of episodes of sex in the city. She got surprisingly caught up in her mom's romance novels and ended up with a list of points she could put into action. Men didn't usually think with their head... (or rather they do, just not the right one). Guys always wanted what they couldn't have. Jealousy was a great motivator and being sexy yet innocent was irresistible. Feeling very confident Serena headed up to bed to formulate plans as she fell asleep. She was going to take this one-day at a time. She couldn't really plan much past that seeing as much of her planning depended on Darien's reactions. She decided she had to work her way up to her new outfits going slowly a little more daring everyday. She also thought of a couple of provocative retorts she could use given the chance finally felling asleep thinking of Darien's possible reactions and her dreams were filled with the dark haired hunk and some of the more favorable outcomes.
Serena actually managed to wake up early the next morning, then again she was on a mission to seduce a certain college boy. She was beginning to think this might actually be fun, like drama class, playing a role being someone else for a little while. Though admittedly this was the biggest role she'd ever assumed and she had fifty dollars riding on her credibility. This was her chance though to show everyone a side of her they'd never seen. Now she just had to manage not to have a klutz attack, though if she wasn't constantly racing everywhere that should prove to be fairly easy. She hopped out of bed and brushed her teeth unpinned her hair from the bun she'd secured it in last night and let the golden curls cascaded down her back. She ran a comb through it as she walked back to her room and opened up her closet. She picked out a pair of jean short shorts and thought that it would be better to pair them with a tamer top then anything she'd bought the day before. She was going to ease in to that. 'What the hell might as well shock everybody now rather then later.' She thought with a shrug and a grin grabbing her black bikini top. She changed in to the shorts and bikini top the dug through the bags for the pale pink mesh top she'd bought. She founded it in the bottom of the third bag she looked in and brought it forth triumphantly. She pulled it on and took a look in the mirror. The top hung lose on her, falling off of one pale shoulder. Her ivory skin contrasted beautify with the black of her bathing suit and the shorts showed of her long shapely legs to beautiful advantage.
She sat down in front of her vanity for the final touches. Make up. A pink shimmer gloss coated her lips there was no need for foundation or cover-up and she used gold shimmer on her eyes with a medium brown liner. It made her eyes really pop with out looking like she was wearing a ton of make up. She smiled at the effect slipped on a pair of three inch sandals, then headed out door avoiding her parents. She pushed her hair out of her face as she approached the arcade. She loved the feel of the wind playing with it but dreaded the tangles she'd have later. If she was going to leave it down she was going to have to invest in a detangler. There had been one at the mall yesterday that had been her favorite sent. Vanilla. She sighed just thinking of it and determined to buy it later today. Finally she reached her destination and took a deep breath standing up strait before entering the arcade with a slow hip-swinging saunter. 'Remember Sere this is fun, your just acting, playing a little game.' She gave herself a mental pep talk as she strode confidently to the counter beaming at Andrew who stood there with his mouth hanging open. Taking a seat right beside Darien, who disappointingly didn't even look up from his coffee, she ordered with her usual friendly enthusiasm.
"Heya Andrew you think you could grab me a chocolate shake.?" She started twirling a stand of hair through her fingers very carefully not looking at the man beside her who was currently staring her up and down. She waited a moment for him to regain his composure and take a sip of his coffee as she fought down a blush then called over the Andrew.
"Oh and can you make sure there's extra cream." She dragged out the last word slightly and had the satisfaction of hearing Darien choke. Serena grabbed her shake from the counter and took a long sip then looked at it quizzically. There was a cherry on top. Everyone knew she hated cherries. A slow wicked smile curved her full lips and some of the patrons were rather worried by the look.
"Hey Darien you like cherries don't you? You want mine." She held the proffered cherry out to him and smiled sweetly as he spit coffee all over the counter coughing. Darien took the cherry and croaked a weak thanks as she turned and made a hasty retreat. Her cheeks were flaming and she gulped down her shake in record time, while wishing a hole would materialize under her and swallow her whole. 'I can't believe I said that, I soooo did not just say that...' kept running through her head in an unending cycle, 'how does anyone say things like that with out dieing of mortification. Is it something you get used to?' Serena didn't think she'd every get used to saying things like that. Finally taking a deep breath and pressed her hands to her cheeks to make sure the flush had faded. Looking like a blond tomato was probably not going to win her any points. She figured she was about as ready as she was ever going to get to face the men she could feel staring at her from across the room. She stood slowly, turned equally slow and sauntered towards the door with a smile.
"Thanks Drew, I'll see you guys later." She dropped her voice just a bit as she made that promise then was out the door wishing she could run and cursing heels for preventing it. As she walked away she prayed she wouldn't fall and smiled hugely when she didn't. Encounter one had gone better then expected. If she always got reactions like that this was going to prove highly amusing.
It was just after twelve when she got to the park and after sauntering through the rose garden for a while she took a seat on a bench overlooking the lake to wait for her friends. It was a beautiful view, flowers everywhere in a riot of colors and ducks bobbing in the water for food. A family of swans swam by and she smiled watching the little ones fight too keep pace with their mother. She'd always loved this spot the beauty the wild life it was a haven from the rest of Tokyo a small space that seemed nearly untouched. Serena was daydreaming staring out at the water when the rest of her friends got there.
"My god is that Serena I think I'm going to die of shock." Rei intoned melodramatically upon finding Serena was indeed early. Mina gave her a dirty look then hurried forward with a smile.
"Hey Sere you're wearing you hair down! It looks gorgeous. I though you hated wearing it down?" Mina babbled as greeting. Serena smiled and waved to the others as she answered. "I don't hate wearing it down, just the tangles and knots I have to comb out later, plus Darien can't call me meatball head anymore no meatballs so it's way worth it. I saw him this morning he was speechless." Serena snickered at the memory.
"Probably just because you were up before noon." Rei joked and Serena stuck out her tongue in retaliation. Then they set about placing the plaid blanket on the grass and setting up the food. There was a lot more delicious food waiting to be devoured than Serena had imagined and as she stood staring down at it all her stomach rumbled and she remembered she'd forgotten breakfast. It was rare when Serena forgot a meal. When everything was finally set out Serena dug into the food like a starving man speaking her appreciation around mouthfuls. They finished their lunch and got up heading for the arcade discussing their plans for the next day.
"So we'll meet after school and go to the movies?" Mina asked and everyone agreed.
"After that we should really do some studying guys, exams are coming up pretty soon." Everyone groaned but agreed with Amy and decided to study at the temple after the movie. Serena peeked in the window of the arcade as they approached and saw that Darien still sat there talking with Drew. 'Does that boy have a life?' She wondered in exasperation as she tugged her shirt a little more off one shoulder and hitched her shorts up a little higher showing a inch more skin. Then she took a deep breath and walked in with her friends behind her watching her as if she'd gone nuts. I guess her trying to look sexy in front of Darien was extremely odd but they knew about the bet. Maybe they just didn't think she'd take it this seriously.
"I'm going to grab a Sunday kay guys!" Serena said walking over to the counter. She was full but could always make room for one of Andrews yummy Sundays. Darien had stiffened ever so slightly at the sound of her voice and turned very slowly to look at her as she took a seat beside him.
"Hey Andrew can I have a chocolate Sunday with extra fudge?" She asked with a sunny smile. Andrew seemed relived that she hadn't inserted any double entendre.
"What are you up to meatball head?" Darien asked suspiciously. She laughed deep in her throat and Darien stiffened. He hadn't realized she could laugh like that.
"You can't call me that anymore Darien no meatballs and what are you talking about?" She batted her lashes and looked incredibly innocent and naïve. Darien didn't buy it for a minute. He looked her over slowly, deliberately eyes lingering on her pale shoulder, nearly exposed midriff and long creamy legs before coming back up to meet her pale eyes with his own stormy ones. There was something in their depth that made her breath catch and her stomach flutter. Something she wasn't sure she wanted to name.
"Oh my outfit?" Her voice was breathy and husky, not on purpose but the look in Darien's eyes deepened. "Do you know how hot it is out there?" She asked with a laugh getting her voice a little under control and fighting the heat she could feel rising in her cheeks. To her utter relief Andrew reappeared at that moment with her Sunday in hand.
"Do you want any nuts Sere?" He asked casually. "No thanks Andrew, you should know by now I only like the cream." She grabbed her Sunday spun on one heel and walked away as fast as she could manage.
"She didn't mean it like that." Andrew whispered almost like a prayer. "We just have dirty minds right Dare?" he turned his plea to his best friend.
"I don't know Drew." Darien turned back to the book he'd been reading prepared the wait until Serena left to find out what was going on.