Friday

7 in the morning and Darien was still up. He'd kicked some people out during the night, and now was attempting to get the rest out, though most were just dozed off about his apartment. He wasn't really focused on that though. Todd and Serena had disappeared somewhere during the party, and no one knew where; no one that wasn't wasted anyways.

Darien couldn't deny, he had been thinking about Serena all night. He just wished he hadn't said what he did to her. She, for once in a long time, said something nice to him, and he ruined in. That wasn't what was important though.

Where was she?

Darien looked around at his 'friends', with a shake of the head. Half of them he really didn't know that well. In fact, and good 1/3 of them he probably couldn't tell you their names. He laughed at that.

He heard a door fumbling open from down the hall, and he saw Todd going into the bathroom, looking like shit.

"Hey man," Darien called to him. Todd looked up, and grinned.

"Hey, did you and that brunette hook up?" he asked, remembering that Darien had been seen talking to a brunette sometime during the night. Darien rolled his eyes. Because Darien never took the time to consider a girlfriend, everyone was all nosey anytime he even talked to a girl. Fortunate for him, he's never had to go through that with Serena.

"No, but about Serena-"

"That's awesome man," Todd blurted, "But dude, I gotta piss so…I'll be back." And with that he wobbled into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. Darien rolled his eyes, but then, he heard a soft moan from the door Todd had come out off. Cautiously, Darien approached it, and peeked in the door.

Darien couldn't hold back the gasp in his throat. There was Serena, fast sleep on the spare bed. Her skirt was hiked up just a little, and her shirt a little torn in the front.

"Serena?" Darien inquired, walking over to the small girl, and shaking her a lightly. She was freezing. "Serena?" he said a little louder. Serena cringed a little, and then slowly opened her eyes. The moment her sites laid on Darien, she yelped, and shot up in the bed. "Hey, it's okay!" Darien insisted, careful not to touch her, just in case that might alarm her. Serena looked around, panicked, but quickly began to calm down. She brought a hand to her head,

"What time is it?" She asked.

"Seven." Darien said, reaching down to help her up.

"Seven?!" Serena repeated. "Oh My God, I have to get home!" She abruptly sprung up from the bed, but the second she took her first step, she stopped. She wanted to fall on the floor and cry.

"You okay?" Darien asked. Serena shook her head.

"No …" she mused. She fell to her knees, buckling her legs together. She couldn't remember completely the whole evening, but she knew good and well what she did with Todd last night.

"Serena? You okay?" Darien repeated. Serena looked up at him, tears in her eyes. She wanted to tell him. She wanted him to know, and do something about it. But she couldn't; that'd be more than embarrassing.

Besides

"Why do you care?" Serena spat. Darien sighed, though still helped her as she got up.

Wish I was too dead to cry

My self-affliction fades

Stones to throw at my creator

Masochists to which I cater

"You don't seem like you have a hang-over." Darien murmured, "So what's really wrong?" Serena pulled away from him, practically limping to the door.

"It's none of your business." From the way she moved, Darien could tell, and he lowered his head.

"Do you want to take a shower?" He asked. "You know…clean up, soak for awhile. It might help with the pain." Serena didn't know what to do. The dead tone in Darien's voice scared her, but what scared her more is that he knew now. She had sex with Todd, and he knew. "It might help Serena." He said. Serena nodded, refusing to look at him, but she was thoroughly surprised when he lifted her up, princess style. "Does this hurt?" He asked. Serena shook her head,

"No." Darien nodded, and continued down the hall, he didn't enter the bathroom though. He went into his room.

"You can use my bathroom." He said, still refusing to look at her.

"This is your apartment?" Serena asked. Darien nodded. He set her down at the door.

"Will you be okay?" Serena wanted to say no. She wanted to tell him that she hadn't wanted to do it. She wanted to let him know she wasn't what he thought she was, but that wasn't true now. She had sex with Todd. She really was that kind of girl now.

"I'm fine." She blurted, and then closed the door. From the other side, Darien could hear her crying, before she turned the water on.

You don't need to bother; I don't need to be

I'll keep slipping farther

But once I hold on, I won't let go 'til it bleeds

"Hey Man." Todd said, entering Darien's room. Darien didn't move or say anything. "What are you doing? That was some crazy party you know. Hey, have you seen Serena?" he said, all in one quick sentence. Darien still didn't answer. "Darien?" he repeated. He fisted his hand, his muscles visibly flexing, but Todd was too gone to notice. "You in there-"

"You Bastard!" Todd didn't even see Darien turn before he felt his fist against his face. Darien pinned him down on the floor, holding a hand at his throat, and with a fist up behind him.

"Man, what's wrong?" Todd struggled, terror obvious in his eyes.

"Stay away from Serena." Darien warned. Todd's eyes reflected a secret in them.

"What do you mean?" he asked. Darien tightened his hold on him a little more.

"Stay away from her. I never want to see you around her again. Do you understand?" he asked, when Todd didn't answer, that only made him angrier. "Do You Understand?!" he repeated, leaning down closer to his face. Todd frowned,

"Man," he said, seemingly not as scared anymore, "We just had a little fun." Darien growled, getting off of Todd, and punching him again. "Besides," Todd continued, whipping the blood from his lip, "She wanted it." Darien charged at him again, but missed this time.

Todd fought back after evading Darien, and got in a good punch to his abdomen. That didn't stop him though. Darien latched onto his shoulders after the contact was made, then tackled him, slamming him up against the wall. Todd slammed his elbow into Darien's back, forcing him to draw back. Todd again went to charge at him, but Darien saw it coming. In the corner of his eye, he also saw the bathroom door swing open, and Serena stepped out, astonished. It averted Todd's eyes as well, giving Darien an easy opportunity. Darien nailed him, right in the jaw, and Todd fell to the ground with a thud.

"Stay away from her!" he said, one last time. Todd cursed, struggling to his feet, and walking out the door. Their little scene had gotten the attention of most of those in the house. They peeked in through the door, watching and waiting.

"Darien?" Andrew said, running into the room. "What was that about?" He asked, helping Darien to his feet. Darien whipped a little sweat from his brow, and sighed.

"Nothing, can you get everyone out though?" he asked. Andrew nodded, and pushed all the bystanders away. As they protested, Darien moved to help push them all out. He led them to the living room, yelling at them to find some other place to crash at. As they bickered at him, Darien didn't notice Serena was done with her shower, and in the door, redressed in her wrinkled and torn clothes.

She spotted Darien as she entered the main hall, yelling at his friends. She also spotted Todd, who was hurriedly picking up his things.

"What's up with you Darien?" One of his friends asked. Darien glared at him angrily.

"Playboy here is upset because I got a piece of ass last night that he wanted." Todd snapped before slamming the door behind him. Darien gritted his teeth as everyone looked around at each other confused. Tears welled in Serena's eyes, and she sprinted across the apartment, grabbing everyone's attention as she disappeared out the door. Darien didn't follow. What could he do?

Wish I was too dead to care

If indeed I cared at all

Never had a voice to protest

So you fed me shit to digest

I wish I had a reason; my flaws are open season

For this, I gave up trying

One good turn deserves my dying

"Darien? Hey Darien?" the ebony's haired-man's ears perked as Andrew called his name across the arcade. With an agitate sigh, he lifted himself from his slumped position at the counter, and strolled across the checkered floor to where his friend stood. "Hey man." Andrew mused, "Where you been all day? I expected you here bright and early!" he exclaimed. Darien laughed. It was about 4 now, 8 hours since Darien had managed to boot everyone out of his house.

"Yea, I've just been around." Darien slurred. Andrew had to work the 3 to 11 shift, and figured that by the time he was there, Darien would already be, considering he hadn't drunken much of anything the previous night.

"Have you talked to Serena?" Andrew asked. Everyone knew something had gone on between Todd and Serena, and Darien had a problem with it. Darien couldn't help but feel heartbroken.

When Darien didn't answer, Andrew walked away, knowing it was better not to press at this. Darien propped his elbows on the counter as he sat, and he leaned his lips into his folded hands. He was slumped over, and curled up almost. Something you would never see out of Darien Chiba.

As Darien's thoughts wondered, they led him down a path he hadn't dare taken before. Why was he so upset? Serena had the right to do whatever her heart desired. If she wanted to have sex, with Todd specifically, then she had every right. His thoughts were critical, yet they betrayed him.

He was upset because it wasn't him. Because he wanted to be the one that Serena was gushing and giddy over.

He spat at himself. He'd always known it. He'd always know deep in the crevasses of his mind how he felt about Serena. He had fallen for her.

Head over heels

Somehow, he'd found a way to surpass it.; to ignore it. Pretend it wasn't there. He regretted that now more than anything.

Serena had moved on; on to Todd. Darien wouldn't have tried to have sex with her. He wouldn't have wanted to push her into that at such a tender age. It was too late now for that knight and shining armor though.

Darien closed his eyes as a tear tickled at one of his lashes. He had let her slip away like sand through his fingers. She would be different now. She wouldn't be the Serena he once knew and loved.

You don't need to bother; I don't need to be

I'll keep slipping farther

But once I hold on, I won't let go 'til it bleeds

"Excuse me? Darien?" The little brunette brought his out of his thoughts.

"Hmm? What?" He replied, turning quickly and blinking the tears away. Molly blushed as she looked at him, and then looked down sorrowful.

"I was wonderin' if you'd seen Serena?" She asked, her little accent standing out. Darien blinked in confusion. "Because she wasn't in school today, and I've called her house a million times, and no one answered." She finally looked at him, this time, her eyes filled with worry. "You seem to talk to her everyday, so I was hopin' you'd know." Darien looked away, and sighed

"I'm sorry, I haven't seen her." He replied. Molly winced as he turned away coldly, then lowered her head, and left. Darien clenched his fists tightly on the counter.

This was wrong. There was just something very wrong about it all. Serena hid something from him, and so had Todd. Darien wouldn't be able to rest until he found out. Slowly, he rose from the seat, and then darted out of the arcade, determined to speak to a particular blonde, if he could find her that is.

Wish I'd died instead of lived

A zombie hides my face

Shell forgotten with its memories

Diaries left with cryptic entries

Serena couldn't get the song out of her head. She hummed it mindlessly as she walked down the streets of Tokyo, not even aware of where she was headed. She didn't particularly care. Her father would be furious when she got home, and she didn't want to face anyone with what had happened.

As she had been going home from Darien's, she had run into some people who saw her from the party. They'd picked fun at her, calling her a little whore and a slut.

She deserved it; after what she did. Todd was a college boy, and Serena was 14. She'd barely known him and just look at what she let happen. Still, her helplessness plagued her.

Serena coughed, realizing the sun had set, and it had grown cold out. She glanced down at her watch, as if just knowing was important; 10-o-clock. She'd really been wandering around that long? Where was she even? Serena finally took notice to her surroundings, and found irony in it.; Darien's apartment building. Serena looked up. The end of the complex seemed hidden in the clouds.

Serena longed to touch those clouds. She wanted to; right now. Gritting her teeth, Serena entered the building, and headed up the elevator, all the way to the top floor. It was so chillingly familiar to last night. Todd was right next to her, and though he wasn't this time, his presence still lingered. Serena closed her eyes, willing the thoughts to disappear, but in doing so, the image of him only flooded her mind. Serena near choked as tears threatened to spill, and she was greatly relieved when the elevator came to a stop.

Serena practically flew out when the doors slid open. She gasped for air, as if her thoughts had suffocated her. With an exasperated sigh, Serena began to walk down the hall, past the deaf-man's door, and past Darien's. As she crossed, a familiar scent of rose and spice tickled her nose. She almost cried.

Her eyes laid on a sign though that read: ROOF. With a small smile, opened the door, and began to head up, letting the door slam behind her, though it bounced back open carelessly.

And you don't need to bother; I don't need to be

I'll keep slipping farther

But once I hold on, I won't let go 'til it bleeds

"Hey! Hold the elevator!" a woman called as Darien prepared to head up to his apartment. He had resentfully given up his heroic search. She was no where to be found, and he HAD looked everywhere. He'd even stopped at her house, and sat through the wrath of her enraged father. Darien reached out and stopped the doors from closing as the familiar woman entered. "Hey Darien," The middle-aged woman mused. Darien smiled lightly and he reached out reflectively to aide her with her bags.

"I see you went shopping." He said. The woman smiled with a roll of the eyes. Since Darien could remember living here, he had spent about 10 or 20 minutes every Friday or Saturday aiding the fat bubbly woman with her groceries. She was a vibrant woman, full of live and love, despite the fact that her forsaking husband what never home, but out drinking. Over the years though, she just seemed to care less and less about that and more and more about her 9th floor garden, which Darien had to admit was very beautiful.

"I heard about your big bash last night." She said, "Did you and you're friends have fun?" She asked gleefully. Darien smiled, with an almost sorrowful look. Weather it was for the events of the night or for the fact that she thought a college party evolved a bunch of boys eating and playing video games, he didn't know.

"Yes, of coarse we did!" he said happily as her floor came up, and he carried her things into her apartment and to her counter.

"You're such a gentlemen!" the plump woman squealed. "Such a darling! If I were younger, I'd snatch you up as soon as I could!" she said, her squinted eyes marked with laugh lines as she went to the counter, seemingly wrapping something up. "They aren't freshly baked, but its what I have at the moment!" she said, holding him a small plate of homemade cookies. Darien smiled yet again.

"Why thank you Eve, you know how I love your cookies!" he said. The woman laughed, blushing brightly.

"I know I know!" she said, "now you just run along now!" she said. As she hurried him out the door, insisting that he knew a young lady was waiting for her gentlemen caller, he laughed.

He shook his head as he once again entered the elevator. Such a strange woman, but it was that strange this about her that made listening to her non-stop babble all worth while. His dismay was momentarily forgotten, but as soon as he arrived at his floor, so did his thoughts. With a long sigh, he stepped out of the elevator, and headed for his apartment, but as he pulled out his keys, he heard the roof door slam, just as the elevator rang and went down. An ominous silence fell as he stared at the swaying door. Brows forced together, her stuffed his keys back in his pocket, and headed up the stairs.

You don't need to bother; I don't need to be here

I'll keep slipping farther

But once I hold on (once I hold on)... I'll never live down my deceit

Well, what do you think? I know, it's not quite what you wanted, but hey, that's how life really is sometimes!

R&R!