Untitled As of Yet
By Usabelle
AN: Wow, chapter three! Let me just give a big thank you to the reviewers for the last chapter. Reviews give me a warm fuzzy feeling and make me want to write even more. My original plan for this chapter was to combine what I have here and the next chapter, but it didn't flow well. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter out sooner. So without further adieu, read, review, don't flame, and enjoy!
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter Three
Serena stalked down the sidewalk as the sky began to thunder. "Great," she muttered and looked up toward the rapidly blackening sky, "Just great. Thunder. No change of clothes, no transportation," she glanced behind her to find Mina and Raye running to catch up with her, "stranded with crazy friends... This is just not my day."
Out of breath, Mina and Raye finally caught up to Serena, "Serena, why did you run off? What happened in there?" Mina asked in a concerned voice.
Serena's eyes narrowed, "First I met a Star Trek freak who tried to look up my name in the Klingon dictionary, then a telemarketer with a wife and three kids who was trying to sell insurance and weight loss pills... Oh and after that I met a guy with mental problems, and finally, to top off my experience from hell, a guy who had a sex change operation! Eligible bachelors my ass!"
Mina was defensive when Raye burst out laughing, "Well it was worth a shot."
Both Mina and Serena stopped to glare at Raye who was laughing hysterically, "Sex change," she wheezed.
Serena attempted to cross her arms over her chest, but the plastic dress was beginning to shrink with the humidity, "You're really not helping."
After about five minutes of Raye laughing, a fine mist of raindrops began to fall from the sky. Serena glowered at Raye, "Since Chuckles over here wasted all this time, we're going to get soaked."
"Don't worry!" Mina said brightly, "I know exactly where we can go!"
Raye rolled her eyes, "We are not waiting out the storm in Tiffany & Co. again, Mina. You are not maxing out my credit card like last time."
Mina shrugged, "Suit yourself. But then we only have one other option," she pointed down the street to a gaudy looking but well-lit store.
Serena's eyes widened, "The arcade? No. No way. I haven't been there in like...ten years!"
"What other choice do we have? Besides, what's the problem with the arcade?"
Serena struggled to find words, "Well, I haven't seen any of the people there in years. Uh... I don't want them to see me for the first time in such a long time wearing this," she gestured to the rapidly shrinking plastic dress and drooping boots. She paused for a moment, "Plus... my hair... everybody knows me for my trademark meatballs. With this weather, I'm likely to have an afro in the next five minutes. I don't want him to see me like that!"
Raye stopped abruptly and gazed at her suspiciously, "Him?"
Serena's eyes widened to an impossibly large state, "Uh...Andrew. You know... he was like my...big brother..."
Mina started running, "Come on! I don't want to get soaked. My outfit will be ruined if we stand out here any longer!"
Raye smirked, "Heaven forbid," and ran to follow.
Serena reluctantly plodded along behind them. Suddenly, a man dressed in torn clothes that smelled like he had bathed in raw sewage popped out of an alley, grabbing Serena's arm, "How much?" he asked.
Serena nearly shrieked as she pulled her arm out of his grimy grip, "Pardon me?"
He grinned, exposing the two remaining teeth in his mouth, "How much for an hour of your time, pretty lady?"
"Ugh! Leave me alone, you piece of filth!" she slapped him, running to catch up with Mina and Raye.
Mina looked behind her to find Serena running to them with an urgent look on her face, "Are you alright?" she asked when she finally caught up.
"I was just mistaken for a prostitute and when I slapped the hobo I think that I knocked out the two teeth left in his mouth," she deadpanned.
Mina looked outraged, "What? Why?"
Raye gave a small, conspiratorial smirk, "I think the why is explained by the dress."
Serena looked down to find the dress completely wrinkled and bunched up, just covering her behind, "I am so burning this dress when I get home..."
"Hey! Then you owe me $8.50!" Mina said in an offended tone.
Raye snickered, "Eight fifty? You paid that much?"
Mina glared at her, "It was a good deal!"
With a crack of thunder, the sky seemed to open up and it began to pour. Luckily, they reached the brightly colored awning of the arcade just in time.
Raye smiled at the sight of the arcade, "I wonder why we've never been to this place... it's not without its charm..."
Serena was strangely silent and Mina noticed, "Serena, are you okay? You look kind of pale..."
Serena barely acknowledged her presence and spoke softly, as if to herself, "Fine...just fine..."
Raye looked worriedly at her, "I think we need to get her inside. Maybe she's getting sick from being out in the rain."
The two girls quickly ushered Serena inside. The merry chime of the doorbell rang in Serena's ears. Every bad memory of adolescence seemed to be tied to this place and she was almost reliving her nightmare. After a moment and a deep breath, she chided herself for her foolishness. What were the odds of him even being there, at the same time after ten years, in the middle of a thunderstorm?
Serena was broken out of her trance by a strangely familiar voice, "Do my eyes deceive me? Is that Miss Serena Tsukino?"
She looked up to find an older looking and infinitely more handsome Andrew. He was taller, more built, and his hair was darker, but he still had the same playful green eyes that she knew when he was only eighteen. She smiled warmly at him, "It's good to see you, Andrew."
He walked from behind the counter to greet her with a big hug, "Serena Tsukino...how long has it been? My little girl is all grown up!"
She smiled into his shirt, "Yeah... still working at the arcade, Andrew?"
He beamed down at her, "I own the arcade."
Her jaw dropped, "Really?"
"Yup. I was such a great worker that when the owner died, he left me the whole thing."
"Oh that's wonderful. How's life been treating you?"
He smiled proudly, "Well... I'm a husband and a father now."
She slapped him playfully on the chest, "And you didn't tell me?"
Andrew's expression suddenly turned serious, "You were never around Serena. How could I have invited you to the wedding or sent you baby pictures? What have you been doing all these years?"
Her eyes began to tear, "Oh Andrew, I wish that I could have...but you know..."
He nodded in understanding and gave her another hug, "I know Serena, but now I expect you to be here for my daughter's christening."
Suddenly, a whiny, high-pitched voice chimed in, "Me too! Don't forget me!"
He glanced over at the overly excited Mina and smiled politely, "You must be Mina. Serena mentioned you all the time." He looked behind her to find a rather pissed off Raye, "And you must be Raye."
Raye regarded him rather coolly, never liking to be ignored, "A pleasure. How did you know who I was?"
He gave her a wary smile, "Serena's description of you was really quite accurate."
While this entire exchange was going on, Serena began to feel as though someone was watching her. She followed the girls over to the counter that Andrew had led them to and sat on the same red vinyl stool she had sat at as a fifteen-year- old. A question brought her back to reality, "So Serena... what have you been doing in these past few years?"
She looked up to find Andrew looking at her expectantly, "Oh...um... not that much...I went to Columbia University for nursing school, then decided that I was too far away from home, so I came back here to work in pediatrics."
He took her hand and scrutinized it for a moment, "And no wedding bells yet?"
Glancing down at her ringless finger, she shook her head sadly.
"Men should be breaking down your door, Serena," she smiled at him, "I'm surprised."
"So am I."
Serena froze at the new voice that had entered the conversation. Mina and Raye turned around in shock to find a tall, striking man before them. His glacial blue eyes stared past them to Serena, who seemed to be ignoring the fact that someone else had entered the conversation. While Serena looked positively green, Mina was looking him up and down.
Mina smiled flirtatiously, "Hi, I'm Mina! I don't know you, but I'd like to."
He brushed off her flirtation like lint off of his immaculate suit, "I'm sure."
Raye scrutinized him for a moment, "Do I know you from somewhere?"
He replied in a deep baritone voice, deeper than Serena remembered, "I don't know. Do you?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, before she decided that she liked him, "Hi. Raye Whitfield." She held out her hand.
His eyes flickered in recognition as he shook her hand firmly, "Darien Shields. I believe you were in my judo class in high school."
She nodded, "Of course! I beat your ass each and every time!"
Meanwhile at the counter, Serena was trying to make herself even more inconspicuous. She wanted to crawl under a table and die. Every awkward and humiliating teenage experience was tied to the man she had her back to. A chill ran up her spine as she heard his name. Her stomach churned at the thought of having to face him. This just wasn't happening. Suddenly, the sound of laughter broke her out of her private misery.
"So how do you know Serena? Were you sweethearts in high school?" Mina asked teasingly, attempting to include her friend in the conversation.
At that moment, Serena wanted to murder her now ex-best friend. She smirked, still not moving from her stationary position at her seat.
Darien smiled, "Not quite..." he sat down next to her, leaning in slightly, "How would you explain it?"
She lifted her now curly mass of blonde hair off her shoulder and slowly turned her head to face him with frosted over eyes. He had changed so much after ten years. His eyes were still full of the blue fire she remembered, but his hair seemed thicker and darker, his physique more imposing, and his presence was entirely different. Despite her shortness of breath and her pounding heart, she gave a calm, cold response, "I wouldn't."
He looked unaffected by her nonchalant attitude, "Well that wasn't the reception I was hoping for."
She coolly lifted an eyebrow, "What were you expecting?"
He gave a lopsided grin and shrugged, "I dunno... Maybe a hi, how are you, what's new in the past decade or so?"
She decided not to give him the satisfaction and managed a bored tone, regardless of her frazzled nerves, "Hi. How are you? What's new?"
He rested his chin on his hand, "Well, if you really want to know, I'm doing very well. I graduated from law school two years ago. I've got a great job, a nice house, and a vineyard."
Serena seemed unimpressed, "How nice for you."
"A vineyard, huh?" Mina interjected, uncomfortable with the immediate coldness in her friend.
Darien barely glanced in her direction, "Yeah." His attention turned back to Serena, "So Meatball Head, what have you been up to since I've seen you last?"
She flinched almost unnoticeably at the old nickname but gave no indication of recognition, "Nothing much." She returned to the coffee that Andrew had brought her during their conversation.
He took the mug out of her hand and stared at it in disbelief, "Coffee? Meatball Head on coffee? What happened to the milkshake-drinking, overly emotional teenybopper that I once knew?"
Did he really think that she was that dense? She regarded him coldly, "I grew up."
He shook his head in a playful manner, "Drinking coffee does not constitute growth."
She rolled her eyes, "That comment doesn't even warrant a response."
He leaned in even closer to her, "All of my comments warrant responses!"
She smirked, "I have yet to see a single example that proves it."
Darien put his arm around her, causing her to automatically stiffen, "If you need proof, then I know this lovely little coffee shop, and considering that you love coffee so much..." he trailed off with a confident smile.
"I don't love coffee that much."
His grin widened even more and he spoke slower, as though he were talking to an idiot, "Obviously subtlety doesn't work with you. Let me make myself clearer. Would you like to go out with me?"
Before she had a chance to even open her mouth, Mina exclaimed, "She'd love to!"
Serena turned around fully to give her friend who, at the moment, was practically bouncing off the walls in excitement, the death glare.
He gazed at Serena for a moment, "I'd feel better hearing it come from you."
She stared down at her crumpled boots, "I don't know."
"Why don't we just exchange phone numbers and take it from there?"
While she was trying to think of an out, she could hear Mina in the background rummaging through her purse. Everyone turned around to see her pull out Serena's business card. With a triumphant smile, she handed the card to Darien, "You can reach her by her cell, pager, or home phone. I suggest the cell because she's never home."
Darien looked at her gratefully, "Thanks, I'll remember that. Well, I've got a huge case tomorrow. I need to prepare some files ahead of time. It was great to see all of you again." He looked directly at Serena, "I'll talk to you later."
With a deer-in-the-headlights expression, she nodded dumbly and watched as he waved goodbye to Andrew. He was halfway out the door when Mina yelled, "Call her!"
He poked his head back in the arcade, "Don't worry, I will."
Serena let her head fall onto the cold countertop, "I really wish you wouldn't have done that."
Mina looked at her with genuine concern, "Serena, that guy is perfect. What's wrong?"
Serena lifted her slightly watery eyes from the countertop to look at Mina brokenly, "That 'perfect' guy ruined my life."
By Usabelle
AN: Wow, chapter three! Let me just give a big thank you to the reviewers for the last chapter. Reviews give me a warm fuzzy feeling and make me want to write even more. My original plan for this chapter was to combine what I have here and the next chapter, but it didn't flow well. Hopefully I'll have the next chapter out sooner. So without further adieu, read, review, don't flame, and enjoy!
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter Three
Serena stalked down the sidewalk as the sky began to thunder. "Great," she muttered and looked up toward the rapidly blackening sky, "Just great. Thunder. No change of clothes, no transportation," she glanced behind her to find Mina and Raye running to catch up with her, "stranded with crazy friends... This is just not my day."
Out of breath, Mina and Raye finally caught up to Serena, "Serena, why did you run off? What happened in there?" Mina asked in a concerned voice.
Serena's eyes narrowed, "First I met a Star Trek freak who tried to look up my name in the Klingon dictionary, then a telemarketer with a wife and three kids who was trying to sell insurance and weight loss pills... Oh and after that I met a guy with mental problems, and finally, to top off my experience from hell, a guy who had a sex change operation! Eligible bachelors my ass!"
Mina was defensive when Raye burst out laughing, "Well it was worth a shot."
Both Mina and Serena stopped to glare at Raye who was laughing hysterically, "Sex change," she wheezed.
Serena attempted to cross her arms over her chest, but the plastic dress was beginning to shrink with the humidity, "You're really not helping."
After about five minutes of Raye laughing, a fine mist of raindrops began to fall from the sky. Serena glowered at Raye, "Since Chuckles over here wasted all this time, we're going to get soaked."
"Don't worry!" Mina said brightly, "I know exactly where we can go!"
Raye rolled her eyes, "We are not waiting out the storm in Tiffany & Co. again, Mina. You are not maxing out my credit card like last time."
Mina shrugged, "Suit yourself. But then we only have one other option," she pointed down the street to a gaudy looking but well-lit store.
Serena's eyes widened, "The arcade? No. No way. I haven't been there in like...ten years!"
"What other choice do we have? Besides, what's the problem with the arcade?"
Serena struggled to find words, "Well, I haven't seen any of the people there in years. Uh... I don't want them to see me for the first time in such a long time wearing this," she gestured to the rapidly shrinking plastic dress and drooping boots. She paused for a moment, "Plus... my hair... everybody knows me for my trademark meatballs. With this weather, I'm likely to have an afro in the next five minutes. I don't want him to see me like that!"
Raye stopped abruptly and gazed at her suspiciously, "Him?"
Serena's eyes widened to an impossibly large state, "Uh...Andrew. You know... he was like my...big brother..."
Mina started running, "Come on! I don't want to get soaked. My outfit will be ruined if we stand out here any longer!"
Raye smirked, "Heaven forbid," and ran to follow.
Serena reluctantly plodded along behind them. Suddenly, a man dressed in torn clothes that smelled like he had bathed in raw sewage popped out of an alley, grabbing Serena's arm, "How much?" he asked.
Serena nearly shrieked as she pulled her arm out of his grimy grip, "Pardon me?"
He grinned, exposing the two remaining teeth in his mouth, "How much for an hour of your time, pretty lady?"
"Ugh! Leave me alone, you piece of filth!" she slapped him, running to catch up with Mina and Raye.
Mina looked behind her to find Serena running to them with an urgent look on her face, "Are you alright?" she asked when she finally caught up.
"I was just mistaken for a prostitute and when I slapped the hobo I think that I knocked out the two teeth left in his mouth," she deadpanned.
Mina looked outraged, "What? Why?"
Raye gave a small, conspiratorial smirk, "I think the why is explained by the dress."
Serena looked down to find the dress completely wrinkled and bunched up, just covering her behind, "I am so burning this dress when I get home..."
"Hey! Then you owe me $8.50!" Mina said in an offended tone.
Raye snickered, "Eight fifty? You paid that much?"
Mina glared at her, "It was a good deal!"
With a crack of thunder, the sky seemed to open up and it began to pour. Luckily, they reached the brightly colored awning of the arcade just in time.
Raye smiled at the sight of the arcade, "I wonder why we've never been to this place... it's not without its charm..."
Serena was strangely silent and Mina noticed, "Serena, are you okay? You look kind of pale..."
Serena barely acknowledged her presence and spoke softly, as if to herself, "Fine...just fine..."
Raye looked worriedly at her, "I think we need to get her inside. Maybe she's getting sick from being out in the rain."
The two girls quickly ushered Serena inside. The merry chime of the doorbell rang in Serena's ears. Every bad memory of adolescence seemed to be tied to this place and she was almost reliving her nightmare. After a moment and a deep breath, she chided herself for her foolishness. What were the odds of him even being there, at the same time after ten years, in the middle of a thunderstorm?
Serena was broken out of her trance by a strangely familiar voice, "Do my eyes deceive me? Is that Miss Serena Tsukino?"
She looked up to find an older looking and infinitely more handsome Andrew. He was taller, more built, and his hair was darker, but he still had the same playful green eyes that she knew when he was only eighteen. She smiled warmly at him, "It's good to see you, Andrew."
He walked from behind the counter to greet her with a big hug, "Serena Tsukino...how long has it been? My little girl is all grown up!"
She smiled into his shirt, "Yeah... still working at the arcade, Andrew?"
He beamed down at her, "I own the arcade."
Her jaw dropped, "Really?"
"Yup. I was such a great worker that when the owner died, he left me the whole thing."
"Oh that's wonderful. How's life been treating you?"
He smiled proudly, "Well... I'm a husband and a father now."
She slapped him playfully on the chest, "And you didn't tell me?"
Andrew's expression suddenly turned serious, "You were never around Serena. How could I have invited you to the wedding or sent you baby pictures? What have you been doing all these years?"
Her eyes began to tear, "Oh Andrew, I wish that I could have...but you know..."
He nodded in understanding and gave her another hug, "I know Serena, but now I expect you to be here for my daughter's christening."
Suddenly, a whiny, high-pitched voice chimed in, "Me too! Don't forget me!"
He glanced over at the overly excited Mina and smiled politely, "You must be Mina. Serena mentioned you all the time." He looked behind her to find a rather pissed off Raye, "And you must be Raye."
Raye regarded him rather coolly, never liking to be ignored, "A pleasure. How did you know who I was?"
He gave her a wary smile, "Serena's description of you was really quite accurate."
While this entire exchange was going on, Serena began to feel as though someone was watching her. She followed the girls over to the counter that Andrew had led them to and sat on the same red vinyl stool she had sat at as a fifteen-year- old. A question brought her back to reality, "So Serena... what have you been doing in these past few years?"
She looked up to find Andrew looking at her expectantly, "Oh...um... not that much...I went to Columbia University for nursing school, then decided that I was too far away from home, so I came back here to work in pediatrics."
He took her hand and scrutinized it for a moment, "And no wedding bells yet?"
Glancing down at her ringless finger, she shook her head sadly.
"Men should be breaking down your door, Serena," she smiled at him, "I'm surprised."
"So am I."
Serena froze at the new voice that had entered the conversation. Mina and Raye turned around in shock to find a tall, striking man before them. His glacial blue eyes stared past them to Serena, who seemed to be ignoring the fact that someone else had entered the conversation. While Serena looked positively green, Mina was looking him up and down.
Mina smiled flirtatiously, "Hi, I'm Mina! I don't know you, but I'd like to."
He brushed off her flirtation like lint off of his immaculate suit, "I'm sure."
Raye scrutinized him for a moment, "Do I know you from somewhere?"
He replied in a deep baritone voice, deeper than Serena remembered, "I don't know. Do you?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, before she decided that she liked him, "Hi. Raye Whitfield." She held out her hand.
His eyes flickered in recognition as he shook her hand firmly, "Darien Shields. I believe you were in my judo class in high school."
She nodded, "Of course! I beat your ass each and every time!"
Meanwhile at the counter, Serena was trying to make herself even more inconspicuous. She wanted to crawl under a table and die. Every awkward and humiliating teenage experience was tied to the man she had her back to. A chill ran up her spine as she heard his name. Her stomach churned at the thought of having to face him. This just wasn't happening. Suddenly, the sound of laughter broke her out of her private misery.
"So how do you know Serena? Were you sweethearts in high school?" Mina asked teasingly, attempting to include her friend in the conversation.
At that moment, Serena wanted to murder her now ex-best friend. She smirked, still not moving from her stationary position at her seat.
Darien smiled, "Not quite..." he sat down next to her, leaning in slightly, "How would you explain it?"
She lifted her now curly mass of blonde hair off her shoulder and slowly turned her head to face him with frosted over eyes. He had changed so much after ten years. His eyes were still full of the blue fire she remembered, but his hair seemed thicker and darker, his physique more imposing, and his presence was entirely different. Despite her shortness of breath and her pounding heart, she gave a calm, cold response, "I wouldn't."
He looked unaffected by her nonchalant attitude, "Well that wasn't the reception I was hoping for."
She coolly lifted an eyebrow, "What were you expecting?"
He gave a lopsided grin and shrugged, "I dunno... Maybe a hi, how are you, what's new in the past decade or so?"
She decided not to give him the satisfaction and managed a bored tone, regardless of her frazzled nerves, "Hi. How are you? What's new?"
He rested his chin on his hand, "Well, if you really want to know, I'm doing very well. I graduated from law school two years ago. I've got a great job, a nice house, and a vineyard."
Serena seemed unimpressed, "How nice for you."
"A vineyard, huh?" Mina interjected, uncomfortable with the immediate coldness in her friend.
Darien barely glanced in her direction, "Yeah." His attention turned back to Serena, "So Meatball Head, what have you been up to since I've seen you last?"
She flinched almost unnoticeably at the old nickname but gave no indication of recognition, "Nothing much." She returned to the coffee that Andrew had brought her during their conversation.
He took the mug out of her hand and stared at it in disbelief, "Coffee? Meatball Head on coffee? What happened to the milkshake-drinking, overly emotional teenybopper that I once knew?"
Did he really think that she was that dense? She regarded him coldly, "I grew up."
He shook his head in a playful manner, "Drinking coffee does not constitute growth."
She rolled her eyes, "That comment doesn't even warrant a response."
He leaned in even closer to her, "All of my comments warrant responses!"
She smirked, "I have yet to see a single example that proves it."
Darien put his arm around her, causing her to automatically stiffen, "If you need proof, then I know this lovely little coffee shop, and considering that you love coffee so much..." he trailed off with a confident smile.
"I don't love coffee that much."
His grin widened even more and he spoke slower, as though he were talking to an idiot, "Obviously subtlety doesn't work with you. Let me make myself clearer. Would you like to go out with me?"
Before she had a chance to even open her mouth, Mina exclaimed, "She'd love to!"
Serena turned around fully to give her friend who, at the moment, was practically bouncing off the walls in excitement, the death glare.
He gazed at Serena for a moment, "I'd feel better hearing it come from you."
She stared down at her crumpled boots, "I don't know."
"Why don't we just exchange phone numbers and take it from there?"
While she was trying to think of an out, she could hear Mina in the background rummaging through her purse. Everyone turned around to see her pull out Serena's business card. With a triumphant smile, she handed the card to Darien, "You can reach her by her cell, pager, or home phone. I suggest the cell because she's never home."
Darien looked at her gratefully, "Thanks, I'll remember that. Well, I've got a huge case tomorrow. I need to prepare some files ahead of time. It was great to see all of you again." He looked directly at Serena, "I'll talk to you later."
With a deer-in-the-headlights expression, she nodded dumbly and watched as he waved goodbye to Andrew. He was halfway out the door when Mina yelled, "Call her!"
He poked his head back in the arcade, "Don't worry, I will."
Serena let her head fall onto the cold countertop, "I really wish you wouldn't have done that."
Mina looked at her with genuine concern, "Serena, that guy is perfect. What's wrong?"
Serena lifted her slightly watery eyes from the countertop to look at Mina brokenly, "That 'perfect' guy ruined my life."