A View of Happiness
Chapter Two
By A Shot of Amber
Thank you for coming back. I'm really glad to see you. I had fun writing this chapter because of the play of words in it. Read carefully and store them in your mind for later. The song has a real meaning point. Also please read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to ! Thank you!
A View of Happiness
Chapter Two
I somehow adjusted to school quite easily. When I wasn't in class I hung out with Rei, Lita, and Mina and sometimes Michiru and her roommate Haruka. Haruka was really cool, she was tall with short sandy blond hair and these really pretty ocean blue eyes. She was also Michiru's girlfriend. They had met their freshman year of college and been dating ever since then. I thought it was romantic that they could find each other and be so in love. I also thought it was lucky that they got to share a room, I would want to be with the one I love all the time also.
I also was becoming friends with this really smart girl named Ami Mizuno. She was helping me with my English Lit class which I was horrible at. She also got me into being friends with Darien. After the incident in the ice cream parlor I didn't see Darien for a few weeks until one day in the cafeteria when I was sitting alone studying for a test I had in an hour.
Serena crossed her legs in their tan panty hose and black combat boots. She wore a red plaid mini skirt and a white button up shirt opened to reveal a white tank top underneath. Serena liked to call this outfit her naughty catholic school girl uniform. She was studying from her notes for her Theology exam next period when someone suddenly set their tray on the table across from her. Serena looked up to see Darien standing above her wearing a black sweater and his book bag.
"Hey do you mind if I sit with you?"
"No not at all," Serena replied moving her book bag closer to her to make room for him.
Darien smiled and pulled off his bag before sitting down and setting it on the table. "I saw you sitting alone and I thought I'd give you some company."
" Wouldn't you want to sit with your friends though?" Serena asked looking around the cafeteria.
"I could but they are all in classes so I'm alone and was looking for company," Darien replied picking up his fork and spearing up some beans. "This cafeteria food looks horrible, more then usual," he looked at the beans and sighed.
Serena grinned and set her book on the table. "That's why I opted for the sandwich and the chips. I hate beans, actually I hate all vegetables especially carrots."
"But vegetables are good for you! Its cake and those sweets you need to stay away from," Darien replied pointing his empty fork at her. " You should especially stay away from ice cream. Its proven to lead people away from a healthy diet onto a road of rotting teeth and extra pounds."
"I'm already on that road. I love cake, especially my mom's cake. She makes the best strawberry short cake in the world."
"Is your mom close by?"
"Yea, my whole family lives in the next town over. That's the reason I picked this school, I wanted to be close so I could go home whenever I want," Serena replied picking up a chip and eating it.
"Since you are so close to home do you go home every weekend?" Darien asked taking a bite of his burger.
"So far not. I've been really busy on the weekends hanging out with friends and with homework, also I don't want to go home and get out of the swing of things. I really like school and I figured going home would just make me homesick so I'm trying to stay here as much as possible."
"Then you heard about the party on Saturday at the fraternity house?"
Serena looked up from her plate. "The one that Phi Sigma Kappa is holding?"
"Yes, I'm in that fraternity myself. My brothers are having the party to celebrate homecoming week."
"Yea, I guess homecoming is a big thing here. I'm supposed to be going to the game with Mina, Lita, and Rei."
" Homecoming is really big but so is the party. It's the night after the game. All the brothers are supposed to bring dates and I was wondering if maybe you would like to--."
"Oh my gosh I love this song!" Serena cried interrupting him.
"What song?" Darien asked looking up at the ceiling where Serena was looking.
"This song! I love this song! You Don't Know My Name by Alicia Keys."
"You interrupted me for a song?" Darien asked incredulity but softly.
"What did you say?" Serena asked looking back to him.
" Nothing," Darien replied shaking his head as he saw his fraternity brother Derek enter the cafeteria followed by a stream of adoring female fans. Derek waved and smiled to people sitting at tables while the whole time walking towards Serena and Darien.
Serena turned around to see what Darien was looking at and a big smile spread on her face.
"Oh my gosh that's Derek Kizuzenshin," Serena breathed turning to look behind her at Derek who was making his way towards their table.
Derek was giving a high five to a fellow football player when he spotted a glum looking Darien and a starry eyed Serena. He smiled his widest smile and walked over to them in his blue football jersey.
" Shields! Its good to see you!" Derek slapped Darien on the back then turned to Serena and winked at her. "And who is this beautiful women you are sitting with?"
"Its good to see you too Derek. This is Serena Tuskino. Serena this is one of my fraternity brothers Derek Kizuzenshin," Darien replied pointing his hand first to Serena then to Derek.
"Has anyone ever told you that you have beautiful eyes?" Derek asked leaning close to Serena and giving her a charming smile.
"No, no one has but thank you," Serena replied smiling up at him then added. "I've heard all about you from my friends. They say you are a star football player of the football team."
"Yes I am. I'm actually captain of the team too and the president of my fraternity's chapter here. Are you coming to the party we are holding this weekend?"
"I just heard about it and I hope to be going," Serena replied happily.
" Great, maybe I'll see you there," he winked at her then straightened up and headed off with his groupies. "See you at the house Shields!"
"Yea see you there," Darien replied waving one limp hand then looking up at Serena who was starry eyed and watching Derek walk off. He sighed softly then stood up with his tray of half eaten food. "I'm have to get to class now, but if you like, do you want me to walk you to your class?"
Serena broke out of her daze and looked up at Darien. "Sure that would be great," she replied standing up also and picking up her tray and her book bag. Together they deposited their trays and walked out of the cafeteria into the bright sunlight of the day.
"So you were thinking about going to the party this weekend?" Darien asked hiking his bag up on his shoulder.
"Yea, it sounds like fun except I don't have a date so I may seem out of place there," Serena replied jutting her books out from her waist.
"Well if you like I can be your date," Darien replied looking at her from the side.
Serena stopped in her tracks causing Darien to stop also. She was standing a little ahead of him looking at the building in front of her while Darien watched her back with the two long ponytails of hair falling down to her knees. She slowly turned around and looked straight into his eyes and spoke.
" Darien do you have a crush on me?"
Darien did a double take at this question and pulled his book bag higher up on his shoulder. He did answer the question though with a question of his own.
"Why do you ask?"
Serena sighed and shifted her books slightly in her arms. "Because from the first day I've met you everyone has told me you want to date me and then today you asked me out."
" What's wrong with asking a girl out? As a matter of fact what's wrong with asking you out?"
"There is nothing wrong except that I don't want to go out with you," Serena lifted up her books into the crook on one arm and shifted her weight onto one leg. "You're a really nice guy Darien and yea you are kind of cute but you are not my type. I'm looking for someone who's a go-getter and your not that type. Now I would like for us to be friends but that's it and if you're not interested in that then I guess I have no choice but to be sad, because I always could use a friend instead of a boyfriend." Serena half turned her body and looked back at Darien. "I'm sorry if this hurts you but I have to be truthful." Serena looked over at the building in front of her then back to Darien. "I've got to get to class. I'll see you later." With that she turned and walked off leaving Darien standing in the middle of the sidewalk watching her. Anyone passing by could see the look of slight shock on his face as she disappeared into the crowd. That was unexpected.
"Do you know anything about Derek Kizuzenshin?" Serena asked Rei later that night while the two of them sat at their desks working on homework.
Rei set down her pen and turned around in her chair. "Why do you ask?"
Serena set down her pen also and turned to face Rei. "I met him today while I was at lunch. I have been kind of wanting to get to know him but he's always surrounded by people so its hard to get him alone."
"What do you want to know?"
Serena propped her elbow on her chairs back and rested her head on her hand. "I just want to know if he has a girlfriend and if he would be willing to go to a party with me. I was thinking about asking him but if he has a girlfriend then I don't want to."
Rei blinked once at Serena looking into her eyes which stared back at her waiting and eager. Finally she spoke. "Serena I don't think it would be a great idea to ask Derek to a party or anything. He's a player and a big one at that. He uses girls like they are bottles of water, when he's done with one he throws it away and goes on to another. He would just use you for sex and then when he's done he'll leave and never come back."
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"He's a player, lets face it, he is. He'll go to the party with you, expect you to get drunk and sleep with him. Then when he is done he'll get up and leave you and never talk to you again. There is no point in you getting hurt by him, instead you should just leave him alone and go out with a better guy, a real man."
"Rei are you saying that I'm not worth having Derek?" Serena asked getting up out of her chair.
"No, I'm not saying your not worth having him. What I'm saying is that he's not worth having you. He's a player Serena and with your views you two wouldn't work. I don't want you to get hurt and with him you will be. Where are you going?"
Serena stopped at the doorway and looked over her shoulder. "I need a study break, I'm going to go and see Mina." With that Serena opened the door and stepped into the hallway closing the door behind her.
The hallway was crowded with people talking and standing in front of their doors while others sat inside their rooms at desks studying. Serena walked past them waving and saying hello to the people who cried out her name and waved back. Mina's room was down below her's so she headed down the stairs onto the second floor towards Mina's door which was open. Inside Mina sat at her desk writing on a piece of paper but she did look up when Serena knocked on the door and smiled happily.
"Hey girl! Come on in. Lita is at the library."
"She's still studying for that test?" Serena asked walking into the room and sitting down on Mina's bed.
"Yea, she's nervous as can be about it. She wants to get a good grade so she spends every free minute studying for it. Thankfully the test is tomorrow and then she can relax."
" That's good," Serena replied pleating the end of the blanket together while Mina watched her.
"So what did you want to talk about? Because if there is nothing I really need to work on my English homework."
"How did you know there is something I want to talk about?"
" Because you look nervous and if you just wanted to gossip you would have stayed upstairs with Rei."
"Oh yea," Serena nodded and let go of the blanket. "Do you know Derek Kizuzenshin?"
"Heck yea! The hot blond football player that is in my dreams every night?" Mina replied with a big smile on her face.
Serena sighed in slight relief and grinned at Mina. "I finally got to talk to him yesterday and oh my gosh Mina he is gorgeous! I was thinking about asking him to the frat party this weekend but Rei doesn't seem to think that is a good idea."
"Why not? He's hot! You two would make a great couple!"
"She says he's a player and a pimp," Serena replied. "She says I'll get hurt by him and that I shouldn't ask him out because our views will clash."
"What are your views?" Mina asked resting her chin on her folded arms.
"What do you mean?"
"What are your views on sex and stuff like that? Rei was obviously talking about that."
Serena blushed slightly at the question but she did think about it. Finally she answered. "I believe that you should have sex only after you are married. It makes it more special when you save it for the man you love."
" That's a good view," Mina replied nodding her head. "I don't really know Derek except that he has a reputation of being a player. He may not have the views you have though."
"Are you going to tell me that I shouldn't date him also?" Serena asked rising slightly from the bed.
"No of course not! Sit down!" Mina replied shaking her hand at Serena. " I think you should totally ask him out." Suddenly her eyes lit up. "Maybe you'll be the girl who tames his wild heart and he will fall in love with you just like in those romance books."
Serena's eyes lit up also and she looked up at the ceiling. "Wouldn't that be romantic if I was the one for him? I can see it now with us falling in love and getting married. That's what I want in life, to meet a wonderful man and to fall in love and get married."
"And that man is Derek Kizuzenshin," Mina sighed happily.
"It sounds wonderful doesn't it?" Serena asked looking back at Mina.
"Yea it does. So are you going to ask him out?"
"Yes I am," Serena stood up and brushed off her skirt. "I'm going to ask him tomorrow to the party and hope that he says yes!"
"You go girl!" Mina replied flashing a thumbs up sign. "And now that you've made up your mind I have to get back to my homework or I'll be a sophomore forever which I don't really want."
Serena smiled and headed towards the door. "Thanks for the advice Mina. I'll report back to you his answer tomorrow."
"He better say yes," Mina replied in a mock serious voice.
"Oh he will or else I'll pester him till he does," Serena giggled before closing the door behind her.
The next day found Serena standing in the middle of the quad. She was dressed in her best, a black mini skirt to show off her legs, a white tank-top because it was hot outside. Her book bag was slung over both shoulders and her books in her arms. She looked around her; there was an hour before her next class, looking for Derek. Mina had said that Derek usually walked through the quad after his first class headed to his next one. All around her people walked past talking and laughing or sitting on the benches scattered underneath the trees.
Serena was starting to feel frustrated when someone called her name causing her to turn around. Her heart perked up at the thought that it was Derek coming to look for her but it wasn't. Instead it was Darien dressed in a pale blue shirt coming towards her with his book bag slung over one shoulder.
"Hey Serena, what are you doing here alone?" Darien asked coming to a stop and smiling down at her.
Serena blushed as she remembered yesterday's conversation with Darien but he obviously didn't remember. He was smiling down at her with a boyish grace.
"Hi Darien. I was just waiting for someone," Serena replied looking away from his blue eyes. For some reason they were making her feel odd. "Don't you have a class now?"
"No. I'm done for a couple hours. I was going to go back to the house and get some lunch. "What about you?"
Serena looked past him to see if she could spot Derek but he was no where in sight so she looked back at Darien. "I was just waiting for someone before my next class," she replied.
"One of your friends?"
"Yea something like that," Serena replied tightening her arms around her books.
Darien nodded and reached up to rub the back of his head. "You know Serena I want to apologize about yesterday. I didn't mean to put you on the spot in any way. I understand if you don't want to go with me to the frat party,"
"Yo Shields!" Someone called.
Serena turned around has Darien looked up to see Derek walking towards them dressed in his football jersey again waving to him. Suddenly a smile lit up on Serena's face which Darien did not fail to notice.
"Hey yesterday's pretty girl," Derek said walking up to Serena and smiling down at her with his blond hair falling slightly into his brown eyes.
"Hi Derek," Serena replied stuttering slightly but quickly cleared her throat and straightened up. "I'm glad you are here. I wanted to ask you a question."
"Oh yea? What is it?" Derek laughed looking back at his buddies standing in a circle near him.
"Well I was thinking about the party your fraternity is holding and I know you are going and I am going and I would like to know if you want to go together?"
Derek stopped laughing and looked into Serena's eyes. He was looking at her with something a keen to amusement. Serena looked back at him with her heart on her face, eager and waiting. Suddenly he was smiling again and laughing slightly. "Yea I would like that..."
" Serena," Serena replied.
"Yea Serena. I would like that. I'll meet you at the frat house on Saturday at seven sharp since I don't know where your dorm is."
"I could tell you if you want," Serena began but was cut off by Derek.
" That's okay, we'll have time for that later. Just meet me at the party." With that he chucked her under the chin and walked off with his buddies laughing and telling them something that caused a burst of laughter.
"I don't think that's a good idea Serena."
Serena turned around away from Derek's distant back to see Darien looking down at her with a concerned look on his face.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"Derek is a player and a pimp. Did you see that look he gave his buddies when you asked him to the party? He's going to use you and embarrass you if not something worse."
"What is worse? We are just going to the party together. It's not like we are going to sleep together in one of the upstairs bedrooms," Serena replied.
"Derek expects a lot from the women he dates. If your not ready for him you are going to regret this whole date. I don't want to see you get hurt and I'm afraid with Derek you will get hurt."
"Stop, please," Serena held out one hand and shook her head. "Nothing is going to happen with us. We are just going to go to the party, have a good time, and maybe kiss goodnight. He is not going to hurt me. Didn't you see the way he looked in my eyes? He is going to treat me right."
" Serena," Darien began.
"No please stop. I don't need you worrying about me when I can take care of myself. It's not like you are my boyfriend." Suddenly Serena stopped as she looked into Darien's face and cringed slightly. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean to hurt you Darien but I can take care of myself. I'm a big girl." Serena looked at her watch then behind her and back at Darien. "I have to go to class now but I'll see you later." She smiled up at him and walked off towards the art building while Darien watched.
"I'm not worried about you taking care of yourself Serena, I'm worried that you won't be strong enough for him." Darien muttered to him self as Serena disappeared into the crowd.
Chapter three will be out next week. In the meantime please read and review or send all comments, questions, suggestions, and flames to . Thank you!