The Perfect Prank

Chapter XX. What Are Friends For?

By: Sailor Angie

AN: We're getting down the end. And for those that are worried for Darien and Serena, would I call this a D/S fic if they weren't together? Read, Review, and Enjoy!

"And now I present to you the kindergarten class of 2004." Sammy's teacher proclaimed to proud parents.

Serena, Mina and Andrew stood up to applaud Sammy as he beamed at them. Soon after the applause faded all of the children scrambled off the stage. Sammy ran toward Serena; she bent down and extended her arms to catch him. However, he ran strait past her.

"Darien!" Sammy exclaimed as Darien lifted Sammy into his arms.

Serena's face paled, she approached Mina, "I forgot one of Sammy's presents, could you give him a ride back to the house?"

"Make Darien do it." Mina was confused as to why Serena had asked her.

"I told him not to come, he should be studying for his finals. Please bring Sammy and meet me at the house. And tell Darien to go home and study." Serena lied.

"Okay, but why can't you tell him yourself?" Mina questioned.

"He won't listen to me. I gotta go." Serena was disappointed as she saw Sammy speaking animatedly with Darien. She left.

Mina walked over to Andrew and Darien after Serena had left, "Andy, c'mere." Mina pulled him away from Darien and Sammy; neither noticed, "What's up with Serena and Darien?" She asked him.

"I dunno, he's been really cranky lately, but he goes through phases." Andrew thought Mina was over reacting. "Why?"

"Serena just took off without so much as looking at Darien and told me to take Sammy home and insist that Darien go home and study."

"So?" Andrew shrugged.

"SO!?" She glared at him, "So obviously something happened. But what?" Mina looked thoughtful.

"They probably just broke up or something, big deal." Andrew shook his head.

"Big deal!?" Mina raised her voice, "Of course it's a big deal. Would you even care if I broke up with you?"

"Mina, don't say things like that. Of course I would care." He rubbed her back.

"Well, what kind of friends would we be if we didn't care if our friends broke up?" She pouted.

"Who said they broke up, maybe they just had a fight. Maybe she tried to pull another prank on him." Andrew suggested.

"What did you say?" Mina spoke slowly.

"Maybe they had a fight?"

"No, after that." Mina hurried him.

"Maybe she tried to pull another prank on him?"

"Why would you say that?"

"Darien and I were talking about it the other day." He stated.

"Why?" Mina began to panic.

"He asked me about the perfect prank." Andrew didn't know what Mina was getting to.

"WHAT!?" She spazzed, "What did you tell him!?" Mina exclaimed.

"Uhh, everything?" Andrew tried to shield himself from the incoming blow.

"Andrew, you idiot! He didn't know!" She screamed at him.

"Whoops?" Andrew didn't know what to say.

"Mina?" Sammy tugged on Mina's shirt.

"Where's Darien?" Mina looked around.

"He said he had to go study." Sammy searched past Mina, "Where's Serena?"

Mina didn't know what to do, "We're gonna go meet Serena at home for some cake and ice cream."

"Can I have a piggy-back ride to the car?" Sammy turned to Andrew.

"You betcha buddy!" Andrew knelt down while Mina helped Sammy climb onto Andrew.

"What are we gonna do?" Mina whispered to Andrew on the way to the car.

"I'll talk to Darien and try to find out what happened. You talk to Serena."

"Andy, if Serena hasn't told me anything by now, I know her well enough to know that she'll deny everything if I ask her."

"We'll just have to do our best."

"I'll never forgive myself if they break up because of a prank. The only reason why she did it was to have an excuse to get close to him without admitting that she liked him." Mina buckled Sammy into to the back seat.

Darien sat at home later that night re-reading a book before one of his finals. The phone rang, interrupting his thoughts. To make sure it wasn't Serena he let the machine pick up. He still hadn't changed the message. . . he missed her voice.

"Leave a message after the beep!" Serena's voice stated cheerfully. Darien sighed.

"Hey it's me, ah, I don't know where you are--"

Darien picked up the phone, "Sorry Andy, I just got out of the shower, what's up?" Darien lied.

"That's what I was gonna ask you, what's up with you and Serena?" Andrew inquired.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean." Darien delayed the inevitable.

"It was kinda hard to miss the cold shoulder you and Serena gave to each other today. Did you guys get in a fight?" Andrew inferred.

"Kind of. We just were having some problems, and we both decided it would be best if we saw other people." Darien winced, he couldn't remember a time when he had lied to Andrew.

"I hope it doesn't have anything to do with the prank, because you know that she sto--"

"It has nothing to do with the prank." Darien cut him off, "Andy, I hate to cut this short, but I really have to study for my finals. Talk to you later." He hung up the phone.

Andrew stared at the phone in awe before putting it back on the hook. Darien had never hung up on him before.

"No, I completely understand, it's really not a problem. Have a good night, bye." Amy hung up the phone.

"What now?" Greg didn't look up from his book. He sat on the floor of Amy's room with piles of books and papers surrounding him.

"Remember how my friend Chisato was going to visit from Japan?"

"Mmhmm," he recalled.

"Well, her grandmother just died, and she has to go to the funeral and such. I feel horrible, I think they were pretty close. So we have to reschedule her visit." Amy was disappointed.

"That's too bad Ames; we'll just have to have fun by ourselves." Greg smiled, Amy blushed.

"How are we supposed to have fun by ourselves when you have to tape Darien's graduation ceremony?" She asked.

"If Chisato's not coming with us, I really should give that ticket back to Darien's mom. Each family only gets a certain amount." Greg changed the subject.

"Do you think she'd mind if I gave it to Serena? I heard her talking to Mina a while ago about how she couldn't go." Amy suggested.

"I don't see why not." Greg fished the ticket out of his backpack and handed it to Amy, "Hurry back, I'll miss you." His eyes smiled behind his glasses.

"You're spending the night right?" Amy made her way to the door.

"I'm not gonna get any work done after you get back, am I?" Greg joked.

"Nope," Amy shook her head and closed the door behind her.

She made her way down the hall and knocked on Serena and Mina's room door.

Mina answered, "I swear to god it wasn't us, we stopped pulling pranks first semester." Mina was on the defensive.

Amy laughed, "Calm down Mina, is Serena here?"

"Somebody say my name?" Serena's head popped out from behind her desk.

"I know you couldn't get a seat to Darien's graduation, but Greg ended up with an extra ticket, cuz he's taping it for Darien's mom."

"Oh, ahh--" Serena started.

Mina thought this was the perfect opportunity to test Serena, "Isn't this great, you wanted to see him walk down the aisle."

"Thanks anyways Amy, but I don't think I'm going." Serena tried.

"Did something happen between you and Darien?!" Mina faked freaking out.

"No, it's just--"

"Just what? Why wouldn't you want to go unless something was wrong?" Mina badgered her.

"You're right; I should go." She grabbed the ticket from Amy and scowled behind Mina's back as Amy excused herself.

AN: Somewhat a filler chapter, don't shoot me. I thought the banter between Andy and Mina was comical. Once again, they are modeled after a couple I know in real life, and I could totally picture them arguing like that. Oh well. Please review, I really want to know what you all think.

Preview --- Chapter XXI. VideoCam Confession --- Serena somehow manages to gather enough courage to show up at Darien's graduation. However, when she tells everything to Amy, will Amy be able to salvage Darien and Serena's relationship with the new knowledge she has. Or will a video tape do it for her?