Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters, only this story. Maybe I could own Sailor Moon if I….
It all started four years ago on that dreadful day when I found out that I failed my math test…again. My mother would kill me if she found out, so I decided to ball the paper up and throw it away. But no, I wouldn't be that lucky. No, I wouldn't get to make my awful grade go away just by throwing it away. And no, my day didn't get any better, because unfortunately, someone happened to be behind me to receive that paper ball. You guessed it. It was none other than Darien Shields.
Darien and I were archenemies. From that day on we couldn't stand each other. He was constantly picking on me and calling me meatball head, because of the 'unique' way I wore my hair. I couldn't stand him and I told him so, many times in my own choice of words.
Then Raye started chasing after him. I saw them go on a few dates and I hate to admit it, but I started to feel a little jealous. I didn't know why. I kept telling myself that it wasn't like I liked him or something and I had no right to but into his personal life. We weren't that close, because we were always at each other's necks, but I daresay we somehow were friends.
I started to pay more attention to him and Raye. I could see that Darien wasn't as bad as I made him out to be, but was actually a gentleman. Somehow I knew he would be, but I chose to ignore it and only see the bad in him. I again felt a pang of jealousy pull at my heart.
Why couldn't he treat me like that? What did Raye have that I didn't?
After closer observation,I could tell that he didn't like Raye the way that she obviously liked him, but was just going out with her so that he wouldn't hurt her feelings. Maybe that was only wishful thinking, but the discovery eased my raging heart somewhat. But I was still jealous anyway. I was jealous, because while Darien was with Raye, he wasn't teasing me–––Raye was taking all of Darien's attention away from me.
How ironic that I actually missed my daily disputes with Darien. One would think that I would be grateful that Darien was distracted, thus no longer picking on me. But no, that was the problem precisely. The more time Darien spent with Raye, the less time he spent with me and the more jealous I became.
I couldn't understand why I was feeling this way. I felt guilty for not being happy for my friend. I should be happy that she's happy, but everytime I thought this that suspicion that Darien didn't really like Raye came back and I just had to find out the truth. I wouldn't feel so guilty if I knew that Darien didn't like Raye, as terrible as it sounds, but if he didn't like Raye than she would be hurt and I would have the right not to be happy for her.
How could I be happy for her knowing that her feelings for Darien wouldn't be returned?
So one day I asked Darien about him and Raye and he told me and I quote:
"I don't really like Raye that much. She's more like a friend to me. There's just something missing. She's just not my type"
That relieved me and I instantly felt guilty for feeling that way. I should be mad at him for the heartbreak that he was about to cause my friend. I should be feeling sad that she would get her heart broken, but instead I felt relieved. I don't know why. It's not like Darien and me would get together.
What was I thinking?
Darien and I get together! I almost laughed out loud. That was the most ridiculous idea I ever had. Get together! We could barely stand each other, much less get together. But despite the way he treated me that thought was more depressing than it was amusing.
I then asked him why he was going out with her and he told me that he knew that she has a crush on him and he was trying to find a way to let her down easily. Then he asked me why I cared so much and I told him that I was just curious and left, before he would become suspicious of my sudden interest in their 'relationship'. He was suspicious anyway…
It was at that moment that I realized I had some kind of feelings for Darien. I wasn't sure what type of feelings they were, but I knew I had feelings for him. I felt bad about it, because Raye had feelings for Darien also. Raye and I were pretty close. We fought a lot, but that was just because we cared about each other, if that makes any sense. That was just our way of telling each other that. And then it hit me with such force that it took my breath away.
What if that was what me and Darien were doing? Fighting to hide our true feelings for each other?
The thought that Darien might actually like me was enough to put a smile on my face.
Then one day Raye came to me crying hysterically and told me that Darien didn't have the same feelings for her as she did for him. I felt so sorry for her at that moment and tomorrow was Valentine's Day too. She looked so helpless and heartbroken. I couldn't remember a time when I ever saw Raye cry. I quickly comforted her and told her that everything would be okay. She finally calmed down and told me defiantly:
"I don't need Darien. That's just his lost. It just wasn't meant to be. If he rejected me than that must mean that he's not my soul mate, but my soul mate is waiting for me somewhere out there and I will find him and I'll show Darien what a mistake he made when he broke up with me!"
She told me this with so much determination in her voice, but I could tell that she was still hurting inside over the rejection. She thanked me and left and I sat on my living room couch thinking about what I should do next.
I quickly got up and found Darien. I asked him what happened. He told me that he took Raye out to dinner and told her as gently as he could that he didn't have the same feelings for her as she had for him and that she just got up and stormed out of the restaurant and that he didn't want to hurt her like that. I wanted to be mad at him, but I knew that what happened was inevitable. He just couldn't return Raye's feelings for him. Instead I told him that it was okay and that she was already getting over it.
He then said something that completely shocked me. I'll never forget those words and the way he said them…
Flashback
I started to walk towards the arcade door, preparing to go home, when he grabbed my arm.
"Serena, wait!"
Shocked, I turned around to look at him.
"What"
"Serena, I was just wondering…well I just wanted to know…if you'd…if you'd give me the pleasure of taking you out tomorrow night"
Woah! Wait a minute! Rewind that! Did he just ask me out?
Rewind
"Serena, I was just wondering…well I just wanted to know…if you'd…if you'd give me the pleasure of taking you out tomorrow night"
Okay! So I didn't just imagine that. He did just ask me out on a date. He really wants to go out with me! OH! MY! GOD! I can't believe it! I don't know what shocked me more at that moment. The fact that he was actually asking me out or that he was nervous about asking me. Darien nervous! I couldn't be right, surely he wasn't asking me out.
"W…why?" was my brilliant reply.
He told me that he had something important he wanted to tell me and then he took a deep breath and asked me again.
I didn't know what to say
What was I thinking?
Of course I knew what I wanted to say! Yes! Yes! YES!
What else was there to say?
But then I became cautious.
Why would he ask me out?
I asked myself again.
He could be setting me up to break my heart the way he did Raye's. Why shouldn't I believe that? He's never been nice to me before why should I believe what he said?
But then I looked at his face and I saw that he was holding his breath, anticipating my reply! He looked so sincere and like he'd be crushed if I said no. So I shocked him and I answered.
"Yes, I'd love to go out to dinner with you Darien"
He gave me a time and a place to meet him. And I left him standing there with his mouth hanging open. I could swear that before those arcade doors closed that I saw him leap in the air with his fist clenched in victory.
I walked home thinking one thing: He asked me to dinner. I truly couldn't believe it. I completely forgot about what happened between him and Raye. I was walking on cloud nine and I went to sleep dreaming of him.
I spent the rest of the next day getting ready for our date, whichI may remind you was on Valentine's Day. I, of course, took forever to get ready and was almost late…like always.
When I walked into the restaurant I saw Darien in the corner and he looked breathtaking. He looked…well…good. I couldn't believe I never noticed his good looks before and those eyes, they were mesmerizing. I sat down and he told me that I looked nice and I started to blush. After we ordered and started eating, he finally started to tell me why he asked me to come.
He looked at me and stared at me with such an intensity that he took my breath away. Then he looked into my eyes with those two intense blue orbs and said:
"I asked you to dinner, Serena, to tell you why I broke up with Raye."
When he said this my heart fell. He wanted to talk about Raye. He asked me here because he thought that I needed a better explanation about why he broke up with Raye! I had fallen into the same trap Raye had! He must have known that I was having such bitter thoughts because he hastily started talking again.
"Sure, everything I said earlier is true, but there was another reason why I broke up with her, Serena," he paused here as if he was trying to find the right words.
"At first I thought I did like Raye, but that was a lie. I only started going out with her to get my mind off of someone who has been haunting my dreams. Someone, who I can't get out of my head. Someone, who brightens up my day. This person is the real person I want to be with… Serena, that someone is… you."
While he was saying this I was wondering why is he telling me this? Is really so cold that he would ask me on a date just to tell me that he liked someone else? But when he said that he wanted me...I didn't know what to do. I was so shocked when he told me this. I didn't know what to say. I knew that I liked him too and I also knew that I wanted to be with him, but I couldn't help but feel guilty about Raye.
There I was about to agree to go out with the guy that broke her heart and my archenemy too! I asked him what we would do about Raye. He told me that like I said earlier she would get over it. I guessed he was right, but I still felt guilty anyway. But I still couldn't help enjoying my time with him. We spent the rest of the evening getting to know each other better. Him telling me that he had been too scared to approach me with his true feelings. That he had trouble admitting to himself that he liked me. Me admitting the same. That was the best Valentine's Day I had ever had and I went home in the best mood I had been in in a long time.
For the rest of that week, Darien and I continued to go out and enjoy each other's company. Raye finally found out one day and she was furious and called me a traitor. The pleasant feelings I had been feeling all week quickly faded away and the guilt quickly came back to take its place. I told Darien and he told me not to worry about it.
Raye avoided me for the rest of that week. The girls finally had had enough and pushed me and Raye into the same room…
Flashback
I walked towards Lita's house, not expecting a thing and actually looking forward to some of her cooking. When I rang her doorbell she pulled me in and literally shoved me down to the couch to sit next to Raye.
"I'm sick and tired of the two of you avoiding each other. I will not let two good friends like you break up over something so stupid. Instead of hiding from each other for the rest of your lives you two are just going to let it all out and tell each other how you feel. Right Now" demanded a very frustrated Lita.
I started. "I'm so sorry Raye. I didn't mean to hurt you and I feel absolutely terrible about whatever pain I've caused you. Can you please forgive me?" I asked her quietly, but she wasn't going to give in that easily.
"Forgive you!" she exclaimed hysterically. "You betrayed me! You knew I had feelings for Darien and you went in and took him away from me. How dare you? You evil, bitch!" Raye screamed as she walked over to me and slapped me with such brutal force my head spinned.
I was NOT expecting that. I couldn't believe what she just said. Sure I knew she was mad at me, but I thought that she'd get over it. And on top of that she slapped me! Oh no she didn't! I was sympathizing with her, but that was just going way too far. I had just lost any feelings of sympathy and guilt I had had for her at that moment.
"Oh hell no!" I screamed indignantly as I walked up to her. "I felt sorry for you, but you just went too far. Darien doesn't like you. He was just going out with you, because he pitied you. He never did like you and he never will. He likes me, so just get over it!" I screamed at her and shoved her down to the floor with the same brutal force, not caring whether I'd hurt her or her feelings or not.
"You stole him from me and you know it. I would make a much better girlfriend to him than a pathetic crybaby like you, you little," Raye screamed and started to charge at me, but was stopped by Lita.
"Calm down, Raye, and sit down, Serena. I am not about to let two of my best friends tear each other apart!" Lita told us sternly and sat us both down.
"Now you two are going to sit here and talk this out like civilized people," Lita told us in a don't-even-dare-and-mess-with-me tone of voice
Knowing that Lita could kick both of our butts with one hand tied behind her back when she was this pissed we both obeyed her and sat down quietly and I once again started.
"Raye," I said, trying to control the urge to call her a few colorful names dancing around in my head. I decided against it and went back to trying to symphatize. "I wouldn't have agreed to go out with Darien if I knew you still had feelings for him. You told me that you were over him and that he wasn't meant for you and that you would find someone else. I believed you, so I agreed to go out with him. I really like him. We both realized that the only reason we both were at each other's throats so much was because that was the only way that we knew how to show our true feelings for each other. But, if it bothers you Raye, I'll stop seeing him, if you want me to," I told her quietly with my head bowed low and my tears flowing freely now, trying to resist the urge to wail and sob and become that pathetic crybaby she accused me of being. I really hated the thought of choosing between her and Darien. I don't know what I would do if that happened.
"You would really do that for me? I'm sorry, Serena. I had no idea you felt that way. I was just overreacting. You're right, I did say all of that stuff. I guess I was just upset that you got Darien and I didn't. I guess that deep down inside I knew that you and Darien had feelings for each other, but I didn't want to admit it. I guess because I can't find my soul mate, I felt bitter and didn't want you to find yours. I'm sorry, Serena. Will you forgive me?" Raye asked in a choked-up whisper.
"I forgive you," I replied and we both hugged.
End of Flashback
Everything was fine after that little episode. Darien and I continued to go out and slowly everyone got used to the shocking fact that Darien and I didn't hate each other, but instead liked, maybe even loved, each other. Andrew was of course shocked, but he got over it…eventually.
Then on our One-Year Anniversary Darien took me out and told me something that I'll never forget…
Flashback
"Serena, this last year has been the best year of my life. You've bought me so much happiness and have really brightened up my life. If you never came into my life, I don't know what would have happened to me. You're the best thing that has ever happened to me. Serena, I guess what I'm trying to say is I love you." Darien told me in an earnest voice filled with love andtruth.
I was overwhelmed with happiness to hear them words from him. I longed to hear them. I've wanted to say them for quite some time actually, but I was too afraid to. I was so happy I felt like crying. He loves me! Someone loves me! Oh it was one of the greatest days in my life! I've finally found the right one! He loves me! And with these thoughts still buzzing in my head I threw my arms around him and whispered the words he so obviously wanted to hear.
"I love you too, Darien"
"I promise to always be here for you, Sere. We'll always be together forever," Darien promised me.
"Together Forever," I also promised,
And we kissed.
End of Flashback
It has been four years since that fateful Valentine's Day when we declared our love for each other and whispered those promises to each other. And it is exactly four years later that I found out that some promises…can be broken…
AN: Woah! There sure were a lot of flashbacks, huh? This was kinda Serena going over her memories before she started to tell her story. So, what do you think? Did you like it? Disappointed? Are you ready for the next chapter? Are you excited? Tell me please! If you have any questions at all feel free to ask. You know the drill. I need at least five reviews before the next chapter goes up. So review and tell me what you thought of the first part of my first fanfic: Two Can Play That Game.
LilSha2Cool .