Crossing the boundaries
Chapter 4: Ideas
"I can't go back mom. I can't" Serena sobbed at her mother's feet. Her mother, Ikuko was sitting on the couch reading People magazine. She had seen Serena's red eyes and beckoned her over. "Why Serena what happened?" Ikuko asked concerned. "Everyone at school…they think I'm a…tramp. All because some popular girl's boyfriend likes me. I can't face them mom. I just can't." Serena sobbed uncontrollably. Ikuko lifted Serena's chin and looked her straight in the eye. "Listen Serena. Your father was never a quitter. He always strived to make himself better. He never let people put him down. When he was doing his research his colleagues used to criticize his work and that never stopped him. Serena what I'm trying to say is that never let people bring you down. Your perfect and don't let anybody tell you lesser. Those kids at your school are just clones following after one another. But you Serena are a leader. And you should believe that in here and here." Ikuko pointed at Serena's heart and her head. "I know but…" "No buts Serena. Just believe in yourself and all will be solved. Trust me." As soon as Ikuko finished her sentence the phone rang. "That's probably your cousin. She's been bugging me about the tax collectors for days." Ikuko hugged Serena and ran to pick up the phone. "Yeah trust in myself. Sure sounds easy." Serena sighed and lay down the couch.
Darien pushed aside his coffee table in his apartment. He didn't have any parents and Andrew had helped him with the place. Besides it would officially be his house at the end of the year. He looked at his phone. He had some messages. "Wow…guess these people just can't wait." Darien said to himself sarcastically. He pressed the play button and walked over the refrigerator. "Hey Darien it's me Ray. I was thinking if I could come over. I know your probably pissed about the way I was acting today and I thought maybe we could talk. Well call me, love you." Ray's voice echoed through the room. "Sure Ray I'll call you. When I'm over this anger to pound your face out." Darien replied to the machine. "Hey Dare, it's me Andrew. The guys are having a keg party tonight. Hope you could make it. Mina's going and she's trying to get Serena to come. With Serena's popularity points I doubt she'll be going. Well give me a call and tell me what you decide." Andrew's message was like any other. Quick, persistent and straight to the point. That's why Darien and Andrew were so close. They were exactly the same. "Hey Darien it's me Lita. Just calling to say thank you for helping Serena out. She tells me that she doesn't want to talk to you but I know you had nothing to do with those flyers. But anyway thanks." Lita's voice was rushed and she hung up quickly. "Yeah I just wish Serena thought the same." Darien sighed and flopped down onto his couch. He drank his iced tea in one gulp and grabbed his guitar. He played a couple notes and then an idea struck him. He'd dedicate a song to Serena. In the talent show. Then she'd realize the truth. He grabbed his notebook and a pen and began to think
" That plan worked like a total charm! Classical!" Ray's friend Angela laughed. "Of course. I just wish I could have seen the look on her face when she read it. Maybe that'll teach her lesson. Half the school thinks she's a tramp and that's great!" Ray laughed as she painted her nails a sky blue color. "Ray, you're a complete mastermind. Now your free of that tramp and able to date Darien in peace." Her other friend Sameera giggled as she applied a coat of lip-gloss onto her full lips. "Well I called Darien and he hasn't called me back. Do you think he's upset?" Ray asked as she eyed her phone. "No. He's probably thinking about how to thank you." Sameera replied. "Well that keg party can wait. I need to speak with Darien." Ray sighed. "Look Ray one of the things you should know about dating is never to look desperate. If you chase around Darien to long all he's going to do is diss you and probably break up with you. You have to learn because it has happened to me." Angela flopped onto the neon pink beanbag chair next to Sameera. "Alright. Well fine, we'll go to that keg party and enjoy ourselves. I won't have Darien in mind at all." Ray stood up and added some hair polisher onto her already raven black, silky hair. "Party time ladies!!" Angela laughed and put one her high heels.
"Serena please that keg party is going to rock. Forget everyone else." Mina pleaded over the phone. "No Mina. I'm sorry but I'm not about to make a complete fool out of myself. That can stay in school. And I'm not going if Darien's going to be there either. Point blank." Serena replied stubbornly. Mina sighed. "Alright. I could come over to your house then. I'll tell Andrew that I need to spend some time with you after what happened." Mina suggested. She felt it was wrong to even try going to the keg party while Serena was hurting. "Don't worry about it. Ami's coming over for a while. She's renting some movies. You have fun Mina k?" Serena tried miserably at sounding cheerful but she knew she failed at it. "Okay. If you need me call my cell and I'll give you all the details." Mina and Serena loved gossip and she knew Serena would never deny hearing just a little. "Okay. Every single detail deal?" Serena asked. "Deal. Alright, well that's Andrew so I'll call you later." Mina replied and hung up. Serena looked at the receiver and sighed. If only her social life wasn't completely ruined she'd be able to go.
"Did you check if Darien's going?" Mina asked as she put on her pink jacket. "He's not going. Said he's got some stomach virus. I told him I'd drop by and make him some tea after the party." Andrew replied. Mina dug in her purse and found her keys. She locked her door and turned to Andrew. "Is Ray going to?" Mina asked. "I doubt it. You know since Darien isn't going she'll probably bug him the whole night to open up the door." Andrew laughed. "Then why doesn't he just break up with her? She's so…self-absorbed." Mina asked as she exited her building. "I have no clue. Darien is a very complex person." Andrew looked over at Mina and smiled. She looked so beautiful tonight. "Oh how could I forget?" He pulled out a wrapped box from his pocket. "What's this?" Mina asked smiling. "Open it." Andrew put his hands in his pocket. Mina opened it and inside was a beautiful pair of diamond earrings. "Oh my god it's…beautiful." Mina gasped. "I thought you'd look even more beautiful tonight if you had such nice earrings to go with you. Even though you don't need them since your already beautiful." Andrew blushed. Mina smiled and kissed him. "I love you Andrew." Mina hugged him tight. "I love you too Mina. Just know I'll be here. Always." Andrew whispered into her ear.
Darien looked down at his notepad. The lyrics were perfect as well as the song. Unluckily the talent show was two weeks away. Pretty long to explain how he felt. "Just wait Darien. The timing will be perfect. Hopefully this will show her." Darien said to himself. He stood up and stretched. He looked around his boring house. "Jeez is it just me or is my house a complete bore?" Darien thought. He turned on his radio and listened to the soft slow melodies of the piano. It reminded him of Serena's playing. Her soft, baby skinned hands playing the keys sending you into complete and utter bliss. "If only I could have you Serena. My life would be complete." Darien spoke to the radio. He wished so bad that he could hold her and never let go. To protect her from the entire world's harm. She was so perfect he just couldn't understand why anybody would try to hurt her. They just don't understand that's all.
"Hey Greg how are you?" Ray asked as she entered the keg party. "I'm good Ray. Haven't seen you around." Ray batted her eyelashes flirtatiously. "Hmm… so where's your boyfriend?" Greg looked around hoping Darien wasn't watching their little interaction. "He's not here. There's no need to worry about him right now." Ray touched Greg's face lightly. "Whoa. Ray what's going on?" Greg replied smiling peevishly. "Can we get some drinks Greg?" Ray smiled. "Sure come on follow me." Greg grabbed her hand and led her into the kitchen. "Some Alize would be dandy." Ray replied seductively. She knew Greg was falling for her. She knew it was wrong but she couldn't spend this party alone. Not for the world. Greg handed a cup and he filled it up with some Alize. Ray sipped some and spoke. "So this is a really nice keg party." She looked around. People were drinking and dancing like there was no tomorrow. Then she spotted Mina and Andrew. "Damnit." She whispered. "What happened?" Greg asked. "How about we go somewhere quiet and talk Greg?" Ray asked as she led him away from the crowd. She'd score tonight for sure.
A/N: Ha! Hello my fellow reviewers. Here's chapter 4 and Chapter 5 should be up shortly.