I Need You
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Nine
"You sure dressed up for your date," Darien said dryly.
Serena stared down at her pink overalls.
"You're completely right, Darien," she said, "I should go change into rags."
Darien ignored her and sat down on the couch grumpily.
"And it's not a date," Serena said, "I'm just going out with a friend. I need
to interact with people outside of this house, you know."
Darien didn't answer.
"Can you watch the door for me? I have to use the washroom..." Serena said.
Just as Serena disappeared through the living room doors, the doorbell rang.
Darien hesitated, then walked to the front doors with a frustrated grunt.
"Hey," Rick said with a smile, "How's it going, Darien?"
"All right," the older guy said, "Come on in."
Rick followed Darien down the steps to the living room and sat down on the
couch with him.
"So, what are you two doing today?" Darien asked, trying to sound casual.
Rick shrugged, mirroring his nonchalance, "Movie... Dinner... The usual."
"The usual?" Darien repeated, "The usual... date stuff?"
Rick looked at Darien curiously, then nodded, "Yeah."
Darien scoffed. "Serena doesn't seem to think it's a date."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, she said she's just going out with a friend."
Rick took a moment before he answered.
"I see... I was hoping this wouldn't happen... I didn't know that you'd be
jealous if we-"
Darien turned to face him directly, "I'm just trying to protect Serena. I
don't want her going out with some loser."
"What is that supposed to-?"
"Hey guys!" Serena said cheerfully as she stepped into the room, "What are we
talking about?"
Rick and Darien turned simultaneously to face her, then answered in unison,
"Sports."
"I thought so," Serena said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, let's go," Rick said, standing up.
Darien stared at him meanfully as he escorted Serena out the door.
"Don't be out too late," Darien called after them, "Mina probably wants you to
read her a story."
"I'll try," Serena said.
- - -
"Table for O'Neil," Rick said.
Serena gasped in wonder at the beautiful French restaurant Rick had taken her
to. The elegant atmosphere of the place was overwhelming.
"Rick, are you sure we want to eat here?" Serena asked, "I won't be able to
afford much..."
"What?" Rick said, "I'm paying, of course."
He stared at her for a moment in disbelief. Was Darien actually telling him
the truth? Serena had no idea what he was trying to do?
"No way!" Serena said, "You already paid for the movie, which was absolutely
ridiculous. The least you can do is let me treat you to something..."
Rick nearly fell down on the floor. Yep, she was clueless all right.
"This way please," the waiter said and led them to a small table in the corner
of the restaurant.
The two sat down and menus were placed before them.
"Look at these prices..." Serena murmured, trying not to let the waiters hear,
"Listen, if we leave right now, maybe we can-"
"Serena, I'm paying for this," Rick said sternly, "It's not a big deal."
"You must have a dozen part-time jobs," Serena said.
"Actually," Rick said, "My family is pretty well-off. They own a company in
Switzerland. I pay for my tuition with my part-time job as a baseball coach
at Lita's school, but my parents help me with the rent and everything."
"You mean you live alone in that huge house?" Serena asked in awe.
"Yeah," Rick said, "But anyway, order anything you want. It's on me."
"Well..." Serena said with a growing smile, "If you really don't mind..."
- - -
"Oh, this is so good!" Serena said, lifting a forkful of lobster to her mouth,
"I could get used to this!"
Rick laughed, "Then come out with me more often."
Serena sighed, "I'd love to, but with Darien and the girls, I hardly-"
The familiar tone of her cell phone interrupted her. Serena looked at the call
display and muttered, "He must have known I was talking about him..."
- - -
"Serena? It's Darien."
Darien waited for Serena to finish chewing something on the other end of the
line.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Well..." Darien said hesitantly, "Mina won't go to sleep. I tried to tell her
a story, but she said I don't 'do the voices right'... So..."
Serena giggled, "I should have known. Put her on."
- - -
Rick waited patiently with amusement as Serena finished her fairy tale in the
French restaurant.
"So... Handel and Gretal returned home safely, and they were very careful from
that day on about where they went. They knew never to go to a stranger's house
again."
"Hey," Darien's voice came on the other line.
"Whoa!" Serena exclaimed, "Don't scare me like that!"
Darien chuckled, "Mina's asleep. Thanks."
"That's what I'm here for," Serena said, "Now, if you don't mind..."
"Right," Darien said quietly, "Well, have fun. But don't stay out late, okay?"
"Okay, dad," Serena said clicked her cell phone off before Darien could come
up with a comeback.
"Sorry," Serena said to Rick, blushing, "It's just that... Mina's used to..."
"I know," Rick said, "You do such an amazing job with the girls."
"Thanks," Serena said brightly, "I know we've only lived together for five
months, but I feel like I've been with them forever. They're so wonderful,
especially Mina."
"Yeah, she's a cute one," Rick said.
"Anyway, let's finish dinner!" Serena said enthusiastically and picked up
her fork and knife again.
- - -
"Well, good night," Rick said gently at the doorstep. Deciding to finally be
bold, he took hold of Serena's hand.
"'Night," Serena said with a smile and gave his hand a quick squeeze, then
broke free and walked into the house, leaving Rick dumbfounded.
"Can't believe Darien forgot to turn off the lights..." Serena muttered as she
went inside, before noticing Darien asleep on one of the armchairs in the
living room.
She walked over and put her hands on his shoulders, shaking him gently.
"Huh..." he mumbled, then opened his eyes slowly, "Hey, you're back."
"What are you doing out here?" Serena asked, "Shouldn't you be in bed?"
"I... I fell asleep, I guess..." Darien said groggily.
"Were you waiting up for me?" Serena teased.
"Of course not!" Darien retorted, "I was doing my homework here, and..."
Both of them turned to stare at the coffee table with nothing on top.
"Uh, so, how was your non-date?" Darien asked, quickly changing the subject.
"Oh, the non-date was great," Serena said, to Darien's dismay, "Can you believe
that Rick's family is really rich? You wouldn't be able to tell cuz he always
dresses so casually."
"Well, that's nice," Darien said unenthusiastically, "Looks and money, what
more can you want?"
"Stop that," Serena said, "I've told you, we're just friends."
Darien forced a smile and stood up, "All right, all right, I'm going to bed
then..."
- - -
Raye, Lita, and Amy rushed out of the schoolbus excitedly.
"Mommy! Dar Dar!" they cried, jumping into their temporary parents' arms.
"We've missed you!" Serena said, hugging Lita tightly, "How was the trip?"
"Great!" Lita said enthusiastically.
"Did you get to see the whales like you wanted to?" Darien asked Amy.
"Yes," Amy said, "They're not what you'd quite expect from reading a textbook."
Serena and Darien exchanged smiles.
"All right," Darien said, lifting Amy and Lita up with both arms, "Let's get
you girls inside and changed. Serena will make a big dinner and you girls can
tell us all about the trip."
- - -
"Mommy..." Amy said as she walked into the kitchen, "Did the letter with my
math contest results come yet?"
"I'm not sure, Amy," Serena said as she stirred the pot of roast beef, "The
mail's in the living room, why don't you check for yourself?"
"I hope it's here," the blue-haired little girl said.
Amy found the stack of mail and rummaged through the bills and advertisements,
a nervous smile on her face as she found her envelope.
She opened it eagerly and stared at the paper inside.
Her eyes widened in shock then in disappointment.
"Hey Amy," Darien said as he came down the stairs, "Are those your math
results?"
Amy nodded silently and put the letter down. "I'm going to my room for a
minute..."
Darien stared after her worriedly as she went upstairs, then went to look at
the results himself.
"A 98..." he said quietly to himself.
- - -
Darien knocked on Amy's door and stepped inside. She was sitting on her bed
and staring out the window.
"Amy, what's wrong?" he asked softly as he sat down beside her.
"Nothing..."
"Do you not like your math contest results?" he asked gently.
Amy shook her head, "It's a high mark..."
"Yeah, it is," Darien agreed, "You don't seem very thrilled though..."
Amy bit back tears, "I... I got a hundred last time. And the time before
that..."
Darien closed his eyes thoughtfully, "Amy, a 98 is an excellent score. You
don't have to push yourself so hard."
"I know, Dar Dar," Amy said, her eyes watery, "But I had a perfect record and
now it's ruined. I want to get perfect every time!"
Darien put his arm around the little girl, "You know, Amy, that's the way I
thought too when I was in elementary school and high school. I worked very
hard to get to the top. Sometimes I did, but sometimes I didn't, and when
I didn't do very well, I felt very disappointed. I was very stressed about
every exam I write. I don't want that to happen to you."
Amy nodded, blinking away the tears.
"Even if you get a 70, or a 60, or a 50, I'd still be very proud of you. I
know you always try your best and that's enough for me."
Amy smiled and leaned against Darien, "Really?"
"Yes," Darien said, "Don't worry so much about these things, all right?"
- - -
Serena felt her heart warm as she watched Amy hug Darien with a huge smile on
her face. How did he make these kids so happy?
He was going to be a wonderful father one day.
She was about to push the door open fully to remind them of dinner when the
doorbell rang.
- - -
Rick waited anxiously outside the door as he rang the bell again.
"Hey," Serena said as she opened the door.
"Hey," he answered with a smile, "I... I tried to call you last night, but..."
"Oh, my cell phone went into a coma," Serena said, "It happens every couple of
months. Very strange."
Rick nodded nervously and took a deep breath, "Anyway, I just wanted to ask
you... if you wanted to go to this gala on Friday night. It's this thing at
work, and everyone's required to bring a date..."
"A date...?" Serena echoed, "I..."
"Serena..." Rick said, "If it's okay with you, I'd like to see you... on a
regular basis. Maybe on more things like this."
Serena stared at him in shock.
Darien was right. Rick really had feelings for her.
"Rick, I..." Serena said softly, "I'm sorry, I don't... I don't think..."
Rick looked at her expectantly.
"I don't think that's a good idea..." Serena finished.
"What, why?" Rick asked, "You don't already have a boyfriend..."
Serena bit her lip, "Yeah, I don't... But, I don't think I... feel that way
about you."
Rick frowned, confused, "Serena, if there's something about me you don't like,
I'd be happy to change it."
"No, there's nothing about you I don't like," Serena said quickly, "I mean,
you're attractive, you're smart, you come from a great background... You're...
you're an amazing guy, who girls would... would THROW themselves at."
Rick shook his head, even more perplexed, "If I'm as great as you say I am,
why don't you want to be with me?"
Serena took a moment to answer.
"I... I don't think love works that way. I mean, if I'm in love with somebody,
I, I wouldn't care about these things. It wouldn't matter if he's kind of
mean... It wouldn't matter if... if he doesn't come from a rich family, or HAVE
a family at all... It wouldn't matter if he likes to tease people and make fun
of... like, of their hair. Do you know what I mean?"
Rick stared at the ground dejectedly, "I guess you're really in love with
Darien then..."
Serena frowned, "What, Darien? What gave you that idea?"
"You just described him," Rick said simply.
Before Serena could answer, Rick nodded sullenly, "Well, I guess I won't
bother you anymore. Why don't you think about it some more and let me know if
you change your mind?"
Rick's eyes were pained as he turned and walked back to his house, his steps
dragging heavily behind him.
Serena's eyes widened.
Then she put her hand over her mouth.
"Oh no," she said softly, "Oh no oh no oh no. I... I just admitted that..."
Mouth still slightly open from shock, Serena turned to go back into the house...
... and found herself face to face with Darien.
