Disclaimer: I don't own Sailormoon or any of its characters. They belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Author's Notes: Hi, guys! This is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE. Please read and REVIEW! That's all! Thanks!
High School Life
by Maya Kitajima
Spring: The Contest
Serena opened her locker and got the book she needed for her next class.
"Ooh…I see you're still alive, Serena." She flinched as she heard that mocking voice for the first time that new year. She spun around and locked her eyes to her red ones.
"Go away, Candice, before Darien gets here." Darien had said to her earlier that he will meet her there and he'll walk her to her classroom. And truly, she's worried that if Darien catches 'the Laurent girl' bothering her, he'll do something he's not supposed to do.
"You can't always depend on Darien, can you? I do know you can continually say that to get rid of me."
"But I'm telling the truth. He's gonna meet me here and walk me to class."
"And who are you that he's even wasting time to accompany you to the classroom?" Serena raised her eyebrows.
"He's my friend, Candice."
"Yes. JUST a friend and nothing more than that." Serena flinched and wondered if she would tell this girl that she's his BEST friend AND girlfriend. "Just wait, Serena. You'll see that a friend isn't always loyal."
"Hey, don't insult him. I know he will never betray me."
"But what if he does?" Candice laughed sarcastically. "Anyway, kindergarten girl, where's your cute bunny backpack? Did you realize that it's just for babies and replaced it with that trash-looking red backpack?" Serena glanced at the new red bag Darien got for her that Christmas. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted.
"Hi, ladies." Serena's heart jumped.
Oh no! It's Darien! Oh, I hope he won't do anything bad to Candice.
She saw Candice's face change from mocking to nervous.
"Oh, Darien! I was-I was just telling Serena how pretty her new red bag is." She lied. Serena glared at her but didn't say anything.
"Oh…this bag that I bought her last Christmas? It is cute, isn't it?" Serena laughed inwardly as she studied Candice's expression change when she found out that Darien gave it to her.
"Uh…yes! Right!" Darien smiled and held Serena's hand.
"Well, we got to go now, Laurent. See you around." He announced as he turned around and pulled her with him. Candice's jaw hung as she watched them leave, their hands holding each other.
"Thanks for not embarrassing her, Dare."
"I know you won't like it if I did, Sere." Serena smiled and decided not to tell him about the conversation she had with Candice. However, she did not know that Darien had heard all of it.
It's better if I won't tell her I heard what Laurent told her. Besides, I'm so happy that finally she's able to defend herself. She does need it next year when I'm not here anymore to guard her.
"Before we end this day, class, I would like to announce to you something very important. It is in this school's history that every year we have some contest that would exemplify the significance of a certain subject. The administrators and teachers have agreed that this year we will have Speech/English as the subject and the theme would be impromptu speaking." The girl at the corner of the room stared at the teacher, bored. The news didn't catch her interest a bit.
"The contest will go like this. In every section there will be a certain student that the teacher will choose to be the representative of the class. This person will compete with the other representatives of the other classes. There will be three winners-the second runner-up, the first runner-up and the champion. However, it is only the champion who will be allowed to join the inter-batch competition, where in the champions of each batch will compete." The room was filled with whispers—some excited, some bored.
"Today, class, I will announce the representative of this class." The whispers grew and became louder that Serena could hear it. She rolled her eyes with boredom.
This is totally uninteresting! I don't care who the representative will be. I just want to get out of here fast!
Her seatmate, Molly, leaned towards her.
"Hey, who do you think it will be?"
"I don't know and I don't care."
"Come on. I think it will be Amy Anderson…or Candice…they're the ones who excel in English."
"Yeah, maybe."
"Silence please." The teacher announced. The room grew quiet and everyone anticipated.
"The representative of class I-3 will be…Serena Thompson!" Nobody said anything. Like everybody else, Serena was dumfounded. She stared at the teacher, subconsciously waiting for him to say he made a mistake.
"Congratulations, Miss Thompson. I know everyone here is surprised I chose her. But unknown to all of you, Miss Thompson's grades in English had increased so much that she surpassed Miss Laurent and had tied with Miss Anderson. Once again, Congratulations, Miss Thompson. I know you will do everything to win." Serena snapped out of her trance and stood up.
"But, sir, why me? Why not Amy?"
"Because I want it to be you, Serena." Serena opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. Ignoring Serena, the teacher dismissed the class. Her classmates congratulated her as she grabbed her things and went out wordlessly.
What am I gonna do? I can't join in that contest!
"I can't believe this is happening to me!"
"Believe it, Serena. You're actually very lucky. If you win this contest, you'll even have prize money. Besides, it's not that scary as you think it is. You'll stand there and just say what comes to your mind."
"You don't understand. When I entered Cambridge High I were a failing student. And I know I still am…I'm even very surprised I'm tied up with Amy. This is a dream! I promise!"
"This isn't! This is real, Serena." He smiled as something came to his mind. "Come here and I'll show you this isn't a dream." Although confused, Serena went towards him.
"What will you do?" She asked. Darien touched her face, leaned forward and kissed her fully on the lips. Serena was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected him to kiss her. But she encircled her hands around his neck and kissed him back.
"Do you still think this is a dream?" He asked as they parted. They were still in each other's arms and their foreheads touched. Serena's swollen red lips smiled.
"Mmm…I still need to be convinced a little more."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes…very sure."
"Okay then."
Darien pulled her with him to the couch and started kissing her again.
Serena's hands shook with his knees. In a minute, the winner of the Inter-class Impromptu Speaking would be announced.
She was very nervous…and very confused.
I don't know if I want to win or not. My speech turned out okay, and because of that I'm expecting that I would win. But then if I do, there'll be another contest after this—the inter-batch. And I don't want to compete again. I wish I will get second or third place, but not first.
Her heart jumped as the head judge took the microphone.
"I know we are all very excited and nervous. So now, I'll be announcing the winner." She paused. "The second runner-up is from…class I-1, Miss Erika Martin." The audience applauded as Erika took her certificate and shook her hands with the judge. "The first runner-up is…"
Oh…please let it be me…please let it be me…
"…Francis Johanssen from I-5!"
Serena's heart shrank.
Well, there are only two more choices. It's either I lose or I'm the winner.
"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen! The champion for the inter-class contest and the one who's going to compete in the inter-batch is…from I-3! Miss Serena Thompson!"
Her whole body froze. She was so shocked that the girl beside her had to help her get up. Out of herself, Serena went up the stage and took her certificate and shook hands with the judge.
This is really a dream…
I am going to kill that guy when I get my hands on him!
Serena was sitting on the chair beside a guy who was the champion of the third year at the backstage. She leaned slightly on her side and peeked at the people. The whole auditorium was filled with students—some listening, some talking and some sleeping. She scowled inwardly because the headphones being held on her ears by some volunteers were irritating her.
Why do they have to cover my ears?
Yes, I know…so that I won't hear the speech of those who are speaking before me. Well, I wish we had different questions…
Damn…I wish these headphones were not so irritating!
She peeked again at the audience. Her hands got colder than it was a second ago and it seems that the butterflies in her stomach increased. But despite her nervousness, she was thinking not about the contest and her speech…but about the guy speaking there at the stage right now.
I am going to kill that guy when I get my hands on him!
This was what she had been saying in her mind since the contest started and since she found out that her best friend was actually the champion in their batch.
That Darien didn't even tell me he was the representative of his class. He didn't even tell me or give me a clue that I'm competing against him today.
Her heart beat faster when the second to the last person—the third year guy beside her was called so he could get ready. But nonetheless, she still thought of Darien.
How could he not tell me! To think he even treated me dinner that day I won the inter-class. That was the same day the seniors had their inter-class competition. So that means that day, he won too.
Really, he should get ready…
I wonder what I would do…It must be something that would make him not do anything like this again.
Maybe I should make him treat me…Nah, that guy won't learn from that.
Uh…how about if I leave his place again…Nope, better not or he'll get mad.
Um…
That moment, a girl she didn't know tapped her and signaled that it would be her turn soon. She stood up and followed her to the wing where she was supposed to stay.
As she saw the large crowd again, she completely forgot about Darien. And then, the speaker before her seemed to have finished and she felt the headphones being removed from her.
"And the next and last speaker would be…Miss Serena Thompson."
She stepped on the stage, fully aware that more than a hundred eyes were on her. Her knees and hands shook as she adjusted the microphone.
"Good afternoon." She greeted with a small voice.
"Good afternoon, Miss Thompson. Like the other speakers, you would be given 3 minutes to talk. As for the theme, you know that summer is fast approaching. We would like you to tell us your opinion about what summer means to you. You may start now."
Serena opened her mouth but nothing came out. She scanned the whole place. She saw her classmates, eager to listen to her. Candice—a frown on her face. She saw the other students—some sleeping because of boredom. Her azure eyes landed on her best friend. Suddenly, she felt her heart aching, wanting to cry because f something…
"For me…for me, summer means goodbye. Spring would be gone soon—the growth of trees, flowers and plants would soon stop. Summer means goodbye to Cambridge High for all of us since it would be our vacation. We won't go to school and study anymore…no more homeworks and projects. That would also mean we wouldn't see our teachers and administrators who had been our guardians this schoolyear. . For those who are going out of town or out of country this break, it would mean goodbye to our beautiful city here. They would surely miss the peace and beauty of Cambridge. Summer would mean goodbye to High School for our seniors. They would be going to another school and would part with their high school teachers and friends. For me…for me, summer means goodbye to my best friend…who would be going to college next year…"
She paused and looked down at Darien again. Tears fell from her eyes as she took in her own words that she and Darien would really have to part ways soon. She looked up and saw that many people had been crying with her, touched by her speech.
It's true…next year, Darien won't be here to be with me anymore…to protect me, to love me, to be my best friend. But then…
She hastily wiped away her tears and cleared her throat.
"But then…if summer means goodbye, it must mean welcome too. Yes, springtime would be gone but a new season would replace it and give us more joy. Summer means welcome to our provinces, where most of us will stay this vacation. Welcome to the sights that we would see when we go sightseeing with our friends and family. For our seniors, they will have a new life at college and will meet new teachers and friends there."
She paused and smiled.
"Summer may make us say goodbye to many things but it also gives us new things to look forward to. That's all. Thank you."
The audience cheered. She could see her batchmates standing up as they clapped their hands.
"Thank you, Miss Thompson. You may sit down here while waiting for the results."
She happily went down and went towards the seat shown to her. But before she sat down, she met Darien's gaze that told her he too was sad that they should part soon.
"And now, Ladies and Gentlemen, I will announce the winner of this Impromptu Speaking Contest! But before that, I would like to say that all contestants did great. But as all of you know, we could only have one champion an of course, a runner-up."
Serena sat still on her chair. She could feel the tensed atmosphere inside the auditorium.
"And the runner- up is…Darien Miller from the fourth year."
Serena smiled and clapped her hands as her friend took the trophy and shook hands with the principal.
"And the champion of this contest is…"
Whatever happens…I'm glad that I was able to join this contest…
"…Serena Thompson…" No one heard what the principal said next because the people erupted from their seats and cheered.
Serena felt herself being swept up from her feet and into someone's arms.
"Serena! Congratulations!" Darien made out from the noise.
She could smell the familiar scent of his cologne as her face stayed still in the crook of his neck.
"I knew you would win, Serena! Your speech was very touching! Serena!" She snapped back to reality and grabbed his shoulders.
"Darien! What? I…"
"Serena! You won!" She slowly broke into a smile.
"Oh my God! I can't believe it! Darien!" She hugged him back as he laughed.
"I hope you're not wishing I'd show to you that this isn't a dream. This place is too public…you know what I mean." She joined him in laughing but then realized that she needed to go up the stage. As she climbed up the stairs, the crowd grew quiet. But after she shook hands with all the judges and the principal, she held her trophy high so everyone would see it, and again everybody cheered.