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Title: Mystery Girl
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: PG 13
Chapter: 10- This is Me Now

...Serena's Point of View...

This is it. My first day in a long while where I would actually act, look and feel like myself, and strangely enough, I felt awkward. I had knots in the pit of my stomach. I didn't know what to expect. These were the people who teased me all my high school life and now, they would get to see who I really was. And even though their views of me would have altered, my perspective of them will never change. They're all shallow.

I slipped a butterfly pin into my hair and checked my appearance out in the mirror once more, taking in a deep breath.

This is it. I thought to myself, A promise is a promise. I reminded as I close the house door behind me and began my slow walk to school.

"Serena? No way!"

"Look who's finally tripped into the 21st century!"

"Wow… someone's finally clued her in about style." Alright raise your hand if you thought this was a good idea. I have never had this much attention in all my life. Ever. Never ever. I don't know what to do with it all! Now if I was a part of the socialites of my school then I would know exactly when to flick my hair and how I should hold myself but… I mean I just crawled out of the ditch of a lie that was my high school image. I transformed from the ugly little caterpillar into a butterfly overnight. Now why didn't I think of all the rumours that would fly? All the gossip I'll have to face... How fun.

After English class, I strolled down the halls with my head held high. I would not let all the spiteful things anyone said get to me. I decided to focus on all the positives I have received so far today. All the good comments.

Think of positives… I hate that Delilah girl… be positive Sere… who does she think she is… try to remain calm… I'm not doing this to gain attention… breath in and out… this is war

Somehow I managed to walk down the corridor and to my locker. I was deep in thought and rummaging through my locker when a familiar masculine scent filled my lungs. Ohhh, I love that smell. It's like roses in the morning with a certain zesty-ness. It was deliciously alluring. Incredibly intoxicating. It abruptly awoke every one of my senses and sent them on fire. I knew the smell. It was the smell of Darien. Now don't get me wrong. I'm not in love with the guy. Just his scent. The combination of his cologne and aftershave made an awesome fusion.

I swivelled around, fully expecting to meet blue eyes, instead, I met green. He looked deep into my eyes with a playful smile playing across his soft lips. The way he leaned in, so dangerously close, it made my heart pound in my ears and I held my breath. Not because I wanted to, but because it was just a nervous reaction I had when I was around him. A lock of his sandy blonde hair fell just across his eyes and I suppressed the urge to reach up and tuck it back. He was so much better looking up close.

"Lucas…" I breathed, attempting to regain some form of composure.

"Hi Serena." His voice was dangerously low as he shot me a sexy wink and walked away.

Oh… my…

Have I died and gone to heaven? Did Lucas Kingston just talk to me? He looked at me! HE KNOWS MY NAME! I think I'm going to faint. He's so good looking. Such a great guy. I found myself in a rather abnormally good mood for the rest of that day. Lunchtime in the cafeteria was still rather strange. I sat alone at my usual table. Nothing special. That is, until I recognized that familiar scent once more, but this time, a little sweeter. I glanced behind me and I noticed Darien towering over me.

"Mind if I…"

"Go ahead!" I smiled. We sat there for a little longer just eating our lunches silently.

"So I see you kept your promise." His gaze didn't wander from his tray as he poked his food.

"Of course," I nodded simply, subconsciously noting how good looking he actually was. "So what did you tell your friends? What do they think of you sitting with me?"

"Oh, I just told them I was going to sit with my new girlfriend." He lifted his head up slightly to look at me, a broad grin present. "And well they're still amazed you're… you."

"New girlfriend!" If I had choked any more on my food, Darien would've been graced with the delightful scene of spaghetti coming out of my nose. But he just laughed.

"Take it easy, I'm only kidding." His chuckles died down into a small smile. "Look ahh… I heard what Chad said to you, and I wanna apologize. He can be a real ass-hat sometimes and well…" He looked around before leaning in and whispering, "To tell you the truth… I get the feeling that I may be the one who's cramping up your style now." I let out a small giggle and shook my head.

"It's fine… really. And I want to thank you Darien."

"What for?" He raised an eyebrow and tilted his head, in typical 'Darien' manner.

"For being the only person that's believed in me. You were the only person who actually noticed me and listened to me. I want to thank you for all that and also for being such a great… friend." Ok, I don't know why I paused there but I just… did. I think it's starting to become a habit of mine. Darien smiled and shrugged.

"Anything to see you happy." He nodded sincerely. "Anyway, I just popped by to say hello and keep you company for a while. I'll leave you to your chocolate goodness. Ciao!" He nodded to my pudding and with a little salute, he was off… or rather, replaced.

"Hi again Serena."

"H-h-hell…o Lucas." I lowered my gaze to the chocolate pudding on the tray in front of me but he wouldn't have any of it, instead he lifted my chin gently and looked me in the eyes.

"Such a beautiful, innocent, vibrant blue colour. Quite exquisite actually. I've never seen eyes this beautiful in all my life. Wow… they're magnificent. One of a kind" Oh no way. There is no way that the high school heartthrob is telling me my eyes are beautiful. No way, no how! His last comment was a rather strange one to make though. I mean, aren't everyone's eyes different? But who cares! It's no big deal! The guy complimented them for Madonna's sake! Ohh… he's so dreamy. "Serena… I was wondering if you would like to see a movie this weekend."

This is a dream, this is soooo a dream. This can't be real. In any moment now Lucas will take my pudding and smoosh it into my face… then I will wake up and treasure this dream forever.

"I would love to." My response was barely audible but he had heard me and nodded.

"It's a date then." He smiled rather seductively.

"A date?" I would've pounded my head on the table but it would've just seemed plain weird.

"A date." He confirmed.

"Like… a date-date. An actual Date. Dating date." What is wrong with my mouth? Why was it running on automatic when I specifically trained it to be manual. It must've been the sugar. All the chocolateness had affected my brain. My mouth was going into overdrive. Fortunately for me though, Lucas let out a small chuckle, signifying that I had managed to amuse him in some way shape or form.

He chuckled… always good. Good.

"Yes Serena. Dating date." He confirmed rather smoothly. "Six o'clock Saturday. Until then." He slowly raised my hand to his face and pressed his lips gently across my knuckles before standing and leaving.

Wow...

That moment was the single thing I thought about as I sat there in my next class. Sure, chemistry was important, but all I could do was daydream and stare into nothingness. My day had been totally awesome! Never ever in my wildest dreams would I ever have imagined something like this happening. This was pure and utter bliss! My life's perfect! It's rather amazing how fast things can change. Just yesterday I was a nobody. Just a faceless hollow nobody. And now everyone knows me. It's incredible!

But that's not just it. I mean, I, Serena the geek, am now thrust into the limelight. I'm popular and everyone knows me. Move over popular girls. I won't be teased anymore! I feel beautiful on the inside and the out, and on top of that, I am now Lucas Kingston's girlfriend! His girlfriend! We're dating!

This is all a dream come true, and I owe it all to Darien Chiba!

Ok well that's another chapter for now.

I would just like to extend further gratitude to samsonite for reviewing EVERY story I have ever posted up here at I'm really glad you enjoyed them all. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and review them all… especially 'Winter Snow' (that is one looong story… I need to fix it up)

Don't forget, my goal before the next chap. is 200 reviews! So get reviewing people! Thanks so much guys!

Crystal Saturn