Due to popular request this chapter will be a little longer.. and the next will be much longer. I'm planning on starting a new fan fic before I finish this one. Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks for all the reviews!

Thanks to: SulliMike23, CharmedSerenity3, Forever Tranquility, Red-Rose18, Ashlee shields:D, Hiei's Ice Maiden(I know you didn't say that, I did.), palikani, xfilesoc, Princess Of The Shadow Land (thanks for the suggestion!), kay, Ishq, sailorserena141, ffgirlmoonie, Moonlightshadows, Rose Zen, Illusion Glades, ladykagome1230 (very very soon), Usagi-Tsukino-uf06(hehe you're funny), princess-nay, Sugacoated-Cherries(x10), Tenshi Bunny, jokersgirl, Sirenic Griffin, Alicia Blade, Selphie108, SilentAngel101, MizzDL, sailorceb, Pyro-Girl and FaythlessAngel

Lyrics to "Your Boyfriend Sucks" by Ataris are in bold italics

The following chapter is written in SERENA'S POINT OF VIEW

Title: Mystery Girl
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: PG 13
Chapter: 17- Birthday From Hell

I was looking forward to this date. It had been a while since Lucas and I had gone out together for a date. Somehow I knew we were getting more and more distant, but I was in denial. I didn't want to believe it. It was my 16th birthday and I was going to have fun. I was going to enjoy myself. Being sweet 16 only happens once, and I knew this was going to be the best birthday ever.

I prettied myself as best as I could. Rummaging through my closet, I found an outfit that I knew Lucas would like. He bought it for me. A red midriff top and a denim miniskirt. I looked at my reflection in the mirror, unsure if what I wore was quite appropriate. I didn't feel right, but if it was what Lucas liked, then I'd wear it. I'd do anything to make him happy.

I glanced up at my clock sitting on my study table. It flashed 4:30PM. Golly gosh, Lucas would be here any second now! I grabbed my hand bag and rushed downstairs to wait for him. A few minutes passed and I decided to wait for Lucas outside. Maybe he forgot where I lived. It was 4.45pm now and the movie started in 10 minutes. I hoped he would make it on time. I have a thing for showing up to a movie on time. I don't like being late. It's just the way I am.

You're better off without him
Don't call him
He's breaking your heart.

Ring Ring

"Hello?"

"Hey Serena."

"Lucas! Hi honey. Running a little late are we?" I smiled at the sound of his voice… so cool, so calm, so sexy.

"Yeah about that, uhh… Rena…" Oh no… he was going to cancel again. I swear I was going to be sick.

"I'm really looking forward to this date Lucas!" I tried to smile.

"Sere, I'm sorry… I won't be able to make it tonight. I'm really really sorry. Coach is making us stay back for extra practice.

"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" I sighed. "Lucas, it's my birthday!"

"I couldn't. I didn't have the… shh… time"

"Who are you talking to Lucas?" This wasn't the first time he had hushed someone while he was talking to me on the phone.

"Ahh… coach… I gotta go now Rena. Miss ya babe."

"But Lucas-"

"I really gotta jet babe. Talk to ya later. I'm sorry." And with that, he hung up. I could've sworn the voice I heard talking to him was a female voice, and I'm sure he wouldn't dare 'shush' his coach. I sighed, disappointedly as tears began to well up in my eyes. So much for the great birthday I was expecting.

He's hanging with your best friend
And you're waiting there
It's tearing you apart.

"Heya Sere. Where's Lucas?" I turned my head and saw Darien, his head cocked to the side, holding a handful of mail.

"He's not coming." I looked down in disappointment and slumped my shoulders dejectedly.

"Oh." He watched as I slowly made my way back to my front door. "You know Sere, there's no need to go back inside and spend your birthday at home."

"I want to." I lied.

"I bet you don't. Come on Rena, it's your 16th birthday!" He walked over to my side of the fence and coaxed me back down the driveway.

"I don't feel like going anywhere now…" I sighed, it was starting to become true.

"Sere… come on. Let's go catch that movie then I'll shout you dinner and we'll throw paint bombs at the cars of all the smoochers at Lovers Peak."

"As tempting as that sounds, I know you're going to work now, Dar. You've got your uniform on."

"Well that's fine. I'll call in sick with testicular and breast cancer and everything will be A-Ok. That is, as long as you don't mind being seen with me in my uniform for a while. We don't have much time for me to run inside and change." I cracked a smile. He was such a great friend. Always thinking of other people. Sometimes I wished that Lucas was more like Darien when it came to sensitivity.

"Alright." I nodded and we hopped into his car.

He lied to you a thousand times,
When I was there he kept you waiting.

We sat down towards the back of the cinema, just in time to see the previews start.

"Hey Sere, do you want some popcorn?" Darien turned to ask me while I switched my mobile off. I wasn't very happy with Lucas at the moment so I really didn't care if he didn't call at all for the rest of the night.

"Sure. Oh and can you please get me some Skittles?" I smiled, feeling better. I was glad that I didn't let anything ruin my birthday.

"Yep sure. I'll be back soon. Don't go anywhere." He flashed me a smile before walking back out of the cinema to get some snacks. I looked around the cinema at all the couples. Why did I have to choose to watch the romantic chick flick? It just made me miss Lucas even more. I wish things were better between us. I wished that we were closer. In a strange way, sometimes I think that I'm much closer to Darien than to Lucas. He just doesn't talk very much and when he does, a lot of the time it's about him and his feelings.

And I'm still here waiting there
To catch you if you fall.
I don't know why I care so much
When I shouldn't care at all.

I fumbled with my mobile and it fell between my feet as I tried to shove it back into my handbag. I reached down to pick it up and properly put it in my bag. When I looked up I noticed another couple sit in front of me and start making out. Oh… how wonderful. Distraction much? Don't you just hate when that happens? Gee people, this IS a cinema and I did pay to watch a movie, not pornography.

"Mmmm… Lucas… do you like that?" The blonde whispered. Did I just hear correctly? Did she just say what I thought she did?

"Yeah babe…" No… I know that voice. But it couldn't be…

"Ohh! Lucas!" The blonde giggled.

I could see the silhouette of their faces, right in front of me and I felt my body freeze over. My boyfriend was cheating on me. I didn't know what was more devastating, that I had been fooled, or that I had paid for a front row ticket to see it. I picked my bag up and ran out of the cinema. The feeling began to return to my body and I felt the tears fall from my eyes. I couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. It couldn't be true. I felt so torn. I didn't know what to believe, my heart or my head. I know I just saw him cheating on me, but I just couldn't bring myself to believe it.

"Serena? Serena! Wait where are you going?" Darien raced after me as fast as he could with an armful of popcorn and candy.

"He… Lucas… he…" Darien stopped me and watched me cry.

"What? He what Sere?"

"I just saw Lucas in there. With another girl." Tears cascaded down my cheeks and I knew my make up was just ruined now.

"Oh… Serena…" Pity graced Darien's features. For some reason, I was expecting something more along the lines of surprise.

"You knew didn't you?" I realized why he wasn't surprised.

"Serena I…"

"Darien!" My night was rapidly going downhill. "Did you help him?"

"No Serena! I was going to tell you but I-"

"Why didn't you? And don't give me that crap about waiting for the right time. You knew Darien and you didn't tell me." I lost a boyfriend and a best friend in less than 5 minutes. Only a truly jinxed person could ever do that.

"Serena I couldn't." Darien pleaded. "That's what the fight was about. He found out that I…"

Finally got the nerve to tell you
How much you mean to me
You said that I was your best friend,
A real sweet guy
But that's all I'd ever be.

"You what? That you knew? Please Darien, spare me. I've had enough crap. Just leave me alone. Go away." I turned and left in a hurry, hoping he wouldn't come after me like he usually would.

I'm not sure if it was a blessing or not, but he didn't.

End of chapter. Hope you all liked it! I'll be back next weekend with another chapter.

Crystal Saturn