RR- Well, here it is, the much anticipated third chapter of Lessons in Life. Sorry it took so long guys, I've been unpleasantly busy. Not much to say, too tired, so, just read and review!
Disclaimer: I own Sailor Moon. And I can dance. Ha. Not really.
Lessons in Life
Chapter 3- The Principle! (Not to be confused with The Principal)
24-32-6
After the third attempt and a rather unenthusiastic punch, Serena's dinged school locker creaked open. Ami coughed as the dust bunnies that had been practicing their multiplication tables in the steel confines of the locker sprang to their freedom, and asked incredulously," When was the last time you used you locker Serena?
The blond rested her head against the top of it as she loaded a few books and a binder onto its single, small shelf. With her head still rested on the frame, she replied," When was the last time that I was this early to class?"
Ami did a quick mental count," Uh, about four months."
"Exactly," Serena said, barely managing to croak out the syllable. The night before last had found the Sailor Scouts in a big brawl in front of the arcade, resulting in another busted window they still had cuts from. Yesterday had been semester exams, which had drained everyone, especially Serena. Last night, a youma attacked and old folks home. The only good thing about that had been that her favorite masked man had saved her from some scary needles and a wheelchair stampede. Today, Ami had come to her house early to get her up and walk her to school, so that Serena wouldn't miss today's big biology lab. Not like it really mattered- Serena was having trouble with basic functions today, let alone a complex cell structure lab. Those kinds of problems popped up when one only got about three hours of sleep a night- less on the nights before tests.
"Where's Lita?" Serena mumbled. Normally, the brunette walked to school with Ami, but today she was nowhere to be seen. Ami rearranged the pile of textbooks she held in her arms- if anyone needed a locker, it was her.
"Well, she called me today and told me that she was taking a day for recuperation. She said that between getting ready for the district Kendo competition, school, and well, you-know-what, she's exhausted."
Serena finally turned away from her locker to face her friend, trying to look angry but failing miserably in her weariness.
"What?" she half exclaimed, half whined," I'm just as tired as her, if not more so! Why can't I take a day off?"
Ami smiled politely," Because, in case you haven't noticed, with your grades, you really can't afford to take any personal days."
Serena sighed dejectedly," I know, but come on Ami, that was cruel. You're starting to sound more like Rei everyday."
Ami blushed and spluttered an apology, knowing how much the two bickered.
"Odango? What are you doing here this early? Did you get confused and set your clock back an hour early, because you know that's not for another few months!" A cheery voice mocked the blonde from nearby. Serena slammed the door of her locker shut with a clang of finality, only to find a scarily cheerful Darien Shields grinning back, his own locker open and filled with books.
"What're you doin' next to my locker?" Serena grumbled, annoyed by the upperclassman's happy demeanor. Darien blinked, and then just laughed, something that scared Serena more than his grin.
"Well good morning to you too!" he said, trying to sound hurt," For your information, you're the one next to my locker!"
Serena turned back to Ami, who was smiling a little," Ami. Has this creep's locker been next to mine since the beginning of the year?"
The bluenette nodded and pressed her lips together in a futile attempt to keep from laughing. Serena turned back, frustrated, to her newly found locker neighbor. Darien looked back at her, staring into her eyes. Like two blue magnets, she found her own settling into his, and for a moment she could glimpse into his mind- joy, pleasure, mockery…worry, pain, fear, then something deeper, unreadable. Something- somewhere- she didn't want to venture into. She pulled her eyes away, equally afraid that he would see into her mind, and she felt his do the same, instead, his scanned her entire face.
"God Tsukino, who did your makeup this morning, the Queen of the Undead?"
Serena gave him a "if-looks-could-kill-you-would-be-the-Queen-of-the-Undead" glare," Baka. I don't wear makeup."
A strange look crossed the upperclassman's face, followed by a slight blush.
"Oh, right, of course," he said. He then closed his locker," Um, I'll see you later Odango, and I'll see you in Trig. Ami!" Darien turned and rushed down the hall.
Serena turned to her best friend," Well, I think someone's been hitting the drugs a little too hard." she grumbled, and then sighed at Ami's blank look. Sometimes her super genius friend could be even more naïve than she. Which was scary.
"Never mind. Do I really look that bad Ami?"
Ami was saved from having to answer by the first bell.
"Excuse me, but The Principal would like to see Miss Tsukino up in his office."
Darien saw Serena look up from a microscope at the sound of her name, only to glare at him with weary dislike. She was wearing safety goggles, but the thick plastic shield nor the fact that she on the opposite side of the room could hide from him the fact that she was looking worse now than she had been that morning.
Poor baby- he thought sarcastically – She must have been up all night watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer or something like that-
The teacher nodded reluctantly, upset that her class had been interrupted and now a student had to be taken out – she hated absence. (Sound familiar Swords?)
"Fine," she said," Tsukino, go! But come back today this afternoon to finish up the lab or else it's a zero!"
Serena sighed but nodded," Hai Sensei." She gathered up her Biology book and slid it into her Happy Bunny messenger bag, then followed Darien out into the hall. They walked in silence for a few minutes, each waiting for the other to speak first. Serena broke.
"Thanks a lot Shields."
Darien stopped, confused and agitated by the underclassman's sour mood," For what?"
Serena stopped too, putting her fists on her hips and staring at him. Something about the way she did so tickled a corner of his mind, but he brushed it away as she began to reply.
"For ruining my life and taking me out of class and making me miss the rest of the lab. Now I have to stay here after school and it's all your fault!"
"Hey," he said, raising his hands in defense," First of all, it was the Principal, not me, who's taking you out of class, second, don't you normally stay after school for detention anyway because you're always missing first class? That's why you didn't even know your locker was next to mine! And how am I ruining your life! You're the one that's moping around and complaining!"
The blonde mustered up a glare, then turned and continued to walk towards the office. Darien stared at her back and watched as her pigtails swished violently. Never in the entire year that he had known the younger girl had she not been bubbly, if not occasionally obnoxious – even when the two got into their little spats. Something really big must have popped her bubbles to cause her to act like she was today.
Not like he cared. No, his attentions were focused elsewhere.
As they neared the office, Darien rushed forward and opened the door for Serena (Lol, ah, the infamous door opening battles). She stopped and stared at him indignantly, until he said mockingly," Meatballs first."
She stomped her foot, and their eyes locked for the second time that day. However, Darien averted quickly, not wanting to go deeper into the mind of Serena Tsukino than he had already been. Serena snorted," Lord, at least I don't have to put up with you after school too," she said," Otherwise I think I'd die."
Serena then walked through the open door and weaved her way through the row of Secretaries desks, the tenants of which were whispering fiercely about the two students, to The Principal's office. Darien closed the door of the main office and followed knowing what was in store for Serena- no – both of them, in The Principal's domain.
-Better start digging your grave Odango- he thought wistfully as the heavy wooden door to the office opened slowly.
"Miss Tsukino, Mr. Shields, please come in and have a seat."
Darien and Serena sat in the hard metal chairs in front of the large ebony desk. Everything in the office was dark, the air surrounding them was dank, much like the little man that sat before them.
The Principal was a little, hunched over American man with a shock of bald hair and paled, wrinkled skin from a lack of sunlight. Overall, his image could be equated to that of Edgar Allan Poe. The man never came out of his office, but had a knack for knowing every single occurrence in the school, whether it be behavioral, social, or academic. Rumors flew among the female, and some of the male, underclassmen that he was really a vampire who was in disguise at the school so that he could suck the blood of misbehaving students. Serena seemed the type of person to believe such rumors, and Darien watched as the girl shivered slightly under The Principal's gaze. He shuffled a stack of papers and let loose a raspy cough that was apparently his trademark.
"Now today," he started, "I asked you to come Miss Tsukino in order to discuss with you a few slight problems."
Serena shot up, her eyes wider than Darien had seen them today.
"I swear, I DID NOT put gum under the desk in Miss Haruna's class! At least not more than once… or twice…"
The Principal sent her a withering glare, and Serena slowly sat down.
"That's not what I called you in for today, Miss Tsukino, but I will keep that in mind the next time I supervise detention."
She opened her mouth in protest, but was cut off by The Principal.
"I'd like to discuss with you, Miss Tsukino, your grades."
A groan escaped Serena's pale lips, and she sunk down lower in the uncomfortable chair.
"Now, while your grades have never been particularly… radiant, over this last semester, they have been on a steady decline. I just got the results of this semester's exams, and I have to admit that I am highly disappointed."
Serena looked away from The Principal to Darien, her eyes frantically pleading for help. Darien shrugged and sent her a teasing smirk. The Principal coughed again.
"As you know, this school takes pride in hardworking, high achieving academic students. So, as a solution for your… sinking performance, I have devised a solution. Tutoring."
"Tutoring?" The blonde looked at the Principal as if he had sprouted fangs.
"Yes, tutoring, primarily in mathematics, and Mr. Shields has volunteered to be your proctor."
The Principal coughed as Darien glared at him, and then at Serena.
-More like forced- he thought, hoping that his eyes would send that same message to the blonde.
"But why couldn't Ami tutor me?" Serena wailed, pulling one of her streamer like pigtails nervously.
"Miss Mizuno is one of our star students, and because of her involvement in higher level studies, I didn't want to trouble her. Besides, she's participating in another school program outside of this one, a cram school if you will. But of course, you already know this, seeing as she is your friend."
Serena turned red and sat as far back into her seat as she possibly could before muttering," But why that je-" she corrected herself at a cough," Darien? Why him?"
"Because," The Principal said, matter of fact," He is not only very dedicated in his math studies, but the top in the class. Also, I know how you two don't always get along, and I thought that, along with the academic benefits, this would be a wonderful way for both of you to gain some respect for each other. Now, let me tell you how you will…"
Darien watched as Serena clenched her fists and silently, angrily, watched The Principal drone on. He figured that the girl must have been really tired – she didn't cry, she didn't try to fight back. His mind drifted off to the night before…
It was dark, the moon new, its light absent. Tuxedo Mask was creeping down the hallway… of a retirement home. Behind him, he could hear the muffled tread and the light breathing of his Champion of Justice, Sailor Moon. There was chaos in many of the hallways – youmas had decided to exploit the energy of both the doctors and the tenants of the home, trying to suck as much energy as they could from the retirees. Sailor Moon had been separated from her companions and had been cornered by a host of possessed doctors wielding some very painful looking needles.
Darien shivered at the memory. He hated needles.
But his need to rescue Sailor Moon helped him overcome that fear, at least for the moment. Using his cane, he knocked out the doctors- they were human after all- and grabbed her hand, leading her down one of the empty hallways. At a crossway, he stopped abruptly, listening to the distant human screams. She, always a little slow in her reflexes, bumped into his back. Sailor Moon squeezed his gloved hand gently.
"Sorry," she whispered, her warm breath tickling the back of his neck.
"S'okay," he mumbled, glad it was dark so she couldn't see him blush," All's clear…"
Suddenly, a cry rang out, breaking the almost eerie silence that they hadn't noticed had enveloped them.
"Mercury," Sailor Moon gasped, and, before he knew it, she had let go of his hand and was racing down the hall, away from him.
"Sailor Moon, wai-" he stopped, knowing it was no use. With a sigh, Tuxedo Mask followed her.
"Mr. Shields?"
The Principal's voice cut through his dreamy recollection like a thorn through tender flesh. Darien blinked, The Principal coughed.
"Um-yes-yea, uh-right," he stuttered, still in a partial and confused daze.
"Alright then," The Principal said, smiling wolfishly," You'll start tomorrow."
"Huh?" Darien couldn't stop the questioning syllable from breaking through. Serena doubled over in her chair, pretending to tie her shoe while trying to hold the laughter that was wracking her body. The Principal coughed his raspy cough and frowned," We all were about to agree that you and Miss Tsukino would start tutoring tomorrow." He raised an eyebrow as if daring either student to challenge his next statement," Unless, of course, you have previous commitments…"
Serena looked down at the thin, worn floor, shamefacedly remembering something. She mumbled softly.
"What was that Miss Tsukino?"
She fidgeted uncomfortably in her seat," Um, I think that I have detention tomorrow Sir."
The Principal smiled again, and Darien saw the younger girl twitch.
"I've talked to your teachers, and we've all agreed that your academics are more important than your punishments, so, as long as you are being tutored, you will not have any after school detentions."
Serena jumped up so fast that one of her pigtails smacked Darien across the face and out of his Sailor Moon focused daze. She smiled gleefully for the first time that day, and did a little jig.
"No more detention, no more detention," she sang.
The Principal coughed, and Serena sat down immediately.
"However," he said, glowering," I will expect you not to traipse around my school like a farm animal on sugar," with a quick glance to Darien, he continued," Now that that's all been settled, the two of you are dismissed."
Serena stood up and bowed quickly before rushing out of the office. Darien, with a sigh, followed.
"Why me?" Serena groaned, dragging her messenger bag on the ground as she walked home. It was late in the day, all of the other students were either already home or at a club, leaving Serena rather alone as she traversed towards her house. Her head felt as though it was about it split right down the middle, and her eyes fought to remain focused on the path before her. Looking into a microscope for two hours would do that to a person. Serena desperately tried to think of one good thing that had happened that day. Nothing came to mind, so she went back further. To last night.
She was alone now, in a maze of dark hallways, following only one scream. Sailor Moon stomped her foot in frustration, knowing that she shouldn't have left Tuxedo Mask's side to go find Mercury. She turned a corner and there at the end of the hall, she could see a square of light- well, not so much light as it was a not as bright patch of dark. Running at full speed, not even fear held her back. However, her momentum got the better of her. With a crash, she slammed into a glass door, the force of her body weight causing it to swing open. The light, bright in comparison to the dark hallways, that the streetlights of the parking lot let off made her squint until her eyesight slowly adjusted.
What she saw didn't exactly thrill her. By some chance, she had gone the right way. Three, big, bad, brainwashed bald guys were holding her friends captive. However, as she was about to attack, she was distracting by a low rumbling sound, accompanied with an occasional squeak of rusting metal. Sailor Moon thought she had seen it all, but this was the piece du resistiance: a wheelchair stampede, stampeding her way. There was no escape for the blonde hero, the transportation chairs were headed her way at an inescapable speed. Not knowing what to do, she shrieked, her voice causing the glass windows of the building to shake violently.
A hand clamped over her mouth, gentle, but strong enough to halt her piercing cry. Sailor Moon gasped into the hand, watching as the ground grew further away, and the wheelchair stampede smaller. She was in his arms again- he had saved her again- Tuxedo Mask.
-Oh yea- she thought with a smile, her mind temporarily forgetting that they still had a battle to fight- Definitely a job perk.-
"SERENA BUNNY TSUKINO!"
The shout drew the blonde out of her daydream and confused her feet into thinking that the sky was the ground. As she recovered from her klutz attack, she looked up to the speaker. Her mother, Ikuko Tuskino, stood above her, looking menacing as she held her usual spatula in her right hand. With a smack, it hit her left palm, then rose up again, reminding Serena of an angry drill sergeant.
"Hello Mama," she mumbled, knowing that she was headed for trouble. Her mother was kind, but strict, and not afraid to dole out punishment, even if it was unfair to Serena.
"Your Principal called me."
Serena groaned, knowing what was coming next.
"I'm very disappointed with you," she said, crossing her arms and waving the spatula slightly," and I've decided to take action. Besides tutoring and all other completely school related activities, you're grounded."
"What?" Serena shrieked, a thousand different thoughts flying through her head," But Momma, that's not fair!" -I'm going to have to sneak out of the house- she thought frantically, now tugging nervously on a golden pigtail.
"No, no trying to reason with me," Ikuko snapped," No phone, no arcade, no TV, no computer and no manga until you bring your grades up."
"But-"
"Don't even start Serena," she snapped. Pointing her spatula like a baton, she commanded," Now get inside and up to your room before I give it to Sammy!"
"Please Mom, anything but that!" Serena squealed, running inside and lunging up the stairs haphazardly. On the way up, the phone rang, and on habit, Serena picked up the hallway extension.
"Hello, Tuskino resi-"
"Serena, it's me Ami, I need to talk to you!"
The tone of her friend's voice sent off warning bells in Serena's mind, but she was more concerned about her mother, who was downstairs looking up, scowling and waving her spatula impatiently in the air.
"Uh, Ami, yea, I'm kind of in trouble so I can't talk right now."
"But-"
Her mother was moving towards the stairs.
"Gotta go Ami, see you tomorrow!"
Serena slammed down the phone and ran towards the sanctity of her room. As she did, her mother's sharp voice floated up.
"Remember Serena- no phone or computer! Oh, and take that idiotic headwear off!"
Serena's hand instantly flew to her head, where it met plastic. The safety goggles from Biology. She hadn't taken them off.
FIN.
Well, that's the end of Chapter Three. This was a nice chapter, I got to set up the plot, and do some character stuff, fun fun. Once again, sorry it took so long coming out- I've had it done for a long time, just no time to type it and get it up. Don't expect the next chapter within a reasonable amount of time, like a few days. A week at the least, probably more since my teachers have turned to the Dark Side. Anyway, please review- make it long and good, constructive criticism is welcome! Peace out!
RR
Reviewers- I love you! Sorry I'm not going into big details with big replies, but my brain has short circuited. Again.
Enchanted Princess- Thanks! I agree, last chapter was good, I'm glad you liked it. Personally, I think that Eightofswords is a much better writer, but it's what you think that counts!
Chibi-Doo- Merci, I think the bra was the best part, and got the most reactions too!
EightofSwords- Do I even need to comment?
SilentAngel101- Wow, you're welcome, and thank you! Yea, it's Biology 1 stuff, and actually pretty interesting- especially genetics. I mean, come on, how do you mix blonde and black hair, and get pink? That defies all things natural. I guess that's just how anime is.
Renegade-452- Thanks, and sorry about the spelling. I'm sure there are errors in this chapter too, but, for the moment, I'm too lazy to go back and correct them. Bad me.
Red-Rose 18- Thanks for reviewing again! Um, I'm not exactly sure, but it's a possibility. Besides, I can't reveal too much of what I have (coughnothingcough), where would the fun in that be? But it will most likely have a part in the story.
oxostardustoxo- Love the name, its cute. I'm glad you like it, and I hope you enjoyed this one just as much.
tireen- Wow! I didn't think I was original, lol. Well, thanks. I kind of feel bad for Serena, she gets made fun of so much, so I decided to make her just a little smarter in here. Not much, but just a little.
Sailormoonhannah- Ha ha, thanks! Anyone who flames me, I would have to say, has no class. Thanks for reviewing again!
Princess-Nav- Thanks for reviewing again, I'm glad you thought so. This one wasn't as funny, but sometimes things must be sacrificed for the establishment of a real plot. But the next few chapters should have both some more humor and some romance ;).
Alright children, this is the end. The point of no return. Review.
RR