Chapter 2

Secret Information

As the festival drew to a close, Serena went to throw away the trash while Darien closed up the booth. He watched her go a little ways worrying about her. Just a few hours ago she was pigging out and having a great time. Then only half an hour into the volunteering did that woman show up. Since then she had been quite troubled, and had not made a full-hearted smile. Darien looked at his watch: three o' clock. He looked at the sky, it was such a shame; it was a very nice day. He shrugged it off and went about folding the table.

"Serena," she jumped, "sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh, Greg! It's you." She tried to give a little smile.

"Serena, I didn't really come here to sell food and see you guys again, although it was nice to see everyone. Well, anyway, I've been meaning to talk to you," he continued.

"Oh? Really? About what?"

"Well, You know that woman you saw earlier?"

Serena gasped, "You heard her too?"

"Well, no, but I've had visions of what's to come. It's not very clear, but I know enough to know it's really important."
"Well, what is it?" Serena threw the trash away hurriedly, intent on listening.

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"Hey Darien," Amy said. "Where's Serena?"

"She went to throw away the trash," he looked over his shoulder and saw Serena walking back. Her eyes were puffy and watery; she looked as if she was about to cry.

"Serena, what's wrong?" Darien had a slightly high, panicked voice as she rushed into his arms and held him tight. "Serena, tell me," he looked hard at her, but all she did was keep her face buried in his shirt. Amy gave him a look and shook her head. He knew she meant not to ask, so he just looked down at his love with the utmost helplessness. He wrapped his arms around her to be as comforting as possible.

As Amy looked on at the scene she tore her gaze away from her weeping friend and looked up from where she had come. She saw Greg standing off a way with his back turned to them. He slowly moved to the booth they had been stationed at and picked up his bag. He then began to leave the festival grounds. As Amy saw this she ran to catch up with him.

"Greg, did you say something to make Serena upset?" Greg looked at her with moist eyes, but did not reply. Instead he looked at the ground unwilling to meet her gaze. "Greg?" worry was taking over her voice, this was so hard for her; to see one of her best friends crying, completely miserable, and the one person she probably loved was hiding something very important from her.

"I can't tell you," Amy stared, truly hurt, but did not pursue him any further. She watched as he turned the corner and was out of sight. This was supposed to be a fun and relaxing day. Yet, all that came out of it was new danger and heartache.

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Darien drove Serena home. Once they had reached the driveway he got out of the car and made his way to the other side to help Serena out. He opened the door and held out his hand, but she did not make an effort to move. Darien stared, not sure what to do or say. So he closed her door and made for the driver's seat.

"Serena, would you like to just go on a drive?" she nodded but didn't look at him. He hesitated. Looking at her, he realized that he was probably the best comfort she had, but he was not helping her at all. If only he knew what was wrong. That mysterious lady had upset her, but not this much. What had happened when she went to throw away the trash?

He shifted into gear and drove off to find a quiet place to stop and talk with her. He knew he could not stay there, her father would probably be very angry to see his only daughter sitting in a car with some older boy. After a few minutes he stopped next to the park. He could not help smiling, remembering how Rini had run away that one time and had sat on that swing over there. Rini had been upset that day, but she felt better after a while. She must be very happy now that she was back home in the future.

He knew fresh air would probably help his girlfriend, so he opened her door and held his hand out once more, but still she did not respond to his gestures. So he picked her up and carried her to a bench near the swings. Serena looked around as if just now realizing where they were. She gazed over at the swings, bowed her head, and cried softly.

"Rini…" Darien was again in a slight panic. She was crying again, and he didn't know what had happened to make her cry more.

"Serena, what's wrong? Do you miss Rini?"

She looked at him, "Well, yes. I know I will see her soon though."

"Hm," he looked at the sky, "Please…please tell me what's wrong."

"I can't, but don't worry about it. It's not important," she was trying to look brave. This was killing him, she was in so much pain, and he didn't know why.

He didn't know what to do, and he was suffering because she was suffering. Darien could not help himself. He turned to her and kissed her softly on the lips. He held the kiss for a long time. Serena cried a little more, but wrapped her arms around his neck to hold the kiss. When they parted, her eyes were sparkling, but no more tears fell. She smiled and looked out at the swing.

"This new enemy is going to be hard," she sighed, "but we will be brave," she looked up at him for reassurance. He nodded.

"Together, we can defeat anything," he replied. She closed her eyes and leaned her head on his shoulder. She was being brave. Trying to hold the weight of the world on her shoulders. He looked up into the sky, I swear, Serena, I will always be there to protect you and help you in any way I can. He glanced back down at her and noticed she had fallen asleep. He picked her up and gently sat her in the passenger seat of the car and drove her home. When he reached the house Darien did not want to get Serena in trouble for being asleep in some guy's arms, what would her parents think? So he bounded up onto the roof lightly with her cradled in his arms and opened her window. He set her on the bed as Luna looked at him questioningly from her pillow on the opposite side of the bed, but didn't say anything as she stared into the tear-streaked face of the sleeping princess.

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"I know you are in pain my little princess," said the elegant angel who was shrouded in light. "Do not fear, my love. The future is not meant to be known, by anyone. Nothing is definite."

"So, does that mean I can change it?" Serena asked urgently.

"You make your own future," the light slowly began to fade away.

"Please! Don't go, Mother!" Serena pleaded, she was still terribly confused and unsure. What was she to do? As the light vanished, the blue glow of the moon took its place. She looked down into the water, chilled. Her skirt drifted around her once more. Bending down she reached into the water, but the comforting pendent was not by her feet this time. No comforting angel. No hope. She turned; her prince would not join her this time as well. I must be brave. I will need to lead everyone. I am their leader. To lead is to bear great responsibility. Her eyes glistened as she looked into the stars. As she took a deep breath she finally sensed it: the feeling of calm. She knew what she had to do, she felt it, and everything would be okay.

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As Serena glided up the stairs to the Cherry Hill Temple the next day she missed a glide and tripped on a step. She fell to her knees, making them turn bright pink. She wailed loudly claiming the attention of many of the temple's visitors who were coming and leaving. Hearing the wail Raye rushed down the stairs to the meatball head's aid.
"Serena, are you all right?" she was still very worried about her beloved friend, considering that she had been terribly depressed.

Serena stopped wailing and looked into her friend's eyes, "I- I think so…" she rubbed her knees and got up testing them to make sure it did not hurt to walk. She winked at Raye and skipped up the rest of the stairs. Raye followed a bit curious to why her friend was so bubbly today. What had changed in such a short time?

"Serena, are you okay?" she frowned wondering if the meatball head had finally lost her sanity and was forever trapped in that carefree world of hers.

Serena turned to her, but before she could reply Raye's grandfather came up with tea and muffins. "Hey Serena, long time no see! Would you like some muffins?"

"Yeah! Thanks Grandpa! Instead of tea, though, would you mind giving me some milk, please?" she smiled her hungry smile as she watched the fresh muffins roll around on the tray. He was taunting her, and he knew it.

"Sure thing! I'll be right back," he started to walk away.

"Wait! Don't take the muffins with you!" Serena raced after him and managed to swipe two muffins from the old priest before he swung the tray to the opposite side of himself and walked into the house.

"Serena…" Raye's voice was far from patient at this point, seeing the crumbs roll off Serena's cheeks every two seconds, "What is up with you? Tell me what's going on, you really are completely different from yesterday!"

Serena stopped what she was doing and brushed off the crumbs from her mouth. "I'm sorry, did you want a muffin?" she held out the muffin but her companion did not take it.

"What going on?" her voice was calm but searching carefully for any hints or lies.

"Nothing, the voice just scared me a little that's all. It troubled me so much that I got a little waterworky, maybe it's that time of month!" Serena gasped.

Raye scrunched her face, "Ehhhh, you're weird."

Serena just giggled madly in reply.

She stared hard for some type of fault in the story, but Serena was in too good a mood to detect anything wrong. As her close friend stopped laughing, she picked up the muffin and started to pig again. It really didn't make much sense about her mood swing, but who was she to pry if her friend was truly happy. She smiled, hoping that there was nothing at all to worry about.

"Do you want to go to the mall, I haven't been there since they remodeled!" Serena interrupted her thoughts abruptly.

"Huh? Oh, sure! Are you inviting anyone else?"

"Yeah! Sure! Let's invite the whole gang!"

"Yeah, that sounds fun!"

"Yup!" her pigtails swung back and fourth as she swayed her head to a silent beat that she was playing over in her head.

"What song are you thinking of?" Raye asked.

"Oh, "Swing Swing" from The All-American Rejects. It's a new American band. They are pretty cool."

"Oh, yeah, I do think I've heard of them," she thought for a moment. "I've got a song stuck in my head too, it's "Do as Infinity" by Fukai Mori." I first heard it on that tight anime, Inuyasha."

"Oh yeah! Wouldn't it be cool if we were an anime? They are so pretty and practically perfect looking?" Raye laughed and nodded somewhat in agreement still with the thought of how weird her friend was. "Oh, let's go call the others so we can go to the mall now, are you done with your duties here at the temple?" Raye nodded and led the way to her room where her phone was and started to dial Lita's number.