Well I'm back. From the sound of it some of you thought I was dead.
*sweatdrop* I apologise for taking so long. I've been out of town on
vacation since school ended and haven't really attempted to write anything
recently, I apologise for that too. Well, after all the waiting here's the
next chapter.
disclaimer stands. Also, I own NONE of the car businessess of the cars mentioned below nor do I know who does. PICTURES of these cars can be seen at streetracinggalaxy.com
NOTE Plus= You don't really need to know anything about cars just know that darien has a lot of good ones. I'm really not trying to diss the Acura I just don't like the designs much. So any Acura owners who read this please don't hate me.
P.S. Concept cars are basically ideas about what a car will look like and how it will run. Most of them look VERY cool.
Thanks to all my reviewers! Kismet and everyone I kept in suspense I am SOOOO sorry. Don't be mad! I wrote this after reading your review and you know what, I'm gonna start the next chapter for "Million Kisses to Learn From" as soon as I upload this, Ok? Don't worry I'll finish my stories! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12:40 the next morning left Serena in Slumberland, dreaming about the places she could go if she only had the power to do so. But that wouldn't last for long...
"SERENA?! SERENA!! GET OUT OF BED THIS INSTANT!!!" Ilene hollered at her sleepy child.
"But Moooom it's only 12:40! can't I just sleep a little longer?" came the muffled reply.
"I said this instant young lady!" finished Ikuko. Serena just grumbled.
"URRRRRRGHH!! Why do I have to get up when my body's not ready to!! Jeesh! It's not like I have to be anywhere anytime soon." the messy haired blonde looked at the clock. " I still have 12 hours until I meet Darien." Serena layed her head back onto the pillow and closed her eyes. Then opened them in shock, "12 hours? That doesn't sound right." She looked at the clock once again and wiped the sleep out of her eyes. "12:50? Wait a minute I only have ten minutes! OH MY GOD!" Serena lept up and ran to the closet, throwing it open in her mad dash to get ready. "What to wear, what to wear!" she screamed as she pulled out outfit after outfit. "To old. To ugly. Out of fashion. Makes me look fat. Makes me look flat.....ugh! I can't believe I'm doing this! I don't have the time!" She quickly grabbed a blue and white out fit, threw it on and ran out the door after telling her mom she'd be going for a ride *wink wink* with someone.
"In a white mini-skirt!?" shouted her father.
"Have fun sweety!" replied her mom with a smile.
"BYE!" Was the last thing the adults heard before the door slammed shut.
"And what was all that about?!" demanded kenji. Ikuko just shrugged and returned to washing dishes.
*At the Arcade*
"She's late." grumbled Darien as he sipped his coffee.
"She's always late." replied Andrew, "I don't see why you of all people are suprised."
"Well she's wasting my time." shot back Darien. "Usually when she's late she's not doing that."
"Look Darien, if you look at it as wasting your time, why'd you even take the job?"
"Because someone needs to teach her that running over pedestrians is wrong. Or at least that running over me is wrong."
Andrew shook his head. "Glad to know you care so much about her."
"Hey now, if I didn't have to worry so much about myself becoming roadkill, or side-walk kill, I would worry about her, Ok?"
Andrew just shook his head. "Well anyways, just make sure you both wear seatbelts and stuff alright?"
Darien looked as if Andrew had just told him 1 + 1 = 2. "Nahhhhhh, Ya THINK?! Forget that man, with that meatball head in MY car, I'm gonna be all over that seatbelt!!" he yelled.
Andrew sweatdropped. "Jeez man I was just making sure.No need to throw a hissy fit."
*DING DING* rang the bells
"Well here she is anyways." noted Andrew as the younger blonde ran up and collapsed on the bar stool, breathing heavily. Darien just quirked an eybrow and cracked a grin.
"Gee Meatballhead, I know I'm handsome, but there's no need to go hyperventilating over it." he joked.
"In...your...dreams." She panted. "woooo." she breathed as she flipped her hair behind her ears and sat up straight. "Hey Andrew can I have a mint chocolate shake?"
"Comming right up!" he said with a smile and a wink as he disappeared into the back room. Slowly Serena spun around to face her archenemy turned tutor.
"Sooooo..." she drawled. "what's the plan for today?"
"Well," replied the man before taking a drink, "I walked here from my morning college classes so we're gonna have to walk back to my apartment and get the car we're gonna use."
Serena looked confused. "Wait, you mean you have a car and you can drive, but you walk? To -school-?"
"Yep. It's healthy, but of course you wouldn't know anything about that."
"Oh shut up."
"Make me!" he shot back
Andrew shoved a straw in Serena's mouth before she could answer."Ok now guys, you haven't even begun lessons and already you've gotten into a fight. Maybe this wasn't so good an idea after all."
Both Serena and Darien remained quiet.
"Maybe if you both apologise to each other..."
"Don't push us Andrew." they cut in at the same time. Darien looked at Serena looked at each other in suprise. Serena was the first to turn away, in order to drink her milkshake. Darien however, continued to look at her for a short time, but was torn away when Andrew cleared his throat. Startled, Darien turned around to face Andrew's laughing eyes.
"Well you guys better get going." smiled Andrew. Darien rolled his eyes and stood along with Serena. "Oh and Darien." continued Andrew as he knelt over the counter to whisper "try to avoid the back seat with her, alright?" Darien sprayed out the coffee he was drinking in suprise and looked at his friend.
"What the HELL are you talking about?!" he demanded.
"Oh nothing." Andrew laughed.
Darien shook his head and walked outside with Serena walking next to him. "So what was that about?" asked Serena.
Darien blushed, "Nothing...I dunno."
Serena laughed, "Darien you're blushing! That's so cute!" She laughed more as his blush deepened.
"Ok. Ok. I get the picture." he grumbled as Serena's laughter ebbed. They walked silently side by side for 10 minutes before Serena began feeling a little bored. Attempting to lighten the mood she decided to strike up a conversation.
"So how far is your apartment?" she asked curiously.
"Just a couple blocks." he replied, only half listening.
"Is it big?" she asked again.
"Kind of." he replied
"Do you live alone?"
"Yes, I do."
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Darien stopped walking and looked at her incredulously.
"What did you say?"
"I asked if-you-had-a-girlfriend." she replied, spacing out the words.
"My, you're a nosy girl."
"Just trying to make conversation."
"Yeah, nosy conversation."
"Hey, I..."
"We're here." he cut in. Serena looked up in amazement.
"You live -here-!?" She said dumbfoundedly. He replied with a nod.
"Ready to go up?" He asked her.
"Yeah!" cried Serena as she followed Darien to the double door.
He watched as the blonde bounded quickly up to him and they entered together.
Nodding at the people behind the counter the tall man led his young companion to the elevator.
The doors to the elevator slid slowly shut. As they did Darien looked to the girl beside him; she had a huge smile on her face.
"Are you so excited at being alone with me that you're that happy?" he teased. Serena's smile faded, and she faced him with a disgusted look.
"Actually I was thinking about the tricks I used to pull on elevators." she replied. "Tricks?"
"Yeah. Me and my friends used to get on elevators and trick people into thinking that one of us was going to have a baby or give random people hard times for stupid stuff. My favorite is the Makeout corner." Darien looked at her skeptically to which the blonde rolled her eyes. "Allow me to demonstrate." she whispered seductively.
"Woah, you don't have to..." Darien started and she came closer.
"Oh relax you moron! You're not part of it!" she said indignantly as she walked to the corner behind him. And made it look like she was kissing someone.
"You did that on purpose." he accused.
Serena turned to face him again. "Did what?" she replied with mock innocence and a smile. . .
After exiting, they turned down the hall and entered an apartment. Serena admired the immaculate house as she followed him to the kitchen. On the wall hung a key hanger covered with keys.
"He must have a lot of locks in the house." she thought. After selecting one he herded her out into the hall, down the elevator, and through a maze of hallways to a garage filled with cars. "Woah!" Serena cried as her eyes bugged, "Jeez, there must be some serious millionaires in this building to have all these cars!"
Darien gave a cocky, flattered smile. "Well, actually meatballhead. These are all mine." He smiled as her chin dropped.
"You're kidding right?" He shook his head as he wove through the cars.
"Jesus Darien who do you work for? Bill Gates?" She cried as she dodged between cars to follow him.
"Well actually most of the were left to me by my parents when they died, most of them I've never driven, and no I don't know what they did for a living."
"Oh Darien I'm sorry. I didn't know." she paused.
"Hey it's all right." he said nonchalantly.
"Don't be stupid, of course it's not alright. If my parents died, I'd have died along with them." She paused again. "You're a stronger person than I thought, Darien."
"Thank you." he replied unsurely."Anyways it's..."
"Oh my god is that a Mercedes Benz SLR!?" Serena ran off as Darien sweatdropped.
"Okaaay." He muttered as he looked for her. Spotting her he walked over to the silver car she was oggling. Sure enough it was his mercedes.
"You know about cars?!" He asked, actually impressed.
Serena snorted. "Do I know cars. What a dumb question." Darien smiled with interest.
"Alright then name a couple more with out looking at the names." He said as he leant back. With a self assured smile she stood and got a better look at his machines.
"Oh man, there's got to be at least 9 concept cars in here.Who the heck do you have to know to manage that?!" she gushed.
"Well, like I said, I don't know where they worked or how they managed it. And there are twelve actually." Darien corrected with a smile.
"Not if you're counting those two." Darien stood back up.
"Which two?" He asked.
"That red one and that white one. They were made into limited editions and all were sold in 1998."
"No shit?" Darien said, still impressed. Serena laughed.
"Don't believe me? Look it up." He just looked back at her with a genuine smile, this girl was getting more intrigueing by the minute.
"I just didn't think you were capable of memory." he teased.
"Well sometimes when you take a person for face vaue you miss what they trully are." the dark haired man just studied her a little; perhaps his opinion of her was in need of adjustment?
"Well anyways, we better get to the car we're using." he started off.
"What? Why we can't just use the mercedes?" she protested.
"HA! I don't think so. If you know so much about cars then you know that there's no way in the underworld that I'm letting a new driver use that car." Serena shrugged.
"It was worth a shot." she laughed as she followed him past a few more cars only to stop in front of a black and blue Acura. "Why'd we stop?"
Darien looked at her suprised. "This is what we're using."
Serena's face looked like she'd eaten a lemon. "An '88 ACURA? Oh Darien please! anything but the Acura!"
"Sorry, it's the only car I can risk getting trashed."
"I'll be really careful!"
"Do you want to drive or not?" he asked as he held up the keys.
"Yes." she sighed. Darien just laughed. Perhaps this would be more fun than he thought.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After Darien had driven them out of the garage, he took them to a backroad where he could see just how well or not well she could handle the car. Parking it at the side of the road he and Serena traded seats and fastened their seatbelts. On impulse she leaned over to switch on the radio but Darien caught her hand in his before she could touch anything. "The radio is a distraction, new drivers don't need anything taking away their attention from the road." He said.
Serena gave him a look. "You sound like my mother."
"Well then i shall thank her for helping me protect you." he replied seriously. He watched as a suprised look came upon her face.
*~*~*~*~*Darien's POV*~*~*~*~~*
Darien waited for her to answer, but she seemed to not know what to say. He probably wouldn't have known either, because he didn't even know himself why he'd said it. Though he felt like he meant it. Perhaps he was begining to come to terms with the meatball head. Nah that couldn't be it. Just then Serena broke him from his thoughts.
"So...can we get started?" She asked.
Darien looked at her in suprise, "Uh yeah, sure, go ahead." He replied. After a few minutes Serena spoke again.
"Uh, Darien?"
"Yeah?" Said he.
"I need my hand to turn the key." she said with a small smile. Darien blushed.
"Oh, right." He said abashed as he released her and turned to the window in embarressment.
What about liking the meatball head? Being ex-arch-enemies couldn't be -so- bad.--- Could it?
Serena turned the key and drove slowly onto the road.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~
Yes yes. Very not interesting I know. You've waited all this time and almost -nothing!-But I have to build up to the romance see. I'll see if I can get any more -interesting- *wink* romance in the next chapter. Let's see how long Darien can avoid the backseat! (If he makes it that far!) Oh by the way. If you really want a romance sere/dare fic read my other story "Million Kisses to Learn From" in which Tuxedo Mask gives our little meatball head kissing lessons! (What Fun!) (I like that story better anyways. And judging by reviews I think most of my readers agree.)
disclaimer stands. Also, I own NONE of the car businessess of the cars mentioned below nor do I know who does. PICTURES of these cars can be seen at streetracinggalaxy.com
NOTE Plus= You don't really need to know anything about cars just know that darien has a lot of good ones. I'm really not trying to diss the Acura I just don't like the designs much. So any Acura owners who read this please don't hate me.
P.S. Concept cars are basically ideas about what a car will look like and how it will run. Most of them look VERY cool.
Thanks to all my reviewers! Kismet and everyone I kept in suspense I am SOOOO sorry. Don't be mad! I wrote this after reading your review and you know what, I'm gonna start the next chapter for "Million Kisses to Learn From" as soon as I upload this, Ok? Don't worry I'll finish my stories! *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
12:40 the next morning left Serena in Slumberland, dreaming about the places she could go if she only had the power to do so. But that wouldn't last for long...
"SERENA?! SERENA!! GET OUT OF BED THIS INSTANT!!!" Ilene hollered at her sleepy child.
"But Moooom it's only 12:40! can't I just sleep a little longer?" came the muffled reply.
"I said this instant young lady!" finished Ikuko. Serena just grumbled.
"URRRRRRGHH!! Why do I have to get up when my body's not ready to!! Jeesh! It's not like I have to be anywhere anytime soon." the messy haired blonde looked at the clock. " I still have 12 hours until I meet Darien." Serena layed her head back onto the pillow and closed her eyes. Then opened them in shock, "12 hours? That doesn't sound right." She looked at the clock once again and wiped the sleep out of her eyes. "12:50? Wait a minute I only have ten minutes! OH MY GOD!" Serena lept up and ran to the closet, throwing it open in her mad dash to get ready. "What to wear, what to wear!" she screamed as she pulled out outfit after outfit. "To old. To ugly. Out of fashion. Makes me look fat. Makes me look flat.....ugh! I can't believe I'm doing this! I don't have the time!" She quickly grabbed a blue and white out fit, threw it on and ran out the door after telling her mom she'd be going for a ride *wink wink* with someone.
"In a white mini-skirt!?" shouted her father.
"Have fun sweety!" replied her mom with a smile.
"BYE!" Was the last thing the adults heard before the door slammed shut.
"And what was all that about?!" demanded kenji. Ikuko just shrugged and returned to washing dishes.
*At the Arcade*
"She's late." grumbled Darien as he sipped his coffee.
"She's always late." replied Andrew, "I don't see why you of all people are suprised."
"Well she's wasting my time." shot back Darien. "Usually when she's late she's not doing that."
"Look Darien, if you look at it as wasting your time, why'd you even take the job?"
"Because someone needs to teach her that running over pedestrians is wrong. Or at least that running over me is wrong."
Andrew shook his head. "Glad to know you care so much about her."
"Hey now, if I didn't have to worry so much about myself becoming roadkill, or side-walk kill, I would worry about her, Ok?"
Andrew just shook his head. "Well anyways, just make sure you both wear seatbelts and stuff alright?"
Darien looked as if Andrew had just told him 1 + 1 = 2. "Nahhhhhh, Ya THINK?! Forget that man, with that meatball head in MY car, I'm gonna be all over that seatbelt!!" he yelled.
Andrew sweatdropped. "Jeez man I was just making sure.No need to throw a hissy fit."
*DING DING* rang the bells
"Well here she is anyways." noted Andrew as the younger blonde ran up and collapsed on the bar stool, breathing heavily. Darien just quirked an eybrow and cracked a grin.
"Gee Meatballhead, I know I'm handsome, but there's no need to go hyperventilating over it." he joked.
"In...your...dreams." She panted. "woooo." she breathed as she flipped her hair behind her ears and sat up straight. "Hey Andrew can I have a mint chocolate shake?"
"Comming right up!" he said with a smile and a wink as he disappeared into the back room. Slowly Serena spun around to face her archenemy turned tutor.
"Sooooo..." she drawled. "what's the plan for today?"
"Well," replied the man before taking a drink, "I walked here from my morning college classes so we're gonna have to walk back to my apartment and get the car we're gonna use."
Serena looked confused. "Wait, you mean you have a car and you can drive, but you walk? To -school-?"
"Yep. It's healthy, but of course you wouldn't know anything about that."
"Oh shut up."
"Make me!" he shot back
Andrew shoved a straw in Serena's mouth before she could answer."Ok now guys, you haven't even begun lessons and already you've gotten into a fight. Maybe this wasn't so good an idea after all."
Both Serena and Darien remained quiet.
"Maybe if you both apologise to each other..."
"Don't push us Andrew." they cut in at the same time. Darien looked at Serena looked at each other in suprise. Serena was the first to turn away, in order to drink her milkshake. Darien however, continued to look at her for a short time, but was torn away when Andrew cleared his throat. Startled, Darien turned around to face Andrew's laughing eyes.
"Well you guys better get going." smiled Andrew. Darien rolled his eyes and stood along with Serena. "Oh and Darien." continued Andrew as he knelt over the counter to whisper "try to avoid the back seat with her, alright?" Darien sprayed out the coffee he was drinking in suprise and looked at his friend.
"What the HELL are you talking about?!" he demanded.
"Oh nothing." Andrew laughed.
Darien shook his head and walked outside with Serena walking next to him. "So what was that about?" asked Serena.
Darien blushed, "Nothing...I dunno."
Serena laughed, "Darien you're blushing! That's so cute!" She laughed more as his blush deepened.
"Ok. Ok. I get the picture." he grumbled as Serena's laughter ebbed. They walked silently side by side for 10 minutes before Serena began feeling a little bored. Attempting to lighten the mood she decided to strike up a conversation.
"So how far is your apartment?" she asked curiously.
"Just a couple blocks." he replied, only half listening.
"Is it big?" she asked again.
"Kind of." he replied
"Do you live alone?"
"Yes, I do."
"Do you have a girlfriend?" Darien stopped walking and looked at her incredulously.
"What did you say?"
"I asked if-you-had-a-girlfriend." she replied, spacing out the words.
"My, you're a nosy girl."
"Just trying to make conversation."
"Yeah, nosy conversation."
"Hey, I..."
"We're here." he cut in. Serena looked up in amazement.
"You live -here-!?" She said dumbfoundedly. He replied with a nod.
"Ready to go up?" He asked her.
"Yeah!" cried Serena as she followed Darien to the double door.
He watched as the blonde bounded quickly up to him and they entered together.
Nodding at the people behind the counter the tall man led his young companion to the elevator.
The doors to the elevator slid slowly shut. As they did Darien looked to the girl beside him; she had a huge smile on her face.
"Are you so excited at being alone with me that you're that happy?" he teased. Serena's smile faded, and she faced him with a disgusted look.
"Actually I was thinking about the tricks I used to pull on elevators." she replied. "Tricks?"
"Yeah. Me and my friends used to get on elevators and trick people into thinking that one of us was going to have a baby or give random people hard times for stupid stuff. My favorite is the Makeout corner." Darien looked at her skeptically to which the blonde rolled her eyes. "Allow me to demonstrate." she whispered seductively.
"Woah, you don't have to..." Darien started and she came closer.
"Oh relax you moron! You're not part of it!" she said indignantly as she walked to the corner behind him. And made it look like she was kissing someone.
"You did that on purpose." he accused.
Serena turned to face him again. "Did what?" she replied with mock innocence and a smile. . .
After exiting, they turned down the hall and entered an apartment. Serena admired the immaculate house as she followed him to the kitchen. On the wall hung a key hanger covered with keys.
"He must have a lot of locks in the house." she thought. After selecting one he herded her out into the hall, down the elevator, and through a maze of hallways to a garage filled with cars. "Woah!" Serena cried as her eyes bugged, "Jeez, there must be some serious millionaires in this building to have all these cars!"
Darien gave a cocky, flattered smile. "Well, actually meatballhead. These are all mine." He smiled as her chin dropped.
"You're kidding right?" He shook his head as he wove through the cars.
"Jesus Darien who do you work for? Bill Gates?" She cried as she dodged between cars to follow him.
"Well actually most of the were left to me by my parents when they died, most of them I've never driven, and no I don't know what they did for a living."
"Oh Darien I'm sorry. I didn't know." she paused.
"Hey it's all right." he said nonchalantly.
"Don't be stupid, of course it's not alright. If my parents died, I'd have died along with them." She paused again. "You're a stronger person than I thought, Darien."
"Thank you." he replied unsurely."Anyways it's..."
"Oh my god is that a Mercedes Benz SLR!?" Serena ran off as Darien sweatdropped.
"Okaaay." He muttered as he looked for her. Spotting her he walked over to the silver car she was oggling. Sure enough it was his mercedes.
"You know about cars?!" He asked, actually impressed.
Serena snorted. "Do I know cars. What a dumb question." Darien smiled with interest.
"Alright then name a couple more with out looking at the names." He said as he leant back. With a self assured smile she stood and got a better look at his machines.
"Oh man, there's got to be at least 9 concept cars in here.Who the heck do you have to know to manage that?!" she gushed.
"Well, like I said, I don't know where they worked or how they managed it. And there are twelve actually." Darien corrected with a smile.
"Not if you're counting those two." Darien stood back up.
"Which two?" He asked.
"That red one and that white one. They were made into limited editions and all were sold in 1998."
"No shit?" Darien said, still impressed. Serena laughed.
"Don't believe me? Look it up." He just looked back at her with a genuine smile, this girl was getting more intrigueing by the minute.
"I just didn't think you were capable of memory." he teased.
"Well sometimes when you take a person for face vaue you miss what they trully are." the dark haired man just studied her a little; perhaps his opinion of her was in need of adjustment?
"Well anyways, we better get to the car we're using." he started off.
"What? Why we can't just use the mercedes?" she protested.
"HA! I don't think so. If you know so much about cars then you know that there's no way in the underworld that I'm letting a new driver use that car." Serena shrugged.
"It was worth a shot." she laughed as she followed him past a few more cars only to stop in front of a black and blue Acura. "Why'd we stop?"
Darien looked at her suprised. "This is what we're using."
Serena's face looked like she'd eaten a lemon. "An '88 ACURA? Oh Darien please! anything but the Acura!"
"Sorry, it's the only car I can risk getting trashed."
"I'll be really careful!"
"Do you want to drive or not?" he asked as he held up the keys.
"Yes." she sighed. Darien just laughed. Perhaps this would be more fun than he thought.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
After Darien had driven them out of the garage, he took them to a backroad where he could see just how well or not well she could handle the car. Parking it at the side of the road he and Serena traded seats and fastened their seatbelts. On impulse she leaned over to switch on the radio but Darien caught her hand in his before she could touch anything. "The radio is a distraction, new drivers don't need anything taking away their attention from the road." He said.
Serena gave him a look. "You sound like my mother."
"Well then i shall thank her for helping me protect you." he replied seriously. He watched as a suprised look came upon her face.
*~*~*~*~*Darien's POV*~*~*~*~~*
Darien waited for her to answer, but she seemed to not know what to say. He probably wouldn't have known either, because he didn't even know himself why he'd said it. Though he felt like he meant it. Perhaps he was begining to come to terms with the meatball head. Nah that couldn't be it. Just then Serena broke him from his thoughts.
"So...can we get started?" She asked.
Darien looked at her in suprise, "Uh yeah, sure, go ahead." He replied. After a few minutes Serena spoke again.
"Uh, Darien?"
"Yeah?" Said he.
"I need my hand to turn the key." she said with a small smile. Darien blushed.
"Oh, right." He said abashed as he released her and turned to the window in embarressment.
What about liking the meatball head? Being ex-arch-enemies couldn't be -so- bad.--- Could it?
Serena turned the key and drove slowly onto the road.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*~*~*~~*~*~
Yes yes. Very not interesting I know. You've waited all this time and almost -nothing!-But I have to build up to the romance see. I'll see if I can get any more -interesting- *wink* romance in the next chapter. Let's see how long Darien can avoid the backseat! (If he makes it that far!) Oh by the way. If you really want a romance sere/dare fic read my other story "Million Kisses to Learn From" in which Tuxedo Mask gives our little meatball head kissing lessons! (What Fun!) (I like that story better anyways. And judging by reviews I think most of my readers agree.)