Hi! I hope I still have a few of my readers. I have a few things to say as to my recent absence but I decided to put them at the end. So I really hope you read them because they are important. Thank you all for you continued support and I hope you enjoy this chapter.
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Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon
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One day ago the devil incarnate made an appearance yet again in my apartment. Exactly twenty four hours ago, again said devil incarnate invited me out on a…..on a…. Oh lord give me strength. I can't even THINK the words let alone say the words. Okay deep breath. He….he invited me on on I can say it. It's a simple four letter, one syllable word with multiple meanings. He invited me out on a date. There. I said it. Now I know for a fact it truly did happen. I would like to take the opportunity to place blame fully on Mina. Let me give you a replay of the horrible crime she has committed against me.
"Darien why don't you let her think about it and call you back with her real answer okay?"
Notice the way Mina overrules my immediate, if not slow witted response. Then she supplies the man in question with an answer of her own. If this is not considered a high crime than what is? So members of the jury I demand this woman be brought to justice for her unspeakable act of treachery. Okay so that was somewhat over the top but if I said these things out loud I would be thrown into the nearest straight jacket and sent to the Nutty farm.
I have to admit Darien is an incredibly gorgeous man. I know this. I may despise him to the very core but I'd have to be blind and dumb not to notice his devastating good looks. But that's not the point. The point is, is that Darien Shields is a shallow man who views woman as sex objects whose only purpose in life is to make his life more enjoyable. I think.
My first impression of him was not a very good one. The man was naked with a naked woman in MY home. That doesn't exactly spell out "Mr. Right," to me. Maybe it's just me but I never seem to find Mr. Right. I've found Mr. Asshole, Mr. Sexist Pig, and I've even located the hated, Mr. It's not you. But never Mr. Right. Maybe I should post an ad in the newspaper. A large, page filler that says "Seeking Mr. Right. Good looks, good personality? Good!" and then in smaller print at the bottom of the page, "Satan worshippers excluded. Drug test mandatory."
What is wrong with men? Why are they so afraid of commitment? Do they actually believe they will receive their own state issued ball and chain by making a lasting commitment with a woman? And they say women are the complicated sex! Ha! At least men know the basics. Love us. Don't cheat on us. Hurt us and have your 'goods' permanently rearranged. Simple.
But men? If ever a book comes out, "A Dummy's Guide to Understanding Men." I'd have the first copy open and in my hands. I'd highlight and write notes in the margins. But I guess men would buy the same book about women. Maybe I should write a book like that about women….Hmmm I could be rich! I mean honestly, who better to write a book about understanding women than myself? A glorified woman! Note to self: write best seller book by end of month.
Darien did surprise me though. The flowers were absolutely breathtaking. I wonder if he knew sunflowers were my favorite. I'm treading on dangerous territory. He could truly be turning over a new leaf, wanting to rid himself of the title, "The Slut." Or he could just be trying to get onto my good side so he can bring himself one step closer to proving he deserves that title. I'm just so confused and afraid. I don't want to get hurt again. That's all men seem to be good at with me. Alright enough of the self-wallowing Serena. Let's bring out the strong, dangerous, if not crazy Serena.
Either way if he hurts me purposely or otherwise I'm becoming a nun. I look good in black. No that's defeat talking. I will stand strong. I will rise to the occasion. I will go eat ice cream and sulk in my room.
I walk over to my freezer, sighing in exhaustion. When did thinking become so difficult? I open my freezer door, my spirits raised, and my mouth watering. I'm not really sure if I was expecting to see ice cream in my freezer. I know I had ice cream on the list I gave Sammy. And I'm sure he bought ice cream because let's face it, I could bury him alive with all the dirt I have on him. So where'd my Caramel Vanilla Brownie go?
Mina. That girl is starting to wear on my last nerve. We may be best friends but she just keeps breaking the unwritten rules best friends have followed since the first best friends in history agreed on the three rules.
Rule number one: Best friends will never steal/want/date a present or ex-boyfriend. Rule number two: Best friends will never be disloyal to one another. And rule number three (the most important to me) Best friends will never steal ice cream from each other. She has already broken two and all in one day!
Her and I really need to talk about this. Mina and I are definitely having a one on one conversation about the importance of friends and staying loyal. I know she probably thought in some twisted way she was helping me with my dilemma with Darien but I can figure everything out on my own.
Who am I trying to kid? I can't even buy new laundry detergent without calling one of the girls. I was on the phone with Amy for an hour in a half debating on whether or not I needed to try a new fabric softer. Poor girl.
I think I should start writing things down. Whenever I have an idea for a current predicament I'll write it down and then discuss it aloud. It's too noisy in my head. And a bit too nutty for my liking. Oh no! It's 6:15 already?! I'm dead. I'm so dead. Raye and Lita got back today. Mina picked them up. I'm supposed to be on my way to dinner with the girls in five minutes! I haven't even showered yet! I'm toast. Looks like I have to put a stand still to my inner conflict at the moment.
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Twenty minutes later I was out the door desperately trying to contain the blonde catastrophe atop my head. I hailed a cab and told him to drive like his ex-wife was chasing him for alimony. And he did. When we got to the restaurant I needed to be at fifteen minutes ago, I had to stay still for a minute. I was waiting for my organs to catch up. When they finally did I paid the man and bolted out. I paused outside the restaurant trying to collect myself.
I suddenly got a mental picture of the looks upon my friends' faces when they saw me breeze through the entrance doors. Lita would look amazed I made it so early. Amy would just sit there with a bored expression upon her face. Mina would look completely amused because she knew she'd forgotten to call me to remind me and there wasn't a damn thing I could do about it.
Then there was Raye's face. I cringed when my brain decided to make her expression the backdrop in my mind. She'd be sitting there tapping her fingers against the table angrily. Her eyes never leaving the door. Just daring me to burst through them. Exasperated from my cab ride here. There'd be fire in her eyes and me roasting in it.
I slowly pushed the door open. Very careful not to have it swing open as doors tend to do when one is trying to be inconspicuous. I poked my head inside, searching for a table with four frightening women. Where are they? Come on I know this is the restaurant I was supposed to meet them at.
"Excuse me Miss? Can I help you with something?" That did it. I was staring so intently into the restaurant not paying any attention whatsoever to the environment around me. So when the Host spoke to me and broke my reverie I was completely shell-shocked. Enough so that my balance against the door was broken and I fell face first onto the ground, eating about a mouthful of carpet.
I quickly bounced back up. Scanning the crowd trying to take in a estimate of how many people witnessed my fall. Surprisingly no one even looked up from their conversations. What am I? Chopped liver?
"Yes. I'm looking for my friends. Four women. They were supposed to be here about half an hour ago?" Damn why don't they ever tell me whose name is on the reservation?
"Are you Ms. TarDay?" They're so annoying when they try to be funny. I sigh, this man doesn't even get the joke. Just change the pronunciation of a word and no one's the wiser.
"Yeah." He took a menu and showed me to their table. He pulled out my chair for me (what a gentlemen) and placed my menu in my hands. He smiled a charming smile and if he was not at least forty-five years older than me I may have returned the same smile. When he left I turned towards my friends. I was more than a little nervous.
"Hello girls. Sorry I'm late but someone who shall remain nameless coughMinacough forgot to call me with a reminder." I smiled apologetically at Amy, Lita and Raye. When my gaze fell upon Mina I gave her the scariest glare I could muster. She just gave me a smug smile and turned her nose upwards at me.
"Don't worry about it Sere. We actually just got here ten minutes ago." Lita spoke to me though her eyes were already searching the menu.
"What?! Then why the hell did you tell the host my name was Ms. TarDay?" I'm not really angry. I'm too tired to be angry. Maybe if a certain look-a-like of mine hadn't stole my only means of happiness I may have had the strength to be angry.
"Because Queen Ditz, you are late. We just knew the inevitable." Raye spared me a glance and then returned to her menu. I think she has me mistaken with Mina. I'm the Queen of All. Mina is the Queen Ditz. Ha! Take that Raye.
"But you were late too!" Am I the only one who understands that?
"Not technically Serena. Since we were the first here we set the time bar. You came late." I knew I could count on Amy to use semantics to win over the argument. Now if only I was as smart as her.
"Whatever. Let's just order. I'm starved!" I opened my menu and started scanning the appetizers and moving my way over to the entrees. My eyes didn't seem to register any of the meals but instead went straight to the dessert column and began organizing the desserts in which order I'd eat them first.
"You know Sere, I don't think what you're starved for is on the menu." My eyes narrowed at Mina. Leave it to her not to leave something alone.
"Mind filling us in Serena or should we just wait for the exaggerated Mina version?" Raye was now looking intently at me, her menu closed and her hands folded atop. One by one all pairs of eyes were staring directly at me. How did they get so good at intimidation? Did they go to a seminar without me?
"There's nothing to fill in. Other than the holes in Mina's head." I stuck my tongue out at her and returned to my dessert choices.
"Alright fine. Mina please elaborate." My jaw dropped. That's low.
"Apparently a six foot three, black haired, blue eyed, muscular God has taken an interest in our little Sere. He invited her out on a date. Their first encounter was the day Serena got back. Darien, is the God's name, was naked in her apartment with a woman! Later that day he pinned--" I cut her off there.
"That's quite enough! Thank you Sell Out." Why do they love tormenting me? I would never been so cruel. I'll work on that lie later.
"Wow a God huh Sere? Nice. There's almost none left in California. You better sink your claws into him before someone else snags him." Lita said through a mouthful of salad. When had the waiter come by? Oh that's right. I was debating over strawberry cheesecake or Raspberry Chocolate mousse cake. Damn you desserts!
"Don't listen to Mina. He is not a God. He's a jackass." Okay so he's gorgeous, I've already admitted that disturbing thought. But I refuse to ever include the words God and Darien in the same sentence. Unless I'm begging God to do a little target practice with those lightning bolts.
"Sere he filled your entire apartment with sunflowers and lilies. I think it's safe to say you're more than a passing attraction." There goes Mina's mouth again. I wonder if super glue is toxic…..
"He what? Come on Serena tell us everything." When did Amy care so much about gossip? Probably about the same time she pitted her brain against me.
"There's really nothing to tell. He's a friend of my brother's. That should give at least an indication of the type of guy he is. Him and some chick were NAKED. TOGETHER. In my apartment. He tried to….befriend me in an alley but I shot him down. And then the next day my apartment was filled with flowers and he was there inviting me to some Charity Ball. That's all I swear." So I left out the wall in the alley. I doubt that little tidbit would even interest them.
"By 'befriend' she means he pinned her against an alley wall and tried to have his way with her." Mina giggled at me. I need to get a dog. I bet a dog could keep my secrets.
"So are you?" Lita asked. She looked so giddy. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this my life? Why is she so happy?
"Am I what?" I hate when they gang up on me. They always gang up on me and then I always end us caving into their demands. True most of the time they are right but that's only MOST of the time.
"Go out with him you fruit cake!" How come all of a sudden they find my life so damn entertaining. Last month everyone was swooning over Raye's boyfriend of the month. Everyone but me that is. He was a total skeazeball. Thank God Raye came to her senses in time.
"But I don't want to! I can't let him win. That's all this is to him, a stupid macho act. He's just trying to prove to himself that he can make me go all starry eyed for him." They don't seem convinced. I guess I have only one card left to play. The sympathy card.
"I don't want to get hurt and I honestly think he will hurt me." I'm even convincing myself. I don't remember telling my eyes to get watery.
"Serena you have to give him a chance. Just a small one. You don't even have to go out on a date with him. Just try to get to know him better before you discard him immediately. Who knows he might be….." She paused for effect before a thousand watt smile lit her face. "The One!" Mina needs a life.
"Besides if he hurts you we'll be there to hurt him worse." Lita winked at me. I could always count on her to beat up my dates from hell. See. They always wear me down.
"Fine! Geesh you hens sure do like to cluck." I wonder where that waiter has run off to…..
"Are you ladies ready to order?" Now that's just creepy.
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Alright first thing, I'm not sure if anyone has really followed the weather recently but Florida had become target practice for every major hurricane and tropical storm. I live in Florida and my area got hit, unfortunately. Before any of you get too worried, nothing too serious. It's just taken me and my family a little while to get back on our feet. But rest assured everything is back to normal. Also I'm sorry this chapter is short, there was so much more I wanted in this one (for instance S/D interaction) but I just haven't really had much time. I'm sure you all understand. It may take me a little while to get the next chapter out again but not nearly as long as this one. Well that's all and thank you for taking the time to read these notes.