Sorry it took so long. Went on vacation. Anyway, on with the story!
Chapter Ten: Now that I know
Todd was at school. He felt he hadn't done that much pick pocketing lately so during lunch he tried to sneak a wallet. Problem was he picked the wrong pocket. Duncan's. Duncan had grabbed Todd and shoved him against the wall with his huge fist against Todd's small throat, his two cronies chuckling. Todd was pleading.
"Gimme a break man!"
Duncan smiled. "Your leg or your arm?"
"How 'bout we crush his empty head instead?" one of the other jocks said while pounding his fist into his palm.
"Um, excuse me." A small voice came from behind. "What are you doing?" They all turned there heads to see Serena standing behind them. Duncan tried to act smooth.
"We were just going to pound this slime into mush. Care to watch?" Serena caught Todd's eyes and she could see fear in them. She looked back at the jocks.
"I would appreciate it if you don't." They all laughed.
"Apparently you're new around here." A dumb sounding jock said snickering. "Don't you know who this creep is?"
"Yeah, he's my friend." She said casually. All of the jocks stared dumbstruck. Duncan turned to face Todd pushing his fist against his throat even harder so that Todd was choking.
"How did a loser like you pick up a good lookin chick like that?"
"Stop it right now." Her voice suddenly raised.
"I don't think so." Duncan raised his fist. Todd closed his eyes and braced himself for the pain.
"I said knock it off!" Todd felt the fist against his throat release him and he dropped to the ground. He opened his eyes to see that Serena had tossed Duncan off of him. The jocks including Duncan who got up looking red in the face looked as though they were ready to fight.
"Aw come on. I can't hit girls." The dumb jock said.
"Anyone who messes with me has to pay the price." Duncan said menacingly.
"Right. You want it all at once?" she said sarcastically. Duncan rushed at her. Todd was about to step in but Serena had ducked and delivered a strong kick to Duncan's stomach. He fell to his knees hunched over clutching his stomach. One of the other jocks rushed at her. Just before he had got to her she rolled over onto her back so that the jock landed on her feet and (with the help of his body in motion) kicked him right over her so that he landed hard on the grass. The jocks were soon backing away from her. She glared at them with her hands on her hips.
"There, you've had your payment. Now lay off of him." She pointed to Todd who was staring at her in shock. The jocks nodded and ran off. She turned to Todd who was still staring at her. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"How did you do that?" Todd asked amazed. She shrugged.
"I work out everyday. Didn't I ever tell you that?" As an answer he shook his head. The bell rang. "There's the bell. You'd better get to class." She sad quickly and walked off leaving Todd sitting there on the ground staring after. After school Todd had found Serena had already left. And during training she had barely looked at him.
That night Serena sat on the edge of her balcony watching the pale moon rise in the sky lighting up everything with a milky glow. She slowly breathed in the cool night air and let it out with a small sigh.
"Still up huh?" A voice said. She smiled slightly.
"Hi Todd."
Todd, who was climbing the wall, hopped up onto the balcony with her and sat down. "So uh, thanks y'know? For saving my neck."
She shrugged slightly. "It was the least I could do."
Todd looked up. "Huh? But you didn't owe me any favors."
"I don't have to owe you anything to help you." She looked at him. "It's like you said, your real friends stand by you no matter what." She looked back to the sky. Todd searched for something to keep the conversation going.
"So you work out every morning huh?"
She nodded. "Yep, and meditate in the evenings after training."
"Don't you hang out with any of the other X-Men?"
She shook her head. "I feel it's better to keep my distance from other people. I've been hurt so many times. My wounds are so deep they never show, but they never go away."
"You let me get close."
"That's because you Todd, you understood me."
He scratched his head. "Well, you're the only one who's ever looked past the way I look."
"What's wrong with the way you look?" Serena stared at him.
Todd looked at her. "You don't think I'm...ugly?"
"Ugly?" She looked shocked. "Please! So what if you don't have perfect chins and rippling abs and stuff! You got style, character, charisma!"
"Yeah," Todd blushed a little. "You don't have to say that you know."
"Are you accusing me of lying?" She asked him.
"No no!" Todd held up his hands. "I just...well...um..." She looked at him.
"You really think you're ugly don't you?" She sounded shocked.
"Well I ain't perfect," Todd sighed. "I mean you...um...never mind."
"Nobody's perfect Todd. You should know that."
"But you're beautiful," The words came out of Todd's mouth faster than he realized. He blushed. So did she.
"Don't get me wrong. But sometimes I feel... you know. Afraid to let other people find out the real me."
"Yeah, I can understand that." Suddenly she grabbed his hand and pulled him up. "Whoa!" Todd nearly lost his balance. "Hey!"
"Come on. Let's go."
"Go? Go where?" he asked. She didn't answer. Then to Todd's surprise Serena jumped off the balcony and was headed straight towards the ground. "Holy hair gel!" Todd gasped. Serena closed her eyes and liquefied. She splashed onto the ground. The water slowly gathered and Serena reformed. She became solid again. Todd breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh gosh." Todd leapt off the balcony and hopped down to the ground. "You never told me you could do that."
She shrugged smiling. "I guess I'm just full of surprises."
"Well next time, tell me when you're gonna do that before you do it." He brushed himself off. "So where are we going?"
"You'll see." she said smiling.
They snuck into where they kept all the vehicles. Serena picked out a Blue car with silver streaks.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Todd asked nervously. "I mean the last time you drived..."
"I've gotten better." she said confidently. "Don't worry about it." She took the wheel while Todd buckled up in the passenger's seat. She turned the car on which ran noisily and sped it out of the garage. She pressed a green button and the top slid down. The gates opened up and they were off onto the road.
"Man, you'd think somebody would've heard us." Toad said a little shaken up.
"Nah, they didn't even hear when the other kids took the jet."
They zoomed down the road the cool night air ruffling their hair. Todd looked at Serena. She looked like a whole new person in the dark. Her hair was flying and there was a wild look in her eyes. She really does look beautiful. Todd thought. Serena had driven them to the beach. Todd hopped out.
"Why are we here?" he asked.
"I like to come here to get my mind off of things." She said simply. "Besides, it looks totally different at night." She did have a point. The usual white hot sand was cool and cream color. The water in the ocean was settled and the white moonlight flickered off the black surface. "How about a swim"
"Uh, no thanks." Todd said quickly. She looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
"It's just, I kind of get smelly when I'm wet."
She smiled. "I wont mind. There is absolutly nothing about you I find repulsive."
"Trust me, it smells bad."
"Oh, come on!" Serena took his hand and laughed as she dragged him into the water. They swam together in the deep water. Todd felt strange as they swam. He began feeling lighter, happier, safer.
Now that I know
That you want me for me
I can be what you want
I can be what you need
Now that I know
That your love is for real
I can finally see
This is not make believe anymore
Todd held onto her hand as they swam. He never felt so free in his entire life. He felt nothing but pure joy.
I never knew
If I could believe in you
I thought I was just a diversion
And you were killing some time
My friends they told me
To leave you
Todd didn't know what was going on. He never felt such acceptance and joy in his entire life from anyone. So this is what it's like to fall in love. He thought.
They said you would never
Be mine
But you gave me your love
And you said I'm the one
You want for the rest of
Your life
Serena never felt so happy to be with someone. How can someone so shy and timid be so wonderful? She thought. A rush of emotions overwhelmed her. She wanted him to be happy. She wanted to be happy with him. She never wanted to stop swimming with him. They broke the surface together, sending showers of silvery water everywhere, glistening in the moon light.
"Watch this!" Serena waved her arm. Suddenly the waves grew larger and carried them both for a wild ride.
"Whooo Hooo!" Todd shouted as they bobbed in the waves.
Now that I know
That you want me for me
I can be what you want
I can be what you need
Now that I know
That your love is for real
I can finally see
This is not make believe anymore
Serena and Todd swam around each other in perfect unison. "I really, really like you Todd Tolensky," Serena blushed. She hesitated, then she kissed him. Todd blinked, then blushed, the bright pink strangly contrasting with his pale skin. Tentatively he kissed her back. It was a perfect moment in time, just like the first kiss he ever shared with her. No, this was the first kiss he shared with her. The last kiss they had was nothing compared to this. The last one was out of pure lust, but this... They sank beneath the surface and drifted slowly down still locked in the kiss.
I was afraid
It was all a masquerade
That I was only a plaything
And you would leave me behind
But now I feel so secure
By your side
I can conquer the world
I gave you my love
And I know you're the one
I want for the rest
Of my life
Their lips slowly drew from each other and they looked deep into each others eyes. It was as if they were looking into one another's souls. Rippling lights flashed. They looked around to see they were in a whole different world. Silver fish shimmering all around them through the cool deep blue water as they passed. Flickering moonlight rippled through the water to dance on their pale bodies. They looked at each other still holding hands, their hair floating gracefully around their faces.
Now that I know
That you want me for me
I can be what you want
I can be what you need
Now that I know
That your love is for real
I can finally see
This is not make believe anymore
Todd gently brushed her hair. Serena smiled at him with a pure happiness in her heart she had never felt before in her entire life. If they hadn't have been underwater, tears of joy would've been seen coming out of her eyes. Is it even possible to feel this happy? She thought. She touched his face and slowly drew her hand down the side of his face. Todd sooth. Suddenly his life didn't seem such a waste. If he had ever had a happy moment in his life, it could never compare to this.
I really feel it
So much love
I really feel it
So much joy
I feel it
Sweet sweet ecstasy
'Cause you opened my eyes
And I realize
Your love is for real
They embraced once more and shared another kiss. He wished that time would stop so that he could live in this moment with her forever. They both propelled upwards sending this silver fish around them to scatter creating a dazziling light show. They crossed over to the other world and the cool night air hit their faces. Serena waved her hand and they let the waves carry them to the white sandy shore.
Now that I know
That you want me for me
I can be what you want
I can be what you need
Now that I know
That your love is for real
I can finally see
This is not make believe anymore
"Serena..." Todd tried to find words. "I've felt like I've just met you for the first time."
"It's true." she said shyly. "We really don't know that much about each other do we?" Todd shook his head. She took hold of his hand. "Then, let's share." He looked at her, smiled, then nodded.
"Alright. I was born in a city where I grew up..."
----------------
Two hours had passed and the moon was now a small orb floating high in the center of the sky. Todd had told Serena about his life and she told him all she could remember. They were now laying in the sand watching the stars."So your brother is an expert at jewelry huh?" he asked.
"He's also good with glass and other things." she said proudly.
"That's pretty cool yo."
"Yeah." She sighed.
"But how is it you can't remember past when you were seven?" he asked.
"I don't now. I guess I just forgot."
"Weird." He muttered. The wind started to pick up.
"We should get going." Serena said.
"Yeah." He agreed.
They got up and walked back to the car. Serena drove them back to the mansion. Nobody had realized they had left. Todd walked her to her room. Before she closed the door she whispered to him.
"I love you Todd." And shut the door quickly. After a moment Todd walked to his room and whispered to the dark.
"I love you too Serena."
But will fate let them stay together? Find out in the next chapter!