A/N: thanks to everyone who reviewed! I'm glad to see many reviewers from my other stories enjoy this one as well. I will probably do reviewer replies next chapter but right now I just want to get into the story. BTW: I started this as a Darien Serena fic and as of now it still is one, but as with all my stories I never know where they will lead me.
"Okay Luna, here we are! Our new home for the next four years." Serena said excitedly as she pushed the key Juilliard had sent into the door.
"Hi!" As soon as Serena had opened the door a cheerful brunette bounded up in front of her. "You must be Serena! I'm you roommate. My name is Karen."
"Wow talk about a welcome!" Serena said laughing as Karen dragged her over to the couch.
"Well when I heard you were coming all the way from Japan I thought I'd do my best to make you feel welcome." Karen said laughing. "And if you don't mind, that's just the beginning. I thought we'd go shopping this afternoon and then hit the club with your new wardrobe!" Serena smiled with a roommate like Karen she wondered if she would miss home at all.
"Give me a few minutes to at least put my things down. I guess I'll put everything away later. Oh this is my cat Luna." Serena said finally relieving Luna of her cramped conditions. "I hope you don't mind her running around the apartment." Serena said putting Luna into Karen's arms as if she were just another housepet.
"Of course not! I love cats! Well come on go get ready for a trip to the mall!" Serena ran off to her room for a quick shower and a change of clothes and in record time was back out to head out wherever Karen wanted to.
They spent hours at the mall with Karen making sure that Serena had an outfit suitable for the clubs they would be attending. At first Serena found the low cut tops and short skirts a bit revealing but then they were still less revealing than her fuku.
The more time she spent together the more Serena realized that Karen was like all of the Scouts in one person. She was smart like Ami, she loved to shop like Mina, she was strong like Lita, and she had a bit of a temper like Raye, but most of all she was a great friend.
"Alright Serena are you ready for your first night on the town in America?" Karen asked helping Serena do her hair and make-up for the night. She wore a short black skirt, high heeled boots, and a pink bandanna top that exposed her shoulders and her stomach. Karen had convinced her that her extra long hair would not be practical and it would more than likely get in the way so they decided to cut it so it only ran to the middle of her back. Then Karen did two skinny braids on either side of her face to try and keep her hair out of the way and add a simple accent. Serena insisted on keeping her make-up natural though.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Serena said happily as the pair headed to the club.
The club was called Fusion and Serena was instantly entranced by the neon lights and décor and the huge dance floor. Kaori had made sure she learned American dancing in order to do her contemporary piece and so she was easily able to fit in despite the fact that most of the music was foreign to her.
"Hey Serena I'd like you to meet some of my friends." Karen shouted over the music and led Serena to a much quieter area, complete with bar and couches for people who wanted a break from the loud music and dancing. Karen dragged her over to a couch where three guys were sitting.
"Alex, Robert and Nathan this is Serena. Serena these are the guys." The guys instantly stood up and bowed to her. Each one in turn taking her hand and kissing it. Karen laughed at their display. "As you can see they are all hopelessly single."
"Hey!"
"Yeah what gives we were just being nice!" Alex said trying to look indignant.
"Okay fine. Sorry Serena none of them are on the market and therefore they can't dance with you or date you." Karen said calmly acting as if to lead Serena away.
"Hey! Alright we're all single! But give us a break you don't want three guys falling over the same girl now." Robert said with a smirk.
Serena's concentration was focused on Nathan who simply smiled at his friends. What is it with me always having a thing for the quiet ones?
"Well sorry to disappoint but I sorta have a boyfriend waiting for me back home…" Serena trailed off. Did she still want to be with Darien? He hadn't even wished her goodbye and she wanted to live her own life…would he want to be with her if she followed her own dreams.
"Aw Serena we're sorry. If Karen had only told us we wouldn't have made complete goofs of ourselves." Alex said glumly, though everyone could tell he was just pretending.
"Well I don't know if you'd call him my boyfriend anymore…it's a long story." Serena said softly. The four friends looked at each other and grabbed Serena and let her over to a large couch.
"Barkeep four screwdrivers and keep them coming till we all pass out!" Robert called out to the bartender who being friends with the 20 year olds knew that he wasn't kidding. He was just glad they all appeared to be over 21.
"Alright Serena spill." Karen said as she and Nathan sat on one side of her while Robert and Alex took the other.
Serena looked at the four people she had just met today. Could she really tell them what happened? They all seemed like great friends and it would be nice to talk it over with someone who wasn't a cat.
"Well we were dating for four years, and I guess he just expected us to be together. He just expected me to stay home and keep house for him while he fulfilled all his dreams…" By the time Serena had downed her second screwdriver she had told them all about her dating history with Darien, making sure she stayed sober enough not to tell them about either of her alter egos.
"Serena, if I may be so bold. Right now you're accomplishing your dreams, for once do what you want and not what everyone else wants you to do. If you're meant to be then he'll figure things out and come after you but until then I suggest you have fun." Nathan's words spoke true to Serena. Right now she wanted to start all over. She wanted to have a new slate, a new life with new friends and perhaps even a new destiny.
"Alright I will do what I want. And right now I want you to dance with me." Four shocked faces looked at her, none more so than Nathan as she grabbed his hand and led him out to the dance floor.