Disclaimer: Once again, I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the related characters. However, this story line and all the ideas and life experiences that inspire me do, sadly.

Once Again… -...- Means Serena's Thoughts.

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Chapter 1

As the town clock's chimes rang out three o'clock, the four girls and two cats in the temple all sighed, as if rehearsed.

"She's late…. Again…" Raye muttered. "Oh Raye, I'm sure she has a perfectly good reason," Amy said. Raye just rolled her eyes. "Hey, don't be so hard on her…" Mina began.

Just then, Serena walked in. Her eyes were red and puffy and she was unusually slumped over and silent. Any thoughts of scolding her instantly left her friends minds, to be simultaneously replaced with a desperate need to cheer her up.

"Serena?" Raye whispered, standing up and to go to her best friend. "I'm alright," Serena said, trying to fake a smile, "I'm sorry I'm late…" Mina caught Serena's eyes. "Now you listen here Serena, you better tell us what's wrong and right now! We're here to help you and we all love you… you know that right?" "Yeah," Serena gave a small smile. "Really, I'm okay guys. I just…. I… I just want what's not mine to have…" she said with a small said laugh. "Oh, I'm sorry Serena, that happens to the best of us. But, hey, cheep up! I made chocolate-chip cookies!" Lita said.

Serena gave another, slightly brighter smile to this comment. At last, the meeting could continue as at least as normal as possible.

Feeling a little lighter in spirit, Serena smiled as she waved goodbye to her friends to head home. Luna had decided to stay with Artemis to do some "work."

-At least someone's happy…-

As she began walking home, the wind began its graceful dance, rising and falling over and over. When the wind suddenly ceased, Serena looked up and immediately froze where she stood. Her heart skipped a couple beats.

-Darien……-

There he sat, on the same bench she had sat herself only a few hours earlier. Something about his appearance seemed to be so sad and lost in painful thoughts, instantly bringing pains to her heart and giving her the desperate urge to run over to him, to comfort him, to take away his pain.

Quietly, she walked over to him. "Darien…. Are you okay?" He raised his deep blue eyes slowly to hers. "Huh, oh hey Meatball Head. I'm fine… Just tired… " he said.

"Hey! Don't call me Meatball Head! For the Thousandth time!"

"Whatever."

"Fine, you don't have to get snippy with me."

He just looked away from her and said nothing else. Sighing she turned and started to walk away, hurt and confused.

-I was just trying to help… And now he really is mad at me…. He HATES me…. Why….-

Suddenly, she heard him laugh. Surprised, she turned to find his girlfriend wrapping her arms around his neck from behind him. She saw the smile he gave her. As they leaned into each other, she could watch no more. It was like he had stabbed her with a knife in her heart, and then twisted it for even more pain. As his girlfriend's laugh rang out, soon after to be joined with by his, she could take no more. Tears streaming down her face, she ran, as fast and far away from them as she could.

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I hope you like this new chapter. Yeah, it's kinda sad still… but who knows what will happen? Not me! XD Please review!

.:Phoenix:.