Well, it hasn't been too long since I last updated, right? I have so much going on right now, but I read a wonderful Kairi/Sora story yesterday when I was puppy-sitting called "Simple and Clean" and suddenly my head was filled with too many ideas not to write. So I wrote until almost 2 in the morning and I have about 3 new chapters (I'm not sure if I'm done with this last one or not yet). ahh, the joys of being a writer.

Anyway, since I know that you don't really care about my personal life and just want to read the story already, I'll get on with it. I have, however, changed my format a bit. -words- ß This still indicates thoughts but there may also be memories or thoughts in the middle of conversations, which (to save space and time) will be italicized. Please forgive me if there's any confusion. I'm typing this while a puppy climbs all over me. XD

In her mind, she screamed the words that would not come to her lips. She was sick of crying, sick of feeling hopeless and sad, so sick of feeling endless pain.

In a sudden burst of desperate energy, she raced to her front door. She opened it just in time to see him put the flat tire in his trunk, get in his car, and turn it on. Before he started to drive away, she thought she heard his voice in her head saying, "Is that what you really think…that…that I'm 'heartless?'"

Chapter 6

Serena slammed the front door shut. She was soaked from just standing in the open doorway. The storm was picking up dangerously outside, but Serena barely noticed. She felt numb… Somehow even emptier than she'd felt before.

It suddenly occurred to her that she had been standing there, staring at the door, as if willing time to rewind or for Darien to simply walk back though those doors.

But he's not yours, a harsh voice in her head voiced her desperate pain..

….He doesn't love you….

She felt herself dying… drowning.. Being one breath under water but without the energy or means to pull herself to safety.

-…And yet his arms had felt so strong… so warm… so.. safe…-

She frowned. Her face hurt from the effort. She'd been frowning too much lately… Ever since she realized she loved him… And he could never be hers. And she was usually so happy-go-lucky. She felt the strange urge to laugh at the irony of it all.

-Maybe love was poisonous after all…-

Just then, the phone rang, startling the blonde-haired teen out of her brood and causing her to jump about four feet in the air.

-Darien?…-

She picked up the phone on the third ring, apprehension coursing through her body.

-Did he somehow learn my number?-

"Moshi moshi?" Serena said into the phone.

"Oh, Serena! I'm so glad to hear your voice and know you're okay!"

"Oh, hey mom… Where are you guys?" Serena looked at the clock on the wall in the hallway. She couldn't believe it as she saw the hands pointing to 10:15. Had that much time really passed?

"Well, seeing how bad the storm is, the Takahashiis' are extending their hospitality to let us stay here tonight. Do you think you'll be safe alone?"

Serena sighed. "Yeah, I'll be alright."

"Well, be careful! Don't open the door for strangers and whatnot! I love you!"

"Yeah, I love you, too, mom."

"Goodnight honey."

"Goodnight." Serena hung up the phone. A sudden wave of exhaustion spilled over her. She barely made it to her bed when she fell asleep.

Darkness…

…Utter blackness surrounded her…

She was lost… Missing something…

Suddenly, a thought sprang to her mind…

…Roses?

That's right… Something about roses…

… And deep blue eyes…

…Eyes that held a hidden pain…

…Eyes just as lost as her…

Whose eyes?

Why couldn't she remember?

Darien?… No. Her prince?…

Wait…

Her mind and heart connected for a moment.

But just as she was about to realize something she felt was important, a flask of lightning, a crash of thunder, and the screeching of a car's tires on wet pavement pulled her from her semi-conscious state.

Serena sat bolt upright in her bed. She still felt a bit groggy and confused and her head ached from more than a head rush.

And her heart?… It told her something was wrong…

A Car! she remembered suddenly.

Without thinking things through, Serena rushed in her terrified state out of her house and down the road. Subconsciously, she found her feet carrying her in the direction Darien had driven off.

The wind howled in her ears and the rain stung her face, but something told her to keep going. A power was driving her, so strong she didn't question its importance.

Lightning struck ominously, and then she saw it. A red sports car… A familiar red sports car… On the side of the road…

Parked…

"Huh?" she voiced her confusion, finding herself shocked and lost. For some reason she had been so sure Darien was hurt….

…That he needed her…

Serena looked at the place where his sports car was parked. This isn't his apartment building… This isn't even an apartment building… Suddenly, it hit her.

-This must be her place…-

She froze. She felt her heart turn to ice. A coldness not caused by the icy rain ran through her veins. Her eyes narrowed, her fists clenching of their own accord, as If they might strike out at what was killing her inside.

She started as the front door of the small house opened. She felt vulnerable and hopeless standing by the road in the pouring rain. She saw his silhouette against the light spilling out of the open doorway, assuring her of him truly being there… And then, behind him she saw the girl she couldn't help but despise and admire at the same time.

She couldn't take it anymore…

…So she ran…

.&.

Well there's that… What do you think? No good? I kind-of like it, although it's more of just almost a filler chapter to me, I suppose. Please, review and tell me what you think! The next chapter will be up soon.. Hopefully! Haha

Love!

.:PhoenixFeathers:.