Chapter 7: (Get) Out Of My Life!
Hutaru and Peter were dating for some weeks now. Summer vacations have hit upon them relaxingly. She was not the geek princess anymore, and suddenly she was cool in the eyes of many students. When I say many I mean many for Giovanna was so fuming at Hutaru, she'd stolen her boy and gained a good reputation. That was bad enough. But that didn't bother Hutaru or Peter, all they cared about that that they were happy.
Darien's relationship with Serena, however, hadn't changed much. They were much friendlier towards each other, and Darien reminded her almost everyday that he was in love with her. She was to move her office from Mr. Chiba's room to give way to another private organiser. That same afternoon she packed all her papers from her desk into a box. She'd share her office with another lawyer, that is Darien. Darien was so excited about this change, and as for Serena, she felt a bit apprehensive about all this. She didn't know what to expect of Darien, but she agreed to share office with him, having Mr. Jenkins old desk.
"So," Darien asked the morning after the move, "Do you like it here? I know the room is not as big and my grandpa's but I think it cosier that way!"
"Um, yeah, whatever you say," Serena muttered barely looking up from her papers.
That hurt Darien a little; she was so concentrated in her job that she couldn't even talk to him a little. And he, he could not concentrate on his work because of her! Why was life starting to be unfair to him? Until lunch she didn't make the least effort to talk to him, the only person she talked to in the whole four hour period what his secretary on the room beside his. But that of course only happened when she needed her to make some photocopies.
Finally the clock stroke twelve. Darien was heading out for lunch, and asked not-so-as-a-matter-in-factly if she's like to have lunch with him.
"So do you have any idea where we came eat?" He asked after she had agreed.
"Well, how about we walk to the Silver Millennium, and have lunch with there?"
"Sounds great to me!"
The two walked through the streets of London to the Silver Millennium. Serena immediately started to talk about a case of lawsuit against the banks. Darien was a bit annoyed that she had to talk about work even during lunch break, but he himself couldn't find anything else to talk about so he didn't complain. Instead he observed her...She wasn't dressed like a lawyer at all. She was dressed more like an artist of some kind. She wore a pair of baggy jeans, and a checked shirt what almost too big for her, she wore it open revealing the white T-shirt inside it. Her clothes didn't bother him, for like Mr. Jenkins she wasn't a leading lawyer, who would appear at the trial, no she did the hard work behind the scenes. Well to make it correct both Darien and Serena both worked hard, but Darien received all the fame and glory. Serena was comfortable with that, she wanted to live a normal life, and as long as she got her correct paycheque it was all right with her.
They reached the Silver Millennium and Serena's friends greeted them. Darien didn't expect that! He thought they were going to eat by themselves, but them again he should have realised that when she said Silver Millennium. It was not that he didn't like her friends but he wanted to be alone with her. Now was too late. They sat by a long table where he found Amy, Simon, Joakim, Mina, Raye, Lita, and Nick. He sat beside Serena.
During lunch, her friends all noticed how Darien never took his eyes off Serena, and how he always seemed to be touching her in little ways. The most surprising thing was that she didn't seem to mind him! Darien was heads for Serena, and Serena was letting him be so! Or maybe they were am item, but if they were then she would have told them. Finally Lita decided to ask Serena, and made an excuse to drag Serena into the Kitchen so that they could talk.
"Serena, what's happening that you didn't tell me?" Lita asked excited.
"What do you mean?" Serena said confused.
"Well, I've noticed that Darien is all lovey-dovey on you, and you're not even pissed!"
"Oh that," Serena realised blushing, "It's nothing really..."
"Oh come on, are you guys an item?"
"No!" She exclaimed hurriedly, "I don't know, I just don't know Lita! One moment it's like I'm hating him, the other I'm thinking about him, the third moment I don't trust him, and forth moment I'm kissing him. Lita, I'm so confused! You'll just have to wait until I sort things out."
"Ok I won't ask you more," Lita gave up, but the had got a bit of a juicy information anyway, "But you'll have to tell us all the details of that kiss when you've figured yourself out, promise me that?"
Serena smiled, Lita would never change, "I promise," she assured. The two friends returned to the table.
Meanwhile in Darien was talking to Nick and Mina.
"I swear," Nick warned after Darien had admitted to Mina how crazy her was for her best friend, "You break Serena's heart and I'll personally screw you."
"Ok, I get it Nick," Darien laughed, "But nobody will screw her for the damage she's doing to my heart!"
"That's not for me to worry about!" Nick joked along.
Suddenly Serena popped in between Nick and Darien. Darien was relieved to be separated from Nick.
"So, Mina," Serena said lightly, "Where's Mario?"
"Oh he's working," she smiled, "He had an extended meeting with a client. Oh Serena, it's a girl client, really pretty, I saw her this morning..."
"So, no wonder you're not yourself today!" Serena laughed, "Have you seen the woman before?"
"No, she seemed to know a lot about cars and was talking about the new game Mario's company is going to release..." Mina recalled, "She was dressed like a man, actually, but one could she how sophisticated she was, oh Serena."
"Oh don't worry, Mina," Darien chipped in, "I remember Haruka phoning Mario this morning about the new formula one game he's releasing. Mario and Haruka never get along anyway, and besides, Haruka is married...well not really, but I'd kill her if she broke Michiru's heart!"
"Oh," Mina said apologising, "I didn't realise. Sorry."
"Oh it's ok, I know she's a flirty girl and she likes to make Michiru jealous," Darien laughed, "Just don't worry."
"Um, Darien-Pig?" Serena asked standing up.
"Yeah?" he answered, it was nerve whacking to her that name...
"I need to take this afternoon off," She started, "I'm moving apartments and I need to supervise those moving people. They will drop by and pick up my stuff in about a half an hour, so I'm going."
"Hey you didn't tell me you were moving!" Darien said startled.
"I just did," she replied.
"Hang on, I'll come with you..." he volunteered.
"No, I am perfectly capable of handling my own things," she hissed, "Besides you have work to do."
"Ok then," Darien said disappointedly, "I guess I'll see you tomorrow..."
But Serena was out of the room. Darien sighed and tried to go back to work. He didn't understand Serena. The other day she wanted him to kiss her, and now she doesn't even want his company! He shook his head as if trying to shake Serena off his head.
Serena on the other hand ran to catch the bus to her apartment. She arrived just in time to the moving people. Not a long time after she had arrived she was helping the men bring the furniture down to their truck. She didn't have as many things as she thought she had. In her room, she only had her bed, night table, wardrobe, curtains and a travel bag with her bed sheets and clothes. In the bathroom her brushes and the washing machine. In the living room her TV and Stereo sets, the puffy pillows, her sofa, the Japanese table, the dining table, the chairs and puffy chairs, the shelves, curtains, and boxes with her books and Japanese ornaments. In the kitchen, the only room that she almost truly regretted to leave behind, for she had spent time and money when she renewed (by herself) four years before, she only took kitchen utensils and the curtains.
With the help of the men, it took them less than an hour to leave the room totally empty. Serena took a last look at the apartment. She wasn't used to shredding tears, but this time a single tear ran down her cheek as she closed the door to what had been her home for five years. She didn't notice it thought, as she had other things like handing the key to the landlord to worry about. After saying her last goodbye to the landlord and his wife, she ran out to the truckers. They were nice enough to give her a ride to her new place.
They arrived at a much better part of London. It was a place closer to the city centre, as all as a place where the habitants were an educated middle class. For that moment that was all her 2500-pound paycheque could afford, not that really fancied a more fashionable place. She lived on the top floor of the building. She hit the button with a number 7 marked on it when she was inside the elevator. She wanted to inspect the flat before having men coming in with her furniture.
The elevator stopped on the seventh floor, and the mirrored slide doors opened. She stepped outside the lifting box. She reached into her pocket to get the key, which she had received a week ago, when she signed the contract of the flat. She opened her door; it was a thick, simply decorated door with the number 28 inlayed with
a black wood. She stepped inside a rectangular hall; it stretched toward her right, on her left was a tiny room where she had planed to place her washing machine. She took a few steps north and entered the living room, which was only separated from the hall by a wall about the height of her shoulders. To her right was a big spacey living room, almost twice as big as her old living room. To her left was the kitchen, separated from the living
room by a kind of a bar table. It looked a lot like a bachelor's apartment. She walked across the living room into what seemed to be a tiny corridor, to her left was the bathroom, and to her right, the bedroom. She walked back cross the living room again, but this time heading toward the other end of the room. She opened the French doors with led her to a balcony. She examined the view for the first time. Unlike her old balcony that displayed the bus station, this balcony opened up to a park with a splendid rose garden. She realised that this neighbourhood must have had at least a hundred years of existence. The only thing she really disfavoured what the wallpaper of the walls of brown flower, and peace sign designs from the sixties.
From her mobile she called the men to come up with her furniture. In about an hour's time they finally brought up the last piece of furniture up, the dining table. She decided to keep the chairs in the apartment, but for the table she led the men even one floor up, to the attics. She let them put the table in a little room
numbered 28. As they were going down again, the mobile rang.
"Tsukino, Serena," she answered.
"Oh hi, Serena," a lush voice talked through the other line, "I thought you might use some help over at your place..."
"Of course not, Darien," she dismissed coldly making the men in the elevator shiver, "I am certainly not a bimbo, so I can handle a little moving all by myself, and why do you think that moving companies exist? Besides, we've finished anyway, so you are of no use to me now!"
"Well," Darien breathed confused, what did he do now to make her so mad? "How about I come around and just make you company?"
"Huh?"
"I miss you, Serena, I don't care what we do, just wanna see you!" begged almost close to a cracking voice, you know, the one that you get when you're close to crying.
"Ok, lover-boy," Serena chuckled cheering Darien up, "How about your drop by in ten, and we go to pick new wallpapers, and then maybe, just maybe I'll go for a coffee with you!"
"Fine I'll be with you," Darien insured talking more to himself than to Serena.
"Hey, you need to know the directions first," She reminded him.
"Oh that's true," Darien said almost forgetting that she had moved.
Serena gave him her new address and dismissed then working men giving them enough money to get drink, for as far as she knew she had already paid their company. Then she went inside the flat, in one of her boxes she looked for a tape measure. Finding it, Serena went on reassuring the walls for the wallpaper.
Not much later the intercom telephone ringed. She ran to get it, she knew it was Darien. Seconds later she opened the door downstairs to let him in. Darien was up in no time, and in no time he was helping Serena with the measurements of the walls. Not long after they left to get the wallpapers.
Serena and Darien were walking around shelves of all types of wallpapers. Suddenly, Serena started to think about her friends. Green was Lita's favourite colour, the kitchen should be green. As she thought about it, she found a pale green wallpaper. 'Perfect!' she thought. Then she wondered of who would like the living room; she would be using it as a study as well as a place to socialise. She didn't know, so she moved on the hall, that
would be Mina's, because Mina was extremely kind and welcoming, plus she just loved to greet people. 'Yes, it should be yellow,' she concluded. She dragged Darien around the store in search yellow wallpaper. Finally, she found a sunny yellow paper. She didn't doubt a second that the bathroom had to be Raye's, she remembered in the early days when she had just met Raye, she would sit on the toilet seat of she old apartment for hours either
reading Vogue, or Cosmopolitan! Once again the dragged Darien around until she found a faded strawberry coloured paper.
"So red for the bathroom?" Darien mused raising one of his eyebrows, "I agree with you, it's a passionate colour! Speaking from experience, you'd be surprised by the amount of things two can do it the shower!"
"You're a pervert, Darien!" hissed Serena in disgust, "I wasn't even thinking about that!"
"Sorry," Darien said apologetically, "I was just kidding, besides it's a faded colour so it doesn't symbolise things like that."
"Even if it was an intense colour, it would only, and I mean only, symbolise Raye!" she blurt out.
"Please, don't get pissed at me, Serena," Darien half carolled.
She smiled. 'Ok, I'll forgive him this time!' her mind said still feeling disgust. 'Oh, I'm sure he just wanted to joke,' her heart responded. 'That leaves Amy to the living room,' her mind concluded ignoring the heart. This time Serena didn't have to walk a long way for right beside the red section was the blue section.
In no time she found a very light baby-blue wallpaper with sky coloured patterns of bars and dots arranged vertically. She decided that the laundry room would be white. Now only her room was left, she decided that she would wallpaper it with her favourite colour, pink. She chose a pale pink wallpaper with slightly darker roses randomly printed. For once she asked for Darien's opinion.
"I like it, it's a sweet colour," Darien replied.
"I know," Serena agreed and absent-mindedly she went on, "Pink is my favourite colour, it's the colour of romance."
"Yeah," Darien breathed smiling. There, one more surprise for Darien, how could he have believed that such a headstrong personality like Serena, actually like pink! Not that is was an ugly colour but it showed the gentler side of her.
After having bought the wallpapers, they headed out to a café. It was already seven o'clock in the evening, when the sat down at a table, but the sun was still shining at earth, low but still shining. The temperature, however, was slightly cooler than during the day. It was Thursday and Serena talked about putting the wallpapers up on the weekend with Hutaru, who had been sleeping over at the Chiba estate for some days. She would return on Friday and on Saturday, Serena and her would start to work with the papers. Darien offered to help, and was accepted.
Just then her mobile rang, it was Amy. She was wondering if Serena had moved yet, and her address. Having told Amy what she wanted to know, Serena started to tell her friend about the wallpapers and her plans. Amy also offered help in behalf of the whole group. That was accepted too.
Soon the two moved on into another conversation, which Darien wasn't paying much attention to. He was too busy watching Serena; a fanciful smile played his lips. He watched her gorgeous hair, if it's usual ponytail fall along her shoulders, down her back, to the ground. Then he was back up to her face again, where her sky blue eyes blinked from time to time. He watched her tiny almost pointy nose wrinkle as she made a grimace, and her sweet lips pout. Then he invaded her neck and shoulders, where only one piece of jewellery rested, and it was emerald necklace that he had given her! He was surprised, but didn't ask anything. Then his gaze moved downwards, fighting without success to see through her baggy shirts. His stare fell even more until it hit the brown wooded table. 'Oh, wonderful, wonderful Serena,' her though lovingly, 'I might never have you, but no one would ever love you so madly, so deeply, so truly as I love you...'
He started to analyse how it first started. No, it didn't start when he saw her perfect body, like his other girlfriends; in fact he had never seen was lay behind those slack clothes that she wore. It started when she angrily stared at him, apart from his grandmother and sister no one had ever been angry with him, not even when he has broken any girl's heart. From the first moment he loved her for her peculiarity and disinterest in him. He was challenging himself to turn her feelings towards him the opposite way. But as he got to know her better he got himself tangled into a much more boundless thing than he had expected. Soon he couldn't twist out that love that he was feeling. Even the word love was much too meaningless to describe how what he felt ran fervent through his blood making his heart ache with yearning and his brain race anxiety. No, he didn't need to kiss Serena all the time; all he needed to know was if she felt the same way too. But of course she wouldn't tell him, and the only way he could manifest his feelings was by touching her, for it was impossible for him to suddenly dive into her soul and be her...or let her be him, he wasn't sure which was the right way around, for him it was just the same.
Serena finished her conversation on the phone, and noticed Darien's expression. And she who thought she was the master of telling what facial expressions meant! She had never seen this one before, she decided to speak.
"What's wrong, Darien?" she whispered.
"I love you, Serena," he claimed for what seemed to be the thousandth time, "that's what's wrong! You're so difficult, that is agonising, too agonising! Oh, Serena if you ever marry, I beg you not marry anyone but me, for I wouldn't be able to live without you..."
"Hey, slow down, lover-boy," Serena recommended, "Don't you think you should wait with marriage proposals until we become an item? You don't want to scare me off do you?"
Just then he felt a sudden rush of anger enter him. An anger he had never felt before, Serena had really done it! There he was speaking the truest words he had to say, and as a reply he gets a joke? He was much too angry to even use violence and all he said (in the calmest voice) was, "Serena finish your coffee, and I'll drive you home."
She obeyed, for she had the feeling that she had dome something wrong, although she didn't quite know what it was. The drive to her new apartment was quiet; she didn't dare to break the irony silence that surrounded them. Darien was driving his precious red Ferrari as if it was the only thing he did since he was born. They reached Serena's building, he stopped. She went out of the car, and before banging the door closed she whispered an apologising good-bye. Darien didn't reply, and started to drive home. As he drove, his anger slowly faded, and he forgave Serena for the millionth time.
Serena woke up on the sofa on her new place. It was the last day of the week and boy, was she glad! After that weekend she'd be living like an educated person in London. She popped up and went to get her morning shower. Lazily, she got herself ready for work.
The watch showed five minutes until eight o'clock. She ran from the bus station to the CIB building. At precisely eight o'clock she opened the door to her secretary's office. Darien hadn't arrived yet, for the secretary didn't say that to her. She wondered if he was still what-ever-he-was at her. She also received an envelope from the secretary. It didn't look at all like a business envelope. It was white with decorated frames, it looked like one of those envelopes where one sends love letters in. Her name and address was written of it in a careful, beautiful hand-written form. Her heart pondered, could it be from Darien? She took the letter and entered her office.
Sitting down at her desk she opened the envelope with hand trembling. Inside the paper box was a white card, it wasn't from Darien, but a marriage invitation from Mina and Mario. Sighed in relief, she found another little note written with Mina's handwriting. She read the note too,
"Hi Serena, Sorry I didn't send it to your new address, but I wanted you to get the invitation as quickly as possible. Serena, you've been my best friend, and always supporting me, and therefore I would like you to be my maid of honour at the wedding. Mario is thinking of asking Darien Chiba to be his best man, by the way.
I'll see you, Mina K."
"What?" Serena exclaimed intimidated by the letter.
"Good morning to you, Serena," Darien called as the stepped into their office, "What are you so horrified at?"
"Horrified?" she repeated, "No, Dare, no! More like excited, can you believe it?"
"That you're excited?" Darien grinned raising his eyebrows, "Truly, that is a phenomenon!"
"No you idiot, let me finish," she demanded, "Like I was saying, I'm going to be Mina's bridesmaid!"
"Guess who's going to be the best man," he asked tried to tease her.
"Oh, I know," she dodged.
"And you're excited about that too?" he pushed.
Serena chose not to answer him. Instead she occupied herself with her work. One long four-hour period was in front of her. She didn't like being a lawyer anymore. There were two things missing in her life. She wasn't completely happy with being a lawyer, now that she'd been working for some weeks. She wanted freedom. She wanted to make up her own laws, instead of consulting a book of laws. She wanted to toy with different situations; instead she was dealing with them according to the law. She wanted to write her imagination; she didn't want to write reports against lawsuits or contracts for the CIB. Just then she realised one of the things she was missing, that always bothered her in the past week when she sat down at her desk. She didn't want to work as a lawyer, all she wanted was to write, write books.
She had dreamt of being a writer since she entered Junior High School. The thought of studying law subjects only entered her head when she was offered the scholarship. Then she thought that it would be an honourable job to defend someone from injustice, she had never thought that it was so strict, and so unsentimental. But writing books full time wasn't a good job to support oneself, unless you were a best selling author, which she doubted she would be. Now she would just have to wait, until her book was out to decide what she would do with her life.
She was glad get home when the day was over. Hutaru and Peter arrived after her, they had been watching a movie, and were analysing it strange ending. Serena didn't really pay any attention to them, but made her way to the telephone. She called for some pizzas. Later in the evening, the three ate their pizzas in the messy apartment. And later still, the three fell asleep in the same sofa.
The next morning Serena woke up at the sound of the intercom phone. She jumped over a stack of boxes, fell, and ran to get the phone.
"Yeah," she answered half asleep.
"'Morning," she heard, "It's Darien..."
"Wha...huh?" she asked confused still trying to wake her brain up, "What time is it?"
"Eight thirty, did I wake you up?" Darien chuckled.
"Yeah, ok get in," she said finally full awake, "I'll leave the door unlocked so you can get in, meanwhile I'll take my shower, ok?"
"Sure," he confirmed.
It wasn't long before the house was crowded with people, and Peter was shouting at the bathroom door, begging Hutaru to finish quickly. Lita had made the people breakfast; Serena was desperately trying to put up her hair, which would not obey her. While the others were trying to figure out which wallpaper was for the right room.
"Aargh!" Serena screamed staring at herself in the full-length mirror with a hair band in her hands. The house was a total chaos, and now she was having a bad air day... great, just great.
Darien was walking around the house inspecting the its rooms. He just happened to walk into Serena's room, while she expressed her frustration. "Aw, Serena," he comforted, "You don't want to destroy your lovely hair."
"It's not me that's trying to destroy it!" she hissed, "It's the stupid hair itself," she cried, and then turning to the mirror again she said to herself, "If you don't obey me now, I swear I'll cut you tomorrow!"
Darien was slightly alarmed by what she said, he knew she wouldn't be able to tie her hair in such an agitated mood, and he didn't want her to cut her hair...
"Serena, why don't I tie it for you," he suggested, "I bet you're too nervous to do it by yourself."
Serena just handed him the hair band. Darien started to tie her think silky hair; the final product wasn't as perfect as Serena normally did it, but good enough. Serena smiled at him still looking at the mirror. 'He sure knows how to tie long hairs,' she thought.
They finally were eating breakfast, and after that all helping each other doing the dishes. And at around eleven o'clock Serena had divided her friends into groups. Amy and Simon, the best problem solvers we assigned to work on the kitchen, the trickiest room in the house because of its many cupboards. Hutaru and Peter received the smallest room, the bathroom, it was also tricky around the toilet place, but she trusted that Hutaru would figure out something. She assigned Darien and Joakim to do the hall and laundry room. Then she ordered Raye and Mario to do her room. Now she was left with the most non-pragmatic people, Mina, Nick and Lita. They would to the living room, but she would be carefully watching them, not that she wouldn't be working herself but she would keep and extra eye of them.
Around two p.m. the walls were finished. They took a rest and ordered some more pizza for lunch, now all they had to do was to set the furniture around the flat. As the whole group hungrily attacked the pizzas the bell rang. She could tell that is wasn't a visitor, as she didn't know any of the neighbours yet, and if it was an outsider they would have called from the intercom first. She guessed it was the postman, for she had called the post office to announce her new address, as well as she had informed every single person and company of her new address. 'It should be new bills,' she though bored and annoyed that there were always bills to be paid.
She opened the door, yes it was the postman, but no, he didn't bring any bills with him. Instead he carried a package, and wanted her to sign and take it. Serena signed on a strange machine thing, and took the package. She looked at the package eagerly; it was from the U. S., from the Time Glass Editorial. Serena's face changed into a smile. She had received an email, a not long before that the book was out at libraries and stores all over the United States. She tore the package open to find a copy of her book, and a letter.
"What is it, Serena," Simon called noticing Serena's grin.
"My book!" she stammered too stunned to speak properly, "My book...it's here! It's here!"
Raye quickly walked over to her and snatched the book from her. She went back to the bar table where every one was crowding around to show it to them.
"Be careful, Raye," Amy requested, "You don't want to destroy the book with your oily hands, I'll take it!" after all she had been eating her pizza with a fork and knife. She seized the book from Raye. She placed the book in the middle of the table, for everyone to see it. The tittle was in big bold letters," American...or What? A Collection of Peculiar Fables", under the tittle was her name. Well, not exactly her name for she wrote incognito, but the name she wrote it under, S. T. Washington. And under her name was a picture of a girl sleeping in a bench with her suitcase on the floor, behind her was the Big Ben, and it was dusk. Amy turned the cover page, there was a tittle page, and she turned that page too. They came to the dedication page; "For the Ainos, the Kinos, the Mizunos, Raye, and Joakim." the people mentioned all started to thank her. Amy turned the page again, the contents page. She turned the page again, where the story began, "It was a winter morning when I decided that I should quit being a failing student and focus on raising my grades, which would be graded as Z- if such rating existed. I decided to do this, not because of my new-found joy in studying, but because I overheard my parents concern about me entering college..."
Amy then closed the book and showed then its back, a white background with a summary of the book black, "Sarita Fernandez decides that she wants raise her grades in order to get a scholarship for college by the end of high school. On the way to carry out her goal, she had to leave her popularity, friends, parties, and good-natured personality to be history, and she becomes the geek of the school. Even after crying herself to sleep she perseveres into reaching her goal. By the end of high school she surprisingly gets a scholarship for London... Enter into the world of a girl who decided go give herself a makeover mentally, physically, socially, and emotionally."
"I want to be the first to read it," Lita blurt out, chewing her pizza frenetically and then swallowing it.
"No way, Lita," stopped Mina, "I have to read it first, I saw her work on it for hours!"
"So what?" argued Raye, "I'll read it first because I was the one who actually brought it here to this table!"
"Then, I should be reading it first," Amy interfered, "For I showed it to you and I'm actually holding it at the moment."
"I'll be the last to read it," Joakim laughed, "I'm sure I'll be alive by then! Maybe it'll be better to just order from Amazon…"
"Calm down, guys," Serena advised, "How about you all take a vote, pick a number for 1 to 50."
They all picked their numbers, but Joakim wan as he was right on the number with Serena had picked; 39. Raye would be the second one to read it, even if she came last, for she lived with Joakim. Hutaru would be the next, followed by the Mizunos, Darien, Ainos, Kinos, and Peter. Serena then went on to read the letter they had sent her. It mainly said that since the book was released it had sold over a thousand copies in the whole United States. The books were selling at about 15 dollars without taxes, and that 35 percent of cost would go to the company. She was also happy to know that they had transferred what she had gained into her bank account. She had already enough money to pay her rent and bills for the rest of the year! Things were going well for her, and if this book became a best seller then she would think about quitting the CIB.
It was the beginning of August. Serena was helping Mina dressing for the wedding. Her friend looked absolutely stunning. Serena has seen the picture of Mina's dress before, as a drawing, it was incredibly beautiful, fit for a princess. Now, Mina stood in front of her wearing it. Her golden hair was all done up into a hairstyle that looked pretty much like a banana, and decorated with a white Lilly on the right side of her head. Her make up was professionally done; her soft features were traced by faint tones of lilacs, as for her lips they were like a rose's petals. She wore no jewellery, but the golden edges of the neckline of her gown provided her with a necklace. She held a bouquet of fresh pink and red roses. Mina was the princess in her dress, not even the drawing could match her in all it perfectness.
Serena remembered her task, after examining the bride for long, long minutes. She asked if everything was ready, and if the bride's father could come in to escort her to the little chapel in Mr. Aino's garden. Everything was ready; she stepped out of the room to notify Mina's father, Darien, and Mario. Mario, like most was nervous to the bottom of his hairs, he kept on asking questions, which Serena had already answered for Darien and Mina's father. They were outside the little chapel, she told the father to get his daughter, and as for Mario who had previously been greeting the arriving guests was ordered to go into the chapel. As he did so, the guests followed him, taking their seats on the benches.
Mr. Aino's estate should actually be classified under castle. The house and its grounds had existed since the twelve hundreds, during the feudalistic epoch. Knowing this, it wasn't astonishing to find ruins of a village around the extensive grounds, which were enclosed by a stone wall. Nor was it surprising to find a chapel in the garden. The land was originally an ownership of a knight; Mario's mother had been an illegitimate, but sole blood heir of the property.
At last Mina was arriving! The organ stated to play, all the guest stood up, and Mario turned about to face his beautiful wife to be. Serena searched for the alliances in her handbag, she was sure she had them inside, but they were nowhere to be found. She started to panic, but a hand reached over her eyes with the rings. Only then did she remember that she had given them to Darien, before going off to check on Mina earlier the same morning. She took one of the rings from Darien, as she heard him say that that it would have another purpose if they were made to fit into her delicate fingers. Serena chose to ignore Darien's foolish remark, and placed the ring on a tiny white velvet pillow. 'Rings: checked. Bridegroom: checked. Best man and bridesmaid: checked. Priest: checked. Guests...' Serena paused a moment to look around, the whole chapel was filled, if not crowded. Somewhere in the middle of the flock of people she found their best friends, who were not glancing towards the arriving bride and her father. 'Guests: checked! Bride and father: checked!' She sighed with satisfaction as the bride was handed to the bridegroom, and began walking toward the altar.
The priest began to mumble the infamous matrimonial speech. Serena stood by Mina's side and Darien by Mario's. The priest talked on and on, and Serena was doing her best not to fall asleep. She wondered why priests had to make such unbelievable long discourses. It seemed a hundred years before it was time to exchange alliances. Serena moved her hands, which were a bit stoned due to lack of movement over a long period of time, in the direction of Mina's. Her friend took the ring and slid around her husband's right ring finger. Not long after that, the couple was kissing like mad.
The organ stated to play again and the guests started to move outward to wait for the bride and groom to come out. Meanwhile the priest showed them a book, Serena was too sleepy to catch what kind of a book it was, but she did as she, Darien, and the Ainos were ordered to do. She signed her name and handed the calligraphy pen to Mina. The newly married couple finally stepped out of the chapel accompanied by their best man and maid. People were suddenly throwing rice from all directions mainly aiming at the bride and groom. But Serena and Darien were also drained in rise when the throwing finally ended.
It was time for the bride to throw her bouquet. All the unmarried women assembled by behind the chapel's lengthy steps. Serena and Raye were in one of the front rows, and the battle would begin. It wasn't that Serena actually believed in the myth behind the bouquet throwing (for if she did believe she would willingly absent herself from the crowd), but it was always nice to test her catching skills. Mina threw her flowers; it was heading towards them! Both Raye and Serena jumped to catch it, only Serena turned her gaze for a slight part of a second to Darien, and that was a vital slight part of a second, for right then Raye caught the bouquet of flowers. Later when the crowd had scattered Raye gave Serena a victorious smile.
Later, when the party had started in the gardens, Serena decided to go into the house and pay a visit to the ladies room. She had no idea Darien pursued her. She pushed the door, there she found a row of little toilet rooms, she opened one of them and locked herself there. Seconds later Darien was soundlessly leaning against the main door, listening to the sound of a stream of liquid hit the toilet water. Then there was a sound of tearing paper, rapidly proceeded by the sound of flushing. (AN: we've gotta have something embarrassing happening there!) Not long after, she walked out and found...
"This is the ladies room," she informed washing her hands.
"You must have drunk a lot, outside," Darien teased, ignoring her remark.
She wasn't embarrassed; she didn't see the point in satisfying Darien. Instead she nervously straightened her already straight sky blue satin bolero, which she had over a simple dress of the same colour. For once she found a reason why make-up was useful, for if at that moment she had some make-up with her, she could entertain herself from the awkwardness of her situation by applying some more of it on her face. But now it wasn't time to regret over "ifs". She turned to Darien and rawly said, "What do you want?"
"To talk," he answered quietly.
"We can do that outside," she pointed out, heading towards the door, which he was blocking.
"No, Serena, we can't," he explained, taking a grip on her and then swinging her around so that now she was blocking the door and he was leaning against it supported by one hand, "We can't talk outside, because you'll always find something to distract yourself from our conversation.
She couldn't argue with that.
"Serena, what's wrong with you? You've been acting strangely ever since I...You...We..." he didn't even bother to go on.
She couldn't argue with that either!
"Please give me a sign!" he hissed, "You're driving me crazy! Can't you see that? I thought you were in love with me, at least a little..."
She was! She was! But she didn't have the courage to say so. Hang on, was it that she didn't have courage or that she was too proud? She couldn't decide.
"One moment you want me to kiss you, and the second I feel like you're hating me," he continued, "What is this, Serena? Do you think it's funny to feel like an object, one that is used once in a while and then dumped into the closet again?"
Ah, now you have experienced what those girls you go out with, feel when you are done with them! But she didn't say that either, instead her eyes swelled up with tears, she was progressively fighting them back, sobbing. She never cried there was no reason she should do it now!
"Serena," Darien whispered in a loving tone, not that he didn't have a loving tone in his last lectures, but they were much louder, "I love you with all my heart, body, soul, mind, life...heck, I love you with everything I have! You don't need to doubt me! Trust me, Serena! Nick has already told me that he would personally screw up my life up if I ever leave you! I would have given up on you after he said that if I didn't really love you, but I want you even more! Please be mine..." he finally pleaded.
"Ok," agreed Serena with her usual strong voice, "but, I'm only giving you one chance. This chance! You flaw on this one and you're out of the game, get it?"
"Yea-" he started to pronounce, when Serena literally flew into his arms, giving him a sizzling kiss. Darien swept his arms around her a retrieved her kiss, and giving her all of him. He was now her possession, he who had never liked to think that he belonged to anyone, but now it was his favourite thought suddenly. But he didn't feel as if Serena belonged to him, he ignored the feeling.
They left the bathroom happily, and Darien had his arm around Serena possessively. She smiled at him, she examined him, he was actually very handsome, and not to mention that he was so sincere! Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to be his girlfriend after all. She actually liked the feeling of loving someone and being loved back.
"Where have you two been?" Mina questioned as they came back to the party, "You were supposed to dance with us on the second dance!"
"Sorting things out," Darien shrugged smiled kissing Serena's temple. She felt a shiver up her spine, and smiled at Mina. Mina's frowning face turned into a smile, Darien was actually butterfly kissing Serena all over her face and she was letting him do so! This was a miracle; she had to find the girls, but first Serena had a little explaining to do.
"What's there to explain?" Darien answered for her thankfully, "We love each other and that's all, not that complicated actually."
'Yeah, like you and Mario,' she mind continued, trying to explain her feeling, 'except much stronger than that! This went further than what you and Mario feel for each other, however. We are soul mates, but not really, for we aren't two souls that were destined to be together. We are like one soul in all, but one half of it is I and the other is Darien. It's like...' her mind tried to explain the feeling, 'Well, it goes beyond my capacity of understanding, but it's much more than ordinary love, or true love, or any kind on love. It's love plus something else...something big, something bounding...was there any word to describe with feeling?'
'Well if you, who are the brain, and obviously smarter than I am, don't know a word for this feeling, then don't expect me to know it,' replied the heart. 'But you're the one who actually is in charge oh these kind of things!' argued the mind. 'Well I lost practice, since you've been oppressing me all these years!' the heart excused herself. Ha, ha, there! Now the mind would feel guilty and not have an answer! I wan, I wan!
The party was very enjoyable. Everyone was having fun in some way of other, and Mina actually sang some love songs. She had a graceful voice, and Serena already knew. This was the chance for Mina's dreams to become reality! Serena had spotted a man who works with record companies at the party. This man was famous all over England and the United States. He was in charge of discovering new talent, and while Mina sang, she observed that the man was impressed. Serena had to do something; she had to get her best friend's dream come true some way or other! She had to talk to this man.
She waited following the man with her eyes, until Darien would let her free from her embrace. As soon as she was free she went to the table with the punch, where the man was standing by. She neared him and realised that she had seen him before, it was the man she had danced with in Mr. Chiba's birthday ball! Now that made conversation a little more easier...not! The man wasn't really a blonde, she just realised, he had silver highlights, probably from his age. But he still had those charming forest-green eyes and he was still so very lush! Serena grabbed a cup, purred so punch into it, and then looked at the man.
"I've seen you before, haven't I," She asked, blushing of embarrassment remembering the little incident at the ball, and neither Darien nor herself had ever apologised the poor man.
"So have I," the man answered amused, "You are the little (and in my opinion unlucky) girl who was so madly in love with young Mr. Chiba."
Serena smiled, "Not quite madly, since my brain continues to work full time! So are you a friend of the Ainos?"
"Not so much," she answered, "But we are business partners we met through Darien Chiba. And you?"
"I'm one of Mina's friends, she used to live next door to me," Serena explained, and continued stretching the truth a little because she did play the guitar, "I'm not much of a musical person, but I have to admit that Mina's voice beats a lot of new artist's voices. Don't you think?"
"Speaking from good experience she really has a fantastic voice," the man praised, "Does she ever train her voice?"
"Not that I know of," Serena chortled, "But I used to listen to her singing oldies from my apartment whenever she was cooking, her kitchen was right next to my bedroom, you know!"
"Serena! There you are," Darien came running to join them, once he had embraced Serena with his left arm he continued, "You're not going to leave me now that I have you, are you?"
'That was not the magic phrase,' her mind concluded. "Darien you are such a nasty person sometimes," Serena blurt out tearing herself from his embrace and turning her back to the man she'd been talking to, facing Darien, "You don't have me, Darien! You don't own me, get it! And if you want to own a woman travel to Afghanistan, or Bangladesh, or even better get back with Beryl. Were you thinking that I am throwing myself at every man I speak to? Who do you think I-"
"Hey," the man interrupted the argument, "You guys, what the point of fighting right now, when every one is having fun?"
The couple finished the argument immediately, and Serena added to Darien, "I'm not talking to you anymore."
"Hello, Diamond," Darien greeted, "So you've met my, er, well not very much my girlfriend right now since she's so pissed at me, but she certainly was a few minutes ago!"
"Hi, Darien," Diamond greeted back, "Yeah, she's really sweet! Beryl would be pleased to meet such a nice lady!"
Serena gave a sarcastic laugh, and Darien tried to explain, "That might not be a good idea...They've met already! Your sister was not so very pleased."
"Not so very pleased"? That's the very least!" Serena tried to talk seriously, "But she's got a very odd sense on what a classy girl is... Anyway, is she here? ...Just checking before she gives Mina bad luck!"
"She's not that bad, maybe she still hasn't gotten over Darien," Diamond smiled, "Speaking of Mina again, what does she do?"
"She's a nurse at some friend's clinic," Serena replied, glad to be back to her point, "But her dream was always to be become a singer. I always thought it was a juvenile dream, because she would never even audition for something! As far as I know a record dealer doesn't suddenly pop into someone's apartment to listen to them sing! But she does have the talent I think, maybe now she'll actually perform more...God knows! I bet Raye had threatened her to sing today!"
Darien could sense Diamond was interested in Mina, being a record dealer. And one didn't have to be musical to notice that her voice was good! Diamond was an exceptional businessman; he would not miss his chance to make big money! And now it had finally arrived!
But he had other worries, so he turned to Serena and said apologetically, "Serena please don't be mad at me... I swear I'm never gonna talk like that again, I didn't really mean what I said, I was just trying to be funny! Don't be mad at me, not after we've clarified things out, not after what we have got going together..."
"I said one chance, Darien, but I will let this one slip," Serena smiled, "One more of those and game is over!"
Darien kissed Serena gently, and turned to Diamond, "I really have to watch my tongue now! She's probably the best thing that has happened to me, Diamond. No offence to Beryl..."
"No offence taken," Diamond said, because sometimes his sister could be pretty annoying! But Darien was actually bending to this woman's will, interesting! "Since when do you talk like that?"
Serena was starting to get bored; she had made her point about Mina, and wanted to greet Michelle and Amara, and tell Peter that Hutaru would return from the States (she went to visit her parents) in a weeks time. She silently left her companies. But before she was out of hearing reach, she heard Darien say to Diamond, "I talk like that because I'm in love with her." She smiled at this and went on to greet Michelle, Amara, and Mr. Chiba. She found Peter talking to a few other teenagers, she told him was she had to tell. She went to Mina and her husband to talk to them. The table was crowded, for all her girl friends were there entertaining the bride and groom, she joined them, of course.
Time passed, the newly wed couple cut the cake, and soon they were off to Italy for their honeymoon. Darien didn't think there was much of a point to stay in the party when the couple was gone, and besides he wanted to be alone with Serena for the evening. He was tired of sharing her with every other guest, even if he didn't say so to her. He invited her for a drink at a pub; it was not an idea to go to a restaurant since they had been eating all afternoon, since the party started. She agreed, he could see that she was a bit tired of smiling, and laughing along with people on the way to being drunk.
They carefully sneaked out of the party and drove to the town's flashiest pub. There they sat on a two-person table, exchanging loving words. Darien ordered an Irish coffee and Serena a plain coffee (she didn't drink much, and had had enough with alcohol after a glass and a half of punch). Both of them were in plain heaven, together like that! There was no one that they felt obliged to greet, no servants coming around with food, no interruptions! Darien moved his chair beside Serena's. He hugged her and carefully moving his hand to her neck, he kissed her whole heartedlly. They remained lip-locked, until they ran out of breath. As if that wasn't enough, Darien continued to spread butterfly kisses all over her face, neck, and bare shoulders. And Serena carried on playing with his hair, and sometime butterfly kissing him. Finally, they were unwillingly broke apart when the waiter came to them with the bill.
Serena looked at her watch for the time, it was close to eleven o'clock, it had been three hours since they had been gone form the party. Her friends must be worrying by now. So she excused herself from Darien to the bathroom to make a call to the only one that had a mobile, Lita.
"Lita?" Serena began when the receiver on the other line was on, "It's me, Serena!"
"I know," Lita answered half drunk, "I saw you leave with Darien, don't worry, we'll have the juicy details tomorrow! Nick, wants me to dance this tango with him, see ya!"
Serena heard a click, on the other side on the line. She plopped her mobile back into her handbag and looked at herself in the mirror. One of the spaghetti straps of her dress was hanging lose on her arm. She still felt Darien's tender, moist lips on the place where her strap had been. It was not only the kisses that she felt, but also something that stirred deep down in her heart. She stroked her hand across her shoulders, she moaned at the shivers that were going up her back. That was the most wonderful feeling in the world! She closed her eyes and leaned against the wall revive the feeling... She was actually weak in the knees!
Minutes later, she recomposed herself, and walked out. Darien had told her that he would be waiting for her by the exit. She reached the exit with her eyes; she didn't have to look long. She had found him, all right! What she saw shocked her, she was almost going to collapse if a waiter hadn't reached to support her. Last time she klutzed out like that was nine years before, when she was still young and stupid. This time she did forgive herself, for having such a change in mood would probably cause a heart attack to anyone else. (AN: yes, yes u wanna know why, huh? Here comes, brace yourselves, even if it's not that surprising considering that Darien is a major playboy hint, hint)
Right across the room, by the exit, was Darien. Well, not only Darien alone. No, no, for on top of him was a brunette, with her legs crossed around his back. Darien was facing her back to her, and she couldn't really see what he was doing with her. She didn't see what he was doing with her, she didn't want to see it; she didn't want her heart to break even more. The waiter understood what was happening to her, for he was the same waiter that had been serving them all night! Quickly enough, she possessed herself again.
"Thank you," she said to the waiter, softly. She wasn't on the line of crying, she never cried, and she wouldn't let a bastard like him make her cry!
"For nothing," the waiter smiled. He opened his mouth to say something else, but decided not to, closing his mouth again.
Serena put her bolero on and calmly and walked over to the doors. She came to about a meter distance from Darien and the woman. Right now he was trying to shrug her off...probably because he had seen her coming. She walked over to them, now they her both standing, thank God!
"I said I would only give you one chance, Darien," she reminded in am aloof voice, "You tried to play with me. To push your luck. Game is over now!"
Right then she started into a run, outside the doors of the pub. She heard Darien shouting that "it wasn't what she though it was" and that "he should have a chance to explain". As far as she knew she had perfect vision, she wasn't drunk, so the saw the real thing. And since the saw the real thing, what was there to explain? Luckily, just outside the pub, was a line of cabs parked. She quickly entered one and told him to driven off. He obeyed her, while she turned around looked back at Darien who was running behind the taxi. Noticing that he couldn't beat the machine, he went on his knees, pressed his hands against his face. Now did he think that she would forgive him because he made such a show? No, no, no!
Once they were safely off, she told the taxi driver her address. The ride seemed long, and drastic. She wasn't sure she would be able to walk up into her apartment, as she felt so weak physically, and emotionally.