Rei scowled. After being chased all around the temple and having her refrigerator practically emptied by Serena she was tired and hungry. The others had the sense to not ask what happened. She was so going to get Chad for telling Serena where she was.
"Absolutely no more plans at my place." Rei growled ominously.
No one opposed her. Mina cheerfully announced her conclusion of Plan A.
"Plan A: Closet failed. We must now continue on to Plan B for the future of Serena and Darien. Ami what's next?"
Ami twirled a pencil and read off the sentence. Mina's glowed.
"Good," she purred," who should we volunteer?"
Serena trudged into the arcade.
"Triple-Chocolate milkshake please."
She sat moodily at the stool.
"Hey, why so gloomy today Odango?"
Serena didn't deign to answer.
"What's the matter? Failed a quiz again? I wouldn't be surprised."
Serena whirled furiously with a crumpled up ball, threw it at Darien, and flounced off. He picked up the wadded ball after Serena left and picked it up. He opened it up to find a unit test with a big red hundred mark on it and a remark from an obviously surprised and pleased teacher.
"Serena! What a wonderful job! I don't know what you did to study for this test, but keep it up!"
Darien ran out after Serena with the test. When he found her he stopped. A boy with big glasses and several textbooks beside him was talking to Serena. He ducked behind some bushes and watched.
"S-Serena! W-Will you e-eat l-lunch with me s-some time?"
Serena giggled at the stuttering nerd.
"Of course!"
The boy turned bright red.
"Oh! Th-Thank you s-so much! I-I g-guess I'll s-see you S-Saturday!"
"Sure! This Saturday at lunch Melvin!"
Melvin scurried off with his books. When he left and was out of hearing and sight Serena broke down laughing.
"Poor Melvin! I wonder why he was stuttering so. I'll just ask him to eat lunch with me and the girls!"
Poor Darien sat there envious of the 'poor Melvin' who had gotten practically a date with his Odango.
Saturday
"Sorry Serena, have to help Grandpa clean up and make sure Chad shovels the paths and around the temple properly."
"Oh! I have to study for this coming physics test! Must go now too! Bye!"
"I'm plumb tired and I'm going to take a nap all day."
"I was going to ask you to go shopping with me but I guess you'll have to eat with Melvin alone eh?"
Serena watched as her friends left to do their individual things. She cocked her head. This was suspicious. The last time her friends all had something to do at the same time was when they locked her and Darien inside Rei's closet. She frowned and then shrugged.
"They're wouldn't that to me again I'm sure! They're the best friends ever and would never betray me like that."
She smiled and set out for lunch with Melvin.
"Hey Darien, can you come with Rita and me for lunch?"
Darien looked up from his textbook and took Andrew's grinning face as 'eating with Rita' happiness.
"Sure."
Andrew grinned even wider, if that was possible
He stood up and the three of them walked to a nearby restaurant. After finishing their orders they talked while they waited for their food.
"So you went skiing with your family recently? Yes it is nice weather for skiing up there, always snowing. I've- …!"