After leaving the library, Serena started on her way home, her thoughts elsewhere as the houses, and people on the street passed by without her even noticing – her thoughts completely with the astonishing librarian, Darien.
She was only two blocks away from her home when she decided on impulse, to backtrack. Turning left at the corner, she continued until she stopped in front of a lovely little white house. Its assortment of leafy green plants and colorful flowers, adding to the scenery. She then noticed the sweet aroma that came from within the house. It was the familiar scent of cooking. Serena could imagine how Lita Green would be so in her -- private heaven – this being her kitchen. She would be wearing one of those laced aprons, trying to create another dish for whatever cuisine she had in mind to add to her menu for when she opened her own café in the future.
She moved quickly toward the porch and climbed the five steps onto the porch, stopping in front of the door.
She rang the bell and waited as a cheerful voice emerged from somewhere inside, "Lita, could you open the door?" Serena chuckled at this, picturing the Minako Dania, the "Love Goddess" of the Le Roche University with tissue wrapped around her toes, fanning her masked face --if it was part of her schedule for the week – while reading the latest mags, "I've just finished doing my feet and I don't wanna ruin it."
Then a rather shy voice reached Serena's ears, "Let me get it. Lita is in the kitchen."
Suddenly, the door opened and a dark-haired woman with blue highlights with stood before her and gave Serena a warm, welcoming smile, her thin gold-rimmed glasses framing her eyes, "Come in, Serena. You're picked the right time to drop by. Lita has been wondering when you would come over to try her latest creation."
Serena entered the living room, her eyes adjusting to its familiar interior. The house, vastly different from its neighbors had its own unique character in keeping with the personalities and interests of its occupants.
On one side of the large room that served as living room and study, was a floor to ceiling bookshelf that took up most of the wall space where a range of leather-bound books to paperbacks lined its shelves -- much like those in the library. On her left, a host of soft and fluffy plushies -- everything cute you could imagine. Serena's eyes moved towards the far wall not far from the foot of the stairs. Upon the walls were a collection of photos featuring a beautiful blonde with a radiant smile, together with her friends, "Hey girls, look who decided to visit us today," Amy exclaimed.
Emerging from her culinary sanctuary was a quite tall woman with a ponytail flowing down her back, wearing a laced apron, "I've been wondering when you would decide to visit us, Sere," Lita grinned, brushing her hands on her apron greeting her friend with a generous warm smile.
"I'm terribly sorry, Lita…assignments kept me prisoner again," Serena explained, giving Lita her ultimate puppy dog face that no –one could escape.
Lita laughed, making her jade-eyes twinkle, "Well, since you are here, why don't you join us for dinner?" she offered, "For dessert, we're gonna have double chocolate cake with vanilla ice-cream, or do you prefer chocolate?" One could not miss the teasing voice that went with the offer, as Serena's mouth began to water, while imagining all the exotic food that Lita had prepared.
"Choco…" she managed, provoking a fountainhead of laughter.
Then the familiar sound of Minako's laughter mingled with everyone else's as all heads turned to the petite blonde standing at the foot of the stairs, her face beaming with joy, "That's so you, Sere." She said, flipping her waist-length hair of gold over her shoulders, "I wish I could be like you -- pigging out without worrying about the fat causing me to become a blimp."
"I'm not pigging out, Mina. It's just…"
"You can't help yourself but eat," She teased.
Serena blushed, "You're just jealous, Mina," They all burst into laughter again.
"Mina will never give up commenting on Serena's habit of eating sweets, especially Lita's."
Serena looked around and put on a cute pout, "Oh, Amy… You don't have to be so… blunt about it," she chided gently. The blue-haired woman laughed at this comment as everyone entered the dining room, greeted by a table filled with heaps of delicious food. Serena's mouth continued to water just by looking at the banquet set out before them, "Oh! All are my fave," she exclaimed while clasping her hands like a child. Everyone chuckled at the comment.
"Get a grip on yourself, will ya'?" Lita said, shaking her head, "I'll get my special lasagna out of the oven first, and we'll eat after that."
Serena nodded enthusiastically, then remembered something, "Amy, today I went to the library, and there's this new guy. He is Benny's replacement. He told me you were filling in forms in the administration office."
Amy blushed at this statement, "Umm…and?"
"I just wanted to know, what is so important that requires you to go to the administration office." Serena questioned, noticing the tint spreading across her friend's cheeks.
Everyone listened in anticipation of what Amy's response would be, this making her blush beet-red, "Umm…that…is kind of…private. But… If you really want to know, then… I think it's ok. I… I'm planning to tell you later." She took a deep gulp of air and continued, "The Wesley University called yesterday, and they have granted me a scholarship within the medical faculty and they have also offered me a place as an assistant in the Biotech unit."
Then a look of admiration shone within Serena's eyes and she jumped to her feet and hugged Amy, "Oh, Amy… I'm so glad to hear the news. That has been your dream to be accepted there ever since we were fourteen, right?"
Amy nodded slowly, even though she knew Serena would not be able to be there, "Then let this be our party for Amy!" Serena declared.
Anyone passing by the beautiful picture perfect white house would hear the sound of sweet laughter of those inside, and perhaps wondering what it was they were celebrating.
Serena arrived home at eight after the dinner she had in her friends' house. Sighing, she put in her key into the front door. "I'm home," she said, even though she knew that there's no way someone will answer it. Tiredly, she decided to go to bed earlier after taking a shower.
That night, the phone rang waking Serena from her slumber. Sleepily, she picked up the phone. 'This must be important," she thought to herself.
Groggily, she answered, "Gerber."
"Serena? Did I wake you up?" the voice on the other end of the line enquired.
Serena tried to remember who it was who had a voice like this, and then she remembered. It was a husky voice, the same one she had heard earlier that evening. It belonged to the stunning, good-looking librarian, "Oh… Hey Darien... I haven't gone to sleep yet," Serena, told him while trying unsuccessfully to hold in a yawn.
"Is that so? I thought I heard you yawn," teased Darien. He instantly felt guilty for calling at such a late hour, knowing he was at fault for not looking at the time.
Serena blushed, "No, I'm not," she lied, "So, what's up?" Serena asked while trying to turn on the bedside lamp.
"Huh?" Confused, Darien asked, "What do you mean?"
"The reason you called me at…" Serena looked at the clock above her bed, "10.45 p.m."
"Oh, that reason… I just wanted to let you know that the author of the book you returned earlier has published another book," Darien told her, just remembering the reason he had called her at that time.
"Really? Is it available in the library yet?" Serena questioned, her voice filled with enthusiasm.
Darien chuckled, hearing Serena's eagerness, "No, it's not in the library yet," he said, trying to imagine Serena's reaction to his comment.
"Huh? How come you know that?"
"Actually, it's mine. I'm just wondering if you're interested, then I can lend it to you tomorrow."
Serena brightened at the idea of seeing Darien again, "Tomorrow is fine. I'll just pick it up at the library."
"Tomorrow I have the day off. So how about we meet somewhere else?"
"Hmm… If that's the case, I can only meet you after five. Where do you want to meet then?"
"After five? I think I'll be home by then, but if you want to meet somewhere near your place, I'll just go there."
"I'm confused. Why don't I just come to your place and pick up the book," Serena suggested, "But only if you don't mind," she quickly added.
Darien, startled by her suggestion, blushed at the idea of Serena visiting his home, "I'm fine with that if you're OK with it, too."
Unaware of the situation in which she'd placed him, Serena replied, "That's fine by me. It's a coincidence that I'll be in the area at about four o'clock, and I thought, why not?"
"Well, if you wish it, then so be it!" Darien attempted to conceal his excitement at the thought of Serena's visit.
"See ya' tomorrow then!"
"See you. Good night Serena."
"Good night, Dar," Serena replied before realizing what she had just called him and blushed.
