Another Life

by Angel

Chapter 1

Hey everyone. Well here is the next chapter of my story. Thanks to everyone who reviewed so far, keep it up its encouraging. I do not own Sailor moon so don't sue me, I don't have any money.

Chapter One

As Serena made her way to the school she could not keep from thinking about Darien. He had only gotten more handsome in the two years she had been gone.

'What did he think of me? He remembered me, at least that's something.' She thought, not able to keep the smile from her lips as she walked.

As the school finally came into view Serena checked her watch and took a seat on one of the benches across the street, there was not much time left before the bell rang so she decided to wait for the girls there, and was lost deep in thoughts about Darien when she was startled by the bell as it rang a few minutes later.

As teenagers of every shape and size poured out of the school she watched closely for her friends, completely oblivious of the admiring glances from guys as they passed her. When she spotted her friends she stood up and patiently waited for them to see her. 'Or see if they recognized her, which ever came first.' She thought with a laugh.

It was Lita, who was the tallest of the four girls who looked up making first eye contact with her over the heads of the rapidly depleting student body. Shock was clearly written on her face as Lita just stood there in a stunned silence before she began smiling and excitedly jumping up and down. She ran over to Serena with the other three girls in tow, to swallow her up in a group hug. Serena happily laughed and hugged her oldest friends back.

"I missed you guys." Serena stated and had tears welling in everyone's eyes.

"Oh Serena we missed you horribly" stated the girl on Serena's left. Ami was the brain of the group but had a crazy side, evident by the blue hair dyed precisely to match her eyes. She was the only person in the group as short as Serena herself.

When the group could finally break from their enthusiastic hugging they took a step back but still clasped hands. Each took a moment to take in the fact that their best friend was really in front of them for the first time in two years.

Mina the bubbly blonde always the first to speak gave a sudden squeal that had her other friends wincing at the harsh sound. "Serena you look fabulous!" She shrieked her eyes roving over Serena while taking in her new look with a shocked approval that had Serena blushing.

"Thanks Mina." Serena said looking over at her friend. Mina was the craziest of the group. She had long blonde hair half pulled back by a large red ribbon, she had bright baby blue eyes and a pretty face which she doted on because of wanting to be a model some day .

"You look so different." Lita stated in amazement.

Serena smiled up at her tall friend. Lita often took advantage of her height by taking fighting classes and playing basketball. She was a bit of a tomboy, but she still had a penchant for drama and romance as she often fell in love with any cute guy within twenty yards of her. But with her dreamy green eyes and chestnut colored hair, which she often kept pulled up into a high ponytail, she managed to attract as many crushes as she herself had.

"Well that is the point of a make-over." Serena said laughing as she glanced down at her clothes and briefly comparing her new look to the old one she had once sported. "I like it. But that is not important." she said waving the question away. "How have you guys been?" she asked, but instead of an answer was bombarded by questions.

"What are you doing here? Why did you not tell us you were coming back?" was yelled from her right in the angry tone Serena knew so well. "Are you here to stay?" her voice turning gruff as she asked the question while glaring at Serena.

"What is the matter Rei?" Serena asked the hot-tempered raven-haired girl. "Your not happy to see me?" Serena asked looking hurt. She knew how Rei's temper got carried away sometimes and had learned quickly how to counter it. The violet eyes had often shot daggers at Serena but even though they fought they were the closest of the friends.

"That's stupid Serena, of course I am. We are just surprised to see you, you did not mention you were coming in your last letter." Rei accused still glaring as a grin spread across Serena's face.

"Well I wanted to surprise you all. Surprise!" she said laughing. "And to answer your question, yes I am staying. My dad has just been transferred back. The bands back together." Serena cheered. And all the girls let out a whoop of excitement and grabbed each other up into another group hug.

"But, Serena." Ami began when they were able to calm down enough to speak. "We can not have a band without a singer, and unless you have changed your mind about it we do not have one." Ami stated logically.

"Well are you still to chicken to sing Serena?" Rei questioned.

Serena smirked "What and let all the songs I wrote for us to perform go to waste! Yeah right! You just wait Rei my new stuff will blow your mind." Serena said as she started to walk confidently down the street with the girls following firing questions at her.

Darien stood across the street watching the exchange between the girl he loved and her friends. This was her first day home, he would wait a few days, let her get settled. 'No one will ask her out her first day back in Tokyo.' He assured himself.

But he wanted to speak to her again now. He wanted to know how much she had changed, besides her look and confidence. Was she still the same sweet girl she had been two years ago or had time and the change of environment changed her inside like it did the outside? Well he would know tomorrow, he decided. Forget waiting a few days, there was no way he was taking the chance that some guy might ask her out first, because he would be at their corner tomorrow morning waiting to resume their daily routine.

Serena flopped down on her bed, thinking about the day she had just spent with her friends talking and hanging out, filling each other in on the things that had happened and, sharing bits of gossip about this person or that couple. It was great being back where she belonged.

With her friends.

With her band.

It had been Mina's idea to start the band, after she read some of the poems Serena had written. She had immediately decided that they would be put to better use if they were songs.

"After all who wants to read a bunch of poems anyway?" she had stated cheerily. Everyone knew that it was Mina's dream to be famous, but the idea had sounded like fun so they agreed and Amy and Serena began composing songs to go with the rhymes.

They had never done anything serious about their music on account of Serena being to shy to sing and none of the other girls having a great voice. They had pretty voices but no one thought it to be a good idea for one of them to fill in the spot of lead vocalist.

Serena yawned then smiled as she collected her thoughts after her trip down memory lane to look up at the clock on her headboard that read ten-thirty in glowing red letters. "When did it get so late?" She asked herself as she got up to change her clothes and wash her face.

She had to get to sleep; she had a big day tomorrow. First day back to her old school, and then band practice with the girls. She could not wait to surprise them. She really was no longer the same person she had been when she had left two years before. Two years ago could have been another life or a bad dream for all the difference it made now.

And if she was lucky she would see Darien again, and this time she would not run away.

The next day Serena got up put on her favorite outfit of a white midriff shirt with a lace bottom and lace sleeves that clung tightly to her arms till just a few inches below her elbows then flared out like bells over her hands, and a long black skirt that came down to a few inches above her ankles, with a slit up the front that came up to mid thigh.

It was a very provocative out fit that showed off a lot of skin, but it had taken her a lot of courage to buy the outfit when she decided to give herself a makeover, and she would be damned if she let herself chicken out of wearing it.

She ran a brush threw her golden locks and did her makeup, not a lot, just a little eyeliner and eye shadow, lipstick and lip gloss, pulled on her knee high black boots with the three inch heels, checked herself in the mirror and grabbed her bag. "I am leaving mom." she yelled over her shoulder as she walked out the door and down the sidewalk. "Boy does this feel familiar." she mumbled happily to herself.

She walked quietly reminiscing about the many frantic dashes she had made down these same streets, till she started to approach the corner. Her heart beat sped up and her palms grew damp at the thought of Darien being just around the next bend.

"Now why would he be there after all of these years Serena?" She mumbled to herself as she took a deep breath forcing her pulse to slow and wiped her hands on her skirt. "Darien's in collage now. There is absolutely no reason he would be waiting around that corner." she told herself aggrieved.

Distracted by her thoughts that had once again turned to Darien, and confident that there would not be a tall handsome blue eyed collage student waiting on the other side of the brick wall she was rounding, she bumped into someone. Wearing her boots the bump knocked her off balance and she would have fallen, had strong arms not wrapped around her waist to steady her. Shocked and expecting to find a stranger holding her up she was about to thank the person, but the words stuck in her throat as her eyes met a pair of smiling midnight blue ones.

Darien.

"Just like old times...huh Meatball head?" Darien chuckled when she blushed. 'Yes just like old times.'

"Not exactly like old times." she smiled back forcing herself to speak. "I have not knocked you down this time." she said sweetly and he could not keep from laughing.

"No you did not." He agreed. "In fact I think I almost knocked you over. Are you alright?" He asked politely. She smiled at his concern but quickly squashed the little bud of hope that had sprung to life. It was his nature to be polite after all.

"Yup just fine thanks to you." she said cheerily while patting his arm which was still around her. "These boots..." She started pointing down at her feet "They look great, but they should have warning signs on them." She joked her heart thumping wildly as Darien looked down taking in the rest of her attire as well. Wow! Clearing his throat, which had just become incredibly tight, he looked back up to her face.

"Wow meatball head! This is a first. When did you start dressing like this?" he asked his astonished tone making her blush deepen.

"You do not like it?" she asked taking a step back; realizing he still had his arms around her.

Darien blushed, lowering his arms to his side, though they already missed her warmth and he longed to pull her back in tightly to him. "No it's not that." He said calmly smiling at her reassuringly even while his heart raged behind his ribs "I have just never seen you dress so..." he stopped to look her over from head to toe again.'Sexy.' he thought to himself.

"So what?" She asked noticing the slight blush spreading across his cheeks and smiled more confidently.

"Never mind" he said clearing his throat again. "You look very nice." she smirked then looked down at her outfit.

"Damn I was trying for sexy. Maybe I should change?" she said jokingly while reaching for his wrist to check what time his watch said, but really to hide the wicked gleam that had lightened her eyes. "I want to make a good first impression at school today."

Darien just stood there shocked. "What did you just say?" He asked. She looked up and nearly burst out laughing when his face looked so shocked she could have told him the sky was pink.

"Oh nothing. Its not important." she smiled amused by him. "Look Darien I have to go. I really do not want to get detention on my first day back. See you later." She said as she started to hurry down the street still smiling.

After she had gone Darien still stood there in shock. She had changed, but it was defiantly was not in a bad way. He smiled and began whistling a happy tune as he walked toward the university, thinking about holding her in his arms and the next time he would see her. "Oh no." he said stopping when a thought struck him. "I forgot to ask her out." Slapping his forehead he started forming a plan to visit Juban high for lunch.

Ten minutes later Serena entered her new homeroom. Handing the teacher her slip she turned to look at the class, most of the students had looked up from what they were doing when she walked in and were now staring openly at her. Out of curiosity or astonishment she did not much care. She recognized a few people who where in her classes two years ago. And there in the back of the room sat Ami and Lita, both smiling and waving to her, and pointing at the empty seat behind Ami.

"Class I would like you all to meet Serena Carson, she has just transferred here from America." The teacher Ms. Haruna said then addressed Serena. "Miss Carson you can take the seat between..." She said starting to point to the opposite side of the room from where Lita and Ami sat, when Serena interrupted her.

"Excuse me Ms. H. but I would prefer to pick my own seat." she stated matter of fact as she moved toward Ami and Lita, the rest of the class staring at her in shock, Ami and Lita included.

"Ex...Excuse me!" Ms. Haruna stuttered.

Serena turned around to face her. "No problem.'' she smiled her best smile. "I just figured since I am new I would be allowed to sit by someone I know, to help make transition easier. Or is that not the school policy here?" She asked knowing well that it was. She turned and walked back to the seat behind Amy, the whole class staring in admiration. If anyone else had tried to tell Ms. Haruna what to do they would have gotten detention, and she had called her Ms. H. But Serena did so in a way that was neither rude nor polite.

Mouth still gaping Ms. Haruna answered stiltedly. "Yes... Of course." She said as she turned back to the lesson she had began before Serena's entrance. Somewhat confused by what had just happened. Ami and Lita looked at Serena like they had never seen her before, but she just smiled.

By lunch the whole school had heard of the hot new transfer student that had showed up Ms. Haruna and got away with it. Of course the truth had been stretched a bit. And as the five girls exited the school to sit under the same tree they had eaten their lunches under two years before, everyone in the crowded common turned to take notice.

"You are absolutely amazing Serena." Mina exclaimed. "You have not even been here a whole day and you are already like the most popular girl in school."

Serena smiled smugly. "Yeah I forgot to warn you I picked up a few tricks in America." she stated not paying any attention to everyone staring at her.

Rei laughed. "Yeah like style and an attitude. I just love the new you Sere, just do not go changing too much. If this keeps up I will not have anything to tease you about." She joked mock punching Serena in the arm, while Serena retaliated by sticking out her tongue and the other girls laughing.

"Do not worry Pyro I am still the same Serena you know and love." She assured.

"Yeah but now your..." Ami started but was interrupted by Mina.

"Cool and beautiful and..." Lita interrupted Mina.

"And totally the envy of every girl in the entire school." Lita finished.

"And I am not through yet." Serena said smiling devilishly while making eye contact with the person staring intensely back at her. "So are we still meeting at Rei's after school today to practice?" Serena questioned effectively changing the subject.

"You know we are." Rei said "I want to hear you sing all these great new songs you wrote." She demanded as Serena got up not taking her eyes away from the figure

"Cool I will meet you there." She said walking away.

"Serena where are you going?" Amy asked.

"You have not eaten your lunch." Lita said around a bit of sandwich.

"Oh that was just gross Lita." Rei yelled turning away from Lita.

"Serena, come back." Mina yelled.

It's not time to go in yet." Rei called out to her, but Serena was too caught up in a pair of midnight blue eyes and did not even notice.

Well that's the end of Chapter one. I hope you liked it. Please Review

BYE BYE