Serena was sitting on the blanket and looking up in the sky, watching the few clouds on this sunny day to change forms. The trees behind Rei's temple were providing a shade for the girls and a light breeze saving from the hot sun. Serena took a deep breath and relished this fine day.
The blonde had been late for the girls get-together. Overjoyed mood with the upcoming date with Darien did not change the fact that Serena was eager to find the most suitable attire. She chose a light blue knee-length summer dress with lily prints in darker blue and pastel pink. The dress was fuller down from the waist that encircled in a white belt, matching her white sandals. She let her hair flowing free down her back and with last look in the mirror checking if her light make-up of simple mascara and lip-gloss was not smudged.
When she arrived at Rei's temple, she was thirty minutes late. It was something that has not happened for few months now, as with Beryl gone, Serene did not have to worry about being late to school or anywhere else for that matter. She run up at Rei's room, familiar with the temple's layout, and found a sticky note on her door. 'We are behind the temple' was what it said.
The blonde, eager to see her friends, rushed in small steps around the temple, carrying her contribution to the picnic the girls have planned. An ice bag with drinks. The day and weather was most certainly promising to make their picnic a success. Rounding the temple's farthest corner, she could see the girls already enjoying themselves on a large light green picnic blanket.
Upon greeting the girls the joy of seeing them made Serena forgot her planned evenings activities with Darien. And she had met with the girls just yesterday. Serena truly could not imagine her life without her most cherished companions.
Now she was sitting together with them, after having their usual banter and, of course, Lita's well made sandwiches. She exhaled. And suddenly remembered after looking at her wristwatch that she was set to meet up with Darien in just under an hour.
The girl turned to tell the others about her plans. Her eyes went over the shy Amy, who was reading a book, sitting on the blanker with her back straight. She read the title '1984' and giggled in her mind, only Amy would be capable of reading such a book in this nice weather. Serena knew that Amy was re-reading the book, and she herself had read it last month, the story still fresh in her memory. The book was too depressing for her liking.
Her eyes then settled in Lita, who was laying on her back, and also reading a book. A cookbook. No doubt, trying to think something new to prepare, and Serena was ready to be the human guinea pig for she adored Lita's talent in the kitchen. Mina and Rei were discussing something from the newest Vogue edition, Serena could not understand a single thing written in there and had also realised that she must have been too deep in her thought not to notice that they all have started to do something of their own. Not that she minded, it was usual for them just to be together and do things separately. Serena just did not understand when had this happened today. Was it perhaps after their meal when Serena had turned to guess the shapes of the rare clouds in her mind and possibly got carried away? She smiled at that and her mind was back on the pressing issue of telling the girls about the date with Darien.
The blonde knew they all were fond of Darien, but now something in her mind started to tell in a small voice – what if one of them harboured more than friendly feelings towards the man? Was she perhaps overstepping some unsaid boundaries agreeing to the date?
Serena knew that Amy and Darien were having study sessions, he and Lita often met while shopping for groceries as they had the same favourite local farmer's market. Rei and Darien were often having conversations about life goals and politics, something she could not follow. And she could never understand what he was discussing with Mina, but she knew that they were close friends. Just as she was friends with Andrew and Reika. They all made one interesting clique and Serena and Darien were indeed the only ones mostly throwing insults (mostly sarcastic remarks though) and generally not having a decent conversations with each other over the past years.
She knew all about Darien's likes and dislikes, what he feared and what he loathed. She knew about his time in the foster system after his parents death and everything what everyone else knew about him. But she had never thought that there would come a moment in her life without Senshi business that would allow her to live for herself. This entitled confessing to Darien. She had yet to tell the girls about her feelings towards Darien, not knowing that they already knew. And what was his relationship to the other girls?
"Hey, girls. What… " she started her question 'what do you think about Darien' but stopped. Since her voice had a slight tremble to it, the four girls had turned to look and her, ceasing their activities. Serena now looked at them wide-eyed, not being able to continue. She averted her gaze and looked down to her hands that were now busy straightening the belt about her waist that seemed to be perfectly fine and not needing any improvements. The girls exchanged glances, almost worried.
Serena felt suddenly a little foolish but managed her courage and the words left her mouth making Rei down her drink in a rush, thus going in the wrong hole and making her cough for few seconds, "Do you have any romantic interest in Darien?" Serena actually blushed.
Mina was now lightly patting the coughing girl's back, a slight tint of mischief in her eyes. She was the first one to speak.
"Why do you ask?" she was met with silence and Lita's knowing smirk that wished to spread in full out grin. Rei was now breathing normally again. Amy just looked at Serena who still not dared to look up.
"Please, just answer the question," Serena said in small voice, her hands now busy flattening her dress on her legs.
"You can believe me that I say for us four, that we like Darien. But none of us are romantically interested in him." Amy spoke up and Serena looked at her, not noticing some tension leaving her body.
"Then I guess I should tell you that Darien and I, we… we will be going on a date in about," she looked at her watch, "about fifteen minutes?" and ended her statement with a question as if not being sure about it.
The girls deadpanned. They were sure that Serena would be telling the girls that had a crush on him. Never had the thought to hear something like 'going on date' crossed their minds. That is, it has been a thought, but only after Serena would have confessed about her feeling to the girls. They had even planned that Amy be the one to ensure Serena that she was allowed to like him despite their never-ending bickering that actually was enjoyable to the others.
The girls did not know that Serena was aware of her feelings for Darien.
It was Rei who asked the next question, "Do you have romantic feelings towards him?" Always true to her nature and getting straight to the point. The other girls hold in breaths to ensure not to miss a reply from their youngest friend.
Serena's brows furrowed, she looked upwards and tapped her lips with the index finger. Another silence followed and Serena opened and closed her mouth like a fish out of water. She hesitated.
She looked at the girls and replied. "I do.." The girls let out a sigh of relief. This now brought forth the story of hers and Darien's encounter in the morning, as Serena tried to explain this sudden announcement of the date. The four Senshi listened, all mostly thanking the gods for Darien's unexpected behaviour.
"Is that what you are wearing for your date!" Mina suddenly exclaimed, always fashion in her mind.
"Is it bad?" Serena stood up and started to worry, looking up and down her dress and touching her hair now a bit tousled by the breeze.
"No, it is very nice, Serena. You look beautiful." Lita assured her, giving a small glare towards Mina, who smiled an apology.
"Then I guess you should be going not to miss your date with Darien," smiled Amy and was now back reading her book. She knew that Serena would stun Darien, as she always did.
Serena smiled back at the girls, "Okay!" she grabbed her purse and waved goodbye after asking Rei to safe keep the ice-bag for the day as she will come to get it tomorrow. Rei nodded and waited until Serena was out of view to speak her mind to the girls.
"Well, that was unexpected." Mina chirped in "we should follow her." And Lita said without missing a beat "I'm game." Rei just nodded and Amy giggled, knowing she would be dragged along either way.
The all stood up and rushed after the girl, knowing that their things can be left unattended without a worry. This was a private property after all. The girls saw Serena nearing the temple stairs and Darien coming up the last step, they barely managed to hide their presence behind some bushes.
Serena had yet to notice the man in front of her, as she was checking her dress for any grass that might have hitched a ride on her. But the girls saw him and also his expression of awe. "He has fallen for her soooo deep, why hadn't they done something about it sooner?" Mina said a bit irritated. They watched as Serena failed to notice Darien's presence and run into him. "She should be more careful." Said Amy. "Why didn't she us tell sooner that she had feelings for him? I mean, we all knew, obviously, but she did not tell. I was sure she was to naïve to understand, but now I just think she kept this as a secret from us, why?" Rei's question left the girls in a slightly sombre mood.
With this, they all failed to notice the portal opening above the temple grounds, and a man in white attire exiting it and levitating with ease, his gaze fixated on the object of Darien's affection.
