A/N: Last update before thanksgiving! I have another chapter coming this Saturday I promise everyone and I am glad you all love the story so far I hope to keep that up and keep you all happy.
Serena groaned loudly as she ran as fast as she could towards the coffee shop just hoping she would make in time for her meeting with her mom's friend. She cursed at her teacher for keeping her late to discuss how proud she was of her improvement since last year; really Serena had no time for that. Sure any other day she would love to hear her improvement and the acknowledgement for it but today of all days? She was a horrid student in her past three years of high school but recently started putting effort into her work once she decided she did in fact want to go to college.
She finally approached the coffee shop nearly out of breath. Before entering the building Serena looked in the window which showed her reflection and quickly adjusted her hair to look as neat as possible in those short few seconds and adjusted her uniform and headed inside where her nose was greeted with the warm smell of coffee being brewed and baking bread causing her mouth to water.
She scanned the shop looking out for whoever might possibly be looking like they were waiting for someone. When she was finally met eyes with a red haired woman who waved at her. Serena smiled and quickly made her way towards her.
"Hi, sorry if I was late I ran as fast as I could. I am Serena by the way," Serena smiled warmly extending her hand to greet the woman.
"Beryl and nice to meet you," Beryl smiled shaking the blonde's hand firmly.
Once both had sat down at a small table across from each Beryl initiated the conversation.
"So Serena, your mother Illene mentioned you needed a job and speaks very highly of you," Beryl smiled.
"Yes and I love kids so this works out perfectly for me," Serena said while she scanned the woman sitting across from her.
"I was going to ask you about that, what's your experience with kids? I want to be able to trust you being alone with my daughter," Beryl said.
The woman had wild red curls that were obviously dyed and not natural not that it mattered much but that woman couldn't fool anyone with thinking that was natural. Her lips were painted with a light pink and her makeup was heavily done making her appear very fake. She also observed the designer bag she had strung around her chair, it wasn't in Serena's taste but the bag screamed class and money based off the brand. The bag alone also gave Serena a sense that she would certainly make some money off this job, she needed to figure out soon how exactly she would pay for college assuming her parents would help her a little of course too. Serena continued to observe the woman while getting a very cold feeling from her that made Serena feel uncomfortable.
"Well I want to be a grade school teacher one day and I am in a few programs now at my school that prepares me on how to handle children in all ages," Serena smiled.
"That's wonderful, how often could you watch my daughter though? My husband and I are always busy" Beryl smiled a fake smile while she also observed the young blonde in front of her.
"Anytime really as long as I could watch her after school so it didn't interfere with my schooling," Serena smiled trying to remain positive despite the hateful feeling she was picking up from this woman.
"That works out perfectly she goes to daycare during the day I would just need you to pick her up after daycare gets out and take care of her till my husband or I get home from work," Beryl smiled.
"Oh what do you and your husband do for work?" Serena smiled trying to seem interested in her and her life.
"Well as you know I am a nurse since I work with your mother however, my husband works at a business firm which is why we need you we are always busy, and this weekend I am actually leaving on a business trip and my husband has meetings all weekend and we are on short notice so your services would be greatly appreciated this weekend," Beryl smiled with a pleading look in her eyes.
"Of course I can watch your daughter this weekend," Serena smiled again, "What does she like so I can keep her busy for the day?"
"She loves my little pony, honestly you can play that show all day on Netflix till her father gets home and she'll be occupied," Beryl laughed at the thought of her daughter she shared with her husband that she didn't love anymore.
"Well I will make sure your little one is taken care of this weekend. Thank you so much for the opportunity really," Serena smiled standing up from their table and hugged the red haired woman who awkwardly accepted the hug.
"Thank you for agreeing to watch her," Beryl smiled observing the blonde who began to head out of the coffee shop.
'What a fake,' Beryl thought to herself while pursing her lips thinking about the odd small blonde.
Serena headed out of the coffee shop and releasing a breath she hadn't known she was holding. She felt off about the woman when she was around that she was now babysitting for. She was a little intense. She only dreaded the moment she would have to meet her husband assuming he would be just as dreadful. Also knowing she would have to tolerate him mostly now since Beryl would be gone.
While Serena stood lost in her thoughts on the sidewalk outside the coffee shop her phone buzzed from a text that brought her back to earth.
'Serena, meet us at the arcade- Mina'
Serena groaned out loud after reading the text and began to make her way across the street. The girls knew she didn't want to go her since the breakup they still made her come back. Still she walked through the familiar sliding glass doors where she was greeted with a blast of cold air, loud various beeping arcade music, and the smell of greasy food.
"Welcome – oh hey Serena," Andrew said quietly.
Serena completely ignored his greeting towards her and made her way towards the booth her and her friends all sat at together. She had to admit ignoring him was a little rude of her but she wasn't ready to converse with him it had been only three days since he broke her heart. She had moved on quickly and that emphasized to Serena in her head that she never truly loved him like she honestly believed she did. But still he hurt her if he wanted to be a good honest man about it he could have told her face to face not over a text the night before her birthday then right now she wouldn't be so bitter. Eventually though Serena knew she would forgive him just not in the near future.
"Hey Serena, see it wasn't so bad to come back here," Molly smiled.
Serena rolled her eyes, "For you."
"I thought you were over him and the breakup after your make out session with mystery man?" Mina teased.
"Who is mystery man?" Andrew asked walking up to their booth ready to take their order but coming in at the end of the conversation.
"No one of your concern," Lita said coldly for Serena.
Lita was always brash about Serena she protected her like an older sister would but if she didn't no one else would, the other girls all looked out for her in different ways. Mina advised her on men and clothes, Ami helped her with school, Molly always listened with an unbiased ear and was always supportive, and Raye kept her in place.
"Anyway aren't you here to take our order not listen to our conversation?" Raye smirked.
"Yeah right, anyways what can I get you all?" Andrew asked trying not to sound annoyed with the girls' rude remarks.
Once each girl ordered their food Andrew finally left them be to enter their orders in to their computer.
"You okay Serena?" Ami asked.
"I am alright and yes Mina I am over it it's just tense coming in here. I just don't want him to think what he did is okay," Serena smiled big to reassure her friends.
"Well good mystery man is so much sexier than that goof over there," Mina giggled.
"Anyways Serena, what were you doing across the street?" Raye asked.
"Oh I had a meeting with a friend from my mom's work, I am babysitting her daughter," Serena shrugged as Andrew came back and put all of their plates in front of them.
"How did that go?" Molly asked.
"She was oddly intense and made me feel uncomfortable in a non-obvious way, I mean I am still babysitting for her this weekend, but I am not looking forward to her again or meeting her husband who is bound to be just as intense," Serena said sipping at her strawberry milkshake.
"Hopefully her kid is good though which is all that matters since that's who you will be spending the majority of your time with while you are there," Ami said with a smile.
"She's right, you only have to say hello and goodbye to them every time you watch their kid," Lita said.
"Plus with this job we can finally go shopping since you'll have more than five dollars to your name," Raye laughed.
"You are right I have been dying to get some cute things," Serena smiled thinking about what she could finally do now with the money.
"Cute? Honey you are going to graduate this year, and you're going to be a college girl this next year it's time to upgrade your wardrobe," Mina smiled devilishly.
"Good God I haven't even earned any money yet and you're already planning how I am spending it," Serena laughed.
The girls continued to eat together while all joking around and gossiping about many things a group of teenagers would talk about.
Darien returned home from work and walked into the living room of his house where he was oddly greeted by Beryl who was sitting on the couch waiting for him. About now she would be putting on her makeup and getting ready for another night out. But for once she was sitting in front of him waiting for him to come home.
"Beryl?" Darien asked looking at her with confusion. It wasn't like her to actually wait for him so how she was acting now raised suspicion in him.
"Sit down dear," Beryl smiled patting the couch cushion next to her.
Darien let out a sigh and sat down next to her placing his briefcase down on the floor of the couch.
"I am going out of town this weekend and I won't be back for another two weeks. I know you have a bunch of meetings to attend this weekend and work way past when Hotaru gets out of daycare so I hired a babysitter for you. She will be here this weekend so you will meet her then," Beryl smiled.
"Why are you going out of town and who is the girl you hired to watch OUR child without asking me?" Darien frowned trying to contain his anger so their daughter in the other room wouldn't catch their conversation.
"I have a business trip," Beryl said only to remain unknown to Darien that it was in fact not a business trip but a very romantic getaway.
Beryl had been seeing her boss recently and was just gathering money to hire a very good lawyer to make sure she had custody of her daughter and would get a very high amount of child support that she knew not all needed to go towards her, to her she could only think how much things did a toddler need that she would grow out of quickly Beryl had "real" needs. She would also ensure she would get the house. Once divorced she wasn't all sure she would remarry but she dabbled in remarrying her boss and then if things went south she would certainly get a ton out of that marriage too. To Beryl it was all price tags, checks, and designer clothing.
"Okay but what about the girl? Who in the hell is she?" Darien said still frowning at the woman he called his wife.
"She's my friend at work's daughter. She is a good kid and has experience with being around children I trust her," Beryl smiled. How hard could it be to watch her kid just put the TV on and make sure she doesn't eat anything poisonous?
"You didn't think to ask me to come meet her with you?" Darien growled.
"You can't miss work sweetie we need money remember?," Beryl kissed his cheek and got up and headed up the stairs to their room, "Anyway I have a late work meeting so I better get ready and leave."
Darien laid his head back against the couch cushion and tried to contain all his anger he felt towards his idiotic bitch of a wife. He wanted to divorce the bitch so badly but he wanted Hotaru to know what a family to feel like when she was about seven then maybe he would divorce Beryl and claim for custody. But for now he had a long four years ahead of him. How could Beryl hire some stranger to watch their kid? What if she was some thief and stole their belongings or what if she inflicted any pain on their daughter, what if she was irresponsible and left their child unattended. There wasn't much he could do for now he would just have to wait till he met her himself.
A/N: Hope you all like this chapter again will be posting another on Saturday, please review and follow if you liked or let me know your thoughts.