A
Working Model
Ryo Angel
PG-13
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"And then, we get mawwied!"
Her blue eyes grew rounder. "Do I get your i scream then?" She continued to suck on her Popsicle stick while her eyes lingered on his round ball of sweet melting chocolate in a cone.
He took another lick and frowned. "But..."
"Mawwied people share. That's what Daddy says!" Although she wasn't sure if that's what her dad really says, she saw her dad share his dessert with her mom enough times to believe so.
He didn't say anything for a moment and she watched as the ice cream ran down his hands and then said, "Can I share your mommy?"
She gazed up at him and there was this strange feeling in her heart that she couldn't quite understand. His voice was quiet and he was looking at the ground as he waited for her answer. "Yes," she said. He looked up at her and they both smiled. "If you share your i scream with me!"
------
Serena rolled over, a small smile on her face and promptly fell out of bed. "Oof!" Blinking, she shook her head. "You'd think that at 21, I'd be able to stay on." Standing up, she rubbed her bruised backside and yawned, "Time is it?" She muttered as she glances at the clock. 9:20 A.M.. "Great," she muttered as she took off her clothing, "Just great." Grabbing the first things her hands found, she dashed downstairs while putting her clothing on at the same time. As she ran into the kitchen, she paused. Her eyes then narrowed. "Why didn't you wake me?" she moaned as the happy Seiya continued to stir his pot.
He didn't answer, but merely held the spoon up and motioned for her to try. Knowing it was useless to be angry with him, Serena opened her mouth and prepared for the worst. Surprise filtered through her eyes and she smiled. "That's great, where'd you learn it from?"
He just grinned. "Breakfast is on the table, and it's daylight savings, so you're suppose to set your clock back an hour."
"Oh yeah." She had the decency to look sheepish. "Waffles!" She scooped a large spoonful of whipped cream onto her waffles and proceeded to eat. "I love you, Seiya." She murmured happily as the waffles disappeared down her stomach.
He laughed. "If that's all it takes to make you happy, you'd be knee deep with men."
"You know you're the only man I'll ever love," Serena giggled with a teasing tone in her voice as she finished the rest of her waffles. "I have to run downtown after school. I'll give you a call if I can't find a ride home."
Seiya frowned. "Going to see Alan?"
Serena caught the inflection in his tone. "Seiya, don't start. You know how it is."
"Only too well." He handed her lunch to her. "Call me."
"You bet!" A happy little smile on her face, she snatched the bento from him and gave him a loud smacking kiss on the cheek. "You're the bestest!" Grabbing her backpack, she jogged the 10 blocks to school. "Ah, the life of a college student."
------
Classes were uneventful that day and the pop quiz in Biochemistry didn't help her mood.
"Could he be any more sadistic?" Ami moaned as she started her car.
Serena chuckled. "You know how he likes to keep us on our toes." Testing her wrist, she glanced at her blue-haired friend; her best friend in fact. "I can't believe you dyed your hair, what did your mom say?"
"What can she say? I'm pre-med, ain't I?"
Serena laughed again and they spent the rest of the trip in a comfortable silence. When Ami dropped Serena off, she hesitated. "Are you sure you want to continue doing this?"
Serena shrugged. "It's a living." She patted Ami's hand. "Alan's a good guy. He takes care of me."
"So does Seiya," Ami countered. "You don't have to do this."
"You know how I feel about the subject. It wouldn't be right."
"Think about what happened last time. Your wrist almost snapped!" Ami couldn't believe how blind Serena was.
"I'll be working in the back," Serena said as she got out of the car. "I'll be fine. Alan..."
"Will take care of everything," Ami finished for her, rolling her eyes. "He better. Otherwise, Seiya will kill him."
"Yeah, yeah. I'll be catching a ride with Seiya tonight, so you don't have to come and pick me up."
"Call me!" Ami shouted as Serena turned away and walked into the Moonlight Club.
-------
It was very quiet when Serena entered. She looked behind her with a little wistful smile as the door closed. Dimly lit, the place looked like a black hole. Serena couldn't wait for it to open. Then, the projector will be up and people will be dancing among the stars. It was only a shame she couldn't be working in front like she always did. Stupid wrist. Giving a little sigh, she made her way towards the back. A wisp of a girl looked up.
"Hey Serena."
"Hey Ann, is Alan here?" Serena was surprised when Ann narrowed her eyes. "What?"
"How's your wrist?"
Serena rolled her eyes. "It was sprained, no big deal."
"The doctor said the bone almost snapped." Ann shook her head. "You're lucky you can even use it now."
"Please," Serena sighed, "can we stop discussing this already? I had to hear it from Seiya and Ami."
"At least somebody's looking out for you," a deep voice sounded behind her.
Jumping a little, Serena spun around. His shoulder-length brown hair framed his bronzed face. Dressed in a black muscle shirt, he smirked as Serena glared at him.
"What?"
"I don't need looking after," Serena bit out. "Need I remind you two," she declared, turning so that she addressed both of them, "that while I only sprained my wrist, HE probably can't walk for at least half a year."
"True that," Alan affirmed. "You busted his kneecap and most likely gave him a fear of blondes for life."
Ann tried to maintain a stern look, but broke down and giggled. "Man, the look on his face when you slammed into him was classic!"
Serena grimaced. "It was his fault."
"He's just lucky he still has his crowned jewels."
"Don't remind me," Serena said, shuddering. The memory itself still disgusted her. One of the patrons of the club couldn't keep his hands to himself. He thought himself to be the king of the world with his gelled black hair and tanned body rippling with muscles. He had pulled her beneath him as she passed by with another round of drinks. Kneeing him in the groin did little to cool his ardor and only served to make him mad. He had slapped her and slammed her against the wall, his friends urging him on in a drunken haze as Alan tried desperately to reach her.
Angry and dulled by the pain, she aimed her stilettos at his knee and kicked it hard enough so she could feel the sickening sinking feeling as it broke. He had roared out in agony and almost broke her wrists as his hand tensed from the hurting..
"Thank god for high heel shoes," Serena muttered as she shook herself from that memory.
"This is why you shouldn't have been out here in the first place," Alan groused.
"And I suppose Ann could take care of herself out here." She looked at the pixie girl. At 5 foot one she barely reached Alan's shoulders when she stood up straight.
Ann beamed up at Alan as his arms wrapped themselves around her. "I'm small. They couldn't even catch me if they tried. Besides, they know Alan would kill them if they touched me."
Serena made a gagging sound as the two shared a kiss. Breaking away from Ann reluctantly, Alan turned towards Serena. "You want to get back to work?"
Serena nodded. "The doc said I can't lift heavy trays until it's totally healed, but I can work behind the counter."
"Will you?" Anne asked, delighted. "Your act is simply sinful!"
"I don't know if I can let you do that," Alan stated.
"Seiya called you, didn't he?" Serena asked, outraged.
"Serena..." Alan reached for her, but she evaded him.
"No, I refuse to let him run my life. Just who does he think he is?" Serena snarled. "That was rhetorical," she growled when Ann opened her mouth to speak. Letting out a deep breath, she struggled to calm herself. Turning to Alan, she pleaded with him, "I'll be fine. I need the money, you know that."
He hesitated and then said, "It's either this or that job you've just taken up."
Not surprised that he knew, she assumed a defensive stance. "It's good money."
"Serena, you don't know what kind of guy he is," Alan tried to reason with her. "What if he's like that bastard?" He continued on before she could say anything, "I mean, posing nude? What kind of man can look at a woman like you without thinking things?"
"And do you... think things?" Serena asked with an amused smile, laughing silently when Alan scowled. "Besides," she persisted, "He's gay. One of his so-called models answered the door... in the buff." Serena grimaced at the memory of it. "At 10 in the morning, and I know he told me not to come any earlier and wake him." With a flourish, Serena jabbed a finger into the air and finished her point, "Ergo, I sincerely doubt that he's interested in me what-so-ever in that way. And," her voice then dropped almost to a whisper as she looked away from them, "he reminds me of home."
Ann's expression softened and she reached out and touched her arm. "I understand," she said softly and shot a hard glare towards her fiancé, who held up his hands in defeat.
"You win," Alan sighed. He smiled as Serena looked at him gratefully. "But not tonight." When Serena opened her mouth to object, he shook his head. "No is no. I rather you have one more day to rest your wrist." He held up a hand to stop her protests once again. "I know your cast is off, but you're still not up to twirling bottles just yet. Besides," he winced, rubbing his shoulder, "Seiya hits hard."
"Baby," Serena laughed.
Alan stuck out his tongue in response. The trio chatted for a while longer and Serena took her leave, stopping once at the door to ask them if they were going to be hiring any new waitresses.
"I'm thinking about it," Alan said, rubbing his chin. "With you out of commission and Laura on maternity leave, we're short on help..."
Serena nodded thoughtfully. "You could try and hire some waiters instead. That might help draw in some of the girls."
"Maybe..." He glanced sideways at Serena. "You think Seiya might be interested?"
Serena tried to hold back her mirth and just shook her head. "Go for it, you'll never know until you tried." She looked at her watch. "I better get going. You're due to open soon and Seiya's picking me up," Serena said, pausing as she saw the look of concern on Alan's face. "So don't worry," she added quickly before Alan could ask.
She walked out the bar and rested her back against the wall. Taking in a deep breath, she let it out before calling Seiya to pick her up. As she waited, she fished out the location of her next meeting. Half-moon beach. Wear a swimsuit. She smiled lopsidedly. When was the last time she actually swam? Exposed her scars for the world to see?
When the silver Audi pulled up, she got in and declared, "I need a swimsuit, Seiya."
Author's Notes: Wow, I was not expecting this many reviews! Thank you so much!! I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. In the next chapter, we'll see some more interaction between our favorite couple and maybe a slice of Mamoru's daily life in the end. We'll see how it goes. As usual, I write as I go. I have a basic plot, but it's ever changing, so not even I know what's going to happen! ;;
Thank you goes out to: serenity11287, ChieriAn9el, jeanmymichele18, RaieChibiKid, Kalliegrl, pheobesapphira, Endy's Girl, Aisling Grehy, lilaznbunny, Dertupio, SnowAngel101, Elen-Di, RockPrincess18
You guys rock!
Edit: 01/05/07 - Thanks to Arielle for editing!