After School Blues (INC)

Poor Serenity…

All you wanted was a little snack to sneak in for lunch, but it looks like your teacher caught you. She should be concerned about her health, she turned as red as her jacket. I would let you eat what you wanted, when you wanted. Where does she get off telling the future queen what to do…?

Ah, I see…

She must not know…Only your friends, and him…

"I haven't seen that wretch around you lately…Is their something you want to tell me? I guess not..I don't think you can hear me. I don't know if this is Heaven or Hell…I can see you and talk to you all I want, but my voice and appearance are muted from your eyes…those gorgeous eyes…

They haven't changed one bit…

I still remember those tears…

My beloved Serenity.."

Serena mentally huffs, "It's just not fair.." She says, head folded down. She hears her stomach rumbling again.

"Serena!" A voice screeches out.

"Ah!" She looks up to see her teacher upset with her once again.

"I've given you a 3 page report on "The importance of self restraint." You've got thirty minutes."

"Thirty minutes! Ms. H, I don't think I can do it in thirty minutes."

"You've been here for one hour, Serena. I even wrote it on the board. It's not my responsibility to wake you up. Maybe you can add that to your report."

Serena sighs. She knows she can't get anywhere with her teacher when she's this upset. She fetches some paper and a pencil from her pink bunny backpack, and gets to work.

Thirty minutes later

She finishes about two pages of it, puts her name on the top, and places it on Ms. H's desk, and jogs out of the classroom. The halls were empty and bare, making it easy for Serena to escape the clutches of the Jr. high school.

"Where are you off to, Serenity? Probably somewhere to soothe that noisy stomach of yours. Hmm…what would satisfy you, perhaps some fruit, a sandwich, or a salad?"

Serena arrives at the local game arcade, and waves at Andrew. The white prince isn't impressed with the shopkeep, but figures that he's just a friend to her, and nothing more. His theory is confirmed when his sister walks towards Serena with a big smile on her face.

"Hey, Serena! What's up?"

"Hey Lizzie! Nothing much, just got out of detention…"

"Bummer…"

"Tell me about it, I totally flunked a big math test. My parents are going to kill me!"

"Sorry to hear that. I hate math too. Perhaps you should find a tutor? Maybe Ami could help you!"

"She could, but she just teaches to where I don't understand..Plus, I'd rather read comic books..Have you read the new "Super Mew Mew"?"

"Yeah, it rocked! Seeing Megakitty get thrashed by Ultrakitty was epic!"

"I know, who didn't see that coming?!"

"Thanks for getting me into it."

"Oh, it's a pleasure. You know, Andrew doesn't read those kinds of comics. So, it's good to talk to someone about them."

Serena nods.

Andrew comes towards them with a chocolate milkshake.

"Hey, Serena. Sorry I couldn't say hi to you when you came in, but I had customers."

"That's fine Andrew, that milk shake more than makes up for it."

Andrew hands her the shake.

"So, how's Darien?"

"Darien and I…aren't really talking right now."

"Why, what happened?"

"Well, he and I got into an argument. He still seems to have feelings for Rei. At first, I was crushed, but now that I think about it, perhaps my feelings for him were just a crush?"

"Looked like real love to me.."

"Well, it felt like love…but I don't know if it was love."

"Can it actually be? Can Serenity and that cad finally be over? But isn't that pink rabbit child hers and his? This could very well change the future…If only I knew…If only I could be there to comfort you, Serenity.."

Serena takes a few slurps of her milkshake, wanting to forget all about the sore topic.

"Sorry Serena, I didn't know that you and Darien were over."

She shakes her head, "It's alright, Andrew..It's still pretty weird to me.."

"You and Rei still talk?"

"We're getting there…It's still kinda awkward."

Lizzie pats Serena's back comfortingly. "If you need a friend, Serena..you know my number.."

"Thanks Lizzie.."

"I may not know anything about love, but you need someone to talk to, or just an ear..you're welcome here anytime.."

She nearly tears up, "Thanks Andrew…That really means a lot."

Both siblings nod in unison, trying to mentally come up with ways to comfort their fallen friend.

After about five minutes of awkward silence, a gurgling sound from the straw tells them that the milkshake is all gone.

"Whoo, I'm full.." Serena says, patting her stomach.

"Need a walk home?" Lizzie suggests.

"No thanks.." Serena says, "I need to think about things by myself."

"You got our numbers, right?" Andrew asks.

"Yeah, thanks again for your compassion…Oh, how much do I owe you for the shake?"

"On the house. Be safe our there, Serena."

She nods, body shoulders slumping as she leaves the arcade.

"I hope she'll be alright." Lizzie says in a worried tone.

"Ditto. With such a blow, she'll be a target to take advantage of…" Andrew says unhappily.

Serena walks home, hands clutching her backpack tightly. Her only visible companion is the setting sun.

Diamond watches, wishing he was out of his purgatory. His mind racing at what the mortal man said to Serenity.

He starts beating on the glass, increasing pressure with every blow.

Blam

Blam

Blam

Blam

Blam

Blam

Crack…

His eyes peel open as he sees a crack becoming longer and longer. Sunlight hitting the prince's jacket.

His heart races..

"I'm….free…."

His first instinct was to jump out, and embrace her. But seeing as how their last encounter was rather painful, and she's in such a state of disarray, it's better to follow her more, but protect in the wings.

"You might not see me, you might not know it, but there is an angel watching you, Serenity…An angel reborn.."