"Do you want to order something?" Eyes the color of an ocean stared into hers.
"I just ate remember." Setting down her things, she sat facing the dark-haired man. Pulling out a binder she set out taking out pens and highlighters. She looked up at the brooding eyes that followed all of her movements.
"With a friend of course," the sarcastic tone he took was more than enough reassurance that this indeed was not going to be the easiest of meetings. Her cerulean eyes stared back at his with indignity.
"I don't like eating by myself. Andrew seemed more than merry to alleviate that problem." His eyes in turn narrowed. Darien had never been a big fan of Andrew; he didn't like the fact that he had always hung around Serena- even though he didn't attend the same university. Somehow he always seemed to be at Serena's disposal.
"Well I'm glad you're here." The lines around his mouth said otherwise.
"Of course I am- why wouldn't I be?" Her voice squeaked out in irritation.
"You seem to be able to change your mind in a heartbeat, no explanations needed." His whispered voice angered her.
"In some situations, it's easier to turn your back and change your mind about someone, instead of waiting for them to get dressed to explain the situation," The venom in those words was somewhat shielded by the tight smile she gave him. "Now, you have a limited time with me, use it to your advantage Mr. Shields."
Rearranging the papers in her hand she stopped when she didn't hear him make a rebuttal. Her cerulean blue eyes looked up at the man next to her in expectation.
"Do you want coffee?" His eyes were glued to the casework in front of him.
"I came here on business, not pleasure. It's easier if we just start Mr. Shields." The chair she was sitting on was rigid; she was jealous of the booth seat Darien had. Shifting to find a comfortable position, her chair squeaked in protest.
"Your chair is mildly distracting, share the seat with me. I don't bite Serena."
"It's Ms. Tsukino, and I'm fine here.
Looking through the papers scattered on the table she took note that he had gotten farther then she'd expected since he last called. Taking a couple of sheets into her hand she started making notations next to the ones he left beside the highlighted words. Talking quietly they pushed through the case as fast as they possibly could. They were both entranced in their work. People came and went the moon moving higher into the night sky and still they sat enthralled at the casework in front of them. At eleven fifteen her phone started its tinkling noise, pulling them both out of the task at hand. Looking down at the name blaring on her screen she looked towards Darien.
"Excuse me." Getting up from the table she made her way outside. The night was a buzz in cars, the city never really slept.
"Hey Drew, what's up"
"Mina still hasn't shown up and I'm kind of sleepy...."
"She should be there soon, give her another half hour ok. She's blonder than me!"
"She can't possibly be that bad. She's coming over to pick up a purse, not leave one behind!"
"That's not fair Drew! I'm not that air headed…usually."
"Fine, are you coming home soon?"
"Not yet, it shouldn't take too much longer, I'll be home to you as soon as I can." She giggled as she said this, "You sound as worried as a house husband Drew! I'll see you when I get home."
Turning around she was surprised to see the blue-eyed lawyer behind her.
"What are you doing out here?" Her voice was soft, but it held an edge.
"You took a while and I thought maybe something had happened. Clearly I was wrong."
The arrogant arc of his eyebrow told her that the ensuing conversation wouldn't be pleasurable. Serena knew Darien despised Andrew, always had, and always would. Through their entire relationship he'd always been jealous of the close friendship she'd had with the blonde chef.
"My personal life is my business."
"You're on my time Ms. Tsukino." His voice was controlled, but clearly angry.
"I think I should go." Turning to go back into the cafe, he took hold of her upper arm.
"We need to talk." His tight-lipped frown didn't seem anymore pleasant than that string of words he'd just let out.
"Look, Rei can help you tomorrow. Let me go, we aren't going to get anything else done tonight, not in the mood you're in."
"Let me be the judge of that. You gave me till midnight, I still have 40 minutes."
The man clad in a disheveled white button up, and gray slacks, had a look of superciliousness and misery. He always did this to her. She felt guilty, though she hadn't done anything wrong.
"Fine, it'll be strictly work related Darien. I don't want to hear anything about Drew. I don't want snide remarks, I don't want any double-sided observations about the friendships I hold, and whom I hold them with. Darien, I just want this night to end, because I hate the roller coaster you always throw me on. I hate that I get nervous when I'm scheduled to see you. I hate that you can make me feel guilty for doing nothing wrong, and I hate myself for letting you do this to me. I don't need any drama. I don't want anything to do with you after this!"
The second she spoke the last sentence she regretted it. His blue eyes seemed to frost over in a matter of seconds. Serena took a breath and spoke before he had a chance to say something biting. "I don't mean to be harsh Darien. I mean that we shouldn't see each other after this, neither one of us ends up happy after we see each other. No matter how much we try to be civil, we always end up fighting. We were both part of each other's lives once upon a time, but not anymore. Can we just get this over with, so we can both go back to our lives?"
The tight nod he gave her was more than indicative that the rest of the night would be held in silence unless it was absolutely necessary. Marching back into the quiet café seemed more than daunting after the conversation they had. Still, there was work to be done, and not too much longer of this to endure.
Sighing emphatically Serena looked up to see Darien working diligently. His lips were drawn in a pensive line, his eyes peering into the endless amounts of words, and his hands tapping a steady beat to the jazz music playing in the background. Looking down at her phone again, she realized nothing more than 5 minutes had transpired between them.
Flipping through pages upon pages, time seemed to be slowing down. Those last forty minutes trekked by in a slow procession of awkwardness and tension. Neither one of them looked at each other, their stoic faces reflected the emotions floating through them.
__________________________ () ________________________
The blond in the hallway was extremely leggy, even if she were dressed like a nun, and not in a ridiculous sequined mini you would be able to tell. Pushing the doorbell she waited, tapping her gold heels to a cadence only audible in her head. Sighing once more, she pushed the doorbell one more time. It was only midnight, people aren't asleep at midnight on a weekend. Finally hearing some sort of rustling noise behind the door the blond stood up straight.
As soon as the door opened the blond exhaled loudly, "Jeez Serena, took you like a thousand years." Looking up she stood shocked, the blond in front of her was a lot taller and more manly then her friend. "I'm sorry I think I got the wrong apartment number. Wow, this has never happened to me. I'm so embarrassed."
"Oh ok." The tall blond man turned around and closed the door. In his half asleep daze he didn't pay attention to the girl in front of him. When the door shut, the leggy blond stared at the number on the door.
Wait, this is Serena's apartment, who's the guy? Sounding the doorbell again, she waited to see if this mysterious stranger appeared again.
"Yes?"
"Uh do you live here?"
"Kinda." His puzzled look was aimed at the half clad girl in front of him.
"Oh ok, sorry to bother you." Running back to the elevator she checked the floor number to assure herself this was in fact the right floor. Running as fast as she could in her stilettos, the blond rung the bell once more.
"You again, I thought you got the wrong apartment number…"
"Me?! I think you do."
"Me?" The groggy face he had instantly disappeared. The sleep that was so prevalent disappeared in a matter of seconds. "Listen lady I don't know who you are, and why you're yelling so loud. You might wake the neighbors." His furious whisper infuriated her.
"Yeah you would have something to worry about if I wake the neighbors, they'll wonder who the hell is in Serena's apartment!"
Clarity finally dawned as he thought back on that phone call with Serena, "You don't happen to be Mina, do you?"
"It's Minako to you! And um…yes that is me. How do you know?"
Sighing audibly the blond turned around, flicked on the lights and walked into the apartment, leaving the door open. Being left with no choice, Mina walked in.
Digging around the couch he found what he was looking for. The gleaming object was tiny in his hands. "I believe you came for this," the stoic tone of his voice seemed ridiculous while he was holding a gold mesh purse.
Her stunned face was frozen. Regaining her composure she took the object from his hand. "Why yes, I did come here for that, but that doesn't explain why you're in her apartment and she's nowhere to be seen.
"Ah , yes. Well, you can call her tomorrow morning, she's in a business meeting right now."
"What are you, her sleep in secretary?"
"Ok, Minako I don't have to explain myself to you. Now if you'll excuse me, it's late and I want to get to bed. "
Anger was an understatement, the blond was fuming. "No I won't excuse you, I don't even know your name, and you're kicking me out of my best friends apartment!"
"I can't believe I'm fighting with a crazy so late at night! Please leave." Pushing her towards the general direction of the door, he found it was ridiculously easy to push the livid girl.
"Hey! Hey! Stop it!" Digging her heels into the carpet she made an abrupt stop, and managed to turn around and stare down the green-eyed stranger. "Look mister, I'm not leaving until I figure out why Serena isn't here!"
"I have no clue as to how Serena can have such stubborn friends. Look, long story short, I'm staying at Serena's apartment for a bit. She left and told me you'd be coming by for a purse, I handed you the purse, but you're still here, and I'm sleepy. So please, if you want more details, ask Serena in the morning."
"How do I know that she'll be ok and here in the morning?"
"You call, isn't that more than obvious? Now sweetheart, leave of your own accord or have me toss you out."
Standing straight, Mina was almost as tall as the green-eyed stranger. Not afraid of danger of any sort, and being ridiculously foolish Mina decided her best course of action, was of course action. Stomping on the blonds foot, she skidded around Serena's couch and managed to tear her way to the kitchen. Turning around she let out a sigh of triumph and shouted in the strangers general direction "Ha! I'd like to see you try!"