**Author's Note**
Hi everyone! This is my first fanfic and I'm pretty nervous to be writing it. I hope you enjoy it! I'm only going to dabble in their high school life for a few chapters before getting to the nitty gritty of it all. Oh and don't worry, they'll definitely be maturing as the story progresses. :)
I do not own Sailor Moon in any way, shape, or form. Now, back to the story!
Serena ran out the door practically skipping with joy! Lunch was by far her favorite period of the day. Finally a chance to EAT, talk with her friends, EAT, flirt with Andrew, and oh…EAT! She couldn't suppress the happy giggle that erupted when she saw that she'd be first in line at the lunch counter. She had been late to school that morning and had completely forgotten to pick up the egg burrito her mom had left out on the counter for her! She thought she was going to die of embarrassment with the way her stomach had been rumbling all through her Spanish class!
"Why thank-you Meatball Head! I don't mind if I do!" In the second it had taken her to get up to the counter, a very smug Darien had pushed his way in front of her. Serena came to a screeching halt and narrowed her eyes in anger.
"WHY YOU-"
"Come on now Meatball Head. You wouldn't want to go and say anything your mother would disapprove of, now would you?" Darien smirked as he turned around to place his order. He had to admit, there was an added measure of satisfaction in hearing the angry sputtering coming from behind him. He had managed to be first to lunch and had angered Serena in the first 5 minutes of the hour. Not too shabby.
Darien grabbed his lunch and tossed a smirk over his shoulder as he sauntered off to find a seat. Serena was too busy glaring at him to notice that the lunch counter was now free. It wasn't until the angry line of students behind her began to protest that she bashfully stepped up to the counter and placed her order.
"SERENA! It took you long enough! You just missed the news!" Mina exclaimed. "What news?" Serena raised an eyebrow as she shoved a french fry in her mouth. Mina could barely contain her excitement as Serena took her seat at their lunch table.
"Melvin and Molly were just here. Melvin is having a birthday party in two weeks and we're all invited! I'm pretty sure you'd be interested to know that a certain green eyed boy we BOTH love and adore will also be there…" Mina dissolved into a fit of excited giggles at this point. Ami shook her head in disbelief, but Serena 's jaw dropped. A dance this weekend and a party the next? There HAD to be a chance at winning Andrew over at one of them! She squealed in happy anticipation.
"Oh my gosh Mina! That's great! May the best girl win!" Both blonde and blue-eyed friends vigorously shook hands over the matter and dug into their lunches. After having finished most of hers, Serena looked up at Ami. "Ames, do you think that Saturday you could leave the study group a little early?" Ami raised a skeptical eyebrow in response. Serena rushed to clarify, "I mean, I love you and all, but I think it would go a long way in helping me out if I could get a little bit of time alone with him before the dance that night." Ami simultaneously smiled and sighed at her boy-crazy friend. The things she would do for friendship. Before Serena had a chance to hear her response, a shiver went down her spine as a pair of lips whispered intimately into her ear.
"What makes you think that an extra 10 minutes is going to make my best friend suddenly fall in love with a Meatball Head like you?"
"AAAAARRRRGGHHHH!" Serena couldn't believe the nerve of that guy! She immediately spun around and forcibly pushed Darien away from her. "Now look her Darien! Just because he's your friend doesn't give you any right to go nosing in my business!" Darien pretended to rub his chest in pain where Serena had pushed him. "Ouch. Be careful there crazy. You might go and hurt yourself." He shot her a sly wink as he took a step back.
Irritated to witness yet another Darien-Serena fight, Mina interjected, "Serena, for heaven's sake, calm down. Darien, you really could be a little nicer to her. She has just as much of a chance with Andrew as any of the rest of us does. He's still single and very…yummy…" Mina trailed off as her eyes caught sight of her heart's desire. "Oh Andrew! We're over here!" She gleefully called to him before quickly turning to Serena and Ami. "And WHEN are you two going to invite me into your private little study club? Hmmm? I think it's only fair that I get to come along too." Mina flipped a wave of golden hair over her shoulder and turned around to shoot Andrew her winning smile.
Before either dumbfounded girl could answer, he was at the table with them. "Hey guys! How are you all doing?" Andrew was genuinely happy to see his closest friends together and for the moment, not fighting.
"Here Andrew! Since Ami and Mina are already sitting together, why don't you come on over and sit with me for an even four?" Serena happily moved her lunch towards the trash. "Meatball Head, you can't offer up a seat that's already taken." Darien grinned at the look on her face as he slid into the only seat next to her. "But…you…he…" All Serena could do was stutter in confusion. Why did he always have to make her life SO hard?
"That's ok Serena. I was actually coming over to see if Mina wanted to come work on that project we have going for ASB together. It's due on Monday and I'd really like to not leave it until the last minute…" Andrew looked hopefully at Mina. She could've burst with happiness! The only thing that would've made it better would be if he wanted to work on the project to spend time with HER, not fear of a deadline. "Oh of course! Let's go right now!" Mina happily waved at the three remaining friends as they walked away.
That was the final straw. Serena could not believe what an arrogant pain-in-the-butt Darien was. She couldn't and wouldn't stand for another moment of this. Darien was happily chatting with Ami and didn't notice a now red-faced Serena slowly rising to her feet. By the time he turned to look at her, she was already towering over him and pointing her finger at his face.
"DARIEN SHIELDS! THAT IS THE LAST TIME YOU WILL BOTHER ME. DO YOU HEAR ME? I HAVE NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO YOU AND YET YOU TREAT ME LIKE DIRT! I'VE HAD IT. IF YOU CAN'T BRING YOURSELF TO BE NICE THEN THERE'S NO REASON TO EVER SPEAK AGAIN!"
And with that, Serena stormed off to the choir room to find some peace.
Darien watched the blonde walk away and then turned to Ami with a raised eyebrow. "Whatever got into her? Meatball Head's definitely gone crazy."
Ami rolled her eyes in disbelief. "Seriously, Darien? You don't see the way you treat her? You pick on her like a little schoolyard bully. Serena is a very sweet girl but you may have gone too far today. Do you like her or something? You just can't leave her alone…"
Darien held his hands out in self-defense. "Hey there Ami, let's slow down. First of all, let's get this straight: I DO NOT HAVE ANY FEELINGS FOR SERENA. Is that clear? Secondly, I think you're blowing things way out of proportion here. She's much tougher than that. It's just harmless teasing. She's funny when she's angry." Darien shrugged his shoulders and pulled out one of his textbooks. Ami pursed her lips and watched the dark-haired youth intently. She just couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing.