Bliss
Chapter Nine: A Walk in the Gardens
Disclaimer: this is an adaptation and based loosely on Goong; I do not own the plot or the manhwa. I also do not own the sailor moon characters or any real locations, quotes, real fashion brands, real food or buildings that might appear in this story. I reserve the right however, to be creative with the characters.
Character Spotlight
Holly Helm: As an O.C. Holly Helm is in her late twenties and working to support both herself and Raye since their parents died many years ago. Holly is Raye's best friend in the sense that they can tell each other almost everything, and the two are extremely close, she is one of the few people that Raye chooses to trust. Looks wise they are polar opposite despite their similarity in height; Holly has beachy blonde hair and earthy brown eyes while Raye is dark-featured. Their personalities are different as well and Holly is the outspoken enthusiast as opposed to Raye's introverted tendencies. Before the passing of their parents, Holly was always outgoing and the life of the party. Her aspirations include becoming a veterinarian and behind her gorgeous looks there is actually a brain, though at times she can be slightly naïve when it comes to judging the intentions of people. Holly is a hard worker that would do anything to take care of her family.
Holly clucked her tongue, hands poised on her waist she stared hard at her sister. "You won't get it, it's too irresponsible," she gritted.
"Well," Raye sighed, "I need the money."
"You do realize this is coming out from nowhere," Holly questioned. "This demand is ridiculous."
Raye bit down on her tongue to keep from rolling both her eyes. "I still need it," she said while trying to keep her voice in check. "Can I get it, without the interrogation? Please."
"What for?" Holly demanded, waving her hands, frustrated. "And as guardian I warrant all the interrogations I want. What is up with you?" she looked at her sister as though right then and there, Raye Helm had begun sprouting a second head right before her earthy brown eyes.
Not to say that Raye could blame her, this coming from her must have seemed so far out of character. "I just do." She sighed, too deep in now to turn back, needing to go through with this. Holly was guardian and had been ever since the death of their parents five years ago. Her sister had slowed schedule for her four year BA – she wanted to be a vet – to move back to Braythorne and take care of her. She was still enrolled in the City University but took it long-distance instead, while working multiple jobs to look after them both. Raye knew that not every sister out there would slow plans of her future to care for a sibling. That, amongst many other reasons, was why she so thoroughly loved her sister. Arguments like the one they were having then couldn't change that.
"I need a reason," she said at last. "No way am I just handing you all that cash without one, Raye, so spill it. Why Seattle, what are you thinking?"
I'm not sure I am. Again Raye sighed, "This is what I need to do."
Her sister took a seat on one of their squat dining chairs, leaning forward so her hands were clasped tightly in her lap. Holly Helm was a sensible rationalist, capable of handling all three jobs as well as a younger sister without losing her mind. She was Raye's role model and constantly sacrificed so the opportunity to dance was even available. This was not the way she had ever dreamed of paying her back.
"I'm sorry." Her voice cracked and she struggled for composure. "This is sudden; I get that, but please trust me? I know you think that it does, but this decision has nothing to do with Darien." Or that he's been on my mind for days now. It really was more so that an opportunity to fulfill her dreams had presented itself. She thrilled at the idea of being in the city, one step closer to that stage…
"Darien, as in the Column guy you used to date?" baffled, Holly's mouth dropped six inches. "The married one I see on all the newspapers everywhere?" she shook her head, "Forget it."
"This isn't about him," Raye lied, "I didn't bug you about Samson!"
Samson was her sister's ex-fiancé. He'd cheated on Holly two months before their wedding and come clean about it a week before the date. She remembered her sister being heartbroken and refusing to come out of their small two bedroom apartment for days, staying rolled up in bed save ice-cream refills and bathroom breaks; everything back then had had to do with Samson and Raye hadn't bugged her about it. However, she had pulled it together, going back to work and talking things through with him to understand why he'd done it. The woman he'd hooked up with was an old flame from high school and he'd been drunk, but not excuses enough, and the two were still reconciling; talk of marriage was very far away, but Raye liked Samson. Not because he adored Holly and now tried his best never to hurt her, but because he'd admitted to the mistake before they were married, saving them both greater heartache. She hoped the two could work things out.
"That is completely different." Holly stated, running a hand through her shoulder-length blonde hair. "He was my fiancé, a girl's allowed to grieve for that, yours is about something else entirely. Say, a married man?"
Raye stopped short of blurting, 'he doesn't love her, he wanted me first,' but once again held her tongue. "So maybe sometimes I think what would have happened had I said yes," she admitted. Adding hesitantly, "But can't I miss him? Because I do! This dance scholarship is all for me, but I miss him so much." Her voice was a little desperate even to her ears and Raye hoped her sister wouldn't copout on her and call in the white asylum van right then. Relief washed over when she nodded slowly.
"You can," Holly reassured, getting up from her seat to hug her sister tight. "You dated, broke up and now he's married. So that cycle isn't all too common in a week, but you can deal!" she added more gently, "Going to Seattle and chasing him isn't going to help."
"I am not chasing him!" Raye clarified. "There's this great program for aspiring ballet dancers, I think I have a shot at catching a scout's eye later this year at Festive if I amp up my credentials, that's all." Festive was Braythorne's biggest art event and happened twice a year, the next one coming up in December. Truthfully, Raye had been practicing extensively in the hopes of getting signed; to perform was her dream.
"So being in the same city as the man doesn't hold appeal?" Holly's voice dripped scepticism.
"Fine, there's something appealing in that," she said grudging. Rushing on hastily, "I want you to trust me on this, Holls, I know what I'm doing."
"And I'm older than you," her sister interjected. "Mom and dad would care that I do good by you and that does not include letting you run off and make mistakes otherwise avoidable."
"Trust me." She repeated firmly. "If I make mistakes then I guess I'm human but I need this, this opportunity is mine and I won't let go of it."
She was mildly surprised when the older Helm hung her head slightly so her palms cupped her cheeks. She looked ready to cry, but her sister composed herself, turning from Raye to head up their short stairs, entered her bedroom.
"What's wrong?" Raye called after her, "Holls?"
"How much did you need?" her sister answered back.
"Three thousand five hundred!" she answered a little giddy and apprehensive. This couldn't be, could it?
But it was. Her sister returned with a thick envelope five minutes later. Her cheeks were flushed slightly and mouth pulled with a sad smile.
"Are you alright?" Raye asked tentatively, giddiness replaced by concern. Perhaps she had been too insistent; by the looks of it she's hurt her sister. When a broken sigh escaped Holly's lips she was immediately at her side, blurting, "I'm sorry, sorry, and sorry; I didn't mean to offend you, Sis. I won't go if you don't want me to, I'll stay." She couldn't be so selfish, especially not when her sister sacrificed regularly for her. Holly hardly had much of a social life now with all the responsibilities and Raye couldn't help feeling accountable somehow.
"This isn't your fault," she said gently, pulling Raye away and then taking her firmly by the shoulders. "I'm going to take care of you," she said. "Make mom and dad proud okay, make me proud." She handed her the bulking package undoubtedly filled with money.
Raye took it carefully, opening the top to peek in and gasping at the amount. There was close to six thousand in there! "It's too much," she spoke hurriedly and tried to hand it back.
Holly wouldn't take it. She shook her head, no. "Mom and dad left it. They wanted you to have it for something special−I hardly added anything. You're taking it; use it for transport and food, if you need more let me know."
"I love you," Raye said carefully. "Not just for this but because you're the most giving person I know. I love you for everything, Hol-meister; no one takes better care of me than you."
She laughed, the sound a little choked, "You haven't called me that in years!" her face grew stern. "I think I need a new name," she said, "Something cooler?"
"Not happening, get used to it; the Hol-meister is here to stay." Raye squeezed her tightly until she gasped, claiming she couldn't breathe. "Yes?"
"Fine!" Holly giggled, punching her playfully. She returned the affectionate hug whispering into Raye's ear, "Make your dreams come true."
"I will." With the envelope in her hands she settled against her sister. She was warm and in a sense all she had ever known; in her grasp the envelop lay tightly clutched, a new opportunity, it would take her away from Holly. Raye didn't want to leave but she knew she needed this to make wonderful things happen for them both. There would be no dramatic confrontation between herself and Darien… at least none that she'd planned. Raye only wanted to take advantage of the truly coincidental dance course while keeping an eye on the Column situation, how his life was now. Not content to simply hear of their affairs from newspaper or hearsay, being in the same city would help her be sure letting Darien go had been the best decision.
Because lately, Raye couldn't boast on being sure of anything anymore. Darien wasn't priority, she told herself, family and aspirations were. So what if he was in the same city? Seattle was huge and she would stay away from him as much as possible. It was hard, but she would try.
"Squeezing…my…lungs out," Holly wheezed but she didn't try pulling away. Right there and then in their apartment was where they needed to be. They breathed better together anyway. The future could wait another day; all she wanted was her sister.
She'd passed the fountain twenty minutes ago and had yet to see a naked statue anywhere, not even a single one of those 'amazing roses' was in sight. Serena had gone and lost herself. Sighing heavily she plunked down on the ground and threw back her arms, falling back on the grass to rest her tired muscles. Maybe she would stay here awhile, even if it wasn't the gardens, the yards were still very beautiful. Little blessings…Serena mused, stretching out her arms in a yawn. What a wonderful day! It was warm and sunny out but with enough cloud that the light spreading heat all around her wasn't blinding. It was perfect weather, and she thought just maybe that the roses could wait for another day; she could just stay here…
"Meow."
"Excuse me?" Serena jolted up, looking for the source of that sound, or more accurately, the cat. Other than common sense being reason enough she had grown up used to seeing stray cats show up at random on the farm, begging until Gramps let her keep each and every one. She could find them anywhere and the big softie that her grandfather was never knew how to say no. She found this particular one at her side, a charcoal kitten with hazel looking eyes, barely two-hand length staring with a very bored expression up at her. The only thing peculiar about the cat was the yellow crescent moon at its forehead centre−and even that was somehow adorable, intriguing. She reached for it but quickly the kitten bounded away, curling and flicking out its tail mischievously. Serena tried again but the same thing happened twice. Getting up she realized that catching the cat might be harder than she'd thought, and rolling back the muscles in her shoulders, she readied up for the chase.
"Here, Kitty, pretty Kitty…Come here."
"Hmph." The cat actually snorted at her, flouncing away.
Serena dashed after it, jogging to keep up and within minutes they were weaving deeper into the hedges; giant green walls of fern encasing the space surrounding. Barely noticing, she focussed on that kitten bounding forward, not paying much heed to the miniature sculptures of cherubs they sped past until she encountered thick bushes of lilac blocking her path and she needed to stop. The cat wiggled its tiny body under the short trees, disappearing from sight. Sadly, Serena watched it slip away and it was the cobblestone path as well as the chirping birds that finally brought her back to present. Startled, she blinked at the change of scenery, this was all unfamiliar. Where was the fountain again?
"Kitten, come back!" Serena groaned at nothing and no one in particular because the cat was gone. She had been abandoned by an animal. Bending to hold the tops of her knees in a half-crouch she bit her lip hard, wondering what to do. "I am so lost…"
"Can I be of assistance? It would appear that you've lost your way," a voice said, stating the obvious. Serena snapped up from her stoop to glare daggers at him, the hysteria of being lost temporarily overshadowed by the appearance of this new person.
"Well, yes, I just said that." She snapped, a little on edge, "What? Don't tell me you work for Jehovah's Witness - are you going to save me?"
This stranger chuckled at her good-naturedly, smiling politely despite her rudeness. "Afraid that isn't it," he corrected. "I don't go to church."
Didn't go to church? Well that meant he was capable of anything with no morals to call him to order before or after he had his way. Vividly she recalled her mother saying to her when she was fifteen that strange men only wanted one thing…Serena took a step backwards. Holding her arms out in front of her for protection she scanned around for the kitten as if the appearance of that small animal could make this situation less awkward. But nothing, the cat was nowhere in sight, it was just herself alone with this person. "Are you some kind of pedophile?" she asked suspiciously. "Don't lie; you know I have a knack for sniffing your kind out."
Truthfully she didn't know what she would have done had he said yes, possibly make a run for it and hope for the best? Instead of answering he questioned her in return, "Do I look like a pedophile?"
Her answer was quick, "Looks are most always deceiving." But he was good-looking, pretty even, with those gorgeous grayish blue eyes that held such intensity as he tried to place her. They stared at each other in steady contemplation, she did not know him and he could not recall her from any prior meeting, they were both at a standstill.
She almost made it easier for him and said she was the new Column bride when he interrupted with a very amused laugh. "You're Darien Column's wife?" he said more so than asked. "We haven't been formally introduced."
"And I'm not so certain that we should be." Serena said warily, "Who are you?"
"Link Diamond," he grinned. "You're married to my cousin, and forgive me, but I couldn't make the wedding."
Darien's cousin? She couldn't say the resemblance was striking. This man was a little shorter than Darien, broader in some respects and with features the light to her husband's dark. His hair was so fair a blonde, Serena could swear it was really silver in coloring, and whilst Darien had an air of business crafted seriousness about him, his cousin was smoothly laid back in jeans, polo shirt and converse. "I'm Serena," she introduced.
He took hold of her fingers, squeezing them firmly and kissing the top of her palm with an airy brush of his lips. He glanced up at her through shaggy locks and with his wide grin resembled almost a Bearded Collie, "The pleasure is all mine. Now do you think perhaps that you could explain why you were talking to yourself, or why you're wondering these gardens alone when you so clearly do not know your way?"
"I wanted to see the roses, but my cat ditched me." Serena replied, indignant. "It happens."
"I'm not sure that it does," he chuckled, "care if I take its place? You look like you need company and I happen to know the way to all the flowers situated in Column Estate. I could take you?"
"Maybe I'll just stay here," she said.
He cocked a brow quizzically, "Oh?"
"It is a beautiful day, I could just stay here and lie down," she insisted. "It could be nice…"
"And where would you lie?" her husband's cousin asked, forcing her to take account of their surroundings. Gone was the grassy field, this part of the gardens was well graveled; she could not rest here and he knew it.
Link smirked, "Is there a problem?"
"Take me to the roses," she grumbled.
"Follow me," he laughed slipping her arm into the loop of his and leading the way down unto the cobblestone bricks. Link talked about the Estate and how long he and his family had been coming here – since he and Darien were in diapers – explaining things like how to get to this part of the gardens easier. Apparently there was a secret way through one of the bedrooms, he pointed it out and she felt herself warm up to him.
"Are we there yet?" she asked, a lot more comfortable in his presence.
"Almost," he promised. Funnily enough, they passed the naked statue finally a minute later. "See?" Link said smugly, "Told you we were close."
She rolled her eyes, "I think I see the family resemblance," she told him. "You have the Column arrogance alright."
"Eh," he shrugged. "You take what you're given, I choose to be grateful."
"Is that so?"
"Mhmm." He took a turn right and they broke from the path to walk on gravel again. "Imagine if I wasn't a Column?" he said, "I would never get to have such a cute cousin in-law."
Serena blushed, shaking her head at him. He wasn't a bad person and Serena liked that there was someone so laidback part of the Column lineage; it gave her hope for everyone else.
"So," he started, "Have you met Uncle Aidan and Aunt Shelly yet?"
"Darien's parents?" No, not really. She had been briefly introduced to them – a stately business man and very pretty woman both in their early fifties – before the wedding but she hadn't seen the two since. She supposed that was the problem with losing consciousness for near five days, her bad. "No, I haven't. Why?"
"Just checking." He grimaced, "Uncle Aidan can be a handful but Aunt Shelly is so sweet, a little too proper, but she's great."
"And you're telling me this because…?"
"Just in case you get nervous or have apprehensions," he answered. "I thought I'd let you know there was nothing to worry about."
Serena giggled, surprised that this man cared about how she got along with her in-laws, Darien hadn't seemed to mind. "Thank you."
"I think I like that expression on you the best," he told her leaning in to whisper conspiratorially. "The grumpy one where you scrunch your nose like a poodle is a close second but this is definitely first for me, you have the most incredible smile."
Like a poodle? He had compared her to a dog and complimented her in the same sentence. Serena bit her cheek to hide her grin, because it really was a sweet compliment. She was about to tell him what she thought Darien would do with him if he heard Link talking that way, calling his wife a dog, but stopped short when she was confronted with the most incredible cluster of roses ever. She broke away from him to gawk; so Lita was right, they were pretty phenomenal.
"Can I pick one?" she asked.
"Allow me," he said bending to do the honors. Thorns covered the stems of all the exquisite flowers but he was careful to grasp the branch a certain way that spared his long fingers puncture from the snares, tugging the flower loose. He handed the brilliantly red rose to her, "For you."
Serena accepted it, smiling her thanks. "You probably just stole from my husband, but thank you."
His response was warm, "My pleasure." Adding, "I am happy to disgruntle my cousin any day."
"Aren't you going to get one for yourself?" she enquired. "We might as well."
He laughed at her, shaking his head. "That depends, do you think I should?"
"They smell lovely." She took a whiff of hers as if to prove to him that they did. "Yes, get one."
"As you wish," Link crooked a smile before setting to work getting himself a flower too. He straightened when he had one, leaning towards her carefully.
"What are you doing?"
He steadied her with eyes now significantly a deeper gray and tucked his rose into her hair, precisely into one of her pigtails.
"Why did you do that?" Serena had to ask.
"A rose for the bunny," he replied. "I thought that I should."
Serena laughed. Bunny, her father called her that.
"What?" Link asked, his hand was still in her hair adjusting the flower but he sounded definitely surprised at her laughter.
"Nothing," she grinned. "Only thing is, I think that I like you."
He teased, "Not too shabby for a Column?"
Serena corrected, smiling very brightly at him, "Not shabby at all."
Elsewhere at Column Estate…
The air between them felt tense and Darien could feel as his father fought to maintain composure because he was undergoing much the same struggle. They were getting nowhere with this argument but as always; his father did not know when to let the conversation between them die.
"I think that you should consider this, your mother is willing to personally oversee her training, it is a wonderful offer!"
"And I think the idea couldn't be more horrible," Darien grumbled.
"Son," Aidan Column put a hand to his son's shoulder, gripping a little firmer than was necessary. "This is for the best, I hope you realize that."
Darien shrugged him off. "I disagree." If he'd known that his father's request for them to meet in the study for a discussion entailed the hearing of unnecessary advice he never would have come. To make matters worse he was in one of his moods, and when his father got this way, there was no reasoning with him. He wanted his way and with no intention of giving in to him, Darien stood to leave.
"So I take it that you will run from this?" his father asked, stopping him in his tracks. "Like a coward?"
"I'm not running," Darien gritted, rolling his hands into fists at his side to keep from hitting the wide oak business table in frustration. He said heatedly, "I have no use for this advice, and hence I am leaving. I like my bride as she is and you want to change that with etiquette training!"
His father argued, "Think rationally about this, son. She will never survive in our world without a little knowledge of how things work here; no disrespect, but the girl is a country bumpkin, don't be offended by the truth."
But Darien was, very much so, and it took everything in him to keep from lashing out at his father in that instant. He had been protecting her from reporters and snoops greedy for a story for days now; he'd kicked ten out of the compound so far, and if push came to shove he would guard her from his father too. No one would talk ill of her around him, Darien liked her as she was now, and etiquette training was unrequired. In her 'bumpkin' fashion, his wife was already charming.
"We could reach a compromise, no need to reject the whole idea. The training your mother is offering will only cover the basics—what to say and do, how to act in public, manners; nothing unnecessary."
Sighing he shook his head at his father. "You will never understand."
"I am doing the best for this family," Aidan retorted. "Whether you agree or disagree, that is fact. The Column family honor must remain intact."
Not sure that he was capable of looking at his father any longer without a greater dislike forming, he took a look out the window to clear his head. It was afternoon and light streamed in past the draping curtains, the office was built strategically just above the gardens because Darien had loved the view of the roses to calm him whenever his mind was stressed. He craved a glance at them now and as his tense blue eyes sought the plants, he found something else entirely.
Gathered close to the rose bushes, Serena stood in the gardens dressed with the boots and sweater he'd picked for her. He would never tell but the day before her parents left for Braythorne he'd gotten her measurements – everything from dress to shoe size – and had shopped extensively for her. It was out of character for him to care but Darien could not stand the thought of her waking to that giant closet with so few of her clothes stocked; she didn't own much and he wanted to give her something. But it was not her appearance alone which made his chest ache; it was who she was with.
Link, his cousin, what was he doing here? And why were his hands on his bride? She laughed at something he said, more happily animated then than she had ever been with him. Darien gripped the window sill and ground his teeth with envy. Something unpleasant twisted in him when he saw his cousin then point to a rose, bending towards it and then plucked it for Serena. Heat pulsed at his ears and his stomach churned as Darien decided nothing hurt more than seeing how those two were together then or how eagerly she accepted the flower.
He wanted Link nowhere near her. And it was with carefully contained spite that he turned from the window, saying to his father, "Have mother start the lessons Monday."
VERY IMPORTANT AUTHOR NOTE READ BELOW!
Did you enjoy the chapter? Good, now let me know what you thought! I really cannot stress this enough; REVIEW, REVIEW, REVIEW! It is essential, and I am not the only one who feels that this site is slowly dying – I talked it over with some friends as well as my sister/beta, SoujaGurl – and they agree that this is because people refuse to review. If you are going to look at a story, it completely beats my imagination as to why people do not review at once. I think that it goes without saying that most people are getting sloppy when it comes to reviewing. Not to knock any of you loyal readers – your reviews are what keep this story going – but I receive thousands of hits a day for Bliss. If people can favorite and alert the story, what then stops them from writing a quick comment on their experience with the chapter/characters?
I hate that I even need to address this because it makes me feel like a nag, but it needs to be said, and people have to start showing some kind of appreciation. Say it's harsh of me to point out, but you try writing for the purpose of improvement and then getting absolutely none to limited feedback! It defeats the purpose and with more demanding course loads from university I am obviously less inclined to update, especially with assignments due and exams on the way, when I know that only a limited number of readers will give a moment of their time to drop a quick note of thanks. 'Nice' or 'great' or even, 'Crappy' is better than nothing, and it will help my writing/story-telling abilities greatly improve.
I started using fanfiction for the purpose of honing my skills as a writer. It is up to you, readers, if you want Bliss to continue; it really is very simple, take the time to review! Lastly, I really do enjoy writing for you all, but even the most steadfast of individuals need encouragement, please do not forget to give me that. With that said, how are the holidays going? I wish you all a Merry Christmas and pray that this note finds you in good health, thank you for reading.
Xx, Analynn