Hey, minna! Yes, chapter 2 (and a LONG mutha' it is, too. Shoulda' made it 2 chapters, but oh well.) comin' at ya'! As per usual, I have a few little things to state: In what we call the "real world", I don't own Sailor Moon. That privilege goes to Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha and Toei Animation, not to me. I own nothing! NOTHING!
AN: How much do I love you yummy reviewers? SOOOOO much! Thank you all for reading (and for handing out the suggestions, too!) I'm glad you like. I hope to keep pleasing ya'! Enough with the AN's. ?Those things suck SO bad. I present now to you, oh adorable readers, Chapter 2!
X-O-X-O
This chapter dedicated to Queen Froggy. I hope you like, girly!
X-O-X-O
Serena sat crossed legged, between Lita and Raye, absently picking at her bowl of curry chicken as the five occupants of the room watched one of the gore-fest movies Raye had brought along. It wasn't as if Lita's cooking wasn't good. It was culinary perfection, in fact.
No, her sudden lack of appetite was largely due to the fact that after the chaos had died down a bit, her mind had reverted back to thoughts of raven hair and sapphire eyes. Eyes that saw beyond any wall she could ever meticulously construct. Lita, noting her friend's spacey demeanor, was first to start the hideous line of questioning.
"Serena, what's up with you?" she wondered, shoving another bite of chicken into her mouth and chewing thoughtfully. Four sets of eyes immediately bored into her from all sides, all the girls awaiting her response.
As the crickets began to chirp, she decided that playing dumb was key in avoiding this situation entirely. She wasn't in the mood to be called naïve at any rate.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing," she lied, her eyes glued to the television as she attempted to ignore the other occupants of the room. A plan which failed miserably. Lita, being no fool, saw through her falsehood in a heartbeat.
"You, my dear girl, are full of it. And by the way, weren't you saying something about a guy earlier?" she asked, peaking interest of all involved in the conversation.
"A guy? Serena, you little hooch! When did this happen?" Mina demanded, nearly choking on her own curry as she shot forward to catch every last detail as it was spoken. Serena blanched, appalled that her friend would think such a thing of her. She wasn't exactly a playgirl, after all.
"Nothing happened, you depraved lunatic. Well, nothing like that, anyway," she mumbled, wishing to God that the pillows propped up behind her would grow teeth and devour her where she sat.
"So, what did happen, mi amore? You can't start a conversation like that without finishing it," Raye noted, leaning in a bit closer as well to be as nosy as possible.
"I didn't start it. That was Lita's doing," Serena stated flatly, pointing an accusing finger in her direction. Now she was trapped, destined to blabber like an idiot about the man that she was still convinced was a mere figment of her overactive imagination.
"Stop avoiding the issue and tell us who he his!" Lita demanded, unable to reign in her curiosity any longer.
"Fine. When I went to the grocery store after work, I was coming out the door backwards and I ran smack into this guy. I kid you not, ladies, when I say this: that man was the most beautiful specimen of male prowess that these eyes have ever witnessed. He nearly made me faint after he caught me…"
"Wait, he touched you? Oh, man! What else?" Raye demanded, sounding like her own rock star wannabe boyfriend Chad.
Serena sighed mightily, sitting her bowl down as she tried to compose herself. Leave it to a group of over imaginative, hormonally driven teenage females to turn her moment of innocent admiration into something straight out of some cheesy romance novel.
"What do you mean 'what else'? I don't know! He was just…he was so mysterious, like some kind of apparition in a dream. He told me to be more careful. And he called me 'little one'. But I guess…I guess I kind of liked it," she mused, chewing her bottom lip as she was so prone to in times of doubt.
"So that's it? You met a totally hot stranger out on the street, he kept you from falling on your ass and called you by a cutesy pet name? That's it?" Raye demanded harshly.
"No, it isn't, oh persistent one! He…he touched my face, so tenderly. I couldn't believe that such a man could be so soft. It seemed to embarrass him, though, because afterward he jerked back like I'd bitten him or something. Then I told him my name, and he gave me his," she continued. Soon after she paused, still refusing to do anything save stare at the screen as it flashed from scene to scene.
"Which is?" Mina prompted impatiently, having grown sick of the tiny amount of suspense she'd had to face.
"Darien," came the breezy reply. The girls saw her eyes go starry at the mere mention of the man's name. My, but this was intriguing. Serena, fawning over a guy. . .
"Damn. He must be something great. Look at you! Are you sure you haven't met this guy before?" Raye inquired curiously. Surely first encounters couldn't be so strong. Of course, she herself had been quite flighty after catching a glimpse of her dear Chad.
"Yeah, I'm sure. Though it seemed so natural, to talk to him like that. Something bothers me, though," she said softly, still picking randomly at the contents of her formerly abandoned bowl.
"What? You think he's a psycho?" Mina demanded shrilly. Serena rolled her eyes. Even her imagination wasn't nearly so wild, and she was a writer.
"No, girly. I just… his eyes were so full, and so amazing. I still feel them looking down on me. It was as if he were hiding so much. I don't know. Pretty dumb of me to make such a big deal over it, huh?" she asked, leaning back into her comfortable pillows like some contented child.
"I think you'll see him again," Amy said suddenly, having been silently listening up to that very moment.
"Why?" Raye wondered, being blunt as usual. Serena allows herself to fall head over feet for some whacko out on the street, and all Amy can do is encourage her?
"Look into Serena's eyes. See it?" the blue haired girl asked, her own alive with a strange new shimmer. The others stared, all catching a glimpse of the glittering lingering within the wide blue eyes of their friend.
"I think she will too," Mina added after a moment, happily descending upon her own bowl once again.
Lita, only then realizing the important event of the day that was being omitted from conversation, immediately began rambling about meeting Andrew, and how much he looked like her old flame. They all seemed to groan in unison, but she kept talking, the subject of Serena's infatuation soon forgotten, by four of them, at any rate.
Serena responded when asked about Andrew, but otherwise remained silently thinking of the subject of her own tale. The man would no doubt cause her to lose sleep tonight, perhaps for a few nights afterward, in fact.
And Serena wasn't one to fret. But this was most definitely a matter that would not give her any respite. Darien had seen to that without much effort at all. Damned man. How dare he disturb her menial existence? Everything was fine, perfectly fine. Until she just had to collide with the most enigmatic being ever to walk the Earth.
X-O-X-O
The night rolled on, random bouts of laughter filling the apartment long into the wee hours of morning. At around 3 a.m., the girls had all succumbed to sleep, save for one, who tossed restlessly. Her thoughts, it seemed, were out for blood this night, leaving her unable to function due to the devastating effects they'd had upon her.
Serena lay, her head resting in the crook of Amy's knees, mind full of ocean blue. Whatever it was about him, it was almost as if it were begging to be discovered. To be turned over in gentle hands until he could be granted any peace. With sleep as her enemy, she tossed again, limbs tangled in blankets and limbs of her friends.
After finally closing her eyes, it wasn't long before he was there, still looking her through. Still sending shivers along her spine. And for some reason, she knew she'd have it no other way.
X-O-X-O
The last shot of scotch still lingered on Mr. Santora's breath as he stumbled to his car, bumping into wall after wall all through the parking garage. After a night of drunken infidelity, it was time to return home to his wife, who was quite ignorant of his exploits after darkness fell.
He had no knowledge of guilt. Santora only did what felt good. What made him money or gave him power. What she didn't know wouldn't hurt her after all. As long as he kept her mouth shut and her credit flowing, she'd live.
As he approached his car, he cursed silently, fumbling with his keys. He couldn't see a damn thing in the dark. It rather creeped him out to be alone in this place. It wasn't exactly the Four Seasons, after all.
While still searching his pockets for keys, he was oblivious to the fact that he was not alone. Not until he felt the cold steel pressed against his temple.
"Well. Enjoying your evening, are you?" came a coldly reserved voice from behind. The drunken man nearly pissed himself, dropping the key he'd just found and freezing in place.
"What…what do you want, man? Money? I got it…right here," he tried. The gunman laughed, a genuine chuckle. This bastard disgusted him. The more he thought of it, the more he looked forward to putting a bullet through his skull.
"Money. Ironic. It won't save you this time," he said darkly.
It was over in a moment, the body falling dead at his feet. No emotion assaulted him as he turned, holstering his weapon and pulling his duster in closer about himself. The autumn air was bitter, more so than he could ever remember it being.
X-O-X-O
Full moon hanging overhead, the walk home was still, shadows dancing merrily along his path. He soon considered it odd that instead of thinking of the man he'd just exterminated, the only thing on his mind was a certain blonde seraph, whom he didn't even know. But God, how he longed to, against his own mind's protests.
Truth admitted, she hadn't left his thoughts since he'd turned away from the sight of her earlier that day, standing silently on the corner, bags in hand and blue eyes massive as she stared after him.
Women had always served a specific purpose in his life, and it was never to dance through his mind like nymphs in spring. But she…Serena. Yes, that was her name.
"Serena." He spoke it aloud once again, appreciating its beautiful simplicity. It seemed her name matched the girl herself…enchanting. And absolutely beautiful.
The thought disappointed him, as he continued the silent walk to his flat. What the hell was wrong with him, thinking such things? It was sheer idiocy that he waste another moment of his time thinking of her, and yet he simply could not keep from it.
In truth, a nagging question bit at him. Darien wondered if he would see her again. The reality of it was that he indeed hoped to catch another glimpse of the young seraph, to gaze down into those clear, innocent eyes. They still looked him through, still scared him witless in fact. But how he longed to be trapped within them once more.
It had been a guilty pleasure, to stare into their depths, in an attempt to discover what lie within. So beautiful. So calm and full of curiosity. It made the man wonder if she were indeed human or some unearthly sprite sent to drive him mad. He shook his head, gazing up at the full moon above.
The milky white orb seemed to understand his plight, the rays bathing him in the only comfort he had ever known. Somehow, it was akin to the calm in which had descended upon him while he was in the company of the curious angel just hours before. Odd, he mused, how two such entities of beauty indeed shared so many traits.
What power lay within her, to have him so totally enraptured by her mere presence? A great one indeed, for nothing before had ever caused him to question so much. Life had always merely been, no questions. No regrets. Now it seemed, the man found himself face to face with something he was not prepared to conquer. But what?
"We shall see, little one. We shall see," he told the darkness, before allowing it to envelope him.
X-O-X-O
The next few days seemed to be a whirlwind, as Serena fluttered about like a drunken butterfly. Her pronounced lack of sleep was becoming obvious, her constant yawning and pronounced crankiness telling everyone all they needed to know.
When she wasn't at work, she was sitting in various classrooms, attempting to concentrate on her classes to no avail. Her only salvation was her third period creative writing class, which opened the door for a masterful piece about the irony of fate and the god's sometimes cruel humor. Something quite akin to the massive dose of reality she'd been forcefully fed over the past few days.
And, it was no surprise who her inspiration was. Each time she closed her eyes, his image assaulted her, and she was nearly to the point of screaming. Serena had never had such little control over her own emotions, and she wasn't handling them very well. She'd randomly cracked her head against her desk in frustration so many times during the day that she was beginning to acquire a headache that no amount of aspirin would alleviate.
Damned emotions. Damned enigmatic, sexy beast.
'Losin' it. Fucking losin' it,' her mind griped. This was a total waste. She needed another distraction, because this one was driving her steadily insane.
So, the girl did the only logical thing she could do. She cut the rest of her classes, grabbed a white chocolate mocha at her favorite coffee shop, and proceeded to walk around the city with no real destination in mind.
She shivered as the breeze picked up, thankful she'd worn knee high boots and a long sleeved duster to fend off the chill of the day. Fall had never seemed so desolate in her seventeen years of life. But why not? Things had been peculiar enough for it to fit, after all.
Deep in thought, Serena, as she was so incredibly prone to do, paid no attention to where her feet were taking her. Until it was that she ran smack into another pedestrian, startling herself so badly that she nearly spilled her steaming coffee all over herself.
She somehow managed to keep the contents of her cup secured as two hands took hold of her shoulders, steadying her before she had the chance to give a grand hello to the sidewalk.
The apologies flowed like clockwork, as per usual whenever she had one of her less graceful moments. Perhaps she really should start watching were she was going at some point in life.
"I'm very sor…" she began. However, the words died flatly, though her mouth still hung oddly open as she stared up at the humored face of the very object of her days long obsessing and lack of adequate sleep. She blinked. Had she been asleep this entire while?
"Darien!" she nearly squeaked in disbelief, her knees struggling to keep her upright as the reality of being so close to him once again struck her like a rock between the eyes.
"May I ask a question?" he wondered, his grip still firm on her shoulders. He seemed quite amused as he looked down upon her, causing the poor girl to long for the aid of those toothy pillows once again. And damn the luck, there were none to be found.
"You just did," she quipped, causing him to chuckle.
"Alright, then I have free reign for another. Where are you always off to in such a hurry?" he asked, finally releasing her and much to her displeasure. She put her free hand on the curve of her hip as she gazed up at him.
"Well, I was going home before, and now…now I'm not going anywhere actually. Today is for mindless travel and eccentric thoughts. How about you? You seemed to be in a pretty decent hurry the other day," she pointed out, trying valiantly to keep her composure.
She didn't dare take another sip while in his presence, for if she did, Serena was positive that she would somehow manage to spew coffee all over herself in a most ungraceful manner. She rather thought it better to avoid making an even bigger fool of herself. He considered her question, leaning against the wall to his right as he watched her.
"I had business to attend to," he answered simply, not really answering at all. It wasn't actually a lie. But the whole truth would assuredly remain in shadow, where it belonged.
"Oh. So what about today?" she asked, feeling uncharacteristically bold as she ran a finger along the rim of her cup.
"What about it, little one?" he replied, enjoying the game they were engaged in. Smart ass.
"Doing anything worthwhile today?" she asked, hoping not to sound too much like an idiot. Tact with the opposite sex wasn't exactly Ms. Draven's forte in life.
"Nothing spectacular. Why, Serena…are you asking if I'm free this afternoon?" he wondered, endlessly enchanted to see her cheeks flush. Busted.
"Well, sure. Why the hell not? So, are you? Because it's damned cold out here and I think that my hands are going to freeze despite this coffee," she prattled.
How adorable, he thought. So refreshingly innocent and new. So, deciding to continue dealing his mind fuck, his hand took hold of hers, his warmth spreading up her arm and to her very heart. He was rewarded, as planned, by her eyes, full of questions that he so wished he could answer.
"There is a chill in the air. So, you're wandering aimlessly, I'm absolutely free of duties…would you like to do nothing together?" he asked, causing her heart to skip several beats.
"Yeah, I would," she replied, still somewhat stupefied by his offer.
"Alright, then. Since you aren't especially interested in this," he pointed out, taking her coffee cup and chucking it into a nearby trash can, much to her awe. He then took her free hand, tucking it in the curve of his elbow and covering it with his own as he began walking down the street, wide eyed, flaxen beauty in tow.
Her amazement wore off slowly, as she was content to merely stare up at him as they walked. She still wasn't watching where she was going, and yet felt confident that Darien would not allow her to unceremoniously slam into anything, animate or no.
"You seem perplexed. What troubles you so, I wonder?" he mused, knowing full well her current state of distress was his own fault.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing. I just haven't slept much lately," she told him, still wondering why she was walking arm in arm with a complete stranger.
"And why is that?" he prompted. It was as if he wanted her to admit that he was the reason she was so shaken. Shady beast.
"Are you so concerned?" she retorted, deciding the play him at his own game. The cold wind picked up, chilling her to the bone. Darien noticed her shiver, and the startled angel looked at him in awe as she was firmly pulled under his arm. Their proximity was unnerving to say the least, causing her to swallow hard as she adjusted to her situation.
"It won't do to have you catch a chill," he noted, the sincerity in his voice only throwing her into further confusion, the soft flush tinting her cheeks delighting him to no end.
As they continued down the street, they received random glances from passersby, both silent but for completely different reasons. Serena remained in awe, almost afraid to breathe as the warmth of her new companion penetrated her very soul.
Darien, however, was simply enthralled by the mere sight of her, long blond hair flowing down her back, tossing about softly in the late autumn wind. Though attempting to keep his thoughts from becoming too depraved, the man was unable to deny himself the pleasure of discreetly admiring her beautiful curves, hiding just under the few thin layers of clothing gracing her body.
Beautiful. Absolutely enchanting in so many ways. How was it, he wondered, that this little nymph had managed to have such an effect on him? It was so disturbing, yet endlessly thrilling, to be so taken aback by anything, anyone.
For the majority of his life, he had been a loner, never needing or desiring it to be any other way. And then the seraph descended, ruining his entire philosophy. Oddly enough, it was quite an interesting development.
Their walk was silent for the most part, as the two attempted to figure one another out. It was when she stopped that he was pulled out of his small reverie.
Serena hadn't noticed where her feet had led her. It was such an automatic thing. She went there so often that she never even thought about it. Darien looked about, and even he would be lying to say that the sight wasn't a lovely one.
"Where are we?" he asked, still in awe over their surroundings. Odd, he thought, that a place so dismal as a graveyard could be so serene. But it wasn't dreary at all. He took in the sight of the elaborate headstones, some crumbling and moss covered from age. So peaceful. . . such an escape from the reality of life.
"I know this is strange, but I come here whenever I can. For some reason, it helps me write," she told him, still tucked comfortably under his arm.
"What do you write?" he questioned, feeling her slight frame leaning against his own towering form as he gazed down at her. Her face softened, just before he was caught in the fathomless blue of her eyes.
"Whatever comes to me, I suppose," she muttered.
"Perhaps you would allow me to add my opinion to the list," he said thoughtfully. Such a girl as she was sure to have some delicious thoughts dancing through her head.
"You know, I'd appreciate what you had to say, actually. But all my stuff's back at my apartment," she added, opening the door for his next rather bold maneuver.
"We can't go there to get it?" he asked, sounding perfectly innocent and deadly all at once.
She paled, swallowing hard at the thought. As much madness as had been filling her mind lately, she doubted that bringing the man to her apartment would be a good idea.
For one thing, though he seemed a perfect gentlemen, she still didn't know him. For another, knowing herself and her grossly overactive libido, Serena was sure that one step inside the door and she'd be begging him to pin her against the wall and ravage her like a beast despite her lack of expertise in the area of seduction.
And that, though a distinctly erotic and thrilling idea, would possibly make her seem a bit too easy. Not the idea she wanted to instill. In fact, Serena was the least experienced in the area of sex of anyone she knew. Hells, she'd probably seduce him then embarrass herself by stalling dead after the fact.
"I don't know about that. I can just bring them with me sometime," she told him, skirting the issue entirely. Almost.
"Are you wary of my intentions? Don't worry. That's all understandable. After all, I could be a serial killer for all you know," he said, obviously amused.
'Or a killer for hire,' he noted mentally, still watching the angel under his arm with intent.
"Well, are you? I suppose I'm the victim of the day, huh?" she asked. His eyes were too full for such a thing to be true. She was no fool, after all. She'd learned to read people long ago, and if she hadn't sensed something inherently decent about Darien, she'd have not allowed him to whisk her off as he had.
"No, seraph. I'm just a man. But that alone is bad enough, I suppose," he muttered, causing her to smile.
"You don't seem so dastardly to me," she mused, nudging him slightly as the amusement ran across her face.
"Glad to know that a lady thinks so highly of me. I advise you not to stroke my ego too much. You wouldn't want my head to swell, now would you?" he inquired sensibly, his voice so controlled that it irritated her.
'Too late,' she griped silently, rolling her eyes at his annoyingly endearing antics.
"I suppose you're right," she muttered, taking in a deep breath of autumn air as she tried to calm her rapidly sparking nerves.
"But, my offer stands. When you wish it, the choice shall be in your hands alone. It will be yours to decide," he told her. The girl got the distinct notion that he wasn't speaking of her poetry, either, as she looked up at him, admiring the teasing glint in his perfect sapphire eyes.
"Ok." It was all she could manage, and the one simple word was all he needed to hear.
"Very well then. Tell me, how do you feel about Italian?" he wondered casually. A blonde brow rose, and from that moment he realized that he was a goner. The man knew not what he'd begun, but soon found out in full force.
X-O-X-O
Amazement was apparent upon his face, his eyes not even seeming to blink as he stared across the small bistro table at the beauty that played the role of his companion of the evening.
For nearly forty five minutes, Darien had watched in awe as the tiny girl inhaled more food than he'd ever seen anyone else consume in one sitting. Got only knew where she put it all, for he was at a total loss as to how she inhaled everything set before her.
This was only another enchantment. Most females he'd encountered were too finicky to eat in front of a man, for fear of appearing barbaric or unrefined in their presence.
Serena, however, and not to his surprise in the least, thought nothing of chomping down three pieces of pizza within a time frame of five minutes. He wondered silently if she was taking an adequate number of breaths between bites.
Somewhere in between polishing off the pizza and starting in on a heaping portion of tiramisu, Serena finally noticed the humored way in which her new companion was regarding her, his cerulean eyes laughing though he himself was silent.
"Hi," she said, giving him a small wave before her fork began to dismember her cake.
Darien couldn't help but to chuckle despite himself, pinching the bridge of his nose as he shook his head. He thought to ask her how she kept her figure, but quickly decided against it.
He'd noticed along the road of life that ladies usually didn't like having such things discussed. And in no way did he wish to offend an angel. Especially not this one, who had been kind enough to grace him with her company, for however long he could manage to hold it.
The blonde ate away, actually managing to camouflage her overwhelming nervousness as she sat across from the most attractive specimen of a man that had ever looked in her direction. Oh, how the slightest shift stilled her breath, caused her to freeze up and made her poor heart skip a beat or five.
Each time she'd manage to calm her nerves a bit, he'd do something else to set her heart to racing. She wondered if he was doing it on purpose, or if he really had no clue as to his effect on her.
It would be a very bastard like maneuver, she thought, if he did in fact know, and was only toying with her emotions for his own amusement. That kind of behavior constituted a swift kick in the junk in Serena Draven's Book of Womanly Existence.
Poor Serena was again shaken out of silent brooding as he shifted, his knee rubbing innocently against hers under the small table between them. So, adhering to her strictly elegant mannerisms, she of course choked, thumping herself desperately on the chest until she could again breathe.
The man leaned over the table, obvious concern written across his dark features, and before either knew it, his hand was rubbing soothingly down her back, which did naught to ease the situation. He could've sworn that those wide blue sapphires were about to pop right from her head while she stared at him.
"Are you alright?" he questioned, deep voice laced with concern and amusement. My, what an interesting little sprite he'd happened upon. With each moment that passed in her company, he only wanted to learn more about her…everything about her, in fact. She was far too enchanting for him not to desire to figure her out.
"Sure. I'm great. I just randomly choke on my own saliva from time to time. Just ignore me," she muttered, attempting vainly to use her sarcasm to mask her nagging fear.
"Whatever you say. You're a strange girl," he noted, obviously hitting a nerve as her brow rose.
"Oh? And what about you, Mr. Enigma? Are you for real or did you step out of some comic book?" she quipped. So, she was curious, was she? He was sure to make it worth her while. Darien leaned forward, licking his lips before he began. Deliberate. How fucking deliberate, and so unfair, her mind shouted.
"Would you like to know more?" he wondered, her eyes unable to break away from him.
"I'm up for a thrill. So enlighten me. How old are you? Where are you from? What do you do?" she shot off, overwhelming him nicely. He held up one hand, stopping her while she took a breath.
"Hold on, seraph," he told her, and at the sentiment she smiled, partly in annoyance.
"I don't see the fairness in you learning my secrets while I myself remain in the dark about yours. So, let's do it this way: whatever I reveal, so shall you," he suggested.
"Alright. That works. So, question number one. How old are you?" she repeated, unaware of the way in which she was about to set his gears to turning.
"I, my dear, am twenty-three. And you?" he replied, completely unaware of what he was about to hear.
"Seventeen," came the breezy reply. He almost believed that she's just enjoyed telling him that she was a minor, but surely such an innocent wouldn't be so sadistic. Serena noticed his face pale a bit, but he recovered in record time, ready for whatever came next.
Inwardly, however, he was still perplexed. He was lusting after a seventeen year old girl? Of all the woman sashaying about, his gaze had been caught than none other than this angel, six years younger than himself? Twenty three years of life, and his rampantly raging hormones had his sights set upon jailbait?
Funny, he thought, that he could better avoid being convicted of murder than statutory rape charges. But he had the distinct feeling that anything that may occur between them would be born of both their desires, not just his alone. The flush of her cheeks and the erratic breaths escaping her perfect lips told him that.
However, reality was a vicious beast, and he knew the dangers of pulling her heartstrings. Though never one to care much for ethics, the thought of breaking this girl's heart wasn't the least bit appealing to him. She deserved much better than what he was: a murderer that lived any way he could from day to day. She had no need to know any of what he knew.
Serena was far too pure for such things to touch her. And yet he could not turn away. Nor would he ever be able. For in those crystal blue eyes lay emotion unknown, so deep that he could not help but to positively drown in them, and to enjoy his last breath as he did so.
Her sweet voice caught his attention once again, shattering his thoughts into tiny, irreparable fragments.
"And you're from?" she asked next, abandoning her desert to twirl a loose strand of golden hair about her index finger. This time, it was his turn to become disoriented by her actions, though he regained his wits fairly easily under the circumstances. This girl was too much, though he thoroughly enjoyed every little quirk she possessed. But even her wiles would not so easily draw out his secrets. Some things were better left uncovered.
"I was born up north. In the countryside," he muttered, causing her to giggle.
"You? Wow, that's weird. Not bad, just surprising. I'm from here. Born and raised in this city. And I still don't know all there is to know about it. Just sheltered I suppose," she said thoughtfully.
He took the opportunity to witness the lovely sight of her cheeks turning pink.
"Are you such an innocent?" he wondered, the depths of his eyes startling as she gazed unchecked into them.
"Can't you tell?" she countered, feeling the heat of her cheeks as they flushed red upon command. Again, the man found his control to be lost, and his hand was soon smoothing along her cheek, the softness of her skin beyond compare. No silk ever spun had ever felt as such, so perfect and warm.
At that moment, something stirred within him, something he had long ago written off as dead and gone. The girl sitting before him was at fault, and he wondered silently how such a girl, so innocent and true, had such an influence on him, the man that allowed none on Earth to faze him.
The longer he pondered his own question, the clearer the answer became. It was because of the virtuousness that she possessed. It intrigued him, blinded him to everything, save the notion that he wanted to know her. All of her. Her hopes and aspirations. Her every doubt and fear. They were thoughts he had never known, feelings never stirred by anyone in his entire existence, save for this girl, who appeared prepared to fall backwards out of her chair at any moment.
Dear God, this dream was unnerving. As Serena waited to unceremoniously fall from her bed and back into reality, she gradually realized that the twin blue orbs gazing at her, along with the strong hand caressing her cheek, were indeed real, and not simply figments of her overactive mind.
How was it that a man, who was but a perfect stranger not so long before that very moment, was so capable of causing her to lose her mind?
Serena was, inherently, a fairly composed individual. Sure, she could teach the fine art of overreacting at times, but on the whole, composure was her trusted ally. However, today it seemed to have gone A.W.O.L. And fine bloody timing it was, for she was much akin to a dear in the beams of oncoming headlights. Scared stiff with no power to run.
"What kind of look is that?" he asked, tilting his head to one side. Without rational thought, her voice flowed, and she was sure to loathe herself for it later.
"I can't figure you out. Why is it that I've never seen you around here before? I doubt I'd have forgotten you if I had," she admitted softly, unconsciously leaning into his hand. He was somewhat surprised to feel her own small hand as it came to rest upon his, her warmth radiating throughout him like a racing flame.
"I usually work all night. Today's an anomaly," he answered, admiring the young beauty sitting before him. His eyes trailed from hers to the softly tinted pink lips that so seemed to beckon him. Yet, his diversion did not go unnoticed.
Serena's heart burned in her chest, like the touch of a thousand flames dancing madly. Words seemed futile, but she forced herself to speak. The moment was too precious to spoil with an awkward silence. What good would it do to show such a weakness so soon at any rate, much less to such a man as Darien?
"What is it you do?" she asked, feeling her body shiver slightly as she was caught in his impossibly fathomless gaze. Her words nearly choked him as he was reminded of his own shadows, the ones he was determined to shelter her from at all costs. And though he hated to lie to her, the moment called for nothing but that. So he fabricated a nearly believable response, one which she wasn't likely to find to be false.
"I'm a bartender," he fibbed, hoping that she would take his answer and move on. Alas, no such luck was his.
"Sounds fun. Do you like it?" she pressed, her fingers trailing lightly across his knuckles as he studied her thoughtfully.
"It has its moments. And you…what do you pass the time doing?" he asked, quickly yet smoothly changing the subject.
"There's this book shop on the corner of Rain and Crescent. I'm a book wench," she griped, only succeeding in amusing him further.
"That must be a daily adventure," he noted, his gazed locked so to hers that he felt as though he was a man drowning. The longer he gazed at her perfection, the higher the flame burning steadily within him danced. He knew full well that if he so allowed it, that fire would consume them both, and yet he fought valiantly to keep it at bay.
It would devastate her, this being of light that had so stumbled into his life. He knew that he had no right, and that though it made no sense in the least, his body would not give him any peace. Even their current proximity was enough to cause a nagging ache to plague him, the pit of his stomach giving him much grief.
He'd experienced his fair share of physical attraction in his lifetime, but this was so much more. This was much deeper, more profound and rare. Never had anyone intrigued him so fully, left him feeling so confused.
Control was something always in his possession, and now, much to his disgust, he found himself losing the composure that was so vital to him. It was something he was forced to struggle with, deep within his very soul. As much as it unnerved him, as he gazed into her clear eyes, he was convinced that nothing about her could ever do him any wrong.
That wasn't exactly the problem, however. He was much more concerned with what he could do to her. He knew himself well enough to realize that if he were to give in to the steadily rising desire within himself, he would rip her apart.
As true as that was, the longer he was in her company, the more control he lost, until he was nearing the point that he no longer cared about the reality he was facing. His thoughts selfish and reckless, he knew that now, after hearing that sweet voice, feeling the softness of her skin beneath his hand, he wouldn't be able to continue without knowing everything there was to know about her. An odd feeling of feral possession gnawed away at his soul, surprising him greatly. Never had he felt for anyone in such a manner as this and it was quickly driving him mad.
As he sat pondering the madness growing within, he was startled back to his senses by the feeling of a tiny hand tracing along the curve of his jaw. One would've thought the flaxen haired girl had just slapped him from the look upon his face, his mouth open slightly, sapphire eyes wide. She was so warm, so full of life and everything that he'd never thought to seek out.
But there she was, just before him, eyes soft and her beautiful lips curved into a smile. Oh, how those lips taunted him, nearly begged him to lean forward and smother them under his own.
He could imagine her heat, the sweetness of her like honey to a starving man. He was that man, he realized, the very thought causing his ache to evolve into pain, searing in its intensity. To no surprise, as she was so capable of instigating, his words flowed unchecked, though regret seemed not to play any part in the game.
"You're a beautiful girl, Serena," he nearly whispered, causing her to blush impossibly deeper than before.
"I…thank you," she managed, realizing only then what she'd done. Her hand withdrew, and he immediately missed the warmth of her touch upon him. Whatever the reason, whatever the consequence, Darien realized that now, the path was set for them to travel. There was no possibility of walking away from her unscathed, and even less of a chance for him to turn her away.
He could imagine her heart breaking, should he turn his back on her now. They had already been bound, by some unseen force too great to be clearly understood. As new as it was, as wrong as he was sure it had to be, nothing could be denied. Nothing that concerned the angel, whom he found himself longing desperately to possess. And the man was never desperate, never needy of anything or anyone.
But she seemed as essential to him as the air he breathed. Perhaps more so, in fact, the ridiculous notion nearly causing him to chuckle. His thoughts were maddening, insanity in bloom, yet they were in existence still. And she was still sitting across from him, curiosity in her eyes and a small smile gracing her lips.
Suddenly, Serena noticed that dusk had descended upon them, the sky a lovely shade of violet, fading traces of orange sunlight streaking throughout the darker backdrop. Darien caught the sigh that escaped her, realizing with a bit of irritation that she probably had her own life to return to. Tomorrow was another day, after all.
"Listen," she began, trying to choose her words carefully. She'd lost count of the number of times she'd made an idiot of herself in one day, and wasn't the least bit eager to continue the seemingly popular trend. He did so intently, leaning closer to listen to her speak.
"I hate to, but I've got to get home. I've got so much work to do before tomorrow. I'm behind in, oh, four or five classes, and I think that if I fail a writing class, I'll be shot by everyone I know. And that," she paused, "would not be a good thing."
"I understand. It wouldn't do to keep you out after dark at any rate," he mused, his devilish smile nearly the death of her.
"Funny. But I'm not afraid of the dark," she retorted, her voice not wavering in the least.
"I don't suppose you are. But I'll only allow you to go on one condition," he informed her.
"Really? And what would that be?" she wondered.
"That you allow me to walk you home. Might I have the pleasure?" he asked, his voice almost gentle as he made his request. She pondered for a moment, wondering if it would be better or worse if she agreed to his appeal. In the end, it was his eyes that made her mind up for her. After a bit of silent contemplation, she spoke.
"Sure. If you want," she said, hoping not to sound too desperate for his attention.
"Good. Come on, then," he affirmed, standing and tossing enough money on the table to cover the bill and provide a rather hefty tip for their waiter. He then offered his arm, which she willingly took, her small hand clinging to his rather well defined forearm as they began the journey back to her apartment, the fading day at their backs.
X-O-X-O
Idle chat reigned for a while, until silence enveloped them, Serena's emotions beginning to drown her. The feeling of his taught muscles beneath her hand was causing her to lose her senses entirely. Though people bustled all around them, she thought how much it seemed as though they were the only two beings upon the azure Earth.
At that moment, Serena felt an incredible sense of comfort surrounding her, warming her in its protective embrace. The world had to have gone mad. Otherwise, she wouldn't be feeling such things on account of a perfect stranger. Well, perhaps that wasn't his title any longer. Despite knowing so little about the man, she indeed felt a kinship with him, something unseen and unbelievably real.
She made a silent vow then, to seek out the reason behind her own emotions, whether or not she drove herself insane in the process or no. It seemed she wouldn't have to, as the man silently walking next to her was doing a stellar job of it.
Damn the man. Damn his sexy ass straight to the hidden depths of hell. No one man should have such charisma, such devastating power to wield at his leisure, she affirmed silently, hating the fact that any living being had managed to disorient her so. Never had anyone been able to leave her speechless, wondering if her poor heart would again resume beating.
All throughout high school, Serena had been quiet, until provoked to the point of no return. Her wit and sarcastic humor had saved her from many an irritating predicament in the past. Now, those had even forsaken her, leaving her feeling like a lost and abandoned kitten in a downpour.
Oddly enough, as annoyed as Darien was so adept at making her, now that she had experienced what it was to share his company, to listen to his deep, rich voice as he spoke, and felt his touch upon her, in no way could she convince herself to let it go…to let him go, the enigma that had stepped out of her most enchanting day dreams and directly into her reality.
Darien was the kind of man she'd dreamed of throughout her angsty, drama laden teenage years: tall, dark, mysterious and absolutely untouchable in every way. The kind of man that every woman longed to have, and that none could cage. She doubted that she'd be able to accomplish the task either, though she was enjoying her small slice of fantasy as she clung to his arm.
The autumn chill nipped more ferociously at her, causing her to shiver despite herself. Like clockwork, the involuntary action overtook the man, and she felt herself being pulled in more closely against his strong body, which nearly caused her to shake more violently.
"Cold?" he wondered, lacing his arm over her shoulders and holding her firmly against him.
"N…no. Why?" she muttered, heat spilling from her heart and flowing throughout her soul.
"Then why is it that you shiver?" he prompted, tenderly clearing a golden lock of hair from her vision as it whipped about her face in the chill wind.
"I don't really know," she admitted, smiling softly at her companion. Despite his exterior, she knew that within dwelled a gentleness rarely shown. She felt quite honored to be witness to it herself. It showed a great amount of trust in her, yet another intrigue.
Why would he choose to be so open with her of all people? She was just a girl, after all. Just a student trying to find her way through life relatively unscathed. And then he'd had to come along, ruining all her comfortable assumptions and disrupting her thought processes entirely.
After rounding the next corner, Serena realized that they had already arrived at the front stoop of her apartment complex. Yet the man would not be satisfied until he had seen her to her door, assured that she was secured while out of his company.
It was a touching thing, that he would show such concern for her. Though the nagging fear of his ulterior motives remained, Serena chose to shove them out of her mind for the time. Her night had been far too delightful to ruin with her incessantly negative thoughts.
Every male of the species she'd known had managed to soil her opinion of them on the whole. After pushing away groping hands, listening to depraved remarks and being made feel like a piece of flesh to be used then tossed aside, Ms. Draven had grown quite accustomed to ignoring most men…or boys, perhaps, would be a better descriptive of the overly amorous beasts she'd been forced to deal with for the past few years.
But of course, as she was beginning to grow used to, Darien had surprised her by being totally unlike the rest. As obvious as it was that he possessed enough charm to win anyone over, not to mention his devastating looks, he made no move to use it to his advantage.
Whenever she had found herself in the gaze of other men, their intentions obvious, she had felt vulnerable, as if she would be torn apart by their prying eyes. The same hunger lie in the azure eyes of her companion, though one very distinct difference was present.
She actually longed to be devoured by that gaze, so hungry and yet so controlled. He knew the way in which he looked at her, and made no move to hide it. This game they'd begun…who knew what consequences it would bring?
Serena found herself standing in front of the blue door of her apartment, 14B displayed in silver across it. Serena disengaged herself from him carefully, trying to keep herself from making any wrong moves. As her head tilted back, she caught his eyes, as he silently took in the sight of her.
"Home sweet home. I would invite you in, but it's a mess and my friends are a tad insane," she warned, shaking her head as she thought of her friends and their endless antics.
"Or perhaps you're still a bit unsure of me?" he pointed out, seeing her blush at his comment.
"Don't get me wrong, Darien. Tonight was...I haven't enjoyed anyone's company so much in a very long time. I want to thank you for it," she said softly, suddenly enthralled by her own two feet.
Though they were sporting a lovely pair of knee high boots, Darien could find nothing so consuming about them to hold her attention for so long. So, he merely diverted it to himself without any real effort. His fingers raised her chin, eyes intently discovering the secrets of her heart.
"I should be the one thanking you. Had I known you were so near, I would've sought you out long before now. How is it you managed to evade me for so long?" he asked, his other hand coming up to caress her cheek.
His hands, so strong and warm, so gentle in their explorations, were nearly lulling her into a trance. She stood there, helpless to her emotions and the homage he was so tenderly paying her. No other man had ever been so gentle with her, as if she would break under his touch.
It almost seemed too perfect, too right for it to be real. Serena, oblivious to all save the feeling swarming throughout her, took a tentative step forward, then another, until she stood toe to toe with the dark haired man who towered above her. She felt her heart beating in her ears, her blood running hotly through her veins as her breath quickened.
God, this was lunacy. Pure madness. And yet, she couldn't hold herself in check, not while he looked at her with those infinitely deep, all seeing eyes. While she was there with him, the warmth of his breath upon her forehead, reality faded and her most hidden dream took control.
"What is it about you that I can't see? I feel it, but it's still hidden from me," she said, her voice nearly a whisper.
His hand slid down her neck, his thumb caressing the pulse that beat madly beneath, feeling the life flowing throughout the girl before him. Beauty, though absent from his view for so long, was now in full bloom right before his very eyes. His other rogue hand left her face, coming to rest upon the small of her back. She shivered again, the small action yanking at his heartstrings like nothing had before.
No wonder she was apprehensive. They'd only just met, and here they were, standing at her door, with him prone and ready to tear into her like a tiger into the flesh of a fawn. God, how he would love nothing less, than to savor the honeyed taste she was sure to possess.
He pulled her nearer still, nearly groaning upon feeling the length of her lithe body pressed against him, her deadly curves unmistakable. So young…so naïve and innocent. How he would taint such a beautiful creature, leave her broken and wilted like a flower out of spring.
She seemed to sense his thoughts, but by then her body was calling the shots, her mind totally ignored as it screamed for her to regain her composure. As his arm drew her against him, the very real sign of his arousal was made obvious, and it amazed her how consumed they'd both become by the moment.
"Serena," he whispered harshly, his breath hot against her face. Soon she was standing on tip toe, her palms steadying her against the broad expanse of his chest. His arm nearly pulled her off the ground, lips lingering just a breath from hers as he awaited any response at all from her.
She couldn't speak, couldn't move. All she could do was allow him to enchant her, the girl ready to be devoured as she knew only he could.
"Forgive me," he asked softly, his dark hair falling into his eyes as he closed the gap between them.
A scream would've issued forth from her throat, yet she was far too preoccupied by the feeling of his impossibly warm lips as they melded with her own with a heat that nearly caused her to lose herself entirely.
His kisses began gently as he tasted her, savoring each tender caress as if it were the first and the last all at once. He felt her whimpers as they died against his mouth, the fire within raging uncontrollably as he began coaxing her lips apart, ever so slightly so as not to frighten her away. Control was becoming more difficult by the minute, especially after his tongue touched hers, her response instantaneous.
She met his caresses restlessly, small hands gripping leather hard as she tried not to faint dead away in his grip. Serena felt as though she were floating, soaring high above the world and all its thoughtless misgivings. Pain existed not here, in this place of pure bliss and security. Not in his embrace, where she felt she had belonged since the moment she'd been born unto the azure Earth.
Black and white faded to shades of grey, so many that she could not count them all. Her ears heard the whispers, the musings of the world, trying so hard to convince her to push him away, to never gaze again into those eyes of stormy blue.
But that would mean her end. She was so sure of it, as she remained lost to his now feverish kiss. His fingers tangled in the hair at the nape of her neck, tilting her head back as he ravaged her mouth, leaving no inch of it unexplored.
The saccharine pleasure of her compared to nothing else he'd ever known. Emotion sparked within him, causing the desire to punish her for inciting such beastly unknowns to rise. His lips were bruising, relentless and nearly savage, teeth nipping at her lips, hands tight as they gripped her to him.
Had anyone attempted to part them, he would've ripped them in two, his mind full of nothing but her. The soft scent of her, like fresh roses and rain, swirled all about him, intoxicating him more thoroughly than the strongest liquor he'd ever tasted. This girl was surely inhuman, some member of a race long disregarded by mankind.
How could such a beautiful creature not be taken already by another? The mere thought burned at him, like white hot flame as he pillaged her mouth, wanting to show her exactly how she'd managed to set his soul on fire.
Small whimpers died in his mouth, pleasing him to no end in their desperation. He found his passion matched by her own, that desire longing to be explored. And he would do just that, should she wish such a thing. He would show her the full scope of lust, this thing that had so consumed him.
Lustful reverie, though well on its way to becoming full blown carnal exploit upon the sullied linoleum floor, was brought to too abrupt a halt as the door flew open.
A very exasperated group of four stared open mouthed, two of them raging and the remaining half silent in response to the vision before them, their dear friend locked in the embrace of a dark and somewhat dangerous looking man in front of the now open door.
"Sere?" Lita nearly choked, green eyes full of surprise. Though she would never know it, the girls had watched the entire scene from the approach, though the peep hole left much to the imagination.
It was unmistakable, however, to misjudge the fact that this stranger had been intent on ravaging Serena where she stood had they not been interrupted. So Raye and Lita, working in tandem, managed to open the door, while Mina and Amy tried to restrain them.
After constantly bitching and nagging Serena over her lack of male company, this is how they reacted to seeing her kiss some guy? What neurons were misfiring here, anyway?
Her lips broke away from his, immediately feeling cold and abandoned as her languid eyes came to rest upon her comrades, all still standing in the doorway.
"What?" she muttered, still clinging to Darien, who struggled to maintain any shred of composure at all. He'd been entertaining the idea of pinning that willing young body of hers against the nearest wall just as her gods be damned door flew open, putting an end to every wicked notion he'd schemed up in a matter of moments.
What the hell would he have done, should no one have interrupted their heated moment? He knew himself well, well enough to realize that if he didn't back away, if he didn't put space between them, things would get very intense very quickly.
And though it would please him to no end, it would not do, for Serena, anxious as she appeared to aid in putting an end to his misery, would be unable to handle what he would deal.
His eyes seemed to clear as he gazed down at her, slowly loosing his hold until her feet were once again firmly planted upon the floor. He bothered not to cast a spare glance at the onlookers, as his intent gaze refused to focus on anyone or anything but the dazed beauty standing unsteadily before him.
Darien wondered if she would even be able to move on her own in the shaken condition she was in, but was soon reassured as she took a cautious step backward. It seemed that she desired space as well, and it was all the same to him. The events of the evening were complete between them. Her guardians had seen nicely to that.
She was so lovely standing there, like a golden nymph that had discovered something truly precious hidden among the fronds of the forest ferns of her home. At very least, he mused silently, his dreams would be pleasant for once in a lifetime.
Serena noticed movement from behind Darien, gaping as the ever jovial Mina stepped up, unfazed by the events playing out at the doorstep.
"So you're Darien," she drawled, crossing her arms over her chest in triumph. She'd spoken of him, had she? Perhaps there was yet more to this tangled web than met the eye.
"Yes, he is…and you were just going, right?" she asked, hoping to save him from being torn apart by her infuriatingly nosey friends. He caught her concerns, realizing that it was indeed time to take leave of the situation.
Tomorrow was another day, back to reality, even after this angel had managed to make him feel so unlike himself in so many ways. Serena too had regained a bit of logic, and she knew that after he left, she would be a total wreck, wondering what the hell she'd allowed to begin, and if it would ever find any conclusion.
Spotting a much needed utensil, she plucked the pen from behind Amy's ear, beginning to furiously scribble her cell phone number onto the palm of his hand as he watched her curiously.
Her head tilted back as she took one last, fond look at him, committing as much detail to memory as possible: the way his ebony hair fell precariously into the sapphire eyes that drew her in so easily. Her sparkling eyes made a silent plea, one which he made no promise to keep.
The entire while he kept himself in check, solely to keep from scaring her with his forwardness. Never had limits held such significance in his life. In fact, Darien couldn't remember a single instance in which he'd restrained himself at all. Another first it seemed, and who better to cause it than Serena herself? Her words flowed hastily, and yet he hung on each word, as if it were the sweetest ever uttered.
"I don't know how or when, but I…I'll be here. If you…I'll be here," she muttered, taking the last chance she'd allocate for a long while.
Her small hand grabbed the back of his neck, pulling his head down to her level as her lips pressed fully against his, nearly taking his breath and causing the ache to erupt within his body once again. He snagged her bottom lip lightly between his teeth as she again pulled away, and then she was gone, the door shut in his face as he found himself standing alone in the very desolate hallway.
Darien shook his head, tongue running along his lips to savor the last sweet traces of her taste upon them. God, what a taste, like honeyed wine upon his lips, lingering deliciously and giving him something to remember her by. As if it would be a problem.
He could still feel her body, pressed tightly against his own, only a few simple layers of clothing separating him. Even as he stepped out into the cold night once more, her warmth remained, his skin longing to feel hers upon its surface.
He looked thoughtfully at his palm, eyes tracing over the curly scrawl of numbers she'd written upon it. She had left everything in his hands, literally, whether she realized it or not. It was now his choice, to call or to let her go, back to the realm of sprites from which she'd come to be with him, if only for a short while.
He found his chest curiously paining him at the thought of never looking into those clear cornflower eyes again, cursing himself for his apparent weakness. She was just a girl. Nothing more. The thoughts sounded ridiculous in his head, and he knew that the more he picked at the situation, the deeper he sank into it. Soon, his head wouldn't even be above the surface of the tide, and he would be unable to swim in the raging current of his own desire.
X-O-X-O
"What the fuck?" the ever articulate Raye demanded, slamming the door and placing her hands on her hips anxiously.
"Oh, please!" Serena shouted, not knowing if she was more irritated with herself, the man who was so easily seducing her, or her friends for interrupting his rather intoxicating seduction.
"Why the hell are you going to stand there and berate me like I'm some two year old, huh? Like you've never done that before!" she blasted, throwing her purse across the room in a huff.
Mina and Ami sighed, hoping to rectify the situation before it got ugly. Lita's overprotective nature and Raye's temper were not pretty when they clashed head on with Serena's strong will.
In fact, they were a rather dangerous combination, usually resulting in loud shouting, the throwing of innocent household objects and then a very uncomfortable, angry silence for longer than any of them could stand.
"That's not the point, Sere. You don't even know this guy, and from the looks of him, I'd be a tad more careful if I were you," Lita warned, only fueling the inferno.
"What's that supposed to mean? Aren't you the one always preaching about not judging a book by its cover? He happens to be a nice guy," the blond defended, her head still spinning from his deadly kisses and the strong, protective embrace she was in no way expecting.
"Like how? Like the way he just tried to turn our fucking hallway into a third rate porno set?" Raye bit out. God, talk about overreacting. It was as if they were jealous of the scene they'd happened upon outside the door.
"Will you shut up? Shit, I find a guy, after all your bitching about me being single, and you jump all over me for it? Why? What's so different about me? Do I ever try to tell you that Chad isn't right for you? That he doesn't deserve you? That he makes you cry way too much? No, I fucking don't, because you're happy with the guy. So at least give me that much. At least let me fuck my own life up, if that's what I'm doing. God, Raye…Lita…what's the matter with you two?" she demanded, angry tears forming in her eyes.
The single best experience of her life was slowly being tainted by the angry diatribe coming from her best friends in the world. All she needed was to think, to figure her own emotions out, and yet she was being forced to listen to unnecessary lectures? And for what? For being a teenager for once? For daring to take a chance on a stranger?
"Ok! Everybody shut up! Shit, Serena's right…and Serena, so are they. Listen," Mina began, being sensible for once as she held her hands up in an act of peace.
If anything, the girl could read people, and all she'd gotten from Darien was that his actions, innocent or not, were genuine. And from the look in the man's eyes, she seriously doubted that the number on his hand would be ignored. She actually hated that they'd interrupted the goings on just outside the apartment door.
Serena was a big girl. She knew her limits, and it was about damn time that she tested them for once. Though she seemed the image of happiness, Mina knew that deep within, where no one could see, she was empty, the void begging to be filled.
This new side of Serena wasn't so surprising. In fact, she was rather glad to see her living for once, instead of hiding behind her comfortable mask of sarcasm.
"Lita, why are you so upset?" Mina asked, her hand on the tall brunette's shoulder as she awaited a response.
"Well, I…I…" she mumbled, chewing on her lip as she was so prone to do when she was upset.
"Because she's like my little sis, and seeing some guy wreaking havoc on her kinda' made me ill. I can't help it, Sere. You know I don't want you to get hurt," she admitted, anger washing from her steadily. What was the point in being so irate over nothing? Shit, if she hadn't wanted it to happen herself, it wouldn't have, would it?
"I know, Litee. I know you don't. But you've got to trust me. How would I ever know if I didn't try? Did you SEE him?" she asked, causing the emerald eyed girl to chuckle.
"Yes, I did. And I cannot blame you, Ms. Draven. Raye?" she prompted, poking her in the ribs ever so slightly.
"I know. It's just…it's like she said. I guess it was just too much for me," she mocked, wiping a bogus tear from her eye while Serena shook her head.
"I'm sorry. Goofy ass," the violet eyed one mused, unable to resist taking a stab at her comrade.
"Oh, shut it, you jerk. That was a lovely tantrum, now wasn't it? We should throw bloody, murderous fits more often," Serena chuckled, rolling her eyes as she made a straight shot for the refrigerator.
Now was most definitely a good time for some strong liquor to pay a visit. At least she wouldn't have to think about raging blue eyes until morning assaulted her senses.
X-O-X-O
I know this was long, so the update won't be so soon this go 'round. . . but don't give up on me! Let me know what you think of the ol' story, my sweets! I love ya' all, I swear! Ja Ne! ^_^
*Cosmic*