Breaking the Rules
By MaryMagdalene912
Disclaimer: You all know that these characters don't belong to me, right? Well, I'm just reminding you of that unfortunate fact. But, on the other hand, if anyone steals my plotline, they can count on having their guts ripped out to make a necklace for me as soon as I find out. Thank you (:
A/N: Thanks again to all my lovely reviewers! mwah I hope this chapter answers your question, Katie. There's actually nothing wrong with Mina, but read on to find out what happens! And I'm glad you liked the lemon, Sailor Josseme, there might not be another one for a while!
Chapter 4
"Serena, Raye's been ringing an awful lot of times, and has been asking you to call her back." Says Mina, looking worried. "She was getting suspicious that you were out with her brother, and I kept on telling her you were in the bathroom. But then she asked what you were doing for so long in the bathroom that you couldn't call her back, and I had to say you had the runs."
In spite of myself, I laugh. Trust Mina to come up with something like that. Mina laughs too.
"Shut up, I couldn't think of anything better to say!" she smiles. "But what do we do now?"
"Nothing. I'll just ring her up and pretend I was sick, and she can't do anything else about it, short of actually coming here to check what I'm doing!" I grin triumphantly and go to pick up the phone.
Just then the phone rings. "Hello?" I answer it.
"Serena?" It's Raye, sounding sticky beaky as usual.
"Ooooh, Raye, owwww!" I moan and groan. "I don't feel so well."
"Then what are you doing hanging around the phone?"
"I was actually going to ring the doctor," I say in my best un-conversational voice, adding on the "so will you get the hell off the phone?" bit silently. But Raye doesn't get the hint.
"So what have you been doing today?" Raye asks, faking casualness. You idiot, Mina's already told me all about your schemes, I think.
"Well, actually I went out," I say, taking my time, "with…" I trail off, knowing I'm making her practically die of suspicion.
"With?" she presses on, urgently.
"With… Mina." I say. I can see her in my mind, she's probably dying of suspicion, and at the same time relieved that it wasn't her brother. "We had some food from Mina's favourite Italian restaurant, and I got sick. I think it's from the food." I wait, seeing if she bought the story.
"Oh, ok. Well, get well then, I'll see you later." Raye hangs up. She must have bought it; maybe she thought it was going to catch over the phone or something!
"Well, that's that!" I say to Mina, flopping on the couch.
"How was lover-boy, hmm?" asks Mina, grinning.
"Well, you know what we say about all those slutty girls, nearly getting screwed on the first date? Well, for once I was one of them!" I say, enjoying Mina's shocked reaction.
"No way!"
"Yeah, we were just about to do it, and totally unexpectedly, HE stops. Can you believe it? The male is actually considerate for once!" I say, laughing.
"Why?" Mina asks curiously.
"I thought he reckoned I was too young, you know, but he said he wasn't ready for it."
"That means he thinks you'll think he's a sleazebag if he comes onto you on the first date." Says Mina knowingly.
"Wow, how did you figure that out so quickly?" I say in amazement. "I was sulking around thinking he did think I was too young, or that he didn't like me after all. Gee, what I wouldn't do to have you around on my dates as well!"
Mina laughs. "Thanks, Serena, I'll be your chaperone next time!"
"Thanks, but no thanks! I was only joking. How was your date with Aaron?"
"It was awesome! It was the perfect weather for the beach today, so we messed about in the waves and built sandcastles and had a water fight. It was so nice!" Mina sighs. "Who knew building sandcastles could be so fun?"
"Well, Mina, it's cause you're a child at heart." I smirk.
She giggles and hits me with a cushion. "I think it's time for you to go to bed."
"Ok, mum!" I grin at her and walk off.
The shrill ringing of the phone startles me, and I almost drop it as I pick it up. "H-hello?" I stammer, not having recovered from my shock.
"SERENA!" Raye's scream is enough to deafen me. I hold the phone away from my ear as she shouts abuse into it. "You filthy liar! I can't believe you and my brother went behind my back! And Mina, too, she lied to me that cunning fraud!"
"How'd she find out?" Mina whispers. Raye's so loud that Mina can hear exactly every single word from six feet away. Still holding the phone away from me, I shrug helplessly. How COULD she have found out? I hear Darien shouting in the background and then it hits me. She must have been awake when he got home, and realised that he got home around the same time I 'came out of the bathroom'. She must have put two and two together…
"When I get a hold of you, I'm going to- ARRGHH!" Raye's threat is abruptly cut off, and Darien replaces her on the phone.
"Serena, I'm sorry my little sister's being so CHILDISH. She can be unbelievable NOSY at times." Darien tries to control the anger in his voice as he speaks to me. "But don't worry about her. I'll see you tomorrow, same time." With that he hangs up the phone.
I'm happy at the thought of seeing Darien again tomorrow, but there's an unmistakeable queasy feeling in my stomach as I think of Raye. She can seem like a sweet little girl who helps out Gramps with the temple and all that, but she can become a complete monster when she doesn't get her way. And I didn't want to get in the firing line of her rage. Maybe I should pretend I'm sick after all to avoid getting into trouble. I reach for my mobile.
"Serena, what are you doing?" Mina asks. "You're not going to cancel on him, are you?" It's crazy how she reads my mind sometimes.
"Well…"
"You can't! Not after he went to all that trouble to stand up against Raye to be with you. It would be heartless." Mina looks at me seriously and I can see she has a point.
"But Mina, things could get ugly with Raye. I don't want to get involved in something that's gonna be so complicated. You know me, I like having a hot guy around for three months at the most, and then I move on. I just don't if it's gonna be worth it, going through all of this, just to get over Darien like I do with everyone else."
"How do you know he's like the others? I, for one, think he's quite a catch. He's drop-dead gorgeous, but he can also have an intellectual conversation with you, unlike those other dropkicks. God rarely gives with both hands. And he seems like a decent guy, who just took a load of crap from Raye for you. Don't you want to pay him back at least?" Mina puts her hands on her hips and glares at me, daring me to disagree.
"Oh Mina, I honestly don't know… I'll tell you what, I'll sleep on it, and if I'm still against it, I'll give him a call tomorrow. Good night!" I give her a peck on the cheek as I go to bed. She's smiling now, and that's always a good sign.
The next morning, I awake feeling ominous. At first, I don't know why, but as I climb out of bed and don my dressing gown, I remember. With the memories of being caught last night by Raye, comes an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. I groan inwardly as I remember that Darien wants to go out with me that day. Shivering involuntarily as I think of what will happen, should Raye find out, I pad softly to the kitchen and put the kettle on. The flashing light on my mobile phone catches my eye, and I step over to it to see who sent me a text.
hey Serena sry abt last nite, my sis can b a bitch. n e way, wanna go 2 Torrini's tonite? i'll pick u up at around 7, k? x Darien
Well, I guess he was serious about going on a date again tonight, right under Raye's nose. I shrug and think to myself, hey, if he wants to get into that much trouble for me, he must really like me. Mina's right, I should give it a go. And I'd feel too guilty if I bailed on. I can't believe I've changed my mind so quickly!
The rest of the day goes by in a blur, because all I can think about is the approaching night. I've never been to Torrini's before, because it always seemed too posh and expensive for a couple of uni students (me and Mina) to go to. Admittedly, we'd walk past it often when we went shopping, and I'd always see people inside, elegantly dressed and holding fluted glasses of champagne as they dined. It always seemed like a scene from a movie. And I was going to be part of that scene in a few short minutes!
I can't help feeling excited as I raid my wardrobe for a dress. Finding a couple of possible choices, I chuck them on my bed and survey them critically. There's the classic black dress, but it's a bit boring. Next to it, I've laid out a midnight blue dress, which I really like, but I think it might be too slutty for such an occasion, with its plunging neckline which goes almost up to my belly button. That leaves the pale yellowy-golden dress, which seems too frivolous. Oh, why am so picky? I roll my eyes heavenward, and head to Mina's room: time to raid her wardrobe.
"What are you doing?" Mina's sprawled on her bed, thumbing through an issue of Cleo.
"Oh crap! Didn't notice you there." I open her wardrobe. "Looking for a suitable date outfit, of course."
"It wouldn't hurt to ask." Mina smiles and shakes her head, going back to her mag.
"Will do next time," I say, knowing full well I won't. I paw through her 'formal' section of the wardrobe, and find a dress hidden under a dry cleaning cover. It's absolutely amazing. The dress has a halter neck, which seems capable of showing just the right amount of cleavage, not to mention it is made of the most beautiful material ever – a sort of iridescent blue-green. I squeal and hold it out to Mina, too overwhelmed to speak coherently.
"Serena, I just dry cleaned that. Must you wear it?" Mina looks pained.
I do my best puppy dog eyes. "Please Mina? I promise I won't get it dirty. Promise, promise, promise. Please?"
She looks about to relent.
"I'll even get it dry cleaned if I do. And I'll buy you the latest issue of Cosmopolitan on the way back from Torrini's." I get down on my knees and beg properly. May as well do it properly.
"Oh, all right!" She gives in. I whoop and give her a kiss on the cheek as I run back to my room. I have exactly sixteen minutes to get ready.
The doorbell rings. Mina gets it as I apply a coat of sheer pink lip gloss, and walk out to greet Darien. He's still standing on the porch, and it's dark outside so I can't see his face, but I hear his familiar voice.
"God, Serena, you look fabulous," he breathes.
Mina smiles and goes back to her room. "I'll leave you two lovebirds to it, then." I smile at her as she goes, suddenly shy and nervous. I'm about to walk out with Darien, when I realise I've forgotten my purse upstairs. And I have to get it, because it's a beautiful little turquoise thing.
"Darien, why don't you come in out of the dark. I need to get my purse," I tell him.
"Um…" he hesitates a while.
"Hurry up, just come in for a sec, ok?" I turn around and walk upstairs carefully, in Mina's high heeled stilettos, which I'm not really used to. Finding my clutch where I left it, on the dressing table, I come back down again. When I reach the last step, I see Darien. And gasp in horror.
"Good GOD, Darien, what happened to your face?"
Footnote: Sorry about the whole cliff-hanger thing, guys, I know you hate it. But I really gotta go, so I have to write the rest later. Hope you liked it!