Title: BROKEN
Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon
Authors Note: For those of you who have been with my through my other stories, I'm sorry to say that I think this one is going to take me a little longer to write. Usually I can update almost daily, but work is really busy right now. I promise that I will finish this story in a good time and if work slows down for a couple days, then I'll get a couple chapters up all at the same time. Enjoy!
Darien felt the clear freshness of the air drift past him in a lazy dance. All remnants of the storm were completely gone and all that was left was this silent and clean feeling the made him feel naked. It was to calm.
Unwanted thoughts moved through his mind and he casually tried to ignore them, focusing only on what was happening in front of him.
He wasn't sure if he felt awkward or just uncaring. Andrew stood at the bottom of the long steps, talking to his doctor quietly. It was no secret that they were talking about him, but he still wondered what they might be saying. Evey so often they would both look at him watching through the wooden bars of the stairs where he sat waiting. His bags were being loaded in Andrews small car by nurses.
The brightness of the sun outside was daunting and more than anything he wanted to stay where he was.
"Darien, are you ready to go?"
His doctors voice drifted up to him and he felt like a child.
He stood up easily, his long legs carrying him slowly down the stairs to stand in front of them both. Darien hadn't remembered that he was taller than Andrew, but he nearly looked down at him. Andrew's blond hair shifted with highlights in the bright sun drifting through open doors.
Andrew just smiled at him and Darien knew he didn't know what to say. So he just followed the man outside.
He had to squint in the sun. It felt to bright, like perhaps nothing was shielding them from the sun at all and they were exposed completely to the summer heat.
"I thought we could go out for lunch," Andrew said getting into the car. "It's a long drive back home. We'll be there about dinner time or a little later depending on traffic."
"Lunch would be great," Darien said softly.
Andrew started the car and eased it into motion. The shadows created from the high trees danced across the car in a dizzying pattern. Darien felt like shutting his eyes. It was like the world was punishing him for going outside and he believed that it would win had not Andrew been here to see him fail.
"You're not the same, are you?" Andrew said almost sadly.
Darien looked at him. His long time friend was bronzed from the sun and had his shaggy blond hair was flying around his emerald green eyes. He looked unsure of himself, like he didn't know what to do in this situation. Darien had always remembered Andrew being strong and confident.
"No," he answered honestly. "I don't think I am."
There was a moments pause between them.
"Well don't worry," Andrew said smiling. "I'm sure we can have you back to normal in no time. The guys are all available tomorrow to come over and update you on life in general, and of course I'm at your beck and call. I'll take you to all your usual places around the city. Your apartment is exactly the same as you left it. Nathan and I checked on it a couple days ago and it hasn't burnt down or anything. I'm sure you'll be devastated by all the dust, but at least it'll give you something to do while you're getting back on your feet."
Darien couldn't help but smile at the mindless chattering of his friend. He felt almost comfortable listening to Andrew go on, like it was the most natural thing in the world. His mind floated through memories of sitting in the arcade drinking coffee and talking about nothing and everything. This was his first test. This was the first taste of surviving his old life. Andrew was making it easy for him to relax in the presence of his old life and not be afraid of another attack.
Suddenly the sun didn't seem so bright.
Serena lay quietly in the swaying hammock reading a thick leather book. Her blue eyes danced across the page and her lips sat in gentle smile. Her flowing white summer dress lightly danced across her skin, playing in the slight breeze.
Everything seemed so peaceful. She was to engrossed her the words sprawled across the page to notice her friends looking at her.
Slowly Mina snuck up to her, her blond hair glittering in the bright sunlight. Raye was right behind here while Lita tried to hold them both back. Amy just watched a few feet away, not saying anything.
"Shhhhh," Mina said quickly looking back to Raye.
Serena didn't flinch.
Mina reached the hammock. Raye was trying to free herself from Lita's strong hold, but the taller girl wouldn't let go.
Lita's eyes widened when she saw Mina reaching for Serena.
"Mina, don't!" Lita called out.
Serena looked up startled and toppled out of the hammock in surprise.
Mina hadn't touched her.
Raye started laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach.
Serena just looked up and glared at Lita.
"What? It wasn't me," Lita said exasperated.
"Of course it was," Mina said obviously delighted at the turn of events. "You're the one that called out so suddenly."
"You were going to tip her over," Lita crossed her arms.
"I was not," Mina said smiling. She looked at Serena. "Do you really believe I would do something so mean to you Serena?" She batted her eyelashes.
Serena just rolled her eyes. "You're all to blame, except Amy of course."
"Why does she get out of this, she could have helped you," Raye said.
"Right, Amy is full of evil and wanted to see me stain my dress," Serena said trying to wipe the new grass stains from her dress. She just sighed and picked up her book. "I lost my page," she said softly.
"Are we ready to go yet?" Raye almost whined. "The longer we wait the busier it's going to be."
"Why are we going to the beach again?" Amy asked.
"Because I bought a new bathing suit," Mina smiled happily. "And I want to attract some good looking guys."
"Which means it's completely slutty," Raye said dryly.
"Like yours is any better," Lita countered.
Raye just looked up haughtily.
"Okay okay, let's go then," Serena said. "But we have to go by the arcade first. I promised Nathan that I would meet him there. I'm not sure what I'm going to tell him, but I guess he could be invited."
"No, this is a girls day," Mina said seriously. "Come on Serena, we never just hang out with us anymore. We always have to involve all the guys."
"You want to go to the beach to meet guys," Amy said.
"That's not the same," Mina said.
"Why not?" Lita asked.
"This is getting boring," Raye said. "Let's just go."
"Why are you wound so tightly today?" Lita asked the raven haired girl.
Raye didn't answer. She just picked up her bag and started walking away.
"Why don't you guys go to the beach and get a spot, and then Lita and I will meet you there in an hour after I talk to Nathan.
"Okay!" Mina said overly happy about the plan. She grabbed Amy's hand and pulled the girl towards the car. "Come on Amy, you can drive."
Amy turned back to wave at Serena and Lita before Mina pulled her into the car.
Serena just smiled and waved back at the sulking Raye in the passengers seat.
"Did something happen on the way over?" Serena asked Lita.
Lita shrugged. "She's been like that all morning."
"You think its Justin?"
"Who knows with those two? I don't even know if they're dating or not."
Serena just smiled and picked up her already packed beach bag. Her wavy blond hair lay relaxed around her. It seemed lighter against her tanned skin. Her blue eyes were completely serene and relaxed as she and Lita began walking to the arcade.
"Why do you have to meet Nathan?" Lita asked.
Serena just smiled.
"What?" Lita asked immediately curious. "Did something happen between you?"
"Not really," Serena said.
"Then what's with the smile?"
"I just," she hesitated. "I think I might kinda like him, that's all."
Lita smiled. "Kinda maybe?"
Serena nodded.
"You think he's going to ask you out?"
"Yes," she said honestly. "I do. I saw him yesterday and it felt a lot like a date. So he invited me out for dinner tonight. I told him I'd know by the morning if you guys would want to do something."
"So you're meeting him to say yes?" Lita asked excited.
Serena just blushed.
"I can't believe you're going to go out with Nathan. You two have been dancing around each other for years."
"That's not true!" Serena protested. "He's been a really good friend to me."
"Yeah right," Lita said. "He's been into you since the first time you met, and you've been oblivious to it. At first I thought you were ignoring the way he looks at you, but then I realized that you're just clueless."
Serena crossed her arms and tried to remember noticing Nathan before.
"Well what matters is that now you're going to say yes," Lita said.
Serena didn't answer.
"You are going to say yes, aren't you?"
"That was the plan," Serena said evenly. "I told you I kinda maybe like him."
"So what's with the pause?"
"I'm nervous," Serena admitted. "He's been my friend for a long time."
"So? That just means you get to skip the awkward getting to know each other step. What's wrong with that?"
Serena just smiled. "I'm going to say yes."
Lita cheered. "Yeah! That's what I'm talking about."
"Just, don't make a big deal of it when we go in alright. I don't want everyone to know."
"Who's going to be there? Justin, Ken and Zach are all working."
"What about Andrew?"
Lita furrowed her brow. "Andrew sort of left unexpectedly a couple of days ago. I'm not sure when he's coming back."
"Where did he go?" Serena asked.
Lita shrugged. "Who knows? Maybe he's going to pull a Darien and vanish."
Serena lost her smile.
Lita mentally kicked herself for saying that. "Sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright," Serena said smiling again. "It's been a long time. I've moved on."
"Well, if Andrew's there I promise not to make a scene," Lita said.
"Good," Serena said seeing the arcade come into sight. The brightly colored sign shimmered with light and heat. She could almost feel the cool air-conditioned interior before they go there. Her heart beat with fluttered nervousness.
Lita pulled the clear glass doors open and Serena heard the familiar jingle of the small bell above the door before a blast of cool air hit them. She smiled at the sudden change in temperature and breathed deeply as they walked in front the heat.
She froze.
When their eyes met it was like the whole world simply stop.
Serena felt her heart stop.
It seemed everyone looked at them.
"Darien?" she whispered breathlessly.
End of Chapter Two!
I know, short chapter. Next one is coming soon I promise. Please review!