Author's Notes:

This chapter has a lot more interaction between our two favorite characters. I hope everyone likes it. I'm a little self conscious of my humor. I don't know if it always works but I thought it was pretty funny- of course I wrote it so I can't be certain. Also- rest assured Darien will be punished… eventually. You'll just have to wait and see  Thanks again to everyone who is reading the story. I love everyone's comments. They make me smile and want to write more of the story quickly.

You Again?

Chapter 3

"Mr. Shields was it?" I asked Darien. I took away any trace of recognition from my face. He wasn't going to know that I remembered him perfectly well. He was going to think that those 3 years of high school were more memorable for him than me. I was a decent liar. I could pull it off.

Darien looked at me oddly for a second, his azure eyes boring into mine- trying to figure something out maybe.

"Yup, that would be me… Meatballhead." He said the last word after a moment's pause. He was trying to get a reaction. I could tell by the way he was looking at me- as if waiting for me to explode or something. Maybe ten years ago I would have- oo fine I'll face it, I definitely would have. But I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction.

"Ms. Tsukino actually." I replied curtly, making sure to look at him oddly first so that it seemed like I was questioning his sanity.

He looked at me for a moment, maybe a bit baffled. His mouth hung slightly in surprise and his eyes were a little wide. I repressed my mirth. His expression was just so funny! It was the most astonished look I'd ever seen cross Darien Shield's adorable face- wait adorable? No no. Annoying face. That is what I meant.

The look said it all. He couldn't believe that I didn't remember him. He couldn't believe that anyone would not remember him. Some ego he had. Not everyone's life revolved around him after all.

But of course I sort of understood his reaction. I mean I did remember him and probably everyone at our school would remember everything about him since he was- as I mentioned before- everywhere. You'd have to have lived under a rock during high school in order to not remember Darien Shields.

Darien stared at me for another beat before he gave me another probing look and said "Darien Shields. Juban High." My face remained devoid of any sort of emotion or expression. "Student Council president." He added with a small impatient wave of his hand. I continued to stare blankly at him and he rolled his eyes, "Valedictorian," he prompted. I still didn't react. I was waiting for him to say something along the line of "Torturer of you, Serena Tsukino," but of course he did not.

But he did give me something to work with.

Something much better.

"I was friends with Andrew Masen." He added with an exasperated expression but seemed to think twice about that last statement. He apparently didn't think that would trigger a memory because he was about to add something else, but I didn't let him. This was just perfect!

"Oh my god! Andrew! I loved him!" I said enthusiastically with a true smile. It was true I had loved him-not that way but he was actually a really nice guy. "I wonder how he's doing." I added as an afterthought just to annoy him a little more.

Darien looked completely taken aback by my statement. I had baffled him again. I was sure his mind was thinking along the line of "Andrew is more memorable than me? She remembers Andrew and not me? Is she crazy" After all that is how an egomanic's mind works. It's all about them and how great they are.

"Andrew?" Darien finally choked out- not getting over his shock at my exclamation apparently.

"Yeah! He was such a sweet guy." I replied with a genuine smile of nostalgia. "Well of course you would know." I added. "He was after all your friend." My expression clearly said that I was questioning what kind of friend he was since his expression was so baffled at the fact that his supposed friend was memorable.

"Yea… He is." Darien said absentmindedly. He was still standing just a few feet in front of the door and I was still seated behind my desk. As he stared at me I briefly thought how big Darien was. Not big as in fat. He was far from that… dangit. But with him in my office- the one I'd always thought of as modest sized not small- it looked almost tiny. He was just so imposing in the small confines of my office. I frowned briefly before composing my face. Leave it to Darien Shields to make my accomplishments seem small and insignificant. Damn him...

"You seriously don't remember me?" He questioned as he walked forward and took a seat in front of my desk… without being invited might I add. He was just as rude as ever apparently… well how could I not have known that earlier? He had called me Meatballhead—even though I no longer have the "Meatballs" might I add.

I blinked at him twice and scrunched my face in feigned concentration- pretending to sort through my extensive memories of high school.

I smiled apologetically at him. "I'm sorry, it was just such a long time ago and there were so many kids in our class…" I trailed off and waved my hand absently to illustrate my point.

It was his turn to blink this time and his face scrunched up in annoyance. "I suppose." He finally concluded then his face suddenly lit up. It was startling really. Like a Christmas tree being lit for the first time in the season. It was gorgeous… I can't believe I just thought that but at least he can't read my mind… god I hope not.

I snapped myself out of my reverie to look at him questioningly again. Maybe Darien was crazy… huh… I'm such a wishful thinker.

"I know!" He said with a snap of his fingers and the same bright smile on his face. It reminded me of the first time he'd called me Meatballhead. His expression was so enthusiastic. I didn't like that expression. "You got amnesia didn't you?" He questioned and leaned back in his seat satisfied with his conclusion, with his brilliance.

I rolled my eyes at him. "That's the best you can do?" I questioned sarcastically. "Really Darien? Amnesia? Just because someone doesn't remember the great Darien Shields doesn't mean they have amnesia." I stated bitterly and instantly regretted my reaction. Darien pounced immediately.

"Ah Ha!" He exclaimed and in all his excitement he stood up and pointed at me, smile still intact. Damn smile! "So you do remember me!" He stated, completely smug.

"How do you presume that?" I questioned, hoping I didn't sound as uncertain as I thought I did.

"You remembered I'm great." He replied with a shrug and sat down. Still smug. Arg

"I didn't say I remembered you were great." I retorted, grasping at straws. I can't believe I gave myself away so easily! "I said great because that is clearly what you think of yourself if you can't even contemplate someone not remembering you from high school. Ten years ago- might I add." After that I smiled. There. That sounded like a reasonable argument. Ha. Take that Shields!

"Then why the bitter tone and sarcasm?" He questioned and I regrettably noticed that the smug smile was still there. Arg!

"I'm a bitter, sarcastic person." I replied quickly. Wow Serena, great comeback- I thought sarcastically. Huh. Maybe I really am a bitter, sarcastic person.

"You?" Darien said in mock shock. "Bitter and sarcastic? No way." He rolled his eyes as if I'd just pointed out the obvious and I wanted to scream "Hey! I've never been a bitter and sarcastic person with anyone but you, you moron!" But of course I couldn't, I would completely give myself away if I did that.

Instead I settled for standing up and saying, "Mr. Shields, if you are here to mock me in my place of work you are not welcome here. I have a busy day. You know where the door is." I pointed to where he'd entered. I was really frustrated with him. I wasn't usually an angry person but Darien Shields made me downright homicidal.

"Well, sorry to waste your time." Darien said as he stood up and I was about to sigh in relief when out of no where his hand reached out and patted one side of my head- where one of my meatballs- I mean pigtails- used to be. "Meatballhead."

"IT'S NOT EVEN IN THE FREAKING MEATBALLS ANYMORE!" I shouted angrily, swatting his hand away. It was an impulsive reaction and I hadn't been able to control it. Immediately I realized my folly. Dangit! I couldn't even lie properly!

"Ah, so you do remember me Meatballhead." Darien Shields said with a satisfied smile and sat back down.