Hello! So here is my new chapter wayyyyy quicker than I thought I would get it out. I have a few items to take care of before you read.
1. So I know I said I would post my new chapter of What Happens in Vegas, but I did not want to retype it so QUESTION- If I save it to a thumb drive do you think that the virus will save on the thumb drive and pass to my PC??? If you do then I will suck it up and retype the chapter!
2. I hope you like this story and REVIEW PLEASE! I know it is taking a long time to get to the meeting part but I need some situations to occur first to ENHANCE FUTURE DRAMA! You know, most of us are girls, we love drama.
3. This is a big one guys: Okay, so a long time ago I read this story, not on this site, about Usagi going to Azabu with Mamoru where no one knew who she was other than the fact that she was friends with Mamoru. And every guy at the school thought she was SOOOOO beautiful. Anyways the story ends where one of the guys kisses Usagi in class and Mamoru yells out "DONT TOUCH MY WIFE" and decks the guy. Okay, so if someone finds this story for me to read then I will post a new chapter of Destiny's Old Hope Returns... hahah because it is written and has been sitting on my PC for months. If you want me to post it SOMEONE FIND ME THAT STORY! please :)
Okay Happy reading. ZS
Mina eagerly waved goodbye to England as the Rubi set sail out of the port. The happiness in her chest was overwhelming; she wanted to burst, literally. Freedom. Her chest heaved relentlessly as she tried to breath out the happiness. Her face hurt from smiling. She cheered 'Goodbye, Goodbye'! To all those seeing them off. Waving like a fool, her blond hair waved about under her new hat. She went to hug her cousin, hoping she could pass some of the happiness she needed desperately to release on to her. The look of Serena's face was instantly sobering. Serena's cornflower blues held back tears as she pretended to smile at the crowd who became smaller and smaller as the pulled out of dock. Her wave was weak as she tried to be strong and go with the flow of the other happy passengers.
'Oh my Serena' Mina felt horrid. Mina was so happy to be leaving her blind mother on the dock, she was so happy to leave England and be herself out in the real world that she had forgotten that Serena loved her parents with every fiber in her body and most likely she would never hug her father ever again.
Mina wrapped her arms around her best friend. Giving words of wisdom that so often helped her out as this day approached. "My angel, I will never leave you. This is our new adventure. This is our time. Our parents have had their journey and now we must have our own." Mina said looking Serena is the eyes.
Serena let one and only one tear fall. Mina wiped it away. A small smile began to form on Serena face and she nodded.
"Okay then!" Mina handed Serena a hand full of confetti. Walking bravely to the side of the boat, surrounded by the cheering passengers, she let the confetti fly freely on to the open water. "Goodbye England!" She shouted a smile adorning her lips, "Goodbye!"
Running and laughing though the ships corridors, Mina and Serena, were heading back to their cabin. Laughter bubbled out from each girl as they ran, skirts flowing behind them. "Oomph!" Serena who was ahead of Mina ran in to someone causing her to fall back on her bum where Mina then tripped over her falling form taking a head dive in to the carpeted hallway.
Mina and Serena didn't hold back their laughter as they lay very un-lady like on the floor.
"Oh…" giggling, "Oh, sir, I am so." Mina snorted next to her causing Serena to laugh even more… "So sorry!" she finally got out.
Professor Arthur Timus, known to most as Artemis, a fond childhood nickname, smiled warmly at the laughing pair of beautiful girls. He shook his head at the funny sight when the girl when the more golden blond hair snorted from laughing so hard.
"My my ladies." Artemis tilted back his white hat and let and arm down to help up the girls who most kindly obliged to the generous gesture.
"Oh sir, we are most certainly so sorry! We didn't mean to run you over." Serena said dusting off her dress, a red blush of embarrassment began to flow up her neck and in to her cheeks.
"We truly are so sorry!" Mina embellished.
"No harm done ladies, now tell me, where were you off to in such a hurry."
"Oh, well, you see, our chaperone was supposed to meet us on the deck for the send off, but she never made it, and we thought it most imperative that we make sure she was okay." Serena stated still blushing.
"But then, we saw the funniest of things on our way back down here! There was this Indian man who had a monkey of all things on his shoulder!" Mina began to tell the tale.
"Why that doesn't seem that silly." Artemis said encouraging the girls.
"Oh! That's not the funny part, sir!" Mina laughed and Serena began cracking up at the memory. Artemis smiled at the girls hoping that he too could be part of the joke.
"Sir! The monkey was eating nuts out of the Indian mans hand and then there were no more the monkey became angry! It started to jump and yelp and the man began yelling at it in Hindi. So when the monkey became so mad it sat back on his shoulder…. And" Serena couldn't even get the words out she began laughing again her face now read from laughter, tears peeking out the corner of her eyes. Plus, it was such an un-lady like topic, very taboo.
Mina laughed too but the story was far too funny to not share… "He used the bathroom on the man shirt!" Both girls broke down in hysterics and Artemis too began to laugh with the girls. His hearty chuckle echoed off the hallways.
Several minutes later the three had regained their senses after Serena went in to detail about how the man took off his turban and chased the monkey with it using her own hat as a prop.
"Oh, sir, we are so sorry! We never should have told you such an un-lady like story!" Serena said once again embarrassed.
"No, no, ladies, I will tell you it is the highlight of my week hearing such a silly story." Artemis said. "Well, it is a pleasure meeting such fine young ladies. My name is Professor Arthur Timus. Artemis for short." He bowed taking off his hat and exposing his silver hair.
Mina felt a blush rise in her cheeks. Professor Artemis was quite handsome. He was older, maybe in his late twenties or possibly early thirties. His face was well framed with silver hair and a strong jaw line. His hair was cut short but he had bangs. Periwinkle blue eyes sparkled as he bowed.
"I am Lady Mina Wentworth and this is my cousin Lady Serena Kingsly." Both girls curtsied.
"Well, it is quite the pleasure meeting such beautiful young ladies." Mina's eyes sparkled at the compliment. Professor Artemis was quite handsome in the white suit.
"Girls! Here you are. I am so sorry I did not meet you on the deck, I became distracted with something…" Luna could not believe she had already shirked her responsibly in watching the two girls. What if something were to happen to them.
"Ms. Lunear, it is quite fine, we are just glad to know that you are alright." Serena said.
Artemis took one glance at the girls chaperone and his heart stopped. He had never in his life seen such a beautiful unique creature before. His mouth went dry as he stood behind his newly formed friends.
"Ms. Lunear we would like to introduce you to our new acquaintance, Professor Arthur Timus." Mina stated with a smile, which quickly fell to a frown when she saw how Artemis was looking at her chaperone.
Luna felt her body tingle at the intensity of the stare that the white haired man was giving her.
"Please, call me Artemis." He bowed.
"Luna." She said. Serena smiled in shock at the moment that was taking place right before her eyes. It was love at first sight. Her eyes danced between Artemis and Luna. Mina however had a sour look on her face.
"Oh, I do hope that my girls were not giving you any trouble." Luna stated politely, never breaking eye contact with Artemis. Mina fumed, what was she ten years old?
"Oh no! I have never come across such charming ladies in my life. So, charming in fact that I would take it as a personal insult if you three ladies did not dine with me this evening."
"We wouldn't want to impose." Luna said. Mina beamed at the idea and so did Serena.
"It would not be an imposition at all! I insist!" Artemis stated.
"Well if you insist…"
Artemis was all smiles. "I do! I will be the envy of the whole ship with the three most beautiful girls sitting with me."
"Oh, it will be such a pleasure." Mina said trying not to smile.
"Well, then, we will see you at dinner. Come, now ladies. Anees has finally finished with the rooms and tea is ready." Luna stated quickly turning around walking toward her cabin.
"We will see you at dinner. It was such a pleasure meeting you Professor Timus." Serena smiled.
"It's Artemis." He winked.
Back in the cabin Mina became much more quite that she had been earlier that morning. Mina and Serena had just finished tea with Luna in their shared private dining room. She sat at the vanity in her undergarments brushing her long golden hair.
Serena danced around the room changing as she moved in to her evening dress. It was an off-white beaded dress that was layered to the floor with the decorative embellishments. A square cut neck gave way to a modest amount of cleave.
"Mina! Did you see it?"
"See what, Sere?" A maid came in at that moment to fix the ladies hair.
"The look of love at first sight! It was amazing, intense, and heavenly!" Serena sang twirling around the room.
Mina cringed at Serena's statement knowing only too well that is indeed what had taken place only hours ago. "I think that this boat is already making you loopy, dear cousin. Maybe you should lie down."
Serena frowned. "I know what I saw, Mina. Luna and Artemis are going to fall in love!"
"Spare me. Love does not happen like that." Mina said harshly asking the maid to bring her some gin.
Serena's heart broke and she looked down at her toes turning away from Mina.
Mina looked up in to the mirror only to see how her cruel words had hurt her best friend.
"Serena! Oh, I am so sorry. Oh, bloody hell. I am just a royal brat." She motioned to the maid to make two drinks.
Serena looked Mina in the eyes making Mina sigh. "Okay, I confess, I saw it happen too. It's just that he was so handsome! I had hoped I would catch his fancy." She admitted.
"Oh Mina, I know more than anyone in the world, what it's like to want to fall in love. To want to have the moment like we just witnessed in the hallway."
"I know, I just hoped I wouldn't have to look so much. I mean we ran in to him and he could have been the one." Mina said softly.
"I know I have never had it happen, that fall in love moment, but I am sure if he was you would have felt it." Serena said with a smile.
"I know… I know." Mina shook her head.
"But, there is an upside."
"What's that?" Eyes filling with hope.
"It happens… It really happens and we just witnessed it!" Serena said smiling making Mina's heart sing too.
Mina shot up from her sitting position on the bed surprising Serena.
"I have the bloody best idea ever! Let's help get them together!"
"I think we already have." Serena chewed on the bottom of her lip recalling recent events in her head. "But, Luna may be more difficult then we think. I think we have to keep them together."
"My dear Watson, I do believe you are correct."
Darien breathed heavily as he and his favorite white horse galloped down course, with a heavy swing of his mallet the ball went soaring over to Malcolm who was in scoring position. Sweat dripped down his face, his back was soaked with his own perspiration as the Indian sun blazed down on the men who seemed almost immune to the stifling waves of humidity.
Whipping his horse to make it down to the goal post, Darien seemed elated. More and more every day he felt less like himself as he counted down the days of bachelorhood. He wiped his brow. Looking over at Malcolm's intense face he wished he could trade places with his best friend.
The game raged on and spectators cheered from the sidelines as the British troops participated in the classic sport of Polo. Darien trotted over to the edge of the field in position for the next play; only for a moment did his eyes leave the game and wander to those of Beryl Westbanks who sat next to her father in the stands. She wore a European style dress, her vibrant red hair, tucked up under a wide brimmed hat. He missed her, and yet, he wondered if his wife would come to watch him play.
Angered by his own thoughts of his soon to be bride he through himself in to the game scoring the winning goal. Malcolm galloped over to him, a large smile on his handsome face.
"Why are you always such a bloody show off?" He said smiling all the while.
"Those are skills my dear friend. If I were showing off we would have won ages ago!" Darien unbuckled his helmet allowing his silky black hair loose so he could run a hand though the unruly locks.
"Still, you are to be married soon, I have yet to catch the eye of my future bride and with you winning all the while they swoon in the stands over your taken ass."
"I would more than give you the glory sir to be you, an unattached soul." Darien stated shocking his best friend.
"You lie."
"I only speak the truth. You can have my child bride, for I am sick to tears of hearing about how overjoyed I must be at our approaching union." Darien stated with disgust.
"Surly she is not all so bad." Malcolm stated trying to defend a woman he had never met.
"I would not know. Even if she is decent looking I doubt she has a mind. All English girls are brought up to be spineless, mindless fools." Darien hopped off his horse, Malcolm mocking his movement landed on the soft soil, both soldiers walked their horses in to the stables. Wishing their teammates congratulations the men handed off their stallions to their Indian stable hands.
When they were out of earshot from others Malcolm continued the conversation.
"I need to make sure I am hearing you correctly, my good friend, are you saying that you are not happy to wed Commander Kingsley's daughter?"
The look that Darien gave him was worth a million words.
"I think I am going to need to sit down for this." Malcolm ran his hands though his silver hair. "Well, you fake this happiness so well. I take it you have not broken things off with a certain red head then?"
"I am not that much of a fool." They continued to walk to Darien's new home on the British base. Darien had a beautiful home in Bombay, perhaps the most beautiful house of all, but he preferred to live him amongst his men. He allowed his cousin Reianna, Rei for short, to live in the house with her husband who helped manage the diamond mines.
"My friend it seems to be you are not even allowing yourself a chance to be happy."
"Don't lecture me. I've been bound to this child since I was in grammar school. I am obligated to marry her, regardless of how I feel about her."
"Well, hopefully she will bare you a son, at least then she will be good for something other than a place to stick your manhood." Malcolm joked. He truly didn't think that of women, of all the men on base he most hoped to be married to a beautiful woman who loved him.
"Please, I will not lay with the one who chains me to the bed post. She is a child, I am obligated to marry her on paper but I am not obligated to consummate the marriage. At least I am in control of that much."
"You are going to deny sex to your wife!"
"I am going to deny her so much more than that." Darien retorted spitefully.
Aja, head servant in Darien's home, met his master and took his riding equipment. Darien thanks him in Hindi and retreated to the back porch were two glasses of scotch and cigars were waiting.
Malcolm was at a loss for words with his best friend. Darien was only three weeks away from the wedding ceremony. He hoped that his best friend found peace with his parents wishes sooner than later. He hoped even more for his future wife. Poor girl had no clue how horrible her life was going to be.
Luna laughed again at Artemis's jokes as she ate the rest of her meal. It had been such a long time since she had felt this feeling of belonging. Serena seemed as if she was coming out of her saddened state and Mina was just a bundle of happiness.
It was after desert when two lads approached the table asking both girls to dance, of course both girls were more than happy to take a spin out on the floor.
"So, Ms. Lunear, how did someone as young and beautiful as you come to be a guardian to two vivacious girls. Two girls who are going to India none the less."
"You may call me Luna. It is such a silly tale really."
"Sillier than the monkey story?" he egged her on.
"Heavens no! I can't believe those girls told a mere stranger such a tale!" She blushed. Artemis never thought a woman had looked as beautiful with pure embarrassment as Luna had when Mina and Serena recited the story for her.
"Go on now…"
"Well, I was raised in India as a child. My father was a minister, my mother a nurse. They died in an auto accident and I was sent back to England to finish my schooling under my Aunts watch. I never liked school much. I began to draw and low and behold I was working for an up and coming fashion designer. I loved working for her in England but I longed for India. I placed an ad to be a guardian, and here I am." Luna could not believe she had just told him about her parents. She took a sip of champagne.
"Wow. The Indian culture is sure to inspire your designs."
Luna wanted to kiss the man. He didn't pity her for her childhood loses, however, he stated the very reason she wanted to go back to India.
"I have told you my secrets, tis only fair you tell me yours."
Artemis sipped on his whiskey. "I am a professor of history at Oxford. I love my job, teaching in the class room that is, but being part of history is better than teaching it. With the change in India I want to witness history being made and possibly write a book about Gandhi."
"That truly is noble of you."
"Come now, Luna, we should dance. It is not fair that the girls are having all the fun." He stood up taking her hand and led her to the dance floor.
He held her as close as society would allow with out someone thinking they were lovers.
"What is the story with the girls then? Both girls were very eager to change the topic when such a subject was breached." Artemis twirled her.
She smiled and looked over at Serena who was dancing with an attractive man with dark brown hair. They were conversing closely and he was looking at her in a way no man should look at a spoken for lady. She frowned.
"Serena is engaged and is to be married when we arrive in India. Her fiancée is an esteemed Lieutenant in the British Army." Turning her head she glanced at Mina who was smiling with joy at her second dance partner of the evening. This man had short blond hair, a stern, yet friendly look on his face.
"Mina is to be her bridesmaid and is to go back to England in a few months."
"Married… I never would have guessed. She wears no ring."
"I know. Serena has been betrothed since childhood. His family moved to India when he was a lad. Only a few months ago did he write and send for her."
"What a lucky lad. She is by far one of the most beautiful young girls I have ever seen. As is Mina." He stated looking at all of the fellows who stared with lust at the blond girls.
Luna did not get jealous; somehow she knew he did not mean it in any other way than a gracious compliment.
"I agree. I have already began to draw designs most of which have been inspired by the two. Alas, I am sure Serena does not wish to marry this man and I, having never met him myself, do not blame her. He should have made time to come and visit or marry her in England." She thought out loud.
"I agree. If I am not mistaken, her father is a famous Military officer?"
Luna nodded in agreement and met his eyes. Both thought the same thing; however, they dare not speak the truth. Hopes in both their hearts went out toward Serena who was smiling as the fellow she danced with spoke to her. They prayed he loved her.