Chapter 5
Serena's grip on Darien's navy blue polo shirt tightened as he picked up speed. Darien chuckled softly as he looked over his shoulder to stare at a pale Serena. They dodged cars as he entered the free way, heading north, out of downtown Tokyo.
"It'd help if you put your arms around my waist. It won't hurt, you know?" Darien told her as he continued to watch the road as he went faster; their speed passed the limit of eighty, on its way to a hundred.
Serena slipped her shaky arms around Darien's waist and held him firmly as she felt herself being pulled backwards off his bike.
'Serena, what have you gotten yourself into?' She yelled at herself mentally as Darien exited the freeway and slowed down as they came upon a red light.
She had been clutching the helmet Darien had given her as he stuck out his hand to help her on. Serena had shaken her head at him, her eyes still wide with shock. Her mouth was slightly ajar; ready to turn him down but the words were stuck in her throat as she gazed into his hopeful eyes. The spectacle they made drew the attention of many people. She could feel their audience's penetrating gaze as they analyzed the scene they viewed before them.
"I…I…I don't think," Serena began to tell him but Darien spoke, cutting her off.
"Then don't think Serena, just do. Maybe for once, just follow your instincts," he tried to persuade her.
And Serena had taken the bait. She had reached out to grab Darien's hand. He tried to pull her on but she didn't budge. Serena shook her head at him again; making Darien sigh with exasperation.
"I want to know where you're taking me first," Serena told him sternly.
Darien just smiled at her defiance, "My secret," he said to her as he gave her hand one last tug so she ended up straddling the bike instead of being sprawled over the backseat. And with that, he took off. He jetted from the pavement, zoomed past blurs of green trees and a rainbow of people walking along the sidewalk. And all the while Serena was still trying to comprehend what he had just done; what she had just willingly let him do.
And so as she felt the motorcycle pelt forward, Serena came back to the present. Her arms encircled his waist in a death grip. Was she scared of riding on motorcycles? No. But she was scared of the rush it gave her. It was exhilarating. She could feel the wind running through her hair that flew out freely behind her. The speed excited her, and she really was enjoying the ride. The fact that they could be pulled over by cops seemed to make their journey all the more fun to her. But, she refused to let Darien see that she actually took pleasure in the ride.
Darien could tell how much Serena liked riding on his bike. He could feel her shivers of excitement as she clenched onto him. And she was trying so damned hard to suppress her shrieks of delight too, Darien thought as he lightly chuckled to himself.
Angry drivers honked at them as they would cut them off or merge into a different lane. And then Serena finally laughed, her laughter came gushing out like water spilling over a dam that she had tried so hard to hold within. It was musical. Her voice was soft and vibrated with life and joy, it was such happy laughter.
Darien envied at how she could laugh with such light heartedness while he was still breaking inside. He never thought that Mina could make him feel so hurt; he didn't even think that their separation would have affected him like how it did now. But it really did pain him. Being with Ms. Tsukino seemed to have lightened up his mood though.
Earlier on in the day, he was not very good company. Hanging with the guys irritated him to death. And when he had told them that he and Mina were no longer together they just looked at one another shocked, and then they began making bawdy comments and suggestions about who he should screw next. Darien became annoyed with them as they sat in the large living room of his home. He needed to break away from them; to get some fresh air.
And so he came looking for her. The girl that was different, the one that he knew could lighten up his mood. Finding her at the Cup of Tea? Well…that was just coincidence. Seeing her did make him feel better though, she was guaranteed to make him laugh.
Was he using her? No, he wasn't. Ms. Tsukino really is great company, and he did like her witty remarks. But the silence that hung over them was making him think of Mina again. Could he bear to be friends with her now that they have broken apart?
Serena's musical laughter subsided, and Darien came out of his thoughts as he looked over his shoulder to stare into her glowing wide eyes. She smiled at him warmly; a smile that warmed his icy exterior that he had built to protect him from anymore feelings that would cause him pain.
Serena came out of the spell that fogged her mind from the thrilling ride, as Darien slowed down and the bike came to a stop.
They were in front of a large, elaborate beach house. She could smell the ocean air; its salty, musky, and moist smell filling her senses. Serena closed her eyes and took in a deep breath and sighed with satisfaction.
Darien watched her as she swung her leg over the bike and began running down towards the sandy beach. He observed her with a grin as she clumsily moved over the sand; her legs wobbly as the sands shifted beneath her foot. She was so childish when she was enjoying herself. She no longer had the fake bitchy attitude that she wore whenever in his presence, and he liked this side of her; the side that was so wild and carefree.
Serena turned around and waved at him to hurry up. She shrieked his name, and turned around again to stare at the rolling waves of the ocean as they came in and pulled back out into the large body of water. It was beautiful here; no one was around to… 'Wait! No one else is here!' Serena finally realized as she looked around the shore to see if she could see anyone else.
'Is this an abandoned beach? No, it couldn't be…The beach house would mean that someone lived there…' and then it came to her. They were on private property.
"Don't worry, my family own this part of the beach," Darien informed her as he saw worry in her eyes as she looked up at the beach house.
Serena jumped at his statement. "How do you do that?" She asked him as she turned to look at him. He stood like a rigid six foot pole as he looked at the ocean.
"Do what?" he asked; as he gave her a blank look, bending his head down to stare at her. A small smile tugged at his lips as she continued to stare at him in awe.
"Sneak up on me; you just…I don't know…One minute you're standing by your motorcycle and the next thing I know, you're standing right beside me," Serena told him in wonder, her bewildered gaze making him laugh. And Serena smiled too, happy again that she could make him laugh like that. His laughter was original, it held no pretense.
"Again, that is my secret," he told her as he looked out into the setting sun beyond the ocean; it's light making the water sparkle like a pool of diamonds; shimmering in the fading sunlight. The sky broke into colors of blue, pink, red, and orange. And seagulls' squawked as they flew above the waters, diving every once in a while to fetch a fish. It was very peaceful.
Serena laughed at Darien's answer as she turned away to walk along the sandy beach. Taking off her sneakers, she placed them on top of a rock. Darien raised an eyebrow as she did so. And he watched amusedly as she stood closer to the ocean, letting the incoming waves wet her toes.
She shrieked at the sensation, and pleaded for Darien to do the same. He shot her a 'you're-joking-right?' gaze, but he also complied. He stepped out of his shoes and took off his socks and placed them beside Serena's. Together they slowly walked along the wetted down sand, every once in a while water would run across their feet and disappear again into the ocean.
"Would you mind if I called you Serena?" Darien asked.
Serena laughed and looked up at him, "Would you mind if I called you Darien?" She said teasingly.
"That depends…" he said, his voice serious.
Serena stopped walking. "Depends on what Mr. Chiba?" She asked, curious at his sudden change of mood.
"It depends if you allow me to call you Serena," he told her, laughing at her distraught expression.
Serena kicked up water at him as she ran as fast as she could away. Darien stood for a moment shocked that she had just wetted his khakis pants. And then he smiled mischievously; bending down to fold up his pants and continued to chase after the bubbly blonde. Serena too, took the time to fold up her pants as she waited for him to get closer.
When Serena looked up, she nearly fell backwards. Darien was standing before her with his hands cupped underneath the water, waiting for her to look up. And when she did Darien splashed salt water into her face, grinning evilly. Serena closed her eyes, as the water hit her face; she opened her mouth to scream at him, but instead received a mouth full of salty ocean water. Immediately Serena spit it out, stumbling backwards to land on her butt underneath the water.
Darien looked stunned as he watched a sputtering Serena on the ground. He had not planned for her to fall over, but it was a very funny sight, he admitted as he smirked. His eyes shined with laughter as he continued to watch her struggle to get up.
Serena glared at Darien. The backside of her pants were soaking wet and she did not have a change of clothes. And he; he just stood there, trying very hard not to laugh at her! Serena seethed with anger. She turned her back on him and started walking away, planning for her diabolical revenge.
"Hey! Hey, I didn't mean for you to fall over," Darien said as he watched her retreating back. "Hey!" He called after her as he ran to catch up to her. (Serena smiled wickedly to herself as Darien fell into her little trap.)
Darien reached out to put a hand on Serena's shoulder when she pivoted around and rammed into him. The force of her sent him backwards; but not to be outdone; Darien grabbed Serena on his way down. Her eyes widen with alarm.
The icy ocean water surrounded their bodies (it was now high tide); tensing at the immediate contrast of cold water upon their warm skin. Serena screamed loudly; Darien's arms, still around her small waist. When he finally let go, after enjoying her curses of displeasure, he was satisfied.
Serena got up, wiping water away from her face as she frowned at the smiling idiot still sitting in the water; looking up at her with a smug smile.
"Did it not occur to you that I do not have a change of clothes Darien?" Serena shouted at him, as she attempted to wring out the water from her hair.
"I guess that means I get to call you Serena," Darien stated rather than asked as he, too, got up and raked a hand through his drenched charcoal hair.
"What are you talking about?" Serena said furiously as she stared at him.
Darien laughed at how her mind seemed to forget things so easily. "Serena, Serena, Serena…" he said in a sing song tone.
"What?" She spat, hating him for being so cheerful.
"Oh, nothing…I was just saying your name," he said innocently as her face started to turn read with fury.
"Why you…you…you…despicable man!" Serena shouted, ready to wrap her hands around his neck and squeeze.
"Now, now Serena, flattery can wait until I give you my proposition," he told her in a stern voice, but his eyes gleamed with hilarity; making him look like a playful boy.
"What now…?" Serena groaned with irritation; giving him her most vexing stare.
"Since I have had the utmost pleasure in meeting you upon the rooftop of Akita University, Ms. Tsukino, I must say that you have been quite a…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, get to the point please," Serena said sarcastically.
Darien smiled at her impatience. "I propose a truce Serena," he said sincerely, looking into her eyes that gleamed like the ocean; blue diamonds shining.
His tone of voice broke through her anger, leaving her with curiosity, "A truce? What kind of truce?" She asked him suspiciously as she looked over the expression on his face; but found no evidence of deceit on his face. He was being honest.
"I would like for you to set aside your…hhhmm…what is the word for it…?" Darien pondered for a minute, trying to place a different word for 'hatred' into his sentence. "I would like for you to set aside your immense dislike of me and my friends so we can be on common ground with one another," Darien told her, extending a hand in genuine cordiality.
Serena was taken aback by his proposal. At a loss of words she stared at him flabbergasted. Serena pondered for a moment, before nodding dumbly. And she looked up into his eyes as before she extended her hand to close around his, "You've got yourself a truce, Mr. Chiba," Serena said teasingly, but with deep gravity and sincerity.
"On one condition," Serena said gravely; Darien's smile left his lips, "You have to promise me you guys won't intimidate anyone else at the university unless they've done a great and terrible deed to you, and only then will you guys intimidate them."
Darien's face hardened. "I don't make promises on anyone's behalf, Serena," Darien informed her frigidly. "Especially, one that will not be kept."
Serena nodded, understanding his meaning. "Just promise me you'll try to confront them about it?" Serena asked hopefully. A soft ocean breeze blew, her hair clinging to her back, face, and arms. The soft sunlight, dancing across his taught face made him look like a god of one of the Greek statues.
He gave her an abrupt nod. "Friends then?" he asked.
She smiled, happy that he was willing to give in to her demand. "Yes, Friends."
The laughter of a female and male could be heard from the road as automobiles drove by every now and then as night continued to come.
Serena sat, huddled up by the fire as Darien came down to sit next to her. It was now dark outside. They purple sky glittered with stars, winking above the ocean. The beautiful crescent moon shone bright yellow as it was reflected in the roaring waves of the large body of water down below. Darien had let them both into the beach house to shower and change. The inside was beautiful, decorated with tiny crystal trinkets that were put on display in glass cases, its pristine white walls glowed unnaturally, and the elegant home was styled in the latest and most fashionable curtains and silk coverings over couches and chairs; the house was a work of art. A beautiful white grand piano sat in the center of the receiving room, where they now sat in front of the huge fireplace. She smiled slightly as she gazed into the fire; its red, orange, yellow, and blue flames flickering. The light the fire provided was dancing merrily across Darien's face as he too, stared at the flames; his expression aloof.
"Love is like a fire," Darien whispered as he stared emotionless into the wavering heat.
Serena stared blankly at him; blinking a couple times while trying to contemplate what he said. Love is like a fire. That was a very strange analogy.
"I guess so…" she said uncertainly as she stared at his face profile, waiting for him to explain.
A bitter smile curved his lips. "They both provide you with warmth during the time they are at its fullest. And then they can cast you into darkness when it dies; leaving you cold. But don't get so close to love or a fire, because if you do, you'll get burned," he let out a resentful laugh as he turned away from the fire to look at her.
Serena sat glued to her spot. He spoke such cruel words of love as though he was once singed by the flames of love himself. Although what he said was true, love can be a very beautiful thing too.
Darien watched as Serena shook her head at him; contradicting him as she pulled her knees up to her chest to wrap her arms around them as she laid her head over her knees to stare into the fire. She was very pretty when her hair was out of her face like it was now; falling freely behind her as she sat contently, warmed by the firelight.
Serena turned to look at him, "Love can mean so much more than pain and darkness after it has died Darien," she said wisely. "It can mean growing up or more knowledge. And it allows you to look for a new love, one that wouldn't fall apart as easily as the first," She said humbly as she smiled into the darkness of the room.
Darien's eyes turned cynical, his face tough and expressionless. And then he got up and left the room.
Serena had changed into Darien's clothes that he had loaned her. She wore one of his plain white T-shirts, its material soft against her skin, and she had on a pair of blue jeans, that had belonged to his sister he said. Serena was surprised at that news. His sister, Rei, was also the same age as her; however, she was studying abroad in the States. He had spoken a lot about his sister. He must truly love her, Serena concluded from the loving way his voice would seem to soften as he told her tales of little Rei.
Darien had stared at Serena in surprised when he saw how well the jeans fit her; hugging her shapely legs in all the right spots. He was very shock to find that she actually had very nice curvaceous legs. 'Who'd have thought that beneath all of those loose fitting clothes she'd actually have feminine features?' he had said to himself as he studied her forlorn expression at how well the jeans fit. She had even asked if she could borrow his jeans instead, and that made Darien laugh.
But as he left to grab two coats for Serena and him, he was angered by Serena's words. Words that she spoke of with such conviction, and yet he was sure she had never even been in love herself. Walking down the long hall, he opened up the hall closet that was built into the left wall; luckily he was able to find one of Rei's old jacket's for Serena.
Serena watched as Darien came back into the room; she had a feeling that her words had somehow irritated him. He held two jackets in his hand, giving one to her as he put his on. She watched curiously as he did so.
Holding up the jacket she asked, "What's this for?" She gave him a questioning look.
"We're going out, so put that on," he told her curtly; not even sparing her a glance.
"Where are we going?" She asked him as she did as he demanded; zipping up the jacket as she slipped her arms into the sleeves.
"There's only one way to find out," he said as he extended a hand to pull her up.
And stupidly, Serena took his hand, and followed him obediently outside, hugging the faded red jacket closer around her body as they walked over to his motorcycle.
Crickets chirped their dreary music, but only that and the sound of the crashing of ocean waves against the beach penetrated the cool night. Serena quietly straddled the bike after Darien got on. He put his key into the keyhole to start the bike ; waiting for her to put her arms around him before rocketing off onto the dark road, lighted by faint yellow lights of the street lamps. And again Serena was thrown into a mixture of anticipation and thrill as everything whizzed by in a blur of dark shadows and yellow lights, nearly missing cars as they dodged their way through the large vehicles back to downtown Tokyo.
Malcom looked at the mounting pile of candy on the center of the table as he held onto his hand of cards; smirking at his fellow friends. Their game of poker started a little over an hour ago as they waited for Darien to show up before they would go cruising in his jet. They were let in into the mansion by the butler; Darien's parents were away on business abroad as usual. It was a shame they wouldn't be home for Darien's birthday tomorrow. It had been tradition amongst the group of six men to have a pre-celebration before the actual day of each of their birthdays.
James and Andrew went into the kitchen to get some beer while they had their little card game.
"Alright Malcom, the stakes are high, so if you wanna stay in the game you better put in thirty pieces of your starbursts, or fold," Nathan said as he placed his own candy into the pile in the middle.
Malcom looked up to grab the beer Andrew was handing him as James also came back into the room to pass out the beer to Zachary and Nathan. As they all settled down Malcom considered his strategy.
"I take your wager," Malcom said as he extended his hand to place his share of candy into the jackpot and placed ten more, "and I raise you ten." Everyone groaned; they all were already out of candy.
Zachary laughed holding up his last ten pieces of snickers, "I could take your wager, but…I fold," he said as he through his cards down; showing three jacks, a two, and a ten.
Malcom laughed hysterically as he too threw down his cards, "I have nothing!" he exclaimed as the other four men stared at his cards; a two, a four, a five, a seven, and an ace. He reached out with both hands to encircle his winnings, grinning devilishly.
"I see that you all have just lost my stash of candy to Malcom," all five of the men's head sharply swerved around to stare at their dark haired friend, standing in the doorway.
"I see you've finally decided to join us for your celebration," Andrew said sarcastically as he turned to hand him a beer, and then froze.
All five men stared at the petite blonde little girl behind Darien.
"Well pull up a chair little girl," James said elatedly to a stunned Serena and then turned to Darien, "Who is she Darien? She's kinda cute; a relative maybe?" He inquired with a raised eyebrow. He watched as the blonde girl in the red jacket glared at him before sitting down on a chair on his left and taking the beer Andrew had intended to give Darien; quickly taking a swig from it.
At everyone's shocked expression Darien laughed and winked at Serena; his icy mood fading away as he became his charming self again. Darien went to take the empty seat beside Serena around the circular table; picking out a couple of skittles from the center before popping them into his mouth. Everyone just stared at him, waiting for him to start the introductions.
"Guys, this is Serena Usagi Tsukino, she goes to Akita," Darien said casually as all of his friends' mouths nearly fell open.
James was the first to recover, blushing at his mistake, "Sorry Ms. Tsukino, you just look very young," he apologized pathetically as he stared at the sorry excuse of a women sitting beside him. "My name is James Hikawa."
"Hi," Serena said, as she smiled at him.
"You're a pretty girl, what were you doing with Darien anyways, Serena?" Serena turned from James to look across the table at Andrew.
"It's nice to see you again Andrew," She said as she lowered her gaze at Andrew, who gulped at her penetrating gaze.
When Serena had met Andrew at the bakery, he had said he was the son of a poor farmer. He fabricated a story about how he was an orphan at the age of seven and went to live with his grandfather on a farm, and was now trying to get a decent paying job in the city. He had smiled prettily at her, flirted with her; and stupidly, she fell for it. She believed every damn thing he said.
Serena enjoyed herself immensely as each of the men introduced themselves. As she watched them play another round of poker she realized that Malcom, the one with striking white hair, was Darien's closest friend. As the game progressed, she had spotted Andrew looking at her twice, but she turned her gaze away coldly each time. Darien proved to be a skilled card's player, as he won in the end. She was taken aback that these men were actually very good-natured men. They were polite to her and joked with her; they actually seemed like good people.
'Maybe it's because they don't know I'm from lower class?' Serena thought. 'Andrew knew that she wasn't rich though.'
"I don't get it," Serena said aloud, gaining all six pair's of male eyes.
"It's pretty easy actually," She looked up confused, as Malcom spoke to her; shuffling the cards skillfully, "you see…to play poker you have to be skilled in"
"No, I wasn't talking about that," Serena said and blushed as the men all stared at her again.
"What don't you understand Serena?" Serena turned to look at Darien as he spoke; a knowing look in his eyes. Serena wanted to slap him; once again he was trying very hard not to burst out laughing at her.
She wasn't going to let him see her back down though. "I was so sure you guys were mean, snobbish, and arrogant, but now, you guys seem different from what you give the impression at the university," Serena admitted to the guys casually. She looked around the table to look at their shocked faces (Darien, of course, was on the verge of hysterical laughter).
Finally after a moment of Darien's harsh coughing (which he did to hide his amusement), James spoke uncertainly, "I don't know whether I should be insulted or gratified," his expression still as blank as ever as he scratched his head. A couple of the guys nodded in agreement.
Malcom was the first to come out of the stupor and the first to give her a real answer, "Look, we act like assholes, or if you like it better the way you put it, mean, snobbish, and arrogant men because that is how we are treated," Serena blinked at his explanation.
'What…?' Serena said to herself confused.
Darien looked at her confused expression and smiled, deciding to help her out a little. "If you lived your life being treated differently from everyone else because you were rich enough to buy the whole damn school, by the time you're our age Serena, you feel sick and tired of it; so we just fit ourselves into the persona the people have already made for us," Darien shrugged carelessly as though what he said made perfect sense.
The other guys all nodded, looking like bobble heads.
"So you're saying that you guys don't choose to be that way, but are forced to be that way?" Serena asked as she raised an eyebrow at the men she once thought to be devil's spawns.
"That's pretty much it," Darien said with a curt nod of his head as everyone around the table also gave their agreements with a 'yeah' or a 'close enough'.
"That makes absolutely no sense," Serena muttered to Darien under her breath so only he could hear.
He looked down at her, his eyes glittering with laugher, "Don't worry, I wouldn't expect you to understand," he said good-humoredly as he winked at her. She frowned at him in return.
Andrew watched with closely guarded emotions as he observed Serena and Darien. Serena had been very unfeeling to him from the moment she arrived with Darien. He knew he had been wrong to lie to her those times when he went to Sweet Dreams Bakery; but he really liked her, and he knew that if she were to know who he really was she would hate him, or worst; worship him. And he did not want her to do either. To have her hate him would mean he didn't stand a chance with her, and to have her worship him would be even more terrible because then, she would be just another fake; like every other girl he had come across.
He watched the way Serena would laugh as Darien made a comment. Andrew could feel a slight twinge of jealousy.
"And what exactly is the relationship between you and Serena?" Andrew heard himself say to Darien in a detached voice curiously. Everyone's attention was on Serena and Darien; also interested to know what their association meant.
Serena blushed, and looked at Darien to help her explain that there was nothing between them; he was much better with looking calm and collected about these things, she thought.
Darien stared at his friends' fascinated expression; anticipating their answers. "There's nothing between us," Darien answered them, and smiled smugly at everyone's disappointed expressions. "We're just friends."
At his last comment they all grunted in disbelief. Serena looked angrily at their faces. "What? A guy and a girl can be friends," Serena said obstinately.
"Yeah, of course they can be friends," James said at her, feigning a tone of great conviction, then mutter under his breath, "friends with benefits."
The guys smiled and chuckled as Serena glowered at his comment.
"Don't worry Serena," Andrew said as he studied her annoyed expression, happy that there was nothing between her and Darien, "you're not Darien's type anyways." Thinking to reassure her that they understood.
"And why's that?" Darien asked him as he finished making his statement. The room fell silent for a moment to listen for Andrew's answer.
Serena stared at the beach blonde sitting across the table, her eyes scrutinizing him. The man that she used to have a crush on; the one whom she would eagerly anticipate to come to bakery so she could talk to him every Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursdays in the afternoon. She looked at his relaxed face as he stared into Darien's. He opened his mouth to reply with a smile on his lips.
"Young Master, we have cleared your flight with the airports. They say you may take off anytime you wish," a middle age man, with graying hair, and large glasses interrupted Andrew's response; as everyone turned to look at him. The man stared at Darien and then bowed, waiting for something.
"Thank you, Kenji, you can take off for the rest of the night," Darien said politely to the man.
'So the man had been waiting to be dismissed,' Serena thought as she watched the man beamed at Darien before leaving the room. All around her the guys got up, clearing away the cards and empty beer bottles.
Serena looked at them puzzled. "What did he mean by 'cleared your flight with the airports'?" Serena asked aloud. "And where are you going," she turned to ask Darien as he put on his jacket again (he had taken it off some time ago while they had their poker game.)
"Darien didn't tell you?" Asked a stunned Zachary as he fixated his brown eyes on her.
"No…" Serena said as she looked at the rest of the guy's for answers, because Darien sure as hell was not going to tell her a single thing.
"It's tradition for us to have a pre-celebration before each of our birthdays. So we've decided to take Darien's new jet out for a cruise," Nathan informed her.
"Oh, I'm sorry, am I imposing?" Serena asked; her face blushing at her foolishness. "Whose birthday is it?"
Serena looked at each man's blank face as they stared at her. She blushed; the red in her cheeks glowing even brighter; she must seem quite ridiculous sitting with them for half an hour now and still she did not know as to why she was there in the first place. An uncomfortable silence fell upon them as they continued to look perplexed by her question.
"It's mine," Darien finally said.
"W-what? B-but…how come you didn't…" Serena stuttered in shock as Darien pulled her up out of her chair.
Malcom chuckled light-heartedly, patting her on the back. "No, you aren't intruding. Consider yourself the guest of honor," he told her as he softly nudged her forward.
"Where are we going?" Serena asked as she blindly followed Darien as the others walked closely behind her.
"To the airstrip; where else?" James told her.
"Are we driving there?" Serena asked as she turned her head around to stare the five men behind her as they kept walking down a long hall.
Zachary let out a small chuckle, "No, it's on the Chiba's property," he answered her.
"They have an airport on their property?" Serena exclaimed in alarm.
'They're that rich?" Serena thought to herself in disbelief.
"It's not an airport," Darien said as he looked over his shoulders at her, "it's an airstrip." The guys laughed at Serena's awestruck expression.
After a while the guys started talking about their day; making jokes and comments all the way down to the airstrip that was a little ways walk away from the huge mansion. It was almost ten; the night was different when you were in downtown Tokyo. It was not as cold as it was by the ocean, and there were fewer stars out in the purple sky. The loud chirping of crickets that could be heard from the beach house was only limited to a faint, distant sound as they made their way across a paved path to a building up ahead; a single bright light shined upon the shiny red and silver jet.
Serena's breath was caught in her throat, as she stared up at the aircraft. It was beautiful to her. She was lucky to be enjoying this extravagant luxury tonight. They all stopped to admire the jet. She heard Zachary praise Darien, as Malcom patted him on the back. It seemed that they were all impressed, and not just her; the poor rich girl who had never been on a plane or out of the city for that matter.
And suddenly the long airstrip was illuminated with bright lights. Serena's eyes squinted as she held up her arm to cover her eyes from the brightness. The rest of the guys did the same. As Serena's vision cleared she saw a feminine figure step out of the shadows.
The lady had long beach blond hair flowing down her back. It was fashioned in the latest style; layered, her tips curled. She had pale blue eyes; outlined by dark mascara. Her large red lips curved into a wide smile as she stared at them. She was very beautiful, Serena admitted. The women wore an orange dress; a deep V cut into the front showing her cleavage. It was a very cute sundress; although it wasn't Serena's style. The blond looked so classy in it; her body so perfect it made Serena envious.
"You guys weren't gonna leave without me, were you?" The lady asked; enjoying the shocked looks the men gave her.
"Mina…you're back…" Darien said in a soft whisper after a long moment as the girl laughed and walked up to him.