Chapter 7
"It's about time you two," Mina shouted as Serena walked through the doors, colliding into Darien's solid back. Mina and the guys had reached the house fifteen minutes ago, and were beginning to worry about leaving the two of them alone.
Serena frowned at him as he looked down at her and winked. She pushed past him and walked down the small set of stairs separating the double oak doors into the sunken receiving room. The room had a high ceiling with a crystal chandelier hanging from up above. Its fineness was breathtaking the way it sparkled. The receiving room, Darien had informed her, when he had dragged her into the mansion before they got onto the jet, was also known as the Gold room. The floor was granite, the color of bronze and gold; the walls were a soft yellow which was accentuated by the strips of golden wall paper that ran across the top of the walls. Statues of angels and maidens of English society were scattered all over the room in various positions; all, Darien had mentioned, were made in the sixteenth through eighteenth century.
Upon the yellow walls were golden framed portraits of deceased members of the Chiba family; there was one of Darien of course, as a small, but yet rather very cute boy. The furniture was of dark mahogany; bookshelves that sat against the walls were filled with hundreds of books of different languages, cultures, science, and more. Tall windows were draped in fancy gold curtains, armchairs, sofas, and couches too were nice bronze leather. Serena was awed by the beautiful gold lamps that helped light the room other than the chandelier, and the display of gold nuggets in a corner that was encased in a glass window against the wall was of a very great discovery for the Chiba family that drew even more attention to them from the media.
Mina seemed to have forgotten that Darien and Serena had come back almost immediately after she had made her statement, and engaged in another heated argument with the guys.
"What do you mean I should stay here? I just came back Malcom!" Mina argued, "My parent's will be worried."
"It's late Mina, we're all a little buzzed from the sake and beer; it's best if you and Serena just stay here," Malcom reasoned.
"What's up guys?" Serena asked as she joined in with the group, Darien, slowly making his way towards them too. Mina's face showed great determination while Malcom's just held slight irritation.
"Mina, you and Serena are not going anywhere. Just stay 'til dawn if you have to, it's not like you've never slept here before," Darien tried to persuade her, his voice an authoritative tone. He looked quite mean when he was serious, Serena thought, looking at his face becoming harsh and hard. His lean figure towered over her and Mina. She couldn't blame teachers for cowering in fear when Darien was like this.
"I'm taking Serena, and that's final!" Mina shouted, not making eye contact with Darien's piercing ones. Mina turned and grabbed Serena's wrist, dragging her back up the stairs to the door before anyone could stop her. Serena was completely immobile; she was too stunned to react.
"Happy 23rd Birthday Darien, Serena and I will be leaving now," she said in a triumphant tone.
"What? Huh?" Serena gasped. Serena looked at the men's expression of dismay and disappointment. She waved, "Uh, bye, it was nice to meet you all, and I had a great time-," Mina dragged Serena out of the doors and back into the night again before she could say goodnight…er, good morning.
"Sorry about that," Mina giggled evilly, "I'm all about making an entrance and exit," She informed her confused companion. Mina walked to the driver's side of her silver BMW. "Get in," She called to Serena, turning on the engine.
Serena nodded, feeling slightly dazed. "Where are we going?" She asked as she gawked at the car. Its leather seats were tan while the dash board and steering wheel was a midnight black. The car was clean as new, not even dust could have been visible on the carpet. A foreign car, Serena thought, what is it with rich people and foreign cars? She could understand that this luxury car was quite nice but, isn't there more important things to buy than to waste money on a foreign car? She would never understand rich people.
"My house," Mina answered her in her usual cheery demeanor as she turned on her CD player to play Utada Hikaru's songs. "Don't look so nervous," Mina said, misinterpreting Serena's look of dismay at the car with panic for going to her home. "I haven't had any time with you to get some dirt on you; its good to know your enemies you know? I needed to steal you away tonight," Mina laughed. She concentrated on driving for a while, humming and singing parts of songs.
"So Serena," Mina asked casually, "How old are you?"
"I'm eighteen," Serena answered, looking out of her window into the dark night, watching the passing buildings and trees. She didn't notice Mina's astounded expression.
"WHAT!" Mina yelled.
The car jerked to an abrupt stop in the middle of the road.
Darien watched as a fifteen year old Mina skipped around him in the park. Her eyes were wide with joy, peach colored lips were parted as laughter rang from them, and her pale blonde hair was shoulder-length and bouncing as her head bobbed from side to side. It was his 17th birthday that day, and he remembered it so clearly. The afternoon sky was blue with patches of clouds in every which-way-direction. It was uncomfortably warm. Mina was garbed in shorts and a green tank-top while he had worn a pair of jean shorts and a white tee.
The park was filled with many people that day. It was a very beautiful park; its landscape was as green as ever, styled in the way of a Japanese tea garden. Waterfalls and artificial rivers flowed peacefully throughout the park. In the very center of the park was a lake, its crystal clear sapphire depths now reminded him of Serena's eyes. The lake had always calmed him when he was angry or frustrated. It had been his place of solace. In areas of the park were buildings of shrines and fake temples, the ancient Japanese styled towers loomed over the trees, its shadows were a welcome shade to visitors.
And Mina had invited him out that day.
He never could refuse her, and so he went along. They walked hand in hand along the paved pathways past lovely waterfalls and magnificently carved fountains, spurting water into the air. Mina had talked to him about school, friends, and…the future…their future.
Darien had drawn Mina into his arms as they stood atop a hill, looking down upon the lake. His hands were fastened around her waist and her back, a possessive hold that she alone was given by him. They had spent the whole day talking and enjoying themselves, one of the most memorable birthdays he had…thanks to her. As they looked upon the peaceful scenery before them and watched the setting sun work its magic in the sky, sending streaks of red, orange, pink, and purple overhead, Mina looked into Darien's eyes and lightly pushed him backwards, catching him off guard as he tumbled onto his back, taking her with him.
He had smiled amusedly then, but now as he thought about it sitting in front of his fireplace in his bedroom, a bitter smile curved his firm soft lips. They had started rolling down the hillside, their bodies rising and falling, each alternating top and bottom, both revolving, and laughing with joy until they came to an abrupt end at the bottom of the slope. He was unable to contain his happiness with her. She looked so pretty and childish as she looked into his eyes. He couldn't help it when his lips came down on hers, a tender and passionate kiss that carried on for a few minutes.
"You just gave me the best kiss I ever had," she had said. He remembered his disappointment when he learned he was not her first. Now he realized he would not be her last either.
"Oh?" He had raised an eyebrow, his tone flat with distaste, "And who is runner up?"
"Yamashita, Momiji," She had informed him with a bright smile, "and third is Sagara, Kaito," she went on with her list.
Darien's frown had continued to darken with every male name that came from her lips. Indeed Mina was very pretty, and of course there would be a lot of men in Tokyo who would want Mina, but he hadn't expected so many. She always seemed so…naïve.
"Darien…" Mina had whispered softly to him as he laid sprawled beside her on the cool grass, looking up into the darkening sky. His head turned to her, as he raised himself on one elbow to look at her.
"Will you be my boyfriend? We've been friends for the longest time, and maybe you haven't considered it but I think I would like to take a step forward from where we are," She had explained to him, a look of determination in her eyes, a flare of confidence in her features.
And he fell right for the trap.
His answer and the promise of a deeper relationship were sealed in his next kiss, his mouth silencing anything else that she would have said. And when they parted both were both panting. Mina's face looked as though she had just won something that she had set out to win.
And he was the prize.
He didn't know why he didn't see it then. Of course she loved him, but did she love him the way she should have loved him? Did she love him more than just the type of love one would give their elder brother? No, she had thought she was ready to move on, but in reality, as he reflected back into his memory, damn, she was only fifteen and on the verge of sixteen!
"Will we be together, for a long, long time?" Mina asked innocently as she looked into his eyes, his hand lying leisurely across her waist as they both were propped up on one elbow to face one another.
"As long as you like, babe," he had said coolly.
And as the years progressed their relationship was built upon their love. A relationship that lasted as long as it did only due to the wild love making, he thought. It was not true though, he really did fall in love with her; at least he thought he did.
At her high school graduation party at the Chiba's mansion, both of them had snuck away to his room. And in bed, she had said the most shattering things to him
"I love you…" she had whispered as they laid together on his bed; both lacked the energy to draw the covers over their naked, sweaty bodies. She had been eighteen then.
"You better," he remembered him saying as he turned his sweat beaded head to look at her.
"Will you marry me some day Darien?"
"Anything," he had said as he began to kiss her cheek, her nose, her forehead…
"I'd do anything for you, anything, we'll be so happy together," She had promised as he groaned and gave in to kissing her mouth, which lead to another session of wild demanding love making.
'Love making?' Darien thought bitterly as he poked the dying fire in front of him with the poker. 'It was screwing, fucking, hot sex; not love making.'
That night she had promised him a future. Something that he held onto and looked forward to. Darien reached into his night stand at the side of his bed and took out a small black velvet box. He ran his fingers slowly over the material, slowly opening it.
Inside, sat a medium sized diamond engagement ring, which was exquisitely cut.
Walking to his bed, Darien closed the box and chucked it over his shoulders into the fire. What he didn't know, was that the box had opened as it hit the floor inside of the fireplace, and the ring flew out into a corner of the room, while the box burned into ashes.
Darien dreamt of a pretty-face blonde with crystal sapphire eyes named Serena that night.
"So…" Mina drawled as she yawned and moved closer to Serena, lying on her bed, "Do you have a job?"
"Uh huh," Serena answered, squinting into the dark bedroom, turning her body on the mattress to look at Mina, "I have two; one is as a waitress/cashier at Cup of Tea and one as a baker and cashier at Sweet Dreams Bakery. I'm still deciding on a third."
"What? Are you crazy?" Mina exclaimed as she looked into Serena's face in the dark. "You have two jobs, which are already considered as insane in my mind, going for a third would make you seem…"
"I need the money," Serena's voice was serious, filled with determination that Mina had never heard come from anybody but Darien before. In the past hour that Serena had been in her home, she had been great company. She was nice to the servants, pleasant with her parents, and a wonderful listener to her. Serena had patience and diplomacy that was born into nobility and a regal-like aura that high class woman lacked these days. Mina was awed by her sense of responsibility for everything, although she appeared to be an easy-going, carefree child on the outside, Serena was a complex adult on the inside.
"Oh," was all Mina managed to say.
"Minako…"
"Mina."
"Huh?" Serena asked.
"Call me Mina, I think I've found no flaw in you," Mina admitted.
"Oh," Serena said uncertainly, "Mina, how long have you known Darien and the guys?" Serena couldn't help asking. She had been so curious ever since Mina entered the picture again, but her questions were forgotten once they got onto the jet. Mina was beautiful, smart, and classy, and the way she presented herself when they met on the airstrip could only mean she had a lot of confidence that grew stronger with her from the age of one possibly. And because of that, Mina thought she could do anything, intimidate anyone.
And that was why she had been so surprised by Serena.
"I've known them for ever," Mina giggled, "actually; I first met Darien about fifteen years ago when I was in his class in elementary. It was in a private school for the countries elite family's children. We shared art together, you know, as a combination class. One day, we were partnered together," a soft smile formed on Mina's face in remembrance, "in a painting assignment. We were supposed to paint one another with our water colors. I never talked to Darien before that day, you know? He was quiet, almost came off as shy to me. He took things very seriously back then too, you know? Even though he was only seven then, he still aimed to achieve nothing else but the best remarks. I guess that was how he was brought up in his family though. Darien didn't have many friends because of that though," Mina informed Serena.
"What about the guys?" Serena asked, feeling a tad bit bad that she couldn't have been there for Darien.
"Oh, they've been his friends since they were in diapers, don't worry," Mina chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, everyone tried their best to make Darien like them, but he always seemed to look as though he didn't want companionship from anybody. I don't blame him you know?" Mina said; her eyes were glazed over as she looked up at the ceiling, her hands behind her head.
"Why's that?" Serena asked in a breathless voice.
"Darien comes from a long line of successful people dating back to the very beginning of the time when Japan was united under the first emperor. Now, I can't remember but, I believe that it is said that Darien's forefathers come form a very powerful Samurai who became a shogun. So anyways, seven year old Darien was already on a mission to make a name for himself in his family. I don't know if you understand, but when you come from a family like Darien's, you don't fool around. Duty, responsibility, everything that comes with the name 'Chiba' has been hanging over him like some kind of burden. I think…I think that's why he's always so withdrawn from everyone you know?"
Serena nodded, she couldn't speak. In her head she saw a little seven year old boy with dark unruly hair, amazing blue eyes, and a handsome grin sitting all alone studying while everyone else played tag outside. She felt a jolt of pain in her chest, a tightening in her breasts' that made her heart feel as though it would burst. This was Darien's past, his childhood, and it seemed so lonely and so desolate. Did he have time for laughter, for fun, for things that would make him happy? Serena wanted to know everything about him.
"Well anyways, that day I came right out and asked him," Mina continued.
"Excuse me?"
"I asked him how come he didn't play with everyone else. I know that was probably pretty blunt, but I just turned six then, excuse me for not being able to be more tactful." Mina giggled.
(Serena didn't know why she was laughing.)
"He just looked at me with this stunned expression on his face. Then he said that he didn't feel like playing; I think that's what he said, I can't remember too well," Mina continued to chuckle.
"Well and then I asked him if it's because he thinks he's better than everyone else," Serena's eyes widened and Mina laughed, "And get this! He laughed!"
"Darien just started laughing, which wasn't at all natural for someone like him. The teacher came rushing right over to ask what I did to him, she looked so scared!" Mina broke off into hysterical laughter.
Serena really couldn't see what was so funny. To be a kid of seven and to have your teacher worry over you when you…laughed? She could understand why Darien could be so cold and hard one moment, and playful in the next now. How anyone can have a childhood like that, she didn't know. One day, Serena really hoped she could help Darien to relax. He had missed his time for fun as a kid, and she was more than willing to help him get it back. That was her mission.
"After the teacher went away, Darien started talking to me. He seemed like a nice boy, and soon I met the whole gang. There isn't much to it than that," Mina concluded after her fit of laughter subsided.
"A-and you and Darien?" Serena asked uncertainly; not knowing if she was treading on dangerous grounds.
"Huh? What about me and Darien?" Mina asked, sounding a bit confused as she turned towards Serena.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I-I just got the impression that you two were…an item or something," Serena broke into a fit of nervous laughter.
Her mother had always said: When in doubt, laugh!
"Oh! Yeah, we were going out for sometime; three years before I went abroad. It wasn't anything really; puppy love can be so wonderful, but that's all it could be though, puppy love."
"Oh," Serena said off-handedly. For some reason, she felt as though Darien probably felt different about that though.
"A-and, what about when you left?" Serena prodded.
"Ahhh, yes, when I left we decided to stay together…it wasn't official or anything," Mina added, kind of as an after thought.
"I see…" Serena said, not really seeing at all what Mina was talking about.
"And now…?" Serena questioned.
"Oh, we're over now!" Mina answered.
"Hey girl, what about you and Andrew?" Mina asked; her full attention on Serena now.
"Wh-what a-about us?" Serena stammered, shocked at Mina's change of subject.
How did she know, Serena asked herself.
"Girl, puh-lease, that man could not pull his eyes off of you tonight!" Mina exclaimed, "So…" She drawled, "What's the deal?"
"You wouldn't believe me if I said there's nothing between us now would you?" Serena asked a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
"Nope," Mina cheerfully confirmed.
Letting out a sigh, Serena began to put together the story of Andrew and herself from the time he had first walked into the bakery, 'til their last meeting just hours ago. He was such a sweet guy from beginning to end but he LIED to her! Shaking her head Serena began to tell Mina what happened.
"I met Andrew while I was working at Sweet Dreams Bakery one day, way before I met Darien," Serena began, Mina was listening intently, "He wasn't millionaire industrialist Furuhata, Motoki's son though. No, he claimed to be an orphan raised by his grandfather who was a poor farmer. He said his name was Hiko, Andrew," Mina's eyes widened in disbelief.
"He didn't!" She gasped.
Serena nodded, "Yep, he did. Anyways, he came in and wanted to buy a cake for his sister, or so he said, but now I know he doesn't even have a sibling! Well, I had just finished making an angel cake. It was filled with strawberries, covered with icing, and topped with whip cream and strawberries. He saw me finishing it up and decided to buy it. He started flirting with me as I started putting it in a box for him, and being such a gullible fool as I was, I fell for his smooth charms."
"No way!" Mina beamed at her.
"Yep. I was stupid, huh?" Serena asked.
"No! I mean, Andrew had bought me that cake on Darien's orders and my parent's brought it to me when they came to visit on my birthday! It was one hell of a cake! You should teach me how to make it!" Mina exclaimed.
Serena blushed, "Oh, uh, yeah, I would like to teach you."
"Okay, okay, continue with your story," Mina said, she became serious again.
"Oh, um, he started coming every Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday to the bakery; the same days I worked. And he kept buying so many pastries I even offered to let him have some for free! He said he was trying to earn money to go to a university, when in reality he was making other people drop out of school! I offered to pay for him when he was a rich bastard!" Serena was near hysteria.
"Calm down, so it seems as though Andrew has an infatuation with you," Mina drawled in a cool and unperturbed voice.
"Calm down! You want me to calm down? I believed him! I started waiting for him around noon because that was the usual time he would show up at the bakery, and do you know how disappointed I was when he stopped coming for a month? I thought I had finally found someone of the opposite sex who could appreciate me. I decided to hate him, you know, when I saw him and the rest of the guys beat up a student at Akita in the hallway on my second day there. You couldn't believe how shocked I was to have seen him! That asshole!" Serena seethed through clenched teeth.
"Whoa…" Mina breathed out, stunned by her outburst. "I can see where you're coming from Serena, but it's not good to hold grudges."
"I'm not holding a grudge," Serena hissed.
"Okay, well I think it'd be best if you two became friends for everybody's sakes, okay?" Mina advised.
"Whatever," Serena sighed, snuggling into her pillow.
"I'm serious," Mina said, "I think if you treat Andrew politely instead of with contempt, he will see that you no longer hold any kind of emotion for him other than a kind of friendship."
Serena smiled, "Now that's and idea."
"Thank you," Mina replied.
Both laughed.
In the late afternoon, long since she had been dropped off back at the apartment at eleven in the morning, Serena rode on her bicycle in the hot sun to the Chiba's mansion. In the basket in the front of her bike was a box, and within it was Darien's birthday present, three strawberries dipped in milk chocolate. She had grown the strawberries herself; they were her pride. The strawberries were big, juicy, and as sweet as ever; they were so big that she was able to scrawl with white chocolate tiny words. On the first one, it read: To my arrogant, vain, and selfish rich friend. On the second one, it read: It was damned hard putting words on here so you'd better be grateful. And lastly, the third one read: From your reluctant, yet dear, friend Serena.
Serena hoped Darien would like her gift. She had to admit that it wasn't much, but wasn't it the thought that count? Anyways, how could her gift compare to a jet; how could anyone's gift compare to a jet, Serena thought. Nothing else except Darien's own island, Serena chuckled to herself. She lifted her arm to wipe away the sweat that had appeared over her forehead as she continued on her journey. Mina's words to her had stuck in her head all morning like a dark cloud foreshadowing rain. And Serena had decided to try everything possible to make Darien lighten up. It was better to enjoy what life had to offer with friends, than to enjoy them all alone; not that Darien was alone of course. He just seems withdrawn no matter how hard he tried to keep himself surrounded with friends. She felt kind of powerless in this matter though, because she didn't know how she could help him. He probably didn't even want her help, Serena thought.
"Dear, what was it that you wanted to discuss? Oh! And who was that charming young lady last night? Who are her mother and father?" Mina's mother inquired with a curious, but thoughtful raise of her eyebrow.
After Mina had seen to dropping Serena at her so called apartment, Mina had issued for Aeya to inform her parents that she would like to have a word with them in the study at two in the afternoon. Mina had dressed in a silk chamois collar shirt with a beige knee length skirt before she headed to the study. The walls of the room were covered with bookshelves filled with books of every subject and genre, very little could you see the white walls. There were six total oak desks and chairs, and in the very center of the room were two sofas and an armchair of white leather. A glass coffee table sat between the two sofas atop a fluffy white rug that lay over the dark wooden floors. Lively looking plants sat in corners of the study; there leaves as green and healthy as possible, and some flowered beautifully. It was a surprise due to the fact that the study only had one large window that allowed daylight into the room. Mina situated herself in the armchair just moments before she was joined by her parents.
"Mom, Dad," Mina said, looking at her mother and fathers curious faces, "I-I wanted to tell you b-both that I've decided to qu-quit school abroad," Mina closed her eyes, bracing herself to hear the angry words that she knew her parents would throw at her.
When it didn't come she opened her eyes to look at her parent's blank expressions.
"I hope you know that this would also mean I'm giving up the medical field-,"
"WHAT?" Mina shrunk in her chair as her mother and father realized the whole situation. Their faces were red with fury.
"Minako you are not quitting the medical field! Two years, sweetheart! That's all you have left, you don't have time to switch your major to business! Sweetie, I thought we already discussed that you would become a surgeon and take over the family business when you're older and have a family?" Her father tried to reason.
"But-,"
"No 'buts'," he cut in, "you were ecstatic about it all two years ago!"
Mina looked to her mom for some kind of support but was disappointed when she saw her mother nodding in agreement with her father.
"I was! I really did want to become a doctor. Things changed though," she gave a meaningful look to her parents, "the three years in Paris has opened my eyes to something that really did ignite a passion in me! Fashion! I want to do fashion! It doesn't matter if I have to do two more years of school to be able to become a fashion designer; I'm willing to do it!" Mina pleaded.
"But, our plans, honey," Mina's mother, Takzuru Aino, said this time.
"I know, but can't we forget the plans? Please?" Mina looked at her parents, a pout on her lips.
"Now, sweetie, we can not forget the plans! They're sound ones too!" Her father exclaimed. "Give up on becoming a designer, its risky business dear. You don't know if your stuff will sell, and if they don't you'd just lose a lot of money," Hiroshi, her father, said firmly.
Mina knew that she wouldn't be able to persuade her parents; she had to use the last resort. Mina gave her parents a determined glance before standing up. "You give me no choice," she whispered.
"No, no, Mina get up!" Her father shouted at her as he watched her kneel on the floor.
"I bow before you, beseeching you, pleading for you to let me take up designing as a career. Please…for my happiness," she said to them turning on the fake tears.
Her mother gave her father a look that made him frown. How come women were so weak hearted, he wondered. His wife had given in to his daughters little act. Hiroshi could never deny his wife. With a sigh of defeat he nodded his head.
"Fine," he croaked.
"Good, I'll be starting Monday at Akita! I just wanted to make you guys agree; no one could have stopped me, I already paid for my classes for the semester anyways," Mina explained cheerfully.
Her mother and father sighed with exasperation. Their daughter was too cunning.
"Well, gotta go Mom, Dad. I'll be over at Darien's; we're going for a BBQ at his place and a dip in the pool!" She chatted excitedly as she dashed out of the room. "I got to tell them the good news! Or…better yet…maybe I shouldn't!" They heard her exclaim as she ran down the hall.
Hiroshi and Takzuru Aino shook their head in disappointment at their daughters conduct.
Serena came to a stop at the tall black iron gates that enclosed the Chiba's property. She leaned over on her bike to press a buzzer that would alert security.
"Who is it? What is the purpose of your business here at the Chiba's estate?" A voice buzzed from the machine.
Serena leaned over and pressed and held down a button, "Um, this is Tsukino Serena. I'm here to speak with Darien," She said into the machine.
"Please wait Ms. Tsukino while we confirm your visit with the young master," the static-y voice informed her.
"Okay," she said into the machine.
Serena sat correctly upon her bike once more as she peered through the gates observing the driveway to the mansion while waiting. Beyond the gate were two columns of cherry-blossom tree's full in bloom and as pink as ever. The drive continued forward passed the trees until it came to the green and lush yard of the mansion, coming into a fork that led in a circle around a large fountain of man and a woman embracing one another.
Serena finally caught her breath as she looked at the way the trees swayed elegantly in the breeze. It had been a long ride to get here and it was steaming at this time of day. When she had left the house it was in the low nineties, now, after a mere half hour, it was probably in the hundreds. She never could tell why it seemed hotter in the late afternoon rather than in the early afternoon. She wiped the sweat off her face, her blonde hair that fell out of the two buns atop her head stuck to her neck and cheeks.
The gate suddenly lurched open.
Serena nearly fell over on her bike at the whoosh of the opening gates. It was good she had placed her gift over a ice pack that laid under a piece of cardboard, because by the time she had made it inside the mansion, the chocolate would have melted all over the wax paper she had set them on. Serena parked her bike at the bottom of the white stairs that lead up to the porch. She carefully took out Darien's gift from her basket before making her way to the door to ring the bell.
Kenji, the head butler, opened the door, "Hello Ms. Tsukino, Darien and the others are out by the-,"
"It's okay Kenji, you can go and continue your duties," Darien appeared down below in the receiving room. He was in nothing but swimming trunks. Serena stared at his chest. She couldn't help it; it was just so…masculine. His bronze skin gleamed in the sunlight that came from the windows, and his toned and muscled chest and arms made her shiver with something that she could not name. Serena examined the muscle from Darien's broad shoulders down to his lean and narrow waist as he continued to walk forward. He looked like the legendary Greek god, Eros, himself. Darien emanated a sensual and sexual power that captured her attention. He was fineness wrapped up in one male package.
"If you say so Young Master," Kenji said before walking down into the sunken receiving room and out of sight.
"I was gonna send someone to pick you up," Darien drawled teasing, "It seems that you must have read my mind."
"Well you should have sent someone earlier, cause then I wouldn't have ridden a half hour over here in the hot sun on my bike," Serena retorted, an irritated look on her face. Her hair was such a hindrance; it didn't even look as though it were in buns anymore. She reached up and let her hair fall down to her back.
Darien gawked at the sight before him. Serena's disoriented appearance was quickly forgotten to him as he watched her sun gold hair cascade down her back as she shook her head to get her hair out of her sweaty face. If it wasn't for her baggy clothes, she could possibly pass as pretty, he noted to himself. As her sapphire eyes stared into his, a soft smile curved her lips.
Serena walked down the stairs with her gift in her hands. This is it, she thought to herself. "I got you something," She said in a calm, serene voice although she was very nervous inside. Her hands shook slightly as she extended her hand to give him the gift; watching his expressions as a grin softened his features.
"You shouldn't have," Darien said, "but how could I refuse when you've already brought it?" He grabbed it out of her shaking hands. He noticed that tell-tale action; she was nervous about giving him her gift, he thought delightedly. She looked so sweet and so vulnerable the way she watched him as he began to open the box.
"What is it?" He asked right before he lifted the top of the box.
"Just open it, you dork," Serena answered impatiently, "Its not, its not m-much, s-so, don't get too ex-excited," Serena told him, as her heartbeat increased. She could hear it pounding in her ears as all patience left her. Serena never cared about other's opinion, but for some strange reason Darien's mattered to her. She actually cared about what Darien thought.
Darien lifted up the top and stared in silence down at the three chocolate covered strawberries.
Serena waited for something. Anything; a frown, a smile, she looked for any sign of emotion on his face. But she couldn't see any. His face was emotionless as he pulled his gaze away from the gift to look at her. Darien's eyes were turning a deep blue; Serena didn't know what that meant though. Did he like it? She wasn't so sure.
And then…he smiled at her.
"How'd you know I love chocolate covered strawberries?" He asked in an astonished and grateful tone. His boyish and lazy grin made him look so very handsome to her.
"Let's just say it was my intuition," Serena replied, relief flooding through her as she gave him a radiant smile.
"What's this?" Darien asked, finally noticing the tiny, tiny scrawl on the strawberries. He raised an amused eyebrow at her and began to read.
Darien's burst of laughter echoed through the receiving room.
Kenji and some other servants ran to see what there young master was laughing at. Never in their time of working for the Chiba family had they heard such genuine laughter come from him. Darien waved them away as he turned back the Serena. Kenji smiled, knowingly. The girl was good for him, he concluded. And with a new bounce in his step, Kenji continued on with his duties.
"I'm arrogant, vainand selfish?" Darien laughed. "You're reluctant, huh?" He raised a brow at her and chuckled as Serena mumbled 'You bet I am!'
"Well, let's see if these taste as good as it looks," Darien said as he took one strawberry out and examined it, "Well it doesn't seem to be poisonous," he observed as Serena scowled at him.
"Just eat it you dope," Serena ordered.
"Alright, here goes," Darien took a bite out of the strawberry as Serena watched impatiently.
It was good, Darien thought, the best he had ever had. The strawberry alone tasted as though it was sugar coated, and with the effect of the chocolate, it all seemed to melt in his mouth. As he finished chewing he smiled at Serena's forlorn expression.
"So…" She prodded. "How was it?"
"It was…" he let himself prolong the silence, building up her suspense, "good."
"Good? That's it? It was good?" Serena nearly shouted.
"Yeah, did you expect me to say it was bad?" Darien asked; feeling a bit confused.
"No, but is that all you can say?" Serena shouted at him.
Baffled, Darien just drew his eyebrows together confused, "If there was anything wrong with it I would have told you," he answered.
"Eeerrr…." Serena growled, "Forget it."
Darien just stared blankly at her. 'Gee, what's up in her ass?' he wondered.
"Why were you gonna send someone to pick me up anyways," Serena changed the subject, trying to calm down.
Darien smiled now, "Oh, barbeque and pool outside. The guys are already out there with Mina."
"O-oh, um, I d-don't have a b-bathing suit with me," Serena stammered, flushing.
"That's okay, Rei has tons. You can borrow one of hers," Darien said, undeterred.
"B-but, I-I d-don't want to use one o-of h-hers," She stuttered, blushing.
"It's okay. She has some that she never used before. You can keep it if you want," Darien informed her. He grabbed her hand with his free one and dragged her down the hall, up the grand staircase, and up to the second floor.
"Here we are," He said as they came down to a door at the end of a hall.
Darien led them inside of the room. Serena's eyes grew large at how red the room was. The armchair and couch in the room were red velvet. The comforter of the bed was of Chinese style; it was of red and gold dragons. On the walls hung large red fans depicting samurais, and the two windows were covered by red curtains. Rei must have really loved red Serena thought as Darien walked over to a black dresser against a wall and began to rummage through a drawer.
"Here," Darien said as he pulled out a pink bikini, "Rei got this as a present. She doesn't like pink, so she never wears it."
"A-a-a bikini?" Serena stammered, blushing. "Doesn't she h-have a one piece?"
"No she doesn't," Darien informed her, "Don't worry, we won't laugh. Just put it on, I'm going to my room to put the strawberries away. I'll be waiting at the bottom of the stairs okay?"
Serena could only nod as Darien walked out of the room. Laugh, Serena thought, the guys are more likely to gape than laugh. Serena picked up the tiny bikini top that Darien had placed on the bed. Would this even be able to hold her breasts', Serena wondered to herself mortified. Quietly she complied and slipped her clothes off.
"Oh well," Serena sighed, "Looks like I've blown my cover."
Darien waited patiently for five minutes at the bottom of the stairs, his patience wearing thin. She was just putting on a bathing suit damn it, Darien thought vehemently, how long does it take to put it on? After a few more minutes Darien decided her time was up. Darien was just about ready to climb up the stairs.
But then he stood stock still.
Coming down towards him in a light pink bikini was Serena. But not the charming, innocent, childish, naïve girl that he had become accustomed to seeing. In a transformation that unnerved and entranced him, the breathtaking young woman descending towards him was more stunningly beautiful than Mina herself! Her hair was parted in the center, falling like shimmering gold down her front, and ending at her waist in thick curls.
The V neck of her bikini top accentuated her full breasts. His gaze traveled down her flat and toned stomach and down to the tiny bottom piece that clung to her graceful hips. Her long shapely legs were cream colored and appeared to be smooth as silk. Darien wasn't sure if it was possible to get a hard-on by just looking at someone, but he sure felt a tightening in his loins.
And then, she just had to trip on the last step.
Flinging her arms out to clasp around Darien's neck to stop herself from falling, she paid no heed to the way her breasts were pushed up against his chest. Serena just blushed as she looked up into Darien's face.
Darien noticed though. He could feel her nipples pressing through the think material of her bathing suit. He could feel every inch of her ample, silky breasts, and he felt like groaning, but refrained. Was this what she had been hiding, he wondered in amazement. He didn't understand how she could have such a volatile effect on him. First the kiss had left him wanting her, and that was just a kiss! Darien thought darkly to himself. And now, with her body pressed up against his like this, he sure as hell wanted to start kissing her all over again.
Pushing down his raging conflict, he forced himself to portray no emotion as he looked down into her wide eyes. Again, the way she was looking at him was making him think that she was only a little girl. But still the electric shock of her skin to his was having crazy effects on him. Her lips were parted and lush, just begging him for one kiss, one ravenous touch that could send them to cloud nine.
Darien took her hands away from his neck and pushed her away instead and smiled.
"Klutz," He chuckled.
Serena fumed, "Why you…you rich snob!"
"Come on you," Darien said as he grabbed her wrist and dragged her through the house and out towards the pull.
"Thank you," Darien quietly said as they walked along a paved pathway to their destination.
"For what?" Serena asked.
"For the strawberries," Darien replied as he looked down at her.
"Oh, no problem. I grew the strawberries myself. They're my babies!" She said with pride and chuckled.
"No wonder why they taste so sweet; it's because you grew them," He said good-naturedly, and smiled down at her.
Serena blushed, he was complimenting her. Darien could be so sweet, yet so clueless at times. She wanted to know all of the sides of Darien though. If it should take her a lifetime to learn all of his secrets and become his confidence as a friend then, that was a lifetime worth living, she thought. Serena nearly tripped over a rock on the sidewalk, stumbling slightly into Darien's back. Darien turned to give her a knowing look before continuing to drag her past a hedge to the pool. A pink tint appeared on Serena's cheek.
"Hey Darien, who's that?" James yelled as he got out of the pool.
"No way!" He exclaimed as he stared at Serena. "No fucking way!"
Serena slapped him, "Har, har, very funny," Serena said sarcastically, as she watched James rub his cheek. "Yes, fucking way."
Darien chuckled.
"Serena?" Andrew came over next, a stunned expression on his face.
"Andrew?" Serena mimicked his astounded tone of voice.
"Very cute suit Serena!" Mina exclaimed as she pushed Andrew and James back.
Serena blushed as her friend, clad in an orange bikini, grabbed her hand and dragged her away from Darien. "Oh, it isn't mine," she informed Mina, "its Rei's."
"Should've known, no offense though, you were so modest about your body the other night." Mina continued to chat merrily.
"No offense taken," Serena replied.
"Hey, let's take a dip in the pool. It's like heaven once you get in; the water is so cool," Mina told her.
Serena only nodded, and slipped out of her pink sandals and left them by a lounge chair. Serena turned to look at the large kidney shape pool. On the other end was an artificial landscape of a waterfall. From the side of the large rocks was a waterslide that was built in, into the rocky setting. The cerulean water glowed in the sunlight, shifting ever so slightly as the guys swam in the pool. Slowly Serena made her way to the stairs and took her time adjusting to the water temperature. The shallow end of the pool was only waist high for Serena, at the other end of the pull though, Serena couldn't even touch the bottom.
"A natural swimmer, I see," Malcom drawled as he came up behind her.
"Swimming is second nature to walking for me," Serena said as she turned in the water to look at him.
Malcom smiled, "And to think I thought that crawling was second nature to all humans."
Serena laughed, as she splashed water at him.
"Water fight!" Zachary shouted as started splashing water at Serena and Malcom.
The afternoon drifted into night as Serena, Mina, and the guys sat out under the starlit sky, eating steaks and barbequed chicken. Darien never enjoyed an afternoon as much as he enjoyed this one. Serena had made it so fun filled for him as he watched her. She was adorable…and completely sexy. He remembered the countless time he watched her get out of the pool with water sliding off her sleek body, and they way her hips would sway from side to side as she walked to get a towel. There surely was more to Serena than what he had assumed.
She was childlike in a sort of way that appealed to him; angelic and naïve. She was tough and witty, which made him respect and genuinely like her. Serena was considerate and understanding, and now, she also had the body of a goddess. Darien couldn't tell what his attraction to her meant, but he was determined to keep her at a distance. In only a few days she had already gain his friendship and trust. He would make sure she wouldn't gain anything else.
Serena appeared in the receiving room fully clothed in her own clothes once again. Everyone was ready to call it a day and go home. It was almost nine, and she remembered she still had her essay to do for Prof. Shimbo. With a defeated sigh, the reality of the world was going to crash down on her once they go back to school on Monday. Her footsteps were heavy as she walked towards the group of friends at the door.
"Serena can't go home alone, she needs someone to take her," she heard Darien say, and her head snapped up to stare at him.
"I'll take you home Serena," Mina said ecstatically.
"Um…I came on my bike…."
"I'll take you then. I'll drive the truck," Darien said.
"Thanks," Serena said gratefully, "I also brought Rei's jeans and your shirt. I washed it and placed it in Rei's room."
"I have your clothes in my room, I'll send someone to go and get it," Darien turned to find a maid but paused in mid-step. "You know what; I think I should just do it." Darien said as he pulled back from the group and disappeared down the hall.
"What's with the outfit Serena?" Mina asked; her eyebrow rose in curiosity.
Serena had forgotten that Mina never saw the way she dressed before. The other night she had worn Darien's and Rei's clothing. "What?" Serena asked innocently, "Is there something wrong?"
"Don't you wear clothes that fit you?" Mina asked as she placed her hands on her hips covered in a jean skirt; she wore an orange tank-top.
Serena laughed, "That's what Darien asked me!"
The guys just stared at the two girls with slight skepticism.
"So, Mina," Malcom asked casually, "When are you going back to Paris?"
"Not for a long while," Mina emphasized 'long'.
"Damn, we were hoping you would say 'soon'," James said sardonically, with a slight twinkle in his eyes as he gave Serena a smile.
"Don't make me kick your ass," Mina warned the offending blond.
"I'm not scared of you, woman! I'm a man!" James boasted as he puffed out his chest.
"Fuck!" James shouted as Serena's fist came into contact with his chin. "What the hell was that for?"
Nathan laughed as he looked at the smug expression on Serena's face, "Seems as though she was testing your, uh, manliness."
The guy's laughed as James scowled. "You punch like a freakin' guy," he said to Serena.
"Why, thank you."
"That's not a compliment," Andrew told her.
"What? It isn't?" Serena asked with a puzzled look.
"Uh, uh," Andrew answered as he shook his head, "Guy's don't really go for girls who can punch harder than they could; girl's who can, are scary and most of the time unappealing anyways." (AN: That is not true, I think.)
"She can't punch harder than me!" James shouted.
"You've yet to prove it," Zachary laughed.
"Unappealing!" Serena shouted as she punched James on the arm.
"Oww! Would you stop that!" James exclaimed.
Darien came back into the room at that moment, "Stop what?"
Serena, Mina, and the guys (except Andrew) laughed.
"I'll probably have a bruise on my face and on my arm," James said as he continued to rub his injury.
"Ahhh, I see," Darien said with a gleam in his eyes, "You shouldn't try to upset Serena. She can be pretty feisty— you know its true Serena," Serena had begun to glare at him.
After everyone said their good-byes and departed, Darien loaded Serena's bike onto the back of a black truck, and he drove her home. Serena had decided to keep the conversation between them light and casual; no heavy stuff that could possibly bring tension between them. She figured that's what Darien needed, and she wanted to take his mind off of the frustrating things in his life.
Serena smiled as she turned her head to look at him and said, "So Darien, can I ask you a few questions?"
Darien gave her a sideways glance to see what she was up to and then nodded. It was a lot easier to be with her when she was fully clothed, he thought.
"What is your favorite color, and why?"
Darien thought that she probably wanted to ask about something serious and was slightly deterred in answering, "I don't have a favorite color; I have two," he informed her, "One is blue, the other is red; I would say black, but it isn't considered a color now is it? I think I like blue and red because they are both intense colors that represent a great number of things including emotions: passion, sorrow, death, and more."
"Wow," Serena said, intrigued by Darien's explanation, "I like pink because to me it represents gentleness, love, and a sense of femininity."
Darien smiled, but did not turn his attention from the road to look at her, "Pink suits you."
Serena laughed, "So it seems…"
"What are you majoring in, and why?" Serena asked, making mental notes in her head.
"I have dual major for my undergraduate degree—economics and finance. I'm currently getting my master's degree in business administration," Darien said tonelessly.
"Master's? You can get a master's degree at Akita? But you've only just turned twenty-three!" Serena exclaimed.
"Now, now, let me finish answering your question. If you want to know, you can ask those questions next," Darien said in a lordly voice that made Serena frown at him.
"I chose to do a dual major in economics and finance and I also chose to get my master's in business administration because it is expected of me to take over my families operations. I will become an industrialist and corporate raider and continue to expand my family's business and surpass all of my predecessors own achievements," Darien informed her; his voice taking on a hard edge. Serena got the impression that Darien had some serious issues about his family and their business; however, she knew the conversation would no longer be as light and casual as she had planned it to be if she asked him about it.
"Striving to be the best I see. I'm taking classes in child psychology and I really like the subject. I think I may head into a career with children maybe, I love children," Serena changed the subject, "Okay here's my next question, how is it that you are going to be getting your master's degree this year when you're only twenty-three?"
"Does age really matter?" Darien asked; a boyish grin curved his lips.
"Yes it matters! Now I'd appreciate it if you would not answer my question with a question," Serena told him; a trace of irritation in her voice.
"I was able to graduate highschool at seventeen. Then I went to Akita and was able to get my bachelors degree by twenty, and I continued my studies at Akita for my master's, which I hope to receive by the end of the next two semesters."
"Wow," was all Serena had managed to say. Mina's words came back to her, "At a young age Darien was already trained to be prepared to take over the family business." She had said something like that, and Darien now just confirmed it. Again Serena couldn't help but feel that she wanted to be the one to relieve him of his burden.
"So does that mean you're a smart ass?" Serena asked teasingly; still trying to stick with her plan.
"Ha, ha, how did you know," Darien said flatly as he gave her a big smile.
"Oh, shut up," Serena replied.
"Hey you started it," Darien laughed.
Serena stuck out her tongue at him in a childish taunting way and Darien continued to laugh. Serena could make him feel so light-hearted. Her childish and angelic ways was cleansing to him. He couldn't even remember a time when Mina had made him laugh this much in only a few minutes. Serena and her witty comments seemed to ease his thoughts and lighten his mood. He knew she would prove to be a good friend.
"Oh, this is it," Serena said as she peered out of the window to look at the dark apartment building.
Darien parked the car on the side of the street and got out of the car. He walked around to the back of the truck to pull out Serena's bike. The night was warm, and the sky was clear. The stars and moon were clearly visible and the atmosphere seemed cheery and inviting. But Darien was certain he only felt the way he did because of Serena.
"Oh, you didn't have to get my bike for me," Serena said as Darien rolled the bike to her.
Darien looked at the apartment building as Serena locked up her bike on a rack. The building was crummy; not suitable for anyone to be living in, Darien thought as he looked at the crevices on the surface of the apartment and the graffiti. The stairs looked weak; its wooden planks looked as though it had been eaten through by termites. Damn, how she could live in such a shabby, dirty, seedy place like this, Darien would never know or understand.
"I'm going up now," Serena said as she finished locking up her bike.
"You mean you have to go up the stairs?" Darien asked aghast that she had to do so.
"You don't have to look down your nose at it you know," Serena said haughtily. "I do live here."
"I'm walking you up," Darien said tightly.
"Its okay, you can go ahead," Serena said, shaking her head at his offer.
"I wasn't asking you, I'm telling you: I'm walking you up." Darien's voice was authoritative. His features were hard and unpersuasive.
With a defeated sigh Serena said, "Suit yourself," and turned and walked up the stairs.
Darien followed closely behind her, carefully testing out each step before stepping on it while Serena stomped her way up two at a time. Serena lived on the very top floor, the fourth story, which also was the smallest apartment of all. Coming to a stop at the door Serena turned towards Darien.
"Thank you," she whispered quietly as she looked down at her feet.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't sure if you were thanking me or your toes," Darien said sarcastically.
Serena lifted her gaze to his and smiled, "Thank you," she said again.
"What for?" Darien asked; his voice a soft bur as he stared into her entrancing eyes.
"For the dinner, for the ride home, for taking your time walking me up here," Serena said earnestly, her voice shaking with emotion.
"You're welcome princess," he said, caught up in the magical moment.
His head descended towards hers. And in an instant that took for one to make a decision; Darien's original plan of giving her a kiss on the lips turned to an affectionate kiss on her cheek.
"Goodnight," Darien said as he pulled away and started down the stairs again.
"Goodnight," Serena whispered even though she knew Darien would not be able to hear her. Her body still shivering from the warmth of his body being so close.
And then she unlocked the door to the apartment, and stepped inside.
"Here you go Professor," Serena said as she walked in on Monday morning at 8:25, handing Professor Shimbo her project before taking a seat in the front row of the classroom.
Serena had just put the finishing touches to her paper that morning. After Darien had dropped her off on Saturday night, Serena had thrown herself into her essay, graphs, charts, and example pictures on the brain. She even called in to the bakery to take off work because she had to finish it. Fortunately for her, no one disturbed her for the whole of Sunday. It was rainy that day too, which was quite a drastic change in weather after such a hot day as Saturday.
From time to time she drifted off into her own world, looking out into the gloomy sky outside as she thought of words to write in her project Sunday afternoon. Today was no different either though. The sky was dark and cloudy; lingering low amongst the skyscrapers in the city. Everyone was just waiting for the cloud to let down rain. To make things worst, it was windy and cold; Serena wouldn't have been surprised if it started hailing. But still, school continued.
Serena paid attention as any studious student would while Professor Shimbo broke into one of his long lectures on the mind of a child and how it worked differently than adults. She jot down notes when needed, raised her hand to answer questions that were asked, and asked questions when confused; she did everything she could possibly do to avoid getting into trouble. And her work paid off. The class was dismissed at 9:30, and Serena hurried to her next class.
Walking swiftly down the stairs to the first floor of the building, Serena was busying herself in taking out her notebook for her math class when she bumped into someone. Serena's open backpack fell to the floor; her books and notebooks flew out in all directions.
"I am so sorry," Serena heard a familiar feminine voice say as she bent down to pick up her items.
"No, I wasn't looking. I'm sorry," She said as she looked up. "MINA?"
"Wow, I sure bumped into you early," Mina muttered as she too bent down to pick up her stuff. "I mean literally, who'd a thought?" She chuckled.
"What are you doing here?" Serena asked; completely shocked.
"I attend Akita now!" Mina answered happily, handing her a notebook.
"You attend Akita now?" Serena repeated as though she couldn't comprehend what Mina had just said.
"Yep! Isn't it great?" Mina seemed extremely hyper. (Four cups of coffee sure does make a person feel awake, Mina thought.)
"W-what about Paris?" Serena managed to stammer.
"Oh I quit!" Mina exclaimed! "Ooh, gotta go girl. I'm going to be late for my first class. I'll talk to you later," Mina said as she stuffed her last book into her backpack and placed a quick kiss on Serena's cheek before dashing up the stairs.
Mina sure was full of surprises, Serena thought as she carefully organized everything back into her bag before walking to her ten o' clock class. Like she said, "I'm all about making an entrance and exit." This certainly was another great entrance for her, Serena thought. Serena noticed students staring at her. Their unnerving gazes followed her all the way down the stairs. 'Gosh, what was up with people these days?' Serena thought.
Finding a table in the university's cafeteria, Serena took out her lunch and a book. All around her students chatted merrily about their weekends as some would walk by to find a place to sit. The day had been pretty good so far; after lunch she had Professor Yamashita for her foreign language course, English, which was her least favorite subject. Taking a bite out of her rice ball Serena lost herself in her romance novel.
"Thank you," She said simply.
"You're welcome," he replied, his voice strangely husky to his own ears He held out his hand to her, then had to fight down a wave of desire when she misunderstood his invitation to sit down beside him, and instead moved between his legs so she could sit with her back against his chest and watch the fire. Desire was followed by exquisite delight a moment later when she softy confessed, "This is the nicest night I ever had, Matt."
He slide his arm around her waist from behind, his fingers splaying protectively across her flat stomach, and tried not to sound as touched as he felt. With his free hand he brushed her hair aside and kissed her nape.
"What about last night?"
She bent her head forward, offering him better access, and promptly amended, "This is the second nicest night I ever had."
Serena looked up from her book Paradise by Judith Mcnaught. The touching moment of the story was ruined by a sudden silence that fell over the cafeteria and then a burst of whispering that came from all over the room. Serena closed her book to stare at the gazes of everyone in the room directed towards her…or rather behind her. They were all pointed and talking behind raised hands. Too bad they didn't know she could hear them, she thought. She could hear little snippets like "…what do you think she did…", "…look over there, at her, you know the poor girl…", and then she understood, "…I wonder why Chiba is standing behind her like that…"
Serena gulped. She had totally forgotten about him; about all of them. No wonder why people were staring at her when she and Mina bumped into each other! How could she be so clueless? Who else could draw the attention of every person when they walked into the room other than Darien himself, she thought. Feeling mortified, Serena sunk into her chair; opening her book as she tried to hide her beet-red face in it.
The hushed whispering did not stop.
Darien could see when he wasn't wanted, Serena thought as she shrunk lower into her seat. Or…not…she added quietly to herself as she turned her head to look behind her to see his firm stance. His expression showed of amusement as his lean, powerful figured towered over her.
He smiled when she finally looked up at him. Her cheeks were red, and she looked impish. Gosh, he felt like laughing! From the moment he entered the room he had known it was her sitting back here. He knew she was aware that he was behind her, and still she refused to look. Instead she had shrunk in her chair, choosing to ignore him. He would have to teach her to accept the fact that they were friends now and he would not be easily swayed.
Darien watched as Serena turned her head sharply once again towards her book, choosing to go with her plan to ignore him. Chuckling he sat down in a chair beside her.
"Remember me?" Darien said, loud enough for everyone to hear. The cafeteria grew silent except for the familiar voices of five men ordering at the lunch line.
Serena didn't answer him; she continued to pretend to be interested in her book.
"Awww, you don't remember?"
Again no answer from Serena.
"Don't you remember? We met this weekend," Darien said as their audience strained to hear what he was saying.
"You came over to my house twice this weekend," Darien drawled, enjoying the way she blushed even harder when people began to whisper.
"Hello?" Darien said as he waved a hand in front of her.
"You listening?" He asked.
"Hey….hey…hey…hello..." Darien continued to irritate her, poking at her head, prodding at her shoulders.
"How can you forget the hot sex we had—,"
"WHAT!" Serena shoved back from her chair with a force that made the legs screeched across the floor as she stood up.
The cafeteria was in an uproar at Darien's comment.
"What the heck are you trying to pull?" Serena shouted furiously at Darien, who gave her a sheepish grin.
"Now you're talking to me?" He stated more than asked; raising an amused eyebrow.
"You just told the whole school I slept with you!" She screeched, pointing an accusing finger at him.
"I only told everyone in the cafeteria," Darien pointed out, a grin plastered on his handsome face.
"And by the time I get to my next class the whole university will have heard!" Serena countered.
"What does it matter anyways?" Darien asked coolly, "It's not like we did screw each other."
"It wouldn't matter to you, but it matters to me! It's my reputation, not yours! It's my name that will be brought down even lower, not yours! It's me who has to spend three more years here, not you!" Serena shouted angrily.
Serena watched as Darien clenched his jaw. A muscle moved spasmodically on his right cheek as he stared down at her face; her eyes a deep blue with anger. Darien looked dangerous; although he didn't show any outer emotions, she knew she had struck a nerve.
Darien stood up from his seat and looked at their audience; their mouths hanging open.
"Ms. Tsukino did not sleep with me this weekend. If I hear one slander against her name from any of you I will hunt you down and make sure you never speak about her in such a way again," Darien ordered, his voice a near growl.
Calming himself down Darien sat back down, "Satisfied?" He asked.
Serena was stunned speechless. Once again Darien protected her. Not in the same sense as when Mina had attempted to strike her, but he had protected her from the cruelty of having her insulted. Despite his mean scowl he wore on his face, Serena knew he really did care about how she felt…and she smiled. Serena nodded to his question.
"It's not okay to threaten people," Serena laughed as she took another bite from her rice ball while Darien watched her.
"How else would you have wanted me to stop them?" Darien asked teasingly.
"Well…I was thinking that if you'd stare at them the way you were staring at me one minute ago, you could probably beat them into submission with your terrifyingly scary glare," Serena said playfully.
Darien laughed; a loud husky sound that drew the attention of the students once more.
"How come I didn't think of that?" Darien asked.
"That's because I'm the one with the brains, and you're the one with the muscle," Serena replied, making Darien chuckle once more.
"That was quite a scene you two," James said as the rest of the guys joined them at Serena's table.
Serena groaned, "Can't you guys go somewhere else?" The cafeteria was buzzing again.
"Why Serena," Malcom feigned an offended tone, "And I was just beginning to think that you were nice."
"Oh shut up," Serena remarked.
"Make me," Malcom teased.
"Stop acting like a kid, Serena," Andrew said as he took a seat beside her.
"Well, you can go to hell too!" She exclaimed.
"Look," Darien's stern voice broke through Serena's defenses, "Did you not promise me that we were going to be friends?"
"Y-yeah," she answered.
"Then we're staying," he told her, giving her a meaningful look.
"But they're staring," Serena shot back, staring out at the people watching them.
"Deal with it," Darien simply replied.
"Humph," Serena pouted as she took another bite of her rice ball. She glared at Darien, "Want a bite," she asked light-heartedly, extending her hand with the rice ball in his direction.
Darien leaned over and took a bite.
"Hey!" Serena exclaimed, "You actually ate it?"
"You offered," Darien answered perkily.
"Yeah, but I didn't think you'd actually take a bite!" Serena shouted.
Darien just grinned at her.