Against Reason - Chapter Six:

I own Nothing.

Thank-you all for your reviews, sorry i'm not really good with words.

Serena gnawed on her pen, risking the potential blue consequence as she pondered her current dilemma. "Where to study? Where to study?" Since her first lesson, the question had bounced back and forth in the back of her mind. Where, where, where? Until moments ago Serena had been paying very deliberate attention to all her classes, granted she was only into her third period. The current class topic, history, had been faithfully regurgitated into her notebook and she had begun the day with two, not one, but two working pens. That's Commitment for you. But the mental nagging, like the insistent nark of your alarm clock continued to ricochet; "The Dilemma". The irony was not lost on her; instead of listening in class she was once again distracted, distracted by secret study locations. Study sessions to compensate for her lack of attention within class. She gave a characteristic snort, causing one or two heads to look over at her. No the irony was not lost on her, but her recently adopted motto, "Study at your own pace-just don't lose the race", brought everything into perspective. Serena shrugged to herself.

A warped perspective – but still a perspective, to a certain degree...enough of that-Serena gave a mental shake and applied her attention to the list growing in the margin of her notebook. Where to study?

Library. Out. Amy

Home. Out. Mum

Tutorial Rooms. Out. The Ugly One

...Serena looked blankly at the options. She considered the public library but there was still a chance of Amy, or even Rei, Lita, Mina or someone else seeing her. It wasn't that see was ashamed of the situation, she just didn't want anyone to know. Serena tried to understand her own reasoning. It was like when you went on a diet, and if you mentioned it to anyone you were suddenly overwhelmed by advice, comparisons or those thoughtless if kindly meant comments of "You look so much better now!" Yup like you were an unworthy human being three kilos heavier ago. No one knows; No one comments, No one sees you fail. Wait-FALL! Failing wasn't on the cards. The crystal ball was all clear of failing in the near future. Serena straightened her shoulders and gave herself another mental bark – Drill Sergeant style. Everyone falls, but we are not failing. One step at a time, Study at your own pace and...why is everyone in the class staring at me?

"Miss Tsukino, If it's not too much trouble would you mind rejoining the class –unless you have something more important to share with us?" Her history teacher wore that bland, polite imitation of a considered expression, lips stretched out to resemble an attempt of a smile. Here we go. Serena apologetically ducked her head and felt herself flush in embarrassment. Day One of the Improved Serena Program. Fail.

"Sorry Sir."

Sashaying between the desks to peer over her, he continued to drawl. "I very much doubt that, as I very much doubt that you heard the question I asked you, or that you have heard any of the lesson at all."

Traitorous twitters broke out from several classmates, at the teachers snide attempt a wit. Trying to be funny at someone else expense was one of Serena's pet peeve.

In fact, It had just become Public hate number one. He did that. And just like that Serena's embarrassed flush fanned into white, hot anger and like a heat seeking missile it focused on the source of ridicule. Looking down at her notes Serena grasped onto the last unfinished point- Capitalism and colonialism of the 19th century-and decided to take pot luck.

Staring straight into that bland, sour face, she spat out-

"Gunboat policy."

The stupefied expression that followed was perhaps the most rewarding moment of Serena's academic career. And she barely stifled the giggle creeping up her throat.

Stalking stupidly back to the whiteboard he began barking out that nights reading assessments.

Hmmph, mused Serena, who would've thunk it.

"Andrews!"

Spurned by her victory over the slimy history teacher, the good thoughts just kept on coming.

Sprinting to her locker for a quick book exchanged Serena felt the epiphanies flash past her like buses, none for ages and then BAM! Three at once.

"ONE, She'll study at the Andrew's cafe. Two the girls only go there on weekends. Three If she is caught there everyone will assume it's for a sundae and Four, Oh glorious FOUR - And this was a the clincher. No chance of the Ugly one being there because he will be tutoring someone else in her time slot, back at school."

Serena jubilantly slammed her locker shut and spun on her heel, and slammed directly into Darien.

In a last ditch effort not to connect bodily, she twisted backwards and both legs flew out before her. Books, pens and paper flew up and out – almost if it had been rehearsed for a comedy skit and her coccyx hit the floor. Hard. Most people call it a tailbone, but Serena had fallen on it so many times she thought it deserved to be addressed formally. Shit it hurt.

Beryl's shrieking laugh introduced itself like nails on a blackboard, backed up by the mandatory sniggers of her ever present entourage of equally mindless groupies. Senior student Beryl Withers held the undisputed title of the pretty, cruel teenage cliché. She had substituted brain cells for Brazilian waxing back in junior high-and hadn't looked back. Beryl had learnt early that doors could be opened with a pretty face and a suggestive smile. Well doors held open by men, anyway. She seemed to derive joy from the misery of others-and for some inexplicable reason like a carrion feeder from a wildlife documentary, she targeted the weak impala of the school social herd and ran it to the ground. Just cause she could. Although, in her defense, as Amy had once pointed out- like a cowardly prairie dog with rabies, Beryl had been known to go up against the stronger, more assured members of the student body. The last show down between Lita and Beryl over a boy and a potential date had required trauma counselling for all witnesses who had the happy luck of being present. Certain asperses on personal physical attributes had been cast about and insinuations of STDs had been none too thinly veiled. Serena hadn't even been aware that some of those sexual positions were even possible.

Needless to say Lita had won.

From numerous well meant lectures of her parents Serena was advised that only truly insecure people felt the need to bully others. However, due to guilt by association through Lita, Beryl had stuffed Serena's gym gear down the toilet last year. Insecurity or not-Serena didn't like her. If Beryl had problems she could work it out with a shrink like everyone else had too.

And she was attached to Darien. Physically.

The Hyena hiccupped her way through her exaggerated hysteria, "Oh Serena! If only we could all be as graceful as you". Serena noted the red heads tentacles, blood red tipped and all, were suckered around Darien's free hand. His other seemed to be carrying, a double load of text books.

My, my how impressive. One handed.

So the bastard carries the Hyena's textbooks and he leaves me on the ground.

Desperately trying to stall the sudden jerk in her heart rate, Serena quickly raised her emotional deflector shields calling on secondary reinforcements in the form of sarcasm. Focusing on the sudden ache in her rear end and wondering if she had just flashed the entire hallway. She took the opportunity to hide her burning face, by ducking her head with the pretence of smoothing her skirt down her thighs. And she couldn't quite ignore the fact that infamous proportions of Beryl's upper chest seemed to be smooshed into Darien's left side. Taking several deep breathes she drew on her assembled reserves, shifting into arctic cool.

"Don't mention it Beryl, always glad to provide some amusement." Serena grumbled as she pulled herself to rights, brushed herself down and set about gathering up her fallen things. In her peripheral vision she noticed several students turn her way, others begin to stall and gather in the hallway, confused by the downed student and the two standing over her. Not helping.

While Beryl continued to snigger, Darien stood silent and stoic and apparently trying to pull off his best impression of a human lighthouse, or its angsty, teenage equivalent. Trying to appear nonchalant he simply looked like he had just smelt something bad.

So Darien wasn't sorry about yesterday, no surprises there, thought Serena. Replaced by a red head with legs to her nostrils and blemish free skin – way to go self esteem. Somewhere deep down inside her, sitting somewhere with that quiet little voice she heard at night, beat that sad little hope that he was sorry. She gathered her splayed items into a collective heap, even reaching as far as Darien's shoe for her runaway pencil case, "Really, don't trouble yourselves I've got it. No really I insist." She chirped with exaggerated enthusiasm, "Oh gee thanks guys, really appreciate all your help." Serena straightened up and faced the happy couple. Beryl's forced sniggers had shut off rather abruptly as she realised that not only was Serena apparently unembarrassed by it all, but Darien hadn't spoken or even moved throughout the whole exchange. Beryl shot a quick look at him, face pale and jaw clenched tight- he hadn't even offered to help-or apologise. Beryl had no inclination of helping what she consider social pond scum but Darien was usually such a gentleman. Beryl looked quickly but to the seemingly unruffled Serena and then quickly to several students nearby, including her own friends who only minutes ago had been cooing in envy when Darien had offered to carrying Beryl's books to science class for her. She wasn't enjoying this. She felt strangely embarrassed. Uncomfortable.

Serena watched Beryl's beautiful, blank face crease in confusion, and bolstered by the fact there were witnesses and this wasn't an abandoned dark alley or isolated bushland; no shallow grave anywhere nearby -

"Nice rock you got there Beryl. So tall. Gotta get to class. "

Negotiating around the couple back into the student stream of the hallway, past Beryl and as far from Darien as possible, Serena moved on.

Dismissed. Ignored.

She had walked off before he could even get a word out.

Ignored.

Ugly.

Darien turned quickly, jarring Beryl's linked arm and causing the girl to give a gasp of pain.

Darien didn't even notice.

This wasn't lost on Beryl. Or her cohorts.

"You know Serena", Darien's voice followed her down the hall, causing her to pause and turn slightly- she braced for pain. "This is a school - a facility for learning and education, why don't you stop wasting everybody's' time and let someone more deserving have a chance. "

The words echoed down the sudden hushed hall, a hall, Beryl realised was full of students. Staring at him. Darien only seemed to be seeing Serena. Annoyed she tugged to free her hand and Darien tightened his grip painfully. Beryl's face whipped back and forth between the two. Serena was half turned, her head tilted in thought-

Serena weighed the words in her head. Unoriginal. She had heard worse before – Hell, she'd heard that before almost word for word, from him. Ching, Ching- Ricocheted right off the deflector shield. And suddenly one of the ten brilliant things she hadn't had the presence to say back in the library, poured out of her;

"Anyone can pass a test Darien. Anyone can write an essay. Anyone can improve their study techniques, even me. Your smart Darien, smarter then I'll ever be", Turning completely around she walked a step back towards the two.

" But your rotten to the core. You're the lost cause Darien, I'm just bad at maths. Now excuse me – Don't want to be late for my next undeserved and wasted lesson." But she paused before turning as if a thought had suddenly occurred to her.

"Oh and Beryl-you could do better. And Darien" Looking pointedly down at Beryl's limp fingers and his white knuckles, "-She wants you to let go of her hand".

And without haste Serena moved off in the direction completely opposite to her next class. She strode with steady purpose until she could sprint unseen to the closest bathroom where, bolting through the door she slid into a heap against the cool tiles and began to hyperventilate.

War. Oh God – What had she just done. War.

Her vision fogged and blurred as she felt the tears run down her face as she frantically tried to remember what it felt like when his fingers had traced her hands that first day.

He was going to kill her.

He released Beryl's hand without looking at her, striding off after the little brat.

"Darien! My Books?"

"HE SAID WHAT?"

"Now Rei. calm down, caaaaalmmmmm doowwwwn. Calm down. "

"I WILL NOT CALM DOWN! WHAT IS HIS BLOODY PROBLEM?"

"She handled it Rei. She handled it really well. She kicked his arse – actually, I mean metaphorically speaking – she slaughtered him."

"But what's wrong with him? Why's he got it in for her?"

"No idea."

"I might have a idea."

"Amy?"

"Amy"