Sessediz

Rated M: Language and love scenes

D/S

We're nearing the end of this story and I'm readying my next side story though it won't be posted any earlier than Nov. 9th (I'll explain why later on) but let me know if you guys are interested in getting a sneak peek or some details about it. Outside the Walls was updated yesterday and I'm finishing up the next chapter for Do More Than Just Exist. Be sure to check those stories out!

Some comments to reviewers:

Princess Raena SS: For Darien, he spent his entire senior year wondering if the girl he loved was safe and ever coming back but also why she left him. The last words she said that day ate away at him until he couldn't take it anymore. I feel that the decisions we made six years ago are different than the ones we would make today so that's why I included that part of the story. Thank you for your review!

Bky: Ah, thank you so much not only for the two reviews but for your email as well! For other readers reading this reply, the reviews weren't showing up from this chapter and Bky was sure to let me know right away. I contacted the site and the issue has been fixed (again, haha). Also, thank you for your comments on how the two characters have grown in their decision making from six years ago to now. It's been a small challenge properly tying that into the flashbacks, so I hope I haven't confused many!

SMSM92: Aww, thank you for the compliment! I've always been a little shy about my writing (even at 22 years old) but I've worked hard at getting out of that shell; during which I feel like my writing has improved so I do thank you for all of the kind words you have shared. I feel like I've almost exhausted the song from writing this story but I know that once it's finished and I can take a step back, I'll be able to enjoy just as when I first got addicted and thought to write a one-shot. Maybe writing this has created a sort of time-capsule?

Also, thanks to phillynz, Guest, Daire123 and Syulai for you reviews! Let's see if we can get at least 8 reviews again :)

Serena Tsukino:

"Miss? Miss?" I snapped out of my trance and looked at the large man into front of me. "We have another job to get ready for. Can you sign that you are satisfied with our services?"

"Oh, yes." The man pushed a clipboard to me so that I could sign. Once I finished the task he grunted and then turned away in a huff. What an odd man. When I returned to the living room I found Lita slicing open boxes.

"Everything squared away?" she asked.

"Uh, yeah." I picked up a porcelain figure from one of the top boxes, "So we literally just moved from across the bridge; where did this come from?" It was a medium-sized elephant with green and gold flourishes.

Lita gave it an once-over, "We got that from Nathan three years ago."

"Oh," I nodded slowly, "Who's Nathan?"

She stopped unpacking and rested back on her bottom, "Wow, Sere, you can't even remember all your boyfriends' names."

Boyfriend? "I don't have boyfriends," I replied nonchalantly. I thought for a moment and vaguely began to remember someone, "Did he have reddish curly hair?"

Lita nodded, "Sure did. Will you give me a hand with this?"

I placed the elephant back in the box and knelt down next to her. The gas and electric weren't on yet and I was originally hoping to warm up the new apartment with the fireplace. I can't believe we actually have a fireplace! Problem was that it ran off a pilot light so it couldn't be turned on until the gas company was sorted out.

It wasn't too cold yet but we knew that by time the sun started setting we'd either have to bundle up with the blankets in the boxes that were… somewhere… or call Mina and Raye. I was pretty sure that Lita had already texted Mina so I just went back to work unpacking the kitchen dishes and appliances.

"You're awfully quiet," Lita piped in after a while.

"Just trying to get everything done."

"Is it Darien?"

I closed the cabinet that I was working on, "No, he's just taking some time to himself."

"And why's that?"

"Well, we're trying to figure things out between us."

"Ah," Lita picked up a box and walked passed me, "trying to figure things out separately then."

I furrowed my brow at my own lame explanation and then dismissed it. We spent the rest of the afternoon opening several of the boxes and setting the contents either in the place they were intended to go or spread out on the floor for easy sighting later on. Or trip hazards, I thought to myself.

"You ready to go?" Lita asked from the doorway of my new room. I saw that she already had her small suitcase with her and looked over for mine. We left for the parking garage and ran into a white-haired man on the way down.

"Oh, hello," he smiled.

"Hi," Lita and I replied in unison.

He looked from the direction we had walked in and nodded his head, "I see that you are the new tenants on this floor."

"We are," Lita said.

"Where do you live?" I asked out of habit.

The man ran his hand through his long white-blond hair. "Just another three down, over there," he gestured before reaching his hands towards us, "Malachite."

"Serena."

"Lita."

"What brings you to New York?" he crossed his arms and smiled almost flirtatiously.

I noticed Lita checking the time from the corner of my eye and then looked to Malachite. "Well, we're new to Manhattan but not New York. We've just moved from Brooklyn."

"Ah, very nice. Why the move?"

"We're opening the new location for our restaurant down the street."

He cocked his head, "Which?"

"Moon Rise."

Malachite nodded approvingly, "I've heard of that one. I actually think I received an invite from my secretary."

I furrowed my brow wondering who this man was. "Really? What business are you in?"

"Metalia Thorp."

My eyes widened. This man works at one of the biggest law firms in the city. "Uh, and what did you say your last name was?"

He smiled, "Didn't." We both eyed him waiting for him to clarify, "My name is Malachite Metalia, son and future owner of my mother's law firm in lower Manhattan."

"Wow," I whispered. "So, you were invited to my opening; does this mean you'll be attending?"

He chuckled, "Well, you didn't even know who I was. How am I supposed to accept such a premeditated invitation?"

"I hired an event planner. Although I gave her guidelines for the invitations, I don't know exactly who all she would invite."

"Alright, does that mean that you would still like me to come? I haven't had the chance to RSVP yet."

Of course I want a prominent New York lawyer like you to come to the opening! "It would be an honor to have you attend."

He winked at me and it was then that I started to feel uncomfortable. "Aye, then I will inform my secretary."

Lita nudged me, "Hey, the girls are going to wonder where we are."

"I'd hate to detain you. We should talk again, Serena," he smiled before quickly adding, "and Lita." We departed and continued to the parking garage.

"What was that?" Lita asked once I turned on the ignition.

"What are you talking about?"

"You and that guy. He was totally flirting with you, Serena!"

I grimaced, "No he wasn't." Was he?

Lita laughed, "You can always tell when a guy is flirting with you, so what's up? I thought you and Darien were figuring things out?"

"We were, I mean, are. Gosh, Lita, I was just being friendly with our new neighbor who happens to be a rich and prominent lawyer."

"Yes, a sexy and very interested lawyer." Was he really that sexy?

"Whatever." Lita turned on the radio and we didn't talk for the rest of the short trip. As we turned onto the last street I began wondering if owning a car in the city was worth it. I wonder how often I'll use it now that everything is pretty much within walking distance.

We walked up to the third level of the apartment building and knocked on the door. "Hey, ladies!" Raye beamed.

"Hey, girly," Lita smiled and we made our way into the living room. The floor was covered in laid-out blankets and pillows. Off to the side was their coffee table normally centered in the area between the couch and television and on top laid three pizzas and an assortment of candy and potato chips. "What's this?"

Mina bounced up from the sleepover-style set up, "Well, you guys are moving to the big city!"

"And opening a full-fledged restaurant in Manhattan," Raye piped in.

"And?" I asked.

"And we thought an old-fashioned sleepover was in order," Mina smiled. "Raye and I used to have them all the time in high school. We can watch movies, play truth or dare and talk about men, you know, instead of boys."

"I'm sure Serena would love to talk about men," Lita chided. I ignored her comment as I walked over to the middle of the living room and knelt down on a pillow.

The smell of the pizzas wafted through the room and my mouth watered, "Italian sausage and anchovies?"

Raye turned up her nose, "Yep, the exact most disgusting way you like it."

"It's traditional, I think."

Lita and I kicked off our shoes and everyone started digging into the food. A couple of slices in for each of us, Mina started the conversation. "So what's this about a guy? Is it Darien?"

"Well, actually ye—," I began to say.

"Nope, new guy."

We all looked to Lita but I definitely looked at her more pissed than Raye and Mina who likely looked intrigued, "Stop it, Lita."

Mina leaned over towards me, "Tell us everything."

I replayed the story for them and concluded with, "He was not flirting with me."

Lita swallowed a gulp of soda, "Why do you keep saying that? It was so totally obvious."

Raye giggled, "Maybe Serena liked him so much herself that she couldn't notice." She leaned back on a heap of pillows, "You know that's how it works in the rom-coms."

"I don't care what they write in scripts, I don't like him."

"Why?" Mina asked, "He sounds super cute and sophisticated."

"But I love Darien," I exclaimed before realizing what I was saying. My hand flew to my mouth.

"You what?" they said in almost unison.

I sat there stunned with my own words. Do I mean that? Over the years, I often thought back to my summer with Darien and how everything felt between us. Though I knew I missed the feeling of a carefree, teenage summer spent with someone as wonderful as Darien, it was almost like a dream or perfect music video, I knew that I missed Darien as the person more. Despite some errors in communication, I knew that part of me would be willing to give all this up for him. There was no certainty that if our relationship had started in high school it would have continued passed that, but I wanted that lost time back so much that it hurt.

"Serena?" Lita asked. "Are you alright?"

"I, uh, I need to make a call."

I scrambled up from the bedding and ran to the bathroom with my phone in hand. I stared at the contacts list for a few minutes trying to think of what I would say. There was no way that I would tell Darien my feelings over the phone, especially when I wasn't sure about his feelings, but I needed to know what was going on with him. Is he still upset about the doctor thing?

My finger hovered over the call button and the screen was fading to grey again when it lit up with Darien's Facebook photo. My heart raced and I dropped the phone on a discarded towel before leaving the bathroom. What is wrong with me?

"Sere?" Raye had walked down the hall to check on me. "Are you alright?"

I smiled. "Never better," I lied.

Raye didn't buy it but she wrapped her arm around me, "Well, you better finish that pizza. I am not putting it in the fridge to stink up everything." I chuckled and followed her to the living room where Mina was putting in Transformers.

"This isn't exactly a girly, sleepover movie," I whispered to Mina in the now-dark room.

I heard her smile with the air through her nose, "None of us were ever really girly." I leaned back accepting her assessment as the movie began. We got to the part where Shia Labeouf is trying to get Megan Fox to sit on his lap when Mina scooted closer to me, "So, tell me more about this guy Malachite."

I rolled my eyes but then realized she probably didn't see it, "I told you I'm not interested in him."

"Yeah, but I am."

I turned to her, "You don't even know what he looks like."

She shrugged, "So? Looks aren't everything and Lita already said he was hot." I returned my gaze to the film but Mina continued on, "Please? Just set us up on a date; that's all I'm asking."

"Mina, it's not like I have the guy's number."

"But you know which apartment is his."

I sighed, giving in. "Alright, fine. But I'm going to give him your number so that you two can set up the details."

"Deal."

We all finished the movie and got halfway through the sequel when I started to fall asleep. Moving was a lot of work and I was excited to have Raye and Mina coming over on Saturday to help arrange furniture. I woke up the next morning to Raye's hair falling over my nose and cheeks. Blinking, I opened my eyes to see Raye herself just inches from my face. "Can I help you?"

Her eyes narrowed, "I found your phone."

"Oh?" my eyes followed her hand as it came into view. "Uh, thanks."

"You have three missed calls from Darien."

"What?" I sat up and met heads with Raye. We both screamed and patted the injury.

"Watch it, Serena!"

"You're the one who was all over me like a love scene!"

"What's going on," Lita asked, still asleep.

"Nothing," I said quickly, grabbing the phone from Raye's lap and unlocking it. Darien called a second time last night and then again this morning. There's a voicemail. "I'll, uh… I'll be right back."

I bolted to the bathroom and pressed '1' on my phone.

"Hey, Sere," he said. "I know you said you were busy moving this weekend so I thought I could help. I've missed you. I guess you could call me when you get the chance but I really want to see you so I'll come by your new place tomorrow. I've got this thing with the company today and won't be home till late. Well, see ya."

I felt a cloud dissipate from my foggy thoughts and held the phone to my chest. He's missed me too.

The most rest of the day went by smoothly and the apartment was finally starting to look like something. One of the square dining table legs was busted from the move and Lita was already on her IKEA app looking for a new one. Guess we're going back to Brooklyn, I thought as I remembered when we bought that one in Brooklyn four years ago. Now I know why that guy wanted my approval signature so badly.

I humph'd and dialed the gas and electric companies to get an update on when they would be turning on our services. The apartment already came with water and I knew all four of us were all glad for that. Electricity would be done on Monday and gas could be on tomorrow. I knew that not having electricity wouldn't be the best thing in the world but we could deal for the night. At least we'll be able to turn on the fireplace tomorrow evening.

We took a lunch break at a sandwich shop not far from the apartment and departed from Mina and Raye at that time. Mina made a point to remind me to set her up with our new neighbor Malachite and I promised her I would. When we got back upstairs I told Lita to go on ahead so that I could get it over with. I walked up to his door, took a deep breath and knocked. When the door opened, a shirtless blond stood in front of me.

"Why, hello Serena," he smiled widely, crossing his arms over his chest and leaned against the doorframe. "What brings you by?"

I ignored his attire and began thinking of how to open up this conversation, "Are you seeing anyone?"

Malachite looked taken aback but recovered quickly, "Actually, I'm not. Are you free tonight?"

I furrowed my brow and started to see what Lita was talking about the night before, "Oh, um, I'm kinda seeing someone right now." I think so anyways.

"Oh?" Malachite seemed intrigued and smiled, "I don't prefer to be the 'other man' but if you insist."

I had to shut this down immediately, "No, you misunderstand. I have a friend, you see, and I think you two could maybe hit it off." Malachite looked hurt and I began to reel back my statement, "Oh, I'm sorry. I—I didn't realize—."

"No need to apologize, Serena. I understand." We stood there in mind-numbing silence and I wondered what social cue would give me permission to just leave. "You said you had a friend?"

"Hm? Oh, her name's Mina and she works at WFK-something; it's a radio station. She has long blonde hair like me and blue eyes too."

He nodded approvingly, "Well, if you're recommending her then I would be foolish to not accept."

I blushed, "But I don't know much about you."

"Aye, but I know about you." I tilted my head beckoning him to explain. "I went to your Wikipedia page last night."

"I have a Wikipedia page?" I almost shouted. Wow, that's weird and kind of awesome.

"Aye, and you seem to be an intelligent woman. So, when should we meet?"

"Pardon?"

"Mina and I? Is she available tomorrow? I'm quite busy during the week right now."

"Oh," I thought for a moment. They are supposed to come over tomorrow afternoon again. "How's a late lunch date, or early dinner? I know that she's over here tomorrow around that time."

Malachite nodded, "Sounds great. Tell her to dress casual since we're just getting to know each other. I'll stop by your place promptly at 2 p.m."

We said our goodbyes and I returned to the apartment where Lita was dismantling the old table.

"How'd it go?"

I hung up my purse on the newly-installed coat rack, "You were right; he did like me. But he understood that I was unavailable and agreed to go on a date with Mina."

"We'll that's good," she went back to her unscrewing, "Why do you think you didn't know that he liked you?"

I walked over to a couple of the untouched boxes, "I dunno. Maybe I'm finally focused on a guy and can't see it when others like me anymore."

Lita laughed, "Love really is blind."

"Hey!" I protested her laughter. "And don't tell Darien that! I want him to hear it from me first."

Darien Shields:

I still hadn't heard from Serena and part of me was worried that she had moved on during the last week; there was another part that wondered if something had happened but I shrugged both off figuring that she really was busy since she did say she would wait for me. Maybe she doesn't have electricity yet? Her phone could have died.

The elevator dinged and I started down the hallway. The numbers didn't seem to go in order so I stopped a man that was leaving his apartment, "Excuse men, can you tell me where apartment number 167 is?

The man smiled, "Aye, I'm going there myself. I'll show you."

I nodded and followed the blond man, who introduced himself as Malachite, down the hall and to a bend, "So, why are you heading there?"

"Blind date. One of the new girls set me up with their friend. Since you're obviously friends with them do you know much about her?" I furrowed my brow, "Let's see, she said she had blonde hair and blue eyes, um, I trying to think of the name. Something –ina, I believe." My heart dropped and I stopped walking. The man noticed and turned around, "Something wrong, man?"

"I, uh, I forgot something in my car." I don't have a car.

"Oh, alright, well it's just there," he pointed. "I'll let them know that you are on your way." Don't bother.

"Thanks," I muttered before turning back to the elevator.

Serena Tsukino:

"Mina, you look great," I smiled as she spun around in her pale blue and white dress. She was also wearing light brown booties and a tan jacket.

"You sure? I'm so nervous; I've never been on a blind date before," she looked to the mirror again and lightly rubbed her index finger over her lip gloss, "I'm sorry that we had to plan this while I was supposed to be helping you."

I waved my hand, "Don't even worry about it. Most of the big stuff is done and Darien should be by soon to lend a hand."

"Darien, eh?" she spun around again, "You gon' tell him that you love him?" she gushed.

"Stop it, now," I warned before hearing a knock on the door. I rushed out to the living room to see Raye opening the door.

"Wow," Raye smiled.

Malachite greeted her and she showed him in. "Serena," he stated coming up to me. "And where would my date be? We have to get go—," his words trailed off and I followed his gaze to Mina.

"Uh, hi," Mina greeted.

"Hello there," he grinned. Hmm… maybe this could actually become something. "My name is Malachite Metalia."

"Mina Aino."

They kept staring at each other for the longest time before Lita stepped in view, "So are you guys going to go on this date, or what?"

Malachite cleared his throat, "There's a diner not too far from here with a band playing. My friend's the bassist. Would you like to go?"

"Would I ever!" she reached out for his hand. As they were about to leave, Malachite turned around.

"Oh, Serena, some guy was on his way here a moment ago. Tall, dark and handsome type. He said he left something in his car though."

I cocked my head to the side. Darien? But he doesn't have a car. "Shit!" I exclaimed as I slid passed them out the door and down the hall still in my pink slouchy socks. "Shit, shit, shit!"

I pressed the button on the elevator and hoped that Darien had left through the ground floor. When I got to the bottom I asked the doorman if he saw a man matching Darien's description and when he said that there was a man like that just here I followed down the sidewalk in the direction he pointed.

"Darien! Darien!" I called through the crowd. There were still so many people out, even for a Sunday, and I quietly cursed the crowded city. "Darien!" I shouted once more.

"Yes?" a voice from behind sounded.

I turned around to see the love of my life looking frazzled yet still handsome. Love of my life? I shook my head and went up to him. "I know why you left. That guy wasn't for me. He's taking Mina on a date." I pointed to the couple walking out of the building.

"Oh," Darien replied. "I thought that—."

I put a finger to his lips, "I know what you thought but I promise you I'm all yours."

"You're what?" he asked stunned. Damn it.

"I, uh, you said on your voicemail that you missed me?"

Darien bared his teeth nervously, "Uh, well, can we go somewhere to talk?"

We went back upstairs and I told Lita that I needed some time with Darien for a bit. I felt bad for leaving her with all the work but instructed her not to do anything that involved my room or stuff so that I could at least do that stuff myself. Once properly dressed, Darien and I walked down to Central Park.

It's not that I've never been to Central Park, I have, but I've never had the chance to really enjoy it as a local park. The leaves were red and orange from the changing season and some were either completely naked or perfectly preserved as evergreens.

"I think I can forget the crowds so long as I walk through here every day," I stated.

He chuckled, "That's what I do. I walk for my commute, unless the weather is absolutely horrendous."

"Maybe we'll see each other then."

"Maybe."

We kept walking and I watched as kids put small rented boats into a large pond. Darien hadn't said anything regarding our talk yet but I chalked that up to nerves.

"Hey, Sere?" I looked to him, "I've been doing some thinking and—and well, I want you to know that I don't blame you for the stuff you said that day. What I mean to say is that we were both different people back then and looking back, I'm not sure if I ever wanted to be a doctor."

I stopped walking, "What?"

"No, I mean, I did enjoy studying medical texts and everything but I think that I was just so geared towards that profession as a kid… I never really thought of doing anything else."

"I see. I never really thought I'd end up co-owning a fancy Manhattan restaurant."

He chuckled, "Well, let's see how the first month or so goes. They say four out of five new businesses fail each year."

I smacked his arm, "We've had that restaurant for almost four years, you psycho!"

Darien continued to laugh as he rubbed his arm, "But this is a big move and the economy is still recovering. It could still fail."

I stopped, "I know, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try."

We stared out at the lake and I flinched only a few times as massive pigeons landed near us. Darien turned towards me, "I agree."

"Hm?"

"About trying; I'd like for us to try, Sere."

I slowly smiled, "What brought this on?"

Darien gestured for us to sit on a nearby bench, "I was thinking about the career stuff. I mean, think of it this way: We're both attracted to each other, no?" I nodded, "Right, so there's a possible relationship here and if you believe in destiny or any of that stuff… if it's meant to be, it'll happen."

"I guess."

He bobbed his head, "So the way I see it, we're both mature, young adults who have found their own way in life. You, albeit inadvertently, put me on a path to a career I had not yet considered and I had some small part in getting you to where you are." I knew he'd take credit... "We both made something of ourselves so maybe—maybe we're ready to really try this out," he gestured between us, "you and me."

I grinned, "So does this mean that you want to go out on a date with me?"

"Of course! I've been waiting a long time for a chance with you." Darien pecked my cheek with a kiss and I laughed into it. "Since the future is not yet in hindsight, I'd like to finally give us a real try."

"What did you have in mind?" I looked to my phone to see the time.

Darien wrapped his arms around me. "I know you have moving to get back to, something I am still willing to help with, by the way, and that you are busy with the restaurant, but I'd like to take you out this week; on a real date."

I held his arms and felt warm in the embrace. "I'm free Thursday night."

"Thursday?"

"Mmhm."

"I'll pick you up at seven."

I pulled away, "Where we going?"

"I don't know yet," he raised his eyebrows, "but I'll call you before then when I get an idea so that you can dress appropriately."

Darien and I went back to the apartment to help Lita and Raye unpack the rest of the stuff. Darien, of course, offered to help me with the boxes in my room and I made a mental note to keep the door open. We're going to take this slow.

At the end of the night, Mina returned from her date ready to spill the details and Malachite looked pretty pleased himself. Darien kissed my cheek and began his trek to Central Park and then to his apartment. Lita and I spent the night at Mina and Raye's again where they had set up the pullout couch for Lita and me to share since we all had work in the morning. Mina joyfully recited her date with Malachite.

"Oh, it was so perfect! He let me pay for my food after I hounded him for only five minutes, but I told him we were just getting to know each other so it wasn't even a date-date. Not yet, anyways."

We nodded along and Lita asked, "So how was the band?"

"Not bad. They need a little more practice to get their sound more cohesive but when they finish their demo I might just take it to my boss."

After she was done gushing about her date, and the fact that they had a second one planned for next weekend, they girls started asking me about Darien. I told them about the date we had coming up and they giggled.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Raye laughed harder, "just that you want to 'take it slow.'"

"And?"

Lita paused for a breath, "You've already slept with him like how many times?"

"What's the problem with that? I'm fairly comfortable with how I conduct myself in the bedroom."

"I bet you are," Lita added.

"It's no problem, Sere. At least, not yet. Don't be surprised when he expects it, okay?"

Shit. Could my actions with Darien mess up us actually forming a real relationship? I didn't want to think that they could be right; after all, they haven't been too right so far. Maybe I should call Darien about it?

I decided that I could call him later since it was already getting late and it was going to be a busy week for me and Lita. We were planning to run drills with the crew, both the new and old members, to ready everyone for the demanding opening night, and weekend, we were facing. Flyers had already been passed out for customers to expect 'speedy carry-out service' for our last week open in Brooklyn and I was anxious to see how everyone would hold up under pressure.

This is my life; I smiled as I nestled into the old mattress.