D S This is the sequal to "Late Night." You don't have to read the other one, but it makes more sense if you do. This one takes place before Darien and Serena know who each other are. I know, I know they find out the next day in "A Crystal Clear Destinty" but I didn't realize that until both parts were writen. *Sigh* It was an honest mistake, just don't flame me for it. A great many thanks to Alicia Blade who help me through all the revisions. After Midnight ---------------- It was well after midnight, and I couldn't sleep. I don't know what woke me up this time. Perhaps a nightmare or some vague memory. I don't know. My thoughts suddenly turned, as they often did anymore, to that bubbling ball of energy, Serena. I don't know what kept calling my thoughts back to her, but something grabbed a hold of me and reufused to let go. I sighed with frustration, knowing that I shouldn't be feeling this way about a girl so much younger than me. But I did. As I walked off the balcony into my apartment, a thread of melody started to play in my mind. I walked over to my desk and decided to write it down. After all, I might be able to use it later. As my pen flowed over the paper, a song came to life. In the dead, dark hours after midnight When all the world seems to stop in place, You can see a little more clearly, You can look your life in the face, You can see the things you have to; Speak the words too true for the light of day. In the dead, dark hours after midnight You face the consiquinces you must pay. 'That was certainly true,' I thought as I saw in my mind's eye an image of myself staring out over the city late at night. It was in those dark times when I was truly honest with myself. I faced my life with clear eyes And stopped hiding form what My heart was trying to say. For in the time I never knew you I wore an armor of stone. I was wise and faithful and noble; I was pompous, distant, and cold; I was cruel when I never meant it. I closed my eyes in pain as I remembered all those times I've teased her and others unmercifully. A silent tear found it's way down my face as I remembered how much I hurt her and never realized it. It was you who broke through my armor With your pain and desperation How could I not answer your call? How could I have guessed that you would touch me And in a way I could not control? How could I have known that I would need you Or guessed that you would find a way Into my heart and soul? I hesitated a moment. 'Was that how I really think about her?' I wonder as I stare at the verse. Her sadness had touched my in ways I didn't understand. I saw again the way she looked when I saw her crying late one night. Not her usual wails and screams, but quiet soul shaking tears. She would never have even noticed I was there if I hadn't said something. In that moment she had looked so lost, so heartbroken, that I had to help her. That was probably the first time I saw her as a person. You taught me so much, Taught me to love and to care For your own love melted my armor; Taught me to feel and to dare. When I looked tonight, I discoverd I couldn't again stand apart In the dead, dark hours after midnight, I discovered I owe you my heart. I smiled at the finished lines. I felt again that boundless joy that I always seemed to feel around her. I saw her brillient that seemed to light up the world. I heard her infectious laughter that makes you want to laugh with her. Suddenly, it hit me. I finally understood what had kept me awake. I loved her. Dispite everything I've said and did, I loved her. I put the song away and turned off the lights. Somehow I knew the rest of the night would be peaceful and tomorrow things would start to change. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- It was well after midnight, and I was still up. I had an assinment for Creative Writing that was due tomorrow. I was supposed to write a poem about somone I liked, but my mind kept returning to him. That's what frustrated me. I was pacing the floor in front of my desk trying to get him out of my mind so I could do my assinment and go to bed. Normally, I would have just gone straight to bed and worried about it in the morning, but for some reason, I wanted to get it done. With a sigh, I sat down and glanced over at Luna to see if I had accidently woke her up again. Nope, she was still asleep on my pillow. Oh, well, at least one of us can get some sleep tonight. Then a soft strand of meledy began to drift through my mind. I glanced at the bare piece of paper and picked up my pen. In the dead, dark hours after midnight When all the world seems to freeze in place, You can see a little more clearly, You can look your life in the face, You can see what you have to; Acknowledge the words too true for the light of day. In the dead, dark hours after midnight You face the truth and the price you must pay, My hand froze above the paper. What was I writing? Something inside me told me to keep writing. After all, it was true. I could see myself staring out the window as I have for several nights now trying to unravel all that's happened to me. I faced my life with clear eyes And stopped hiding from what My heart was trying to say. For in the time I never knew you I wore an armor of nievitte I was bouncy and laughing and inoccent; I was lonely, lost, and empty; I was selfish and never meant it. My eyes filled up with tears. Was that really the way I veiewed my life? I cried softly when I remebered all the times I've been late just because I wanted to be lazy or the times when I've lied to Molly because I wanted to hang out at home and read comics rather than go to a party with her. What made it so bad was that I never realized it. I wanted to stop there and write somthing short and happy and get the assinment over, but something told me that this wasn't just an assinment. It was you who broke through my armor With your pain and desperation How could I not asnwer your call? How could I have guessed that you would touch me And in a way I couldn't control? How could I have known that I would need you Or guessed that you would find a way Into my heart and soul? I stared at the words in front of me in shock. Was that how if really felt about him? I closed my tear filled eyes and saw again the look on his face when I told him I was going out of town to see my aunt. That look of yearning and want in his eyes somehow tore into my soul. That day I asked Andrew about it, and discovered he was an orphan. My hand shook as I st down my pen, but picked it up again quickly. I knew I wasn't done. You taught me so much, Taught me to love and care For your own love warmed me; Taught me to feel and to dare. When I looked tonight, I discovered I couldn't again stand apart In the dead, dark hours after midnight I discovered I gave you my heart. I smiled slowly. It was so true. In my mind's eye, I saw again that late night when I was in the park crying. I had fled my room and Luna's ackward comfort. I had realized just how close to dying we all came and I was terrified. I don't know what he was doing there, but he asked me if I was alright. Even though I nodded, he walked over and held me tight. Then he took me over the the swings and pushed me while telling me the silliest stories. The next day, he acted as if it didn't happen. But it didn't matter. He had been there for me. I turned off the light and climbed into bed. After shoving Luna aside, I closed my eyes to sleep. Somehow, I knew the rest of the night would be peaceful and tomorrow things would start to change. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Darien stood around the corner nervously. He was waiting for Serena to come rushing up the sidewalk like she always did when she was running to school, so he could step out in front of her and say that they met by 'accident'. Just as he was about to give up, he heard her familiar voice shouting about how she was going to be late again. He smiled slightly and deliberatly stepped into her path. Seconds later, he felt as if he had been hit by a run away steam roller. "I'm so sorry!" Serena exclaimed, struggling to get off of whoever she ran into. She got half way up and slipped again. She was about to start crying when she heard whoever-it-was let out a soft sigh and get up. When she heard his voice she stared up at him in shock; not seeing the hand he extended toward her. "I'm OK, Meatball Head," Darien said as he got up, "Do you need a hand?" he asked and offered her his hand. He couldn't help but chuckle when she just sat there staring at him in shock. He knew that she probably was wondering about the sudden shift in his attitude. Little did she know just how much his attitude had shifted. His soft chuckle brought her back to reality, "I'm OK," she said huridly. She started to get up then noticed all of her papers were scattered around her. "Oh, no! I'm going ot be so late!" she shreaked as hurriedly started picking things up. Darien stiffled a grin and helped. In moments, she was tearing down the sidewalk again. All day during school, Serena was so distracted that even Molly gave up trying to talk to her. She kept staring off into space trying to figure out why he had been so nice to her that morning. Her mind kept returning again and again to the poem she kept hidden in her notebook. (She had turned a different one in.) She was so out of it, that when she left for home after detention, she didn't notice the dark blue car sitting outside the school. Darien watched in amusement as she walked right by his car without saying anything. FOr a moment he tried to think of something nice to say to get her atention, then he shouted "Hey, Meatball Head!"He grinned as she whipped around like he knew she would. Serena jumped at the shout and automaticly turned around to yell at whoever it was. The sharp retort died on her lips when she saw it was him. He had a stunning grin on his not his usual mocking one. Her mouth went drey and she tried desperately to bring that retort back. Darien watched as she struggled for words before calling, "I was heading to get some ice cream. I wanted to know if you'd like to come along." He didn't have to ask her twice. In moments, they were eating ice cream. He had ordered a chocolate cone, and she was devorering a double hot fudge sundae. Serena watched him silently for a few moments between bites. Something about him had changed. There was a faint smile about his lips as if he was enjoying a private joke, and he was being so nice. Finally, she could handle the supense anymore, "Ok, what did you drink last night?" Darien blinked and stared at her. What in the world was she asking? Then it dawned on him. 'She thinks I'm drunk or something,' he tought in amusement. He grinned at her and replied, "Nothing. I just thought you'd like some ice cream." He couldn't resist adding, "I also thought you might like to go to a movie, Serena." Serena stared at him in shock. Had he just invited her to a movie? Then another shock hit her. He had called her Serena. A smile slowly spread across her lips. "That sounds great, Darien," she replied She realized that she didn't care what made him change his mind. All that mattered was that he was here. Her mind turned suddenly to the poem she had hidden in her battered notebook in ther bag, and realized she'd have to read it to him some day and somehow, someday, she would have to tell him she loved him. Darien smiled at her in return. He knew that she was wondreing about the sudden change in him. He thought about the song he had left in his desk and realized that one day he would play it for her. He wondered suddenly at the change in her. She had been nice to him, instead of telling him off and walking away. Then he realized it didn't matter. For watever reason she was giving him a chance. A chance to make it up to her for all the pain he caused her, and a chance to win her heart. As he listened to her rattle on about different movies, he knew that somehow, someday, he would have to find away to tell her he loved her. Thanks for reading, DS desandrel@hotmail.com _______________________________________________________________ Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. 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