iTitle: The Crossroad Turns Author: Dream Enid E-mail: writergrl3@hotmail.com Rating: PG13 <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< Hey everyone! I go as Dream Enid. You can e-mail me at writergrl3@hotmail.com That's an L then 3. I would love to hear feedback. I have so many different ideas for fanfics right now, but I'm sticking to writing short stories. After that I'll write more shorts stories as well as part stories. (Once I figure out how to send in part stories!) This story has to deal with Darien breaking up with Serena (as usual); however, it's cool. I also in no way own Sailor Moon. I wish I did but I don't. Sorry. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>< "So you're breaking up with me?" Serena asked, tears springing in her eyes. "Yes, well, maybe we're just..." "Don't you dare say maybe we're better off as friends! You're destroying everything we had back on the Moon Kingdom. You are un-doing the one thousands years we had together in one night!" Serena murmured in sobbed voice. She glanced around to make sure no heard what she just said. "Serena, please. We were young then. We didn't know what love was. It'll be all right," Darien tried to say as he stretched out his hand to grace her cheek lightly. "Don't you dare touch me, you, bastard," Serena exclaimed as she slapped Darien. Darien felt the burning on his cheeks. He felt so confused. He did not know whether he loved Serena or he just assumed he did because of their love in the past. "Alright, Meatball Head. If that's the way you want it. I'll see you around." He used his pet name for her. It stung into her heart to as she felt her heart actually break in two. She watched as her first and only love walk through the Arcade door. Serena felt tears flow once again from her eyes. She sobbed hysterically. Andrew happened to see everything from behind his counter. Poor Serena! He knew Darien and Serena both for long time. He knew Serena was the first person Darien ever loved. He also knew Serena jumped into relationships too quickly. It was ten o' clock on a Friday night. Andrew decided to close early. "Everybody! Closing time! Finish up 'cause I'm closing in fifteen minutes," Andrew told his customers. Serena was still sobbing as she absentmindedly stood up to walk home. "No, no, Serena, I want you to stay. We should talk." Serena dreaded having to talk to Andrew. He would only talk about Darien. He would want to know the details. "Y-yes, uhh, A-Andrew?" 'She sounded terrible!' Andrew decided. He turned on the radio. "Maybe it'll be better with the radio on," Andrew said. He decided music would numb the pain. "Serena? There's no easy way to say this so I'm just going to say it? What happened between you and Darien? I mean did you two break up or something?" At these words Serena once again burst into tears. "Serena, Serena! It's okay!" Andrew tried to say. "Darien doesn't know anything about love. He's just confused." "Andrew?" "Yes?" "You don't know much about love, do you?" "Well, not really," Andrew admitted. "Oh, Andrew! I didn't mean it like that! I just, well, when you're in love, it's like... Okay, see the whole goal of someone is to find 'the one', and when you find them, it's like being complete. You finally feel whole. You want to laugh, and yet, you want to cry because the whole world led right up to that one point. You have your lifetime to go through these scary experiences, but at least you have someone to share it with. You keep on walking even when you're looked down on. This is because in the eyes of the person you cannot be stupid no matter what. You're perfect. If you and your love stick together, everything will seem less scary. You find yourself being a better person because you want to be a better person for your love. You find yourself happy with everything and optimistic. Even when it seems like you cannot be anymore, you are. Your love never sees the faults of you; they only see the good. And when you fall in love, you feel like you are literally falling, but your heart feels like it is staying in that one spot. You get 'butterflies in your stomach' at the thought of the seeing that person. You enter a different world. It's almost like a different dimension, and you can never go back to being normal. When you kiss, you feel everything around you heating up, with a feeling as though you're going to explode. The only thing that matters at the moment is you and your love holding onto each other as though you would never see each other again. Afterwards, when you lean on each other, breathing deeply, you feel like you two are fit together like pieces in a puzzle," Serena chocked out in a hoarse whisper. "Oh, Serena, that was beautiful," Andrew whispered. He did not know what else to say. This shocked him too much. Serena being mature? That never happened. What happened to the perky, hyper, klutzy Serena? An American song came on the radio. It was "Wounded" by Third Eye Blind. What a coincidence. This song fit Serena's situation perfectly. Andrew decided to tell Serena. "Hey, Serena? You know this song? It's perfect for you. Listen?" The guy who put his hands on you. Has got nothing to do with me. And the bruises that you feel will heal. And I hope you'll come around. 'Cause we're missing you. You used to speak so easy. Now you're afraid to talk to me. It's like walking with the wounded. Carrying that weight way too far. The concrete pulled you down so hard. Out there with the wounded. Missing you. Well, I never claim to understand what happens after dark. Still my fingers catch sparks at thought of them touching you when you're wounded. Let me break it down till I force the issue. We miss your face. You know I wish you. Would come back down to the Dalva Bar. You'll tell 'em that's just my battle scar? "Andrew?" "Yes?" "This song does seem to fit. Maybe I'll buy the CD." "Come on. When's your curfew? I'll bring you home." "Eleven." "It's ten- thirty! Come on, let's get you home." "OK." Serena didn't say anything even after she walked in the front door. She locked the door once she got inside. Her parents were not up. She walked up to her room. She sank on her bed. She just laid there, thoughts swimming in and out of her head. The next day, Serena woke up. She didn't even remember going to sleep. As she stretched she noticed five faces staring at her. They were her four best friends and Luna, her cat as well as guardian. As soon as Serena noticed them, Raye, her best friend with raven hair, jumped on her saying, "Oh, Serena! We heard! I'm so sorry! We had no idea he would do that!" Serena didn't answer. "Serena? Your alive, right?" "He said we were too young to understand love on the Moon Kingdom- om," Serena said hiccupping. It must have come from crying in her sleep. "Serena?" Mina, her blonde haired friend asked. "You want to see a new movie?" "Not really." "How about we plot a hundred ways to kill Darien?" Lita, her brown haired and active friend, chirped up. "No thanks." "Oh! I know! We can ask the fire about your future love!" Raye exclaimed. "I'm not interested." "Let's study for the algebra test tomorrow," a very blue haired studious girl offered. "Amy!" everyone shouted in the room including Luna; however, Serena looked thoughtful. "Yeah, I think I'll do that," Serena answered surprisingly to the others. "Hey, Lita? Can you bake those famous chocolate chip cookies of yours?" Serena asked with a weak smile. "Oh, yeah! Anything that I can do for you right now. I'll go to the store, and I'll bake them here okay?" Lita asked in a voice that seemed to state rather than ask. "'K." "Lita, we'll come with you," offered Raye. "I don't feel like it," Serena replied sulkily. "Oh, come on, Sere," Raye replied, "you got to get outta the house sometime!" "No, I just want to stay here and study. Amy, can you help with algebra." "Of course I would. It's okay," Amy replied shooting a look at Raye's protesting face, "it's easier study if it's just two people. You three go on ahead." "Alright. See you when we have the things. Oh, and after we bake the cookies of course. See 'ya around, Sere," Lita replied heading for the door. When she turned around, she was the only one there. "Come on, guys. Raye, Mina, I 'said' come 'on'." They looked as though to argue, but they're faces fell as they decided to come after all. *** Darien watched the snow fall gracefully. No two were ever the same. Each carved into little statues. He thought back to the Moon Kingdom. He remembered a ballroom. He remembered dancing and explaining his quest to protect his love. He remembered discovering he loved Serena. He remembered breaking up with her at the Arcade. Was he that dumb? How could he have broken up with her, yet there were lots of people that loved each other but didn't go out, right? Darien walked into his kitchen. He decided to make hot chocolate. Wait. Serena loved hot chocolate. He would make chocolate chip cookies. Wait. Didn't Serena's friend, Lita, make excellent chocolate chip cookies? He settled for a turkey sandwich. Darien opened his refrigerator door. He pulled out the turkey slices, cheese, and pickles as he reached for the mayonnaise. There was none. He was hungry so he started anyway. Darien balanced the ingredients in his arms as he closed the refrigerator door with his hip. He set the ingredients on the counter. He walked over to his pantry. He opened the door and walked in. Now where was the bread? He saw it and picked up the bag. He sat that down on the counter also. He twisted the tie to the bread bag off as he reached in to pull out two slices. Mind, he would not take the end pieces. He reached into the middle and pulled out the two largest pieces of bread. He set the bread on the counter. Normally, he would have put a plate under the bread to prevent crumbs from getting on the counter. He did not care now. He was too confused about the situation, about life, to care. He did not even twist the tie back onto the bag. He just left the open bag lying on the counter. Darien put his two slices of bread together and bit into them. He spit it out as he realized that he forgot to put the filling in between the bread. He put on the turkey, cheese, and pickles, each time leaving the container open. He finished with flair as he put the last bread slice on. It was not bad. A little dry maybe, but not bad. Serena would probably eat it. She loves food. What was wrong with him? Why could he not get Serena out of his mind? Things were getting too overwhelming. If he didn't break it off when he did, then it would have happened eventually. Would it not have? He wondered; however, no matter what could have happened, it already happened. There was nothing he could do except sit there and think? *** One hour into the study session, Serena was beginning to understand the mathematical equations. Amy helped Serena even when she was extremely confused. It was nice. It was something Darien would have done. Darien? Why did he have to stick in Serena's mind? At that moment, Ami interrupted Serena's thoughts. "Okay, Serena," Amy began, "if a drink contains ten percent orange juice?" "Why orange juice?" "That's what the problem says." "Does it have to be orange juice?" "Well, it can be anything you want. It works out the same." "Can it be soda punch?" "Sere, what on earth is soda punch?" "It's soda and sparkling cider and?" "Never mind! A drink contains ten percent orange juice?" "Soda. "Soda! We need six quarts to serve at our party." "We're having a party?" "It's hypothetical!" "We could have a Halloween party! It is October after all. It would be so much fun?" "Sere? If you want to do this, please be quiet. So. We have ten percent? err? soda in the punch. We need six quarts of the drink to serve at a party. We want the drink to contain forty percent soda in the punch. How much of the pure soda should we add to the punch with ten percent soda to have six quarts of a mixture that contains forty percent soda?" "Huh?" "You're the one who wanted to use soda. Let's start with the let statement." "Okay, okay! Let six minus p equal the amount of soda at ten percent. Let p equal the amount of pure soda. Let six equal the amount of soda at forty percent." "Excellent! Now your equation?" "Yeah, that's next! It's 0.10(6-p) + p = .40(6)" "Go on." "Then it equals 0.6 ? 0.1p + p = 2.4. Then that equals out to 0.6 + 0.9p = 2.4. Then you subtract 0.6 from both sides. It equals out to 0.9p = 1.8. Then you divide both sides by 0.9. That is?ummm? 2! We add 2 quarts of regular soda! I understand this; I understand this!" "Yes! That's the answer!" Amy shouted. "You actually get this!" "I know. Ask me another question!" Serena could not get over her new- found intelligence. "Okay. There is?" Amy tried to say as she was interrupted by the door being opened as the word "cookies" rang out in the air by three merry voices. "Oh, yeah! About time! No offense, Ames, but algebra is still boring even though I understand it!" Serena exclaimed. "Serena," Luna's stern voice called out, "do you really understand algebra?" "She sure does, Luna," Amy said, "Tell them Serena. We invest a total of seven thousand dollars into two accounts, one with twelve percent interest and one with eight percent interest. If our return interest was five thousand dollars, then how much did we invest into each one?" "Okay," Serena began, "let x equal the amount put into twelve percent, and let seven thousand minus x equal the amount put into eight percent. Our equation would be .08(7000- x) + .12x = 5000. That equals out to 560 - .08x + .12x = 5000. That equals out to 560 + .04x = 5000. You would subtract five hundred sixty from both sides to get .04x = 4440. Then you would divide both sides by four hundredths to get x equals three thousand, eight hundred eighty. Therefore, we invested three thousand, eight hundred eighty dollars at twelve percent, and we invested, uhh, hold on," Serena explained as she worked out her problem on the calculator. "And we invested three thousand, one hundred twenty dollars at eight percent?" "Yes!" Amy exclaimed. "Yes?" Serena asked. "Yes!" Luna shouted. "Yes?" "Yes!" Lita, Mina, Raye, and Artemis shouted. Serena did not even notice Artemis had been there. Artemis walked over to Luna. Their tails curled together. Serena decided that they looked 'cute'. Even though their fur colors happened to be the antithesis of each other, they were souls mates and loved each other. Thinking of soul mates reminded Serena of Darien. *Sigh*. Serena decided she needed chocolate to feel better. Serena grabbed more and more cookies as she ate one after the other. The others noticed this; however, they decided to leave alone since Darien 'had' just broken up with her. Also, they could not say anything because they ate more than they normally would have. It was the intoxicating aroma of Lita's cookies. After Serena's eighth cookie, Raye could not take it anymore. "Serena!" she exclaimed as Serena started on her ninth cookie, "I know you like Lita's cookies, but do you have to be such a pig?" "Raye?" Serena began, "Do you really have to be so mean to me? I mean so what if I like Lita's cookies? She's an excellent baker. Maybe this is my way of dealing with Darien. Did you ever think of that?" "Oh. Um, no, I didn't," Raye stammered. The others were quiet. They had never seen Serena act so maturely. They thought she only knew how to yell, whine, and scream. Serena; however, went on further to say, "Why is it you boss me around, though? Is it because you wanted to be the lead Scout? I couldn't help that. That's my destiny. I wish sometimes that it wasn't, but it is. You don't know how much of a responsibility it is. Maybe that's why I act ditzy. Maybe I act that way to relieve the pressure of being the leader." "Serena," Raye said quietly, "that was never an issue. Maybe in the beginning, yes, I admit it, I was a little jealous?Please don't interrupt," she add hastily, seeing Serena open her mouth to speak. "I don't know. I got over it quickly I can tell you. I realized this is my destiny, to protect you, as it was on the Moon Kingdom. Now, the issue has been more of the fact that you act ditzy when you need to be the leader. You 'pig out' when you know you shouldn't. I'm not trying to be mean. I'm just trying to tell you my opinion. Serena, you are one of my friends. I love you like you are my sister. Please don't ever misinterpret me that way again. I do happen to think, though, that if you put your mind to it, you can eat healthy. Maybe you would even loose some weight. Not that you need it." The two girls hugged. They understood now where the other was coming from. "I'll try not to be ditzy, klutzy or whiny," Serena offered pulling away from the hug. "And I'll try not to be so mean," Raye told her." They hugged again. "Please close your mouths," Serena laughed, finally breaking the hug. No one had been used to this kind of exchange. Mostly Raye yelled at Serena, Serena whined which would make Raye yell, and start the whole cycle over. "Serena," Lita started, "Darien breaking up with you sure has changed you." "I might even go as far as to say it was for the best," Mina added. "I wouldn't go that far," Serena said. "Hey, Mina. You are the Sailor of Love. You can tell me what will happen between Darien and me." "Even if I could, which I can, I would not be able to tell you," Mina said genteelly. "Why not?" Serena asked. "If I told you what was to happen, it might change what is supposed to happen, you know? I will tell you this: Darien and you are soul mates. It's up to you guys whether you stick together or not," Mina explained. "That's what I thought," Serena said meekly. "Well, let's do something productive or at least get out of the house. We can go to the Arcade!" The others exchanged glances. The Arcade? The Arcade would mean Andrew. Andrew would mean Darien. Darien would mean trouble. They would have to trust Serena. Serena would make the best decisions for herself. One by one they all agreed it would be fun to go to the Arcade. Serena picked up Luna and set her on her shoulder as Mina did the same with Artemis. They headed out Serena's bedroom, bounded down the stairs, and walked out the front door. Serena dug into her front pocket and pulled out a key. She locked the front door. She safely put the key back in her pocket. At that moment a blood-curdling scream rang out in the calm air. The seven looked around to make sure no one was around. They five girls each transformed into the Sailor Scouts, and ran in the direction of the scream. They ran fast until they saw the young woman being attacked by the youma. The youma looked to be a man. One could never tell with youmas. He was blue and had horns. His long bright blue hair was matted. His forehead was wide, and his eyes squinted as he took in the crowd around him. His chest was bare. Green pants, that seemed to clash with his blue skin, covered him. Green sandals covered his feet. He let out a roar as the woman swung her purse, which collided with his nose, breaking it. "You!" he roared when she spotted Sailor Moon and the fellow scouts breathing heavily. "Yes, me!" she shouted back. "How dare you hurt these people in order to look for me! I stand for love and?" "Justice, yadda, yadda, yadda. Well, bully for you. We know. I've been looking for you. Beryl has been looking for you. You are not that easy to find. Do you know that Sailor Moon?" the creature shouted. "Well, if you want to cut to the chase and die, then have it your way," Serena added bitterly. "Moon, tiara, magic!" The tiara, which had been on her head, now spun wildly, balancing on her palm in a vivid gold blur of color. She swung her arm back and forward again in a rapid motion. Her tiara leapt from her hand and sped hurriedly toward the youma. It all happened so fast it was a blur to Serena. The youma held up a hand. The tiara slowly stopped spinning. "This is elementary, Sailor Moon!" the monster yawned. "Mercury, bubbles, blast!" Sailor Mercury shouted. Fog leapt from the girl's hands and concentrated around the youma, the five girls, and the two cats. Nothing could be seen by anyone, but the five girls and the two cats were used to moving around in the unseen. "Use the crystal, Sailor moon!" Luna shouted. The monster kicked the air around him to find Luna. He felt his foot hit solid body as his foot connected with Lita. Lita was thrown against a tree. The wind was knocked out of her as Lita fell on the ground unconscious. "Lita!" the other four girls, Luna, and Artemis shouted. "Now you're messing with fire, Buddy! Mars, fire?" The youma pushed Sailor Mars aside. Raye fell with a sickening 'crunch' as her leg buckled underneath her. Everyone winced. "Any other takers?" the youma roared. "Venus, crescent, beam, sma?" The youma laughed as he hit Sailor Venus as hard as he could. Tottering on her feet, she then proceeded crumple to the ground. "You can't take her!" Sailor Mercury shouted. "I won't let you! Mercury, ice storm, blast!" "That feels good," exclaimed the youma as he shoved Amy to the ground. "So it is just you and me, Sailor Moon!" He picked Sailor Moon up by the throat. She gasped for breath as she felt herself being choked to death. The monster laughed. Where was Tuxedo Mask? Was he really going to let her die because they were not going out anymore? How cruel, and yet, true to life. Sailor Moon watched Sailor Mars inch her way toward them using her arms. She was almost there. She felt herself loosing consciousness. She was inches away from being by them, and with her last remaining strength, she clasped her hand around one of the monster's ankle. She pulled as hard as she could causing the monster to fall down and drop Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon fell, blood falling freely from her head. Shakily, Sailor Moon stood on her feet. "Cosmic, moon, power!" she screamed as the youma shouted in agony as he vanished from the air. "Moon, healing, activation," she said more calmly as she focused all her remaining energy on her friends. Lita, Mina, Amy, and Raye, slowly gained consciousness. Their wounds started to heal, and Raye's leg started to set until it was normal. Using up her last remaining strength for her friends, Sailor Moon had none left, and so she fell to the ground de-transforming into Serena. She lay there unconscious, blood all around her. Her head was not the only source of it. Serena felt her eyelids drops as everything got blacker and blacker? *** Darien kept walking in circle around the incredibly large hospital. He did not know what he would even say if he were to go inside and up to the room which contained his ex- girlfriend. He should have been there for her, for all of them! The youma was crushed now. He was not need; however, it bothered him that he did not even know they were in trouble. He and Serena usually had this mental bond, which enabled them to know when the other was in trouble. Yesterday, he did not know they were in trouble. He did not know until Mina called him that morning. He remembered the conversation well. "'Lo," Darien began. "Darien, there's been accident?youma?nearly killed all of us?was choking Serena when Raye got to them ?pulling herself on her broken leg?grabbed ankle?tripped?released Serena? she killed him?healed all us?used all strength? blood everywhere! She's in hospital. Darien, where were you yesterday? Why didn't you come? We could've died!" Mina answered in a voice, gasping for breath with the hint of tears falling. Darien was too shocked to say anything. Accident? "Accident?" his voice repeated. How could he not have known? "I'll be right over," he replied as his voice cracked. This was how he was found now, walking around a hospital, debating whether or not to see her. He decided to enter. He entered the emergency doors. He looked around, confused by the atmosphere around him. Men and women in green jumpsuits rushed to where they needed to go. Many held papers in their hands. This is where he worked? This is where he would come back to work tomorrow? Was it Sunday? It had only been two days? It felt like two years. He walked up to the information counter. The familiar woman with vivid red hair knew Darien really well. "Darien! Why are you here today? You don't come into work until tomorrow!" "Well, Cataline, I'm here to visit my girl?a friend of mine. A friend." Darien answered. He almost said 'girlfriend'. That, Serena was definitely not anymore! "A friend," he repeated to himself more than anyone. "And who is this girlf, err, 'friend' of yours?" Darien hated the way she italicized the word 'friend'. "Serena Tsukino." "Oh, yes poor dear. She just woke from unconsciousness, but she is expected to have to go in surgery. She has a chance of death. It slim, not to scare you or anything, but? Room two- oh- six. You know where that is." "Yes, thank you." Darien walked away to the elevators. He pressed the button as he waited to get on. He wished the elevator would come soon. At last the elevator arrived with a bell ring. Darien walked onto the elevator. It was empty. Was this some cruel analogy to his heart? He reminded himself did not have anything for Serena. He conjured up a rose, remembering for the fiftieth time he was not there for her. His red rose was beautifully opened to the right amount of fullness. When the doors opened, Darien walked into the hall. He began looking at the numbers on the hospital room doors. Two hundred three, two hundred four, two hundred five, and there it was, two hundred six. Darien braced himself as he walked in. Serena was asleep on the hospital bed. She looked like an angel. Her long golden hair was taken down, and spread around her like a golden sea. Her tiny hand clasped around a small piece of paper. Darien took it from her hands. It was an invitation to a Halloween ball given by the hospital. It was in four weeks, one month. It told people to come dressed in costume and not to reveal whom you were until midnight. He would have one in his mail cubby, granted if he ever checked his cubby. He had not checked it for five days. This might have contributed to the surprising reaction. He slid the paper back into her hands. Serena's eyes opened. "Darien?" she murmured. "Yes?" "Is it really you?" "Yes, it is." "Why didn't you come yesterday?" "I just found out you were in the hospital today." "No, I mean why didn't you help me and the rest of the scouts? We could have used it." Darien knew perfectly well what she meant. He did not know what to say. "I, erm, brought you this," he said thrusting out his rose to her. "Oh, I guess that makes it all better then, huh, Darien? You left me and the scouts to die yesterday, which we didn't die because of some miracle, and you waltz in with a rose. Let me see it. You know what this is? This is one of your roses you conjured. It could have helped yesterday not today. This isn't going to keep me from bleeding internally," Serena exclaimed as she threw his rose on the ground. Darien felt like crying. She was bleeding internally? That was serious. Well, what did he expect? She was right. He was stupid. He did not love Serena anymore, but he knew she hated him. He turned to go. He did not say anything to Serena. He walked out the door. As he was closing the door behind him, he noticed the clear bin on her door containing papers. He picked them up. It said Serena was bleeding internally; she had a fifteen percent chance of death and a fifty percent chance of surgery. He placed the papers back. Darien walked over to his cubby. Sure enough he saw his invitation to the Halloween ball. *** Serena stood in front of her mirror. They predicted death. She had beaten it. They had predicted surgery. She had beaten it. Everyone in the hospital was impressed. They wished her to come to the Halloween ball. "We don't allow just any patients," the exclaimed. "We like you." She never told anyone, but that day Darien came to visit her, she saved his rose. She pressed it in between her mattress and the bed frame. It helped her to know he cared. It was what kept he going on. He did not want her to die. He just did not love her. That might have hurt the worst, knowing he did not love her. Jason was to pick her up soon. Jason was the intern she had met. He had particularly taking a liking to her. Jason was sweet, funny, charming, and every Serena wanted in a guy. She looked once more in the full- length mirror, before turning to leave. In front of her stood a French woman from the seventeenth century. She was wearing an off- white gown with a hoop skirt under it. It had taken her a long time to find the hoop skirt, but it was worth it. Her dress was shoulder- less. The chest of the gown featured a 'v' with the inside of the 'v' criss- crossed with lace. The gown's waist also ended in a 'v' shape. The 'v' was outlined in small sea pearls. Her feet donned off- white slippers. She suddenly noticed her naked face! She needed her mask. Now, where was it? She spotted the facemask. It covered half her face. It was decorated with blue sequins and feathers. She hastily put it on being careful of her hair. She put half of her hair in a bun. Three small braids, one from the two sides and middle, crossed over each other below the bun. A net covered her bun. "Serena!" Serena heard her mother call. "Jason's here!" "Okay, Mom. Be right there." Serena checked herself one more time before walking out the door of her bedroom. "Hey, Jase!" "Who are you? I don't believe we've met, m'lady." "Jase! Stop it! Not too bad yourself." "Oh, well, thank you," Jason answered sarcastically. He looked well in a tuxedo. He wore a mask as well. They had decided to go together as the same theme. Come on! What'cha waitin' for? Bye, Mrs. Tsukino!" Jason called out as he grabbed Serena's arm, pulling her to his car. "Bye, Mom," Serena added. "Bye! I want her home by eleven," Mrs. Tsukino reminded Jason. "Okay, will do," he replied. With that, the door was shut behind them. Jason opened Serena's door for her. She giggled for she had never been really treated like that before. As Jason sat down in his seat, he asked, "Well, Doll? Wanna go to dinner first?" "Dressed like this?" "Why not?" "Okay!" The idea tickled Serena. It would be funny to see people's different reactions. "Where do you want to go?" "Oh, I don't know. How about that burger joint just a few miles from the hospital?" "Good idea." They drove in silence. When they parked safely in the parking lot, they started to go inside the place. Serena reached for the doorknob. "Nono, let me, m'lady," Jason said quickly. Serena giggled as she walked into the fast food restaurant. All eyes turned to them. Some people even rubbed their eyes to see if they really believed what their eyes were showing them. Serena and Jason looked too realistic. They walked up to the counter. "May I take your order?" The friendly man with freckles chirped. "I'll?" Serena began. "Two cheeseburgers, ketchup only. Two sodas?Coke " Jason cut in. "That'll be eight dollars and sixty- eight cents," the man said, handing Jason a receipt. "Your number is seventy-one." Jason and Serena sat close to the pick- up order. "Jase?" "Yeah?" "I appreciate you wanting to be a gentleman, but I can order for myself." "I know, Serena." "But I wanted onions, tomatoes, and pickles on mine." "I'm sorry Serena. Besides, those are all bad for your breath." Serena felt a little drawn back. Jason had not shown this side before. In fact, there still was not a lot he had shown. Serena decided not to let it ruin her night. She was going to have fun. They picked up their order, and ate in silence. It was not long before Serena filled the air with her angelic laughter. "What's so funny?" Jason asked curiously. "You have a little dap of ketchup on your nose." "Yeah?" "Yeah," Serena answered. "Does it go with my outfit?" Jason joked. "Uh, not really." "Care to lick it off?" "Okay," Serena said as she tried to lick the ketchup off his nose. It was very hard to do considering she was laughing hard. "Well, here," she offered finally after she finally picked up her napkin and wiped the ketchup off his nose. After that, everything seemed to get rolling. It was as if someone turned a light switch on. They were talking as fast as they could but stopped every once in a while to breathe. "Ready?" Jason finally asked as he gathered his food wrappings. "Yep!" "Great. Let's get our wrappers, and then move on out." Serena picked up her burger wrapper and empty soda cup as Jason was doing the same with his. When they threw their wrappers away, they left toward the door with a sudden air of Henry VIII, trying hard not to laugh as they once again felt a sea of faces star at them. As soon as they were out the door, they once again burst of laughing. "Their faces were priceless!" Serena exclaimed gulping for breath. "That was so funny!" Jason replied. "Come on, race you to the car. With that said, Jason started running. "Hey! I'm in a dress!" Serena shouted after the blur in front of her. She struggled to get to the car. When she arrived, she met Jason with a smug face, sitting on the car's trunk. "You finally here?" Jason asked with a note of surprise in his voice. "I'm 'in' a dress!" "Okay, okay," Jason replied, jumping from trunk. "Let's go." He opened her door for her again. 'It's pretty cute,' Serena thought to herself. 'It gets old after awhile, though.' When they reached the building the ball was held at, they gave their car to the valet. Serena felt her mouth drop open as they crossed from the outside to the inside. A different world materialized in front of them. Bats, skeletons, spiders, snakes, hung from the ceiling. Serena saw many different costumes, and could not keep up with them. "Shall we?" Jason asked offering his arm to Serena. "We shall," Serena agreed, taking his arm. They walked down the steps into the ballroom. "Wanna check out the different rooms?" Jason asked. "I didn't know there were other rooms." "Uh, yeah, see the other doors?" "Oh, yeah, okay. Let's do that," Serena replied. "How about this room," Jason replied, grabbing Serena's wrist as he pushed her into the room. Jason pulled the door behind him. It was a broom closet. "Uh, Jason, this room is dark," Serena said uncertainly. "That's right, unless you like it with the lights on." "Like what with the lights on?" Serena asked, assuming she already knew the answer. A passionate kiss was her reply as Jason fumbled for the switch. Serena pushed Jason off of her when the lights came on. "I'm not like that," she said. She felt a sudden pain on her jaw. Jason punched her in the mouth! "Shut up, bitch," Jason said. "I'll make this fast." "But you never acted like this!" "Well, yeah! Would you have gone out with me if I had?" "Well, of course not!" "Then there's your answer, now shut up!" Once again, Jason's lips pressed against Serena's. She felt his tongue pressing on her lips to open. She opened her mouth and bit Jason's tongue. She tasted blood just like she heard the swearing and the pain in her head. He punched her twice in the head as hard as she could. She felt herself falling. She felt everything happen, but it felt distant. He was kissing her, but she barely felt it. Slowly, she stared pieces scenes together. He did always seem dominant. He always opened her car door as well as any door. It seemed gentlemanly, but after awhile it was creepy. He ordered for her. "Stop," she heard herself saying over and over as the tears rolled down her face. "No!" Each time, a punch was her reply. She felt Jason suddenly fall hard into her; he was unconscious. She pushed him off of her. "She 'said' 'no'," she heard a voice say, as she glanced up for its owner. It was a man. He was wearing a phantom of the opera costume. The two people locked eyes. Serena knew who it was. It was Darien! Darien! He did care. In their gaze, they exchanged knowledge in the way they always knew what the other was thinking. Serena ran into Darien's arms. She hugged him tightly, every ounce in her body aching, but it did not matter. He still loved her. Darien leaned his head on the top of hers. "I love you," Serena sobbed. "I love you, too," He replied. "Why did we ever break up again?" he asked, his voice wobbling. He was crying also. "So we could get back together." Serena replied. They held each other, knowing what the other was thinking. It seemed Darien shared Serena's physical and emotional pain. In a way, he did. Serena's dress was twisted. It was still on, but it did not change anything. The two cried together, holding onto each other as if they needed the other to make it in the world. "I'll never do this to you again," Darien stated after what seemed like an eternity. "I'll never hurt you like that again." ^_^ And we all know how that's gonna turn out! ;) I worked hard on this all week, please give me an e-mail. What you liked and what you didn't. Also, I don't own that song by Third Eye Blind.