free hosting   image hosting   hosting reseller   online album   e-shop   famous people

“Beryl!” Suddenly her sister was nowhere to be found. “Beryl! I know you’re here.”

“I know what you’re going to say,” Beryl began defensively, but how was I to know they were going to do it. I’ve never worked with horny young people before!”

“Horny young people! That’s your excuse? Prince Endymion has just taken my daughters virginity on a lounge chair, by a pool, in the middle of the night, at some hotel, and all you have to say to it is that it’s not your fault they were ‘HORNY!’” Serenity was barely restraining herself from screaming at her sister.

“Look Serry, I’m sorry.” Beryl was genuinely repentant. She really hadn’t known that would happen! ’Not that it was that bad’, she thought to herself. ‘I bet they had fun!’

“I just thought that if they were alone for a little while without any outside influences they’d realize their feelings for each other, and… well I hadn’t planned much beyond that point.” She was suddenly realizing that she hadn’t been as organized as she had led Serenity to believe. She had intended to lock them in the room. She had magically locked the door after Darien’s entrance; a waste of time when one considered the balcony as a means of exiting. 

“Well, if you look on the bright side, at least they know there’s something between them now.”

Serenity massaged her translucent temples. If the dead could have had headaches she knew that she would have had one at the moment. She was seriously beginning to regret having involved her sister. At this point there was nothing more she could do but sit back and watch the results of their meddling.

His mind was a mass of emotions. He felt scared and nervous. He had made love to a girl at whom he had been yelling and teasing for the last few years. He had claimed to hate her but now he couldn’t even begin to explain how he felt.

He eased off her naked body trying his best not to wake her. He wouldn’t know what to say if she were to wake up now! He could see the faint light in the sky signifying the rising of the sun. He hadn’t realized it was so late or in this case early. If Serena weren’t home soon, she would be in a lot of trouble.

He pulled on his damp pants and shirt and wrapped her body in his sodden jacket. He picked her light body up easily and took off over the hotel walls with her nestling in to the warmth of his body. 

‘Damn that girl slept deeply!’ he thought to himself. In all the time it had taken to get her home, prying her window open as quietly as he could and putting her beneath the sheets, she had not so much as stirred. In less than two hours she would have to wake up to go to school with everything that had happened the previous night on her mind. They both had a lot to think about.

“No, please not yet…” Serena muttered as Luna licked her hand, trying to wake her up for school. 

“Serena you’ve been good about this lately. Don’t revert now. It’s time for school. Now get your lazy butt out of bed!”

“But I’m tired!” Serena moaned, forcing herself to sit up.

“Well you’re already awake so I suggest you get ready.” The cat snapped, jumping up on the windowsill. “I’m going to talk to Artemis, I had some strange dreams I’d like to discuss with him.” With that she hopped out and was gone.

Serena threw off her sheets, suddenly aware of her nudity when she felt air on the skin that was normally covered by her pajamas. Darien’s jacket lay rumpled beneath her sheets. Suddenly everything came rushing back to her.

Her eyes widened with the realization that she was no longer a virgin; the soreness between her legs, a definite indicator. The other fact was significantly more shocking. Last night she’d made love to the one man she thought she’d hate forever. 

She was suddenly very confused. She didn’t know how she felt about the whole situation. She had the semblance of mind to take a shower, washing the scent of his cologne off her body, and managed to get dressed and drag herself out of the house and make it to school just as the bell rang.

For the entire day the events of the previous night ran through her mind causing her to blush periodically. Her teacher snapped at her twice for not paying any attention. She supposed she’d eventually have to talk to Darien about this whole situation but she truly hoped she wouldn’t have to see him anytime soon. She wouldn’t have any idea what to say. She would have to sort out her feelings first, whatever those were.

Darien ran a hand through his hair. He was tired and the monotone of his professor’s voice was threatening to put him to sleep. He’d arrived late to class with a lot on his mind. Dave had looked at him curiously when he’d taken his seat next to him in the back of the auditorium. Darien was almost always on time.

“What’s the matter with you dude? Those girls wearing you out?”

Darien’s eyes widened at that statement until he realized that Dave had no idea what he’d been doing last night. 

“You know, that girl you hate, Serena right?”

“Yes, what about her?” Darien asked suddenly very wary and nervous at the mention of her name.

“Is she really just in high school? She’s kinda cute! I wouldn’t mind taking her out.” Dave was showing his pearly whites again in a rather sickening display. He knew exactly what ‘taking her out’ involved.

He suddenly felt very guilty and hypocritical. Just a week ago he had told Dave she was jailbait; too young for him. But then just last night he had made love to the same girl. It was suddenly just dawning on him that his little escapade with the gorgeous sixteen-year-old high school girl was, in the eyes of the law anyway, statutory rape. 

His face turned white. He had taken the virginity of a young girl who was probably not prepared for that kind of ‘involvement’.In addition to that fact, if anyone said the right thing to the right person he’d end up behind bars.

“I really don’t think that’s a good idea.” Darien muttered. 

“You’re probably right. She’s only like sixteen right?”

“Yes, just sixteen,” Darien muttered, imagining his head on a block with Serena’s fathers arguing over which one of them could get to bring the axe down on his neck while her mother and stepmother cheered on in the background.

“What’s the matter with you?” Dave asked, suddenly becoming aware of Darien’s sinking mood.

“Long night,” Darien replied tersely.

“I can tell, you look like shit!” Darien’s hair was a mess, he’d overslept the three hours he’d allowed himself and he hadn’t had time to shave. Morning traffic had been horrendous and the lecture on seismic events was beginning to sound like a lullaby. 

“Gee thanks!”

“Anytime!”

Serena managed to make it through the day with few incidences. All things considered it was a normal day, which bothered her considering the events in her own life. She really began to look at the other girls around her. They, like her, looked so innocent; she wondered if they were all virgins and did the fact that she was no longer one show in her face. She began a close examination, attempting to expose to her prying eyes those who were no longer innocent.

It occurred to her that she was being ridiculous but she couldn’t get the thoughts out of her mind. She had seen the girls at lunch and they’d commented on her distraction but she excused it by saying she didn’t get much sleep last night. That was certainly true enough.

When she walked into her house, she got nervous wondering if mothers could see these things. She could easily imagine her mother examining her closely, taking in every detail before letting out a gasp and exclaiming over the loss of her daughter’s innocence. After that her mother might start weeping or wailing or maybe a bit of yelling. Ok maybe not.

Serena said hi to her mom, who offered her half an apple, which she courteously refused and went upstairs to make up for the sleep she missed last night. She had told her friends she was too tired to hang out with them, and they’d wished her happy napping. There were no scout meetings and she certainly hoped the youma could restrain themselves for a while.

Speaking of youma, she wondered to herself, with all of last night’s events she had forgotten her reason for going to the hotel in the first place. Luna had either lied to her or had been misinformed. Before she’d even had the chance to ask, she had learned that all the girls has obviously spent the night comfortably at him. She couldn’t find any reason why Luna would lie to her but obviously something strange had happened. 

Did Luna even know what happened between her and Darien? Hadn’t she been worried when Serena didn’t come home? There was also the question of Darien and why he’d been the only one there. Everything was a mass of confusion. Luna had quite a few questions to answer. If Luna didn’t know what had occurred between her and Darien, Serena would make sure she didn’t find out.

When Serena opened her bedroom door, Luna was lying on her bed, curled in an adorable ball, napping comfortably in the sunlight.

“So this is how you spend you days.” Serena commented. The black cat didn’t stir. 

“Luna!” Serena shouted in her ear. The cat arched her back, the hairs on her neck and back rising. She let out a hiss and sank her claws deep into Serena’s sheets.

“You tore my sheets!” Serena grabbed the cat up, pulling the fabric from her claws and dropped her on the floor.

“Next time don’t yell in my ear and you won’t have a problem!” Luna hissed.

“Well someone has to wake your lazy butt! I want to take a nap too.”

“You’re calling me lazy? Who’s the one who didn’t want to get out of bed this morning?”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have that problem if you weren’t sending me out on wild goose chases in the middle of the night!”

“What are you talking about?” Luna asked looking rather confused.

“You must be getting old! I guess those thousands of years eventually creep up on you. You sent me to save the scouts from some youma at some hotel, when they were obviously at home comfortably resting in their own beds where I should have been.” Serena wasn’t really upset; she easily realized she didn’t really regret last night, as disturbing as that thought was to her mind. She just wanted some answers.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about! I don’t remember telling you anything last night.”

Serena was both surprised and relieved. This at least meant Luna had no knowledge of what happened.

“I guess you must have been sleep walking,” Serena attempted to explain.

“I do not sleep walk!” Luna exclaimed indignantly.

“Then how do you explain sending me on a wild goose chase in the middle of the night and not remembering anything about it?”

“I…I don’t know.” Luna stuttered. Serena rolled her eyes. 

“If you don’t know, then I don’t see how you can deny this. You know what, It doesn’t matter. Nothing happened, so just move over and let me catch up on my sleep.

“This is all so strange!” Luna exclaimed. “I was telling Artemis today that I had the strangest dream last night. I was human and I was sneaking into some building and then all of a sudden I was a cat again and you and I were hopping across rooftops. He said he had a similar one too. Maybe we were having some sort of flashback.”

Serena thought for a moment, as she crawled into bed and nestled beneath the covers. “You were definitely doing some kind of sleep walking. I really thought you were awake but then again there was that guy that killed his wife while sleep walking so I don’t know. Anything’s possible I guess.

I’m going to take a nap. If you do fall asleep try not to kill Artemis. You’re awfully cranky when you’re sleep walking.”

Luna rolled her eyes as best a cat could. She curled up on a sunlit spot on the carpet but found it difficult to fall asleep with what Serena had told her on her mind. Could she really have been sleepwalking? Stranger things had happened she supposed, but this was very odd indeed.

Fortunately for Serena, there were no more youma attacks that week or the following. She successfully managed to avoid seeing or speaking to Darien for the better part of two weeks. In her more desperate moments she had even procured detention for herself in her efforts to avoid him. 

She would even manage to avoid him this weekend without really trying. Her family would be spending the weekend in the mountains. Her Dad was insisting on family time together; naturally this involved going without TV for two days.Her portable CD player and Raye’s mangas would definitely be keeping her company when she wasn’t fending off her little brother. He was as annoying as the damn mosquitoes. It was well worth it though, if she could avoid facing the confusion of real life for just a little while longer.

Darien was actually sitting at lunch with his father and having civil conversation. So far they’d talked about school, the weather and the latest news. They’d run out of things to say to each other and an uncomfortable silence settled heavily between them.

His mind trailed off. He started wondering if he’d look like his father when he was his age. He certainly hoped so. Despite all his other faults, his father was a handsome man. 

He had luxurious black hair, silvered in exactly the right spots. He had an unusual pair of light brown eyes that worked to seduce some and intimidate others. He was as tall as Darien with an intimidating stance. Darien was still considering his future possibilities when his father broke the silence.

“Why don’t you spend the weekend with me?” Darien almost choked. His father wanted him to spend the weekend with him?

“You want me to spend the weekend with you?”

“Yes. Why do you have something else to do?” His father questioned, daring him to come up with an excuse.

“No, I just don’t understand why.”

“I didn’t think I needed a reason to spend some time with my own son.”

“You’re a little late aren’t you?”

“Don’t be obnoxious young man! I have some friends to meet and a small business matter to attend to. I just thought you would like to meet some of them and spend some time with your old man. Is that so hard you believe?”

Darien was tempted to answer the question but decided not to test his father’s good mood.

“OK. I’ll come. Where are we headed?”

“Greenwood Lodge.”

“Nice place for a business meeting.”

“It’s not all business. I thought you, me, and Brandi could spend some time together. I’d like you two to get to know each other.”

“I was wondering where the negative aspect to all this was.”

“She is my fiancé! I think it’s time you get to know her. After all she’s going to become your stepmother.”

“Stepmother?” Darien exclaimed incredulously. “That woman will never be my stepmother! She’s young enough to be your daughter!” Darien could see the muscles in his father’s jaw and neck tighten, yet another physical characteristic they shared. He was trying hard to keep control.

“I expect you to respect her,” his father began concisely, “she is going to be my wife.

Darien conceded, he had no intention of fighting anyway. Nodding his head in acceptance. As much as he disliked many things about his father he still held a deep respect for the man. He would do this for him.

“What time are we leaving?”

“I’ll pick you up around seven.”

“Good, I’ll see you then. I have to get back to school.” He left the expensive restaurant, his dad had chosen for Friday luncheon. He was expected at the computer center where he worked part time. 

He’d had no experience when he’d been hired freshman year, but with a little help from his boss he’d learned just about everything he’d ever need to know about computers. He now got paid pretty well to fix the computers and debug software all over the campus. 

It was an easy job with flexible hours and he gained some very useful knowledge. The last thing he needed his father to know was that he had any interest in computers at all. He’d never hear the end of it.

As Darien drove down the crowded Tokyo streets, his mind wandered back to Serena. He hadn’t seen her for a good two weeks after they’d been together that night. Granted, he wouldn’t be sure what to say when he saw her but all the same, he was somewhat confused. One part of him wanted to see her again and the other said it would be better if he didn’t. 

His mind easily accepted that what he’d done with her was wrong. But he had to admit that being with her had felt so very right. It certainly didn’t feel right to leave what they’d had in the past as just some one-night stand.

He also was fully aware that he was delaying the inevitable. He would eventually see her again. Things between them would be strained especially in the presence of their friends. He’d have to see her before then. If Serena hadn’t told the girls, he didn’t want them to be aware of what had happened between them. 

The more he thought about her the more he realized that his vision of her in her mind had suddenly been elevated.Unexpectedly she had become this gorgeous angel, a gorgeous nude angel with this tiny waist and perfect breasts, and her tight…

He suddenly realized how close he was to the car in front of him. He was forced to brake and come to a screeching halt that threw him forward in his seat. He breathed a sigh of relief when the car came to stop just short of the rear bumper of the car before him. He obviously needed to get his brain out of his pants.

Darien was seriously beginning to regret this trip. He stared out the window at the gorgeous view, admiring the bright greens and blues of the environment outside the utility vehicle his father had chosen to drive instead of having his chauffeur drive him up in the limo as usual. Darien’s mind however, was miles away back in Tokyo where he knew Andrew, Dave, and his other friends were probably drinking beer and enjoying a good baseball game.

He was wishing he didn’t have to sit here and listen to Brandi, his father’s fiancée, chatter on endlessly about the new dresses she had acquired for the small expensive store she ran in Tokyo, courtesy of his father. It amazed him that his father could stand her incessant chatter when he was so controlling and impatient in all other matters. He was beginning to grind his teeth at the sound of her perky voice.

He found it difficult to understand why his father had chosen her, other than her superficial qualities, which he was forced to admit were quite exceptional. She had sharp, but elegant features, a pair of beautiful pale green eyes, surrounded by dark sooty lashes. She also had beautiful strawberry blonde curls and a body to die for. Unfortunately she was fully aware of her beauty and flaunted it as much as possible. 

With the exception of her beautiful features however, he found little else to appreciate. She seemed shallow, self-absorbed, materialistic, and vain. Of one thing he was sure, while it was perfectly conceivable that that she was attracted to his father, he had a distinct feeling she cared about nothing but herself and the money she hoped to get from his father.He smiled as he thought about how she would probably run screaming when his father brought out the prenuptial agreement.

His father glanced back at him through the rear view mirror and saw the smile on his face.

“What’s so amusing, Darien?” He asked, attempting to include Darien in the conversation.

“Nothing really; just thinking about a girl I know,” Darien replied. Brandi really was just a girl at barely twenty-five, a mere three years his senior and less than half his father’s age.

“I see.” His father replied. “I heard from your mother, that you like that Chandler girl, Sally or something. You mother told me, you and she were having a discussion about her?”

Darien almost choked on his own tongue when he realized his father was referring to Serena. He also had to remind himself about what his father did not know.

A small frown appeared on Brandi’s perfect features at the mention of his mother. Darien’s mother shared his dislike of Brandi, believing her to be nothing but a “gold-digging tramp.” Brandi returned the resentment mostly because Therese was everything she wasn’t.

Darien’s mother came from a wealthy aristocratic European family and maintained her high society connections and life style. She had friends in the royal families of Europe and all the grace, class and sophisticated beauty of a princess. Brandi despite her own beauty found it impossible to live up to that and resented it. 

“I never told mother I was seeing Serena, or that I liked her. She’s hung up on the idea that I should be settling down soon.”

“So what you’re saying is that you and Serena have no relationship.”

Darien considered that for a moment. They had never been friends and except for that night that had suddenly become such an enigma in his life they had no real personal relationship to speak of.

“No, we don’t. We have mutual friends.”

“Well you must know each other if you were discussing her with your mother.”

“I would hardly call it a discussion.” He wished his father would change the subject. He’d really not discuss with him a girl who already occupied so much of his thoughts. 

“Well, you could use a girlfriend. Maybe you should reconsider her.” As he had figured, his father had already designated her a perfect candidate for marriage based solely on what he knew of her father.

“Dad, if you’re seeking some kind of deal with Chandler inc. through a marriage between Serena and myself you are fantasizing.”

“Why is that so impossible? If you like her why don’t you pursue a relationship with her. Any business deals between her father and me would just be an added benefit.”

“That’s just your way of rationalizing a business marriage. If and when I get married it won’t be because my parents think it’s a good idea to join two wealthy families.” Darien knew that that was a harsh thing to say but he wanted to put an end to this conversation. His parents had had and unsuccessful marriage of the type he’d just described. It was a sore spot between the Dumas and Chiba families. 

“Your mother and I want you to be happy. We haven’t seen you exploring any long-term relationships.”

“I will when I’m ready,” Darien replied tersely. 

“I don’t understand why this Serena girl is so out of the question for you.”

“You don’t know anything about her.”

“Well I know she comes from a good family. Isn’t she attractive?”

“You have no basis for that statement and whether or not she’s attractive is irrelevant.”

“Well do you find her attractive or not?”

“She’s attractive, but that’s besides the point!” Darien was once again forced to think about Serena’s perfect body that he desperately wanted to make love to again.

“Well she’s attractive and you obviously have some interest in her or you wouldn’t be discussing her with your mother, what’s stopping you from asking her out?”

Darien sighed. “Dad, I hardly think its appropriate for me to be asking a sixteen year old girl out on a date,” no matter how much he wanted to, “but I guess you have no problem with unrealistic age differences.”

A tense silence fell over atmosphere in the car. Once again Darien found himself observing the tightening muscles in his father neck and jaw. The conversation was over; not as he had intended but all the same, it was done. He was really beginning to regret this trip. It was going to be a long weekend. Darien sighed and returned to looking out the window.

“When the hell did this happen??!!” Serena’s father thundered. 

Her family stood in the middle of their luxurious cabin. It had once been one of the best cabins around, having every luxury except television, and radio. It had lots of space, and even a hot tub and mini steam room. As they stared at it however, they were struck by the destruction that had been left behind by some a freak storm that had passed through not too long ago.

Their caretaker had quit two months ago and her father had assumed the cabin would have been all right left alone for a while, until he could get up here and hire a new one. Obviously he had been wrong. They looked around taking a quick assessment of the damage.

There was broken glass and branches all over the floor and a tree leaned against one side of the house, threatening to collapse the wall and roof. Whatever water had blown or leaked in, had since dried and left water spots on the natural wood floors. Serena was as annoyed and upset as her father. Their family weekend had been ruined.

“What do we do now Sweetheart?” Serena’s mother asked. 

She comforted her husband by putting an arm around his waist. He had built the small deck himself on one of their vacations.

“We can’t drive all the way home now.”

She didn’t have to look at her watch. Night had fallen and they were all tired. They had immediately set out as soon as Serena and Sammy had come from school. Kenji had taken half the day off for this trip.

“Well I guess we’ll have to go down to the Lodge. It’s the only hotel open in the off season.” All the other hotels catered to the crowds of skiers that came up in the winter as they sometimes did.

Serena had to admit she wasn’t too disappointed. The Greenwood Lodge was a very nice, if expensive hotel. They had swimming pools and tennis courts and an arcade. She just might be able to save the batteries in her CD player for another time.

Darien was downstairs in the lounge; all dressed up and ready for dinner. He was trying to be civil and social among the small group of his father’s business associates and their dates. He had spent the day playing tennis with Jerry Weisler, one of his father’s lawyers and now they were meeting a second associate of his father’s who had just recently arrived, while they waited for Brandi to come down.

“It’s nice to meet you too Mr. Van Buren,” Darien said formally while shaking the hand of the silver-haired man before him. 

His father’s lawyers and business partners had decided to combine a bit of business with pleasure. They’d even brought their wives or in the case of the dark-haired lawyer, Weisler, his girlfriend. His wife was at home with their two children.

“Your son is as handsome as his father I see,” Elaine, Van Buren’s wife, commented to Michael, smiling at Darien brightly. “I assume he’s as brilliant?”

“Yes of course, just not in my business,” Darien’s father began. “He’s out to tread a path of his own. He doesn’t want to follow in his old man’s footsteps. My only hope is grand children, but he doesn’t seem too much in a hurry to produce those either.” He slapped Darien on the back playfully while Darien did his best to produce a brilliant fake smile to match his father’s artificial façade. His attempt was less than spectacular.

“He’s still young,” Van Buren said. “Give him some time.”

“What is it that you are interested in?” Melissa, Weiser’s platinum blonde trophy asked. ‘What do you know the doll can talk,’ Darien thought to himself. ‘I wonder how many different words and phrases she can say when you pull the little cord in her back. I bet she even comes with a red bathing suit and pink corvette.’

“I have a double major in geology and botanical science.”

“Oh, how interesting!” Melissa smiled brilliantly, looking even more like a Barbie doll. 

“And what are you hoping to do with those?” Van Buren asked skeptically.

“I’m hoping to work on the mars terra-forming project, in cooperation with NASA.”

“Very ambitious of you,” Van Buren said. His eyes told Darien he really didn’t care much and held the same regard for Darien’s scientific pursuits as his father.

“You must be proud to have such a brilliant son Mr. Chiba,” Melissa said mindlessly. Darien could see Elaine rolling her eyes at Melissa’s perky little voice. Everyone ignored her comment. Obviously she couldn’t pick up on the general feeling that his father didn’t really approve of his son’s choice of career and apparently no one else was impressed either.

“So,” Van Buren began once more facing Michael, “Where is that lovely fiancée of yours?”

Michael glanced at his watch. “She should have been down by now. I can’t think what could be keeping her.” He turned to Darien and said: “Could you go upstairs and see if you could get Brandi down here. We’re ready to go to dinner.” 

“Sure, Dad.” He was happy to get away from the suffocating group of elitists. This weekend was getting worse as the moments passed.

“Mom, I don’t have anything nice to wear. I can’t going down to dinner like this,” she said pointing to her tank top and jeans she had brought to hang around the cabin all weekend. 

“There’s nothing we can do about that Serena. I’m just as unprepared as you are.” Serena raised her eyebrow at that, looking over her mother’s casual floral print summer dress.

“At least you have a dress,” she mumbled. “Can’t we just order room service or something?”

“No.” Serena’s father interrupted smiling. “We’re going to make the best of this situation and have a nice family dinner together. We didn’t spend the day together so we should at least have this moment.

Serena and her brother had spent a good portion of the day in the arcade and by the swimming pool. It was certainly proving to be a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. Serena missed her friends however. 

“Are you ladies ready?” Kenji asked his wife and daughter. They both nodded. Good, then let’s go.

Darien took the elevator up to their rooms on the fourth floor and knocked on the door of the room his father and Brandi shared.

A muffled female voice came through the door. “Come in, it’s open.”

He walked into the luxurious suite to see Brandi in a short black dress with the back open. She looked sexy as usual. It was what she aimed for.

“Could you help me zip this up?” She asked, smiling brilliantly at him.

Darien merely nodded. She turned her back to him and lifted her hair unnecessarily. Darien wasn’t really paying too much attention as he slid the zipper up along Brandi’s smooth back making the material tighten around her curves. As soon as the zipper came to a stop, Brandi did a full graceful turn so that she faced Darien. Darien raised an eyebrow at the sudden change of position and situation. Just what was she up to?

“Thank you so much, Darien,” She said sweetly batting her lashes and running her tongue over her ruby-stained lips. He made a mental note of the display of cleavage before him and reminded himself of his mother’s words: “ “Gold-digging tramp!”

She placed a hand on his cheek, running her finger down his strong jaw line. “You really are as handsome as your father, you know. If I wasn’t already completely in love with your father,” she said moving even closer to him, “you would definitely have a shot!”

“I’m sure,” Darien said sarcastically. He turned away from her. “I’m supposed to escort you downstairs. Are you ready?”

“You don’t like me much do you?” She asked, almost managing to sound wounded.

“You’re very astute for someone who uses her body to get her way.”

“You could try to be civil! I am going to be your stepmother after all,” She said tersely, disappointed at having her advances shot down. She made it a point to emphasize stepmother, knowing how much it would annoy him.

“Let’s get something straight Ms. Hallowell, you and I will never have any sort of relationship, neither stepmother nor otherwise. As for this thing you have with my father, I advise you to back out before you suffer a severe disappointment. I assure you, you won’t ever be a part of this family and you most certainly won’t be sharing in its wealth. Now let me escort you downstairs before my father gets upset,” Darien finished coldly.

Darien’s speech had turned Brandi’s triumphant smile into a nasty sneer that downplayed her pretty features. She grabbed her purse and strode ungracefully out the hotel door with Darien following her; satisfied that he’d gotten his point across.

They stood together quietly in the elevator until Brandi ran her arm through his. 

“I’d hate to have your father think we weren’t getting along.”

Darien nodded, but said nothing. The elevator opened and they got out together.

As they were about to be seated for dinner, Serena turned around to look at her mother who was standing directly behind her. 

“Do you have some lip gloss mom?”

“Of course.” Ikuko began fumbling through her purse for her lip-gloss. As Serena’s mother’s head went down, Serena caught sight of a beautiful couple. The woman was absolutely beautiful, dressed in a short black cocktail dress and the man by her side was tall, dark, handsome and…Darien?

Serena’s eyes went wide at the sight of Darien arm in arm with the tall sexy blonde woman. What was he doing here? She suddenly felt flustered and nervous. The two disappeared from sight. She was grateful he hadn’t seen her.

“Is something wrong sweetheart?” Her mother asked, aware of her daughter’s wide-eyed stare.

“No. Nothing’s wrong,” Serena said too curtly to be believed.

“Are you sure?” Her mother asked again, concerned.

“Yes, I’m fine.” Serena replied. She was not fine. She felt used and empty. They followed their waiter to their table.

She knew she had no real emotional involvement with Darien but she had hoped that their night together had been more to him than a one-night stand. She should have known however, he would have more sophisticated tastes in women. What would he want with a high school girl, other than quick roll in the sack?

She was suddenly aware that over the last few days she had placed so much meaning into what had obviously been an event born of hormones and pure unadulterated sexual desire. But how could she not? She had given her innocence to him so willing only to discover how little it had meant to him. Over the past two weeks he’d become more to her than he’d been before, suddenly he hadn’t just been ‘The Jerk’. He was the guy she had given the gift she could never give again, he was this mysterious lover whom she feared and lusted after. 

Obviously her first assessment had been correct. While she had been caught up in the strange dreamy emotions, he had obviously known exactly what he was doing. He was everything she had known him to be and so much worse: a jerk and a user. She had been subconsciously convincing herself not to cry but the very thought set her eyes watering. 

“Serena!” Kenji was surprised to see the forlorn look on his daughter’s face and her eyes filling with tears. “What is the matter?”

Serena wiped at the tears welling up in her eyes. “I’m fine. I guess it’s just a little PMS,” Serena said forcing a smile in an attempt to cover up her misery. “I think I need to go to the bathroom.” She left the table at which they had been seated just moments before, leaving her family feeling very confused and wondering if scientists would ever figure out the mysteries known as teenage girls. 

Serenity was extremely upset. This was not going as they had planned. It seemed, if anything, their plan had placed Serena in a more painful situation than either she or Beryl had intended.

“We should have let things stay the way they were.” Serenity whispered.

“I’m sorry Serry. I had no idea thing’s would turn out this way.” Beryl said quietly, taking the blame on her own shoulders.

“It’s not your fault Bea. We made a mistake and now she’s paying for it. We can’t even interfere again to make things right. It’s just not fair.”

It rained all Sunday. Serena thought it a fitting ode to her mood. She was quiet on the ride home. Her parents, while concerned about the sudden change in her mood, said nothing, knowing it was best to let her work out whatever was bothering her on her own. She was a teenager; they had their moods.

Darien sat silently in the back of his father’s car, happy to be going home. He stared out the windows once again, watching the rivulets of crystal-clear liquid run down the glass. As they entered the city again the droplets of rain began reflecting the multi-colored lights of the city. He was suddenly reminded of the way water had run down Serena’s pink cheeks as her two brilliant blue orbs had stared up at him begging to be rescued from the swimming pool. 

He had this distinct sensation of pure and utter loneliness and confusion; an emotion he knew couldn’t possibly be his. He closed his eyes, a voyeuristic sensation engulfing his mind. In his mind’s eye he saw a very similar view to the one outside his own window.
Rain ran down windowpanes, reflecting bright lights in so many colors. Tears he could almost feel running down his own cheeks, distorted the view. He opened his eyes and reached up to his own cheeks to wipe away tears that just