Overcoming Obstacles- Part 4
by sailor em
AN: I dunno what happened to my link! everyone said it was really messed up.
Oh well. hopefully it will work this time. =)
thanx to everyone out there, especially minako84, silver princess, diana,
and everyone else that emailed me with their REALLY nice comments. ;)
i've decided to write longer parts so i can end this and not have 50
gazillion chapters dangling. so here goes!

Overcoming Obstacles- Part 4
By Sailor Em
~~~~~~~~

   "Hello? This is Darien."
   "Darien? It's Serena."
   "I'm...not around right now, so leave a message after the beep."
   "DARIEN!" Serena groaned. She hated messages like that. Especially when
she had the greatest idea on how to set up Mina and Andrew.
   The recorded message continued. "And if this is Serena calling, I'm going
to be at Crown Arcade until 5. So meet me there, if you can."
   "Huh? Is he kidding? I have to meet with him in PUBLIC?" She stared at the
clock. 3 o'clock. 'He won't be back for another 2 hours. I dunno if I can 
last that long! I guess I have to meet him there.' The answering machine 
beeped, and Serena began to record a message.
   "Uh...Hi Darien, it's me Serena. I uh...well, i'll just meet you at the
arcade. See you there!" Serena hung up the phone and threw on a fuzzy pink 
jacket. She shivered at the cold air and headed into the bustling city.
   She walked the 4 blocks to the Arcade, and saw Darien's midnight black 
hair through the tinted window. 'hmm....wonder what he's doing right now.' 
Serena was an expert at spying on people. She ducked into the bush, and 
peered through the window. Darien was reading this huge textbook and 
highlighting stuff. He seemed to be dozing off, although there was a cup of
coffee next to him. 'hmmm...would sure be fun to scare him!' 
   Serena grinned. She tiptoed out of the bush and into the Arcade. Andrew
spotted her and was about to shout a hello, but Serena silenced him and 
pointed at the dozing Darien. Andrew grinned and kept silent. Serena slowly
walked toward Darien's booth, his back facing her. She stood right behind
him, making sure her shadow wasn't seen. Suddenly, she shot her hands over
his head, covering his eyes. She blew in his ear. "Guess who?"
   Darien shot up, trying to open his eyes, but finding that they were forced
closed, he screamed. "Ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!"
   Suddenly his mouth was covered by another hand, this time a larger one.
   "Darien! Shut up!" a male voice was heard. Darien heard muffled laughter.
The large hand covering his hand was removed. Only the little hands over his
eyes were left. He attempted to wrench them off.
   "owie! lay off the muscle, will ya?" He could recognize the voice 
immediately. It was Serena.   "Only if you take off your hands."
   "Fine, fine." she grumbled. She took her hands off his eyes and sat 
in the chair across from him. She grinned.   "Did you have a nice sleep?"
   Darien blushed. Serena laughed hysterically. "You are so cute when you 
blush!"
   Darien raised his eyebrow as much as he could. "You, Serena, the man-hater
Tsukino, think I am cute?" He was inwardly grinning. 'she thinks i am cute!
she thinks I am cute! hallelujah!'
   Now it was Serena's turn to blush. "Well, sure. Since everyone thinks you
are cute, I gotta go with the flow. And I'm not a man-hater. I just haven't
found anyone that meets my standards."
   'Yeah, sure.' Darien thought, satisfied.
   "Well, Rena, I can't believe you would do that to me." he started, 
in fake reproach. He sniffled.
   Serena burst out laughing. "I'm sorry. sorry. You just looked so funny,
sleeping with a highlighter in your hand and your head plopped on a book.
I just HAD to wake you up. Plus, you jumped about a mile high when I blew
into your ear!" She laughed even more.
   'I guess I was sorta funny.' but aloud, he said,"I can't believe it. You
are so mean. How can you do that to me? Some friend you are." He pretended
to rub his eyes in sadness.   "Who said you were my friend?"
   "Even worse!" he began to fake sob. "Booh hooo....Serena isn't my friend.
Waahhhh!!!"   "Shut up Darien! People are looking at us!!"
   "I don't care." he told her obstinately. "They'll think that you are such 
a meanie, abusing your gorgeously handsome boyfriend like that." 
   "Boyfriend?! Gorgeous?!" Serena stuttered.
   "Well, THEY don't know i'm not going out with you. For all they know, we 
could be well on our way to matrimony. After all, I've come here everyday.
Girls always look at me, and try to make me ask them to sit with me. None
have succeeded--"   "Big deal."
   "And suddenly, a girl that has never flirted with me before gets to sit 
with me. And I don't reject her. That is BIG in Darien History."
   Serena rolled her eyes. This guy was really full of himself! " Oh, so 
you're saying it's an HONOR for me to be sitting across from you, laughing
at the highlighter smeared on your face."
   "Huh? Where? Get it off! Get it off!!!"
   Serena laughed. "It's on your upper right cheek." She pointed to her right
cheek. 
   Darien found the spot, but it was still wet and smeared all over his face.
   Serena laughed even more. "Now it's even worse! Now my gorgeous boyfriend
suddenly has developed a case of jaundice!" (AN: for all u guys out there,
jaundice is this thing where your skin turns yellow.)
   "Not funny!" Darien pouted.
   "All right, all right. Hold on. Andrew? can you get me a wet paper towel?
 Thanks."
   Andrew handed Serena a wet papertowel. "Hey, Dare, I think you got some
kinda funky rash on your skin."
   Andrew was confused when Serena burst out laughing. "Andy, it's from 
my yellow highlighter. And this laughing hyena in front of me won't get itoff."
   "Who said I won't get it off? Just hold on, little boy. Don't be so 
impatient."   "Patience is my MIDDLE NAME, Serena!"
   Andrew laughed. "Okay, guys, i'm gonna go now." He backed away from the
fighting people in the booth.
   Meanwhile, Serena turned to Darien. "Okay, Darien, this might hurt."
She took hold of Darien's head and rubbed his cheek with one hand.
   "Not so hard! Use your nursing skills!"
   Serena groaned and rubbed more gently.   "Ahh. That's better, masseuse."
   "I am NOT your masseuse! There. All done."
   She admired her work. "Uh, Darien? There's a slight problem."   "Huh? What?"
   "There is this big splotch on your cheek. It sorta looks like a gigantic
hickey or some kind of rosy rash....."
   Darien laughed. "That's great! Now people will think that since you made
me cry, you gave me a big ole kiss on the cheek and gave me a hickey! Then
they will moan, 'oh no! Darien made up with that girl who took him away from
me!' "   "Don't get your hopes up, buster." Serena rolled her eyes.
   "Okay fine. Now what did you come to talk to me about?"
   "What do you think I came for? I came to discuss how we're gonna get Mina
and Andrew together before prom. It's in 2 weeks. DUH!"   "Oh yeah."
   "Well, anyway, I have this really great plan. But you have to sacrifice
something."   "Depends on what."
   "You ask Mina to the prom. She'll definetely say yes. And Andrew already
asked me to the prom. So we go and everything, then we dump them together
and leave them to find themselves and their love."
   "One problem. If Andrew likes Mina so much, how come he asked YOU?"
   'Andrew better leave Serena alone, or else he's gonna deal with me!' he 
thought jealously.   Serena blushed. "I dunno. Probably cuz I look like her."
   "Reasonable answer. Go on, go on."
   'I just hope his intentions are as innocent as she thinks!'
   "Anyway, we dump them at the dance and make them sit together, alone. I 
KNOW they like each other. So it is just a matter of time before Andy asks
her to dance. Who knows? Maybe they'll get elected King and Queen!"
   Darien grinned. "You sure are a big romance sap, Serena! But I am an even
greater sap. There's a couple of changes that I want to make in your plan.."
he began to whisper in Serena's ear. Serena's eyes brightened at the prospect
of another idea on how to make this the greatest set-up in the history ofTokyo.
   "What a great idea, Dare! Never knew you had one romantic bone in yourbody."
   "Dare, huh? I like it. You may call me that from now on. If I can call you
Rena." 'She called me Dare! She called me Dare!' he sang inside. His heart 
soared.   Serena giggled nervously. "Uh....sure."
   "So, RENA, will you do me the honors and let me buy you a chocolate 
milkshake?"
   "You may," she said primly. He raised an eyebrow at her and she burst out
laughing. "Geez Dare! You make me laugh too much. I'm gonna get a tummy ache
if you keep doing this!"
   Darien laughed. "Okay, okay. Let me get you a shake." He gave Andrew a 
signal, and Andy came walking down to their booth with two double chocolate
shakes.
   After Serena had slurped down her shake in record time, Darien got up to 
leave. "Oh, Rena, before I go, I need to ask you something. Will you meet
me here tomorrow after school? I'm going to go ask Mina to the prom right
now. I'll call you later about the details. "   "Okay, talk to you later."
   Darien walked to his apartment. 'Will this plan work? It'll be a blast if
it does...I sure hope it does. These people have been sending goo-goo eyes
to each other WAY too long. It's about time someone got them together.'
   He entered his apartment and threw down his blazer. He walked to the 
kitchen, where he last left his phone. Darien grabbed his phone and plopped
down on the couch.   "Hello? Aino residence."   "Hi Mina! This Darien."
   "Oh....hi Darien! Whatcha calling for?"
   "I uh..wanted to ask you something."   "Shoot for it!"
   "uh..er..." this was harder than he thought! "uh...let me think about how
to say this....willyougotothepromwithme?" he blurted out.
   "Huh?" Mina was startled. Why would he want to go to the prom with her? He
had never given any sign that he liked her. 
   Darien cleared his throat. "Will you go to the prom with me?"
   "But--Darien..you don't even like me!"
   "How do you know? I may have been..admiring you from afar!" he said, on a
poetic streak.   "...okay..." Mina said, unconvinced.   "So will you?"
   "Sure. Why not?" She was secretly disappointed. She was hoping that Andrew
would ask her to the prom. But this might be a good chance to show that she
was popular with the Seniors.
   "Great! Thanks a lot Mina! I'll pick you up around...6 o'clock and we'll
go out to dinner and then the prom. Thanks a lot Mina! You won't regret doing
this! Bye now!" Darien hung up the phone, pleased with himself. 'Serena's
gonna be shocked that I was so quick.' He quickly dialed Serena's number. He
had already learnt it by heart the minute she gave it to him.   "Hello?"
   "Hey Serena, it's Dare."   "Hey Dare, what's the buzz?"
   "Operation Mina and Andrew Together underway. I just asked her out, and 
she accepted." Serena suddenly felt a pang of jealousy. She knew he wasn't
serious in asking her out...but it still gave her chills when she thought 
about how flirtatious Darien was and how he probably had billions of 
girlfriends.
   "Who said you could call it Operation Mina and Andrew Together? It sounds
way bad....OMAT. Oh-mat? That is yuck! How about Mission: Mina and Andrew
Together? MMAT. maat. I think that sounds okay."
   "No! I like OMAT better." Darien said stubbornly.    "No! I like MMAT."
   "OMAT."   "MMAT."   "OMAT."   "MMAT."   "OMAT."
   "Fine!" Serena gave up. It was only a stupid name. Serena looked at the 
clock. "Oh shoot!" she exclaimed. "I gotta go meet the girls now. I'm going 
to try to lead the conversation about the prom and make Mina feel all jealous 
and everything. See you at the arcade tomorrow."
   "See ya Rena. I might run into you later. I'm gonna go walk around."  
   "Kay, whatever. bye." Serena ran out the door to meet Mina at the cafe.   
   "Rena! You're late!" screamed Raye.
   "Sorry, sorry. I was on the phone and couldn't get off."
   "It's okay!" Mina said amiably. "I ordered a latte for you."   "Thanks Mina!"
   "So, what's up with you? Tell me all the gossip." said Lita.
   "You guys, give her a chance. She just got here." Ami said quietly.
   Serena's plan went into action. "Oh...I'm going to the prom with Andrew."
   Mina's face froze. 'Andrew is going with Serena? How dare he take her! I
am positive that he likes me!'
   She pasted on a fake smile. "Oh, Serena, that's great. I'm going to the 
prom with Darien."
   "Oh Mina! That's really nice. But you guys don't look too good together.
I'm not saying that you look bad, but it's sort of mismatched."
   "Yeah, I know what you're saying. Same thing with you and Andrew."
   Serena grinned. "Exactly! But I really hate Darien, so too bad we can't
switch, huh?"
   "You know, Serena, Darien isn't bad at all. He's the hottest guy at Azabu.
And he's okay, I guess."
   "Nah. He's not nice. Hey Raye! Lita! Ami! Are you guys going to the prom?"
   They all nodded. "I'm going with Ken!" said Lita.
   Serena squealed. "You guys are totally perfect together!"
   "Yup. My exact thoughts." Serena looked at Raye expectantly.
   "I'm going with...Chad." Raye blushed hard. Serena just laughed. 
   "You mean Chad, THE Chad, the guy that records over your tapes and the guy
that you chase with a broom around the house?"
   "Yeah. That's the one. Hey! He's okay..I guess. I just want to go to the
prom."   Ami spoke up. "And I'm going with Greg."
   Serena patted her friend. "Great choice. You guys are so great together.
Listen, you guys, I need to go to the restroom." They all nodded and she left
to reapply her lipstick. 
   As she came out of the bathroom, someone grabbed from her behind and 
muffled her.   "Guess who?" a raspy voice filled her ear.   Serena screamed. 
   "Okay, okay. Calm down, Rena!" Darien spun her around to face him.
   She breathed heavily. "Don't....ever..do that to me again!"
   "Sowie. Will you forgive me?"   "Noope."   "Pwease?"    "OkkkkkkkaaaaNo."
   "Rena!!" He whined. "You gotta forgive me! you just gotta!" He stuck out
his lip and tried to make puppy eyes. He felt he was a dismal failure, but
it worked. Serena laughed.
   "Fine, fine. You're lucky Dare. I've just got a really soft heart."
   "Sure you do." Darien grinned. "So how's the plan going?"
   "Great! Mina is desperately jealous of me!"
   "Of course she is. You've got it all...beauty, popularity--"
   "Popularity? Yeah right!"
   "You are. I've noticed you. These bunches of boys come at your beck and 
call. you almost rival my popularity."
   "Stuff it! When you're out of school you're just plain old Darien Chiba.
And I am just plain old Serena Tsukino."
   "Okay, okay." Darien laughed. "Let's go walk around the park. I've got 
nothing to do."   "Sure. I have stuff that can wait."
   He put his arm around her shoulder, and she snuggled in deeper. They 
walked out of the cafe, right past Serena's friends. Their jaws dropped so 
low that they hit the ground.
   "Is..that..that..Serena and Darien?" stuttered Raye.
   "I...dunno..." said a shocked Ami.
   Only Mina was happy. 'Maybe Andy and I can get together now!'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
okay! that's the end of this chapter. did u like it? I know it's really short
but i am really busy and stuff. I have this great idea and i'm gonna make the
next chapter longer. but tell me what you think!

~Sailor Em
(SailorGalaxia1@yahoo.com)