The Beauty Within Her
Chapter 4
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
E-mail: salud731@earthlink.net
Rated: G
Disclaimer: Usual disclaimers apply
ANs: Here's another chapter of
this story! I promised you peeps
that I would come back with more 
and here ya go! ^ - ^ Besides, I 
had to before Chibi-chan and 
Kuris-chan start ganging up on me 
with the hammers if I didn't, or Corn
Dog(you know who you are!) and 
Silver Bunny-chan starts growling at 
me!  ::Shudders:: ^ - ^;;;;;
Happy reading! ^ - ~

"If you judge someone, you have no
time to love them."
*~Mother Teresa*~

*****************************

In the living room and Darien's POV

'I'm such an idiot! I can't believe I 
almost kissed Serena! What came 
over me?! Okay, get a grip, Darien. 
But what just happened here?! How 
could I have lost control over myself?
She's an unattractive girl, who's a 
chauffeur's daughter, no style, and a 
nerd! Who would fall for such a reject
like her?!(ANs: Sorry minna! But it's
necessary for Darien to say those 
things. But he'll eat his words. I 
promise! So don't throw any tomatoes
at me! ::Cowers in fear::) I wouldn't.
She'd be an embarrassment in public!'
(ANs: Chibi-chan and Kuris-chan,
get your hammers ready to bonk him
on the head for saying such cruel things
to our favorite blond. hehehehehe!!!! 
^ - ^) As I kept mentally kicking myself,
Andrew and Lita walked in.
"Hey, Dare! Where did Serena go?"
asked Andrew as he and Lita took a
seat on the couch next to me
"Oh, she's in the kitchen helping 
Daisy with something."
"Which reminds me, I haven't said
hello to Daisy yet. I think I'll join 
Serena in the kitchen. Maybe help out
with something." Lita got up and left the 
living room to go into the kitchen.
"So, what have you and Serena 
been talking about?" asked Andrew.
"Nothing much. I just asked her how
she is, how's school, and other trivial
subjects," I responded, without 
mentioning the 'almost kiss' I had with 
Serena, and the intense awkwardness
afterwards.
"You were nice to Serena, right?" 
Andrew asked, in an almost threatening 
tone as he raised one eyebrow up in a
questioning gaze.
"Yes, Andrew, I was. I'm not that bully
kid I used to be when we were 8 years-
old. I've grown out of it."
"I hope so. And I hope you thought
about our discussion earlier this 
afternoon on the phone. I don't want
you to hurt Serena emotionally like you
did when we were kids, or I might have 
to pound you into the next life."
"Don't worry, Andrew," I nervously
assured him, "I'm not going to say
anything that might cause her pain. I'll
be nothing but nice to her throughout 
my entire visit here in Boston."
"Well, that's good to hear. I guess I
can trust you on your word."
"I promise. I will never do anything to
hurt Serena. I'm through with that old me.
I'm never going to sink so low and do 
something that I could regret for the rest
of my life."

********************************

In the kitchen and Serena's POV

'What just happened back there in the
living room? I can't believe Darien 
Garrison and I almost KISSED!!!!! The 
same Darien Garrison who's been named
the most eligible and sexiest bachelor of
the year by most local magazines and 
newspapers all over the US! Also the
same tormentor from my childhood. This 
must be some alternate universe! What
would a rich, handsome, and sophisticated
guy like Darien ever see in a dorky, shy,
and unattractive girl like me? I don't even
come from a rich background. Guys like
him would never fall in love with girls like 
me. We both come from different worlds.
He belongs to the rich and glamorous 
world while I belong to the middle class,
less than extravagant world. Why can't I 
be more beautiful and sophisticated? 
Maybe if I was, he would probably take
more notice of me. Oh, give it up, Serena.
You'll never be a beautiful, graceful, and
classy girl no matter how much you wish
you could. It would take a miracle for that
to happen.'
"Serena? Serena, are you there?"
"What?" a voice snapped me from my 
thoughts.
"Serena, are you okay? You've been 
spacing out for the last ten minutes. 
What's the matter?" asked Lita with 
growing concern for me.
"It's nothing, Lita. I'm fine. Really."
"Are you sure? You looked pretty 
deep in your thoughts. Almost as if
something were troubling you, or
making you feel depressed."
"Well, there is one thing that I want
to ask you," I admitted.
"I'm all ears. What do you want to
ask me?" Lita stopped cutting the
vegetables and focused her full 
attention on me.
"Do you think I'm ugly?"
"Serena, where did this come from?
Has someone been telling you that you
are ugly? If they did, I'll pound...."
"No, no, no! No one said that I'm
ugly. It's just that....really, Lita....do you
think I'm unattractive to guys?"
"You want the truth?"
"Yes, I would. Whatever you say, I 
won't be offended. Just tell me what you
think of me. Your full, honest opinion 
about me."
::Sigh:: "I honestly think you're 
beautiful."
I looked at Lita, skeptically.
"I'm serious. Okay, so maybe what I 
say may not count, considering that I'm 
a girl, but I'm telling you the truth. You 
are a beautiful girl inside and out. Outer 
beauty doesn't matter. But inner beauty
does. You have this amazing ability to
make people smile when they're feeling
down and can easily make friends with 
all the people you meet. That's what I 
love about you. You've been there for 
me throughout all the years we were 
growing up. Until now, your friendship
and loyalty, never wavered. And I'm 
glad. Don't ever change the way you 
are, or let someone change you because
you don't fit their standard. Just be you."
"Thanks, Lita. I'm glad that you think
I'm beautiful. And don't worry about me
changing, because I won't."
"Good," Lita said as she embraced me
for a warm hug. "Now, let's go finish
chopping these vegetables for dinner."
"Sure," I said smiling.

*******************************

Author's POV

Dinner was ready at 7:00 PM. 
Serena and Lita helped set the table 
while Mrs. Banker brought out all the 
food from the kitchen.
"I think we're ready to call everybody. 
Serena, would you please go call 
everyone for dinner?" asked Mrs. Banker.
"Okay, Mom."
"Let me help you, Serena," Lita 
offered.
"I think it's better if Serena went on 
her own. Your parents, aunt, and uncle
don't know that you and Darien are here
since they were shut up in the library all
day discussing plans on the wedding and
upcoming parties. It's better to surprise
them when they come in for dinner."
"That's a great idea, Daisy," Lita 
agreed.
While Serena left the dining room to
call everybody for dinner, Lita and Daisy
struck up a conversation.
"So Lita, how has your modeling job 
been doing?"
"Fine, but I missed everybody so much.
I mean, traveling is great and all, but
not as fun as it would be with my family
and real friends here in Boston."
"I know what you mean. Family and 
friends are the most important things in
life. I heard that you got your college 
diploma given to you by your private 
educator."
"Yeah, last year. Almost the same time
Serena received hers when she graduated.
Still, I wish I attended college here with 
Serena. Where I can actually socialize with
other college students like me and make 
more friends. Receiving your education
through a private teacher isn't as fulfilling
as it would be in a real university."
"Why didn't you try taking some time off
from modeling to attend college?"
"I tried to, but a lot of the photographers
and my agent persuaded me to keep up
modeling. They said if I really wanted to
continue my college education, they would
hire some sort of private educator to help
me complete it. I still disagreed with the 
idea though, because I wanted to attend
a university. Not have a private educator
giving me four years of my college 
education while I still kept up modeling at
the same time. I went to my agent's office
to tell him just that, but the cursed idiot
already hired the teacher without my 
consent! I was extremely ticked off, but 
there was nothing I could do no matter 
how much I ranted or raved. They paid her 
in advance and she signed a contract that
stated she is to teach me in every subject
for four years! The contract was also final
so it couldn't be broken off. I mean, she 
was smart and kind, but I still wanted to 
attend a college university here in Boston.
Whatever I wanted to major in, she taught
me all I needed to know on my major. 
It's insane!" Lita sighed, (ANs: I'm not sure 
if there is such a thing as a private teacher 
for college, but bear with me. Don't get all 
angry at me about it. It is a fictional story
after all. Thought I'd clear it up with all
you readers. Back to the story.)
"That's all past tense now. What's done  is
done. At least I got my college diploma."
"I still wish it didn't have to end that way.
Serena wished that you attended college 
with her."
"I wanted to so much, Daisy. Believe me.
I love modeling and all, but these idiotic 
photographers and my agent hardly give me 
a break. And my agent is a good for nothing
greedy, sleazy, money grubber! He only 
needs me for my pretty face so he can get all
the money he wants!"
"Why don't you fire him?"
"I will. I need to tell Mom how bad this slime
ball is so we can fire him and get a new agent."
"How did you get your time off if he constantly
keeps you working?"
"Uh....well....you see....I....sort of said that 
there was a family crisis at home and that they 
needed me home right away, so he said it was 
okay for me to take some time off," Lita said
sheepishly.
"Oh, Lita! Dear, I can't believe you did that!"
Daisy said in shock.
"Daisy, I had to." Lita tried to convince her.
"I guess you had no choice. After all, this man
tried to keep you working without hardly a 
vacation."
"Thanks for understanding, Daisy." Lita went
over to embrace Daisy in a hug.
"Of course I would." Daisy returned the hug.
"Hey, Lita! Hello, Daisy," a new voice greeted
them.
"Hello, Darien. It's nice to see you again,"
Daisy replied as she walked over to where 
Darien was to give him a welcome home hug.
"Where's Andrew, Darien?" asked Lita.
"He's with Serena to help call everybody else
for dinner." 
"Did you see Mom, Dad, Uncle Ethan, or Aunt
Faith?"
"No, not yet."
"Well, Daisy has this wonderful idea that we 
should stay here and wait until they come in and
SURPRISE them! What do you think?" Lita asked 
excitedly.
"Oh, wonderful," Darien said sarcastically.
"Darien, what's the matter? You don't want to 
see your parents or aunt and uncle?" Daisy asked,
shocked by his reaction.
"The reason he's so bitter is because Mom and 
Dad pester him about not coming home often, or
on marriage," Lita answered for Darien.
"I understand that they get on your nerves
sometimes with lectures on coming home or
marriage, but they do mean well. Darien, they 
love you and want what's best for you."
"Daisy, I know they mean well, but they need
to understand that I don't need anyone in my life
and I'm just too busy with the company to come
home as often as they'd like me to."
"Daisy, don't even try to reason with Darien.
I tried to on the plane, but it didn't work. He's too
stubborn to listen to reason," Lita put in.
"I'm not stubborn!" Darien snapped.
"Yes, you are!" Lita persisted.
"NOT!"
"TOO!"
"NOT!"
"TOO!"
"Not, not, not!"
"Too, too, too!"
"Children, please! We can hear you two bicker 
all the way out here in the hall!" Andrew playfully 
joked as he and Serena entered the dining room 
followed by Mrs. Garrison, Mr. Garrison, Mrs. Scott,
and Mr. Scott.
"Lita started it," Darien said matter-of-factly.
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Don't start this again!" Andrew said exasperated.
"Come now, darlings. Stop this petty quarreling of
yours and give your mother a hug," Mrs. Garrison said.
"Okay," Lita and Darien agreed as they both walked 
up to Mrs. Garrison, Mr. Garrison, Mrs. Scott, and Mr. 
Scott to give them a hug.
"You've grown more beautiful than the last time I 
saw you, Lita, commented Mr. Scott as he gave his 
niece a kiss on the cheek.
"Oh, Uncle Ethan! You always say that!" Lita said
blushing a rosy pink.
"It's true my dear. Why else do you think men drool
when they see you? You are a blossoming flower,"
Mrs. Scott added.
"That's because Lita got Nancy's looks," Mr. 
Garrison piped in.
"Thanks, Daddy."
"Oh, Darien! You are growing just as handsome," 
Mrs. Garrison stated admiringly.
"Thanks, Mom," Darien answered.
"He's a handsome young man that needs to find
himself a wife. This unstable dating he's doing isn't
going to help him in finding the right girl. Am I right,
Nancy?" Mr. Garrison turned to his wife.
"Your father is right you know. Oh, Darien! We 
want you to have a serious girlfriend at least. You 
never keep one girl for long. Every time we open up a 
magazine or newspaper, we always see a picture of 
you and a different girl almost every week. Then, we 
read something like, 'Darien Garrison and his new 
love' or 'Darien Garrison and his new love of the 
month or week!' Darling, when will this girl hopping 
stop? You need to give these girls a chance. You might
just find the one for you."
"Mom, Dad, I know you want me to be with someone,
but can we talk about this later?" Darien pleaded with
his parents.
"Yes, Nancy. Do give your son a break. He just got 
here  and you and Leo are already bombarding him with
lectures on marriage. Let him settle down first and then 
you can talk to him about marriage. Besides, it's 
dinnertime," Mrs. Scott persuaded them.
"You're right, Faith. We're sorry, Darien. Your father 
and I tend to get carried away. We won't pester you
tonight, but we will need to talk to you some more on
this topic."
"Alright." Darien let out a sigh of relief while he 
mouthed a silent thank you to Mrs. Scott who returned 
the gesture.
"Mmm! This food sure smells good. You're a great 
cook, Daisy," Mr. Scott commented.
"Thank you, Ethan."
"Why don't you join us for dinner, Daisy? Serena?"
asked Mrs. Scott.
"I can't join you because I need to go home and
tend to Mark. He hasn't been feeling well."
"Oh, Daisy. I hope he'll be alright. Why don't you
bring some of this food home with you?" offered
Mrs. Garrison.
"I couldn't---" Mrs. Banker began to object.
"Nonsense, Daisy! You and your husband have 
done so much for us already. The least we could do 
is have you take some of this tasty meal home with 
you," Mr. Garrison said firmly.
"Okay. If you insist." Mrs. Banker gave up her 
protesting.
"Of course we do! Here, let's get some tinfoil
wrap from the kitchen and wrap some of this 
food up." 
Mrs. Garrison and Mrs. Banker left the dining
room and went into the kitchen to go fetch 
some.
"How about you, Serena? Will you join us for
dinner?" Andrew turned to his blond friend.
"I couldn't impose," Serena declined the kind
offer.
"Come on, Serena! You're not imposing in on 
anybody. We're inviting you to come eat with us. 
So, come on. Please???????!!!!!!!!!" implored Lita.
"But  my Mom needs me ho---"
"No, I don't, Serena. I can take care of your 
father myself. You go ahead and join the Garrisons
and Scotts for dinner," Mrs. Banker insisted as she 
and Mrs. Garrison entered the dining room.
"You sure?" Serena asked a little unsure.
"Yes, I'm sure. Go ahead."
"Join us, dear," Mrs. Scott urged.
"Alright then." Serena finally gave in.
"YAY!" Lita cheered like a hyperactive kid on 
Christmas Day.
After Mrs. Banker left the mansion, everyone 
started eating. The entire dining room was filled 
with sprightly conversation and laughter as they
ate. When they were all done with dinner, Mrs. 
Garrison and Mrs. Scott helped clear the table in
the dining room while Mr. Scott and Mr. Garrison 
were in the kitchen washing the dishes. Darien
retired to his room for the night while Andrew
and Lita escorted Serena to the front door of
the mansion.
"Serena, you're coming with me and Lita to
the airport tomorrow to pick up Rita, right?" 
Andrew asked.
"Of course I will."
After Serena gave both Lita and Andrew a hug
good-bye, Serena walked back to her own house,
enjoying the cool, summer night breeze.


That's all folks! I am so, SO sorry that this chapter 
took so long to come out! I'll try extra hard to send
more chapters out, but I can't promise anything.
Ever since school started, it's been so hard for me
to find the time to type up anything. But on a
brighter note, I have been working on my stories! 
^ - ^ Thanks go out to all the people as follows:
Grace McMoon, Silver Bunny, Silvery White Rose,
Chibi-Anon Ymous, Chibi Cori, Angel Girlie, Universal 
Wonder Babe, Christina, Crissy, Fallen Angel, Holly 
Tran, Jennie Starr(my editor), Kurisutaru, Jocelyn,
Keisha, Lilly, Rose Candy, Maia, Reen, Ujigami, Sarah
Twilight, Reiko-chan, Takako-chan, Spooker, Trista
Tigerstar, Rini, all the people who have e-mailed me,
and all the sites that post my stories! Okay, I guess 
that's all. Remember to e-mail me. I live for e-mail! 
So keep them rolling! ^ - ~