Name: Starlit Princess Title: Charade, Chapter 2 E-mail: starlitprincess@tuxedomask.com http://www.homestead.com/aneternalstarlitromance/welcome.html @)~~>~~>~~~ ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~ <3 <3 <3 @)~~>~~>~~~ <3 <3 <3 ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~~ Driving home, I was still wondering what had come over me at the arcade that day. What had possessed me to actually agree to this crazy plan? Why did I volunteer? I didn't have to. I smiled when I pictured in my mind those sparkling crystal blue eyes, gazing longingly at her hand, probably imagining another soft kiss to her hand from me, maybe even to her lips... And I knew. That feeling that I have for her... it must be that I was, for a fact, in...sane. I was insane. But in my heart, I was jumping for joy. Once I got back to my apartment, I started acting like a litttle boy who'd been offered a lifetime suppply of fudge. A date with Serena! A date with Serena! Even if it *was* only pretend, it was still a whole entire afternoon with my Meatball Head! *My* meatball head. I think I could get used to that... My emotions were a volatile mess. I couldn't figure it out. One minute I hated that clumsy girl, the next I wanted to kiss the sweet breath out of her. Why? Maybe this whole "getting to know her" situation will decide it for me... I vowed not to embarrass her, or call her Meatball Head. I would sweep her off her feet on Saturday, and impress everyone, all for her. All for her... @~~>~~>~~~ It was Saturday morning. The day of the big "date." The sun was shining, the birds were twittering a melodious song, and I was ecstatic. Humming my way through breakfast, it seemed to be a great day. The nicest I'd had in a while. A couple of hours rolled by, and I started to get ready. I pulled on a pair of dark denim jeans and the crisp blue, loose button down shirt I wore a lot recently, and sprayed on my favorite cologne; a spicy mixture of roses and cinnamon. I took a peek at the mirror, and looking at my appearance, I looked and felt... dull. Just plain dull. Serena had described her 'boyfriend' as 'dashing, cool...' Cool... Pulling off the bland blue shirt, I chose a white t-shirt that showed my deep tan and my 'rippling' ("yeah right, Darien," I thought to myself) muscles. I fastened my silver rose necklace on for good luck, and instead of bringing the normal green jacket I always wore, I pulled my brown leather one out of the closet. Taking a look at my hair, which was a bit ruffled, I slicked some gel in to smooth it out. Better, but still not enough. Hmmm... Walking over to my nightstand drawer, I fished around until I found what I was looking for. 'Hmm...I hope this still fits...' @)~~>~~>~~~ I drove over to Serena's house at exactly eleven-thirty. She was waiting for me out at the gate when I pulled up, and skipped over to the car. Hi, Darien!" she said as she opened the passenger door and hopped in. Wow! I'd almost been expecting her to be wearing her school uniform, which is what she always wore whenver I saw her, but instead she was wearing a strappy silvery tank top, that silver cresent moon necklace she wore all the time, cute blue ribbons on her 'meatballs,' and a *very* short, blue cotton miniskirt that showed off her long, slim legs. I was practically drooling. Man, I must really be nuts, I thought ruefully. Maybe I *do* have a thing for her... I must've gazed at her too long, because she shook my shoulder, hard. "Darien, Darien, hey, snap out of it!" "Huh? Oh, sorry. You look great, Meatball Head!" My eyes still lingered on her lovely appearance. 'More than just great,' I thought. 'Serena, you're stunning.' "Thanks," she said, grinning. "But DON'T call me Meatball Head at the picnic! You're supposed to be in love with me, remember?" "Of course." "It won't be too much of an act, though," I murmured. I hoped she didn't hear that! But instead, now she was gawking at *me.* "Darien, you look so, so... hot!" She blushed furiously when she let that out. "Thanks, it isn't every day a cute blonde thinks I'm 'hot.' She blushed even hotter as she looked at me, but then she took a closer look, and her jaw dropped. "Darien! You're wearing... an earring!?!" "Oh, this?" I fingered the silver hoop hanging from my left ear. "It's been pierced for quite some time now, but I just never wore it out." I grinned. "You like it?" She smiled. "Since when did the quiet, slightly fashioned- challenged college man get an earring... and a leather jacket?" "There's a lot you don't know about me, my dear... now let's go, before we're late for the picnic! Now, uh, where is it again?" "It's at that park near my school; the one with that huge rose garden." "Great, let's go!" We took off, chatting pleasantly about various things here and there; school, friends, etc. I was pretty proud of myself; not once did I tease her. Not to mention, for once I really didn't care to. It just didn't feel right to tease her anymore... When we got there, lots of people turned to gaze at the sleek red car driving up. As I pulled up to the curb, Serena suddenly drew in a sharp breath. While I was trying to parallel park, Serena whispered to me, "Over there, that tall girl with the curly, springy blonde hair and green eyes! There, by the big cherry tree! That's the girl! Sarah!" I took a glance at this hideous person who had so terribly hurt Meatball Head. Lanky, tall, bony, *way* too much hair (it looked like a tangled lion's mane, the way she was tossing it about!) and dressed like an incorrigible flirt. Not to mention, dressed like a total slut. "So, *this* is what made a fool out of you?" I frowned. "Don't worry, I won't fail you today!" I said to her under my breath as we came out of the car. Serena's friend, Lita, and several of her other friends promptly rushed over when they saw Serena. Lita squealed, "Ooh, Serena, you brought Darien! Now you'll show that bitchy Sarah Westerbridge! What a snob!" "Yes, Serena, I'm sure that this little escapade will surely intimidate that... that... er, girl!" exclaimed the blue-haired friend of Serena's, Amy. Molly, the redhead, suddenly hissed, "Look! Here she comes!" That lion-maned loudmouth came prancing over to us, draped over some hapless guy that I presumed was her 'fabulous' boyfriend. He wasn't *that* good-looking, I observed, as he did look a bit 'sloppy.' He had light brown hair that kind of reached to his chin, kind of shaggily, and dark brown eyes behind long eyelashes, holding a rather vacant expression. Me, the impeccable Darien Chiba, was compared to this slob? I think not! Well, he did have densely packed muscles, *was* dressed nicely, okay looking and kind of *cool,* in a odd preppy trying-to-cover-up-his-messiness kind of way. Even so, the girl's eyes bulged out in shock as she took a good look at me. I squeezed Serena's waist tightly. "Serena, would you like to introduce me to your 'friend'?" I asked her while pulling her close. Behind me, I could hear Lita and Molly snickering behind their hands until Amy whacked them with her geometry book. Ouch! Serena, with a loving smile up at me, said, "Sarah, like you asked, this is my loving boyfriend, Darien Chiba. Darien, this is Sarah Westerbridge, and he's... uh..." "Chris," said Sarah, in a syrupy voice, batting her eyelashes flirtatiously at me.. Ugh! She sounded so fake! Also, even though she had her 'wonderful older boyfriend,' I noticed her eyes were shamlessly roving their way up and down my body. I groaned inwardly. I absolutely detested that kind of a girl, superficial down from her head to her toes, and pushy. Thank goodness Serena was nothing like that... "So, how long have you been dating *her?*" she drawled at me, tiptoeing her fingers lightly up and down my chest, as she gave an icy stare at my 'girlfriend.' Ugh. Behind me, Amy and Molly were desperately trying to restrain the furious Lita Kino. I heard faint mumbles of 'I'll kill her, that tramp!" and "Calm down, Darien'll take care of it!" And I shall, ladies. I shall. Roughly swatting that creeping hand away, I turned to Serena, whom I still held firmly by the waist, and nuzzled her golden hair. I marveled at its silkiness, before replying, "Oh, maybe about a few months, but it does seems like a millenium, right, love?" I kissed her on the cheek tenderly, which made everyone (including Serena) gasp in surprise. She smiled up at me happily, and answered, "Yes... er, Muffin; it's been a wonderful few months, hasn't it?" "The best I've had in my life." Pulling a rose from my jacket, I handed it to an amazed Meatball Head. "For you, my love." Clutching the flower in trembling fingers, she jumped up and kissed me on the cheek, causing even more gasps. I just smiled contentedly and hugged her jumping figure. "Humph!" grumbled Sarah. Obviously upset, there was fire sparking a dangerous flame igniting in those flat, bland green eyes, but suddenly, they became strangely calm. A crafty smile appeared on her lips as she tugged on my arm. "You said those few months seemed like a millenium... So you feel like she's been smothering you, then; been bored, hmm?" she purred. Serena cried out in anger, "You're twisting his words around!" "Am I?" She smiled wickedly. Um, when is her 'boyfriend' going to intervene? I craned my head to see him busily picking at his ear. UGGGH! Well, I suppose we know he isn't *really* her boyfriend... Sarah, her frizzy curls flying, cooed, "Well, if you're bored, you sexy creature, how about a little hiatus from your relationship?" Thus, she grabbed my head and promptly kissed me on the lips, fast and hard, and she plunged her tougue in next! I tried to push her off, but those clutching hands were surprisingly strong, and she held on tightly. A scream of rage tore out from Lita, barely muffling the wail of tortured agony from Serena. Hearing that pained cry seemed to rip my heart in two, and I felt a new strength filtering through my body. Lurching forward, I roughly slammed the horrible thing off of me, and she moaned in pain. "What's the matter? You didn't like that?" Before I could reply, Lita, who'd obviously seen enough, tore away from the struggling Amy and Molly, and yelled, "DIDN'T LIKE THAT?!? I'll show YOU!" And she hauled off and punched her, square in the jaw. ~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~*~~~ Hehe, interesting place to leave off, isn't it? What happens next? Will Darien collect his nerves and say something? Will Lita keep bashing Sarah's brains in? And what about that 'boyfriend?' Real or fraud? I'm sorry it wasn't as mushy as I wanted it to be, but that will change in the next installment... Wait for it to come out... Standard Sailor Moon disclaimer applies. ~May the stars shine brightly upon you, Starlit Princess, gentle, wise (but panicky) ruler of the Realm of Romance @)~~>~~>~~~