Title: Love at Second Sight: Part 5
Author:  Rena Shields
Rated: Pg
E-mail: Kylara21@hotmail.com

AN:  Hello, everyone!  Didn't I promise I'd come out with a lot ofchapters 
at once?  Didn't I?  Well, here is chapter 5, which my friend Amy,seeming a 
little mad that after reading chapter 4 that there was no 5, almost 
threatened me!  Very un-Amy like.  Oh well, I wanted to write thischapter 
anyway.  After all, it is THE DANCE.  Heh heh heh . . . (Ever heard anevil 
laugh?)Oh yes, one more thing.  The song in this chapter was NOT, I repeat NOT
written by me.  I don't know who sang it (or wrote it) but I'd like tothank 
whoever it is, as they are going unacknowledged.  The song is Call myName.

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

As people, wearing both costumes and masks entered the front
entrance of the gym at Azabu High, the night of the Halloween dance, a group
slipped behind everyone else to the back gate.  All of them carried cases of 
instruments.  Soon after they walked backstage, another group followed,
parodying (unbeknownst to them, of course) the one that had gone rightbefore 
them.      " Welcome, ladies and gentleman, to the famous Azabu High Halloween
Masquerade!  Today, we have two excellent bands performing for youtonight, 
The 5 Musketeers and The Guardians!  They are the two groupsparticipating in 
tonight's band contest.  YOU will vote, and who ever wins shall playfor you 
all night long!  Choose wisely.  So, first up we have The 5Musketeers!"  Ms. 
Haruna stepped off the platform and to the back of the gym, where theother 
chaperones were.  
     The curtains on the platform opened to reveal two sets of drumsand two 
guitars.  Four guys, all wearing blue masks, were already seated orstanding 
with their instruments.  They were dressed up as the three musketeers,plus 
one.  However, no one stood at the set up mike.  Hmm . . .
    Darien, dressed in a prince's clothes, wore a red mask (redgoggles, to 
be precise).  He looked very good in the dark, blue shirt with jeans. Not as 
prince-like as he could be, but pretty close.  His dangerous blue eyes 
glittered as he stepped on stage, gazing at the audience.  He carriedanother 
guitar, and he stepped up to the mike.
    Darien (although the crowd didn't know who he was) said," Heyeveryone.  
We want to play for you tonight, so we hope we win.  We'll be singing,I want 
it That a Way, by Backstreet Boys.  Thank you, and we hope we do well." 
Darien surpassed his usual singing record by sounding fabulous.  Theyall did 
great, making a by far interesting effect.  All the girls in theaudience 
(except some very disgruntled ones backstage) reacted to them as ifthey were 
Backstreet in concert.  They whistled and cat called, and called out,"You 
go, Musketeers!"And etc.  In fact, a person dressed up as a sapphireran up 
to the stage screaming," Take me!  I'm yours!" until she realized shewas the 
only one.    Molly was saved from extreme embarrassment that night saveher mask.
    As the Five Musketeers exited backstage while winking, they yelled,"One 
for all and all for one!"  They laughed to themselves as they left;even the 
best band couldn't beat that!
    The five girls laughed to themselves as well.  It would beinteresting to 
see who would win . . .
    Miss Haruna stepped back onto the platform as the curtains closed,and 
while scrapes of moving drums and chairs was apparent in thebackground, she 
said," For our other band we have a group called The Guardians.  Let'shear 
it for them!"   
    Like last time, the stage was empty.  This time, however, the onlythings 
there were an electronic key board, two chairs, and a mike, as whenlast time 
there were two sets of drums, two guitars, two chairs, and a mikestand.  
    A girl entered.  Her blue hair was apparent, as blue as the modest 
sapphire-colored evening gown she wore.  A golden crown with a bluestone was 
atop her head, and in her hands she carried- a harp?  Apparently, yes,for 
she strummed it as she made her way to a chair.  A cold, yet soothingmelody 
carried through the room.  This of course, was Amy.
    Amy was followed by a girl with long, ebony hair with natural (AN:Yes, 
natural!) purple highlights lit up by stage light.  She wore a rubydress, 
that accented every feature and every curve she had.  In other words,it was 
a tight, slinky gown that made her seem like a princess.  Indeed, shewas for 
she too wore a crown, one of gold with a red stone.  She sat down atthe 
keyboard, piano being Raye's best instrument.
    Lita and Mina came as a pair, each carrying their own instrument. Lita 
carried a beautiful, highly polished violin, as she followed suit andtook 
the remaining chair.  Her dress, emerald green, matched her eyes as shegazed 
out.  Lita's crown matched theirs too, a golden crown with a greenstone.  
        Mina, who was standing a little behind her, lifted up a lithe,silver 
flute.  Lightly blowing it, a bird call came out, as sweet as springwater.  
She smiled, and the yellow gown she wore brightened it.  Her crown wasgold, 
with a hardly noticeable yellow stone set in.
    As they settled themselves in, at last their lead singer came in. She 
carried a small, white guitar, lost in the sheer magnificence of her.
    The white gown she wore was past her feet, and it clung to her then
spread at her waist.  It had a silver train, elegantly billowing afterher.  
She had small, transparent wings on, only visible from the way itglittered 
as she walked.  Sleeveless, it had a single, silver rose embroidered onthe 
skirt, and a visible silver line of tiny flowers running from the topof her 
dress down to past her waist.    
    She too, wore a crown on her brow, but it was silver.  A clearcrystal 
glittered in it, sparkling and shooting off little beams of white lighton 
the room walls.  The crown set off her long, shiny, golden hair, which 
cascaded down her back to reach the floor.  She wore a white, dominomask, 
but it hardly hid the brightness of her endless blue eyes.
    Serena made indeed, a shockingly beautiful effect, but they allwere.  
They had practiced this startling effect many times, as they had alsoasked 
to be last.  That way, they could give a much more dramatic appearancethen 
any other group.  The total effect was stunning and alluring; no onecould 
resist it.    Serena's sweet voice carried over the mike:" Thank you, everyone. 
We are so pleased that we could play our song for you.  Like the Five
Musketeers, we want to play for you this night too.  May the best band win!"  
    "This is Call my Name, written by Raye Hino.  We hope you enjoy it. . ."
    Min lifted up her flute the same time Lita lifted her violin to herchin, 
that Raye started a piano chord, when Ami strummed her harp, and whenSerena 
expertly flicked her fingers over the strings on her guitar.  (Only Serena)
There are days when those gray skiesCan make you blueEach forward step you take,
You fall back by twoYou been getting by some hard times,You just can't stand.  
Feeling like Alice felt,In wonderland(All girls singing now)
Let me be the one to lend a hand Call my name and I'll be there
Whenever you need someoneOr a shoulder to lean onCall my name and I'll be there
(Serena)And when life's going your wayJust like a breeze
It's like kite-flying on a kind of dayAbove the trees
Together we'll be making memories(All)Call my name and I'll be there
Whenever you need someoneOr a shoulder to lean onCall my name and I'll be there
(Serena)As this world turns us aroundBehave on to what we vowed
A treasure we both needI will row that extra mile
To give you back that certain smileThat you've given me
An answer anytime and anywhere(All)Call my name and I'll be there
Whenever you need someoneOr a shoulder to lean onCall my name and I'll be there
Call my name and I'll be thereCall my nameCall my nameI'll be there . . .
    The crowd whooped and whistled appreciatively for them.  Serena andthe 
girls were a huge hit, especially Serena. Who knew she'd have a goodvoice?  
They were obviously pleased by their performance.  The other guysweren't so 
happy, though.
    Miss Haruna, looking a little shocked, stepped up to the platformagain 
and announced,"Now we will vote for best band.  The winner will playall 
night long with breaks, and we vote judging on the amount of applausefor 
each band.  Will the people in the two bands please leave the room 
temporarily?  Thank you."
    The two groups walked out, each immediately separating to oppositesides 
of the path.  Inside, they heard nothing, then a roar of applause.  
Apparently, whoever won, won by a lot.  
A student walked out, signaling, Come in.  You, pointing to theGuardians, 
Get on stage, you won!  And led them away. 
Andrew was a little mad.  'It's not fair!  We work our butts offperfecting 
the songs, and all those
 girls do is sing a-long and look pretty!  How annoying . . .' hethought.
Darien was a little silent.  That lead singer . . . She had been sopretty; 
exactly what he thought his princess might look like if he ever sawher.  
Ironically, as he didn't know who his princess was, he didn't know whothe 
singer was either.  Oh yes, two things: One, she was gorgeous, two,masks 
would be revealed at midnight.  
    Gazing over the rest of his group, he noticed that their angrylooks had 
subsided to peaceful looks of Cupid's arrow.  Each one, even thesupremely 
angry Andrew, had locked their eyes on the members of the now walkingoff 
Guardians.  Their eyes were like this: Andrew to the flute player, Gregto 
the harpist, Chad to the pianist, and Ken to the violinist.  He,himself, had 
his eyes locked on the singer.  She was extremely pretty, but he'd betthe 
earth that he'd find her to be cold and snobby.  He'd dance with her atband 
break; he wanted to know at least what she was like. 
******************************************************************************
*******    'Whew!  That was a lot, and we aren't even done yet!' thought
Serena as she stepped offstage for her break.  She and the others were a little
tired; after all, they had just played and sang for the last hour-straight!  
    As an N'Sync tape started to play, most people started dancing(again).  
For once, all the girls were asked to dance.  Each of the Musketeerscame 
off, bowed, extended their hand, and the princesses walked off to thedance 
floor.      Darien was last.  He bowed, his dark blue eyes meeting her light
ones.  She gave him a glove, and he took it.  They walked to the dance floor,
where they EXPECTED to dance to pop music.  Surprisingly, Miss Haruna thoughtit 
would be funny to slip in waltz and fox trot music instead of pop.  Nowa bit 
uncomfortable, Darien slid his arm around her waist.  Grasping hands,she 
took hold of her skirt and they waltzed around the floor, one of fivecouples 
who still remained.
    "You're a very good dancer, miss fairy princess.  Good singer,too."  
Darien commented as they danced.  "Thank you, you aren't so badyourself.  
Pray tell, musketeer: You seem familiar.  Do I know you?"  Serenaasked.
    "I wouldn't know, but at midnight we will know." 'She must be alittle 
silly to ask a question like that.'  He didn't realize he had said thataloud 
until he noticed miss fairy princess looking mad.  She respondedback,"Not as 
silly as you, for what sane person speaks their thoughts aloud."
    Although both of them angry, they continued dancing.  If thatwasn't 
strange enough, they danced more and more elegantly despite the 
circumstances.  Soon, the other four couples backed off the floor soeveryone 
could watch them dance.  They made a stunning pair; elegant and royal 
looking.  Her white dress matched his dark blue shirt so well, youcould've 
sworn the two of them had planned their costumes together.  Her blondhair 
shimmered, as did his black, offsetting eachother just right.  
    Serena grimaced as she danced.  She had no idea why she was stilldancing 
with this creep; she'd rather moon-dust him instead.  To moon dust him,
actually, might be kind of hard.  He was tall, and looked like he couldjump 
pretty well, and dodge.  He was really cute, but . . . Still anarrogant 
jerk.  'Just like Darien.  Both of them are rude, arrogant littlethings.'  
She never noticed the way her heart was beating, and how the slightest 
movement at her waist made her see stars.  She only saw flames, andstars 
were completely non-existent to her. 
    Darien grimaced as he danced.  Why was he still dancing with thisbrat?  
He'd like to throw a rose at her and spot off words of wisdom of whyevil is 
bad.  (AN: Redundant, yes, but I don't care)  Then he could just leave. 
Examining her when her eyes were averted, he saw how small she was. She had 
an elegant profile surrounded by that mass of golden silk.  Her hand,resting 
in his, was tiny as well.  She had a refined air around her and actedvery 
aloof.  She was very beautiful, even if she wasn't smiling at themoment.  
Thinking of that when she had smiled on stage . . . Just thinking ofthat 
wondrous smile made his heart beat faster and pulse race.  He neverrealized 
that night; he forced himself to think of the modified, rude girl infront of 
him.  He never remembered for that moment, the girl with the smile tolight 
candles and an obvious kindness, even on stage, to reach anyone.   
    "Attention: Will the Guardians please get back on stage?  You breakis 
over, and we're ready to hear your radiant voices sing again!"  MissHaruna's 
voice broke them out of their dancing reverie, and they parted coldly. 
***Darien and Serena's POV***
    "Good-bye and good riddance, SIR."  Serena's chilly voice said.  "Same 
to you, M'LADY."  Darien's voice was icier then hers, if that waspossible.  
His arm slid away from her waist rather slowly, but in annoyance.  Hebowed, 
she curtsied.  Throwing him a haughty glance, she walked off.  Shesilently 
wished, though, that he had stayed by her side, keeping her safe.  Nowthat 
he was gone, she almost felt like part of her was, too.  It felt like atear 
inside her.  "Silly,' she thought.  No reason to care for a jerk.  
***Nosy People's POV***
    They were talking, now that they had stopped.  His arm was stillwrapped 
protectively around her waist, and they were standing very closetogether.  
They stopped, and everyone assumed (since they couldn't see theirfaces) that 
they were giving each other loving glances and sweet words.  His arm,rather 
reluctant, came back to his side.  He bowed, then she curtsied.  As she
walked off, she gave him one last glance.      
    They were all enchanted, absolutely: What a beautiful couple! Smiling, 
everyone knew what they would do later that night.     At 11:55pm:
    "Thank you, very much for letting us sing for you tonight.  The endof 
the dance is approaching, and we hope that you've filled out yourballots for 
Best Impromptu Couple and Best Costume.  For the end, we'll be singingyou 
our opening song to end this night.  As we're the band of the night,it's our 
duty to unmask ourselves first.  Follow suit when you see who we are. Thank 
you again, and Happy Halloween!" 
    Serena, finally done reciting off the speech from cue cards,stepped up 
to the mike one last time.Call my name(Only Serena)
There are days when those grey skiesCan make you blueEach forward step you take,
You fall back by twoYou been getting by some hard times,You just can't stand.  
Feeling like Alice felt,In wonderland(All girls singing now)
Let me be the one to lend a hand Call my name and I'll be there
Whenever you need someoneOr a shoulder to lean onCall my name and I'll be there
(Serena)And when life's going your wayJust like a breeze
It's like kite flying on a kind of dayAbove the trees
Together we'll be making memories(All)Call my name and I'll be there
Whenever you need someoneOr a shoulder to lean onCall my name and I'll be there
(Serena)As this world turns us aroundBehave on to what we vowed
A treasure we both needI will row that extra mile
To give you back that certain smileThat you've given me
An answer anytime and anywhere(All)Call my name and I'll be there
Whenever you need someoneOr a shoulder to lean onCall my name and I'll be there
    Serena and the others, now playing with one hand, took the otherand 
reached for their masks.Call my name and I'll be thereCall my nameCall my name
I'll be there . . .
    A clock went off just as the song ended.  One, two, three, four . .. The 
dongs went on.  Five, six, seven . . .    Eleven, and then-
    At the stroke of midnight, the girls swept off their masks, alongwith 
everyone else in the audience.  
    Darien was shocked out of his wits to see Serena, standing there inthe 
elegant white dress.  It was her that acted so graceful; it was herthat made 
him want to - want to- well, want to do something.  Kiss her, said alittle 
voice inside his head.  'Go away.  This is your fault anyway, bothersomeone 
else.'  No can do, Dare, after all, I am YOUR subconscious, not anyone 
else's.  Sighing, he looked up once again.***Serena's POV***  
Serena scanned the crowd, smiling softly.  She saw that the guys thather 
friends had danced with were their own, private crushes.  Greg, Ken,Chad, 
and Andrew were standing there.  With them, she recognized Darien. 'What's 
he doing here?  I never noticed the jerk before. '  Then, she noticedthe red 
goggles in his hand.    Nearly toppling off stage, she stumbledinstead, 
color draining from her face.  That arrogant, handsome, rude yet cutejerk 
had been DARIEN???  Well, they do act the same, Meatball Head.  'Great,my 
own subconscious is teasing me.'  You got that right, spaghetti brains. Just 
go over to him and kiss the guy!  You know you want to.  Besides, the 
temptation is killing me.  'Good, then maybe you'll leave me alone.'  
Sighing, her subconscious went off to try to brood in the most romantic
corner of Serena's mind.  
    This time, she stepped off stage with the other Guardians.  Shewatched 
as they walked over to their new "friends".  Oh well; she had otherstuff to 
do.      Miss Haruna, looking a little tired now that she had stepped up tothe 
mike who knows how many times, said wearily,"Ok, now the finale of thedance. 
 (Yawn)  The winner for best band of course, is The Guardians.  Willyou 
please come up here?  Again? "  Complying, they stepped up again,Serena once 
again donning her white domino mask. 
    "The winner for best costume is . . . The Fairy Princess!"  saidMiss 
Haruna, reading off the cue cards.  Serena waited for the fairyprincess to 
come up on stage.
    "Meatball brains!  What do you think your costume is!"  Raye hissedat 
her.  Examining herself, Serena noted the crown and the fairy wings shewore. 
 Oops.  Dashing forward, she laughed apologetically to the audience.  
***Inside the mysterious mind of Darien Shields***
'Wow, Serena has a pretty laugh.  How come I haven't heard it before?' 
Darien's subconscious, having had it's ego bashed, now insulted himwith just 
what he knew Darien didn't want to hear.  Could it be, perhaps, thatyou've 
never made her laugh?  Scream, yell, and whine, yes. But you've neverdone 
anything to make her laugh.  'It's not like I care, or anything.  Whyshould 
I care for ol' Meatball head, anyway?'  If his subconscious had a head,it 
would've been shaking it then.  Darien, Darien, Darien.  I thought wehad 
gotten past this denial stage by now.  Looks like I'll have to startfrom the 
beginning . . .
"Last of all, we have Best Impromptu Couple.  This one was a complete 
landslide win.  Everyone voted for this couple!  We have The FairyPrincess 
and The Musketeer with the red goggles.  Will you please come up?" 
Serena, who just stayed up there, blushed as Raye leaned over andsaid," 
Carrying off some prizes tonight, eh?"  Darien walked onto the stage,his 
eyes abruptly locking with Serena's.  A look passed between them, ofmixed 
emotions.  They were mixed of two things: hatred and - and- andsomething 
else.  Something they didn't identify for fear of what would come ofit.  
    Both of them were now blushing furiously as they accepted theirtrophies. 
 Her blush looked more like one of anger than embarrassment, though. She was 
voted a couple: with him?!?!  How bad could life get; being placed withyour 
arch nemesis was not a nice thing.
Accepting her trophies, Serena grasped three fake gold trophies as theyall 
walked off stage.  They had all received trophies like that.  The onefor 
band had a golden music note on it.  The Best costume one had a maskand cape 
on it.  The Best Impromptu couple one, by far the prettiest, had acouple 
dancing atop the pedestal.  She was in his arms, and they lookedremarkably 
like the legend of the Moon Princess and of Earth.  
    Taking another glance at Serena, he almost laughed.  She wasjuggling 
trophies in her small arms, since she had carried off the night'sawards.  

***

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