"Love Waits for You"
   by Stormlight

(Stormlight@aol.com)

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Chapter Four
~~~~~~~~~~~~


	"Hey, Serena!" Molly greeted as she opened her front door.  
"Ready to go shopping?"

	"You bet!" Serena enthused, grinning at her pal.  "Let's hit 
the shoe store first, 'kay?  I need a new pair of sandals."

	Giggling together, they headed down the street toward the 
nearest bus stop, talking about their plans.

	"Hey!" Molly suddenly yelped.  "Isn't that our bus?!"

	Serena looked, and sure enough, a city bus was just pulling 
away from the curb.  "Hey!  Wait for us!" she squealed, grabbing 
Molly's hand and sprinting after the vehicle.

	"Serena!" Molly gasped.  "It's too late!  We'll never catch 
up!  Will you STOP already?!"

	Serena slowed her pace to a walk, panting slightly.  "Awwww! 
 NOW what'll we do?!  It'll be HOURS 'till the next bus comes!" she 
wailed, ready to burst into one of her famous tantrums. 

	But before she could release the first wail, a male voice 
proclaimed, "Um...aren't you exaggerating just a tad, Meatball Head?"

	The two girls' reactions could not have been more different.  
Serena stiffened in annoyance, as was normal, but Molly turned dreamy
eyes to Darien, looking anything but annoyed, much to Serena's disgust.
 
"Hi, Darien," Molly gushed.  "Me and Serena are going shopping.  Ya 
wanna join us?"

	Serena's eyes widened in panic.  "Moll!" she hissed.  "I 
thought you wanted it to be JUST US...REMEMBER?"

	"Well...yeah, but..."

	"Besides," she added smugly, "I'm sure Darien has much better 
things to do than hang out with a couple of teenagers at the mall!"

	"Actually, I'm on my way there, myself.  I have a few things 
to pick up.  Why don't I give you a ride there, since it'll be another 
half hour before the next bus comes by," Darien cut in with a small 
grin.

	"You'd really do that?" Molly asked.  "Wow!  That's really nice 
of you, Darien!  Isn't that nice of him, Serena?"

	"Yeah, yeah.  He's a saint," Serena muttered, pouting slightly.

	Darien chuckled, knowing he'd won.  "Well, c'mon, girls.  
I'm parked over here," he told them, swinging the books he'd just 
bought at the bookstore over his shoulder.  Serena reluctantly 
followed Darien and Molly down the street, wondering how she managed 
to get herself into these messes.  Then she saw that they were 
heading toward a black convertible parked along the curb, with a 
small, green, nondescript car parked right behind it.

	**Hmmm...considering how much Darien loves green, that car's 
probably his,** she thought, eyeing the small car critically.  It 
looked like it had seen better days (**Kind of like his blazer,** she 
added snidely).  Honestly, she had to wonder how he managed to keep 
it running without the engine falling right out onto the street!  
She couldn't resist teasing him, just a little.  "So, Dar, how many 
junkyards did you visit to find this little beauty?" she called out, 
peering in through the cracked windshield.

	Darien's voice was highly amused as he replied, "None.  I got 
THIS little beauty right off the showroom floor."

	Serena looked up, and it was then she saw that he had paused 
in front of the black convertible and was holding the door open for 
her.  Molly was already inside, laughing hysterically.  

	"Oh."  Serena straightened up, embarrassed.  "I knew that!  
I was just...trying to get a rise out of you.  Wanted to make sure 
you were still the same old Darien, is all!"

	Darien gave her an odd look, one she couldn't quite place, 
before he flashed her a crooked grin and replied, "Give me a little 
credit, Meatball Head.  How d'ya expect me to pick up any pretty 
ladies in a piece of junk like that?  I have better taste than THAT, 
I hope!"

	Serena scowled at him before climbing into the car.  She had 
to admit, it was a nice one; leather seats and a CD player and 
everything!  "So, how'd you get the money for something like this?" 
she asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

	"It's called a job," he replied, deadpan.

	"I KNOW that, dummy!  What KIND of job?  Embezzling money from 
the government, perhaps?"

	"Har, har," he replied, punching a button on the dashboard.  
There was a soft whir, and the roof began to fold back.

	"Cool!" Molly exclaimed.  "I never rode in a convertible 
before!  Did you, Serena?"

	"No," she replied primly.  "RYAN owns a motorcycle, and he 
gave me a ride on it once, remember?"

	"Yeah, I have one of those, too.  You know, for warm weather," 
Darien said casually, gripping the steering wheel a little too tightly.
 
Serena rolled her eyes and settled back into her seat.  After a moment 
of silence, Darien asked casually, "Speaking of your boyfriend, how's 
he been, lately?"  He was met with silence, and glanced over at Serena 
to see her staring out the window, her face expressionless.  It was 
Molly who answered for her.  

	"She wouldn't know.  Nobody's seen him in days.  He wasn't in 
school or anything!" she announced importantly.

	"He doesn't have to know that, Moll!" Serena huffed.

	"You're saying he skipped school all week?" Darien asked, 
quirking an eyebrow.

	"He didn't skip out!" Serena protested.  "He...he was probably 
sick!  There's no crime in that!"

	"I never said there was," Darien replied.  "Don't get your 
skirts in a bunch!  I just think that it's a little odd that he hasn't 
called you or anything."

	"Oh, he doesn't call Serena at home!  Are you kidding?  Mr. 
Tsukino would have kittens!" Molly cut in, laughing.

	"Your parents don't know you have a boyfriend?"  Now Darien 
was really intrigued.  He shot a questioning glance at Serena, who 
shifted uncomfortably.

	"Well...they think I'm too young to have a boyfriend...but 
they know I like Ryan," she replied defensively.  
"They...just...don't know it's official or anything.  And it's gonna 
stay that way, ya hear me?"  And she glared at them both to drive 
home her point.

	"Uh, sure.  Whatever you say," he replied with a patient smile.


*	*	*	*	*
	**How do I manage to get myself into these things?** Darien 
wondered two hours later as he trudged wearily along after two 
speeding hurricanes from store to store.  It was his own fault, 
really, considering that Serena had made it very clear, once they'd 
arrived at the mall, that he was free to go his own way.  And he, 
being as stubborn as all-get-out, had blithely ignored her 
not-so-subtle hints and insisted on tagging along.  Only Molly's 
pleading had gotten her to agree.  He was starting to like Molly...

	As it was, Darien had been worn out after the first hour, 
but of course he wasn't gonna let them know that, since THEY were 
still charging full-speed-ahead and weren't about to run out of 
steam anytime soon, by the looks of it.  At the moment, they had 
paused in front of a small boutique called Moniqué.  

	"Isn't that a gorgeous dress, Serena?" Molly sighed, gazing 
at a pale lavender creation displayed in the window.  "I bet it would 
look so pretty on you."

	"Me?  What about you?" Serena said.  "I bet lavender would 
look great on you."

	"Naah, green's more my color.  It matches my eyes," Molly 
replied.  "Some day, I'm gonna buy a dress in this shop and wear it 
out on the town and have all the guys drool over me."  They both 
giggled at that, and Darien rolled his eyes. 

	"But they're so expensive," Serena sighed, eyeing the lavender 
gown enviously.  "I could never afford a dress like that, no matter 
how long I saved my allowance."  She sighed again, but then her eyes 
lit up.  "Hey!  We should go in there and try one on!" she exclaimed.  
"Wouldn't that be fun?"

	"Yeah!" Molly gushed.  "That would be way cool!  Let's go!"  
They started into the shop, but Darien's voice suddenly stopped them.

	"Uh...girls, I highly doubt that the salespeople are gonna 
let just anyone walk on in there and try on their clothes.  At least 
not without buying anything," he told them wryly, eyeing a salesgirl 
who was eyeing THEM with more than a little suspicion.

	"Oh...you're right," Serena replied, pouting a little.  Then 
her face suddenly lit up.  "But I know how to take care of that!" 
she cheered happily, giving Darien an evil smile.

	"What're ya gonna do?  Go in and hold them up at gun-point 
while you try on a dress?" he asked with a smirk.

	"Chill out, Dar!  I got it covered!" Serena told him, giving 
him an "OK" sign.  She looked over at Molly and winked, then cleared 
her throat and gave Darien a mysterious smile...one which suddenly 
made him extremely nervous.  But before he could guess her intentions, 
she suddenly grabbed onto his arm and yanked him inside the shop, 
holding on tight.

	"Hey!  What's..." Darien yelped, but was immediately cut off.

	"Oh, Darien!" she squealed loudly.  "Will you REALLY buy me 
that dress?  It's SO expensive!  But won't it look GREAT when we go 
to Paris next week?  I'd better try it on, though, to make sure it 
fits right.  Hey, Sis, are you gonna use Daddy's credit card to buy 
one, too?"

	"Oh, sure.  Daddy said I could get whatever I wanted for my 
birthday," Molly immediately replied, jumping into her role with ease. 

"I was gonna buy a new computer, but I don't know if I'll have room for

it in my bedroom with that huge entertainment center in there.  I mean,
YOU know the TV takes up half a wall, alone!"  She giggled a little, 
fingering a pale green, sequined gown priced at one thousand dollars.  
"Maybe I'll get a laptop, but I really like these dresses.  So many 
choices!" 

"Well, why don't you buy BOTH?" Serena suggested innocently.  "I'm 
sure Daddy wouldn't mind."

	Upon hearing this exchange, the salesclerk immediately perked 
up, and one could almost SEE the dollar signs appearing in her eyes 
with a near-audible 
Cha-CHING!

	Darien, for his part managed to get out an eloquent "HUH?!" 
before Serena continued on relentlessly.

	"Now, Darien, you DO have the reservations made for that 
five-star hotel in Paris, don't you?  I mean, when Daddy forgot to 
make them before, we ended up having to stay in a FOUR star hotel!"  
She shuddered.  "The bathroom was positively VILE!"

	"Well...er..."  For some reason, Darien couldn't seem to 
collect his thoughts.

	"Well, never mind.  I'm sure you remembered.  You're very 
good at stuff like that."  She reached up and gave him a kiss on the 
cheek before releasing him and going over to the display of gowns, 
pulling a dress like the one on display from it and looking at the 
price tag.  "Oh, we're in luck!" she exclaimed.  "This one is on sale! 

It only costs thirteen hundred dollars!"  Ignoring Darien, who nearly 
choked when he heard the price, she looked over to the salesclerk, 
who was hovering close by, practically leaping for a chance to help.  
"Excuse me, Miss.  Where might the dressing room be?" she inquired
politely.

	"Over in the corner," the clerk (whose name tag read "Amanda") 
replied helpfully.  "You wouldn't happen to need any accessories to go 
with that gown, do you?  We have a pair of satin shoes that are 
absolutely lovely!  Only three hundred dollars!  A real steal!"

	"Oh, tempting!" Serena replied cheerfully.  "I'll have to 
think about it."  She grabbed Molly's hand and yanked her back to 
the changing rooms.  "Just be a moment, darling!" she called back 
to Darien, giving him a positively evil smile.

	Darien merely stood there, desperately trying to recall 
exactly when he had lost control of the situation, and felt rather 
irked when he realized that he'd never HAD control of the situation.  
Serena had shocked the wits right out of him, and they both knew it!  
From the changing room, he could hear the two girls valiantly trying 
to muffle their hysterical laughter, and felt a small grin tugging 
at his own mouth.  He had to admit...it was a pretty hilarious 
situation, and the fact that Serena of all people had come up with 
it surprised him.

	**Didn't know she was so sneaky,** he thought with grudging 
admiration.  **She's a lot smarter than people give her credit for.  
Including herself.  I bet she could be an A student at school if she 
wasn't so lazy, or if she had more confidence in her abilities.**  
His grin widened as he heard more muffled laughter coming from inside 
the dressing room.  **So, she wants to play make-believe, huh?  Well, 
let's see who can shock whom here...** he thought with a wicked
chuckle.

	Amanda, in the meantime, had approached Darien, and now 
gazed up at him with admiration.  That girl sure was lucky to have 
found such a gorgeous, RICH boyfriend, she thought enviously.  If 
only SHE could meet someone like that!  Trying to make conversation, 
she asked casually, "So, you and your girlfriend are going on 
vacation to Paris next week, huh?"

	Darien raised an eyebrow, opening his mouth to answer, but 
then Serena's voice caught his attention and he looked toward the 
dressing room.  What he saw made his breath stop in his throat and 
his shirt collar suddenly seem two sizes too small.  It was 
Serena...but not Serena.  At least, it wasn't the Serena HE was 
used to seeing; the one in a school uniform and knee socks.  This 
Serena was someone else entirely.

	The sleeveless gown was beautiful, and on her it seemed even 
moreso.  The neckline swept down daringly low, revealing just enough, 
and the material hugged her soft curves and slender waist and swept 
down to the floor in a soft fall of silk, surrounding her like a 
dream.  The soft color highlighted the brilliant blue of her eyes 
and the gold of her hair...which, he suddenly realized, she had 
taken down from its normal style so that it flowed softly down her 
back to her knees, shining like satin.  He had never seen her with 
her hair down before.  His long-hidden desire to touch it suddenly 
seemed overwhelming, and he had to clench his hands at his side to 
keep from doing just that.

	Oblivious to Darien's stare, Serena stood before the full 
length mirror, smoothing the material over her hips as she turned 
this way and that, smiling softly.  Molly stood behind her, looking 
quite the lady in the sequined, backless gown of pale green, with a 
short skirt and a collar that served to hold the dress up in front.  
"Woah!" she exclaimed with a giggle.  "We look like a million bucks 
in these things!"

	Serena giggled.  "I know!" she said.  "Wow!  I love this 
dress."  She glanced over at the salesclerk and added in a whisper, 
"I wish I really could buy it.  I'd knock Ryan's socks off!"

	"FORGET Ryan!" Molly giggled.  "Think of what DARIEN'S 
reaction'll be!  He'll probably keel over from the shock!"

	Serena giggled and snuck a glance at Darien through the mirror.  
To her surprise, his gaze was already fixed intently on her, and he 
seemed to be in some sort of trance.  Her brow furrowing, she turned 
to face him and padded on bare feet toward him.  "Hey!  Are you awake 
in there?  Hello!  Earth to Darien Chiba!" she called, waving a hand 
in front of his face.  "Come on, Dar.  Quit staring at me like that!  
You're starting ta scare me," she added with a nervous giggle.

	He blinked, and then smiled down at her, his eyes gazing into 
her own.  "You're so beautiful," he whispered, before he could stop 
himself.

	Serena's eyes went wide and a blush stained her cheeks as 
she gazed back in shock.  "B...beautiful?!" she squeaked.  "ME?"

	Gulping, he stepped back, trying to fight down his own blush.  
"Well...er...I mean, yeah!  Of course you are!" he stammered, 
shooting a glance at Amanda.  Recovering quickly, he smiled and 
added smoothly, "I mean, you're my fiancée, aren't you?  Of course 
I think you're beautiful!"

	"I'm your WHAT?!" she squawked, gaping at him in astonishment.

	"Awww...there's no need to be shy, sweetheart," he added 
with a wicked grin.  "We're getting married next week in Paris!  
No need to hide it!  I, for one, am looking forward to it...
especially the part that comes AFTER the wedding!"  

	"I...uh..."  By now Serena's entire face had turned bright red 
with embarrassment, and behind them Molly made a sort of choking sound 
as she fought back laughter.  Holding both hands to her mouth, her 
shoulders shaking slightly, the redhead quickly vanished back into 
the dressing room.

	Darien, in the meantime, had wrapped his arms around Serena's 
waist and now lowered his head in the pretense of nuzzling her neck, 
much to her discomfiture (and Amanda's enjoyment.  She was a romantic 
at heart, after all).  She stiffened in his arms, not knowing what to 
do next.  "Better play along," he murmured, his breath brushing past 
her ear and making her shiver, "or we've got some explaining to do."  
He pressed a soft kiss on her neck, just below her ear, that made her 
gasp softly, and his eyes were devilish when he raised his head.

	Serena, for her part, looked like she couldn't decide whether 
to slug him or to turn tail and run screaming in the other direction.

	Amanda discreetly cleared her throat, hating to break up a 
tender moment between two people so obviously in love, but wanting 
to make a sale, nonetheless.  She had a job to do and bills to pay, 
after all.  "So, would you like the dress gift wrapped?" she asked 
sweetly, smiling at Darien.

	Hmmm...now came the hard part.  Inventing a believable 
excuse to NOT buy the dress!  As much as he was tempted to do so...

	As it was, Serena came to his rescue.  "Oh, I don't know," 
she said quickly, turning back to the mirror.  "I have that pesky 
three pounds I have to lose yet, and this dress kind of shows the 
extra weight..."  She patted her stomach lightly, giggling a little.

	Darien stared at her in shock.  Was she joking?!  If she 
weighed any less, she'd blow away!  "I think it looks beautiful on 
you!" he exclaimed.

	Serena shot him an exasperated 
you-idiot-I'm-trying-to-help-you-so-shut-up look.  "Well, YOU know how 
picky I am about my weight!" she pouted.  "I have to think about it a 
little.  For thirteen hundred dollars, I want it to be absolutely 
perfect!  What do you think, Moll?"  she turned to her "sister", who 
had just emerged from the room, holding her dress.

	"Mmm...it does seem a little off on you," she replied 
carelessly, hanging her gown back on the hanger.

	"You didn't like your dress?" Amanda asked, a little 
desperately, sensing that her commission was about to take a 
flying leap out the window.

	"Oh, it was pretty, but the color didn't quite sit well with 
me," Molly replied with a giggle.  "Maybe if it was darker..."

	"Well, we have plenty others to choose from," Amanda suggested 
hopefully.

	"Well...maybe another time.  I...uh...think I'm gonna go look 
at those computers.  For school, you know.  Besides," she added with 
a wicked smile directed toward her friends, "I already have a pretty 
brides maid dress all ready to wear for the wedding.  Thanks anyhow."

	Amanda sighed, then turned to Serena.  "I think your dress 
looks exquisite on you," she told her.  "You'll be the belle of the
ball!  Are you sure you want to pass it up?"

	Serena affected a sigh.  "It really IS lovely, but I don't 
think it's for me," she replied with real regret, going back into 
the room and closing the door of her stall.  She sighed as she slipped 
out of the dress, wishing she was rich enough to buy it for real.  
The way Darien had LOOKED at her in it!  She shivered as she recalled 
the feel of warm lips against her skin and a heated, sapphire gaze 
sweeping over her body.  She had NEVER had a guy look at her like 
that before; not even Ryan!  It made her feel wild and safe all at 
the same time, feelings that she liked...very much.  And Darien had 
called her beautiful, like he had meant it. 

	**Oh, get over it!  He was just trying to get you back for 
starting this whole thing in the first place...and he did a pretty 
darn good job of it, too!  He didn't mean anything by it,** she 
grumbled silently.  Still...he HAD been acting strange lately.  
Ever since he'd first met Ryan, come to think of it.  **Is that it?  
Is that why he's been treating me nicer?  'Cause I have a boyfriend?** 
she wondered, her breath catching.  **Could he be...jealous?**

	Now THAT thought was almost too ridiculous to contemplate, 
but...she had to let herself daydream a little.  What if, now that 
she had a guy, Darien was starting to see her through new eyes?  And 
what about her secret admirer?  Now that she had TWO guys interested 
in her...did it mean that maybe HE was starting to show a little 
interest, as well?

	She hung the dress back on its hanger and stepped out of 
the stall, looking toward Darien.  He regarded her silently as she 
thanked the disappointed salesclerk (who was bidding a sad bon-voyage 
to her commission) and walked out of the store, where Molly was 
already waiting.  They walked down the mall a little ways, waiting 
until they were a safe distance away before Molly suddenly burst out 
into hysterical laughter.  "That was GREAT, Sere!" she shrieked.  
"I never knew you were such a great actress!  And Darien, that was 
so funny!  For a minute, I thought you were both serious!"

	Serena grinned, blowing on her nails and rubbing them against 
her shirt.  "Well...it was nothing, really," she replied smugly, 
looking quite pleased with herself.

	Darien chuckled.  "You weren't too bad yourself, Molly," he 
added.  "Serena's sister?  A rich father?  Now that was good!"

	Molly giggled.  "Well, I feel like Serena's my sister, anyway, 
so it wasn't hard to pretend," she said happily, throwing her arm 
around Serena's shoulders.  Serena blushed and grinned.  

	"All that acting made me hungry!  It must be after lunch!  
Let's go to the food court, okay?" she said.
	
	"Now that sounds like the Meatball Head I know," Darien 
replied, giving her an amused grin.  She pouted a moment, before 
sticking her tongue out at him and grabbing Molly's hand to drag 
her to the food court, the incident in Moniqué forgotten for the 
time being.  

Continued...