"Love Waits for You" by Stormlight ~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chapter Nine ~~~~~~~~~~~~ In school the next day, Serena's classmates exclaimed over her latest gift, which she displayed proudly for all to see. For some reason, Miss Haruna was late, and the students were making the most of it and having themselves a grand old time. "What a pretty bracelet!" one girl sighed dreamily. "You're so lucky, Serena! I wish I had a secret admirer!" "Hey!" a boy protested. "What am I? Chopped liver?" "Whoops!" The girl glanced at her boyfriend sheepishly. "Heh-heh. Didn't see you there, Jason..." She left the group in order to soothe Jason's wounded ego, and Serena giggled as she looked on. Then a familiar figure sitting by herself at a desk in the back of the room caught her attention. Serena's smile faded when she saw Molly there, looking incredibly lonely. She walked over to the desk, standing before it to smile down at her friend. "Hey, Molly. How have you been?" she asked hesitantly. Molly looked up at her, her face expressionless. "Just peachy," she replied. Then promptly lowered her head and continued to read her book. Serena's brow furrowed as she stared at her friend in confusion. True, she and Molly hadn't been talking much lately, but Molly had never snubbed her like this before! "Molly...what's wrong?" she asked, seating herself at the neighboring desk and turning wounded eyes to her friend. "What did I do? Talk to me, Molly!" "What HAVEN'T you done?" Molly snapped, slamming her book closed abruptly and turning angry green eyes to meet Serena's gaze. "You've been ignoring me for weeks, and then, when we finally get to spend a day together...just like we used to do...you go and...and run off with those girls! And you won't even tell me why you had to leave! And you never even called to explain like you PROMISED you would!" Serena flushed, knowing that this was true. When she'd finally gotten home, she had gone straight to bed, her mind still reeling with her discovery to even think of calling Molly. She hung her head. "I'm sorry, Moll. I...something happened, and I forgot..." "I KNOW you forgot! You ALWAYS forget!" Molly snapped. She clenched her fist. "Lately...lately it seems to me that you've decided I'm not good enough to be your friend anymore, no matter what you say. So...I don't think we should hang out together or anything. I wouldn't want to make you look bad in front of your new friends!" Serena felt like she'd been punched right in the gut. Her chest tightened and her heart was pounding as she stared at Molly, barely able to breathe. "Y-you can't mean that, Molly! We're best friends! You can't mean that..." she whispered in shock. "I mean every word!" Molly replied, turning her back on Serena...mostly to hide the tears that leaked from her closed eyes. In truth...her heart was breaking to know that she was losing the best friend she'd ever had, but things had changed, and she didn't know what else to do. Best she dump Serena before Serena dumped her. At least that way she could pretend it didn't hurt so bad... "Molly...please...don't do this," Serena was pleading. "Whatever the problem is, we can work it out! We always have before!" She was about to say more, but Miss Haruna chose that moment to enter the classroom, yelling at everyone to take their seats before she gave the whole class detentions. Serena cast a pleading glance at Molly, but the redheaded girl refused to look at her, and she was forced to turn her attention to the teacher. * * * * * Serena couldn't concentrate at all that day. All she could think about was finding some way to sew up the gaping wound in her and Molly's friendship. She tried to seek her out at lunch, but Molly had hidden herself away, and the period ended before Serena could find her. It was funny, Serena thought. She hadn't even eaten her own lunch trying to find Molly, and what was even funnier was that she didn't even care. She had no appetite at all. She avoided Amy and Lita all day, just in case Molly saw them together and it made things worse, and as soon as the final bell rang she was out of her seat like a shot, racing to Molly's classroom before the girl could make her escape. She was bound and determined to talk some sense into her even if it meant tying her to a chair! She was in luck; Molly was just coming out of the room, talking animatedly to a girl Serena didn't know. She felt a flash of jealousy hit her, before she shook it off and stopped right in front of her friend. "We have to talk," she said calmly. "Can't. I have plans. With my new BEST FRIEND." Molly retorted, and moved to go around her. But Serena wasn't about to be put off so easily. "I'M your best friend, Molly, and I'm not about to let you go without a fight!" she huffed, stamping her foot. "I...I really need to talk to you! It's important!" The girl Molly was with glanced uneasily between them, sensing that there was about to be a huge blowup, and she was somehow in the middle of it. "Um...actually, Molly, I just remembered that I promised my mom I'd pick some things up from the store for her, okay? So...we can see a movie later." Before Molly could protest, she slipped between them and hurried outside. Molly turned on Serena furiously, ready to nail into her, but the sight of two huge, tear-filled blue eyes stilled her. "Molly...please," Serena pleaded. "I...I'm ready to tell you! About...about everything. But...it can't be here. Let's go someplace private, okay? I'm not supposed to tell you; it'd be better that you never even knew, but if this secret means that I'll have to give you up as a friend...then I'd rather give up the secret, no matter how mad everyone gets at me!" Molly was silent for a long time, and Serena stood there feeling her heart pounding in her chest at what she was about to do. She was risking everything to tell Molly her secret, but she had thought it over, and this was the only way she knew to salvage her friendship. Sure, the other Scouts would be liable to toast her for it-especially Raye-but she was willing to take the chance. **Besides,** she thought darkly, **the worst they could really do is kick me off the team!** But that would be okay by her. In fact, she almost wished for it! Sailor Moon was ruining her life. She could not remember ever hating the heroine as much as she did then. Was that normal, to hate oneself, she wondered. She wasn't sure... "Okay," Molly suddenly said, her voice subdued. "Let's go to my house. Mama is away, so we'll have the place to ourselves. And I want you to tell me everything you've been hiding from me these past few months...and if you even lie to me...even ONCE...then I swear I'll never speak to you again! Ever!" "That's only fair," Serena replied softly. "Come on. Let's go now. I...I don't want Amy and Lita to know about this. They might not be very understanding..." She turned and followed Molly from the building, feeling rather like a thief sneaking around, looking for any signs that they might be followed. And then she remembered...there was supposed to be a meeting at Raye's temple that afternoon. Her steps faltered, and Molly turned to look back at her. "What's the matter? Change your mind?" she asked, and there was a definite challenge in her voice. Serena knew that if she backed out now...well, she doubted she'd get a second chance to make things right... "No," she said firmly. "I just remembered that there's a meeting at Raye's place...but I'm skipping it today." Molly looked surprised. "Aren't you worried they'll come looking for you?" Serena hesitated, then shrugged, giving her a light-hearted grin. "Well...I'm always late, anyhow. They probably won't even notice I'm not there 'till it's over! Don't you worry about me. I can handle Raye. Right now, this is more important!" Molly relaxed, and even smiled a little, and Serena felt encouraged. "Hey, after this, how 'bout I treat you to a milkshake at the arcade? Believe me...after what I'm gonna tell you, you'll need it!" she giggled. Molly just looked at her, concerned. Part of her was glad that Serena was finally ready to talk, but the other part was scared of what she might hear. If Serena was involved in anything dangerous-or illegal-she didn't know what she'd do then. But she'd never turn her back on her friend. Not now that Serena was risking everything to tell her what the secrecy was about, the least she could do was support her. They continued on, walking mostly in silence, feeling the tension stretch between them. Serena was nervous; she had no idea how to tell Molly about Sailor Moon, and she was afraid that once she did, Molly wouldn't believe her, anyway. Well, transforming would take care of any of those doubts, but how would it affect Molly? And even more so, how could Serena trust Molly to keep her secret? As much as she loved her friend, Serena would be the first to admit that Molly was a bit of a blabbermouth, and this was BIG news! And there was the OSAP jewelry store, which Molly's mother owned. Above that was their small apartment, which Serena had practically grown up in, so much time had she spent there in the past. It had been at least three months since she'd been there, since that time when the Negaverse had first attacked and she had become Sailor Moon. She felt a lump in her throat as she recalled those innocent days, when she was just plain old, meatball-headed Serena. A klutz and a ditz and not at all the super-heroine type. What wouldn't she give to go back there again... **But then I would never have met the Scouts...or Tuxedo Mask...or Luna. I...I would miss not ever knowing them. Even Darien!** she thought sadly. It was true. She would miss Darien. She still most likely would have bumped into him...but she had no doubt that had she never discovered he was Tuxedo Mask, they would still be enemies. So...at least SOME good things came out of this whole mess... "Are we gonna go in or just stand here all day?" Molly's voice, sounding somewhat bemused, jerked Serena's thoughts back to the present. "Oh! Um...sorry, Moll. I was...reminiscing," she replied with a giggle. Molly grinned. "It's only been a few months since you came here last! Not a few years!" she exclaimed as they walked into the store. Molly waved to the woman behind the counter as she and Serena made their way to the back of the store, where a locked door opened to a flight of stairs that led to the apartment. Serena gladly followed Molly up, her nervousness returning. "Want something to eat? Mom baked cookies," Molly suggested once they reached the apartment. Serena hesitated, tempted to say yes. She had skipped lunch, after all. The truth was that she was just looking for an excuse to put off the inevitable. "No thanks. I'd better just get right down to business," she replied briskly, setting her school bag on the table. Molly raised an eyebrow-Serena refusing cookies?! This was serious!-then shrugged and pulled out a chair, sitting down and looking up at her expectantly. Serena took a deep breath. "Molly...the reason I've been so secretive these last few months is...well, the thing is that...I've sort of started a new career..." She paused, seeing the uncertainty on Molly's face, then decided that it would be best to quit beating around the bush. "Molly...I'msailormoon..." she let out in a big rush. "Huh? You're what?" Molly asked. She sighed. "I am the Champion of Justice, Sailor Moon. D'ya know my cat, Luna? Well, she found me, and she gave me this locket I'm always wearing and told me that I'm supposed to be Sailor Moon. I didn't want to accept it at first, but I guess I know now that this is my destiny. Those girls I hang with...they're my Sailor Scouts, and I'm their leader. I know this sounds crazy and all that, but it's the truth! And now you have to promise me that you won't tell a living soul! Nobody can know about this! It's dangerous! I didn't want to tell you because I knew I'd be putting you in danger if the Negaverse ever found out!" Molly was looking at her strangely, and Serena could almost see her face twitching. "Um...sure, Serena. No problem. I won't tell another soul about this." Under her breath she added, "Believe me..." "You don't believe me, do you?!" Serena yelled. "You wanted to know, and I told you, and you DON'T BELIEVE ME?!" "Well, how am I supposed to believe that?!" Molly yelled back. "Serena! You're a klutz! How can you POSSIBLY be a super-heroine?!" Serena pouted. "I'm not THAT much of a klutz! Boy...between you and Raye and Darien, I'm amazed I have any self-confidence at all!" Molly bit her lip. "Well...okay, assuming what you say is true, can you...I don't know...prove it to me?" Serena sighed. "I knew you were gonna ask me that," she grumbled. "Okay, close the curtains and lock all the doors. I don't want ANYONE to witness this, or I can kiss myself goodbye!" Molly, shaking her head wryly, moved to close the shades on the windows and made sure the door was locked; not that anyone would burst in, anyway. Her mother was out of town, and nobody else lived there. "Okay, Sere. All done. Now show me this marvelous secret of yours." She couldn't quite keep the trace of sarcasm from her voice. "Well, you DID ask for it!" Serena replied with a pout, then assumed the proper pose and flung her hand dramatically into the air. "MOON PRISM POWER, MAKEUP!" she yelled, and after a multicolored light show, Sailor Moon stood in all her beribboned glory in Molly's living room. Molly's mouth dropped open, and her eyes grew impossibly wide as Sailor Moon smirked down at her, arms crossed smugly over her chest. "Well?" she asked humorously. "Is THIS proof enough for you?" "I...I..." Molly stammered, trying to get her brain in working order. Then, suddenly, she leaped to her feet. "THIS IS SO COOL!" she squealed excitedly. "My best friend is Sailor Moon! I can't BELIEVE you never told me this sooner! What a secret! How did this happen? When did this happen? Can Luna really talk? Say, do you think you could introduce me to Tuxedo Mask? I'd LOVE to meet him..." Serena listened, a sweatdrop appearing on her forehead, as Molly went on and on. Whatever her reaction...Serena had NOT expected it to be this! Finally, she put out a gloved hand, effectively silencing her star-struck friend. "Molly, this is not a game," she began seriously. "This isn't a glamorous life, no matter what you think. It's a dangerous job that I'd sooner do without, but since I can't...I just have to do the best I can, and hope I get through it in one piece. I've nearly died several times, and all those times I regretted the fact that I've never been able to say goodbye to my family and my friends, that they wouldn't even know what had happened to me. But it's better this way. If the Negaverse ever found out what you know..." She shuddered. "Let's just hope I can be there to save you, Molly." Molly, taken aback by Serena's uncharacteristic seriousness, listened silently, and felt ashamed when she realized that she was right. Serena was Sailor Moon, and she was out there all the time risking her life to save the world, and all Molly could think about was that she had a famous friend? She had even been picturing everyone's reactions when she told them she knew Sailor Moon...but now she remembered her promise. She would never even consider betraying Serena's trust; not when she'd obviously risked so much to tell her the truth. "I'm sorry, Sere. I...I know how hard this had to be for you, and I was so selfish and jealous that I didn't even think about what it might cost you. W-will the others be mad if they ever find out?" Sailor Moon-Serena-shrugged. "Well, they will...IF they find out. But they don't have to know, as long as you don't tell them. I...I'm assuming you can figure out for yourself who the others are..." Molly nodded silently. Amy and Lita were two of them. And no doubt that beautiful, black-haired priestess that went to the private girls' school was the third. Lita, she could picture as a Scout; the girl loved to fight, after all. But it stuck her as odd that shy, quiet Amy was a Sailor Scout as well. Well, she amended, no odder than it struck her that Serena of all people was Sailor Moon! "I'd better power down now," Serena was saying. "When I turn into Sailor Moon...well, Tuxedo Mask has this link with me, see, and he can tell. He'll feel that I transformed and come looking for me. If he finds out what I've done..." She shuddered. She'd been on the receiving end of Tuxedo Mask's temper before, and now that she knew he was Darien and that HE knew who SHE was, she wouldn't be able to hide from him in plain sight anymore. Heaven help her if he DID find out about her big mouth! "Will he be real mad at you?" Molly asked worriedly. "I mean...he won't...hurt you, will he?" Serena stopped, startled. "I...I don't know," she replied with a nervous laugh. "Normally, I'd say no...but this is a little more serious than normal. I mean...there HAS to be some kinda rule against super heroes telling people their true identities or something. You'd never catch Superman going around telling everyone who he is! Honestly, I have no idea HOW Tuxedo Mask'll react if he discovers what I've told you...and personally, I'd rather not find out!" As she spoke, she gripped her locket to power down...right before a darkly furious voice, coming from outside the shaded window, froze her in her tracks. "Too late." Continued... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oooohhhh...what a place to leave off, huh? This story WAS supposed to have been a short story. I'd fully intended to stop it...but these annoying little twists keep having a habit of popping up on me... Now you're gonna have to read more...as long as I have it written before this chapter's posted! If not...you're gonna have to wait. =)