Title: Strange Encounters Part: Three - The Great Apartment Chase Author: Y2Raye Rated: G Email: meeko@maxim.net AN: Hm...not much to talk about, except "thankies!" to the Tenshi; Katelyn, Dia, and Choko. Also to Seriph-chan. I don't own Sailormoon, I'm only barrowing a few of the characters for the time being. But you know what? This story and Sunny Ray all belong to me! *~*~*~*~*~*~* Darien woke around seven a.m. the next day from a nightmare...rather, a very strange dream. He was at a dance (AN: does this seem familiar...? ^_^), a masquerade ball really. Stepping down a grand staircase, a princess appeared. She wore an elegant, yet simple, white satin dress. A gold chain hung around her neck. Her hair was done up in a pair of spheres with long, golden streamers. Her eyes were covered with a matching white mask, simply trimmed with a pink line of silk ribbon. "May I have this dance?" Darien approached the beautiful princess. "No Dar, but you can certainly wake up," Andy snickered. Darien groaned and tossed a pillow at his friend. "Sunny called," he mumbled, attempting to drift back to the glorious haven they called sleep. "I know," Andy rolled his eyes. "Yesterday -and- this morning. She's meeting us in the park in about two hours. So get up." "One more hour and I promi--" the phone rang. "Hayes, Tovrea residence, Andy," Darien's best friend said into the phone. He paused, "Yeah...I know Raye...I know I never call you...I don't have time, okay?!" Andy never had much of a fuse when it came to his annoying, yet beautiful, sister. "...I can't... because I'm meeting Sunny in the park...you can't dictate to me what I can and cannot do, Raye Lara Tovrea... no, I'm not abandoning you for another girl," then he added beneath his breath, "not that I'd mind trading her to be my sister...no, I didn't say that!...it's -Saturday-, Raye!... aw, c'mon!...they didn't call -me-...yeah. Love you too... bye." Andy flopped down at the foot of Darien's bed. "I can't believe I have that wretched bat as my little sister." Darien chuckled. "Well buddy, let's get ready to meet Sunny." * * * * * Meanwhile, Serena was just waking up from that strange dream too. Only, Lita's cooking woke her instead of some snide remark from one of her roommates. "Morning Sleepyhead," Amy said brightly, munching on an apple. "Ugh," Serena replied, then she spotted the ugly green, no, it wasn't really -green-. It was...puce. Or avocado. Whatever the color, it was ugly. "Gag. Get that outta my sight." "Oh, Sere," Amy laughed. "I rather like Darien's taste in fashion." "You poor, senseless fashion victim," Serena rolled her eyes. "Lita, what's for breakfast?" "Blueberry and chocolate chip pancakes with Boysenberry, blueberry, strawberry, or maple syrup, Cheese Omlets, and homemade orange juice or lemonade, or milk. That's not homemade." "Oh wow...Lita, I haven't had a breakfast like that since I was living with Momma and Daddy and Sammy." "Neither has Ames. I used cook this everyday. Well, not this smorgusboard but...you get the idea." "Yeah..." Serena grabbed a plate and a fork, picking up two blueberry pancakes and two chocolate chip, blueberry syrup, a cheese omlet, and a glass of icy lemonade. "If you wait for just a minute, I have sausage cooking," Lita told her friend. "That is, if you want some." "Sure I want some!" Serena's face lit up like a child's on Christmas morning (AN: so the Japanese don't celebrate Christmas... does it matter?). As soon as the sausage was done cooking, Serena inhaled her food and took a shower. "Hey Ames," Serena called from the bathroom, brushing her hair. "Yeah?" Amy poked her head in the room. "What do you think of Darien?" Serena asked as carelessly as possible. There'd be -no- -way- she'd let Amy or Lita, for that matter, in on her secret liking of Darien Hayes. "I think he's cute," Amy sighed dreamily. "I love his hair." "Mm," Serena nodded, quickly balling up her hair into the round bun. "Do -you- think he's cute? I mean, those eyes. You could lose yourself in them," Amy smiled. "Yeah, whatever Ames," Serena shook her head, pinning the bun down with hair clips. "I still think he's the arrogant jerk who cut me off last week on the highway, which brought me bad luck ever since. Think about it. First the call to Kobe, then the break-up with Nick. The guy's nothing but trouble." "But he's so handsome..." "Looks aren't everything." "True. Well, I have to get going. I promised Raye I'd meet her at Le Buffet for lunch. Ciao!" "Yeah, bye." Serena quickly arranged the rest of her hair up so that it would drag on the floor. She put on a thin, silver-chain necklace and straightened her shirt. "Hey, Leets?" "Yeah?" Lita yelled back from the kitchen. Serena stepped into the dining room. "Wanna go on a shopping spree like we used to?" Her friend stopped putting pots away and turned slowly around, a growing smile on her face. "Where's my purse?" * * * * * The phone jingled just before Andy and Darien left for the park. Darien shot a pleading glance at his friend, who sighed and gave in, before he rushed to the kitchen counter. "Hello, Hayes-Tovrea residence, Darien speaking." "Hi Darien, it's Amy," came the familiar chirpy voice of the waitress who was one of Darien's close friends. "Hey. What's up?" "I just remembered: today's Saturday. I'm not at work today, the weekend people are. I'm sorry Darien; it completely slipped my mind that yesterday was Friday. I hope you aren't mad at me for having to keep your blazer until Monday..." "How could I be mad at you? I forgot yesterday was Friday too. Just give me your address and I'll pick it up on my way to the park. How's that?" Andy was making hurry-up-and-say-goodbye-or-we'll-be-late motions. "Sure. We live in the Crescent Moon Apartments," Darien scribbled down the words, "seventh floor, room 3b7." "Crsecent Moon Apartments, floor seven, room 3b7. Got it. Thanks Amy, I really appreciate it." "No problem." "Bye." "Goodbye Darien. See you in a few minutes?" "Yeah," he put the phone back on the cradle. "Andy, I have to stop by the Crescent Moon Apartments and get my blazer from Amy Green. I'll take my car, you take yours. I promise I won't be later than nine- oh-five." "You better not be," Andy grumbled leading the way to the elevator. Darien pulled into the parking lot of Crescent Moon Apartments, making his way inside and into the elevator. He ran inside the now-closing doors and hit the seven button. It seemed to move so slow as it stopped at floor four first, then the sixth, and finally, the seventh. He jumped out and ran down the hall, searching for three-b. "Darien!" called a familiar voice. Amy. He spun around and saw her head outside the door. Darien ran towards the elevator, intercepting his blazer on the way. "Forget the elevator, the stairs are faster!" He ran down the stairs, stumbling a few times but always regaining his balance before taking a fatal plunge onto the next landing. Darien made a mad dash to his car, jumped inside, started it up, and drove off quickly. He arrived at the park at 9:04. He ran to where he saw the short, lavendar-haired woman laughing with his blond-haired, tallish best friend. "Andy! Sunny!" The two turned around. Sunny's clear, violet eyes lit up with recognition. She ran to him and gave him a fierce hug. She also clapped him on the back. "Hey buddy! Been awhile!" "Yeah it has," Darien nodded. "Sunny was just telling me how she was engaged," Andy said. "That's the whole reason you called us, eh Sun?" "Er...yes," Sunny nodded. "Come with me, I'll explain while we walk." Darien nodded and joined his friends in a walk through the gardens. Sunny cleared her throat, "As I was telling Andy, I'm engaged to a wonderful man named Peter. We're getting married soon. In about three months, so that doesn't give us a whole lot of time to do the necessary things. "You're both definitely invited to the wedding, you've been like my big brothers ever since I was in first grade you know. Ever since you stuck up for me against those two jerks. Anyway, Pete and I were looking for a great place to get married and suddenly--ka-POW!!--it hit me! Why don't we get married in my hometown where my 'big brothers' and friends are? Pete's around here somewhere... "You can both bring one guest. Sorry, but that's how it has to be. I'm really sorry that it can't be two but we aren't made out of money. The chapel we're getting married at charges guests by the person. We're inviting twenty people, so approximately there'll be about forty people at the wedding, and that excludes me and Pete and little, little kids." "Guess you pass for one of those little, little kids, huh, Sunny?" Darien teased, receiving a sock in the arm. "I was just kidding!" "Not funny," Sunny tried to mask her smile with feigned anger but it didn't work and burst out laughing. So all three friends began giggling and laughing and having a jolly old time like three old friends do. And then along came the big, bad wolf and...oops, wrong story. ^_^ Well, it was close to the big, bad wolf. Worse, in fact. It was Hurricane Raye. Raye, as in Andy's ignored little sister. "Andrew!" Raye screamed, running towards him. "Raye!" Amy called out. "Stop!" She dashed after her co-worker. "You're acting immature!" "I don't care!" Raye replied, chugging faster. She skidded to a stop in front of her older brother. She glared at him, daggers in her eyes. "Andrew Robert Tovrea. Of all the low things! You ditch me for her? Isn't family more important than friends?" "Raye, this is not the time or place," Andy tried to turn her around. "He's right," Amy agreed. "Now, let's get going," *before things get ugly,* she added silently. "C'mon Raye." "No!" she jerked her arm from Amy's grasp. "I'm going to let Andy have it!" Darien and Sunny began backing up and climbed over the hedge. There was a hill behind the garden gates that could easily make-way for an escape if things got a bit too heated. As it was, the temperature was already nearing 90 (AN: pun intended!). "Well, maybe if you didn't bug me so much I might call you once in a while! You're always bugging me to call you when instead you call me! And most of the time I'm home!" "What'm I s'pposed to do?! Just sit on the sofa and wait all day for a call from my big brother? I don't think so!" That's when things snapped. Darien, Amy, and Sunny made a break for it. * * * * * Lita and Serena had the grandest time shopping until they dropped of exhaustion. Both claimed they hadn't done that in almost six years! They laughed as they rode in Lita's ridiculously colored Jeep towards their home. Serena had stolen the piece of paper with Darien's phone number on it. Amy hadn't missed it, but, still. The reason was, Darien had taken Serena's pager and Serena had taken Darien's. She was tempted to call him but instead she waited until she got to the park, where Amy said that she and Raye would be headed. She caught sight of Darien, Am, and a lavendar-haired girl come running over a hill towards the jungle gym. Lita and Serena exchanged looks of pure confusement (AN: probably not even a word...ah well. Take that, Dictionary People!) and laughed at the sight of all of them kicking up sand as they ran. "Hey Meatball Head!" Darien waved, brushing off sand and grass from his outfit. "Oh! What's your problem, Darien?" Serena exclaimed, exhausted. "Never mind," Darien waved his hands, laughing a little. "Darien, who's that?" the lavendar-haired girl asked. "Oh, you three haven't met my 'little sister', Sunny. Sunny, this is Serena, Amy, and...?" Darien extended his hand to the brunette. "Lita, Lita Baker," she shook his hand. "And Lita. Everyone, this is Sunny Ray," Darien introduced. "But, we have to get going. Andy knows to meet us at my apartment. C'mon Sun." "Okay. Nice meeting you all!" Sunny called over her shoulder. "Nice meeting you, Sunny!" they all yelled back. "What a nice girl," Serena said. "Yeah," Amy smiled. "The story behind those two and Andy is sweet." "Tell us," Lita said. "Well, when Sunny was in first grade, there were these two third graders who were picking on her. She couldn't stand up to them so Andy and Darien, fourth graders themselves, told the two jerks to bug off. Ever since then, there's been a special bond between them." "That's sweet," Lita commented. "Yeah," Serena nodded. "We better get home before our stuff burns a hole in us!" "Yeah!" Lita and Serena scrambled for the Jeep. Just then, Serena remembered the mixed up pagers. She decided to forget about it until she got home. It was seven o'clock p.m. when she remembered the pager thing. "Oh, shizzlesticks," Serena mumbled, grabbing the cordless phone. "Amy? What's Darien's phone number?" Amy quickly told her then asked, "Why?" "I need to make a call," was Serena's reply. She took the piece of paper out of her pocket. She hadn't heard any number Amy said. Serena quickly punched in the numbers and it rang three times before being picked up. "Hello, Hayes-Tovrea residence, Sunny speaking," came the voice on the other end. "Hi Sunny. It's Serena, is Darien around?" Serena asked. "Yeah. Hold on," Sunny called for Darien. "Hello," Darien said. "Hi Darien. It's Serena. Guess what happened yesterday?" "What, dare I ask?" "We traded pagers. I have yours and you have mine. So... that means you either have to come over here or I'll go to your place. What's your address?" "Why do you have to bring it over here? I already have your address from this morning." "Yeah, well that exertion this morning with Sunny must've drained a lot of your energy. Now, -what's- -your- -address-?" Darien gave in and told her. "Why don't we meet at Central Perk?" "No. I'm bringing you your pager and that's that. Besides, I want to talk to Sunny again." "Whatever. See ya soon, -Meatball- -Head-." Ignoring the comment, she bid him farewell. She gathered up her keys and the pager and ran to her car. If she could, she'd get to Darien before he got to her. * * * * * Darien was already in his car, out of his apartment complex's parking lot and halfway to Crescent Moon Apartments when Serena arrived at his. "Girls are so stubborn," Darien muttered. "Always want to do everything themselves." * * * * * Serena ran to the elevator and furiously pushed the "up" button. She tapped her foot and waited for the ping that never ceased to ring. "Men are so stubborn," Serena mused. "Always want to do everything themselves. Talk about a big ego." Finally, the sliding metals doors open. She punched the 4 button and waited as the elevator was pulled up to the correct floor. Serena hurried down the hallway and around the first bend, reaching the desired apartment at the end of that corridor. She banged continuedly until the door flung open, revealing Sunny and a blond-haired man. "Oh, hi Serena! Come--" "No," Serena shook her head. "Is Darien here?" "Sorry," Sunny said. "He just left." "That man," she muttered. "Well, thanks anyway. I knew he'd do this." "Before you go," Sunny grabbed Serena's arm as she tried to leave. "This is Andrew Tovrea. Call him Andy." "Andy," Serena nodded and waved as she fled down the hall. She ran steadily down the staircase and flew out the door. Hurrying to get to her car, she almost tripped and fell but quickly recovered. Soon, she was on the road to her apartment complex. * * * * * Darien ran up the steps of Crescent Moon Apartments. He knew better than to wait for the extremely slow elevator. He ran up seven flights and down to 3b7. He was breathless as he pounded mercilessly upon the door. "Coming, coming!" called a voice he recognized as Lita Baker's. "Hello--hey Darien! Come in." "I can't," Darien waved a hand in declination (AN: is it a word? Is it not? Who knows?). "Is Mea--Serena here?" "No, she's not," Lita shook her head. "She just went to your place." Darien sighed and took off again. In next to no time, Darien was, once again, in his car on the way to his apartment complex. This went on until nine o'clock, Serena going to Darien's apartment while Darien was at her's, and Darien going to his apartment while she was at her's. Finally, Darien caught Serena in the lobby of his apartment complex. "There you are," they both exclaimed. "I've been looking all over for you!" Serena told him. "If we'd just met at Central Perk like I suggested, we wouldn't've had to run all over town looking for each other," Darien accused. "If you'd just stayed at your apartment like I told you too, we wouldn't've had to either!" "If you had just stayed at yours, this wouldn't've happened." "Darien, what's your problem?! I thought we could be friends after what happened at lunch yesterday but--no, you're a jerk just like I thought you were on the road!" "Look, just give me my pager and I'll stay out of your face for the rest of eternity, all right?" "Good riddance!" Serena snatched her pager from Darien as he took his. Little did they know, Andy and Sunny had seen the whole thing. Even though Sunny'd only just met Serena, she felt a special bond with her. Andy was Darien's best friend. They both knew that Darien was sprung on this girl, that the fight must've broken his heart in half, and Serena looked a bit misty-eyed as she was leaving. "Look at them," Sunny said. "Serena...was she crying?" "Looked like it," Andy nodded. "Those two belong together. You can just feel it. They need to say their sorry--no, Darien needs to apologize for being so rude if he wants any chance with this girl." "No kidding," Sunny rolled her eyes. "I'll follow Serena, you talk to Darien, got it?" "Got it. Operation: SYS is now in affect." "Operation: SYS?" "Operation: Say You're Sorry." "Oh." Sunny nodded and ran after Serena. *~*~*~*~*~*~* This one's a bit longer than the others but I needed it this way. So, tell me what you think!