A Vision of You and Me
Chapter 6 --- Astonishment
By: Neo-Queen Serenity
E-Mail: serenausako@hotmail.com
webpage: http://crystaltokyo.cjb.net

	Serena Murphy smiled across the dinner table at her date, mentally 
bored by his animated attempt trying to lure her into conversation and 
totally uninterested by the stock market exchange he was obviously very fond
 of talking about.  Still, she kept her expression mild and quite poised.
	She sat back, her smile unwavering, and calculated her own schedule,
 including functions she had to attend and contract plans.  She had such a 
wonderful smile.  Every man she dated obviously thought so as well.  Serena 
Murphy was the kind of woman who could lit up the entire room with vivid 
conversation or simply just being there.  There was a certain elegance 
hovering in the air around her which made her serenely beautiful and alluring.  
Being a famous person, she was overly cautious.  Her good looks attracted 
equally as famous and influential men rushing to her feet, but Serena wasn’t 
any woman who could be dazzled by male charms.  She dated them alright, 
having carefully chose them, she prefer the ones who were interesting.  Not 
that she had marriage in mind, Serena Murphy was perhaps too practical to 
get married.  She enjoyed their company, that was all.  Her indifference 
made her unattainable, unapproachable, therefore a challenge.  She was so 
precious that men no long cared if she was willing to risk marrying them or 
not, their goals were simple having her across the dinner table or in arms 
for a waltz.  When they got too eager, Serena simply announce she had no 
intention for a more serious relationship than mutual friendship.  She 
regarded them as friends, and wanted the same treatment in return, that was all.
	Still, newspapers and gossip columns wouldn’t let go of her.  They 
dig into her personal life, gossiping about her dates, nonexistent 
relationship with whatever the person they have in mind, then exaggerate her 
"Ice Queen" mannerism, but still continue to link her with the names of the 
world’s most eligible.  Of all that, Serena didn’t mind.  Surely she was 
angry with the press, but at least they were merciful enough not to portrait
 her as some harlot movie star or oversexed singers.  Gossips were 
unavoidable, and she knew it.  What she did mind was the media’s persistent 
attempt trying to discover her past.  That she wouldn’t, and couldn’t let 
them.  She knew, her past was her one, and perhaps only vulnerable spot.  
Besides, she didn’t trust the press anyway.
	In the past month, she lived her life with usual casualness and 
dulled misery.  She had always lived in misery, ever since the beginning.  
Yet it’s comforting to know, that misery had somehow, managed to reduced 
into a dull ache, and perhaps, hidden yearning.  She’d met with Lita a 
couple of time to provided some helpful advises for her friend’s 
soon-coming wedding, and even gone out to itemize the necessities needed by 
a bride-to-be.  The best friends shopped for Lita’s dress, invitation 
cards,restaurant reservation and another million things one ought to prepare 
for a wedding.  Then Lita phoned her with in a dreamy state and insist they 
talk about her honey-moon plans, future life, and more importantly, Ken’s 
unwavering loyalty and love.
	Besides being a helpful friend for Lita, Serena also managed to keep 
up her role as the model.  She had gone to Johnson’s Fashion a few times, 
examining the designs and talking to their designer.  The work was long and 
frustrating, but she had came a little closer to Darien Calt.  At first, she 
reasoned that was merely foolish, since he was nothing but an employee, but 
for some very queer reason, she couldn’t help but regard him as a friend, 
perhaps...a little more than that.  But it was not sometime later when she 
realized this mutual liking or preference to listen attentively whenever he 
talks, was actually a beginning to a life-long love.
	But one day, she had gone as far as meeting him.
	They were selecting the best place for honeymooning, as Lita 
decided, she prefer to spend time with Ken in Geneva.  So they gone to the 
traveling agent and reserve a hotel room, including various plans about the 
entire scheduled trip.  When they were out the building, walking toward the 
parking lot, Lita caught a glimpse of Darien Calt.   	
	He was coming out from the bank right next door to the building 
they entered, and the three of them came face to face.  Before Serena could 
manage to cover her shock and discover the answer to a little unexplained 
pleasure at seeing him, Lita spoke up first.	"Nice to meet you, Mr. Calt."
	He was startled somehow, but still managed to look calm.  Darien 
looked at the brunette who called him, when his gaze landed on Serena, smiled.
	"This is my friend Lita Fleming." Serena gestured Lita, and turned 
around, "Lita, this is Darien Calt."
	They shook hands and was at a sudden lost of words.  But Lita was quick.
	"You are Serena’s current designer, aren’t you? Mr. Calt?"
	He was surprised again when she knew who he is.  "That’s right."
	"I heard your company’s alliance with Serena.  Good luck."  Lita was 
indeed a very charming conversationalist, at least, she spared Serena the 
embarrassment trying to come up with a proper topic.  They stood there for 
nearly quarter of an hour when Lita glanced at her watch.
	"We’d better get going now, I ought to drive Serena back."
	Darien once again looked at Serena, then back at Lita to bid his good-bye.
	"Nice to meet you Miss Fleming, and you Miss Murphy."
	Lita watched him leave as she gazed after his retreating back, then 
back at her almost silent friend, and appeared to be thoughtful for a 
moment.  She had wished him good luck, not only business success, but 
probably a victory with her friend.  In the exchange of their looks in each 
other’s presence, she sensed something, not very clear or strong, but 
nonetheless something.  Lita had sincerely prayed a happy ending for her 
friend, something hopeful under the stage, a beginning in life.  The more 
she looked at the woman and man, the more she could picture how great a 
combination it is going to be and how wonderful they could be together.  
***********	In her peaceful, satisfying life, Serena was for once content with 
the quiet seclusion of her apartment and luxurious of her elegant 
surroundings, of the hidden yearnings, she rather prefer they remain hidden. 
 But her quiet life was somehow disturbed when she again saw Darien Calt, 
and the old yearning of her dream surfaced to haunt her once again.
(Four months late)
	"Terrific! This is marvelous, Darien."  Andrew Johnson slapped a 
palm against the diagrams of Darien’s design and surveyed the elegant outfit 
displayed.  "you’re a genius." He happily announced.
	Across the rose wood desk, Darien saw frank admiration and honest 
pride in the striking depth of Andrew’s blue eyes.  He was touched by the 
intensity of his friendship and overjoyed by his own handwork.  For months 
he had labored himself, in dream to produce something elegant and 
impressive, with half the mindless yearning to make Serena Murphy amazed as 
well.  His task had indeed been a very difficult one, but fortunately 
enough, his model looks striking regardless what she wore.  But then again, 
he had the idea in mind for weeks, thinking, pondering.  He’d jumped off bed 
at midnight because an new idea occurred to him; and called his mother 4 
o’clock in the morning to tell her what he’d discovered, despite the fact 
his mother was more confused than ever; he kept on seeing Serena Murphy on 
the stage when he was eating; and he...**********
	"That’s very impressive." Serena Murphy told him, admiringly.
	And his heart swell with pride until he thought it was going to burst.  
	She was impressed!  Whatever he did, it wasn’t an easy task, and he 
did it.  For once Serena saw the potential and hidden power in the man, and 
his talent, from an active mind and vivid imagination.
	When it was time to leave, Darien accompanied her, offering to walk 
her to her car.  So he was slightly confused when Serena walked in opposite 
direction from the parking lot.
	Sensing his unspoken confusion, she said, "I am going to have a walk 
along the river." And turned to bid him farewell.
	"Perhaps I could accompany you as well?" He offered.
	"Well..." She thought of refusing it, then she realize she couldn’t 
gather the courage, Serena nodded, "...alright."
	So they walked.  It was mid-January.  The winter of Paris should be 
a beautiful one, not too much snow but only cool breeze. But outside was 
chill enough.  Serena loved days like this, feeling the cold wind of winter 
brushing against her cheek, without having to endure the harsh blade-like 
cut. Her gaze fell on the beautiful reflections of the stars on the water 
surface, wondering as they twinkled. But this wasn’t any ordinary winter 
day: She wasn’t alone, and Darien Calt was walking beside her.
 She walked slightly ahead of him, and he watched her.  Draped in a dark 
green leather coat, the soft scent of leather followed her, trailing in the 
air.  She was the embodiment of tempestuous beauty and quite serenity, he 
gazed after her back, admiringly.  The wind tossed her hair, the moonlight 
caught them, making her hair glow silver-streaked.  And he wondered, if her 
eyes had turned into violent-blue in the night as well.  Serena Murphy 
looked so natural like this, there was not a single bit of artificial 
elegance in her.  She represented some Greek goddess, blond, softly 
vulnerable, at the same time, he sensed a born sophistication molded into 
every part of her delicate body.  A born sophistication. 	"Miss. Murphy..."
	Serena stiffened a little, then relaxed. "You can call me Serena, Mr. Calt."
	"Not if you don’t call me Darien." He teased, and made the deal.
	Then, they walked in silence.
	The sky was like dark coal and midnight satin in the background with 
millions of twinkling stars embodied.  In the middle, a full moon lit up the 
powdery night brightly, like a rounded silver dish.  And he had a sudden 
impulse to interpret it as some hidden, legendary love some thousand years ago.
	Serena turned back slight to take a quick glance at him. Wearing his 
dark leather jacket, Darien Calt was very handsome, she decided.  With his 
hands in the trouser pockets and his head tilted back toward the sky, he was 
a hidden man full of mystery and potential.  She watched his same colored 
hair, a glossy mass of windblown midnight black, then at the determined 
lines of his hard cheeks.  Suddenly she realized, with an absurd leap of her 
heart, he wasn’t the same man she knew from first impression.  From the 
tilted angle of his face and squared chin, she distinguished a forceful, a 
mutual strength which set him distinct from ordinary men.  With his gaze 
fixed upward, she couldn’t read his expression, but already imagined the 
radiating intelligence and talent in those striking depth of his blue eyes.
	He looked down, and they gaze collided.  Serena looked away.
	They continued to walk in silence, both pondering each other’s 
presence, deeply, taking real consideration.  Then Serena decided to bid her 
good-bye.	"Thank you M-Darien, for a wonderful walk like this one."  She 
stopped and turned to look at him.
	Darien gazed down at her, watching her smiling blue eyes.  "My pleasure."  
	"Good night." 
	But neither of them walked away.  Captivated by the magical spells 
of his eyes, Serena wished to pull away, but she felt been tugged right into 
those ocean blue depth...helplessly attracted.
	Darien watched her, a lovely face filled with vulnerability, for the 
first time, he caught a glimpse of hidden pain in her eyes.  Pain? A mist of 
confusion wrapped around him, then an absurd impulse urged him.  He leaned 
down and touched her soft lips with his own, at the same time, startling 
them both with the intensity of the kiss.  Time lingered slowly, and Serena 
felt it lasted for a century, perhaps even longer than that.  But she was 
captivated, helplessly captivated by his presence and nearness.  
	He broke the kiss and gazed down at her flushed face, with a quick 
smile, he turned to walk away.
	She watched him, swallowed by night’s darkness.  Her fingers came to 
her lips, touching where he had kissed.  Suddenly, an old yearning surfaced, 
she realized with a stirring emotion, that was her naïve, long abandoned dream.

To be continued...