Author:  Crystalline Serenity
E-mail:  Sailorpluto1031@yahoo.com
Rating: PG

The next day, Serena made sure she was early. She put on her best outfit and make-up. She walked
   to the arcade center and found out that she was five minutes early. "Hey! Serena!" "Andrew, hi," she
   said smiling. She sat down on the stool in front of him. "So ... um, are you okay, Serena? You looked
   pretty bad last night..." Andrew said leaning on the counter. "Yeah... I have a date today!" she said
   excitedly. "Really? With who? Do I know him?" "Maybe," she said with a smirk. The entrance door
   jingled behind them. "Hey, Andrew! Hey, Serena," a voice called behind them. "Hi, Darien." "What
   are you guys talking about?" Darien said, sitting down. "Serena has a date with some guy today, and
   she won't tell me who," Andrew said with a fraudulent grimace. "Oh? I know who he is," Darien said, with a
   happy face. "Who?" Darien wrapped his arm around Serena's shoulder and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
   "Me."
   "WHAT?!"
   Serena blushed as Andrew stared at her. "Are you serious?" Serena nodded. Andrew stood in silence for a few minutes before he spoke again. "Okay… Serena and Darien… Serena, your friend Rei is going to go ballistic," Andrew said with a complacent grin on his face. Serena's face dropped noticeably. "Oh no…" she said, putting her hand up to her mouth. "What's wrong?" Darien asked. "You know Rei? Rei Hino? Well, she says that she 'loves' you." "She what?" Serena shook her head. "Darien, I can't believe that you didn't notice! I mean, she's all over you every time she sees you! Remember the doll show that she dragged you to? Remember Peggy's art gallery?" Darien slapped his forehead. "Oh… her." Serena giggled. "I guess I just have to tell her that she's just a friend." Andrew grinned at their interlocked fingers on the counter. "Well, don't look now, but here she comes." 

Rei walked in with Lita, Mina, and Ami, Serena's best friends. "Hi, Serena!" Lita called out. Serena waved with her free hand. "Hi, Darien," Rei said slinking up to him, then frowning at the two holding hands. "Uh… yea hi Rei," Darien said with the usual nervousness in his voice when he encountered her. Serena just had to laugh at the sight the two made. "Go on, tell her… Muffin," Serena whispered teasingly into his ear. Darien gulped. "Rei…" "Huh?" Rei responded. "I think I need to talk to you… in private." "Okay," Rei said with a little smirk. She grabbed Darien's hand from Serena, making him stand up. Darien sighed dejectedly and walked to the other side of the arcade with Rei as she grinned to her friends.

"Serena," Lita said. "Hmmm?" "Are you-" "Going out with Darien?!" Mina cut in. "Gee, thanks, Mina," Lita said, rolling her eyes. Serena's eyes widened in astonishment. Then she just sat there and smiled helplessly. "Yes!" Mina said jumping. "Serena," came a voice of reason, called Ami, "Serena, Rei will be devastated when she finds out that she lost Darien to a girl he can't even stand for two minutes." Serena nodded. "But," she added quietly, "she never had him in the first place."

Darien and Rei walked back to the counter. Rei looked at Serena with glazed eyes. Serena turned her head away. "Come on, Serena," Darien said. Serena nodded her head and stood up from her place on her stool. She walked over to Rei and gave her a brief squeeze. Rei and Serena smiled at each other before Darien put a hand on Serena's shoulder. They walked out of the arcade together. 

"Rei, you alright?" Lita asked solemnly. "Sure, I'm fine… I knew Darien and I weren't meant to be… I've always seen him and Serena together in the fire… I guess I just wanted to be with him… if only for a while," Rei said wistfully. Rei looked up at her three friend to find only two listening. "Ami?" she said, surprised at the dreamy look on Ami's face. When she received no answer, she nudged Lita and Mina, showing that Ami was apparently day dreaming. They followed her gaze to the young man behind the counter. "Oh my gosh!" Mina cried out. "Shh!" Lita said angrily. "Look, Lita, Ami likes Andrew!" Mina giggled. "Rei poked Lita in the ribs. "Looks like you've got some competition," she said with a broad smile.

Meanwhile…

Serena and Darien were walking down a paved path in the local park. Darien had his arm around Serena as she snuggled deeper into his embrace. As they neared the lake, Serena started giggling. "What's so funny, Serena?" Darien questioned. "Ah… I just never thought that I'd be taking a romantic walk with a egotistical jerk like you," she said airily. "Oh? I jerk, am I?" he said as they reached the lakeshore. Serena only nodded her head with a smile. Darien sat down on the grass and pulled Serena down beside him. "Are you sure that I'm a jerk, Serena? You don't want to take that little wisecrack back?" Serena laid on the grass, feigning to ignore him. "Serena?" He looked over to where she was laying. "If you don't answer I swear I'll-" "You'll what?" she said, looking at him innocently. "I'll…" Serena smiled. "That's what I thought," she said diffidently. Darien rolled his eyes as he laid down beside her. "So, what were we going to do today?" Darien asked Serena. "I don't know…" Serena rolled over and rested her head on his chest, thoughtfully.  

"How about we just lay here in the park,"  Darien said, stroking Serena's hair.  When he received no response, he looked down to see Serena, sleeping with a content smirk on her face.  Darien laughed to himself and stared up at the sky.

"Shh!"  "Get your elbow off my head Mina!"  "You guys shut up!"  "This isn't right, you guys…"  Four nosy girls could be heard whispering in the bushes.  "Look, there… that's them," Lita said pointing.  "Aww!  They look so adorable!  Oh wait… They're sleeping!"  Mina chattered.  "We shouldn't be spying on them, it's not right," Ami said.  "Then why are you whispering?" Rei asked.  A small sweat drop appeared on the sapphire-haired girl's head.  "Oh, they're waking up…"  Rei said again.  "Shh!!!  I can't hear what they're saying!" Mina said with annoyance dripping from her voice.

"Serena…"  Darien said trying to sit up.  "Serena," he said again, shaking her.  "Huh…?"  "Serena, it's late, I should take you home."  "Huh… oh… I don't wanna go home,"  Serena whined.  "I don't want your father to blow my head off."  Serena laughed, "oh… I forgot about that." 

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