Valentine's Misunderstanding - Chapter 3
By: ~Sailor Eclipse~

Jolene829@yahoo.com
ICQ- 37287071
AIM- Jolene579

*Denotes Thought
Rated:G

AN: 
#1- Rei never liked Darien as anything except a friend,
    also they never dated...
#2- Darien is going to the dance as an assistant chaperone
    meaning that he gets to participate in the dance he's 
    just older; also Andrew, Rita, and all of
    Serena's friends go to the same school; therefore,
    they will all be at the dance...

Chapter 3: Prelude to the Dance...

~February 10, the day of the dance~

(((Andrew's P.O.V.)))

	I watched as Serena slumped in the arcade she
looked pretty down, and I had a feeling that I knew
what was wrong with her. She didn't even go over and
play Sailor V like she normally did when she was
depressed. *Well, time for Cupid Andrew!* I thought.
	"Hi Serena!" I said as cheerfully as possible.
	"Oh, hey Andrew." she replied.
	"Serena, what's wrong? Are you thinking about
the dance again?"
	"Well, yeah..."
	"Look Serena, I'm sure there will be plenty of 
guys who will want to dance with you."
	"I know, you said that before, it's just that I
was wondering, well, Andrew, do think that it's 
possible to be in love with someone who constantantly
teases you and makes you blood boil with anger?"
	*Hmm, sounds like Darien, could she...? Oh, that
would be beyond perfect!* "Well, you know there's an old
saying, 'There's a thin line between love and hate'. 
And you know if he teases you alot that could be his way
of showing you that he's interested in you." She didn't
reply and instead looked down at the table where she was
sitting. "Um, Serena, I know this sounds personal and 
all, but is it possible that you like Darien more than
you say you do?"  I asked. She looked up and blushed.
*Hmm, almost the same color as Darien turned when I asked
him who liked...*
	"Well, I...I...y-yeah maybe but, Andrew don't 
tell him. please?" She pleaded.
	*Yep, these two are perfect for each other* 
 	"Don't worry, I won't utter a word about it to
him." I assured her.
	"Thanks Andrew." she said with a weak smile. "I 
still wish I had a date for tonight though."
	"Hey, don't worry about it, besides Darien will
be there tonight..." I said mischievously. "But speaking 
of whom..."
	"Hi Andrew. Hey MeatBall Head!"
	*Enter Darien the dork. Great way to sweep her
off her feet, IDIOT!* I saw a light flash
across Serena's face, right before it turned red with
anger that could easily have been mistaken for a blush.
	"I told you not to call me that!"
	"Oh, and exactly why should I listen to you,
MeatBall Head?"
	"Because you should always respect others, that's
why! You're nothing but a stuckup jerk!"
	*A look a pain flashed across Darien's face,
but he quickly recovered.*
	"Oh, wonderful, I've gone from being a 
conceited jerk to a stuckup jerk." he replied.
	*Ugh, this little bickering game was getting old,
why couldn't they just admit they were crazy about each 
other?* That's when a small tear slipped down Serena's 
cheek. I felt like giving Darien a black eye. That's
when his expresson went from jeering to sorrowfullness,
to pain, to anger at himself. He started to reach out 
his arm, but quickly drew back and started to say 
something before apparently the words got stuck in his
throat. He looked at me with a confused expression, but
all I gave him was a cold glare. 
	"Serena, are you okay?" asked a voice. I looked 
up to see the boy named Matt from the other day. She 
turned to him and grasped at his shirt, her tears 
staining the material of it. Slowly, he wrapped his arms
around her. I noticed Darien glaring at him enviously.
*If looks could kill...*
	"Shh, Serena it'll be okay, whatever it is I'll
help you with it" He said.
	She quickly drew back from his embrace and said
"I'm sorry Matt, but I don't think you would 
understand." And with that she left. I just hoped that 
she would go to the dance, she needed to and not only 
for herself. Matt looked at me and Darien accusingly.
	"What happened?" he asked.
	"Nothing, MeatBall Head's always like this." 
Darien said. I saw a flash of anger cross Matt's eyes.
	"Ya know, if you're always that mean to her I'm
suprised this is the first time she's ever done this." 
he said coldly to Darien. And with that he turned and 
followed in the direction Serena had gone.
	'Whack'
	I hit Darien in a not-so-friendly way. He looked
up at me questioningly. 
	"I can not believe that you just did that." I 
said coldly and then walked away throughily steamed at
him.

(((Darien's P.O.V.)))

'Whack'
	Andrew hit me in a not-so-friendly way. I
looked up at him to see anger towards me in his eyes.
Once again, my teasing had not only caused me to be
miserable, but it caused my best friend and the girl I
loved to be miserable too. I felt as smaller than an ant.
	"I can not believe that you just did that." he
said coldly and then walked away.

~A Few Minutes Later~

(((Author's P.O.V.)))

	Darien left some money on the counter to pay for
the drink he hadn't touched. And started toward the park,
where his heart told him Serena would be. 

	Matt finally caught up with Serena who was now
sitting on a bench in the park.
	"Serena, what happened? Did someone hurt you?"
	"No Matt, noone hurt me physically, but 
emotionily, well yeah..."
	"Do you wanna talk about it?" The entire story
came out. "One day, the day I met Darien..." "And I
think I love him, no I know I love him." Serena finished.
	"Oh, Serena, I guess you were right I don't know
what to say except go after him with all your heart if 
you love him as much as you say you do." 
	Serena smiled weakly. "Thanks Matt, you're as
good as Andrew is at this!" 
	"Huh?"
	"Nevermind."
 
	Serena sat alone on the bench. Matt had left only
a few minutes ago. *Why couldn't I fall in love with
Andrew or Matt. The're so sweet, but Darien he's just the
opposite. Why him? Why him?* She thought sadly and 
allowed a chrystalline tear to fall down her cheek. She
smiled as she remembered Matt's words. 'Go after him with
all your heart'. Serena inhaled deeply and let out a 
contented sigh, she smelled roses again. 'ROSES!'
	"Hi Serena" Her eyes shot open. "D-Darien, what
are you doing here? If you're here to make fun of me
just go away, I can't deal with it now." she said
dejectedly, looking down at the brick path in front of
the bench.
	"Don't worry, I'm not here to tease you, I was
just wondering if you would save a dance for me tonight,
I feel really bad about what happened in the arcade, and
I'm sorry, you're right I am a jerk, and well, I just 
wanna say that I'm sorry." Darien finished.
	"Of course Darien." Serena said after she 
recovered from her surprise "I think that's the nicest
thing I've ever heard you say Darien." He smiled and 
Serena hugged him tightly, catching him sightly off 
gaurd. He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back
pulling her closer to him. *He's so close...* *She's so
close...*
	At first Darien was content to hold Serena in
his arms it felt so right. But he realized that if he
held her too long it might seem rather odd to her. So
relunctantly he pulled away and felt Serena pull away. 
His body screamed for her warmth he felt so cold. Well,
duh you idiot! It's February and we don't live in 
Florida. 

(((Darien's P.O.V.))

	After we pulled away from each other I saw her
shiver and I knew she must be cold, I certainly was!
	"Um, do you want me to walk you home? It's pretty
cold out here." I asked hesitantly.
	"N-No, that's okay, besides you need to get out 
of the cold too."  
	"Aww...come on Meatball Head, let me wal you
home."
	"Oh, alright, but you can't call me 
Meatball Head!"
	"Okay, Meatball Brains." I teased. *OH NO!!! I
had just done it again!* Her bottom lip quivered slightly
and she said: "Darien! Why can't you be as nice to me as
you are to every other girl on Planet Earth? Why me?" I
just stood there, that was all I could do. "I-I'm sorry."
I somehow managed to stutter out. "It's okay Darien, I 
shouldn't get upset over such a little thing, I guess."

	The walk to Serena's house was quiet and neither
said much except to comment on the weather or a bird
flying through the sky. "Well, here we are." Serena said.
"I guess I'll see you tonight. "Bye Darien!" Darien just
stoods there not believing he was actually gonna get to 
dance with the girl of his dreams. *WOOHOO!!!*

~2 Hours later; Darien's Apartment~

	I straighten my tuxedo for the hundreth time and
looked nervously at my clock - 6:00 *AGH!!! The dance 
didn't even start to 7:30!* I was anxious to meet this
Jared that Serena was supposed to be coming with and I 
was even more anxious to dance my dance with her, even 
thought I knew she'd be dancing with her date the entire
time. Then it hit me... *What if she doesn't want to 
dance with me? What if she forgets? What if I totally
forget how to dance when I'm with her? What if her date
won't let her dance with me?* AGH!

~At Serena's House~

	I glanced over my appearance, I had on some light
makeup, my hair was done in my usual meatball style 
except I had bows right behind the meatballs and ribbons
that were intertwined in my hair, I wore a white
spagetti strap dress that went to my mid-thigh and had a
cresent moon border along the top of the dress. *How 
ironic I have meatballs in my hair and a spagetti strap
dress* I wore white heels and hoped 
that I wouldn't trip in them when I danced with Darien.
*Oh no what if Darien decided he didn't want to dance 
with me?* That thought terrified me. I knew Matt and
Andrew would probably dance with me at least once during 
the night but it was different with them, they were just
friends and they both had dates of their own. *Oh no!
What if Darien has a date?* I took a deep breath and 
tried unsuccessfully to calm my nerves. The clock said
it was 7:15 so I decided to leave for the dance.

~End of Chapter 3a~

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, how did you guys like it? I had writer's unblock if
there is such a thing on this chapter. Go read the next 
part of this chapter and then send all comments, flames, 
etc... to:  		Jolene829@yahoo.com

Read more of my fics at:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Highrise/9825/fanfics.html

~Sailor Eclipse~
Jolene829@yahoo.com
ICQ- 37287071
AIM- Jolene579