Title:Illusions on Ice Author:Tapestry Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879 Standard Disclaimer Apply *denotes thought 5/3/01 "Woman was created from the ribs of man Not from his head to top him Nor from his feet to be walked upon She was made from his side to be his equal From beneath his arms to be protected From very near his heart to be loved." --Anonymous-- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~ Chapter 2: Just a Dream?? ~ Serena stood under a shower,letting cold water beat at her.Everything was so strange.Darien Darkholme was not all what she had expected.Sure, he was arrogant.But,he wasn't at all the pompous stuffed shirt she'd imagined.He was funny,and he had wit.Unlike some of the partners she had had,Darien Darkholme did not laugh like a strangled cat nor did he have the overly same boring conversation over and over.The Ice Prince, had fire.... *Fairchild,what is WRONG with you???You're not ATTRACTED to that rooster skater are you??*scolded her brain. Serena shook her head.She couldn't be attracted to that arrogant man.She had vowed never to let another man get under her skin again.Ever. All men were the same.They preened,they eyed a mate,and when they saw a better one,they ditched the other. *I hate men.* ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien stood at the balcony of his penthouse home,wearing only a thin crisp white shirt and black slacks.The shirt was opened to his chest, exposing smooth perfectly tanned skin and muscle.Cold winter air wafted through the folds of his shirt. It reminded him he was awake.It reminded him,Serena Fairchild,the Ice Princess was not as she seemed.Under that cold facade,there was an unmistakeable defiance and spirit.A fire.Both passionate and burning warm in nature.She was mysterious and sensual.She was...unique and totally opposite of what he had expected.This was bad...very...very bad. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena rubbed the towel over herself furiously until her skin turned red.Finally realising what her anger was doing,she let the towel drop to the floor.Striding towards the cupboard,she pulled out a pink turtleneck and light blue jeans.Wearing her coat.Serena bent down and picked up her gym bag.She marched out the door,closing it with a slam. As she exited her penthouse apartment,a familiar face greeted her. "Hey!!You're down!!At least I caught you before you headed off to the ice rink."smiled Raye. Serena smiled."Hi Raye.What's up??" "Mina wants us to have a get together." "Again??"sighed Serena. "Serena!!You know Mina's only going to be here for the winter,to film her current movie.Did you forget she was heading off to Europe in mid-spring for her next movie???"asked Raye. "Okay..okay!!I get the picture!!!So...???What's the agenda??" "Clubbing!!" Serena rolled her eyes.It was just like Mina.She loved to go clubbing. "Typical.She's not afraid she's going to get mobbed??"asked Serena. "Nah...anyway....You promise to be there???The whole gang's coming." "Sure sure..."muttered Serena as she lifted her wrist to check her watch. Her eyes widened at the watch face.*4.45???!!!Mark is going to kill me!!* "SorryRayegottago!!I'mlateforpracticewithIceDork,Markissosgonnakillme!!!" exclaimed Serena is one breath and rushed off towards the direction of the private ice rink. Raye stared after her friend.Scratching her head..."Huh???" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien tapped his blade on the ice.The least the woman could do was be on time even if they hated each other.He frowned and stared at the clock on the wall. *Where is she???* The rink doors burst open and in came a pigtailed blonde,her hair flying out behind her like banners. "I'm sorry,I was talking to a friend on the way over."breathed Serena as she pulled on her skates. Darien smirked."Hey,don't worry about it,Princess." Serena glared at him. "Don't call me that." "Whatever,Fairchild."grinned Darien.He just enjoyed teasing her. "Shut up,you ass." "You like it???"mocked Darien his eyebrow arching questioningly. Serena stuck her tongue at him. That was a bad move.Darien groaned to himself as his eyes followed her pink tongue.He shook his head.Didn't the wretch know how sensual and seductive she was????? "Come on!!"snapped Darien harshly as he grasped her hand and pulled her to the center of the rink. *How can just one small gesture boil my blood????*wondered Darien grumpily to himself. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena stared at the back of Darien's dark head.What was with him??? A dog bite his perfectly cute and pretty..um...rump or something??? "Well!!Somebody sure got up on the wrong side of the bed!!"snapped Serena. She watched as he turned back to look at her and roll his eyes. When they were standing in the middle of the ice rink,Serena stared up at him. "So????What now,Mr.Cranky???" "We start off with the routine,what else???"he snapped. "Look Darkholme.I hate people snapping orders at me,so lay off with this bitchy attitude,okay???If you're in a bad mood,don't take it out on my!!My head doesn't have a sign that says,'Bite Me' on it." Darien stared at her,his lips curling into a smirk.It wasn't HER fault he was in a cranky mood??Hell,he had stood out in winter air and under freezing showers because of her.She had no idea how much she enticed people....or how much he really did want to bite her. *Pervert!!She has a point you know!!*screamed his mind. He frowned at his conscience.*Hey,you're suppose to be on MY side here.. not on Ms.Fairchild's.*argued his little devil. "Hell-lo...Darkholme???Princey!!You alright??"asked Serena as she waved her hand in front of him.She did not like that smirk on his face. "Look...let's get this over with,okay??I've gotta meet my friends later." said Serena as she skated around him. Darien turned to look at her.The smirk of arrogance still on his face. "Whatever you say,Princess." "Shut up." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena closed her eyes and glided on the ice.She felt so calm.It was something she hadn't felt for so long....usually it was always the feeling of anxiety and longing to do things right. Arms came to hold her.She felt safe...and loved???She didn't want to leave this safe haven.She leaned back and melted with the body behind her.The arms left....a feeling of loneliness swept over her.But she continued to skate... She couldn't tell reality from fantasy anymore.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien eyed the girl he was holding...she wasn't opening her eyes!! What if she crashed into the side of the rink???What if she fell???He released the breath he was holding.This was a routine.Nothing more.And she wasn't going to slip on the ice...not if he could help it. He released her waist and the overwhelming sense of loss filled him. He held her hand loosely and guided her around the rink. He stared at her serene face and wondered...where had the ice come from and had the newspapers only imagined it??? The 3 hour practice was really getting to his head. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The song ended,waking Serena from her safe and happy world.She cursed the music.Looking up at the large clock on the wall,Serena gaped.Had time flown by so quickly??? Returning her attention to her hand,she noticed it,snuggly fit in Darien's.It seemed to fit like a jigsaw puzzle.She didn't like that warm fuzzy feeling she felt....it was playing havoc with her senses!! Serena yanked at her hand.Darien,who had been preoccupied with staring at her small hand released it in surprise causing Serena to fall backwards. She shut her eyes hoping her backside wouldn't hurt too bad.The fall never came.... *What??* Cracking open an eye,she saw Darien staring down at her.She felt mesmerized by is blue gaze and only when he pulled them both upright did she realize his hands were at her waist. *Get real,Fairchild...you're an ice skater.Your partner will be of course getting to holding your waist!!Like all your other partners did.* snapped her brain. Okay..so he was holding her waist...but did that have to send those warm tingles down her spine??? Darien held his breath as he stared at Serena Fairchild.He had been studying her hand.Wondering why it had fit so perfectly with his.Almost as if...they'd been made for each other.He felt her push at him.Feeling his hands fall to his sides at their own accord,he watched as she turned and skated towards the side. Her pigtails flying back.*Awww...admit it Darkholme..you have a preference to those meatballs.* "Darien??" He heard her..."Huh??" "Thank you." He was dumbstruck.He watched as she left. "You're welcome."he whispered. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It was already dark when Serena exited the ice rink.She'd left Darkholme to his own devices.She was pooped. Serena marched down the sidewalk as her mind began blowing insults and reprimands at her heart,that had been incased in ice.Too bad the ice was beginning to melt. *Fairchild,you nitwit!!You cotton candied brain addled-* Serena blew out her breath.She couldn't think of anymore insults to her character.But one thing was for sure...she wasn't about to let Darien Darkholm anywhere NEARER her emotions.She was never letting ANY man near it.She'd sworn off them a long time ago,NO man was EVER going to effect her again.It had worked so far for the past few years.Unfornately,it seemed her defense was begining to crumble. She glanced at her watch.*Great,it's almost 9pm.Clubbing.Whoopee.Not.* Looking down at her outfit,Serena shrugged.It was only clubbing.She didn't need to change.Besides...if she went back to her apartment now, she was certain she wasn't going out again tonight. "Kindergarten teacher by day...professional ice skater by evenings. That's me...Kinder-skater.."muttered Serena to herself as she trudged towards the local club,the Farrell Club. Upon entering,she already knew where her friends were.It wasn't difficult to miss the hundreds of men and women crowding around Mina Fielding looking for an autograph. She pushed her way through the crowd,much to the dislike of Mina's fans. "Hey!!wait your turn!!"exclaimed a teenage girl with a whiny irritating voice. Mina looked up."Sere!!We were wondering when you were going to show up!" exclaimed Mina as she moved over to make a space for Serena. "How was practice??"asked Raye. "Swell."lied Serena."Hi Amy,Lita,Holly,Michelle,Alex,Susan."greeted Serena. "What's wrong??"asked the petite dark haired girl named Holly. "Yeah,you didn't look so...worked-out the other time I saw you."added Alex. Serena smirked as she snatched a bottle of beer from the table. Holly Matthews like her,was a kindergarten teacher.Alexandra or Alex Laurence was a professional racer.Amy Seaton was a doctor at the local General Hospital.Lita Sinclair was the owner of a famous chain restaurant. Michelle Hawthorne was a famous concert violinist who was stopping in town for the winter.Susan Wakefield,the silent one of the group was a clothes designer. "Forget it.Did we come here for clubbing or what???"asked Serena jumping to her feet but not before finishing the bottle of beer. "Serena??" "Well??You chose this place,Mina." "Let's DANCE!!"laughed Mina. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien plopped himself into a seat at the bar.The loud music helped him forget.The three beers wasn't doing such a bad effect either. "Hey Darien.Haven't seen you in awhile.What happened to you??"came a voice. Turning to look at the owner of the voice,Darien saw it was Jed and Malcolm Collingwood,another ice skater along with Zoy Draymore a doctor. "Hey Jed,Malcolm,Zoy."acknowledged Darien. "You look haggard."remarked Malcolm slapping him on the back. "Cousin giving you a headache eh??"grinned Jed mischieviously. "Shut up." "What do I owe the honour of having you grace my humble club??"came a joking voice. Darien rolled his eyes. Ned Farrell,the owner of Farrell Club. "Hi Ned."came the four exasperated voices. "Hey,don't laugh at me.It's a great day for me."frowned Ned."Don't spoil it just because you're cranky." "Okay,okay."sighed Malcolm."So...what's your problem,Dare?" "DARIEN,has..,a PROBLEM????"gasped Ned as he pretended to swoon. Darien bonked Ned on the head."Be serious." "I can't help it." "So???The problem??" "My problem is Jed's cousin.Serena Fairchild.I didn't expect her to have..." "A mind of her own??Been there."remarked Jed waving his hand airily. "Fairchild??She's the Ice Princess,right??"asked Malcolm. "Right." "I wouldn't mind meeting her.She's dynamite on ice and did you ever see such a pair of legs???Woo hoo."grinned Malcolm. Jed eyed him warily."Watch it.That's my cousin.Even if I DO like to tug her pigtails." "And she's my partner.So watch it."frowned Darien. Zoy listened to the conversation with interest."If I didn't know...I'd say you were possessive,Dare."smiled Zoy wickedly. "Pigtails??You mean that girl over there with Mina Fielding,the actress?" asked Ned thumbing behind his shoulder. All four turned curious eyes towards the dance floor.They saw crowds of people.But those meatball pigtails stood out anywhere... "That IS her!!"exclaimed Darien. "Along with RAYE!!What's she doing,dancing with that guy????"growled Jed. "This I gotta see."laughed Malcolm as he headed for the dance floor. "MALCOLM!!"hissed Darien. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena lost herself in the music,her body swaying to the beat.She forgot all about Darien Darkholme.Until someone jostled her. Her eyes snapped open.The man who had bumped her looked drunk.She sniffed in disgust.The man eyed her with eyes that made her skin crawl. "Hey ~hic~ beautiful.~hic~"smiled the man.His eyes bloodshot,his face flushed as his teeth were yellow. "Wanna dance ~hic~??"asked the man,his speech slurring. "No thanks."said Serena politely. The man wasn't listening.He grabbed her hand and spun her away from her friends.He pressed her to a wall. "All you ~hic~ women think you're so ~hic~ high and mighty,don'tcha??" growled the man. Serena winced.His breath stank of alcohol and his grip was biting into her wrist. "You're ~hic~ just like,Dolly.~hic~The gold-digging bitch..."snarled the man as he went on ranting. "Sir!!"exclaimed Serena. "Well,I've ~hic~ had enough of you ~hic~ women who think you're ~hic~ so great and can ~hic~ toss men around.~hic~" Serena struggled in his grip. Darien glared at Malcolm. "You're NOT going to throw yourself at her." "Why,Dare.You're jealous!!The Ice Prince himself."teased Malcolm. "Malcolm..." "Don't look now.Looks like Fairchild's in trouble."pointed Malcolm. Jed tore his green-eyes away from Raye who was still oblivious to him and turned them to where Malcolm was pointing. "Who's that???" Darien turned and saw Serena struggling with a man at the far wall. "That son of a..." Jed,Malcolm and Zoy watched in amazement as Darien shoved his way toward Serena and the man. "He's jealous."gaped Zoy. "Well,he better save Serena.Or I'm going to have to.I can't have my favourite cousin being assaulted."said Jed as he maneuvered his way towards the wall. "Serena???!!"came a voice. Malcolm and Zoy turned behind them.It seemed...her friends had just realized the absence of their friend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Serena struggled trying to free her wrists.The man was drunk!!And he was ranting about some woman named Dolly.Whoever that was...she had no interest in staying near this man.Her wrists were beginning to hurt.There was no use shouting as the music was too loud.Nobody would be able to hear. As she struggled against the man,she noticed a man with dark hair heading towards them.She couldn't make out his features,but her heart began to beat faster. As he neared...she finally realized who it was.It was Darien!! He tore the man from her and placed himself in front of her.She peeked from behind his shoulder to stare at the inebriated man.He was now waving his arms about and ranting,shouting at them.Saying something about how his Dolly had taken a large amount of his money and run off with her handsome boyfriend.It seemed,in his inebriated state,he was mistaking them. The man swung at Darien,but Darien was quick and soon had the man on the floor. A man pushed his way through the crowd. "Darien,what's going on??"snapped the man. "Ned,the guy's drunk and tried to assault my friend here.I think you should call a cab to take him home or something."suggested Darien. Ned nodded his agreement.Shouting orders to some security guards,the man was soon shipped out of the club. Everything soon returned to normal.People began dancing once more. Serena turned to stare at Darien.This was the second time he'd saved her. Once from falling,now from that drunken man. "Darien...thank you."whispered Serena. Darien merely grinned. "Serena!!Are you alright???"exclaimed Alex. "Oh,Serena!!I'm so sorry I didn't notice you missing earlier!!"exclaimed Mina guiltily. "It's alright,Mina." "It's my fault!I decided we should come clubbing!"wailed Mina in despair. "Mina.It's not your fault.And look,I'm fine!!"smiled Serena. "Serena..." "Just have a good time,Mina." "Right.I'll watch her."laughed Darien."Care to dance??" Serena's head turned towards Darien.Amazement and surprise in her eyes. Hesitantly,she placed her hand in Darien's. "See,I'm in perfectly capable hands."smiled Serena. "If you say so..I-" "I SAY so.Now get!" Serena and Darien danced together.Serena lost herself in the music once more while Darien's eyes followed her movements.Their swaying seductiveness and serene calm. Her eyes opened and saw him staring at her. "What??" "Nothing.I just find it amazing how you can be so calm just after a near assault.That man looked like he was going to hit you."commented Darien. "I know.I'll probably get bruises on my wrists tomorrow."sighed Serena. Darien picked up one of her hands gently and inspected it. "You're right.Probably some bruises.But nothing serious."said Darien as he stared at her red wrists. "Are you a doctor??"teased Serena. "I studied pre-med but changed my major later on.Then,I decided to become an ice-skater."smiled Darien. "Really??" "Yup." A spell seemed to be cast over the two as they saw only each other on the dance floor. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "To think he said she was the hardest damned person to handle."chuckled Jed as he slurped his drink,keeping one arm tightly around his girlfriend, Raye. Raye snorted."Serena??She wouldn't hurt a fly." "I know,luv.Now,about that guy on the dance floor..."began Jed. Serena laughed as Darien dipped her towards the floor.Her face was flushed from exercise.She was warm and sweaty.But she didn't care.This was one of the best nights she had ever had in her life. "Darien,stop..."laughed Serena as he swung her around in a circle. "If you don't,I think I'm going to fall down."giggled Serena. Darien chuckled and slowed down until he placed her back on the floor daintily. He'd never felt such happiness and freedom before in his life.He was sure this was a dream...it had to be,for no one could experience this much happiness and not be dead. Before they knew it,Serena and Darien were pressed against each other in a corner.Both were breathing raggedly from their exercise. They stared at each other for a few moments before bursting into laughter. "I've never had this much fun!!"laughed Serena. "Neither have I."grinned Darien. They stared again,blue meeting blue. Darien felt her feathery breath on his lips.Her cheeks were delicately flushed a light pink and her aqua eyes were sparkiling like brilliant aquamarine stones. "Are we dreaming???"asked Serena softly. "I don't know.."answered Darien. Silence once more... "Are we drunk??"questioned Darien,as his thumb began to stroke her cheek. "I don't know...are we??"replied Serena mesmerized by his stroking motion on her cheek. Darien shrugged."I wouldn't care if we were."he whispered before lowering his lips to capture hers in a tantalizing kiss. Serena felt heat infuse herself.She felt nothing like this before... It scared her and she'd vowed before no one would affect her again.But then,Darien wasn't affecting her like before...he was affecting her in a way,she'd never even knew possible. "Serena..."groaned Darien. She had to be dreaming... "Darien.." Jed grinned wickedly and nudged Raye. Serena felt her lungs claw for air and yet,she just wanted to stay, greedily like this forever... 'RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIING!!!!!!!' The alarm clock rang,sending Serena to reflexively slam the alarm clock down.Sitting up,she stsred at the clock with blurry eyes.She had a headache and the strangest dream. Serena pinched the bridge of her nose and got out of bed. *Serves me right for drinking,last night.*snorted Serena to herself.She glared at her reflection in the mirror.Oh yeah,she'd drunk a bottle of beer last night.That was more than she'd ever had before.Enough to stay sober and enough to get a hang-over the next day. Then she remebered the dream... Darien and her kissing... That WAS a dream right??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! To be continued... Coming up:~ Chapter 3: Your Basic Nightmare How was this chapter??????Email me with your comments PLEEEEEASE??? I know..I know...I'm loony enough to do 8 stories at once.*sigh*