Never Look Back - Five
Usagi-chan
Usagi@tuxedomask.com
I don't own Sailormoon or anything pertaining to.
E-mail me!  The other senshi have nothing to do with
the actually senshi part.  I just used them so there 
was less character development necessary... ^_^
Also, a super special thanks to Moon Klutz, Julia and
Twilight for their commments on my stories!


~~~

The next morning sun shine streamed through Serena's window onto an empty
bed.  Serena had gotten up early to get ready for school.  She had showered
and dressed quickly, pulling her hair back with the pearl barrettes.

"Hmm..." She said thoughtfully, as she studied her appearance in the full 
length mirror in the bathroom.  She picked up the eyeshadow on the counter
and brushed a light dusting of the pink onto her eyelids.  

Serena skipped down the stairs and into the kitchen where Nathan had her
usual breakfast of orange juice waiting on the table.

"Thanks." Serena smiled at him.  Darien was sitting at the table drinking
coffee and reading the paper.  Serena sat down and sipped her orange juice.

"I trust you slept well?" Darien asked, glancing at her above his paper.
Serena shrugged and continued to drink her juice while gazing out into
the backyard.  Darien continued to watch her above his paper.  He noticed
that she was wearing the pink rose print dress Raye had picked out for her.
It looked absolutely stunning.  

Serena quickly finished her orange juice and went back upstairs to brush her
teeth.

"She's gorgeous, isn't she?" Nathan commented.  "Too bad she's only 
sixteen..."

"Yeah..." Darien replied.  

"You aren't that much older than she is, though." Nathan said before 
disappearing from the kitchen.  Darien quickly downed his coffee and 
folded up the newspaper.  He went back up to his room and grabbed a 
small rectangular jewewlry box and headed back downstairs.  When he
 got back down, Serena was waiting for him.  

"I thought these might go nicely with your dress." Darien told her, handing
her the box.  Serena looked at him quizically before accepting the velvet
box.  She opened it to reveal a string of pearls.  Serena gasped.

"They're lovely!"  She exclaimed.  "I can't accept these."

"They belonged to my mother.  I don't remember her, so they have no
significant value to me." Darien told her, taking the necklace from the
box.  He slipped around Serena's neck and did the clasp up and the back.  
His fingers lingered on her neck briefly before he turned away.

"We should get going." Darien told her.  Serena nodded and followed Darien
out of the house.  As Serena stepped onto the front porch, her eyes fell
on her motorcycle.  Her face filled with excitement as she saw it.  Darien
smiled at her.

"I had Nathan pick it up yesterday." He explained.  

"Thank you..." Serena breathed as she caressed the the front of her
bike.  

"We should get going, or you'll be late." Darien told her, getting into the
silver jaguar that sat in the driveway.  Sighing, Serena climbed into the 
passenger side, her eyes still on her bike.

"Do you have everything you'll need?" Darien asked her.

"Yes, my books are in my locker." Serena replied as they pulled out of the 
driveway.  

"Do you need lunch money?" Darien asked.

"I have some."

"Will you need more?" Darien asked.  Serena shook her head.

"What are you going to tell people?" Darien asked.  "I mean, they might
notice the changes..."

Darien let his voice trail off.  

"I don't usually associate with many people.  The rest will think what
they want no matter what I tell them." Serena replied, before staring out
the window.

As they pulled up in front of Serena's school, Darien stopped long enough
for Serena to get out.

"When are you finished?  I'll pick you up." Darien offered.

"I can find my own way home." Serena replied.

"Wait!" Darien said as she started to shut the door.  Darien reached into
his brief case and pulled out a phone.  He handed it to her.

"Call me if you need anything.  My number is programmed in.  Just tell my
secretary your name and she'll put you through.  If you need a ride, call."

"I don't need a cell phone." Serena told him.

"Just take it anyway, okay?  It'll make me feel better."

Sighing, Serena accepted the phone and shut the door.  As she turned around, 
Serena received quite a few catcalls.  Ignoring them, she went into the school
and to her locker.

She was turning the dial on her lock, when two people came up to her on
either side of her locker.  Serena looked up sharply, and smiled.

"Hi, Ames, Lita." She greeted her friends.

"Serena?  What happened to you?" Amy asked.

"I dropped by the orphanage and they said you were no longer there.  When 
did you leave?" Lita asked.

"The night before last.  It's rather a long story.  What are you two doing
at lunch?" Serena asked, pulling her bag and books from her locker.

"We are hearing your story, and it had better be good!" Lita warned as the
bell rang.

"Oh, it is.  I'll see you!" Serena promised before shutting her locker 
and heading towards her first period class.  

She entered the English classroom just in time.  Taking her regular seat in the
back of the classroom, Serena noticed Julie and Cathy talking and gesturing
towards her.  Suddenly, they got up and walked towards her.

"Hi!  We thought we should let you know that this is where another girl
usually sits, and you don't want to cross her.  She's really rather..."
Cathy's voice trailed off and she looked to Julie for help.

"She's had a rough life and tends to keep to herself.  She's not exactly
personable..." Julie's voice trailed off as well.

"Uhm.. Thanks?" Serena shrugged and turned her attention to the front
of the classroom.  Julie and Cathy huffed and went back to their seats.

"She's just as bad as Serena!" Cathy whispered.

"Uhm.. Cath?  That is Serena." Harmony said.

"What?" Julie screeched in disbelief.

"Julie.  If you please!  I am trying to conduct a class here."

Serena was relieved when lunch came.  She rushed to her locker and 
deposited her books before Lita and Amy showed up.

"Hey girlfriend!" Lita called.

"Hi." Serena smiled.  Just as they were about to go for lunch, Serena's
phone began ringing.  Puzzled, she pulled it out of her bag.

"Hello?" She asked.

"Darien?  Is that you?" A distinctly female voice asked.  Before waiting
for a response, she went on.  "Oh darling!  Why haven't you been 
returning my calls.  I love you so, and you lead me on like this!  I
can't stand it anymore Darien!  Marry me!"

"I think you have you the wrong number." Serena informed the voice.

"Isn't this Darien Shields?" The voice asked.  "I know this is his
cell phone number."

"He gave me the phone this morning.  Good bye." Serena hung up and
sighed.

"He gave it to you?" Lita asked.  "He who?"

"Serena, I don't want to ask you this, but are you being..." Amy let
her voice trail off with the hope that Serena would pick up on what
she meant.  Serena did, and burst out laughing.

"Oh Ames!  You are hilarious!"  Serena exclaimed.  "It's nothing 
like that!  He dropped by the orphanage and explained that he had
grown up there until around my age when a man came in and became
his benefactor.  The man's dying wish was that Darien do the same."

Just then a pair of strong arms snaked their way around Serena's 
waist.  Serena turned in surprise to see Jason, the star of the 
football team, standing behind her.

"Hi babe."

"Get your hands off me now." Serena told him coldly.

"Is that anyway to talk to your boyfriend?"

"You're not my boyfriend now let go!"

"Where did you get this new toy?" Jason asked, trying to take her
cellphone.  Serena tossed it to Lita who glibly caught it, before
turning in Jason's arms to hit him in the face.  Jason let go of
Serena and clutched at his now bleeding nose. 

"I said leave me alone." Serena told him before walking out
of the school with Lita and Amy.

~~~

GIRL POWER!!!

Usagi-chan