Author: Hikari
E-mail: Machi_NO_Tenshi@Excite.Com
Story: Tenderly
Part: Chapter 1
Rating: PG-13


@TENDERLY@
by Hikari.


Chapter 1:

	"AAAAHHHHHhhhh!"  The delicate figure of a young girl 
screamed as she fell to the floor in the living room.  She shakily 
placed her hands on top of the coffee table and with her head bent 
down, spoke her pleas to the man above her.  "please... Stop!"

	A dark figure towered over the coffee table, casting a 
shadow on the limp figure that rested part of her body on top of it.  
Placing his hand behind his ear, he spoke with a harsh mocking tone.  
"Did you say something?  I'm sorry, I thought I heard you say some-
thing... but I must have been mistaken because you couldn't have 
possibly been telling me what to do."  His hand, slowly coming down 
on the girl's head, grabbing her by the hair, and forcing her face 
towards his.  "RIGHT?!"

	She looked up at him, her clear blue eyes filled with 
tears.  "I'm sorry..."

	Almost as if on cue, the man softened his grip on her hair 
and grabbed her by the shoulders, raising the girl to her feet.  His 
hand, then, slowly making an attempt to wipe away the tears that had 
streaked her face.  "Oh baby..." he said, trying to soothe her into 
a calm state. "Why must you always make me mad?"  He placed his hand 
underneath her chin and brought it up for his view.  "Now look at 
your face!  Look at what you made me do."  Leading her quickly by 
the chin towards the closest mirror he forced her to look at her-
self.  "Look!  This is what you have done to yourself!"

	The girl slowly gathered up the courage to look at her 
image.  Her lips were dry, except for the spots where the small 
sliver of blood that dripped for the right side of her upper lip 
had touched.  Her left cheek had a dark red mark in the shape of 
what looked like a handprint; the rest of her face was pink from 
her cries.  Eyes: puffy and irritated.  'I did this.' She repeated 
to herself mentally, as if casting a sentence in her mind. 'I 
alone caused this.  It was all *MY* fault... I should have never 
made him angry.'

	"ARE YOU LISTENING?" He yelled as he gave her a shake.

	"yes."  She looked up at him from the mirror, then, turned 
around to face him. 'Please God.  Let him forgive me... I *NEED* 
HIM!' Bringing her small delicate hand to his face, she traced his 
jaw line while looking deep into his eyes.  "Sweety... I'm sorry if 
I made you angry.  I never meant to.  Please forgive me."

	"Ah baby," His arms bringing her into his embrace. "You 
know I only hit you because you make me angry...  It only goes to 
show how much I care for you."  Cupping her cheek in his palm, he 
kissed her bloody lips.  "Now," he said, his voice becoming rock-
hard again.  "What are you going to tell anybody who ask you what 
happened to you?"

	"I'll lie."

	With a grin on his lips he bent towards her face.  "That's 
a good girl."


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


	The mall was crowded, but what could you expect when it 
was a Saturday afternoon.  Bubbly people where everywhere!  Young 
girls in jeans, or shorts hanged-out with each other in groups and 
laughed happily amongst themselves.  Married couples with their 
hands linked walked alongside each other sharing looks of utter 
bliss. 

	'That's how I want to be with David when we get married.' 
Serena thought. 'Just like them.'

	"Can I take your order?"

	"Huh?"

	The woman gave Serena an exasperated sigh.  "I SAID-" then 
forcing a smile on her lips. "Can I take your order?"

	"Uh," Serena recoiled a bit. "I want a bucket full of 
chicken, a family portion of mashed potatoes and it's corresponding 
serving of gravy... please."

	Chewing on her gum, the woman spit back.  "That'll be 
twenty bucks."

	Serena's hand came forward with the bill around the same 
time that the woman grabbed it and yelled at her again. "You can 
pick it up when WE call YOU." Handing Serena a number the woman 
yelled once more. "NEXT PLEASE!"


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


	Over the loudspeaker of the mall's K.F.C., a woman began 
to read a number.  " * I * TY - NINE.  NUMBER  * I * TY - NINE"

	"Hey Andrew!" A tall, dark haired man called to his friend.  
"I think they're calling our number... I'm gonna go check."

	Running towards the K.F.C. counter, Darien came to a blunt 
halt as he slammed into a thin girl that seemed to be walking in 
the same direction as him.  "OH-MY-GOSH!" Darien said as he tried 
to steady the girl.  "I-AM-*SO*-SORRY!  Are you ok?"

	"Yeah," came her soft reply.  Brining her head up she 
looked into Darien's eyes.   "DARIEN!"

	"SERENA!"  He said in excitement.  A smile that was 
beginning to form on his lips, gone as fast as it came.  He was 
looking at her face.  Serena had a light purple bruise on her 
left cheek and the indication of a cut on the upper right part 
of her lip.

	Serena figured out that he was staring at her and turned 
her face away.

	"LAST CALL FOR NUMBER FIFTY - NINE!!"

	"Fifty-nine?" Serena said to the woman on the microphone. 
"I thought you where calling number 'Sixty-nine.'"

	"You thought wrong, girly."  The woman bit back at her.  
"Now, IS THERE ANYONE OUT THERE THAT HAS NUMBER-"  but she was 
cut short in her sentence.

	"I have number 'Fifty-nine,'" Darien said as he handed 
the woman his ticket.  "And there is no reason why you have to 
treat this girl by method of screams."  Taking a closer look at 
the woman, he started again. "OR DO *YOU* LIKE TO BE TALKED TO 
LIKE *THIS*?!!"

	Backing up a little, the woman gave Darien a cold stare, 
but placing a fake smile on her lips she handed him a bag.  
"Here's your food, *Sir*."

	"Come on Serena." He said as they walked away from the 
rude woman.

	After a moment of silence, Serena found her voice and 
decided to speak.  "Darien, you had no reason to talk to that 
woman like that."

	"No?" He asked as he eyed her skeptically while at the 
same time sitting down on one of the mall's food court tables.  
"So that she was treating you like a moron was not supposed to 
bother me at all?"

	She looked down.  "I deserved it."  Serena looked up at 
him again.  "It was my fault that she was angry... so I couldn't 
blame her for the way she treated me."  Standing up straight, as 
if proud of what she was saying, she added.  "I brought it upon 
myself."

	Darien could only stare at the monstrosity of the words 
she was uttering.  'Serena couldn't possibly really mean what 
she's saying!'  Then looking at her bruised cheek, thought again.  
'Could she?'  Darien cleared his throat.  "Serena...  what happened 
to your cheek?"

	Like lightning, Serena's face became startled.  "My... 
cheek?"  Her hand came up instinctively to touch it.  "I..." 
Darien could tell she was searching for a decent excuse.  "I..."

	"DARIEN!"

	Both Darien and Serena's heads snapped to the left.  A 
young blond man in his early twenties was running their way.

	"Andrew!"  Darien yelled and he waved his friend over.  
"I got the food!"

	The man slowed down his pace and walked up to the table.  "
So I see."  Then looking at Serena, his lips parted into a friendly 
smile.  "And who, may I ask, is this young lady?"

	Serena blushed as Andrew picked up her hand, bent over 
it, and pressed his lips to the soft flesh of her hand.  "I..."

	Darien smiled, if not with a little jealousy.   "This is 
Serena Moyers.  We went to college together at O.S.U. for my 
Freshman and Sophomore years before I transferred to Penn State."

	"Well," Andrew said. "It's a pleasure to meet you anyway 
Miss Serena Moyers." And kissed her hand again.

	She blushed even deeper as she slowly took her had away 
from his grasp.  'What would David say if he saw Andrew!!'  
"Thank-you.  Likewise."

	"NUMBER SIXTY - NINE!!  CALLING NUMBER SIXTY - NINE!!"

	"That's my number!!" Serena yelled as she whirled around 
raising the hand that was holding the ticked.  "I'll be right 
there!" But as she started to walk- was stopped by Darien's hand 
on her hand, taking the ticked away from her grasp.

	"I'll pick it up for you."  And not waiting to hear her 
protests, walked away in the direction of the K.F.C. counter.

	"So Serena," Andrew began.  "Do you have a boyfriend?"

	Serena turned to him with her face lighting up. "Oh YES."  
She smiled with sad longing.  "A wonderful boyfriend that cares 
for me very much...  *very* much." She repeated almost silently, 
as if she were saying it to herself in an attempt to make the 
words more real.  As if trying to believe it herself.

	They stayed there silently for what must have been 
minutes for the next word they heard were: "Your food's here!!"

	She turned around and took the bag from Darien.  "Thank 
you."

	"No problem." He smiled, then looked down at the bag of 
food she was holding.  "You know, that's a lot of food for one 
small girl to eat all alone.  You taking that home to your family?"

	Serena got a look on her face that Darien could not 
decipher.  "Yes."  She answered almost as if on the defensive.

	"Tell you what..." Darien began as he shot a look to 
Andrew.  "How 'bout I take you home?"

	"No thanks.  I brought my car."

	"Well, then... what if I walk you to your car?"

	"No, I... " She gave in. "Alright."

	Serena began walking towards the exit of the mall but 
stopped to look back and see where Darien was.  Andrew and him 
were saying something to each other, then, Darien started running 
in her direction.  "I thought you were going to wait for me?"

	Serena looked at him for a second.  "I did."


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


	Once outside of the mall, Serena began to look for where 
she had parked her car.  Finding it, she opened the door and 
silently got in.  She would have closed the door but Darien was 
leaning on it.  "Thank you for walking me out."

	"It was no problem."

	Serena became a little tense.  There was something in 
Darien's voice that she didn't like.  'Is it pity?' She wondered. 
'No, it's too soothing.'  All she knew was that ever since the 
first time they had re-met she had sensed something underlying 
in his voice.  'But what is it?'  Putting her key in the 
ignition, she turned it so to start the car.  A weird noise came 
from the hood at the same time that the ignition refused to start.

	"What's wrong?"

	"I don't know." Serena answered almost as a plea.

	"Pop the hood and let me take a look at it, ok?"  Darien 
ordered as he made his way around the car.

	"Alright."


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


	Darien was driving his car in the direction of Serena's 
house.  Hours had passed since they had been in the mall and had 
to wait for the tow-truck to arrive.  Right now, Serena sat 
peacefully at his side caring what now must be *cold* chicken.  
So deep was she in thought, that she did not hear the first time 
Darien told her they where home.

	"Thanks." She said as she smiled at him and got out of 
the car.

	Darien turned of the car and ran after her with a small 
bag in hand.  "Serena," He said as he reached her door. "You 
forgot your purse"

	Serena took her purse from Darien's hands and was about 
to say something the instant her front door swung open, and 
older man standing in it's way.  "About time you got home!!" He 
yelled at her.  "Gimme that!"  Grabbing the bag of chicken from 
her hands he made his way inside again. 

	Serena lowered her head.  "Thank you, Darien." And as 
she was about to enter her house, Darien grabbed her by her hand.

	"Serena," he said to her, his face with a serious look 
that she had never seen.  "Was *he* the one that struck you in 
the face?"

	She shook her head from side to side.  "No."

	"Then who was it?"

	"nobody." She whispered almost crying.

	"It's alright Serena."  He said as he brought her into 
his embrace.  "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."  
Passing his fingers through her hair.  "Just remember that I'm 
your friend and that no matter what it is.  You can tell me 
anything."

	Serena shook her head again.  'What came over me?!'  
Wiping off her face, she looked at Darien.  "There's nothing to 
tell.  I just had an accident and got a bruise."

	Darien looked at her again.  'That bruise was *no* 
accident!' He wondered why she was lying... Who she was trying 
to cover for...  but as he came out of his thoughts, and saw 
Serena lightly touching the bruise on her cheek, a shiver went 
up his spine.  'That look that she has...' Darien thought. 'It 
can't be... pride?'

	"I have to go in Darien.  It was nice seeing you again."  
Then, walking inside, she closed the door after her.

	Darien stared at the door for a long moment after she 
had left.  He was trying to figure out what might have happened 
to her during the years they had not seen each other.  He just 
couldn't explain it.  Serena was not like this when they where 
in college.  She was not like this when they where dat-  'Don't 
think about that Darien.' He said to himself as he got into his 
car and turned the ignition.  'You know the reasons why you two 
broke up.'  But did he really?  All this time he had wondered 
why Serena had accused him of not caring for her the way she 
needed to be.  He knew she now had a boyfriend but...  what was 
so special about this *new* guy that she was happy with him?  Was 
she happy with him?  He really couldn't tell.  'She seemed happy 
enough...  but then why the change?'

	Driving home he remembered the first time he had met 
Serena's boyfriend.  'The jack-a**!'  Darien yelled mentally.  
'Treating Serena like she was-  like she was-'  "ARGH!!  JUST 
DON'T THINK ABOUT IT DARIEN!!  JUST DON'T THINK ABOUT IT!"  He 
drove on, saying that to himself, trying to evade the thought of 
someone taking advantage of Serena's naivety.


		*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


	Inside her room, Serena wondered why she had cried in 
Darien's arms that night.  'Funny...  I wonder who the lucky girl 
he's going out with now is.'  And just as she was thinking that, 
a pang of jealousy stung her chest.  Why would you be jealous?  
You once went out with Darien...  and you know he's nothing like 
David.  But her heart still ached.

	"SERENA!!!" She heard her mother's two year-live in-
boyfriend, John, yell from downstairs.  "WHERE THE HELL IS THE 
CAR?!!"

	Suddenly, and without warning, tears began to flow from 
Serena's cheeks.  'Stop it!'  She yelled in her mind as an angry 
hand came up to wipe her tears away in vain.  'Stop crying you 
wimpy girl!!'

	Then, she head John's footsteps as he came up the stairs.  
Swiftly, Serena ran towards her bedroom door and locked it, her 
back resting on it after the act was done.  She head John down 
the hall.  Now, at the foot of her door.  "OPEN UP SERENA!!!"  
The knob rattling.  "OPEN THE D*MN DOOR!!"

	Her silent cries were now shaking her body as it slid to 
the floor in anger.  'STOP CRYING D*MN IT!!'  She sobbed hugging 
herself.  "...stop crying."



To be continued...