
      Paradise


      Author: aria


      Rated: NC17



      Chapter 1
      Serena Tsukino looked up at her boyfriend as they walked down the crowded 
      hall together and smiled. Malachite was the most popular guy in school, 
      the captain of the soccer team, student body president and all around 
      dreamboat. The perfect guy. And he was hers. She clung happily to his arm 
      as they strolled casually down the hall, smiling and waving to people as 
      they passed.
      "Eeeeeeeeeeee!" the screech could be heard coming down the hall and 
      stopped in front of them in a blonde blur. Mina Aino, her best friend, 
      skidded to a stop and hugged her while still bouncing. "Have you heard?"
      "What?" Serena tried to pull her arm out from the death grip Mina had on 
      her but gave up after a few unsuccessful tugs. "Tell me."
      "Theyve just revealed what the senior class trip will be this year!"
      "Really?" Every year the senior class went on a big trip and the location 
      was only revealed two week prior to departure. "So where are we going?"
      "A Caribbean cruise!"
      "Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! The decibel level of the two screams nearly levelled the 
      hall and Malachite thought his eardrums were going to burst on him. 
      Luckily for his hearing they stopped.
      "Sweetie did you hear that? Were going to the Caribbean!" Malachite just 
      smiled smugly. "You knew didnt you?" Still, he smiled. "I cant believe 
      it! Were going on a cruise!" she gave him a quick kiss and linked arms 
      with Mina. "Well were off to class! Ill see you at lunch ok?"
      "Of course. See you later ladies!" he watched the two pretty blondes hurry 
      off and headed in the direction of his class.
      ----
      The day couldnt have dragged on any slower for Serena. By the time 
      chemistry came, her last class of the day, she thought she was going to 
      scream in frustration. At lunch the girls decided to get together after 
      school and head to the mall to pick out some new bathing suits and 
      whatever else the might need on the trip. And lets just say the thought 
      of shopping was much more appealing than balancing equations.
      BRRRIIINNNNGGGGGGG!!
      In a flash Serena was out of her desk and at her locker. She quickly 
      launched her textbooks into it, slammed it shut and ran outside. Lita, 
      Mina, Amy and Raye were already there waiting for her when she walked out 
      of the somber brick building. "Shall we go shopping ladies?"
      Lita nodded then looked around Serena. "Wheres lover boy?" The two were 
      rarely found apart so it was strange to see Serena without Malachite 
      sticking out of her back pocket.
      "Malachite had to attend a council meeting." Serena answered dryly.
      Raye gave her a smirk. "What ever are you going to do without him for a 
      few hours?"
      Serena swung playfully at her. "Shut up! Are we going to shop or not?"
      They filed into the air-conditioned mall and sighed in relief to be 
      getting out of the heat and humidity. Unfortunately for them, the ride 
      over was a little less than relaxing. The bus was crowded and the air 
      conditioning wasnt working as well as it should have been. The things you 
      had to do to get in a bit of good shopping time! But it was much better in 
      the large airy building.
      "Hey Serena!"
      Serena looked over to where the voice had come from. Darien Chiba, her 
      oldest friend ran over. Theyd known each other for as long as she could 
      remember. Tall and gangly was the only way to describe him. In his hurry 
      to get to them he trip over the feet of a couple seated on a bench. 
      Stumbling he caught himself before he fell face first and continued over, 
      tossing an apology over his shoulder.
      Raye elbowed Serena, "Why do you hang out with that klutz?"
      "Raye be nice! Hes an old friend." Serena smiled at him as he skidded to 
      a halt in front of them.
      "Hiya Serena!" Darien ran a hand through his unruly mop of hair and 
      straightened his glasses. He smiled warmly at the other girls. "Hi."
      The girls rolled their eyes and mumbled hello.
      Serena ignored their exasperated looks and smiled back at Darien. "Hi 
      Dare, hows it going?"
      "Great! Did you hear where were going for the trip?"
      "Yeah we just heard this morning. Im so excited!"
      "Me too. Its going to be great!"
      Amy stepped in between them, "As fascinating as this is, weve got some 
      shopping to do. So if youll excuse us..." she steered Serena away from 
      Darien.
      "Oh ok. Ill see you later then."
      "Bye Darien." Serena waved at him over her shoulder and let the girls 
      steer her into The Gap. "You guys could be a bit nicer to him you know. 
      Hes a really nice guy."
      Lita thrust a pair of khaki shorts at her. "Im sure he is but hes 
      ruining your image."
      Raye nodded in agreement. "Definitely. You have Malachite. What do you 
      need Darien hanging around for?"
      "You guys! I cant just dump him. Hes a good friend!" Serena couldnt 
      believe that the girls were saying these things. So what? So what if he 
      wasnt cool? So what if he didnt wear the latest clothes and listened 
      to the latest music? He was her friend and she wasnt going to dump him 
      just because he wasnt good for her image. Shed never dump any of her 
      friends. Not for anything. "Can we just shop?"
      The girls agreed and the rest of the day was spent talking about clothes 
      and boys and dreaming about what the trip was going to be like.
      Five hours later the girls walked through the emptying mall toward the 
      exit, laden with bags and bags of new cruise clothes, lotions and 
makeup.
      "Id have to say that we had a pretty good day eh girls?" Serena beamed at 
      the thought of showing off her new clothes to Malachite. Hed be impressed 
      with her new array of bathing suits for sure.
      Giggling and laughing they walked out into the darkening parking lot, 
      ready to get on the next bus.
      "Hey! Need a lift?" Darien pulled up alongside the curb in his beat up old 
      Ford Tempo.
      "No thanks." Lita turned her attention to the road looking as though she 
      was trying to will another bus to pull up.
      "Oh ok," Serena saw the hurt look that briefly marred Dariens face before 
      he bravely fought it back again. "See ya later."
      "Darien, wait." The car slowly stopped again. "Ill go with you. Were 
      headed the same way anyways." She turned to the girls who had looks of 
      mortification on their faces at what she was about to do. "Ill see you 
      all later ok?"
      "Yeah ok." The girls waved at her numbly as they drove away.
      "Thanks Darien. Its really great of you to give me a ride." She gave him 
      a reassuring smile.
      He merely shrugged. "What are friends for right?" Darien guided the car 
      easily onto the onramp and into the stream of traffic. "So have a good day 
      shopping?" he jerked his thumb at the pile of bags in the back seat.
      "Yeah. Its always a good day when you buy something."
      Darien just shook his head. "I dont understand the fascination women have 
      with shopping."
      "I know. For women, shopping is almost therapeutic, while for men its 
      more like a torture session."
      "You got that right." He pulled the car to a stop in front of her house. 
      "Well there you go."
      "Thanks again Darien. Talk to you later ok?" Serena struggled to get the 
      bags together while at the same time tried to fish her keys out of her 
      pocket.
      "Hold on." he quickly got out of the car and pulled some of the bags out 
      of the back. "Ill help you bring them in."
      "Thanks." How many times could she thank him? She unlocked the door and 
      walked in closely followed by Darien.
      ""Hello sweetie." Ken Tsukino walked into the kitchen from the other room. 
      "Been shopping I see."
      "Hi daddy." Serena gave him a peck on the cheek.
      "Darien. Dont tell me my little girls dragged you out on one of her 
      insane shopping days?" he gave him a wink.
      "No sir. I just gave her a ride back thats all. Im not that crazy you 
      know."
      The two shared a laugh while Serena busied herself with trying to get her 
      bags to her room. Darien took his portion and followed her down the hall.
      "You two get along well huh?" Why couldnt her father make an effort to be 
      that nice to Malachite? From the moment Ken laid eyes on her boyfriend it 
      had been a no holds barred war between the two. She couldnt understand 
it.
      "We just see eye to eye." Darien placed the bags carefully on the floor. 
      "Anyway I have to get going."
      "Yeah its getting late. Ill walk you out." The phone started ringing as 
      they got to the door. "Ill see you tomorrow in English alright?"
      "Yeah, oh do you remember what we were supposed to do for tomorrow?"
      "Yeah-" she was cut off by her fathers roar.
      "Serena! Its that boy again!"
      "Oh no. Can you just hold on a sec?" she picked up the phone. "I got it!" 
      she waited for the tell tale click before speaking. "Hi Mally."
      "Hi Sunshine. Couldnt you have picked up the phone? You know I hate 
      talking to your dad."
      Tears sprung up out of nowhere. Shed let him down again. "Sorry." She 
      turned away from Darien so she couldnt have seen the look of anger that 
      crossed his face.
      Darien clenched his fists. He could just imagine what the guy was saying 
      to Serena to bring tears to her eyes. But hed made a promise to himself 
      that he wouldnt interfere with her relationship with him. Even if he was 
      a jerk. He took a long breath and tapped her on the shoulder and gave her 
      his Ill call you signal. She didnt even look at him when she nodded. 
      He must have said something pretty bad. Furious, Darien walked back out to 
      the car. When was she going to realize that guy wasnt good enough for 
her?