No author's note..they're boring anyways. Sailor Moon
isn't mine.

"The Game of Love"
~~~~Part 2~~~~



Glancing at her watch quickly, Serena realized she had
to get back, and that she was already late. should just bail right now...this is too confusing...>she
thought nervously. After a mental battle as to whether
or not she should go back to the park or just run home
right now, the contest won out. And before she knew it,
she was approaching the large, loud decorations and
bustling crowd of people. Serena tried to push her way
past them as best she could, but ended up tripping over
somebody's foot and landing on her hands and knees by
an old oak tree.
"Why me..." she mumbled sourly and tilted her head
up, only to see a hand outstretched, inches from her face.
Her eyes traced over the hand, up the arm concealed in a
green jacket, over the broad shoulder, and then stopped
when she saw the midnight blues eyes, and strong jawline.
Darien. Panic swept over her like a harsh gust of wind. Its
not like she *dispised* Darien...she just strongly disliked
him, and *that* was an understatement. Even after hearing
his kind words, she wasn't sure how to react. Her brain
told her that he was still the same conceited jerk who just
happened to say something decent for, most likely, the first
time in his life, and would be back to teasing her in a second.
But her heart disagreed and whispered that Darien had meant
every word. She hated him, or at least she wanted to hate him.
As she gazed into his face anxiously awaiting to take her
hand and help her up, she wanted to just knock it away and
stand up by herself. "No thanks, Darien.I can get up by
myself." she scowled as she took his hand, being hoisted up
by his strength.
"O.....kay....." Darien drawled in confusion.
Serena flushed slightly and turned around, her back
facing him.
"Damn you!" She whispered angrily as she slapped her
own hand a few times. Darien knew he had to cover
up his little "decency" speech on the stage, and go back
to being Darien Chiba:The ass-man. He had meant it, but
didn't want Serena to get the wrong idea. She was still the
ditzy air-brained school girl he always teased, and didn't
like all that much. At least, thats what he told himself.
"C'mon, Meatball brain! Stop talking to your imaginary
boyfriend and let's get going already!" He groaned in frustration
as he motioned with his hands towards the crowd of contestants
waiting to start the next game. She growled and spun around
angrily.
"Don't...call....me...." She started through clenched teeth.
"Meatball Head." He finished for her hurriedly."Yeah, yeah
I know, let's go!" He said and ran towards the crowd. Serena
sighed heavily and then followed.
* * *
"Ok, does everybody understand the rules?" the announcer
asked. A chorused "yes" was the response as the contestants
lined up by the side of the park's olympic sized swimming pool.
"I cannot believe this." Darien muttered flatly as he looked on
and around the pool. There were flimsy pieces of plywood placed
on top of some black tire-like innertubes arranged in a line in front
of every pair.
Darien mused. The object of this game/stunt was to get across
without falling in. The catch was, one person had to carry the
other the whole way.... junk food she eats, I'm surprised she's so thin!> Darien thought
as his eyes flickered over Serena's petite body.
Serena felt his gaze upon her and slowly turned her head
to stare at him. It annoyed her to no extent to have someone
stare at her for no apparent reason, especially when that person
happened to be Darien. "What!?" she said in an annoyed and
very bored voice.
He didn't respond, but just rolled his eyes and surveyed the
competition. Darien thought sarcastically
as he watched Raye desperately clinging to Andrew for dear life
as they readied themselves for the start. A small snicker escaped
his lips, but he quickly covered it by clearing his throat and
preparing himself also. He bent over slightly, just enough for a
certain 5'3 blonde to climb on. Serena reeled back as she
realized he wanted her to climb on his back. that will *not* do at all!> she thought as he grunted wearily,
most likely tired from standing bent over. "Well, what are you
waiting for Meatball Head.....climb on!" he yelled from over his
shoulder. She huffed indignently and stuck her small nose in
the air. "If *you* think I'm going to climb on *your* back like
some monkey, *you've* got another thing coming, buster!"
she said while crossing her arms stubbornly across her chest.
Darien pursed his lips in a tight line and pushed up on his
knees harshly, standing his full height.
"Look, Serena--" he started sternly but was cut off by
the announcer once again. "Everyone on your mark..."
Serena didn't seem to care that the game was beginning
and she and Darien weren't even in position yet. She stood
there, stiff and unmoving, eyes closed and chin raised towards
the sky...while Darien panicked.
his mind screamed at him.
"Get set...." Darien knew that in about 2 seconds they would
be eating the other teams' dust if he didn't do something...and
*fast*. Without another thought, he swiftly bent over and slid one
arm behind Serena's knees, one around her waist and stood up.
Serena had no chance to say or do anything before the "GO!"
was signaled and all the partners started their course.
She decided to keep her mouth shut...at least until they
finished the race. Walking around the rest of the day soaking
wet just *didn't* seem appealing somehow. She noted how
agily Darien manuvered across the flimsy wooden boards, without
so much as a wobble. It was as if he was used to balancing
on weird objects...She quickly pushed the odd thought aside
and subtly tried to look back to see how her opponents were
doing. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Andrew and
Raye still clumsily trying to move across the first platform....
and succeeding only in falling off and into the warm chlorinated
water. She smiled slightly at the amusing sight of Raye screaming
her head off just before she hit, as if the water would melt her or
something. This time, she burst out into a fit of
giggles, which quickly turned in hysterical laughter. She had NO
clue were it had come from, but now that it was there, she was
powerless to control it.
"Will--you--please--STOP!" Darien grunted while he tried
to keep his balance. He had glanced down at Serena to see
what exactly was so funny causing him to lose his bearing and
was now rocking from side to side trying not to fall in. They
were only two platforms away from winning; only one other group
was left standing, who were catching up quickly.
"Sorry..." Serena responded in a giggle. She suddenly got a
mischievious glint in her eyes and smile devilishly. "....Muffin!"
she cooed sweetly, stifling another laugh. Serena did *not* know
what possessed her to do that...and she wondered where in the
world she got"Muffin" from. But it was just enough for Darien to
blurt out "Muffin?!" in surprise and cause them both to go
splashing in the water.
A few sputters and coughs later they emerged to the surface,
both shocked and angry at one another. "I can't believe you Serena!"
Darien yelled as he sloppily swept his jet black bangs away.
Serena narrowed her eyes and clentched her hands underneath
the water. "Me!?" she retorted. "I'm not the one who lost his
balance and made us fall into this pool, Ego-Boy!" Before
Darien had a chance to open his mouth again, she continued
on her tirade. "I was only trying to have a little fun! Its not my
fault you can't even lighten up over a stupid game! God, why
don't you just crawl out of your ass-hole for a while and JOIN
THE HUMAN RACE!!!!!!!" she finished with an angry yell and
promptly sloshed out of the pool. Darien just stood there,
wading in the pool, dumbfounded.

he admitted after a while. a dumb contest. And even if I don't win the money, I'm sure
I can scrounge up something to pay the rent with...> He
sighed in defeat and jumped out of the pool, grabbing two
towels on the way. While wiping his face and hair with one
hand, he searched for Serena...and spotted her sitting on a
small picnic bench by a snow cone vendor. He threw his
already soaked through towel around his neck and walked
over to her. As he neared, he could easily see her facial
features. Slight pout, muscles tight, brows furrowed in
anger, and eyes narrowed as thin as dimes. It only made
Darien smirk more as he stopped a few feet in front of her.
She had a cherry snow-cone in one of her hands, which
she obviously hadn't touched because the sticky red
syrup was running and the ice was almost melted away
completely. His smirk grew wider as he tossed the towel
at her face, causing her to flinch when the fabric made
contact. It slid down into her lap as she slowly raised her
head up to glare at him.
"Brought you a towel!" he said happily as he flashed
her a gorgeous smile. Serena stared at him for a long
moment before speaking. "Ha..ha..ha." she said flatly.
She then flicked him off and turned around, tossing her
snow cone onto the grass. Darien rolled his eyes playfully
and shook his head. Suddenly, it came to him.
I can do it right back!> he thought triumphantely as he recalled
the "Muffin" incident a few moments before. He cocked
his head to one side, pimp-style, and walked cooly up behind
her. He wrapped his moist arms around her shoulders and
hugged her tightly. "C'mon, babe...we gotta get back or were
gonna lose." he started out in a sexy whisper but then
ended with babyish pouting.
Serena was frozen on the spot. She couldn't move,
she couldn't breathe, couldn't talk and was in too much shock
(and pleasure) to smack Darien upside his cocky head. Her
heart started to pound faster within her. Never, *never* had
she felt his way. Before she knew it, butterflies were fluttering
in her stomach and everything became hazy. A light rose-
colored blush painted across her face; all anger giving way to
this new emotion. A sudden flicker of Deja-vu passed through
her, in which she envisioned herself, and Darien locked in an
eternal embrace, speaking in loving tones toward each other.
The only thing she could make out was Darien saying something
over and over to her in her vision. "I love you...I love you...I love
you..." Serena heard him whisper before the real Darien's voice
cut into her daydream. "Serena...? Se--RE--nA!!" he said in a
sing-song voice, his arms still wrapped around her. Serena
heard Darien's voice but purposely ignored it. For some reason,
she didn't want to get pulled out of this fantasy...she wanted it
to be like that.......forever.
Darien suddenly started to get a little worried, and leaned
over to look her into eyes. They looked completely glazed over
with a faraway look in the swirling depths of blue. This startled
Darien and he started calling her name a bit louder into her ear.
"Serena! Serena!!" he yelled. Her head bobbed to the side a bit
and she smiled contently. "There's not enough honey for the
bumblebees...." she mumbled happily and then leaned back
against him with a sigh. Darien cocked an eyebrow his eyes
widening at her words. "Oh boy...."