This is the second chapter, entitled "Graduation Tears".
Though it is not my first attempt at writing fan fiction, it is my
first attempt in posting any of my work on the Net for others to read.
A note, I did change the name of the highschool where the Scouts attend
to something in English. I did change a little history, all right?
I respect the Japanese version very VERY much, but wanted to change
the name because it didn't fit in really with the English names and
such. I used everyone's Japanese last names except for Amy's, which
is Anderson. Any constructive comments are welcome, e-mail
SlrUnico@aol.com! Enjoy!
~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~O~o~
The drive to the school was much longer than it normally was for
Serena. Her parents sat in the front, and she and Sammy were in the
back. Her little brother looked none too happy to be in his sport
coat and tie, which his mother had forced him to wear, and was
stealthily playing a hand held video game. Serena stared out the
window deep in thought for the whole short trip, coming back to
reality when her father announced they were at the school.
Serena gulped and opened the car door, sliding out slowly
despite Sammy's constant urges to "move it along, Sis!". Her white
slippers hit the pavement with each step toward the building. She
barely heard when her parents called that they would head into the
auditorium while she went on to the classroom where her class was
meeting.
I don't believe I am really graduating, her mind was saying.
Me, Serena, a high school graduate! And everyone told me I was going
to be a middle school flunky. I wish all the people I have ever known
in my whole life who were mean to me could see this night, where I'm
going to shine like the moon.
Her steps grew quicker and more deft as she neared the room.
Only a shout of her name stopped her, as she spun to meet the voice's
owner.
It was Raye! "Raye!" Serena cried, running to meet her friend
mid way. The dark haired girl hugged Serena and then yanked away to
take a look at her. "Now, where have I seen THAT dress before," Raye
asked teasingly. Serena giggled.
"Can you believe I made it?" squealed Serena happily. "That I'm
graduating?"
Raye shook her head. "And we all thought you'd be a drop out way
before this!!"
Serena stuck out her tongue. "Oh, you're so self righteous!"
Raye blew a raspberry. "I'd rather be that than an air head!"
"You're calling me an air head????"
"Hey, if the shoe fits, wear it! And add this on to that, you're
a pig head too!"
"Well you're a HOT head!"
"You're insane, girl!"
"At least I don't converse with fires like an idiot!"
"OOOOH! I'M NOT SPEAKING TO YOU EVER AGAIN!" the girls said in
unison, fed up with each other. They grunted and turned their backs
to the other, staying like that for a long time. Then at the same
instant they turned and giggled, hugging like old friends who had
never fought in their lives. "Who are we kidding?" asked Raye
rhetorically.
"Yeah," replied Serena.
They drew away. "So, are you coming to the dance?" asked Serena.
Raye nodded. "Yeah, I'm glad here they let other schools attend."
"Who's your date?" quipped Serena mischievously.
The dark haired girl blushed a deep red. "Ummm...Chad..."
"Whhhoooo! You go girl!"
Raye clamped a hand over Serena's mouth. "I'm warning you,
Meatball Head, don't you dare embarrass me. Can I help it if the guy
has it bad for me?"
Serena shrieked a muffled response and Raye sighed, taking her
hand away. "Oh well. Maybe I like him a little bit too."
Someone shouted to Serena, who spun around to see. It was a
teacher, telling her she had better get with her class. She sighed
and told Raye good bye, flouncing into the building.
Her slippers made no noise on the tile halls, and when she
reached the room, Serena peered in. Mina was already inside, talking
with a group of boys and giggling like a flirt. Not wanting to miss
out on the fun, Serena rushed inside to join her.
Upon seeing her friend, Mina gasped out loud and left the boys to
chatter among themselves. "Serena, my God, it's beautiful!"
"The dress? You like it?"
"Who wouldn't I'd DIE for a dress like that! It looks just like
the one..." Mina trailed off and mouthed the words, "you wore as a
Princess!" She sat in a desk.
Serena nodded and went to sit in the seat beside her. "I just
gave Mom the sketch and she had it taken downtown. A designer
fashioned it for me, no questions asked! It's so pretty..." She
looked at Mina's dress. "Ooooh, but I love yours!"
Mina blushed. She was wearing a tiny white Derby hat on her head,
and her dress skirt was short, the bodice and sleeves done like the
late 20's style in America according to her dress maker. There was a
little vest with tiny buttons over the top part, and when she took it
off sphagetti straps showed over her shoulders. It was elegant and
classy, in a different way then Serena's. Both were breathtaking.
"Where is your date?" asked Serena.
"He's going to meet me at the dance. He's in another room.
You know Toby, he'll probably want to make an entrance."
"Sounds like Raye. You know, Chad is escorting her."
"No way!"
"Yes way! I just found out in the parking lot. At first she
acted like she was all that and a bag of chips, saying that he had it
bad for her and she couldn't help it. Then SHE admitted that she
"kinda" liked him too! Ooooh!"
Mina's eyes got that look they did when there was a juicy piece
of gossip floating around that she had first dibbs on. But before she
could get up to spread the word that the fiery Shinto maiden who was a
legend at her own school was dating one of the temple caretakers...
someone shyly opened the door. It was a girl, dressed in a long white
dress that was very plain but so very pretty and cordial. A single
ribbon was tied loosely in the back, in a bow, and the neckline was
cut modestly. It was...
"Amy!" squealed Mina. "I love it!"
With a furious blush Amy Anderson nimbly walked over to them,
taking a seat out of the limelight next to Serena with relief. "Hi
Mina, hi Serena! I love your dresses!"
"We love yours, Amy! It's not gaudy, it's...perfect!"
"Greg will love it!" Serena chimed in.
Another blush from the shy blue haired girl. "I hope he does.
He's going to be at the ceremony, I haven't seen him yet though. Raye
accordingly will direct him to sit with her and Chad up front."
The three girls engaged in chitter chatter about everything from
who was going to the dance with who, to who was wearing the most tacky
gown, and from who had ditched who, to who would be attending which
college, (Amy's topic of choice). Then another girl entered on the
arm of a handsome young boy with brown hair and eyes, and a dazzling
smile. Lita and Ken.
Her dress was suited exactly to her tastes like the other girls'
were for them. It was white with a rufflely white apron in the front
over the skirt, tying into the neatest and crisp little bow in the
back, with a low neckline and a short skirt under the apron. She had
on a little hat that resembled a chef's, but was very modern looking.
"Lita!" Amy exclaimed. "It's so lovely!"
Lita grinned. "Thanks, Ames."
Ken punched her arm playfully. "That's what I've been trying to
tell her ever since we got here, that dress is really a hot little
number. But she wouldn't believe me. Like she doesn't know she would
look cute in anything, even a paper bag!"
The girls shared a laugh. "I love the hat," commented Mina.
"It's so chic!"
"Raye said the same thing," Lita replied. "We ran into her and
Chad out front, they were finding seats." She adjusted the hat, and
on an impulse Mina did the same to hers. "I really like it, it's my
favorite part!"
Ken tickled her. "I kinda like the whole thing and what's in it
the most."
Both broke into laughter as Lita pleaded with him jokingly to
stop. Serena watched growing sad. Darien and I might be like that.
Except he isn't here. Will I ever see him again? Has he totally
forgotten about me? He could have called.
The principal's voice over the intercom interrupted her solemn
thoughts. "Attention students of the graduating class. Please
assemble in the lines you have been practicing in outside the main
doors of the auditorium. Straighten your dress clothes and make
yourselves presentable...gentlemen if I see ANY ties or cuff links off
your suits and floating around the place there will be a penalty.
And ladies remember to smile nicely, not the idiotic kind of grin
you've been wearing because you can't wait to get out of here. That
is all, good luck."
There was a stillness in the room. "This is it," Lita said,
squeezing Serena's hand. "We're going to graduate."
Serena nodded, her stomach bouncing as if it was a trampoline
little kids were frolicking on. "What if I mess up??" she whispered
to Lita in a panic.
"Play it cool," Mina answered, overhearing. "Pretend you're the
princess again in your royal gown and that everyone in the gym is your
subject."
"O...okay." Serena's knees began to quake.
Amy held onto her shoulder supportingly. "We're here," she
whispered in her quiet voice.
Slowly the class began to walk outside, into the hall, where it
was instantly one with the other few classes of students. United, the
students moved together to the doors of the auditorium and broke into
two lines. Serena was right behind Lita in one, and Mina was right
next to her, with Amy beside Lita. Serena smiled and was grateful
that the teachers had allowed them to pick who they sat next to on
this, one of the most important days of their lives.
The music that had been selected for the ceremony began to play,
and the two lines quietly moved in swiftly and deftly. Serena held
her head as high as she could, not looking in any direction but
forward, at the back of Lita's upper neck. Out of the corner of her
eye she could see as they neared the middle rows of chairs her family.
Mr. Tuskino was snapping pictures of his daughter and her friends,
Mrs. Tuskino was near tears at the thought of her baby graduating,
and Sammy looked very bored. Once the line neared the front she
could see Raye and Chad sitting next to Greg. Raye was waving at her
friends enthusiastically. Chad did the same. Greg was smiling, and
she knew it was for Amy.
Finally they reached the separate rows of chairs up front. Amy
had systematically placed them where they were so they could sit two a
row, with the other two behind them. Lita and Serena were up front,
Amy behind Lita and Mina behind Serena. The principal gave the
command to sit, and the graduates did so. She fumbled with her
bracelet. I have to remember every bit of this so I can tell Darien
all about it, Serena thought. But the details of the ceremony were
already slipping past her mind. So she tried to concentrate on what
the principal said.
"This year's class is one of the finest bunch of kids I have
seen in a long while. They care for each other, helped their friends
and even those not close pals through hard times. That's important.
We at Lakeside hope that you will all look back on your years here and
remember what you have learned from not only the teachers, but
yourselves."
There was mild applause, and then the principal cleared her
throat and continued. "Now we would like to recognize certain clubs
and activities the members of the class have participated in." An
attendant handed her a list while another speaker stood by with awards
in hand. Then the principal began to call out names and the person's
activity.
Serena lost herself for awhile, but came to when Lita was
announced first for the Cooking Club. They all cheered and Raye
hooted. After a few more students, Amy's name was called for the
Computer Club, and then Mina for the volleyball team. All three
accepted their awards and sat back down. Serena wasn't too ashamed
she had not joined any of the clubs. None of them seemed to suit her,
and to her, she was already in a club - the Sailor Scouts.
"And now," the principal said, "we have three very special awards
or a trio of students you all know well, class." There were murmurs
throughout the auditorium. "Since they no longer attend here, Mina
Aino shall be dedicating the awards for them. After the ceremony
these awards will be placed in the trophy case."
Serena had a sneaking suspicion who the mysterious three were.
This announcement was news to her, and from the looks on Lita and
Amy's faces, they felt the same. Mina, however, stood up calmly and
went to the stand. She paused and looked out over the audience. Then
she spoke. "I am very honored to accept the following awards for
three friends who were very dear friends of mine.
"They are three who, as our principal said, you know well. They
were a singing group, of the most famous kind, and we were fortunate
enough to have them attend here for their short schooling in Tokyo.
In case you do not know who I am speaking of, they are the Three
Lights." Everyone was silent. Mina continued. "Seiya, Taiki, and
Yaten Kou, were a sensational group! They pulled together even," she
stole a look at the other Scouts, "in the face of evil." Mina then
blushed, thinking she had said too much. "As I was saying," she
fumbled on. "They were each involved in an extra curricular activity
here at school."
The attendant handed Mina the three awards. She read the first
one. "This is for Seiya Kou, for success on the American football
team. He was truly as much as star on the field as he was on stage."
"Taiki Kou, who was a member of the Literature Club astounded
many of the others with his genius and introduced new pieces of both
fiction and non-fiction to the group."
Mina's eyes were shining. "And finally, Yaten Kou, an esteemed
member of the Homecoming Club. When he was at the meetings, things
were always a bit...happier..." Snickers could be heard from the
other members of that club, for when Yaten attended the meetings he
bossed everyone to the limits. Mina blushed again. "Thank you. And
to the Lights, wherever they are, we hope they remember us." Her eyes
looked up to the ceiling, as if expecting the Starlights in full
Sailor regalia snapping their fingers and jumping down to the rescue.
No one was there. She curtsied and gave the awards back to the
attendant before hurrying back to her seat - amid the roaring
applause.
"Mina!" Serena hissed. "Why didn't you tell us they'd be
honoring the Lights?"
Mina shrugged. "It slipped my mind, I suppose. They asked
me to do it at the last minute. Nothing major."
"I wonder," whispered Lita, "if they do remember us?"
"We know ONE of the remembers Serena," teased Mina. Serena
blushed and hushed her friend. She would miss Seiya of course, but
who she really wanted was Darien.
The principal then began to call out the names of the class for
them to go up and receive their diplomas. In alphabetical order,
Mina was the first to go up of their group, followed by soon after
by Lita and then later, Amy. Serena was the last of them, and was
nervous. What if they decide I need to stay back a year?? What if
I failed horribly?? What if they embarrass me and say, "Serena
Tuskino is not worthy of this diploma because she failed too many
times and was always late for class?? Oh, I'm GLAD Darien isn't here!
If I have to be shamed I'd rather do it without him watching me.
It's just that I -
"Serena Tuskino."
Serena squeaked and almost fell out of her seat. She felt every
single pair of eyes, the owners clapping, in the auditorium staring on
her back as she headed up the aisle. The steady applause was broken
only by a shout from Raye, ("Way to go, Meatball Head!") which Serena
tried to ignore. Once on the platform she took the diploma and shook
the hands of the teachers there and the principal. Then she turned
and faced the hushed audience for pictures, as all the graduates had
to do.
All of a sudden she felt her nervousness vanish as if someone had
reached in her and taken it away. More than that, she felt yet
another pair of eyes on her that had not been there before. She
smiled for the photographer, her own gaze searching the crowd for the
source of the strange feeling.
Then the darting blue sapphires met two dark, dark blue eyes.
There was a face...her heart leapt. It was Darien!!! She would know
him anywhere! She took a step forward as if to run to him, and then
remembered where she was. Still in a daze from the revelation, she
continued to stand, looking for Darien again, but his face had
disappeared.
"Serena!" Her friends were hissing to her but she ignored them.
Finding Darien was more important than listening to the four girls.
After a couple of moments Serena retreated back to her seat
looking from afar as if nothing had happened. But her eyes were
watery. My mind is playing with my heart, Serena cried inside.
I could have sworn I saw him! But then...he was gone! Is it wishful
thinking or did he appear, really?
The ceremony went on, and Serena, unable to keep it to herself,
told Lita. Lita was astonished. "I thought he said he couldn't come!"
"I know, he did, but I swear he was looking at me!"
"That explains the smile on your face! It was priceless!"
In a matter of seconds the story leaked to Mina and Amy and Raye
while the principal droned on. "But it's impossible!" insisted Amy.
"They locked the doors up as soon as we finished coming in! And we
would've seen him if he had been here."
Serena's heart crumbled. Amy felt guilty for being the one to
break the news, but Serena, with a sigh, said it was all right, that
she had to get over it once and for all.
The ceremony ended and Serena felt as if she was going to burst
into tears. Darien was probably living it up in America with some hot
chick, and she was alone with her memories. She felt pitiful.
People came by and shook her hand, classmates and friends of her
parents...but each was a blur. Even years later Serena could hardly
recall what happened right after they graduated. Her family ran to
see her, Sammy said something tacky and then all three left after an
assurance from Raye that Serena could catch a ride after the dance
with her and Chad. Mina's parents and Amy's mother hugged her and the
other girls before they took off. The chattering around Serena died
down as first Lita and Ken, then Amy and Greg, and finally Mina and
Toby all went to the gym where the dance was just starting up. Raye
and Chad were left with the solitary blonde.
Raye tried to tease Serena out of depression, but Serena offered
only half hearted remarks in response, a mild snap as a result of Raye
calling her Meatball Head, a sarcastic reply to the joke about her
never graduating. Then Serena waved them both off. She recalled
saying something corny along the lines of, "Go party, you animals!"
Raye shot her a look that was sympathetic, and Chad led her out.
Once the door clicked behind them Serena slumped onto the bench and
cried.
Everyone has someone, she sobbed, except me! If Luna were here
right now she would tell me to perk up and not to whine in public.
Well I'm sick of those rules of being ladylike! Who wants to follow
things that will never get you the man you want??
Her cries echoed in the building, sadly and mournfully. "I don't
care if I stay here forever! I don't, I don't, I DON'T!" For a very,
very long time that seemed like an eternity Serena simply wept her
heart out...or at least what was left of it, images of Darien and
another girl out on a date, kissing.
Then, outside the back entrance she could hear someone saying
something, sounding strangely like a certain Shinto temple priestess
and her escort...
This is the end of chapter 2, look for the next section of the story,
"Dancing and Romancing". Everyone is having fun at the dance, and
Serena's friends plan a surprise for her that answers her every
prayer! Plus, two guests show up uninvited. However, later an awful
shock greets Serena and tears her world apart. Stay tuned! e-mail
SlrUnico@aol.com for comments!!!
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