Author's Note:Well, it starts with Serena and her friends and introduces a few things. Thats about it! Part 2.....      "So he's throwing a fourth of July party? Thats great!"Mina flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder, striking a pose in the middle of the mall for them."I'll buy myself a new bikini and the guys will be all over me."she said in a husky voice, then laughed, the others joining in.      "This is so cool! Now we all have excuses to buy a new bikini!"Lita stopped them when they were walking by a beach store."Look! This is perfect!"      They all ran in and began going through the wracks."Raye, you should get a red one. You look great in red."Mina said.      "I don't think I'll be able to go guys. I need to study."Amy said, admiring a blue bikini.      "No way! Your going with us!"Serena yanked the blue bikini off the wrack, shoved it in Amy's hands, and pushed her toward the dressing rooms."Try it on, I bet it would look great on you. And Greg will for sure think the same thing!"      "Greg?"Amy blushed."Do you think so?"      "I know so! Now get in there!"she pushed her in and closed the doors behind her, turning away and smiling to herself. She spotted Raye idly fingering the red bikinis, a sad look on her face. She wen to her."Hey whats wrong?"      "Oh....nothing."she seemed to change ger mind immediately."I sorta have this thing for Darien. He and I went to lunch when we ran into each other one day and ever since then i've had feelings for him."she failed to tell Serena that he hadn't said much the whole time, that the only reason he had even smiled was because he began remembering the first day he met Serena.      Serena was quiet. She didn't really know what to say. Lately she'd been looking at Darien as more then just a cold jerk.      "You wouldn't understand though, you hate Darien."Raye took out a red bikini."This is the one! Darien will totally fall in love with me when he see's me in this!"she walked toward the dressing rooms.      Serena looked down, wandering if perhaps Darien felt the same way for Raye. He probably did. He was nice to her, but he always sneered at Serena.      She sighed heavily and walked toward where the black bikinis were.      Darien hid behind the wall, taking a quick peak around it to see Serena skipping down the sidewalk, a bag in one hand and a doughnut in the other, chomping on it happily. He had been waitng there for an hour, knowing that she took this path on her way home.      He braced himself, then walked around the corner at the same time as she did, colliding with her, causing her to drop her doughnut just before he stepped on it.      "Watch where your going meatball brains or one of these days you'll run into the wall."he lifted his shoe to stare at smashed doughnut on it."You were really chowin down, weren't you?"      She took her usual stance, fists cleched, face red with rage."Thanks to you my doughnut is all mush! Not much of a surprise that you would ruin it like you do everything else!"      "If you weren't such a clutz you'd still be inhaling it meatball head."      "Don't call me meatball head!"with that said she swept past him, her blonde hair trailing behind her, grazing him softly on his arm. That single touch sent so much longing through him he was sure he would collapse from it.      Someday Serena.....someday..... FRIDAY....      Serena was sitting at the counter in the arcade, joking around with Andrew, laughing brightly at everything he said.      "So Serena,"he teased,"do you have a speacial guy in mind to see this weekend?"      "One guy."she smiled dreamily."Just one."      Darien approached the from behind, Serena unaware that he was there. He gave Andrew a look to keep the conversation going, that he wanted to hear what she said.      Andrew cleared his throat nervously."What do you see in this guy?"      "I see what others don't."she said quietly, referring to the lonliness she saw in his eyes, the longing to have someone to love.      "What was that?"      "On, nothing!"she forced a smile, forced her voice to be cheery."He's kind, caring, very considerate, sweet, gentle, and everyone loves him."she knew he was all these things, deep down.      "Really? Wow, sounds like quite a guy, everyone loves him."Andrew watched Darien's face slowly sadden."And you....do you love him?"      "Yes..."she knew without a doubt she loved him with all her heart,"yes, I do."      "What a lucky guy."he commented, studying Darien.      "Oh, I don't know about that."she giggled."He's very easy to love, he just doesn't know it."      Andrew had to force himself to remain in place when Darien turned and left the arcade, his shoulders stiff.      Serena frowned and turned to look, thoughtful. If she didn't know better she could have sworn....no, impossible.      Darien stalked down the sidewalk, away from the arcade, away from her and her dream of a man that wasn't him, that would never be him.      It was only natural she would love a man with so many good characteristics. She deserved the best....and he had hoped he could live up to that.      He walked into his apartment and leaned against the wall, realizing with horror that she would most likely be with him at the party, laughing at what he said, giving him her precious smiles.      All his hopes at giving her his love and having her return it died, the little bit of happiness he had diminishing. It was just as well. He was destined to live alone...as he always had.      He slammed his fist into the wall, unable to stop the tears that came and slid down his cheeks, falling to the floor.      The phone rang, startling him, but he didn't move to answer it. The answering machine picked up and Raye's voice filled the quiet room, telling him to call her, wandering if maybe he'd like to go to the party with her? Then rattling off her number and again telling him to call her.      He remained standing where he was, thinking about it for exactly five seconds, then walking toward the phone.      Thats it for now. Pretty self explanatory. Hope you like it so far. E-Mail me your comments, complainst, suggestions, whichever! Later!