The Center of my World - Part Three
Usagi-chan
minako_usagi@hotmail.com
http://hop.to/minako_usagi
I don't own Sailormoon or anything pertaining to
E-mail me!
Serena gazed out on the ocean, letting the salty breeze blow around
her. Her hair whipped about as though it had a life of its own. Moving
slowly, Serena slid into the soft seat in front of her and smiled lazily.
"Hey girl! The boys are gonna stop the boat soon so we can swim!"
Mina exclaimed happily.
"Okay." Serena rest her chin on her arms and stared down into the
water. Slowly her eyes drifted shut and she was lulled into a peaceful
state by the rolling of the water.
Before Serena realized, the sail boat had come to a halt, and
Andrew and Darien were standing on the deck, watching the two woman.
"Can we go in now?" Mina asked Andrew.
"Sure thing love." Andrew smiled at her and Mina leapt to her
feet. She whipped off her clothes and revealed a golden yellow bikini.
With practiced moves, Mina leapt into the sea and began splashing around.
Pretty soon, Andrew was in the water as well, goofing off with Mina.
"Are you going in?" A deep voice asked near Serena's ear.
"Hmm?" She asked, turning her head to the sound of the voice.
Slowly her eyes fluttered open, and Serena found herself gazing into
midnight blue eyes.
"Are you going in the water?" He asked again, not moving away
from her. Serena shrugged carelessly.
"Maybe in a bit." She replied, tearing her gaze from his.
"Alright." Darien stood up and pulled off his shirt, revealing
a tan, very muscular torso. Serena watched him as he went to the edge
of the boat and dove into the water, creating minimal splash.
'Amazing…' Serena thought, unable to take her eyes from Darien's
tan back. 'So unlike David…'
Serena and David had gone swimming together once at a mutual
friend's house. Although he was good looking, David was nothing like
Darien. Serena mentally scolded herself for comparing the two. Of course
Darien would be more muscular, he had more time to work out than David
did, and it was an unfair comparison.
Stretching, Serena stood up and unbuttoned the white shirt she
had been wearing. She slipped it off her shoulders and stood in a sky
blue bikini. Walking forward, Serena sat on the edge of the boat with her
feet dangling over the ocean. Although she would never have admit it,
she was rather scared to just jump in.
"Serena!" Mina called up. The laughing blond was having a wonderful
time with her husband, and Serena felt somewhat jealous of the pair. The way
they let their love for each other shine was so wonderful, and she never had
that, not even with David.
"Stop thinking about David, Serena…" She muttered to herself as
she smiled to Mina.
"Come in Serena! It's so nice!"
"Alright Mina!" Serena shoved all thoughts of David from her mind
and slipped off the boat, plunging into the deep sea water. Somehow, she hit
the water with more force than she had expected, and pain shot through her
body, causing all her muscles to freeze. Serena began to sink, with no way
to move up, or let the others know she was in trouble. Serena began to panic
as the light faded and everything began to go dark. Blackness swarmed her
vision and Serena felt all her senses go numb. Her last coherent thought
was that of something clamping around her and a sense of utmost security.
***
Slowly Serena began to feel a tingling sensation flooding her
body. She moaned softly as it grew worse. The sound of people talking
softly could be heard from somewhere, but Serena didn't recognize the
voices.
"She's waking…" A gentle voice said. She felt someone grip her
and gently pull her into a sitting position.
Serena forced her eyes open, despite the pain, and found herself
gazing into an anxious and concerned pair of midnight eyes.
"You had me frightened to death." The simple statement held so
much emotion that it startled Serena.
'Would David be so concerned, if I had a near death experience?'
She found herself wondering.
"I'm sorry…" She whispered.
"Serena…" He whispered her name before pulling her close
against him, and again Serena's senses were overpowered with a
sense of security, and for the third time that day Serena found
herself comparing David to Darien.
'Serena stop it!' She scolded herself while Darien held
her tightly.
'Darien is nothing like David! He's not kind, or sweet
or…' She stopped the thought, because her very existence now proved
that wrong. Darien had just saved her life, and was holding her tightly
and talking as though he had nearly lost the love of his life, his
reason to live.
"Darien… I'm fine…" She whispered against his neck.
"Are you sure?" He asked, still holding her tightly, but
gently and as though she might break.
"Yes Darien." She nodded her affirmation. Slowly, almost
reluctantly, Darien released her and set her back on small bed she
had been resting on. Glancing around, she found herself in the
interior of the sailboat.
"How long was I out of it?" She asked from her position on the bed.
"A few hours. Andrew and Mina are sailing the boat back. I didn't
want to leave alone down here, in case... In case anything happened." He
glanced away as he spoke, trying not to betray the fear he had felt, but
Serena knew. He had been afraid for her life.
Involuntarily, Serena's thoughts were dragged back to the time she
had been hit by a car, when walking back to the church. It hadn't been a
bad accident, but it had left her shaken. She remembered the way David had
acted, telling her it wasn't a big deal, and that no one had been hurt.
But she had been hurt, and her fiancé didn't care.
'That's not fair, Serena. He did care, he just had more important
things to worry about.' She told herself.
'More important than you?' The stubborn little voice in the back
of her mind asked.
"I'm really okay, Darien. Thank you..." She smiled at him,
before trying to smother a yawn.
"Sleep, Serena. You need to rest." Darien told her.
"Okay." Serena let her eyes flutter shut. She slowly fell
asleep, her last thoughts of Darien.
When she woke again, everything around her was dark, and she was
lying on something far softer than the bed in the boat had been. Looking
around the room, she saw nothing familiar and whimpered softly. The door
to the room opened slowly, and light poured in.
"Serena?" A soft, gentle voice asked. "Are you awake?"
Serena recognized the voice as Darien's, and relief washed
over her.
"Yes..." She whispered. Darien opened the door wider and
stepped in. He reached over and turned on the light, setting the
light low so it didn't hurt Serena's eyes. He continued into the
room and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Where am I?" She asked, sitting up.
"My apartment." He replied.
"Oh." Serena paused. "What time is it?"
"7:30." Darien told her. Serena threw the sheets that
had been draped across her off and leapt off the bed.
"Oh no! I'm going to be late for class!" She cried.
"Class?" Darien asked, puzzled.
"I'm in college, studying to be a teacher and I have a class
at eight..." She replied. "And I can't go like this!" Serena gestured
to the bathing suit and white shirt she was wearing from earlier in
the day.
"Ahh.." Darien nodded. "I'll see what I can do." Darien stood
up and left the room. Serena sat on the bed again and mumbled to herself.
A few minutes later, Darien returned and handed Serena a short,
dark blue skirt and a white shirt.
"The skirt is my sister's, and the shirt's mine. It's all I had.
If you hurry and dress, I'll drive you to your class." Darien told her,
before stepping out of the room again. Serena needed no further prompting.
She threw on the clothes, leaving her own still slightly damp white shirt
on the bed. She threw open the bedroom door and stepped out.
"Do I look alright?" She asked, standing in front of Darien.
"My hair's a mess, I know."
"You look fine..." Darien smiled before side stepping her
and going into his bedroom again. He came back with a brush in hand.
Without a word, he began to brush out Serena's long hair, gently teasing
the knots out.
"Thanks..." She whispered as he continued to brush it.
"No problem..." Darien replied just as softly. "You have
lovely hair."
"Thank you..." Serena blushed.
"Come on... We'd better get going..." Darien tossed the brush
onto his bed from the door and led Serena out of the apartment.
When they reached the building where Serena had her class, Darien
got out and opened her door for her. He helped her out of the car,
and gently grasped her hand in his. Serena blushed furiously, and
was grateful for the dark sky.
"I'll walk you to your class." He told her, his voice low and
husky. Being so close to her was doing things to his senses.
"I can manage..." Serena looked up at him, and was trapped.
She found herself drowning for the second time that day, but this
time was far more pleasurable. She wouldn't mind losing herself in
Darien's eyes forever.
"Serena! Hurry up or you'll be late!" A voice called. Serena
tore her eyes from Darien's to see Molly waving to her and telling her
to hurry.
"I'd better go..." Serena started to walk away from Darien,
but he didn't release her hand.
"Tell her you'll meet her in class." Darien told her.
"Darien, I have to get to class..." Serena began, but Darien
interrupted her by pulling her close.
"You'll meet her in class." Darien whispered before his
mouth clamped down possessively on hers.
Serena was helpless in his arms throughout his assault. It
had come so unexpectedly, that she melted against him and gave in
without a second thought.
Author's Notes: Special thanks to Minako-chan for her eternal
encouragement and to Christine and Elysia for caring enough
to e-mail me (minako_usagi@hotmail.com) to ask when the next part
would be out!
(
geocities.com/tokyo/villa/1931) (
geocities.com/tokyo/villa) (
geocities.com/tokyo)