Hi, remember me?  Yes I have finished another part and man it took a lot of thinking 
to do it too.  Writer's block just sucks!  okay I know everyone wants to read this so
I will talk later so you can read now.  And please don't forget to post stuff at my
website http://www.angelfire.com/il2/smtmfics
ta-ta for now :)

liz-chan

~Chapter 3~ 

        “Andrew I’m telling you dinner was fantastic, she was so sweet last night
and she looked absolutely gorgeous.” Darien closed his eyes and relished the
thoughts of her from the night before.  Andrew clucked his tongue, “It looks like
you’re losing the bet old pal.  You said this would never happen, it looks like
you’re starting to care about her a little too much.  Maybe money isn’t the only
thing on your mind anymore.” 
        “That’s where you’re wrong Andrew.  My tolerance level has risen, I will
never care about meatball head like that.  As a friend maybe but never like that.”
he took another slow sip from his coffee, he was telling the truth right?  He
couldn’t possibly be falling for her could he?  “The way you were just describing
her would suggest something different Darien.  Admit it you like her!” 
        “I do not!” Darien stated indignantly, “It’s a bet Andrew, nothing more,
nothing will ever happen between me and meatball head.” The bell over the
sliding door chimed just then and a group of girls talking loudly sauntered in.
        “Andrew, Darien!” a voice called out and the girls walked quickly over to
the two guys.  Darien flashed them a smile, “Hello Raye, Amy, Lita, Mina.  How
are you all today?”  “We’re great Darien, unfortunately Serena’s not well at all.  I
guess she’s still totally sick from the dinner you treated her to last night.” Raye
told him with a slight smile, “How was your lovely little dinner experience with
meatball head?”
        “Um, it was great, just perfect.  We both had fun until she got sick when I
took her home.” Raye’s eyes were still boreing holes into him, “Well that’s just
great Darien, I hope you two are very happy together.  You two make such a cute
couple, I bet you guys get married some day!” kissy noises came from behind him
and he felt his face heat up at the sudden embarrassment, “Listen, we were just
friends, that happened to go out to dinner and have a good time.  How is she
today, do any of you know?”
        Mina nodded, “Yep, she’s feeling much better today, you should go and
visit her, that’s what friends do when they’re sick.  She mentioned you today
anyway, she wanted us to tell you that she really had fun last night and that she
hopes that you might ask her out again some other time.”  He nodded, “I had fun
too, she’s really not that bad once you get to know her.”
        “We already knew that Darien, we were her friends from the beginning. 
Why are you suddenly taking the time to get to know her?  What are you hiding?”
Lita took a few steps forward and glared at him menacingly.  He gulped, “Geez
can’t a guy just try to work things out with someone who he wants to try and have
a friendship with?”  
        “No!” the girls shouted.  “I swear Darien on eveything I hold dear that if I
find out that this is some sort of sick joke, your ass is grass my friend and nothing
is going to stop me from hurting you.  You had better evaluate your feeling long
and hard before you start to lead her on.” Lita pounded her fist on the counter and
Darien jumped about five feet up in the air.
        “This gives you something to think about Darien.  We’ll be watching
you.” with that lovely little comment from Amy of all people, they smiled politely
at Andrew and left the arcade as quickly as they had entered it.
        “Oh wow, they have it out for you man, and they want blood.” Andrew
wiped down the counter as Darien proceeded to slam his head into it.  “They are
going to find out this is a bet Andrew and then Serena will absolutely hate me and
Lita and her pals are going to kick the crap out of me!” Andrew laughed, “You
can take them, they’re just a bunch of girls.”
        “I don’t like to hit girls, it’s not right.  And I don’t want Serena to hate me,
maybe I do have feelings for her, this is way too confusing for me.” “Darien go
and visit her, I’m sure she would love your company.  It might be fun, you never
know.  Besides it’s your fault Mr. Escargot that she got sick last night in the first
place.  Eatting that stuff would make anyone sick!”  Darien slid off his stool,
“Thanks Andrew for your support, I’ll think I will go visit her, I’ll come back
later and tell you how it went.”

        @~~~~>>~~~~~

        “Mom!  Stop fussing around me, I feel great today.  Maybe it was just a
touch of the flu or something like that.” Ilene stepped back from fluffing her
daughter’s pillow and looked at her carefully, “If you’re sure you’re feeling all
right Serena, but I don’t want you leaving your room for the rest of today.  If you
still feel okay tomorrow then you can go back to being your normal obnoxious
little self.”
        “Thanks mom can you bring me up something to eat, I’m famished up
here.” Ilene smiled and nodded and left the room quickly.  Serena closed her eyes
and tried to get so rest until her mom came back up with whatever she was
making for her.  
        “Serena!  Wake up stupid, there’s someone here for you!” Sammy’s voice
entered the room loud and clear and her eyes shot open, “You little fungus, get
out of here!” she hissed loudly, “And I wasn’t sleeping either!”  “Sorry your royal
highness, but there’s someone out here waiting to see you.”  Serena smiled,
“You’re forgiven stable boy, who is it?”
        “Knock, knock, can I come in?” a head poked itself into the room and
Serena felt her heart skip a beat, “Darien!  I was never expecting you to ever
come near me again after what happened last night.”
        “Now how can anyone stay away from you for long Serena, I wanted to
see how you felt.  Plus I have something I wanted to ask you about.”  Sammy
cringed, “Don’t tell me you’re going to waste time on this loser again, geez you
must be like twice her age to begin with!”
        “Sammy!  Get out of here right now before I clobber you!” Serena shouted
and Sammy laughed, “What a loser!  The both of you, you deserve each other!”he
ran from the room as Serena turned bright red from anger, “Oh I hate that little
brat, someday he’ll get what’s coming to him.” she saw Darien still standing in
the door way staring at her, “Oh Darien you can come in.” he nodded and walked
over to her bed.
        “So are you feeling better today?  I feel sort of guilty about last night, I
didn’t know you were allergic to stuff like that.” he felt so self- conscious sitting
here in her bedroom of all places to be.  “Oh much better today, I think I got it out
of my system last night.  I’m glad you stopped by, I was afraid I scared you off.  I
just didn’t want to...” she trailed off, he knew what she meant.  He patted her
hand softly, “Don’t worry about it Serena, I’m a bit ashamed of my behavior last
night as well.”
        “You were the perfect gentleman, what could you have to be ashamed
of?” her blue eyes stared at him innocently, and he felt his heart sink even lower,
oh this was just wrong, very very wrong.  Even for three weeks worth of money
this is not right, how could he sit here and lie to her, make her think that he liked
her company.  Well he did but that was beside the point, he was leading her on
and he felt so guilty because of it.  Worse yet, he was starting to like her, his
feelings were jumbled up like a unassembled jigsaw puzzle.  This girl was so
special, someone he could find himself falling in love with if he got the chance to
know her, really know her. 
        “I almost- nevermind Serena it’s just not important.  I better go, I’ll see
you tomorrow if you’re feeling better.  Good-bye.” he stood and walked quickly
out of the room and she listened as the front door slammed behind him.  She
turned to her window and saw him running down the street toward the arcade. 
Tears formed in her eyes and she blinked them back, trying to keep the last bit of
her sanity.  She stood and felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, but she balanced
herself and got dressed quickly, she had to go see what was wrong with him.

        @)~~~~>>~~~~~

        “Darien Chiba, you have a lot of explaining to do, what the hell just
happened back in my bedroom?” Serena bound into the arcade and walked right
over to him, she wanted answers.  “Serena!” his eyes widened, “Aren’t you
supposed to be in bed?  You’re sick after all.”
        “Cut the crap Darien, what is up with you?  You sit there for less then five
minutes and then you stand up and tell me you had better go!  What are you trying
to pull here, I’m not just some doll to be bothered with when Darien needs some
attention.  I’m real and I don’t like what’s been going on between us the last few
days.” her blue eyes sparkled with anger and she shoved a finger into his chest
and pushed him backwards on his stool.
        “Serena I just felt uncomfortable in your bedroom that’s all.  Plus you
looked exhausted you should go home and get some sleep.  Come on I’ll walk you
home.” he took her arm and led her away from the counter and the crowds that
had gathered to listen to the battle taking place.  She jerked away from him, “I’m
not going anywhere!  Last night was great and now you’re acting as if it never
happened at all!” He stopped at looked at her closely, if he were to let himself go
he could be kissing her right now and this time she probably wouldn’t be
throwing up.
        “You’re right, it’s not fair of me to do that to you.  I’m just a jerk
sometimes, it’s part of my human nature.” Serena narrowed her eyes at him,
something was there that Darien wasn’t bothering to tell her, something he wasn’t
being completely honest about.
        “Why does it always come to this?  Why do we always end up fighting?”
she asked him softly, she looked down at her feet, the room was spinning around
her, she couldn’t focus.  She still felt ill.  “I don’t know Serena, I don’t want to
fight with you, last night was perfect.  Well except for you getting sick, but dinner
itself was wonderful, I got to see a completely different side of you, a side that I
felt myself wanting to get to know better.”
        “Oh Darien,” she looked up at his handsome face, her stomach churned
rapidly but she fought back the urge to just pass out right there, she had to tell him
what she was feeling right now.  Her eye sight fell in and out of focus and Darien
seemed to blur in front of her.  The room seemed to start to spin faster now and
Serena put a hand to her head.  Darien reached out for her arm to try and steady
her as she teetered dangerously close to toppling over.
        “Serena?  Are you all right?” his voice was filled with worry that he didn’t
bother to mask, she looked seriously ill all of a sudden.  He grabbed her other arm
and grasped her up her thin upper arms, “Serena? Answer me!” he shook her
gently and her eyes came to focus on the man in front of her.  He was holding her
tightly and she felt the pain ripple though her body when he started to squeeze her
arms harder subconsciously.  
        “OWW!  That hurts Darien!” he grip lessed immediately and she seemed
to stager backwards when her support disappeared.  The spinning had stopped but
the dizzy feeling still remained.  She put a shaky hand on the counter and sat
down on a stool, “Are you all right, you looked like you were going to pass out?” 
she nodded slowly, “I’m fine, it was just a dizzy spell or something, nothing to be
alarmed about.”  Darien still looked at her concerned, “Are you sure Serena?”
        “Yes Darien, geez you’re acting like my mother or my boy-” a crimson
blush spread over her pale cheeks, “Nevermind, it’s not important.”  He cleared
his throat, “Like your boyfriend, Serena?”  The blush impossibly got deeper, and
she looked away towards Andrew, who was staring at her also waiting for an
answer.  She felt that room get smaller and close in around her.  “Serena...”
Darien deep voice trailed off as she slowly turned her gaze back to his.  His
midnight blue eyes flashed with anticipation and what almost seemed longing for
the simple answer that Serena wanted so desparatly to say.
        “Darien, I- I can’t do this!” she shot to her feet and raced out the door,
fighting off that still sickening dizzy feeling in her head and stomach.  Darien
stood up to race after her but Andrew placed a hand on his shoulder restraining
him.  “Let her go, I bet this is confusing enough for the poor girl.  What did you
want her to say Darien?” he slammed her hands onto the counter top, “I don’t
know Andrew, I don’t know what I want anymore.  This bet thing has messed up
my life, this wasn’t supposed to happen!”  Andrew just shook his head, “You
wanted her to confess her undying love for you Darien, didn’t you?”
        Darien’s eyes turned stormy but then cleared, “Maybe I did Andrew, she’s
like no one I have ever met before.  She holds so much love for this world and
everyone in it, it’s amazing, and she might even love me to top it all off.” he
smiled, mostly to himself.  “It looks like you lost the bet pal.” Andrew’s voice cut
though his thoughts, “But somehow I don’t think that really concerns you
anymore.”

write me with your comments and anything else you feel like throwing my way :)
Ja ne!  next part coming soon, I promise!