"Playing Matchmaker" By Lady Starra Prologue: The Mission is Clear E-mail: LadyStarra@yahoo.com Hey, minna-chan, here is the prologue of my first fanfic! It starts in the episode where Serena wants to model and Darien teases her about it. If it seems kind of like a repeat of the episode, I'm sorry, but I thought it would be a perfect place to start the story. It's not that long, but I usually like to keep my introductions short, sweet and to the point, so I can get to the real part of the story. This story will keep switching viewpoints, so don't get lost! Enjoy! Standard disclaimers apply. ~ ANDREW ~ "Cheer up, Serena! What does your brother know, anyway? Forget him. If you want to go into modeling, you've gotta just go for it!" "Do you really think so, Andrew? Do you think I've got what it takes?" Serena asked me. I was about to respond when Darien jumped in. "Absolutely. I can see you tumbling right off the stage. Braying like a donkey! It's Serena the Hyena!" "Just stay out of this, okay, Darien? Who asked you?" Serena fumed. Well, here we go again. Can't those two even attempt to be nice to each other? First come the insults, then come the flying objects. This routine of theirs is getting old, and it's also getting on my nerves. I'm more irritated with Darien, though. For a guy in college, he can be so immature sometimes. If you think about it, he's really the one who started this endless war, so I don't really blame Serena for reacting the way she does. Still, I just wish they'd knock it off. "I'm just trying to help you, Serena," Darien continued. "Modeling's tough work. You have to get up early and do exactly what you're told. You've got to be on time, and you really have to watch what you eat. You can't eat any junk!" "Creep! How would you know?" "Well, actually, when I first got out of high school, I did some modeling to help pay my tuition," Darien told her. "YOU did modeling? No way!" Serena replied, shocked. "Sure did. It's not all glamour, believe me." "Yeah? Well, don't you worry about me, buddy!" "I'm not. I KNOW you're going to fail. You're never on time, you're always cramming junk food into your mouth, and you can't walk one block without falling down and taking at least three other people with you," Darien sneered. Gosh Darien, was that REALLY necessary? "Thank you so very, very much, Darien! But I'm going to do just fine! You watch!" Serena replied, her voice trembling. With that, she stormed out of the arcade with Luna trailing behind her. For a moment, I wondered about how unusually smart Serena's cat was, always staying close to her and how she responded to everything Serena said. Oh, Serena looked completely livid, and rightfully so. That comment was way harsh, even for Darien. I felt like I had to stand up for her. "Darien, sometimes you can be a real jerk. How come you're always so rough on that poor girl?" I scolded. "I really don't mean to be. It's just this strange feeling that comes over me when I'm around her," Darien said. "Strange feeling?" I asked. "A feeling that I just can't quite explain. Hmmm! Now, this was interesting. Could it be that the high-and-mighty Darien Chiba is attracted to the so-called Meatball Head? Something told me that this was more than just a "strange feeling." I knew there were a lot of guys out there that would happily date Serena, if for her looks alone. She WAS an attractive girl. I don't know why, but all of a sudden I thought that maybe Serena would be just what Darien needed is his life. She was kind, funny, loved by everyone, and from what I've seen, always there for her friends when they were down. Sure, she wasn't the most graceful or academic person in the world, but all her other qualities seemed to outweigh those things. I think maybe Darien saw all those things in her too, but I knew something was holding him back. "Seriously, Dar, maybe you should apologize the next time you see her," I suggested. "WHAT? Apologize? To Meatball Head? You HAVE to be kidding!" he exclaimed. I don't believe this guy! "Why are you being so immature about all this?" "Even if I did, she wouldn't accept my apology." "How do you know that?" "Because she hates me, or haven't you noticed that yet?" "Well gee, Darien, I wonder why!" "If I apologize, she'll just walk all over me. Besides, what do I care what she thinks of me, anyway?" Darien said. "Darien, Serena does not hate anyone. Will you just cut the crap already?" I said, getting frustrated. "Andrew, Serena DOES hate me. NOTHING I do or say is gonna change that," Darien said. "Oh! I give up!" But, I really wasn't ready to give up just yet. 'Maybe nothing YOU do can change it, Darien,' I thought, 'But maybe Andrew Furuhata can!' ~ DARIEN ~ I could tell Andrew was upset with me. All right, maybe I went overboard with the insults this time. I just can't help it. I don't know how to explain it, but Serena effects me in the weirdest way. I guess she's an okay girl. She's one of the biggest klutzes I've ever met, and she never seems to take anything important seriously. But everyone loves her, and from what I can tell, she loves life and loves people except maybe for me. I feel a slight pain in my chest. 'Everyone but me ' I harden my heart at the thought. So what? I don't care if she likes me or not. Besides, I have a mission to think about. I have a princess to find and can't contemplate my feelings for a mere fifteen- year-old, even though she IS kind of cute in a childlike sort of way. Again, I sit down at the Sailor V game to try and get rid of my frustrations. I thought about what Andrew said. Should I apologize to her? Don't, one part of me says. You'll just show her you're soft. If she starts thinking that, it can't be too good for you. Another part of me wants to apologize, because it's the right thing to do. But, I decide against it. She would never take me seriously, anyway. My mind tells me that I hate her. Yet, my heart isn't buying it. Eh, gads! Serena, Sailor Moon, the Princess why are there so many women in my life who do nothing but puzzle me? ~ SERENA ~ Storming out of the arcade, I can practically feel the steam coming out of my ears. I hate him, I hate him, I hate him! Okay, so maybe I'm not the most graceful or punctual person on earth, but he didn't have to rip me apart like that in front of Andrew. I'll admit I'm not always very polite to him, either, but he's the one who started this whole thing the first time he called me Meatball Head. But if he weren't calling me that, then he'd find some other insult to throw at me. I guess Darien does have his good points. He's smart. He drives a nice car. And I guess he's kind of cute well, okay, he's REALLY cute. But what good is all that stuff if he's got a rotten personality along with it? He's so arrogant and obnoxious and rude! Not to mention immature! Doesn't he have better things to do than pick on the high school students? If there's one thing I can't stand, it's rude, snobby bullies. Andrew always insists he's not that bad, but if so, I'd sure like to see it for myself!