Property of Kimra Lelanst, do not duplicate without consent.
There was nothing to stop the tears from flooding down her face. No possible forgiveness for her own actions, although she had no idea what they where. All she knew was that he would hate her more now, that things would crumble, fall apart from what ever balance they had been hanging in. She couldn’t understand why it hurt so much that even there petty fights would probably come screeching to a halt, or shift into something different, something less forgiving.
She had seen his surprise, maybe disgust, she couldn’t say for certain. But there had been one emotion deep in his sea swept eyes that she knew without a doubt, regret. And she couldn’t help but shudder at the memory of that expression.
Another sob escaped her trembling mouth, and her awareness shifted to the room around her. She was temporarily afraid her mother could hear her, would barge in and know. It was a stupid fear, but she couldn’t overwhelm it. The soft weight of fur against her arm’s and the tickle of a cold nose reminded her of company.
Serena looked down at her guardian and immediately thought off all the reactions Luna would have when she found out. She could see the disappointment and shame Luna would direct to her. But she wondered if anyone, even her constant companion could equal the sickening shame she felt burying itself in the pit of her stomach.
“It’s okay. There’s nothing wrong with drinking spiked drinks. It happens. I’m sorry for shouting at you this morning. I should have trusted you to get home on your own. I was just worried.”
Tears slowed enough to hear the cat who had pressed her head in against her arm in an affectionately sweet manner.
“You had left the moon wand at home, and I went to give it to you, in case there was a battle. But you weren’t there, you weren’t at Molly’s, and…” Luna wavered and Serena looked down into her cat’s worried eyes. “And I didn’t know where you where.” Luna continued solemnly staring into her charges eyes and Serena saw the question her cat was refraining from asking.
Again she cracked, the small shield she had managed to build to listen to the cat shattered into a thousand pieces and she was crying into her hands again. She tried to not cry, but the more she fought it the louder the sobs became. She knew Luna was watching her, trying desperately to help her, to calm her down, and as the sound of Luna’s distressed voice penetrated her foggy hearing Serena fought for control.
She thought she had it, control. She even had the words in her head, how to tell Luna, for surely Luna needed to- deserved to know. “I slept with Darien.” She chocked it out, her voice breaking on his name and the tears rushed out again breaking down the small barrier of control she had erected. She felt like crying even when she realised how stupidly she had said it. She was sure, though she couldn’t think how, she could have made herself sound less like a whore.
“What?” Luna screamed, her eyes bulging out. It wasn’t the exact look Serena had been expecting, but then she hadn’t been planing to shock the creature, just tell it. “What did you say?” Luna beg-demanded suddenly in a sharp but quite voice.
Serena chocked a bit, trying to fight the tears as the cat stared at her still. “I slept with Darien.” She repeated drawing in a sharp breath of air to compliment the sobbing lack of it.
“I head that!” Luna shouted, agitation most evident in her voice. “B-but-“ Serena felt the cat shifting her weight on the bed. “I mean- What did- When- Ho- how?” The cat managed to stutter out.
Serena didn’t look at Luna at that moment, to ashamed to be able to make eye contact.
“I don’t remember.” She whispered, the first sentence she had managed to complete without her voice cracking since the conversation began.
“What?” Luna hissed, and Serena unconsciously shifted away from her.
“I-“ Serena’s voice left her once more, leaving her to sob a few times before she could continue. “I can remember him handing me a drink.”
“Darien?” Luna hissed with such venom Serena was shocked and her response, however unreasonable it seemed to both of them was immediate.
“No! He- he wasn’t even there! At the party. It was Molly’s birthday. I meant that boy, I don’t even remember who it was, someone from school I swear! Not Darien!” She was pleading, pleading his case and she didn’t even know why, parts of her told her to let it go but unnameable parts leapt to his defence.
“Then how did you end up sleeping with him?” Luna demanded, her tail flicking like a whip, and Serena realised it wasn’t because of her, it was what she was saying that was sending Luna into a rage.
“I don’t know!” Serena cried angry, angry with herself and the situation. She was the Campion of Justice, she was meant to be responsible, not getting blind drunk and waking up in stranger’s beds. “I swear. I just drank that stupid drink, and the next thing I know the communicators beeping and I was just so tired Luna! I just wanted to sleep, and I turned it off! I should have listened to you! Maybe it wouldn’t have been too late, maybe that was before we…” She froze a little her voice catching, she couldn’t say it. ‘Made love’ sounded so wrong for the situation, but anything else made her sound like more of a tramp then she felt like she was. “Before we, did anything.” She managed to chock out, trying to ignore the consoling look Luna was giving her. “And then I woke up this morning and I found out! And I can’t remember a thing! Not a thing.” She paused, then whispered. “I’m not sure if I want to remember.”
There was another pause. A pause that drew every string in the room to a tight line, a pause that made Serena’s nerves pulsate with tension. And all that she could feel beyond the tension was the hot furnace of anger that radiated from the small black cat beside her.
“That fiend!” Luna screeched with pure anger, shattering the tension. And before Serena could do anything, before any response could be made the cat was jumping out of the window.
“No!” Serena shouted as she lunged after the cat, but all she could see was the black streak as it speed through the bushes. Her eye travelled the path of the cats exit carefully hoping, but she knew with an instinct akin to knowledge where the cat was heading.
“Serena! What’s all the shouting about?” There was a pounding sound and Serena jerked herself back to stare at the closed door.
“What?” Serena asked the door, unbelieving, thoughts where racing through her head again and her mothers presence seemed too out of place.
“I heard shouting. And you weren’t responding. Are you okay in there?” Her mother was beginning to sound a little worried and a little annoyed. Serena glanced down at herself. Still limping on one shoe, still dressed in the soiled and crumpled clothes she had come home in.
“I’m fine mum, I just had the radio on a bit loud.” Funny how once you start lying they come so easily to you. Like a floodgate opened and the rest is as natural as gravity, or is it hydraulics?
“It didn’t sound like music, honey are you sure you’re okay? I brought some Chicken Broth up for you.” It was the pleading voice trying to beg her access through the locked door.
“No thanks mum, I’m still not feeling very well, I don’t think I could keep it down.” Her hands were fumbling with her shoe, trying to wrench it off. She needed to change, before her mother managed to ween her way into the room. The shoe flung across the room with a crack.
“What was that dear?” Her mother called, still directly through the door.
“It was just umm…” She glanced for a second, and faltered. Funny how when you get used to the lies coming so easily they sometimes fail you completely. “What was what?” Ohhh, way to go Serena. She crinkled her face up in anticipation of the demand but nothing came. There was a soft sigh on the other side of the door but no explosion.
“I’ll be down stairs if you want anything sweety, just call out.” And the miracle of retreating footsteps had never sounded so appealing to her.
Problem one. Downstairs. Serena cheered for herself. Problem two- Her eye jumped back to the windowsill but there was still no cat. Her eyes closed for just a second as she contemplated the options. Shit.
She realised there was no time to change. The cat was heading for the arcade, the stupid level headed cat had just blown her top. And without contemplating the reason Serena knew she had to stop Luna. Of course there where several reasons to stop a talking cat when it was on a rampage but not one of them filtered to Serena at that moment, all she knew was it had to be stopped.
She yanked her draw open, scanning quickly for the beloved object and found the small pen. She lifted it above herself and clenched her eyes shut.
“Luna Pen Make Up. Make me look clean.” And the magic swirled around her, engulfing her with the burning feeling of power and faded. She wondered when she glanced at herself if the pen knew more what she wanted then she did. She was in a pair of black jeans, with a dark pink long sleaved shirt over the top. She felt comfortable, and thankfully unexposed. But most importantly her face wasn’t blotchy from crying and the vomit was no longer visible in her hair and on her clothes.
She didn’t bother with a token pose before she slipped out of her window. Praying her mother didn’t check on her while she was gone. And praying she could stop the cat before it did anything rash.
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
Serena had an advantage over the cat as she made a mad dash to the arcade. She didn’t have to worry about random cars not been able to see her over the bonnets, so she could take the roads with much less caution, though caution was still used. She didn’t have to worry about house pets that where bigger and meaner then her, though she doubted with Luna in a rage anything would be stupid enough to cross her.
It were those little advantages that had her plunging through the arcade doors in a very short time. Her eyes grazed the café quickly, searching for signs of the feline but unable to see it. Maybe I beat her.
“Hey Serena!” Lita’s voice shouted across the arcade.
Shit. She hadn’t had time to consider any of the draw backs to storming into the arcade. She hadn’t even noticed it was after school hours. She glanced once more to try and find Luna, failed, and turned her eyes up to Lita. Little voices in her head chimed the need for an immediate retreat. She still wasn’t composed, she couldn’t face her friends, not yet, a real shower would have helped, but the stupid cat, she had dashed off on her own vendettas.
“Why weren’t you at school today?” Lita demanded from her booth across the room, allowing everyone in the arcade to hear. Serena scanned under the benches, she was sure she wouldn’t have gotten there before Luna, so where was she?
“You don’t look ill.” Amy casually observed. Serena looked up again, and took proper note of the group assembled in the booth. Amy was sitting in the far corner, though she was looking over her lowered textbook at Serena with a quizzical expression. Lita was lazing back into her chair, eyes hungry for a story that obviously had to be told, after all Serena never missed school, well not often anyway. Raye was-
Serena’s breath caught her eyes skimming the body next to Raye’s, dreading the moment of truth but unable to stop the progression they made across his body to his eyes. No she hadn’t had time to think about the consequences of going to the arcade at all. Raye was standing by the booth, hanging off Darien’s arm, barely paying attention to Serena as she batted her eyes pointlessly. It was pointless only because Darien’s eyes were fixed on Serena.
“Oh, well.” Serena began, feeling nervous and decidedly wrong under his intense gaze. She couldn’t read it, though beyond the first glance she refused to meet his eyes again, his expression was as closed as it always was. “I, was a bit sick this morn-“ Her head whipped around at the sudden eruption of hissing noises and fixed on the cat that was darting out from beneath one of the tables. “Luna!” Serena screeched sighting the cats assault. Her beautiful, dignified jet black cat was lunging, claws unsheathed straight for Darien.
But what do I care? She demanded of herself and all attempts to stop the cat faded in her bitterness. She would intervene only if the cat was about to shout something in her rage, after all maybe he deserved to be savaged by her fuming guardian. She certainly felt resentment towards him at that moment. He looked too calm, too collected, even as the cat lunged at him.
She watched in slow motion as Luna was jerked out of the air before Darien. For a second she was confused, then her eyes flicked to where the hissing cat was being held at arm’s length from Raye.
“What do you think you’re doing Kitty Cat?” Raye demanded in her imperious voice. “Attacking my boyfriend?” The second line came out as a hiss, but everything in the arcade had stopped to witness the rabid cats attack so it travelled with crystal clarity through the complex to Serena.
Without a thought her eyes jumped to his, locking immediately. Worry, fear, betrayal, emotions she knew she couldn’t hide from her expressions fluctuated with alarming speed. She had betrayed Raye and it felt like the worst of her mornings crimes. She had betrayed her best friend. Raye had been mooning over Darien for ages, she’d managed to get a date with him, probably more, Serena had always been loath to ask and had always blocked it out of her hearing when the priestess bragged.
Now she was staring into his eyes, his cold eyes that betrayed no emotions if he where feeling any and she was desperately searching for a reason to look away. It came oddly enough with the silence that had settled through the arcade. Serena wretched her eyes from his and looked about. The abrupt silence seemed wrong until her eyes once more came across her feline guardian who had stopped mid hiss, her eyes that little bit more dangerous but her body uncertain.
“Oh gods!” Serena shouted and ran across the room, yanking Luna out of Raye’s hold. All she knew was she had to keep Luna from the others until she’d gotten her sworn to secrecy. “Shit!” Serena shouted, not meaning for the word to come out but unable to take it back as it bounced through the arcade. Everyone who had ever met her stared with open shock. “What do you think your doing!” She hissed at the cat, abruptly aware of his closeness, she had breached the distance between them unthinkingly.
She had never been so acutely aware of anything in her life. The soft fragrance of roses drifting from him, the searing gaze settled on her averted face, the simple warmth his body radiated. She hated her betraying mind for noticing him. Why can’t I just ignore him? She demanded as she started to back away from him.
“I, I had to find her. I’ve been chasing her all afternoon.” Her voice was getting weaker, the tears hiding behind magically induced brightness where threatening to fall, and not even the Luna Pen would hold them back.
He stepped forwards and she immediately recoiled. One foot slipped on the smooth floor in her rush and she released the cat to grab at the booths chair trying desperately not to hit the ground. A small terrified screech escaped her lips but she had herself under control in less then a second. She looked about at the crowd who were still paying attention to the scene.
With an ‘ep’ she realised he had taken another step closer. She wanted to recoil but her back was pressed against the side of the booth. It left her with two choices, even as her wonderful cat bravely sat in the gap between them. She could make a break for the door, but something told her she wouldn’t get there, and from the way he had advanced she would have to pass him to get out, or she could sit down at the booth, leaving her open for further entrapment. However anything was better then being near him at that exact moment. So she slid into the spot opposite Amy. Luna quickly pounced onto the table next to Serena glaring bay fully at Darien, daring him to test her predatory skills.
“So,” Lita began from her seat beside Amy “you took the day of school and chased Luna about?” Lita’s eyebrow cocked in suspicion. “Was Molly’s party that good huh?” The question drained the colour from Serena’s face.
Damn, whatever the Luna pens doing it’s not doing it well enough. Unconsciously her eyes flicked up to Darien and back to the table, trying to determine what his expression had been, but it didn’t help, she couldn’t even guess.
“Molly’s party?” Raye asked brashly as she pulled into the bench next to Lita.
Serena felt the cords of inevitable drawing to snapping point, trying to keep her head from smacking into the table. Three girls on one side, one on the other, and a man still standing by the booth apparently paying attention to the conversation. There was no hope at all that he would go away. He had always made it his job to make her life hell. Why would he stop now? She groaned at herself even as he slid into the space next to her.
Luna, being a lot more loveable to Serena then usual, made it extremely clear that if he didn’t sit on the very edge of the bench chair she would tare him to shreds. Serena twisted her fingers into the cat’s fur in gratitude.
“Your cat’s almost as much of a danger as you are Meatball head.” Darien drawled from his cautious seat by her side. There was a gap, large enough to fit one maybe two (small) people into but she still felt like she was far too close to him.
“Shut up creep.” She hissed in reply, her eyes fixed on the Senshi across from her, who where fixated with Luna.
“So how’d the party go?” Lita asked surrendering her scrutiny of the guardian. The other two looked up at her remembering the conversation.
“Err… oh it was good. Pretty boring really.” Serena gave a little laugh her fingers digging into Luna’s fur a bit more for comfort. The expectant gazes of her friends told her she hadn’t done the scene half as much justice as she usually would. She forced her mind into action, trying to recall every detail before that fateful drink. She could remember most of it, but she couldn’t figure out what she would usually say.
“Where there any hot boys there?” Lita demanded after a long pause. Serena’s eyes snapped up onto Lita’s green ones quickly. She felt trapped.
“I don’t know Lita. Is Melvin your type?” Serena jeered back harshly trying to prevent the conversation from happening. Lita broke into laughter, missing the animosity, Amy closed her book and Raye looked like she was thinking hard. “Gesh, come on!” Serena snapped, her eyes skimming to Darien. Is he getting closer? Her heart hammered, she couldn’t tell, it just felt like the distance was being breached, but Luna hadn’t taken her eyes from him and Serena trusted the cat. “The only guys there where from school!” Lita’s eyes sparkled with mischief. Why doesn’t he go away? Serena was trying to be normal, but with him, so close, and so many undetermined emotions she couldn’t give the conversation the attention it needed to act like herself.
“But some of the guys at school are cute!” Lita cried with delight, leaning across the table to grab at Serena’s shirt collar. Luna hissed and swiped her claws at Lita’s arm in a reflexive instinct. Lita jerked back before damage could be done, a baffled look on her face. “Shesh Luna, what’s up with you girl?” Lita rubbed her arm, where the claws would have landed, her eyes slitted a little as she stared at the cat.
Feigning innocence in a very cat like manner Luna gave a soft mew, and settled onto the table. Her eyes returned to Darien who seemed to be staring straight back at her.
“Hey everyone. What’ll it be?” Andrew leaned into the booth and his eyes fell on the cat. “Err… isn’t that a bit unhygienic guys?” He was used to the cat by now, but it didn’t stop him from being a bit concerned when it took up residence on the table. After all, it was an eatery, and cats weren’t exactly known for cleanliness.
“Yeah Luna!” Raye snapped. “Get off the table.” She made a shooing motion towards the cat. Luna glared at the fire Senshi then jumped down onto the seat directly between her charge and the enemy.
“Receptive little thing isn’t she?” Darien queried his eyes still fixed on the cat. Luna bared her teeth once more, no longer in the sight range of the other senshi. Protectively Serena scooped the cat onto her lap. She didn’t think for a moment that Luna was going to do anything rash now, but there was a dark glint in Darien’s eyes that made her fear for her friend.
“Leave her alone jerk.” Serena hissed at him, still averting her eyes from him.
“Guys?” Andrew asked quickly trying to get the attention of everyone in the booth, and dismembering a possible fight before it could begin. “What do you want?” He flashed them all a bright smile. Lita sighed a little and Serena found herself completely unmoved.
It’s nerves. With him sitting there like that. How can I think of anything else? Serena fidgeted with the Luna pen not noticing Amy’s eyes fixed on it in deep contemplation.
“Oh Andrew, can I have a chocolate milkshake, and some cherry pie?” Lita bashed her eyelids as best she could and was rewarded with a giant smile from Andrew.
“Sure.” He replied calmly, scribbling something on his notepad. “Amy?”
“Nothing for me.” Amy replied with a timid smile of her own.
“Just some tea.” Raye interrupted before Andrew could ask. Eye’s turned to Serena expectantly and she felt her stomach growl at the possibility of food.
“Uh… nothing for me thanks, I’m not very hungry.” Serena knew there was no way around saying it, buying the food and just letting it sit there would have been just as much of a give away and this way she didn’t have to pay for it.
“Are you dying Serena?” Raye demanded from her seat, though there was an honest look of worry in her eyes. Serena gritted her teeth a little in self agitation.
“No. I just woke up feeling sick.” She growled almost under her breath. It was a war to keep her eyes from flicking to him, in a vein attempt to gage his reaction, but she managed. She did notice an immediate tensing in the air, but it did nothing to affect her.
“Won’t be long.” Andrew declared and disappeared from the booth.
“So give!” Lita shouted in excitement still obviously not deterred by Serena’s lack of appetite, from the look in her eyes that had made her more intrigued.
Raye seemed a bit more interested now. “And why weren’t we invited to this party?”
Serena stared at Raye for a moment, feverishly wishing the three had been able to come as well. It would have turned out differently then, she knew that much. Amy wouldn’t have let her near a drink, Raye would have occupied every guy at the party’s attention, and Lita would have stood over her shoulder like a private bodyguard.
“I was invited, but I needed to study more for today’s test.” Amy admitted a little sheepishly.
Lita groaned. “You passed a party over for study time?”
“But your in the class, weren’t you invited?” Amy retorted, trying to take the focus off herself.
“Not everyone in the year got invited.” Lita snapped with annoyance. “And I don’t really know Molly that well.” She added trying to sound less annoyed. Serena knew at least, she had always known. Molly was, like many other students, afraid of Lita, so she hadn’t invited her.
“And you don’t even go to our school.” Serena stated bluntly with a little glare at her fiery friend. She immediately felt the worse for having glared at the friend she had most acutely betrayed. Raye flicked her hair absently and instead of retaliating smiled flirtatiously with Darien. Serena blocked the image out and turned back to Lita and Amy.
“So where there any cute guys there?” Lita’s eyes had a mischief filled sparkle to them that worried Serena a little.
“Not unless you count Melvin as cute.” Serena retorted. Raye, who had met the boy on occasions snickered at the idea. Amy looked a little ashamed of her friends but remained quite.
“Oh yeah?” The sparkle got brighter. “So where’d you get the hickey?” Lita pointed to the exposed part of Serena’s neck in triumph her expression smug.
Serena’s hand snapped to cover where she assumed Lita was pointing, her face drained of any colour. Her three friends where looking at her with predatory eyes, the man next to her was as undefinable as ever. She couldn’t help her breathing quickening at the realisation that they had seen something she would have rather kept hidden for an eternity.
She could feel her friends beginning to close in on her, preparing to trap her. How obvious is it? Are there marks? The question’s returned, after all she didn’t know anything, didn’t know what kind of thing to look for. But she knew what a hicky was, and she needed to see exactly how obvious it was.
She lunged across the seat trying to push Darien out of her way. “Fucken move!” She shouted at him her voice breaking, it would take so little time for them to trap her completely, and niceties, especially to him where beyond her at that moment. He slipped from the seat less then a second after she had begun to push him, letting her dash past him, the cat quick on her trail.
The other girls watched surprised as the sound of the arcade toilets door locking sounded through the room. No one would have thought she even knew words like that, and her panic had been blaringly obvious.
Raye made a sound of disappointment as she threw herself back into the seat. “Way to go Darien.” She didn’t even look to see his expression.
“What?” He choked out.
“You let her get away, now we’ll never hear about whoever he is.” Raye snapped, a little agitated at the opportunity lost.
“We almost had her too.” Lita muttered in equal disappointment.
“Next time it would be more strategically sound if Lita boxed her in… err sat next to her.” Amy added a little airily, as if she had known Serena would break such a fast retreat.
“Should we wait for her?” Raye looked at the locked door sceptically.
“Nahh. We have a meeting this afternoon right?” Lita smiled, a wicked gleam in her eyes as she cracked her knuckles.
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
Serena lent in close to the mirror stretching her neck towards the cool surface as she looked at one of the many hickey’s that where alarmingly visible on her neck. Oh no, can’t hide hickey’s now can you? She glared at the Luna pen resting on the edge of the sink. Luna paced the bench before the mirror careful not to get in the way of Serena’s inspection.
“What do you want to do?” The cat asked out of the blue, siting on the marble bench and curling her tail about her body. Serena looked blankly at the cat for a moment then sighed turning completely from her inspection as she tugged the collar of her shirt upwards.
“I want to go home before my mother breaks my door down. Go to sleep and wake up tomorrow, late for school without a memory of this entire event.” She sighed wistfully her head thudding against the mirror surface in surrender. With another sigh she went to unlock the bathroom door.
“He’ll be out there still.” Luna warned casually and this time Serena’s head struck against the door. She sighed in resignation.
“I’m not ready.” She whispered into the wood all the while wondering how long she could lock herself in before they came and got her. “I just didn’t want you to do anything rash.” Serena turned clouded eyes to her guardian who looked back with sympathy.
“I’m sorry.” Luna replied repentantly. “It’s just when I realised what had happened, I just wanted to kill.” The cats eyes darkened dangerously. “I still do.” Luna added her tail flicking madly.
“Well don’t okay?” Serena chided a little angrily before the cat would delve to far into thoughts of murder. She couldn’t’ help being a little angry, after all she was locking in the arcades dingy toilets with the man she most wanted to avoid somewhere on the other side of the barrier. “Let me figure this out. Then you can kill.” Serena slumped to the floor, her back pressed against the solid door in reassurance that no one would intrude until she was ready to let them. She watched Luna with an imploring expression.
“What exactly do you have to figure out?” Luna asked, not unkindly, as she nimbly jumped to onto the tiles before Serena.
“I don’t know exactly. I just need some time. To think. And stuff.” She groaned at her own vagueness and slammed her palms against the tiles below her. “This is all that idiots fault! Why would he sleep with me anyway?” She didn’t pause for responses nor did she raise her voice below a fierce whisper. “It’s not like he likes me, its not like I’m pretty! His probably got hundreds of girls like Raye, ready to do anything for him.” Anger flooded her body comfortably. It was easier to maintain the one pure emotion then allow the other conflicting ones to take hold. At least with the anger she knew what it was she was feeling. “Why couldn’t she get drunk and sleep with him? She would have loved it! She would have pranced around all week bragging to everyone.” She slumped again, her head burying into her trembling hands. If it had been anyone else, it wouldn’t be as bad. If it had been some stranger… And she knew, maybe just maybe she would have been able to convince herself that there had been some form of love between them. But with Darien, she knew too well, knew how pathetic she was in his eyes and she had no chance to even pretend her actions had merit.
A soft head butted against her elbow and Serena peaked through her fingers at her company. Luna’s eyes spoke volumes, what they said was of little importance, there was trust, loyalty, love, care and protectiveness rolled so snugly into the expression she couldn’t distinguish one from the other but she understood what it all meant.
She felt the tiniest lifting of her spirit and gave the cat a shaky smile. Her guardian’s opinion of her had not changed and no matter what happened she had that stability to fall back on. It was the only comfort she could hope for and everything she needed at that very moment.
Her fragile smile faded. “Don’t tell them, Luna?” She pleaded her head resting once more into her folded arms. She glanced out of the corner of her eye when Luna hesitated. “Just let me figure this out.” She couldn’t prevent the resigned hopelessness from her voice, nor the new round of tears from trickling.
“So long as it doesn’t effect the scouts. I wont tell.” Luna replied calmly. Serena nodded her head, it was the most she could expect from her guardian.
I’ll just have to make sure it doesn’t effect the scouts. Serena told herself sternly and a frustrated sigh escaped her lips.
“We should probably go home, before your mother notices.” Luna suggested from her seat beside Serena. Serena tilted her head and twisted her neck so she could see the door handle. It seemed at that moment to be the doorway to hell, and she wasn’t sure she had the strength to walk thought it.
The question Serena is: Who do you fear more? Mother, or the Jerk. It was an unanswerable question but it rang through her head, prompting her to make some form of a decision. “I don’t want to go out there.” Serena confided, though Luna already knew it, she felt the need to say it aloud. Her hand absently rubbed her neck, the cause of her immediate problem. He did that. She had no doubt, and it jarred at her that she couldn’t at least remember it.
“Serena.” Luna warned wirily, slipping ever so slightly back into her usual role of the nagging guardian.
Serena looked back at her cat, her eyes hazed with the tears that continued to threaten, she needed to get away, go home and sleep, brush her teeth and shower but maybe not in that order.
Luna surrendered to Serena’s tired expression and looked about the room. “The windows probably big enough for you.” Luna encouraged, admonishing herself at the same time for even suggesting it. The window however did look large enough for the petite Serena, and Serena was more then physically capable of lifting herself through it after battling Youma.
Serena’s eyes lifted to the window with a spark of hope and she got up slowly. She didn’t know what had gotten into her guardian, but she was extremely thankful for the possibility of escape without confrontation. She realised she was delaying the inevitable, but as she levered herself through and out of the window she felt relief swamp her. The cat followed her out of the toilets, neither caring that the female arcade customers would be without the use of the toilets for a while.
“I just need time.” Serena repeated as she began for home.
* * * * *
* * * * *
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Serena watched the blinking light of her clock as the seconds ticked by, her body was numb and sore. Her breaths came out even and regular, like someone in deep slumber which is how she wanted to appear. She could feel Luna, sitting on her desk watching her with alert eyes. As if, Serena mused, I’m going to do it again. She felt a tiny stab of resentment for the cat thinking so little of her. But then again. It’s entirely your own fault. She resisted the need to sigh at the thought, counting the seconds as they continued to tick. An hour till dawn. And then what? Another one or two before you can wake up? Serena girl, give it up. She let a sigh escape her lips that time, and felt the tensing of the air as Luna too heard it. Sleep was eluding her.
She had arrived home the day before, climbed into her window, managed to take a quick shower and brush her teeth without her mother noticing. She had thrown herself into bed, exhausted and sore, the clock hadn’t even read seven. Luna had taken her guarding post at that very time, and had barely moved since then.
There had been a call from the scouts, asking where they where, but Luna had defused the conversation quickly and easily with her superior manner and stated bluntly neither of them where going. Serena had even heard Raye’s snide “She’s not still in the arcade toilets, is she.” But it was beyond Serena’s care. She h
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Property of Kimra Lelanst, do not duplicate without consent. |
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