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                *I Was a Fool for April*
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Chapter Two
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    When I got home that evening a small object under the passenger seat 
caught my eye. I bent down and retrieved Serena's small black purse. I shook 
my head and smiled, just like her to forget something. I walked into my 
apartment just in time to hear the phone ring. 
    "Hello?" I said.
    "Uh..hi, Darien?" I smiled.
    "Hello Serena, forget something?" I asked. I heard her make that cute 
noise she always makes and laughed.
    "Ya, I forgot my purse." She said, and I could picture her sitting on the 
bed, wrapping a piece of hair around her finger absently.
    "Yes, I know Meatball Head. This just further supports my conclusion of 
you." I said.
    "Oh? And what is that Chiba?" She questioned indignantly.
    "Well," I started, sitting down on the couch. "That everyday you amaze me 
even more."
    "Why geeze thanks." She sighed and I could picture her rolling her eyes. 
"Well I have to go shopping tomorrow at the mall so I thought I'd swing by 
your apartment and get it. When will you be home?" 
    "Well, I won't get home from work till six so you can come by around six 
thirty. But I can drop it off at your house right now if you want." I 
answered.
    "No, that's okay. You've done enough for tonight Darien. Besides, I don't 
think my dad would appreciate that much." She laughed. 
    "Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow Serena." I said. "Goodbye."
    "Goodbye...Darien." And with a soft click I hung up the phone. Was that 
disappointment I heard in her voice? Oh well, *yawn*, I'm too tired to think. 
I got up and got ready for bed, not realizing even in my sleep I could not 
rid myself of her beautiful smile.


    
    Six thirty came sooner than I expected and before I knew it there was a 
ring at my door.  Slowly I got up from the chair and checked myself in the 
mirror before opening the door. There Serena stood with her head bowed, 
wearing jean capris and a pink halter top with daisies imprinted on it. She 
looked up slowly and smiled.
    "Hello Serena, come on in." I said, moving over and bowing. She laughed 
and skipped into my apartment.
    "Wow, this is a nice place. A little dismal, but nice." She whistled, 
dropping her bag on the chair. Unfortunately it bounced off and landing on 
the floor, spilling all the contents.  "Oops." She blushed, kneeling down to 
pick up her stuff.
    "Here let me help.' I offered and knelt down with her, placing cosmetics, 
key chains, an old newspaper article with my picture on it, a-hey wait a 
minute! "What's this? 'Darien Chiba, a sophomore at Crossroads High, wins 
first place for long distance running in nationals this week.' You kept this, 
why?" I looked up to her to see her blushing redder. 
    "I uh-don't know." She stuttered and grabbed it from my hands, shoving it 
back in her bag. I came across a small picture album and shifted through it. 
The first couple were of her friends, two of Andrew and Rita, then Andrew, 
Rita and me at the Cafe, then one of me-hey, that's a pretty good pic! And 
then the last was of some guy that looked kinda like me, with short black 
hair and matching eyes.
    "Who's this Serena?" I asked, showing the picture to her. She looked up 
and her eyes flashed over with something, causing her to look back down.
    "Oh, that's my old boyfriend...Seiya." She muttered and looked back up at 
me with her hand extended. "Can I have that back please?"
    "Sure." I nodded and handed it back to her. Seiya Seiya Seiya....sounds 
familiar. Oh yeah, Seiya Kou, that stupid exchange student from China.
    "Your mom mentioned him when I picked you up yesterday." Her head snapped 
up and her hands froze.
    "She did?"
    "Yeah, she said he broke your heart." She inhaled deeply and pulled the 
bands tightly on her purse before standing up.
    "Yeah..." She said, as I stood up also.
    "What happened?"
    "You don't know? Practically the whole school knew." She looked up 
surprised.  
    "No, I guess I don't pay attention." I said, and thought I saw sadness 
roam through her eyes as I did. What, what did I do this time?
    "Well..." Serena sighed, sitting down on the couch. "Seiya stayed at my 
house when he came here from China, because my dad knows his parents. We got 
to know each other good, or so I thought, and started going out. He would 
always tell me how much he loved me, how we would get married some day, how 
our house would look and how our children would look. 
    My dad trusted him, and he took advantage of that. We would...do stuff 
while they were gone and out of the house and he told every guy at school, so 
now they won't leave me alone cuz they think I'm easy. But Darien, if you 
could've heard him speak! It was like, hypnotizing.  He used my broken heart 
and bended me to his will." Serena stopped there to wipe away her tears.
"He used me and I let him, because the guy I wanted didn't want me, and Seiya 
seemed to. So when he tried something that I wasn't at all ready or even 
interested in, my dad found out and kicked him out of the house."
    She looked up at me, a fallen tear running down her cheek. And all I 
could do was stand there dumbfounded. How could anyone use Serena? If I ever 
came across that Seiya he would pay dearly for the tears she is crying, and 
for the ones I've never seen. 
    "Do, do you think I'm a slut Darien?" She asked suddenly and I looked 
down at her surprised. Quickly I was on my knees beside the couch. I lifted 
my hand and wiped away the tear, then let my hand rest on her cheek.
    "Never, never in a million years Serena." I shook my head. "You are the 
most innocent person I know, and if I ever find out someone uses you like 
that again, I will make them suffer.  I promise." She laughed shortly and 
wiped away the tears in her eyes.
    "Thanks Darien." She smiled and pecked me on the lips. My mind froze at 
the sensation, and my eyes locked on her lips. They were so soft and 
warm...Before I knew what I was doing the hand on her cheek moved to the nape 
of her neck and pushed her towards me, where I met her half way. I felt her 
warmth engulf me as soon as we touched and I felt her stiffen. But I kept the
kiss up, deepening it until I felt her respond. I moved across her lips like 
a kid starving for candy, wanting more of that warmth and softness. Suddenly 
I was hit with a ton of bricks. YOU'RE KISSING SERENA!!!! 
    I pulled away quickly and snapped open my eyes, to see hers were still 
closed, her lips parted and swollen from the kiss I just forced on her. 
Slowly she opened her eyes, to reveal sparkling startled blue skies, burning 
with an innocent desire.
    "I'm...I'm sorry Serena...I don't know what came over me....I better go 
get your purse."
I said nervously and before I turned saw the desire snuffed out. I grabbed 
her purse from the kitchen table and walked back into the living room to see 
her standing up, rubbing her hands up and down the sides of her thighs like 
she does when she's uncomfortable. "Here Serena." I said and handed it to 
her. She took it, her hand shaking. I couldn't meet her eyes as we stood 
there for eternity in an uncomfortable silence.
    "Well..I should be going." She said and started walking towards the door.
    "...Yeah." I sighed and opened the door for her. She walked out, turned 
around halfway and smiled crookedly.
    "Bye Darien." She whispered.
    "Yeah, bye." I said and she walked down the hallway. Oops, forgot 
something. "Wait Serena!" She turned around faster than I've ever seen anyone 
turn and looked up at me hopefully.  I was taken by surprise by her 
expression, but soon got over it. "Rita and Andrew want us to come to dinner 
with them Wednesday at 7 to 9, can you go?" Her hopeful expression faded and 
she nodded gravely.
    "Yeah sure, I'll be there. Bye." And with that she disappeared down the 
hall, not even bothering to turn around in the elevator. I slammed the door 
and leaned back on it, shoving my hands through my hair.
    "What the heck were you thinking Chiba!?" I yelled at myself, banging my 
head against the door. "..What were you thinking.."


    Sunday passed quickly, and soon it was Monday again. My favorite day. I 
walked down the halls, some of the people still not believing me and Serena 
were going out staring at me as I went. Of course, they had good reason since 
we weren't really, although Saturday it seemed like it! The only night I got 
any sleep was yesterday, and that was miniscule too.
    "Well look if it isn't Chiba, the love sick puppy." Oh geeze, if my day 
couldn't get any worse. I turned around to see Alan and his friends David and 
Tim. "I can't believe your relationship has lasted this long, usually you 
just use them and dump them.  
    "Alan, your just jealous that I'm going out with Serena and you're not." 
I snapped and his eyes glazed over. "I know you've had a crush on her since 
eighth grade."
    "I don't know what you're talking about. I would never go out with that 
klutzy, dumb slutty blonde if she were the last ugly bi-"
    "Don't EVEN finish that sentence!" I said through clenched teeth as I 
pinned him up against the wall. Anger pulsed through me as I stared into his 
little smug face that was covered with fear at the moment. 

'DARIEN!'

WHAT!!!

'Uh, I hate to bother you but what the heck are you doing?'

Ooops.....
        
    I immediately let him go and he fell back, straightening his shirt. I 
shook my head, running my hand through my hair. Quickly I sped down the 
hallway, and for once not watching where I was going.
    "Darien!" I slammed into someone and the fragrance of vanilla bombarded 
my senses. Oh no, please, not her, not right now! I opened my eyes to see 
Serena on the ground. She looked up at me startled and then embarrassed. I 
sighed and bent down, extending my hand towards her.
    "Sorry, Serena. For once I'm the guilty one of our collisions." I smiled 
down at her, trying to relieve some of the tension that has bound us lately. 
She smirked and took my hand. I pulled a little too hard and she wound up 
leaning against me. Slowly she raised her head and we locked eyes, breath and 
the world forgotten. Suddenly the bell ran and everything fell back into 
place. We both sighed at the same time and I rolled my eyes. Without a word 
she brushed past me and down the hall. I lingered only a moment longer before 
I walked to my own class, head down.

    My head rested lopsidedly on my hand as I stared blankly in front of me, 
rapping my pen on the desk. How could I pay attention in school when all I 
could think about was Serena? When did I start having these feelings for her? 
Today? Yesterday? Last week? No you idiot, you've had them all the time. What 
a disrupting thought...I sighed depressingly, shaking my head.
    "Am I boring you Chiba?" I shot my head up to see my teacher and the 
whole class staring at me.
    "Uh..no sir, I was just...just thinking. I'm sorry." I blushed, bowing my 
head.
    "Well it's quite alright." My teacher said and half the class snickered. 
"Now back to paradoxes.." Paradoxes....Serena is a paradox all in herself! So 
sweet, but ill tempered, so innocent and yet, what had she done with Seiya? I 
don't even want to think about it. She's a klutz but she has that sudden 
poise of a princess sometimes. Urgh, this is so frustrating! If women only 
knew what they did to us!
    "A paradox is something that seems contrary to common sense and yet is 
perhaps true. It is what we cannot explain, and sometimes wish not to 
explain. There is no right or wrong, no real explanation. The only truth 
about it is it brings a change and a choice. You are brought a choice, and 
depending on how you choose that brings a change. Everything happens for a 
reason, but it may take a decade to realize why it has. So when a paradox 
comes, weather it deals with the balance of the universe or a simple answer 
to a quiz, choose wisely." 
    Oh man, why did I sign up for this philosophy class anyways?! I sighed, 
banging my head against the desk. The bell rang and everyone leapt up from 
their seats.
    "Alright class, tomorrow will talk about the real meaning of entropy!" My 
teacher yelled over the class. Oh great, this is going to be a long week!

    Serena and I avoided each other for the rest of the day and Tuesday, 
until I couldn't take it anymore. I knew she was upset about the kiss, but it 
was ruining our plans. So as the last bell rang I dashed from school and out 
into the courtyard, where I found Serena and her friends. 
    "Darien, what are you doing?" She asked surprised as I grabbed her arm.
    "Excuse us a moment." I said to her friends and walked towards the big 
oak tree.  "Alright Serena, this has got to end."
    "What's got to end?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.
    "This avoidance. It's ruining our cover. What happened Saturday was just 
a flook, I don't know what went on but it's over now okay? We have to 
concentrate. Besides, us in a real relationship? Common, it would never work. 
We're so incompatible, and besides I'm going off to college next year and 
you'll still be in school. So let's just try to concentrate on the task at
hand; tricking Andrew." I said and watched as her countenance went through 
many emotions. Shock, Hurt, Sadness....I just don't get it...."Okay?" She 
turned away and nodded grimly.
    "Yeah, okay." She whispered.
    "Serena, are you okay?" I asked. She inhaled deeply and turned to me, a 
smile beaming on her face.
    "Yeah, I've just been thinking about some stuff lately. That's all!" She 
chirped. "Well I have to get to work Darien, see you tomorrow!" She waved and 
skipped off....Did I miss something? And did I mention she switches moods 
really quick too? I sighed, walking to my car.  Then something hit me, Serena 
WORKS!? 

    I rang the doorbell and this time, a crazed father didn't answer it. I 
looked down to see Serena's little brother Sammy staring up at me.
    "You do realize you're going out with S E R E N A, right?" He asked and I 
smiled.
    "Yes I do." I answered and he shrugged.
    "Alright then, your funeral." He said and let me in. "Serena's in the 
bathroom as usual, you can go wait for her in her room if you want. Last door 
down the hall."
    "Okay." I said and walked up the steps. I opened her door and examined 
her room. 
Everything was white, white walls, white carpet. A plain wooden vanity and 
dresser stood by the far wall, where a small balcony led outside. Blue 
flowers decorated the dresser and vanity, hung up on the edges. Her bed 
sheets were blue and white, violet flowers painted across it. A blue bean bag 
was positioned by her closet, which was partially open. 
    "Alot cleaner then I thought." I whistled. "And alot plainer."
    "It used to be all pink." A voice said from behind me, and I turned 
around to see Serena.  She stood wearing a short plain black dress and as she 
turned to the vanity to put in her diamond earrings I saw that it laced in 
the back and went down pretty far. For once in her life her hair was down, 
and I didn't realize till this moment how long it really was. It dangled a 
little passed her thighs, and I'm sure it would've been longer if she hadn't 
had curled it. She turned to me and smiled, her bangs perfectly outlining her 
face. There wasn't much make-up, but the little she had accented her eyes and 
full lips. She grabbed a purse that hung on her vanity and flung it over her 
shoulder.
    She looked at me, and the setting sun set her hair and her whole body 
aglow. That sudden urge to grab her and kiss the life out of her came over me 
once again and I had to shake my head to gain control again.
    "You're beautiful." I muttered and she blushed a becoming rose.
    "And you're not too shabby yourself." She said and punched me lightly in 
the arm, mentioning my black suit outfit. I had picked it out just this 
evening. The black suit hugged my body tightly and the silk gray undershirt 
was left open a little, with no tie. It was the casual way of looking suave.
    "Oh, this is for you." I said and grabbed the white rose from my pocket 
and handed it to her. She smiled and sniffed it, closing her eyes blissfully.
    "Thank you Darien." She said as she opened her eyes. "We better get 
going."
    "Yea." I said, rubbing the back of my head and following her swaying form 
down the steps.  This is going to be a long night.

    We walked into the nice restaurant Calabri and with Serena's high heels, 
she actually reached up to my neck. Although she keeps wobbling...I don't 
think high heels were made for her.  I told the waiter who we were and he led 
us to a secluded part of the restaurant, where Andrew and Rita sat awaiting 
us.
    "Darien, Serena!" Rita waved as I sat Serena down, and then myself, 
reminding myself to scoot closer to her. I immediately took her hand, and 
felt that surge of warmth come over me again. I cleared my throat, forcing it 
to go away. I'll deal with feelings later, I've got a mission to complete!
    "So how are you guys?" Serena asked.
    "We're fine, how are you?" Andrew said. Serena looked up at me and 
smiled, nestling into my embrace.
    "Just fine." She answered, her intoxicating vanilla scent reaching my 
nose. I rested my head on hers, breathing in the sweet smell of her 
shampoo...Vanilla...this woman was all vanilla!
    "I can tell." Andrew winked as I looked back at him. He put his arm 
around Rita and whispered something in her ear, receiving a laugh and a kiss 
on the cheek from her. 
    "This is a really nice restaurant, how can you afford this?" Serena asked 
me. I smiled down at her, gently grabbing her face and running my finger up 
and down her cheek.
    "Money doesn't matter when you're involved." I smiled and lightly brushed 
my lips over her forehead. She gasped slightly, as did Andrew and Rita. Can't 
blame them. I rubbed Serena's back to try to get her relaxed, which was very 
effective. She melted into my embrace, humming softly.
    "Uh, excuse me. But can I take your order?" I wanted to punch that guy. 
Serena quickly pulled away from me, and coldness settled back against me. I 
looked up at him and sighed deeply.
    "Uh, ya sure. Why don't you guys order first?" I said to Andrew and Rita 
and they nodded.
    "Uh, Darien." Serena nudged me. "I don't know how to say half this 
stuff!" I chuckled, grabbing the menu from her.
    "It's okay, I'll order for you. What do you like, chicken, steak, salad, 
fish, pasta?"  I listed and she gave me that hungry glare.
    "All of them!" She smiled and I laughed. Same old Serena. "But if I have 
to pick I'd say a salad, please."
    "Alright." I nodded and ordered for us. The rest of the evening went by 
smoothly, and I'll never forget that one moment though. Serena had a little 
piece of salad on her face and I turned her head and wiped it away, brushing 
my finger against her full lips. We froze in that moment, just staring at 
each other with confusion and longing mixed as one. Andrew had to slap me on 
the head to get me out of it.
    We stood outside the restaurant, and I thought a kiss would be proper as 
we waited for our cars. So I grabbed Serena by the waist and tilted her head 
up to mine. I didn't make the mistake of looking in her eyes, I just kissed 
her. She gasped against my lips, then murmured a soft sigh. I ended it 
abruptly, not wanted to get caught in one of those moments again. Through
the corner of my eye I looked over to see Andrew and Rita gaping at us. I 
smirked as my car pulled up. I opened the door for Serena and then seated 
myself.
    "Cya guys!" I waved and Andrew snapped out of it.
    "Cya, and don't forget my party is this Sunday! You better be there 
Darien!" He smirked.
    "I wouldn't miss it for the world." I said and drove away. 
    "Darien?" She said awhile into the ride home.
    "Yeah?" I asked.
    "I hope you don't mind me asking but, I just have to know. And if you 
don't want to tell me that's okay but...what happened to your parents 
Darien?" She questioned and I inhaled quickly.  Did I want to tell her? 
There's only one person I've told, and that's Andrew. I looked over at her, 
to see her eyes staring at me intently, a deep friendship hidden in those 
eyes. I sighed, shaking my head.
    "Well, when I was six my parents and I were in a car crash...my parents 
were killed instantly and I was left alone. My brain got bruised and somehow 
I lost all my memories of that night and since I was six I don't remember 
anything really of my childhood. I was sent to an orphanage till I was eleven 
because suddenly an aunt was found, my mother's sister. She gave me support 
through junior high and I realized why. Because I'm the heir to a huge 
technological company and my father's estate. So when I found out she was 
just trying to get that I left her and moved in by myself. So I've been here 
ever since." I explained. I looked back to Serena to see tears in the corner 
of her eyes, her head shaking back and forth.    
    "Wow Darien-"
    "Yeah I know, you feel bad for me. Well none of that is going to make 
them come back."  I interrupted angrily.
    "That's not what I was going to say!" She sighed.
    "No?" I asked surprised.
    "No, I was going to say Darien, that you're really brave and strong." She 
said and I smirked lopsidedly.
    "Thanks Serena, that's one to add to my collection."
    "So what do you remember about your parents?" She asked as I stopped at a 
red light. I turned to face her and smiled crookedly.
    "My mother's smile and her voice. Her smile could brighten my day, and 
her voice was so calm." I answered, thinking back.
    "Don't you ever feel like breaking?" She asked and I felt a ping of pain 
enter my heart.
    "All the time Serena, all the time." I whispered, and turned back as the 
light became green. Needless to say, we spent the rest of the ride in 
silence.

    "Wait here Darien, I have something for you." She said as we walked up to 
her door. She disappeared into the house and for few quiet moments I waited 
until she came bounding through the door again. "Here." She handed me a 
wrapped box, with little pink bunnies dancing across a glittering silver 
background. I laughed, shaking my head at her choice of paper. "What? It's 
all we had left!"
    "Uh huh, sure." I smirked and she huffed, crossing her arms. 
    "Well, don't open it now. Open it when you get home okay? Goodbye!" She 
waved and slammed the door in my face. Alrighty.... I drove home quickly, 
curiosity getting the best of me.  Once inside the door I bolted to the 
bedroom, where I jumped on it and sat cross-legged, the package rested in 
front of me. I took the card off and opened it.

Dear Darien,
    I know you must be wondering why I would give you a present for obviously 
no good reason.  Well it is your birthday in two more weeks, and since I'm 
going on vacation during spring break I thought I'd give it to you now! I 
hope you enjoy it, and the look you'll capture on Andrew's face!
                            Love, Meatball Head

    I smiled, reaching down and unwrapping the paper. I opened the box and a 
small key chain fell out with a tag on it. It read, 'You can give this to 
Andrew at his party!'
    "You're depriving a village of its idiot." I read the key chain and 
laughed. I dug into the box and retrieved a very nice zooming camera with 
different picture options. "Great, I just broke mine last week! Wow, this is 
nice. Maybe I can get a pic of Serena when she makes that mean cute face like 
she always does." I placed the camera and the key chain on my dresser and 
laid  back onto the bed, falling quickly asleep.