A/N: Well, this is my first fanfic. Again. I read it and realized my writing style improved as I wrote, so updated it a bit so that my earlier writing was as good as my later writing...if ya know what I mean. Same story, but better! Haha. Love, love, LOVE reviews!

Summary: This is a first season fanfic with the Serena and Darien pairing. Serena is feeling jealous of Raye and Darien's relationship. It doesn't help that she starts to see a new side to Darien? Do they have more potential than she realizes?

Who Knew?

by Bluephoenixj

Andrew looked up from the glass he was drying mildly worried. Serena sat on the stool across the arcade counter twitching. Andrew eyed her earnestly; what could be eating her up? He feared that his concern might backfire, though. After much thought, he drew a breath and proceeded on his quest.

"Hey. Serena. Is something bothering you?" he asked as gently as he could. Surprisingly she failed to reply.

After clearing his throat he continued, "Did your mom yell at you again about-?" Serena closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and shook her head wildly from side to side.

"Your little brother got on your case-." She shook her head again.

"You failed-." This time she shook her head more furiously making her long blonde hair nearly slap Andrew and customers in a booth to her right.

"Oh! I see! It was Darien! Serena, if he bothers you this much, I'll tell him to stop picking on you." Just as Andrew finished his sentence Serena abruptly pushed back her stool, stood up, and looked at him with conviction.

"No! He is not bothering me! It is worse! Much worse! Now he's after my poor friend Raye!!!" her eyes sparkled in her plea for sympathy.

Andrew laughed at Serena's performance.He knew she was dramatic, but he thought she was blowing the situation all out of proportion.

"Serena. They're just dating. I'm sure it'll be fine," he assured her as he wiped the counter nonchalantly.

"Fine?! Fine!!" she riterated, her eyes glowing bonfires of emotion, "That pig-headed insensitive creep doesn't know how to treat a girl!"

Andrew backed away nervously, scanning the area for an escape. Serena looked just about ready to leap over the counter and grab him by the collar. Meanwhile, a few older patrons of the arcade walked out the door giving Serena odd looks.

"Serena, please quiet down. You're scaring my customers away," he pleaded.

"No. That's fine Andrew. I think I'll go find somebody who'll understand." On that note she grabbed her briefcase and stomped out the arcade as gamers watched with curiosity.

In seconds, Serena stood outside the doors pondering a new direction. Usually a talk with Andrew would be enough to get her out of any funk, but this...this was a deeper problem than her usual. She looked down both ends of the sidewalk looking for a new plan of action. Nothing.

Then, she looked across the street and she felt a dagger pierce her back. Through the splurge of cars she spotted two familiar figures exiting a bakery; one clad in obnoxious green jacket and slacks and the other in a grey and red private school uniform. Without thought, Serena ducked behind a pole. This was a job for Ninja Bunny!

From her spot, it was still possible to hear Raye chattering nonstop. Briefly she remarked on the fact that Raye always gave Serena that vice. Much to Serena's surprise though, Darien was nearly silent.Were they on a date?

As they began getting away from her, she found it necessary to take further action; she swiftly crossed the street and hid a store behind them.

"I've got to protect, Raye," she justified to herself. Unfortunately, in a moment's pass, she found it once again impossible to discern their conversation. When the couple finally turned onto the Market district, Ninja Bunny quickly replaced their spot. She peeked her head around the corner just enough to see them walking straight down the street. She was too focused to notice that once again, odd stares were being directed towards her. Finally, she could hear exactly what Raye was chattering about.

"Hey, Darien, why don't you buy me a bracelet?" Raye asked passing a jewelry stand. Her arm was linked with his, and her eyes glued to his face hoepfully. Instead of replying, Darien hastily looked at his watch. For the first time, Ninja Bunny heard him speak.

"Um, I'm sorry Raye, but I really have to go, uh, meet a friend," he said with a false grimace. In reality he was relieved that he had plans today; shopping with a middle-schooler was exactly his piece of cake.

Raye looked up at him, obviously disappointed, with a vague smile on her face. Reluctantly, her arm slid from his.

"Umm, that's er…okay. Maybe another day this week, "she said looking up at him as if he were a dove with a fig in his mouth.

"Yeah, sure," Darien said, obviously anxious to go. With that Darien sped back down the street leaving a dejected Raye behind. As much as Ninja Bunny would have enjoyed chiding Raye about her dating problems, she had other business to attend to. By way of a giant bunny trying to sell cell phones, she miraculously passed Raye unnoticed and was hot on Darien's heels.

"Whew," Ninja Bunny heard Darien sigh. As he trekked down the street, Ninja Bunny waited in the entranceway of a store until it was safe to follow. Unfortunately, before she could continue her path, the door opened and smacked her in the face. She slumped down to the ground in agony. Before the customer could apologize, she endured a dramatic recovery and chased after her prey. About twenty-five yards ahead she spotted a green blazer entering a café.

Meanwhile, a black cat with a crescent moon bald spot glanced up to see the blonde prancing about the sidewalk.

"What is that girl up to?"

Darien sat in the café half-reading the Tokyo Times before him. He turned the pages every few seconds, filled with distraction. Where was his friend? Or better yet, was somebody following him?

Just after the waitress had come and taken his regular order of black coffee, his phone rang and a number he had expected appeared on his caller ID. He eagerly clicked send and lifted the cell to his ear. He looked out the window as he sighed to the professor.

"So you can't make it...That's okay. I'll just have to find another time when we can discuss my thesis..Thank you, ma'am...Oh, that was just my coffee..Mhm...Enjoy your conference...Okay, bye." Sighing deeply, he hung up and turned back to his newspaper. Instead, what sat in front of him almost made him jump into the booth behind him.

"Meatball head?!" he cried with a cringe. Across the table in the booth sat a young, yet familiar blonde with two pigtails glaring at him.

"Who might I ask was that?" she cooed. For once, she looked comfortable in his presence. It seemed she had already won this battle; she had caught him in the act!

Relaxing with great ease, he picked up his coffee, took a sip, and replied bluntly, "a friend."

Serena leaned over the table pointing an accusing finger, "Ooooooooooo! If I find out that you've been two-timing Raye I'll-."

"If you must know, Meatball Head, it was an old friend named Frank that I wanted to meet here. Lucky for him, he can't make it," he said with a silent pride that irked Serena. She sat back not quite ready to concede.

"Do you mean your college friend Francine?" she countered.

Coolly, he replied, "No. I mean Frank, as in a guy. Sometimes I swear your brain is upside down." He stared directly into her eyes with a deep satisfaction. He had won this round.

"That may be big shot, but I know that you're up to something," she said gritting her teeth.

"If u say so…"

"I know so."

"And what proof do you have?"

"Maybe the way you taunt and tease me daily. Or…the way you stomp on girls' feelings by insulting them!" she said with an unexpected pout. Darien simply took a final gulp of coffee, got up and set money on the table.

"No-just you," he said walking out the café. He didn't look back at the teenager as he walked to the corner.

Meanwhile, Serena sulked after him defeatedly. Then suddenly, she felt a new weight on her shoulder.

"Luna!" she cried. She felt awkward; she hadn't even thought of anyone else while on Operation Sabota-...er...Save Raye.

"Just exactly what do you think you're doing? Instead of spending precious time studying you're out here stalking some boy," the cat nagged.

"I am not stalking him!" she said over-defensively," I'm protecting Raye from scum."

"Oh, really? I think you're jealous," Luna remarked haughtily.

"Me…jealous? I laugh at the face of jealousy. Ha ha haaaa!" Serena said in an awkward imitation of Simba from the Lion King. Sweat dropped from Luna's forehead as they ambled to the Tsukino household.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say she liked arguing with Darien," Luna thought.

Luna yawed after being rougly, but inadvertenly, shaken awake by her owner's movement. She glanced at the alarm clock. Two A.M?! Then, a noise beside her drew her sight to Serena. The blonde lay awake, screwing her face in concentration.

"Serena! Just what are you doing up at this ungodly hour!? You have school tomorrow."

"Oh….it's just Friday. I'll have the whole weekend to sleep," she said quickly brushing Luna's curiousity off. She had more important things on her mind.

"I thought you and the girls were having a sleepover at Raye's temple," Luna said licking her paw. Serena ignored the cat and focused once more. She heavily placed her head in her hand and hunched her back over unattractively.

"Why would that jerk treat her any different than he treats me?" she mumbled.

"Huh?" Luna asked; her tongue stopped mid-lick.

"Luna, I still can't understand why Raye would like a zero like Darien," Serena said. To emphasize her distate of Darien, Serena ground one fist into the palm of another while describing him. Luna fell head first off the bed in shock.

"So this is what was keeping her awake on a school night," Luna thought in amazement.

"I mean…he practically insults me everyday. If it's not my hair…it's my grades…if not that then it's my klutziness…then…it's my eating habits. But then again…Raye seemed so googly eyed walking with him…He is handsome, but…but that's still no reason to like that creep!!!" Luna pounced back onto Serena's crescent moon patterned comforter.

"It seems like you just wish Darien would treat you the same way…"

"Well, why not…I've known him longer than she has…it's not fair---wait," she said just stopping herself short," No! I just don't think he's good for Raye."

"I highly doubt that the way you two bicker all the time. Raye calls you Meatball Head just as often as Darien does. Why else would you miss out on your favorite pastime to think of a boy?"

Serena quickly pulled the covers over her head. She didn't like the way this conversation was going.

"Good-night Luna!"

In only a few seconds Luna could hear Serena's obnoxious snoring. Instantly, she regretted letting Serena fall asleep. Now all she forsaw was a long night ahead.

Serena slumped on the fresh green lawn of her school. Forming a semi-circle around her were three of her closest friends, Amy, Lita, and Mina. They all stared with faces painted with worry as Serena simply picked at her lunch. Finally, she let out an exasperated sigh and set down her fork. The trio leapt off the grass in shock at Serena's reaction. She wasn't eating?! And worse, it was impossible to read her distant expression. The didn't have a clue what was going on.

This day just was not going well for Serena. First, she woke up even later than usual and landed a week of detentions. Then, she slept through her test from staying up so late that night granting her a score even worse than her usual failing grade. To top it off she couldn't figure out exactly why she was so worried about Raye dating Darien. As much as she tried to write it off as protectiveness for her friend, she couldn't help but feel unsettled by her concern. Amy then broke Serena's reverie.

"Serena…is something wrong?" Amy asked obviously aware that Serena had a burden on her shoulder. Amy's math book lay plainly on the grass beside her. That definitely mean she was worried.

"Yeah. You're not your usual happy self," Lita added while stuffing a piece of carrot cake in her mouth.

"If something's got you down, you know you can tell us, girl," Mina said, all her attention on her new friend.

Serena looked up at the sky seemingly looking at the clouds. In truth, she was pondering how much to share. Was there anything worth sharing?

"Well…it's Darien…," Serena began. She herself, didn't know where she was going with this, but the her friends puppy dog eyes made her ache to fess up. Mina perked visibly, while Lita and Amy both pushed their lunch boxes aside.

"You mean that guy that Raye's dating?" Serena's near twin asked. Serena nodded in confirmation. Lita tensed.

"Is he picking on you again?" Lita asked prepared to fight," he may be cute and all, but he needs to lay off," Lita said while pulling her sleeves up above her elbows. Serena forced a smile and wagged her hands in front of her reassuringly.

"Nothing more than the usual. That's not what's bothering me, though," Serena admitted with a blush. Amy 's eyes widened beneath her reading glasses; she understood.

"Serena? Do you like Darien, too?" Amy pried. The blue-haired girl leaned forward on her long blue skirt, uncharacteristically interested in the situation.

"NO! Of course not!" Serena said defiantly. Suddenly, she became unsure of herself. Lita relaxed as she noticed a change in Serena. However, Mina, like Amy, displayed an increased interest in where the conversation was headed.

"Serena? May I ask you a few questions," Mina asked like a psychiatrist. Serena was unsettled by a twinkle in Mina's eye, but nodded in reply.

"Okay. You have to answer each of these truthfully. Here goes. Where did you first meet Darien?" Serena was surprised by this random question. However, she was even more surprised that she knew the answer.

"In front of Osa-P jewelry store. It was the day Molly's mom had that huge sale." Lita, who had retrieved her lunch, looked up from another forkful of dessert. The trio already knew where this line of questioning was going but Serena was oblivious until the next question came.

"Do you think Darien is handsome?" Mina said as she leaned in slightly towards Serena. Her fist was in front of Serena's mouth like a microphone as she awaited the response. This time, Serena took her time crafting a response. She closed her eyes and considered his midnight blue eyes, not to mention his ebony hair...

"He's pretty good looking... for a jerk!" Serena said finally. In a second, Serena realized what she had admitted and blushed profusely. Mina giggled to herself.

"How cute!" she thought.

Lita was the one who asked the next question. Her face was eerily serious. She looked like a mother giving boyfriend advice.

"Are you feeling jealous that Darien takes Raye out for boat rides and only teases you?" Lita asked. After hearing the question, Amy and Mina adopted her intense glare. Serena backed into a tree in fear. They were starting to look like feral cats, and she was a fish in a net.

"Er…well….um…" Serena tried to clear her throat but it was futile. She felt as if an interrogation light bulb was set on her face and reflected this by sweating. Amy brightened.

"So I was right! My hypothesies are never wrong. You have a thing for Darien," Amy stated excitedly. The other two nodded in complete agreement.

"Uh-huh. Uh-huh," Mina and Lita said. Serena was the last to share their revelation.

"Well it doesn't even matter. One, he's dating Raye. And two, if he wasn't, he'd still only pick on me," Serena said pointedly. "This sucks," she added silently to herself.

"Since he likes to be that way, I see no reason to act any different," Serena stated like a seven year old. The trio fell over with helplessness. They all saw why Serena wanted to keep her feelings to herself. Serena looked down at her food and let her face droop as she thought about it once more.

"I like Darien...the jerk," she mumbled in disbelief.

After school that day the four girls walked to the arcade to meet Raye for their sleepover. As they entered the glass doors they eyed her sitting across from a guy, though her face was strangely, not as starry eyed as it was when she was with Darien. Serena looked carefully at the guy and realized that the man, in fact, was not Darien. The girls decided to find out who the guy was and began to move in. They all stopped beside Raye's booth and took a moment to scrutinize the unfamiliar man. He had long brown hair, looked slightly scruffy, but had an unusual cuteness. A the time, he was bowing his head and pleading repeatedly with the preistess.

"Are you sure you don't want anything? I'll pay," he asked in a deep, but whiney voice. Raye looked as if she enjoyed the attention.

"No thank you, Chad. I'm fine," Raye said as she noticed the girls hovering above her. "Oh, hey guys. Amy, Mina, Lita, Serena, meet Chad." They each waved at him in turn.

"My grandpa just hired him to work at the temple and I'm showing him around a bit," she said with a hint of annoyance in her voice. Babysitting wasn't her thing.

"Er…Chad. Do you think you can find your way to the temple from here? Today is kind of a girls' day and-."

"Whatever you want Raye. I'll see you back at the temple. Nice to meet you all," Chad said before ambling out of the arcade looking like a lovesick puppy. The girls then filed into the booth.

"What happened to Darien, Raye? Given up on him already?" Lita said as soon as Chad was out of earshot; she relayed everyone's sentiments exactly.

"Well…kind of. I still have a soft spot for Darien, but yesterday I could tell he wasn't interested. Then, I met Chad last night and though it's annoying that he wants to cater to my every need, it's really flattering. It's more fun to tease him than chase someone who doesn't like me that way," Raye replied. She spoke with a kind of sad wisdom; in her heart she knew she had to move on. The girls all looked at her sympathetically. Serena herself was a little relieved.

"Well, guys. Ready to go?" Serena said a little too cheerful for her school mates. Raye, unfamiliar with the girls' recent epiphany, missed the mood shift.

"Okay!" they chorused.

Raye tapped her foot on the pavement as Serena rushed into her house a half an hour later. They had made it all the way to the bottom of the temple steps before having to turn around.

"Leave it to Serena to forget her pajamas," she groaned. Finally, they made it to Raye's temple where Chad was outside sweeping.

"Hey Raye!" Chad said ecstatically. If his eyes had been visible underneath his shaggy, long hair, she would have seen them smiling, too. Raye visibly blushed, then submerged the redness in her cheeks.

"Oh. Hey Chad. Keep up the good work," she said quickly. She was about to continue walking away when Chad spoke again.

"Thanks Raye. So what are you doing tonight?" he said leaning on his broom, no longer focused on the sea of leaves.

"I told u Chad. I invited my friends to spend the night." She gritted her teeth.

"Oh. Well if there's anything you want just let me know. I'm here. I can fluff your pillows or…" Raye stopped attempting to walk with her four friends. Meanwhile the rest of group trudged into the temple to prepare for the sleepover.

"Chad, give it a rest okay…."

"But I was just…" The last the girls saw of the duo, Raye was insulting his manliness and Chad was apologizing.

"Chad! Stop groveling!"

After some time Raye rejoined them. A lot of giggling, gabbing, and pillow fighting ensued until each girl was exhausted. Each of the girls lay stretched out in their sleeping bags. Serena alone stayed awake long after everyone was asleep.

"It's not fair," she was thinking," All he ever does is tease me and make me self-conscious. Eww…and that attracts me?"Serena cringed and stuck her tongue out as if a bug lay on it. Then, she thought more.

"At least he knows I exist," she pondered. Then. she pictured him yelling at her with a shoe in his hand,"…Maybe that's not such a good thing considering that I'm just Meatball Head!" Serena crumbled into a fetal position and rolled over; there was no end to her hopelessness. Soon after, she opened her eyes and saw Raye's fiery red ones poring into hers. Serena's skin crawled.

"What are you doing awake?" she whispered to her friend. Raye closed her eyes and took a breath. When, her eyes opened again, she spoke.

"I could ask you the same question Meatball Head!" Raye barely whispered back. Serena cringed under the familiar nickname.

"So it's true…you DO like him…" Raye saw the startled look on Serena's face and became slightly annoyed. "Don't play dumb, Serena! First, you spy on us. Then, you were all down in the dumps this morning. You nearly jumped off the roof when I said I gave up on Darien." Serena gulped. Raye sat up and looked at her with a caring smile on her face.

"I'm your best friend. Underneath all our fighting I know you better than anyone. I understand."

"You didn't give up on him 'cause of me didya?" Serena sat up next to Raye feeling guilty. Raye stood up, pushed open the sliding door, and beckoned Serena after her. The two sat on the porch feeling the warm night air. The moon hung high in the sky, a bright, glowing yellow. Crickets made low noises in the trees, but the eve remained peaceful.

"You have known him longer," Raye joked. She spied the sad look on Serena's face. "That's not it, though. Darien was a complete gentleman when we went out. But, he treated me more like a sister than anything else. When he left our date yesterday I realized there would be nothing between us. You two are different, though. You have some kind of connection that can't be broken. You guys actually have some potential." Serena looked at her thankful, but still sad.

"Sure wish I could see things the way you do," she said rocking in place. Before Raye could refute her, she continued," So tell me about you and Chad. Eh, eh?" Serena said nudging her friend; Raye turned a cherry color.

"Well…I don't let him onto it, but he's really nice guy." She looked at the stars. "He's really nice to me and obviously interested." Her face tightened a bit. "Still, he's a spineless brat, his music is loud and painful, and he's almost as ditzy as you." She smiled. "But you turned out pretty cool, huh?"

"He seems nice," Serena said twiddling her thumbs together. "So...You sure you're not mad at me?"

"I'm sure," Raye said assuringly. She stood up. "In fact, I'm going to root for you, okay?" she said smiling down at her friend. Serena stood up, too.

"And I'm going to root for you and Chad! Yahoo!" Serena was happy she now had the approval of her friend. Raye rested her forehead on her finger and sighed at Serena's new goal.

"Now, Serena. Back to bed," Raye said.

Serena chuckled at Raye's motherliness.

"Okay."

Saturday the girls all got up and agreed to go to the arcade: Amy and Raye to play video games, and Mina and Lita hoping to flirt with Andrew, and Serena hoping for a milkshake at the least. Mere feet from the entrance, the girls spotted Darien walking ahead of them into the arcade and sent discreet looks Serena's way. Serena shuddered at the thought on running into him. Not now.

"Relax, girl. Everything will be fine," Raye assured Serena with a hand a rested on her shoulder. Mina, Lita, and Amy blinked twice, while Serena merely nodded and grinned. They continued their walk behind Darien, Serena falling to the back of the group. Conveniently, the girls lined up at the counter next to Darien leaving Serena the seat closest to him. She mentally cursed their plotting as her heart rate rose dramatically.

"What's up Meatball Head?" Darien said smoothly as Serena took her seat. In response, she felt a cold sweat seep over her skin. How should she respond? With no other apparent option, her reflexes kicked in.

"What do you want today amoeba?" she said as dryly as possible.

"I wanted to know what's wrong?" Darien said grinning at her. Serena looked at him in a mixture of surprise and fear.

"Was she that transparent?" she wondered silently.

"You haven't crashed into me for a whole week?" Darien finally said. Serena's skin crawled.

"I wouldn't crash into you so much if you watched where you were going!" she spat," Did you finally refocus your eyes or something?"

Meanwhile, on the other end of the counter the girls and bowed their heads in disbelief. "Actually, I did. I looked at the last test you threw at me and thought I saw an F. I double-checked and realized it was closer to a Z," Darien said proudly. He mentally patted himself on the back at catching Serena speechless.The five girls sighed before Andrew appeared from the back. Somehow he knew an arguement was about to heart up

"Darien, why do you constantly tease poor Serena? What did she do to deserve it?" asked the mediator.

"I know Serena's klutzy, but as often as she runs into me, she must have some mafia against me. I'm just exacting revenge," Darien replied with a shrug. There was more too it than that, but he chose his words.

"Andrew. I don't know how you put up with him," Serena said glaring at her blonde haired ex-crush. Despite her strong facade, it was getting more and more difficult for her to hide her disappointment.

Amy, Mina, Lita, and Raye looked at each other wary of the fact that Serena and Darien maybe needed a little space to mature before getting to know each other. This was getting nowhere!

"Hey girls," Amy spoke up. "You ready to go?"

"No! I will not surrender to this punk. He'll have to leave before I do!" she said with a huff. The girls backed away and decided that they could save helping Serena for another day.

"Okay, just meet us at the park when you're ready," Mina said before the quartet sped off. Serena turned back in her seat so that she could stare at her reflection in the countertop.

"You know what, Serena. I've got better things to do than battle it out with you," Darien said gathering his briefcase.

"You win! Adios!" Darien said with that stupid grin on his face as he walked past a game machine.

"Oooh! Coward! Go ahead!" she yelled to his back. When Darien was out of sight she slumped on the counter unaware that Andrew was still there.

Outside, Darien could be found leaning on a fence in a nearby alley.

"Why can't I stop picking on her?," he asked himself," She really doesn't deserve it. Something about her brings out another side of me, though."

Back at the arcade, Serena succumbed and let the tears flow from her eyes. She laid her head on her arms and tried to fall asleep and forget everything. Unfortunately, a voice interrupted her.

"Serena?" Andrew asked with a voice laden with concern. "You know Darien doesn't mean anything he says, right?"

"Then why does he say the things he does?" Serena muttered.

Andrew sighed. That was something he himself would have liked to know.

"You know what, Serena. I'll talk to him. Maybe someday he can show you he's not as insensitive as he seems…," he said with confidence in his friend.

"That'll be the day," she said standing up and wiping her eyes. "I'm gonna go find my friends again. They're probably waiting. Thank you, Andrew!" She gave Andrew her best smile and was off.

"That jerk! Why can't he do anything but bring me down? Even when I like him, he hurts me," she thought sadly. To make things worse, it seemed as if all the spring couples came out just to spite her. Serena walked down the street surrounded by love birds holding hands and giggling at eachother. When she passed Osa-P she felt tears coming, yet again. She sighed, then stopped.

"Cheer up, Serena! Don't disappoint Raye and the others!" she pepped herself. She decided she could skulk as she crossed the street, before letting her sadness shrink away.

Darien let his feet lead him to his destination. That's why he was all the more shocked at seeing Meatball Head ahead of him appearing ready to step onto the road in front of a red Corvette.

"Did she notice the green light?! Guess not!" he reasoned with himself. Instead of backing up she continued to walk as a red car sped in her direction. Darien raced to help her. Serena heard a horn blare and shrieked.

"Ahhhhh!!!!!!!!" she screamed. Seconds before a collision could take place a warm hand grabbed hers and dragged her across the street. When she and the figure stopped she was panting profusely.

"Darien?!" she shrieked. Darien held her protectively by the waist seemingly uaware; his attention was drawn to the Corvette that now sped down the street. When it was out of sight, he looked back at Serena, blushed, and released her waist.

"Serena, are you, okay?" he said while clearing his throat.

"You-you saved me!" she said in disbelief.

"I couldn't let my verbal sparring partner become road kill," he said grinning down at her.

"Oh…I…uh…gotta go," she said looking suddenly, distraught. She refused to let her eyes meet his as she attempted to walk down the street. Then, he caught her by the arm.

"To meet your friends? Let me walk you there. You might trip and fall into the street. I may not be able to save you twice in a row," he said with a chuckle while simultaneously scolding himself.

"Hmph! If you must," she agreed princess-like. It bothered her that a small part of her was relieved at his nvitation. Silently, they began walking side by side down the street.

A little time passed with neither of them teasing. Serena's mouth opened and closed several times without a word coming out; she knew what she wanted to ask, she just couldn't build the nerve. Finally, the silence made her so crazy she simply spat it out.

"Why are you always so mean to me?! Why is it that I'm the only girl you taunt? Everybody else thinks you're such a nice guy, but I just don't see it!" she declared with nose upright.

Darien winced and looked at something in the sky. His look was pensive so Serena gave him time to respond. Darien decided to let what was on his mind flow.

"Well…I'm not really sure, Serena. Maybe it's because you're not like other girls. Somehow when I first met you I knew you were different. For some reason you make me react differently than I do to anyone else." Serena tried to take in everything he said.

"So it's not that you dislike me…"

"Well I wouldn't even bother talking to you if I didn't like you," he said as a matter of fact. The park loomed ahead of the pair. Serena was blushing, but also mournful that she had this epiphany just as she had to leave.

"Well, I guess, here's your stop."

"Yeah I guess it is," she said looking at the playground sadly.

"Well, see ya Meatball Head!" he teased over his shoulder as he walked casually away.

"Hey! It's Serena!" she laughed after yelling in his direction.

The four girls sat in the park.

"Maybe we can have some time to plan now," Mina, the matchmaker, said. Two girls nodded their heads. One girl was confused.

"Huh?"

Raye spied Amy's lost expression.

"Wow, girl, you gotta get out of the books more often. To get Serena and Darien together of course!"

"Oh!" Amy nodded over emphatically with a blush.

"Ooh! Ooh! I have an idea!" Lita paused for suspense.

"Well…?" Mina asked impatiently.

"How about we…." Lita spread out the plan to her friends as they all agreed to it.

Serena arrived just as the finishing touches were set. She looked extremely happy. A little too happy.

"Why are you smiling so much, Serena?" Amy asked curiously.

"Oh…nothing," Serena giggled to herself," Hey. What were you guys in such deep conversation about?"

"Oh…nothing," the girls said in unison with devilish grins on their faces.