MOONLIGHT MIRAGE By Lady M. Harris Editor: Sun Princess Part Two . . . "Bye, Mom! I'm going to met Rei at the park now." Serena called out as she walked out of the front door. "Okay, sweetheart! See you tomorrow." Serena's mom called out from the kitchen. Serena slammed the door shut, sighing in relief because Luna was nowhere in sight. Serena had already heard her long, exhausting lecture about how it wasn't going to work. The plan could backfire. Someone was going to get hurt. They were telling too many lies, and on and on. Luna had kept up the lecturing, repeatedly drilling in all the reasons this was a bad idea until Serena threw a pillow over her head to muffle the insistent, nagging, voice of reason. After a few minutes of addressing a pillow, Luna left her charge, giving Serena a reprieve from her scathing tongue. She remembered wincing when she told another lie to her mother about meeting Rei at the park. Thank God Rini was spending the night at a friend's house. Otherwise, that brat would have been pestering her about Darien again. When would Serena take her to Darien's? That would then, start another argument about why they couldn't go over to Darien's followed by Rini promptly declaring that it was all Serena's fault that Darien had broken up with her. Serena was spending the night at Rei's after tonight's charade; she just wasn't meeting Rei at the park. Serena and Chad had agreed to meet at the park and take her to the club from there. Serena didn't want to be caught dead with an older guy picking her up at home in front of her father. She could just imagine what her dad's response would be. Several images of her father chasing after Chad with a shotgun; various, lethal kitchen equipment; and multi bladed, garden tools flashed through her mind. She suppressed a shudder. Rei had agreed to meet them at the front of the club, since she had some last minute errands to run for her grandpa. There, they would pretend to exchange ID cards to get her into the club because Serena would already have the fake ID supplied by the Luna pen. The whole situation was completely insane; Luna was at least partially right, Serena thought. Here she was trying to deceive Darien into thinking that she had fallen for Chad. Meanwhile, she and Chad had an agreement to fool Rei into thinking that Chad had started liking her. Then, Rei and she had to keep the Luna pen a secret from Chad. And not to mention Chad seemed to be hiding something from everyone else as well. Or at least, Serena thought so. Anybody could easily get lost and totally turned around trying to weed their way through all the tangles and knots in this intricate web of deceit that was being woven. Serena reached the park in no time. As she expected it to be, it was almost deserted. Almost everyone had packed up his or her picnics to go home leaving only a few scattered couples about, enjoying a dazzling sunset on this warm, summer evening. It was nearing 8:30 and Chad would be here any moment. Serena looked around the area she was in to make sure no one was about. Stepping behind a dense cluster of small trees and bushes, she pulled the Luna pen from her purse. Raising the pen above her head, she called out the pen to obey her. "Disguise (Moon) power, turn me into a funky, fine, club hopper!" She shouted to the pen, chuckling at her own choice of words. Long rays of colorful, spiral swirls of energy erupted from the Luna pen, enveloping Serena. She threw back her head, closing her eyes at the same time and stretched out her arms as she embraced the power of the pen. Warm auras swirled restlessly around and throughout her body. Her long, golden hair lengthened and turned almost silver-white. Her chest expanded slightly as her hips rounded and curved becomingly. Her long legs became more strongly defined, the skin tanned and toned from exercise. The rays of light swirled brightly once more as they covered her in new clothing. With a final burst of energy, high heels appeared on her feet before the auras filtered out. She only had time for a quick glance at what she was wearing in her compact before a car rounded the corner of the park. She was wearing a black, ribbed, sweater halter-top that bared her shoulders and mid-drift; a lavender, short, silk skirt that flared slightly at her hips; matching jet-black stockings and a pair of multi strapped, black heels topped off her outfit. Tiny, silver, crescent moon earrings adorned her ears and a matching thin, silver bracelet graced one of her arms. On her shoulder, dangled a satin, lavender purse, completing the ensemble. She quickly put the pen back into her altered purse. Her mouth dropped open as a shiny, black BMW pulled to a stop in front of her. "Serena?" Chad called out as the passenger side window rolled down. "Chad?" Serena asked as she stepped forward, glancing into the interior. "My God, Serena! I almost didn't recognize you!" Chad exclaimed, grinning. Then he added, "You look great! Hop in." "Thanks, so do you," she said, smiling as she got into the car. He looked quite handsome too, sporting black jeans, a light beige, silk shirt and causal dress shoes. She didn't recognize the watch on his wrist and was sure that Rei hadn't bought it. It looked very expensive with its slick, black leather strap and thin facing. "Where in heavens did you get this car, Chad?" She asked, unable to contain her curiosity. He looked at her and smiled mischievously. "Rei's not the only one around here who can pull some strings." He said, mysteriously. "Oh, wow." She replied, stilling looking around the interior. The car still had that brand-new smell. "What did you do to your hair?" Chad asked, not taking his eyes off the road. "You look totally different." Serena squirmed nervously. She hated lying like this, especially to friends. "It's just for tonight. I'll have the same color back tomorrow." "Oh. You know, if I wasn't totally hooked on Rei, Darien would have some serious competition," he laughed, following it up with a wolfish grin. "No way!" Serena exclaimed while blushing and giggling at the same time. "No, seriously. Darien's a fool for breaking up with you. You show a lot of character, strength, and love to go through all of this just for him," he finished. "Thanks, Chad. You know, I don't think Rei really realizes the kind of guy you really are." She said, grinning. "You have no idea," Chad muttered under his breath. "What did you say?" She asked. "We're here." He announced as he nodded toward her side of the car. The Java had masses of people still standing in line, trying to get into the already crowded club. The sun had set a short while ago, the Tokyo skylights brightly illuminating the purple twilight that had settled on the city. It was a Saturday night, and the nightlife was bustling with action. Rei was near the front of the line, waiting for them. Her eyes went wide as they went over Serena's appearance and even wider as her gaze swept over Chad's. A couple of guys whistled softly as Serena went by. Serena's perfume smelled like sweet lilies, softly tantalizing and teasing the guys' senses. Similarly, the girls in line practically drooled as they stared at Chad. They made a very striking and beautiful couple. Rei was wearing a simple, red, two-tiered sheath dress that flowed gracefully over her curves. Off-black pantyhose and red heels finished her outfit. Her long, purple-black hair hung loose as always and gleamed like satin in the night lights. It wasn't a surprise that quite a few guys were also checking out the lovely Rei. Chad looked like the perfect, male specimen, Rei thought. She suddenly felt an unmistakable pang of jealousy rise up again as she looked over at Serena with Chad. She promptly squashed the feeling. "You look awesome, Serena!" Rei said sincerely, as they got into line with her. "Thanks Rei," Serena grinned back. Chad looked over at Serena and she saw his glance; he was playacting again. Her stomach knotted nervously and she wanted to groan in frustration. "She does, doesn't she? Darien doesn't stand a chance." He said, grinning. "Oh, you look good too, Rei," he said offhandedly, almost an afterthought. Serena nodded in agreement. "I just 'look good'?" Rei uttered. She flung her hair back and flashed her eyes at him. Her body arched forward seductively as she added, in her most sexy voice. "I look bad, Chad." There, that should shut him up, Rei thought. She wasn't disappointed. For once, Chad was speechless. His eyes went hot as he continued to stare at Rei. Serena wanted to giggle as she watched the scene unfolding between the two. Serena cleared her throat, "Did you bring the card?" she said in a low voice to Rei. "Huh? Oh, yeah," Rei said, clearing her mind and vision of Chad. Did Chad just look at her as if he wanted to strip her clothing? No way. She must be seeing things again. Both girls turned around, facing the street, away from Chad and the crowd. Serena reached into her purse as Rei pretended to have a card for her. At the same time, Serena placed an ID card into Rei's hand. "Did you happen to see Darien, yet?" Serena asked as they finished putting away the cards. "Yeah. He and Andrew went in just before you and Chad arrived," Rei said, trying to suppress a frown. "What is it?" Serena asked, puzzled. Rei looked away from her. "He wasn't alone, Serena." At Serena's blank stare, she added, "He came with a girl." "What?" Serena stiffened and her body went rigid with pain and shock. "I don't understand him. How could he do that to you?" Chad voiced behind them, as he laid a comforting arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry, Serena." In a way, Serena understood what Darien was doing. He was trying to forget her and the scene he had witnessed at the arcade. He couldn't know that all she was trying to do was get him jealous. "D-do you know her?" Serena stammered as her eyes began to water. She furiously blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. "No, I didn't recognize her at all," Rei shook her head in the negative. They stepped up to the door and paid their way. "Well, we'll just have to get a table close to them," Chad said as he placed Serena's hand into his. Rei frowned slightly as she stared at their clasped hands. She could feel the dragon of jealously rearing its ugly head once again as she watched them. "Come on," Chad said with an encouraging smile as they maneuvered their way through the throng of people. Serena went still as she spotted Darien across the room and headed toward an empty table. He was sitting next to Andrew and the girl Rei had mentioned earlier. The girl had long, pale, blonde hair and a pretty face from what she could see. The girl smiled up at Darien and put her hand on his sleeve. At the same time, Serena felt Chad let go of her hand, just as Darien glanced over at them, and place it on the small of her back as if nudging her forward through the crowd. It was an intimate touch, a sign of pure possessiveness. It was the same gesture Darien had done dozens of times in the past. She watched as Darien became still, his gaze frozen on her. She could tell, even from across the room, how his lips had tightened and his eyes became hard, cold stones. He got up slightly, as if to charge at them, but Andrew had already noticed and pulled on Darien's arm to bring him back down. The girl next to Darien looked slightly startled as she noticed Serena. "I would say, that our plan is working very well, Serena," Rei replied behind Serena's back. "It sure is," Chad answered, tightening his hold on Serena, adding more emphasis to the gesture. The music blared loudly, almost throbbing, as Darien continued stare daggers at them, his gaze locked onto and holding Serena's. They settled at a table almost directly across the room from Darien's. Everyone at Darien's table continued to stare at them. Serena barely heard the music, or was even aware of her surroundings, until Rei nudged her slightly. "Quit staring back at him, Serena. You're supposed to be in love with Chad!" Rei reminded her. "Pretend you're having a grand time. I know I am!" Rei laughed as she looked over at Chad, who was watching her. "You're right, Rei!" Serena said, agreeing with her. Just then, a good-looking guy came over to their table. He asked Rei for a dance and she quickly accepted, her gaze slipping over to Chad to see if he noticed. He did. Not to be outdone, Chad quickly asked Serena to dance. "I intend to make her and Darien jealous tonight, Serena," Chad said in her ear as they made their way to the dance floor. "Good," Serena replied, throwing caution to winds. "Cause I have every intention of getting Darien back, no matter what," she said, as she started dancing to the lyrics of the song that was playing. The music lyrics went something like this: (Back street Boys) Even in my heart I see You're not being true to me Deep within my soul I feel Nothing's like it used to be Sometimes I wish I could turn back time Impossible as it may seem But I wish I could so bad baby Chorus Quit playin' games with my heart Before you tear us apart I should've known from the start Before you got in my heart I live my life the way To keep you coming back to me Everything I do is for you So what is it that you can't see Sometimes I wish I could Turn back time, impossible as it may seem But I wish I could so bad You better quit playin' games with my heart Chorus Quit playin' games Baby, baby the love that we had was so strong Don't leave me hangin' here forever Oh baby, baby this is not a lie, let's stop this tonight Baby, quit playin' games Sometimes I wish I could Turn back time, impossible as it may seem But I wish I could so bad, baby Quit playin' games with my heart Serena's breath caught when she noticed that she was suddenly dancing right next to Darien and the girl. Somehow, he had maneuvered their way next to her and Chad. As the dance floor became even more crowded with dancers, Serena could feel Darien's proximity to her. She pulled Chad closer as if using him as shield while they danced. Rei winked at her from above someone's shoulder as Chad nodded his head, saying he got the message. Darien's eyes gleamed at her as they trailed over her curves. Her body was swaying to the music, her movements fluid, almost seductive under the flashing lights. The girl danced next to him, forgotten. She frowned at Darien and continued to glare at Serena, this strange girl who seemed to have captured her date's undivided attention. The music pounded louder as the dance floor became even more crowded, the vibrations almost seeming to pulse through the group. Heat from all of the moving bodies had Serena beginning to sweat. Serena caught a whiff of Darien's cologne and his own musk; she sighed with longing. She watched as Darien's eyes smolder to burning embers as he caught the sound of her sigh above the music. "What the hell are you doing here with him?" He demanded from her angrily. He moved closer to her. She tossed her head back, throwing her white-gold mane over her shoulders as she glared back at him. "What difference does it make to you?" She challenged. Serena watched his eyes start to burn with an anger as cold and hard as sapphires. "What do you mean by that, Serena? You're only fifteen! You shouldn't even be here!" He ground between clenched teeth. "Oh," she said as one of her blond brows raised slightly. "And why should you care about what I do? It's no concern of yours any longer, in case you have forgotten," she finished. "You're right, Serena," he said as their bodies brushed against each other, still dancing. Serena could feel her heart pounding harder and faster than a runaway train as they danced head to head, toe to toe. Her breasts accidentally scraped against his chest, the nipples hard from her exertions. She watched Darien's eyes narrow like steel vices at her under the cover of the flickering lights. In retaliation, he grazed his hip against her bare mid-drift, causing her to suck in her breath in startlement. For a brief moment, she had felt him pressed hard against her stomach, the prominent display of his arousal all for her benefit. Her senses were reeling with out-of-control desire, only dimly aware that he had somehow maneuvered them away from Chad and the girl's sight, whom they had been dancing with. They were now dancing together among strangers up against a wall. "For someone who doesn't give a damn about me, you're being awfully nosey about what I do. I mean, you sound almost jealous, Darien. That's hard to believe since you were the one who dumped me," she said as she gritted her teeth. She was fighting against herself, always a losing battle where he was concerned. He knew all the right buttons to push and so knew that dancing this close to her would cause her thoughts to become jumbled, in disarray. "The fact that this new boyfriend of yours could be so irresponsible as to take you here is enough to cause anyone to worry," he replied, ignoring her last comment and pushing her up against the wall. "That's between him and me," Serena gasped out as his body slid up against hers. "It's no longer any of your business," she continued. She stared at his lips that were somehow, suddenly hovering dangerously close to hers. She could actually feel the feathery brush of his breath against her hot, flushed, cheeks. "You think so?" he asked, his gaze flickering between her lips and at her bright, blue eyes. He wanted to punish her, for being so beautiful, for not wasting any time in replacing him with that so-called boyfriend of hers. He didn't deserve her, whoever he was. No one could have her, except him, his mind screamed. "Well, I'm damn well making it my business," he said as he lowered his lips to her throat. Serena closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall, allowing him better access to her throat, as she became overwhelmed with desire. His lips left a trail of wet, forbidden kisses along her arched throat, feeling her pulse throb hard and fast under his hot lips. He was punishing her, she knew, by not kissing her lips as she wanted him to do. They were no longer dancing, their bodies now touching intimately, totally submerged in their own world of passion. Another song began playing, the lyrics echoing loudly in Darien's head. It matched his mood, firing up his jealousy as it echoed his own thoughts. (N SYNC) You're all I ever wanted You're all I ever needed, yeah So tell me what you do now Cause I want you back It's hard to say I'm sorry It's hard to make the things I did undone A lesson I've learned too well, for sure So don't hang up the phone now I'm trying to figure out just what to do I'm going crazy without you You're all I ever wanted You're all I ever needed, yeah So tell me what to do now When I want you back Baby I remember The way you used to look at me and say Promises never last forever I told you not to worry I said that everything will be all right I didn't know than that you were right CHORUS I want you back You're the one I want You're the one I need Girl what can I do You're the one I want You're the one I need Tell me what can I do "Does he make you feel like I do?" Darien whispered against her throat. His hand came up, caressing her soft thigh. Serena could feel her leg trembling where his hand stroked her thigh and played with the bottom of her skirt. The sensual feel of his fingers rubbing against the tight stockings had her gasping with pleasure. She shook her head, barely able to comprehend what he was saying to her. "Does he do this to you, babe?" He ground out hoarsely against her bare shoulder. He nipped her skin with his teeth, causing her to moan. Pleasure and excitement ran rampant throughout her body as he, again, pressed himself against her. He wedged his hard thigh between her legs, forcing her to ride his thigh because of his height. The heat of her center, coming into contact with him in his own aroused state, was almost his undoing as he stared down, under lowered lids, into her face. "Come on, babe. Ride it," he urged her as her mound began to move slowly, deliciously, against his hard thigh. "That's it, nice and slow," he whispered, groaning at the same time. She was helpless, but to follow her own body's wild responses. "Does he make you feel like this?" He asked again, as he continued to torture her. The hand that had been caressing her thighs, reached under her skirt to cup her round buttocks, kneading them against him. He pushed her harder against his thigh, knowing he was building up her climax. "Does he make you wanna scream the way I do?" He whispered against her hot ears, then moving down to suckle her neck. "Darieeenn . . . " She groaned, quietly. She was already lost, that he could make love to her in a club full of people, that she felt as if she had waited for forever to be in his arms again. The heat of swirling desire was spiraling out of control in her as her breasts swelled with arousal, her nipples like hard, little pebbles. She could feel his other hand pushing her further up against him, the full mounds of her breasts lying tightly against his chest. The center of her boiled like hot, raging liquid; her warm, womanhood intimately pressed again and again against his thigh. "Ah God, Serena . . . " He whispered huskily into her throat. He was helpless not to feel her rising desire. By God, he wanted to take her home and make love to her all night. She looked so incredible tonight, like the finest thing that ever walked this earth. He had been overwhelmed by the sight of her. Darien knew that she had used the Luna pen to get into the club, to make herself look a little older, a little more mature. And in doing so, she had given him a glimpse of what she would look like in the future. All he could do is groan at the thought. He had completely forgotten his own promise to stay away from her. She was heaven and hell to him. Serena made him feel more alive than he ever felt in his life and at the same time, tortured him because he couldn't be with her without risking her life . . . "Does he, Serena? Does he make you wanna scream?" He groaned out as he felt her body stiffen and shudder from her climax. She cried out his name, lost in her own world of desire. He quickly covered her lips with his own to muffle her cries. He kissed her deeply, finally. His lips were moving over hers ever so slowly, torturing her with the dip of his tongue into her mouth. Then, he grazed her lips with the onslaught of his tongue. Wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders, fingers tangling in the thick, silky, mass of his black hair, she kissed him back for all she was worth. Two could play this game of desire, she thought hazily. She suddenly became aware of him, throbbing and heavy against her stomach, as he ground his hips against her. He pulled back from her, staring into her passion-glazed eyes. Christ, he wanted nothing more than to take her . . . Right now. "Darien?" Melissa called out behind Darien. He lifted his head away from Serena, his gaze almost as dazed as hers. Slowly, he untangled himself from her and turned toward his date. Serena flushed with embarrassment as the girl glared angrily at her and Darien. "I want to go home now, Darien," Melissa bit out. Andrew came up behind Melissa, a frown on his face as he saw Serena and Darien together. Likewise, Chad and Rei were making their way toward them. Serena pushed her hair back with a trembling hand and Rei grinned ather slyly. She caught Rei putting her thumbs up indicating that she had done a good job--Serena could feel herself flushing even brighter. Stay tuned for the next part . . . Lady M. Harris.