IF A PICTURE PAINTS A THOUSAND WORDS 9 A Sailor Moon Sekkushiaru Roman, Loosely Based on Stories in Moonlight Flight by Sailor Mac "Hey! Have you heard?" I can't help but overhear the group one table over from me. They're talking much too loud for a library. It's a group of "popular" girls. . .popular with who I don't know, every one of *my* friends considers them a bunch of snot-nosed brats. I bury my head deeper in the notebook I'm writing in. (Okay, it's the notebook I'm keeping on the new Sailor Soldiers. I'll get to my homework later. . .) "You wouldn't believe what happened with Serena Tsukino and that boyfriend of hers!" NANI? My head snaps up at that one. I don't blab about my relationship with Darien at school. . .not like that bigmouth Leanne does. "The Incredible Hunk?" the second girl says. "How did Miss Klutzoid bag a babe like *him*? He must be blind as a bat." "Well, it seems that Serena wanted to get down and dirty with him, but they couldn't get any time alone together. So then one of her little pals got involved. . ." "Which one?" "Mina Aino." "Ha! The biggest ditz in the entire school!" Now I'm seething with anger. They can diss me all they like, but when they start talking about my friends. . .Grr, I've got half a mind to transform and Moon Spiral Heart Attack their sorry butts. . . "Well, anyway, Mina got them a hotel room. . .and then she stood there watching while they did it!" THE. . .THE. . .THE. . .HELL????? Mina *watching* us? No WAY? Why would she want to do something like that? And even if she did. . .there's no way we'd let her! "No WAY!" "Way! But then, right when he was about to come. . .he *farted!* And Serena ran out of the hotel screaming. . .still naked!" The whole group starts laughing hysterically at that one. And I slam my notebook shut, grab my books and run out of the library, fighting the tears back. I end up in the ladies' room, and lock the stall door behind me. . .then burst into tears. Why are they saying these things about me and the people I love? Where did they get such a wild story in the first place? The bell rings to end study hall. I manage to pull myself together and splash cold water on my face, then head off for math. I sit next to Mina in this class. . . Oh, Gods. . .there's more of those so-called "popular" kids up front. And they're turning around and giving us funny looks. . .a couple of them are giggling. I want to sink down under my seat and die. "Serena. . ." Mina leans over and whispers, "what's going on?" I don't know how I'm going to tell her. She's going to have a cow when she hears about this. The class seems to take forever, and so does the class after that. And then, finally, it's lunchtime. I grab my lunchbag and run out into the yard, by our usual tree, to await the others. . . And then, I hear another group of them, on the other side of the tree. "Did you hear what happened with Serena Tsukino and that snobby little group of losers she hangs with? The geek, the ditz, the butch and that bitch from Thomas Aquinas?" GRRR. . .My hand is reaching for my locket. I'll show them. . .But I stop myself. No, can't transform right here in the schoolyard. Better wait for Lita to show up. . .she'll thrash their butts *without* transforming! "No. . .what happened?" "They had a party. . .and they played a "draw straws" game. And whoever got the short straw. . .the others had to dare them to do something. So first that Amy nerd draws the short straw, and they make her take her panties off. . .and then Mina draws it, and they made her kiss Serena. . .so then Lita gets it. . .and they made her and Lita take off their blouses and suck each other's titties! And they both really got into it!" "Tiffany! You're joking!" "I'm serious! And then Serena got it. . .and she took her clothes off and laid on top of Mina and. . ." I don't want to hear anymore. How dare they think we'd cheat on our boyfriends! I get up and walk away, to another tree. . .And there's people talking behind that one, too. . . "That boyfriend of Serena's? Well, she told all her little girlfriends that every time he has an orgasm. . .he shrivels up into an old man! Turns out Mr. Stud is really a dud!" "Ha! Ha! You're kidding, Kelly!" "Nope! And when she told her snobby little clique. . .they just had to see for themselves! So they all ran to his apartment, and they found him looking at girlie magazines and jerking off. . .and then all four of them started licking and rubbing his dick!" NO! Oh, gods, my friends would *never* do anything with Darien. . . "And then he came, all right, and they watched him shrivel up into an old man before their eyes!" The sound of mocking laughter comes from the girls. I can't take it anymore. . .the whole school seems to have become a hornet's nest of gossip. I run blindly from the schoolyard, running and running and running down the street, ignoring the stitch in my side, the ache in my legs. . . Finally, I find myself in the park. I sink down on a bench and sob and sob. I'll never be able to go back to that school. . .never, never, never. . . A period of time passes. . .minutes? Hours? I drag myself slowly to my feet, tears still running down my face, and head for the one place where I'll always feel safe. Oh, Gods, please let him be home. . . He answers the door. "Meatball Head? What's wrong?" "Oh, Darien. . ." I bury my head in his chest and throw my arms around his waist, and I feel him stroking my hair. . . "Ssshh, honey. . .come in, sit down and talk about it. . ." He leads me over to the couch. I sit next to him, put my head on his shoulder and pour the whole ugly, sordid thing out. He laughs when he hears the one about him shriveling into an old man. "I'm sorry, honey, but. . .that's just *so* ridiculous! Why they think *anyone* would believe that. . ." "They're ridiculous stories. . .but it still hurts. . .oh, Darien, why are they doing this to us?" "It sounds to me like they're jealous." "Jealous? Them? Darien, these are girls who have *everything*! They're from rich families! They date jocks! They have gorgeous clothes and high-tech gadgets and tons and tons of friends. . ." "Do they *really* have everything, Serena? Material goods don't make people happy. Neither does money. When I was a model, I wore sharp clothes every day, and I went to glamorous parties, and I was making a lot of money. . .but I was miserable." "They don't *seem* miserable. They seem like their lives are perfect." "Nobody's life is perfect, Serena. We all have problems. . .and how we deal with them depends on our outlook and what kind of support system we have. And you have a terrific support system. . .you have friends and a family who love you. And you have me." "Well, they have a lot of friends, too. . ." "Friends. . .or acquaintances? I think they're making up these rumors because they envy how close you and your friends are. They try to twist it into something it isn't. . .They don't realize that all they're doing is making themselves look bad." "But no matter *why* they're doing it. . .the whole school has heard those rumors by now. . .and because they're popular, people will believe them." "Will they? I think anyone who *really* knows you will know that those are just vicious rumors. It won't make people think less of you. . .but it *will* make them think less of these so-called 'popular' girls. Besides. . .you said everyone you know thinks they're jerks anyway. . ." He takes my hand in both of his. "Serena, the important thing is that you never lose sight of who you *really* are, no matter what other people may *say* you are. And what you *really* are is a princess, a Sailor Soldier and a wonderful young woman. . .the woman I love." I smile, feeling relief and love fill me. He always knows how to make me feel better when I'm down. . . "Thanks, Muffin," I whisper. "I love you. . ." "I love you, too." I lean over and kiss him, and my tongue slips into his mouth. I want to get close to him right now, as close as two people can get. I need his touch, his caresses. . . "Hmm," he whispers between kisses. "Looks like my minx wants to *really* give those gossipmongers something to talk about." "If only they could see us now. . ." We kiss again, and I let my hand slide to the front of his jeans. Ahh. . .it feels like *he* wants to give them something to talk about as well. . . I unsnap and unzip his pants, pushing fabric away until I can get at my goal. . . I hear him gasp as I slide him into my mouth. I move my head up and down, up and down, sliding my tongue along its length when I take him out. . . I feel him gently push me away. "Darien. . .what's wrong? Don't you like it?" "Of course, darling. But I think I'd like it best. . .naked. . .and on the bed." We fairly run for the bedroom and tear off our clothes. He sits with his back against the headboard, and I bury my face between his legs, taking him in my mouth again, sucking him gently but firmly. . .I feel his hands moving over my head as he moans, unfastening my hair and letting it tumble free over my shoulders. . . I raise my head and bring my lips to his again, my arms wrapping around his neck, feeling my nipples rub on his chest. . .ohh, the friction is sooo delicious. . .I rub harder, faster, and he gets the message. When I take my lips from his, he tips me back, and I feel him kissing his way down. . .and then he's just touching his tongue to the tip, lightly, just enough to drive me mad. . .I let out a little, hoarse cry, wanting more, more, more. . .I push forward, trying to get him to take more nipple into his mouth, and then he's sucking, and I moan his name as the luscious sensations flood through me. His hand is on my other breast, cupping it, stroking my nipple with feathery touches. . . "Ohh, baby," I moan, and I feel moist heat spreading between my thighs. . .ohh, Darien, I want you there, baby, yes, yes, there. . . I ease him onto his back and reach into the bedside table, quickly getting out what I need. I roll it on, and then straddle him, rubbing my womanhood on his manhood, not putting it in yet, just savoring the sensation. . .and oh, he loves it too, his eyes are closed and his lips are parted and he keeps whispering "Soo good. . .soo good. . ." I take his hands and put them on my breasts, and I bring my thumbs to his nipples, rubbing them quickly. . .and then I thrust downward, and I feel him enter me, and we both let out a cry. Ohh, Gods, the feel of him filling me, of the two of us becoming one. . . "Serena," he moans as I start to move, getting faster and faster, and the sensations from my nipples are shooting downward to merge with the delicious sensations coming from between my legs, and it feels like my whole body's on fire. . . "Ooohhh. . .honey. . .yees. . ." I hear myself saying as the pleasure goes on and on and on and. . .He squeezes my nipples, and then everything seems to explode, and I let out a loud cry as shudders wrack me. . .I fall forward so I'm lying full-length atop him, and then I start thrusting again, yes, Darien, I can hear you moaning, I know how good it feels. . .I want to make you come, baby. . .yes, yes. . .his hips are moving with my thrusts, both of us rushing blindly toward the same goal, driven by hungry, aching need. . . "AAAHHH!" he cries, and he thrusts in deep as he comes, and that triggers another explosion in me. . .I shriek as the liquid fire shoots through my body again. . . I collapse atop him, and he gently rolls us both on our sides. I feel him pull out of me just long enough to get rid of the condom. . . We snuggle into each other's arms and kiss. "You look pretty good for a shriveled old man," I whisper teasingly. "I recovered very quickly." He kisses me again. "I love you so much, Serena. . ." "I love you, too." And we drift off to sleep. * * * After our nap, we get dressed and go to Crown Cafe together, where we see Lita, Mina, Raye and Amy in a booth. They wave frantically for us to come over. . . "Serena!" Mina says. "You wouldn't believe what happened. . ." "That gossipy bitch got hers!" Raye adds. I look at Lita. She's got a few bruises. . ."You beat up Tiffany?" Lita smiles. "I asked her to meet me after school outside the arcade, and we'd talk about it. Well, she met me, all right, and it got down to punches pretty quickly. . .but it turns out that Tiffany's a lot tougher than she looks. She's a black belt." "Oh, damn. . ." "Well, it turns out that Tiffany and her little buddies had been telling their little stories to other people in the arcade. . .not necessarily people who go to our school. So then. . .guess who'd heard the stories, got ticked off, and came out to help me?" "Who?" "Alex Tenoh!" says Amy. "She kicked Tiffany's butt but good!" Mina adds. "I don't think she's going to be opening her big mouth anytime soon!" "The way Tiffany looked when Alex and Lita got done with her. . .I don't think she'll be able to open her mouth *at all* for awhile," Raye says. "Alex. . .kicked Tiffany's butt because of *me*?" I say. "Yes!" Amy says. "She even said to her, 'That's for Serena!'" Wow, I think. I look at Darien, and he squeezes my hand and whispers, "Told ya, Meatball Head. . .you're special. And people love you. . ." I squeeze his hand back, and think, I don't care what other people think about me anymore, Darien. As long as I have your love. . .that's all I care about. AUTHOR'S NOTES: Watch for an announcement soon concerning myself and the World Wide Web! I have two wonderful gentlemen (Badgerman and Wizard J) helping me out in this area, and this story is dedicated to them in gratitude. . . Standard Sailor Moon disclaimers apply. These characters ain't mine, I'm just borrowing them for a little while.