Alrighty peoples! Here is Hidden Love II, and it's actually set four years after Hidden Love. NEW E-MAIL ADDRESS!!! roovel@xoommail.com Hidden Love II By: Roo E-mail: roovel@xoommail.com "Serena!" yelled Ilene, from the lounge where her family and a different family of four where seated at the lounge. "What is it Mum?" Serena yelled from upstairs. "We have guests, come down now," Ken said. Serena entered the lounge room wearing tight jeans and a long sleeved top and said, "What is it Mum..." she stopped as she saw the Chiba family seated on their lounge. She gulped. "Serena!" Sam said and ran to her and hugged her. She wore track pants and a white shirt. "Hello, Sam," Serena said as she ruffled her brown hair, affectionately. "You've grown." "How are you, Serena?" Martha said with a huge smiled. "Good thanks," she said as she extended her hand to her. "It's nice to see you after such a long time." She shook David's hand. "You too, David," She then shook Darien's hand. "Darien." She smiled. "Good to see you too, Serena," Darien replied. He wore black jeans and a white shirt. "The Chiba's have joined us for Christmas this year, Serena," Ilene said happily. "And Darien also came here for...? "For a skating lesson." "Oh," Ilene replied. "That's nice to hear," Serena said. "Oh! Look at the time! Gotta meet Mina at the cafe. See ya," she said, heading towards the door. "Why don't you take Darien along with you?" Ilene said. "I'm sure he would like to go." "Umm...okay." Darien got up and followed her out the door before he and Serena put on their coats. "It's nice to see you, again," Darien said as they reached the Tokyo footpaths covered with snow and the sun shining bright in the sky. Serena nodded. "How long has it been? Three years?" "No, four." "Wow! That long?" Serena smiled. "Yeah." They walked in silence until they reached the cafe. "Here we are," Serena said, opening the door and entering it. "Serena! Over here!" Mina yelled from a booth, waving her arm. Mina wore a jumper and pants. "Hey, Mina," Serena said as she sat down. Darien sat down next to her. "This is..." Serena started saying as she gestured to Darien. "I know! I know!" Mina said, happily. "You must be Darien," she said, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "Nice to meet you, Mina." He smiled, letting go of her hand. "I've heard *so* much about you. Serena's told me everything." "Really?" he said raising an eyebrow at Serena. Seren a felt a blush creep across her face. "Come here for Christmas?" Mina asked. "Yes." "Hey Mina, Serena," Andrew said. He wore brown pants and a pale yellow shirt. "Hey Andrew," Serena said. "This is Andrew Green," Serena said to Darien. "And this is Darien Chiba," Serena said to Andrew. "Nice to meet you," Darien said as he shook his hand. "You too. I've heard a lot about you, from Serena," Andrew said with a smile. "Really?" Darien said, letting go of his hand. "Are you going to join us for lunch, Andrew?" Mina asked. "I've got to go back to work. I'm sorry," Andrew said, then giving her a kiss on her cheek. "I understand." She smiled. "See you soon," Andrew said, then left. "So, what are we eating?" Serena asked. "I'm starved." "Excuse me," Serena said after they had eaten their lunch. "I have to go to the bathroom." Darien got up to let her through, then watched her fondly just before she entered the ladies toilets. "You love her, don't ya?" Mina asked, suddenly to Darien. Darien was surprised. He sighed. "Yeah...How did you know?" "Hey! This is Venus, Goddess of Love here," she said as she smiled. "I know when someone's in love." He smiled. "But does *she* love me?" "Hmm-mm. I'm sure of it. Don't tell her I told you that. She said she never wanted another boyfriend. But the way she talked about you, it was *very* clear that she loved you." "When was that?" "Just after she came back from Australia," Mina said. "Look, I've got a plan. She doesn't know her own feelings and we have to find out the truth." Darien nodded, slowly. "I've gotta go to work now," Serena said, coming back from the bathroom. "Don't you *ever* get bored of ice-skating?" Mina asked. "No, I don't," Serena said with a smile. "Are you going to the rink?" Darien asked. "Hmm-mm," Serena replied. "I'll come with you," he said. "Sure, why not," she said with a smile, but her eyes told a different story. "See ya!" Mina said. "Bye." "Serena, where have you been?" Coach Martin asked her after she and Darien had put skates on. "Oh-" "Darien! Hey buddy," Martin said. "Good to see ya. Didn't know you could make it," he said with a friendly smile. "Yeah, finally decided to come," Darien said with a smile. "This is your new partner for teaching, Serena," Martin said. "Whoop-pi," Serena said glumly, heading toward the ice-rink to meet her students. Darien followed. "Okay class," Serena said to ten boys and girls aged fourteen. "We are going to start..." "Hey, aren't you going to introduce us to your hunky boyfriend!" a girl shouted. Serena groaned. "He's not by boyfriend and his name is Darien. He'll be helping to teach today." "Everybody pair up, boy, girl and let me see what what you can do," Darien said. Everyone complied and spread about the rink. "Ex*cuse* me!" Serena said. "This is *my* class and what do you think *you're* doing?" "Well we don't have enough time to wait for you," he said with a quirky grin, heading to a pair. Serena groaned angrily. "No, not like that," Darien said to a boy who was skating with a girl. They stopped. "What's wrong?" asked the girl. "Serena, come here," Darien said. "What's the matter?" Darien held her waist and her right hand high. "At the moment you are holding her like this," Darien said, demonstrating on Serena. "Hold her like this." He brought her *much* closer to him. "Okay," said the student. He did the same as Darien did. "Good, good," Darien said, not letting Serena go. The song the pair was supposed to skate to, started to play. "Show me a few steps." The young pair started to skate around the rink and came back to where Serena and Darien were. "Hmm," Darien hummed critically. "Good, but it can be better. You have to look at the girl your arms as you love her. This is what the judges look for." The pair nodded. "Like this." Darien pulled Serena into a simple step, to skate. He stared at her with much love, demonstrating to the pair. Serena couldn't help but stare into his deep blue eyes. She sighed. "Tired, Serena?" he whispered gently, still skating. She snapped out of her trance. "Hmm?," she hummed. she thought, confused. "Just tired." Darien smirked. "I get it now," said the boy of the pair. "That's good," Serena said. "Go practice a little more." "That was the most tiring lesson ever," Serena said, seating herself on the couch after she had a shower and changed into a long skirt and a blouse." "Where'd everybody go?" She asked Darien who was seated in the couch. "Sight seeing, I think," he said, eyes on the t.v. "Oh." "There's something you left at our house, on your last visit. "Really? What is it?" He handed her a diary, covered with brown paper. Written all over it was 'I love Darien.' She blushed slightly. "Thanks," she said, taking the book. He laughed softly. "Remember how I said I loved you?" His eyes where still on the t.v. "That was so funny. And remember how I gave you a necklace and said that I'd write to you everyday?" He laughed a little louder. "Yeah, yeah," Serena said, a fake smile on her face. She buttoned the top button of her blouse, hiding something. "One of the funniest things I've ever done," he said, facing her. "I've got a girlfriend I love very much, in Sydney." She nodded, stood up and walked away to put her diary away, feeling an emptiness in her heart. "Tokyo is a great city," David said, at the dinner table, seated with his family and the Tsukino family. "Yes," said Martha. "We are having a lot of fun," she said with a smile. "That's good to hear," Ilene said. BRING! BRING! The phone rang. "I'll get it!" Sammy and Serena said loudly, running to the telephone on the kitchen table. Sammy got it first. "Hello? Hold on please," Sammy said. "For you, Serena." "Hello?" Hi Mina!...hmm-mm, okay. Tomorrow? Why didn't you tell me this before?...Okay, okay. I'll tell him. Bye." She put the phone down, and sat at the dinner table. "Who was it, dear?" Ilene asked. "Mina. Andrew's birthday is tomorrow and I'm invited. Darien too." "That was nice of Andrew to invite Darien," Ilene said. "Yeah, very," Serena mumbled. "What does Andrew like?" Darien asked as he and Serena walked around the mall looking for a birthday present for Andrew. "Hmm... I don't know. Just the usual stuff," Serena replied. Darien gave Serena an annoyed look. "And what exactly is the 'usual stuff'?" Serena shrugged. "You should know. You're a guy." "Rightio," he said, annoyed. "I'll get him a shirt and tie." "Hey! I was going to get that!" she said angrily. "Well I said so first!" he said in the same way. "I thought of it first!" "How would you know?" "Well I do!" "Fine. I'll get him a bottle of after-shave," he said, walking towards a department store. "Hey, that's a good idea," Serena said, following Darien. "I thought of it first," he mimicked Serena. "Take that back!" she said, hitting him upside his head. "Ouch! That hurt." He rubbed his sore head. "Now apoligise." "What for?" "Oh, just shut up," Serena said, storming into the department store. "Hey, guys," Mina greeted once Serena and Darien had their gifts gift-wrapped. "Hi, Mina," Serena greeted. "What did you get for Andrew?" "Hey, everyone," Andrew greeted. "Are you ready for lunch, Mina?" Mina's face lit up. "You bet ya!" "Okay, see ya later guys." "Bye," Darien said. "Are we going?" "Hmm? Where?" Serena said. "Lunch." "Oh, yeah. Sure." They walked over to the food-court and decided to eat lunch at a cafe. Darien ordered a sandwich and Serena ordered a meat pie. They sat down at a two seater table. "So do you still do competition?" she asked. "Competition?" "Skating." "Oh... No, I don't." "Why not?" "Too much time, I guess," he said with a shrug. "Uni and all that stuff." Serena nodded. "Which uni do you go to?" "New South Wales. But I might be getting a place in Tokyo." "Really?" Serena said, surprised. "I go there." "Then maybe I should think about it again," he said with a quirky grin. "What's that supposed to mean!?" Darien laughed. He actually wanted to go to Tokyo because of her. "Nothing." Serena's eyes narrowed suspicously but she remained quiet. "You still do competition, I understand," Darien said. She nodded, taking a sip of her drink. "With a guy called Brett Bezinski. He's really good. Have you heard of him?" Darien groaned. "Yeah. Total moron he is." "What do you mean?" "He was Lita's partner. Lita preferred him over me." "So? Didn't you find another partner?" "No... Lita was my last." "Hmm... So you hate him?" "What do you think? He caused the downfall of my career. If you can call it a career." "Why didn't you just find another partner?" "No one suited me, so I just gave up." "He looks a lot like you, you know. Black hair, stunning blue eyes..." Serena said, unconsciously staring at his eyes. She quickly broke out of her trance and blushed. He chuckled. "Every girl I've met has said the same thing about my eyes. I'll have to thank Mum one of these days..." "I wasn't referring to you! I was referring to Brett." "Why did you so suddenly stare at me and then when you looked away, you blushed?" "Shut up. Who would take an interest in you, anyway?" "My girlfriend." Darien was always aware that when ever he mentioned his 'girlfriend', Serena would be suddenly sad. "Oh... Yeah..." she said sadly. "But she could want you for your money." "She doesn't need it. She's got plenty." "Right..." Serena said, rolling her eyes. "I think we better get going. We're supposed to help out with the party," Darien said, getting up and paying the bill. "What do you mean 'we'?" Serena said, getting up and paying her share of the bill. "I'm so...tired..." she said, faking a yawn. "Lazy lump," he mumbled. "Lump of lard," she returned the insult. "And why should *I* be the lazy one?" he asked, both walking out of the mall and onto the cold streets. "I didn't call you lazy," she said. "Just a lump of lard. Darien decided to let it drop. "Fine. So where are we supposed to meet?" "The community centre." They reached the community centre and finished decorating the place ot hold the suprise party for Andrew. "Perfecto!" Serena complimented once they had finished the job. They ahd decorated the small hall with colourful balloons, streamers and hung a banner up saying 'Happy Birthday Andrew!' The music blasted loud and everyone was having a great time a few hours later. Darien sat alone, watching the happy people. "Why so glum, chum?" Serena asked as she sat next to Darien. "I miss my girlfriend," he responded. Mina had always said to mention his girlfriend. "Oh, right... Okay..." "Is that her!" Darien asked, his face lighting up. "It is!" "Cool..." Serena said quietly. "I'd like to meet her." "She's coming this way," he said, looking at a girl with long black hair. "Hey, guys," Raye greeted. "Haven't seen you in a while, Serena," she said. "How are you?" Serena gawked at Raye. Raye over me? Serena thought glumly as tears began to form in her eyes. "Raye! Missed you *so* much," Darien over acted, then grabbed Raye into a hug and kissed her fully on the lips. TO BE CONTINUED... Well, well, well... What's gonna happen now? The next part should be out in a couple of weeks. ^_^ Thanks for reading!