Life's A Dance--chapter four Once again, Lita amazed us with her cooking abilities. She had prepared everything from three kinds of sandwiches, to a whole assortment of fruits and salads. It looked so good that no one wanted to eat it, but I wasn't about to let that stop me. Everyone took what they wanted, and we had a great time, sitting underneath a large oak tree near the lake. The sun had just started to set, and the fading light shone on the water, glittering like gold. The two of us sat off from the rest of the group, and I was enjoying myself. Darien was being kind of quiet, though, and I wondered why. He was laying down on the blanket, his arms crossed behind his head, and he seemed to be thinking deeply about something. I nudged him gently. "Penny for your thoughts," I whispered. He looked up at me, and smiled. "Did you say something, Serena?" "I was just wondering what you were thinking about. You've been staring off into space for a long time." He shifted into a sitting position. "It's kinda hard to talk about, but I was just thinking that this has to be the first time in a long time that I've been invited to do something with a large group of people." "What do you mean, Darien? Don't you do stuff with Andrew all the time?" "Not really. He works most of the time, and he has his girlfriend to fuss over. No, the last time I did something like this was when I lived at the orphanage." My eyes widened, and I suddenly could feel the pain Darien was harboring inside. This was a side of him I had never seen before. "You lived in an orphanage?" I repeated softly. He nodded, his eyes showing the pain of remembering the memories of his past. "This is something I've never told anyone, Serena, besides Andrew. Other than that, I don't talk about it much. "When I was six years old, I was in a car crash that took the lives of my parents and my memory as well. I was sent to an orphanage, and lived there until I could get a job and support myself. By sheer luck and determination I got into the university. That's how I met Andrew, and we've been friends ever since." My heart cried out for him. No wonder he always kept to himself. He never had anyone to confide in before. "Wow, Darien. . . I never knew. I'm glad you told me." He smiled sheepishly, like a little boy. "Yeah, well, I usually don't pour my heart to people like this, but you're different, Serena. You're special." He thought I was...special? Yes! Another point for my side! "Hey, you two," Lita suddenly interrupted. "Are you coming along or not?" I turned around to her, and noticed that everyone was standing up, looking at us. I blushed, and looked back to Darien. He grinned, stood up, and held out his hand towards me. Pretending to be lady-like, which I knew I certainly wasn't, I took his hand and let him pull me up. He held onto my hand, and tucked it in his. This was something I was definitely *not* expecting for him to do, and by this time, I probably was as red as a tomato. We walked the two blocks from the park to the school. A large gathering of people were already there, waiting in long lines to buy their tickets. We had bought our tickets during the week, and that made it easier for our group to get in. They had done a good job with decorating the main gym, and it looked like anything but a gym tonight. An arch of balloons surrounded the doorway, and tiny lights twinkled throughout the entire room. Someone had even put up a disco ball. I sighed contentedly, and Darien glanced down at me. I returned his gaze and smiled. Right then I promised myself I *would* have a good time, even if it killed me. I had to make it a night he wouldn't forget. Everyone walked out onto the floor, until it was just Darien and me left standing at the door. He tugged on my arm. "C'mon, let's go dance." My feet froze. I had no choice but to tell him now. I glanced up at him. "Darien, there's something I have to talk to you about." I looked around quickly. "Not here. Out in the hall, please." I think I had him worried now, and as we walked out into the hall, he took my hand. "Serena, what's the matter?" I bit my lip. How I wish I didn't have to do this, but I couldn't disappoint him. "Darien. . . I. . . I don't know how to dance. I didn't want to tell you before, because I was afraid you wouldn't want to come." I hung my head in shame. He looked at me, smiled, and then to my surprise, started to laugh! He put an arm around me, and squeezed my shoulder. "Is that what you were worried about? Serena, it doesn't matter to me if you can dance or not. We're here to have a good time, and a good time we will have. Besides, I can teach you the basics. It's not hard at all." All the butterflies left my stomach in that single instant. If it didn't matter to him, then why should it matter to me? I had worried over this for nothing! I smiled at him, and this time it was a genuine smile. "Well, then, let's go! Darien nodded in agreement, and we walked back into the gym. He led me over to a secluded part of the room, and began to teach me 'the basics', as he called it. I admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought would be, except for stepping on his feet a couple of times. However, he didn't let that bother him. Learning how to swing was a different story altogether. I don't think either of us had ever tried it before, and so we just made up steps along the way, laughing our heads off at how silly we looked. Just then, the lights changed, and the music slowed down. I looked at Darien helplessly. This was the part I was really dreading. "Okay, Serena, this isn't any different than the others, you just have to slow down the pace." He took my hand, and placed it on his shoulder. "Now put your other hand up," he instructed. I did as he told me, trying hard not to tremble as I did so. Then he did something I really wasn't expecting. He put his arms around my waist, and left them there. I glanced up into his face, and he was still smiling. "Now just follow my lead." I started watching his feet, and soon enough, I was beginning to feel the rhythm. This was fun! And being this close to Darien didn't hurt either. He brought his hand up, and tilted my chin until I was looking up into his face. "That's better. Just relax, Serena. You're doing fine. The song soon ended, and another slow one began. I didn't change my position, and Darien made no movement to change his either. Suddenly, he pulled me closer to him. I wasn't expecting that at all, but I didn't mind. It felt so natural to be in his arms, almost like. . . I had been this way before. I couldn't explain the feelings that were running through my mind. Instead I just leaned my head on his chest, and kept up with his rhythm. He was so warm, and he smelled good too, like roses. To keep my mind off smothering him, I started listening to the song that was playing. After tonight, I'll never forget the words: Looking back from where I stand tonight I wouldn't change a thing about my life Wrong turns I had to take back in those crazy years Could not have been mistakes if they brought me here Cause all my roads have led me to This night, this love I share with you And though the road was never smooth Life has made me someone who Could be the right someone for you I don't regret a single broken heart That taught me what love is and what it's not Someone must have planned our two paths would cross I couldn't see it then but I was never lost Cause all my roads have led me to This night, this love I share with you And though the road was never smooth Life has made me someone who Could be the right someone for you Detours, dead ends, endless explorations You were my only destination Cause all my roads have led me to This night, this love I share with you And though the road was never smooth Life has made me someone who Could be the right someone for you I don't think they could have played a more perfect song. Everything I was feeling right then was said in those words. Even if I didn't know how to dance, Darien didn't care. He just wanted to be here with me. I raised my head to look at him, and found him staring back at me, with a small smile on his face. That smile. He always knew how to make my day better. A funny, tingling feeling came over me just then, and I think Darien felt it too, cause he had the same look on his face. His eyes searched mine, then he slowly leaned down, and softly brushed his lips against mine. A warm sensation ran through my entire body. Was this heaven? It sure felt like it, and I never wanted to leave. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lita dancing away with Ken. Her eyes met mine, and she smiled and gave me a thumbs up. I blushed, and smiled back. As the song said, maybe we were meant to be. Call it fate, destiny, or whatever you like. But as for me, I think I'll just call it falling in love. copyright August 1998 Sailor Moon and all its characters are the rightful property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha Ltd, Bandai. English adaptation is copyright 1995 DiC Corporations.