Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Seduction ❯ Getting There ( Chapter 1 )

All I own is this computer and a few changes of clothes. No way in hell I could afford any rights to any anime characters. Off to work now…oh how I love my job…discount anime here I come! Working at a movie store so rocks!

Serena drank her soda slowly as she listened to her friends. The entire school was talking about the same thing: Lizzie's party. The exchange student was returning to Los Angeles next week and had decided to go out with a bang. This was going to be the event of the year. She had rented a dance club, arranged for a DJ, and everyone was coming.

Serena finished her drink and got up, setting down enough money to cover her meal and the tip. Lita rose as well, they were going together and Serena had arranged to stay at Lita's apartment that night since it was so much closer than her house. She didn't want to risk waking her parents and she didn't want to have to worry about explaining why she smelled like beer and cigarettes. She flashed a smile at Mina.

"I'll meet you there?"

"Sure. Don't be too late."

She laughed softly. "I think I can manage."

"I wouldn't be so sure of myself if I were you, Meatball head."

Serena whirled, her face a mask of fury. She didn't need to see to know who had spoken. She didn't understand why, but every time she got near Darien her temper got the better of her. He stood just behind her, Andy at his shoulder, with that smirk on his face that made her just want to slap him.

"Go to Hell."

His smirk only seemed to deepen. She pushed past him without tripping for once and managed to get outside before she really lost it. She took several deep breaths, trying to calm herself and waiting for Lita to catch up. It was a few minutes before she joined her.

"You ok?"

"Yeah." She shook her head. "I don't understand why I let him upset me like that."

Lita shrugged. "Maybe you like him."

Serena gaped at her in horror. "Don't even think that!"

Lita giggled. "You are so easy sometimes. Come on, let's go get ready."

By get ready, Lita meant the long extensive process of getting outfits coordinated, showering, dressing, and every other step required for them to look their best. Serena went first in the shower since her hair took longer to dry. She stood with the blow dryer, trying to convince her stubborn locks to release their death grip on the water for almost twenty minutes. Lita finished her shower, stepped out and giggled at her.

"You're still at it?"

Serena sighed. "My hair hates me. I gave up on it a long time ago. That's why it's always up."

Lita nodded and vanished from the bathroom. She reappeared a few minutes later in her underwear with her hair in a towel. "Let's see what I can do."

It took them another twenty minutes to get her hair dry. Lita ran a brush through her long golden tresses, enjoying the appearance of the spun gold beneath her fingers.

"I wish I had your hair."

"Why?"

"Mine's just so ordinary."

Serena met her friend's eyes in the mirror. "Well I wish I had your confidence and your self-control."

"My…my what?"

Serena shrugged. "I know we're supposed to be looking for the Moon Princess and all, but secretly I've always hoped it was you."

"Why?"

She looked down at her hands in her lap. "Because I'm terrified it might be me. I'm not cut out to lead."

Lita placed her hands gently on her shoulders and she looked up. "Serena, I'm going to say this once, and you have to promise you won't tell Rei this. Out of all of us, you are the only one I would follow."

"Me? Why?"

"Because out of all of us, you understand what is required of being our leader. You brought us together, you hold us together whether you realize it or not. Rei may not like it, or even want to admit it, but you are our leader, and even after we find the Moon Princess, we will still turn to you as our leader."

Serena felt tears touch the corners of her eyes. "Thanks."

"That's what I'm here for, now come on, let's go stop some hearts."