Bite Me…

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor moon, so I don't own the characters either. I don't own Shakespeare and I also don't own any of the locations that are also in Sailor moon, maybe the idea of an occasional park or shop but nothing that is used in either the televised or manga representation of Sailor Moon. The ideas of this story belong to me; it isn't a copy so I hope you enjoy reading it.

I'd also like to say something about the reviews. I think the point of reviewing is to express your views. Please feel free to tell me what you think, and please offer your suggestions. I really look forward to hearing what you think of this story, unlike my first this isn't a crossover, and I'm sure some Darien lovers are glad about that (lol, not saying I'm not… who can resist?) so without any further interruptions, I bring you Bite Me…

3. Summary: Serena and Darien hate each other. They constantly fight and find delight in bantering with each other; in fact they make it a ritual for a heated argument to occur whenever they're together. Could this be mutual hate, or something entirely different?

*Note: so for purposes of me forgetting I'm going to make it that Luna knows about Serena's future destiny. Nothing else from the book should change much, except maybe the ages of the characters, (the age gaps between the scouts and Serena still exists. Currently, Serena and the scouts are in high school and she's sixteen while Darien is twenty one.) And the revelation of Serena being the moon princess comes later on. I apologize for the inconvenience!

"So Darien, when is that assignment you told me about due?"

He took a sip of his coffee and barely stopped himself from yawning. Speaking of the assignment he could barely wait to be finished, the research and work that went into it kept him awake for hours after midnight. Last night not being the exception, he was exhausted. "The one on King Lear?" she nodded, "it's due next week" he said somberly as he reached for a biscuit on the tray and then bit into its deliciously soft centre before slowly chewing.

"So what do you think you'll write about?" she asked flirtatiously, "I mean," she cooed "it must be so difficult being in university and all! I don't know how you do it."

He yawned but his tone was tolerant. It was tasking yet in a strange way, nice having coffee with the peculiar brunette. "it's not that hard Raye, I mean I love what I do and I think king Lear was one of Shakespeare's best." He saw she was about to launch into a discussion and quickly changed the subject. "What about you, how's the new semester treating you?"

"Good" she answered slowly; it felt good that he'd asked. "I mean I miss summer vacation but I'm really excited to be back!" she smiled, remembering her summer spent with grandpa, Chad and the girls not to mention the daemon fighting. No, it was good to be back. "Chad and grandpa can make for interesting conversation but I really missed interacting with everyone else.

He nodded his head before flashing a set of clean white teeth her way, "I can respect that" he answered teasingly, gaining a shy smile, "any idea what you want to be when you're older?"

The question caught her off guard, and in between his dazzling smile and easy charm she found it difficult to concentrate, "um, I'm interested in becoming a singer... or maybe a priestess!" she laughed nervously, "I'm not really sure yet. Is that bad?"

He frowned in the negative, "absolutely not. I knew at eighteen that I wanted to go to med school, become a doctor. I always felt drawn to helping people y'know?" she nodded enthusiastically, soaking up each word like a sponge, "it can take time Raye, so don't stress you'll know what you want to be some day." He smiled reassuringly at her while slowly leaning in, his free hand found hers and he gently he squeezed her lean one before continuing "And because you're enjoying what you're doing you'll be great at it.

She blinked and glanced down at their hands, "thanks Darien," she said finally, her voice a bare whisper. Now more than ever she was sure they were right, no, perfect for each other.

The minute Serena entered through the homey looking doors she wanted to leave. The familiar cut of Darien Shield's hair caught her eye and she immediately felt the goose bumps as they raised rapidly down her arms, she looked at him to see if he'd noticed her, but he seemed preoccupied talking with someone. Serena pulled her eyes away from him and immediately wanted to bolt the fastest way possible out the door, it was the person sitting opposite him. How could she, no, anyone miss such raven hair? Or such violet eyes for that matter. How was it possible that her day could go from excellent to completely awful? The answer was Raye, and the solution was simple: both she and Molly would leave. Before they had a chance to notice them, Croissants would wait. "Molls," she started "do you think we could maybe come back some other time? Mom wants me home pretty soon, can we have croissants another day?"

Molly frowned and placed a scrutinizing gaze on her friend, "but Serena, I really want to go now, we're already here."

With eyes still on the two, Serena felt like an intruder, "I know we are but please, can we leave?" she pulled her eyes away, but not before Molly caught the direction of her gaze.

"This isn't about the croissants Serena and it sure as heck isn't about your mom wanting you home earlier. I know your curfew, remember?" Serena blushed and smiled sheepishly, they'd been best friends for a long enough time that they knew almost everything about each other; she should've given Molly more credit than she had. "Tell me what's really going on here." The red head finished gently, "maybe I can help."

"Fine" Serena said; Molly was right. "Let's get a side table, after we order I'll tell you"

Molly nodded and together they found a table to the right of Darien and Raye, both seemed too into their conversation to notice but they were diagonally facing them, luckily their table, Darien's and Raye's was angled sideways. Serena could keep a watchful eye without them easily noticing.

She'd given Molly the money and she'd left to buy the croissants while Serena stayed behind to watch the shopping bags. Taking her seat she relaxed into the comfortable chair and consciously avoided looking their way a third time. She rested her chin in the cup of her hand, her elbow keeping balance on the circular table. After two minutes of studying the carpets detailing she was desperately curious and allowed herself a glance in their direction, her heart beat faster when she saw his hand covering Raye's. She frowned, pulling her eyes away. It was stupid the way he was always so nice to Raye, yet he was always mean to her and never did anything but tease and run her down. Was she jealous? Absolutely not! She refused to even consider being jealous of the two. Besides, what Raye did was none of her business; she could do with her time whatever she wished. She averted her eyes in time to see Molly heading back with a tray of croissants and two cups of hot chocolate.

Molly smiled warmly, "I'm back" she exclaimed before carefully setting the tray down, "I got us some hot chocolate with your money, I hope you don't mind Serena."

Serena laughed, brushing her worry aside. "Are you kidding?" she reached out and took a croissant off of the tray and took a bite. "I love hot coco, why would I mind?"

Pulling out the opposite chair Molly settled in until she felt comfortable. In-between bites of her croissant she said, "I don't know… you seem on edge." She turned discreetly, sneaking a look at the two. Darien had removed his hand from Raye's and Serena found herself relaxing a bit, "I noticed them from the counter, that's Darien and Raye right? I didn't know they were datin'!"

Serena shrugged, "they're not." She said nonchalantly, "and if they are, I knew nothing about It." needing a distraction she concentrated on her coco, it was perfect: creamy and hot, the way she liked it. However when she took a sip the taste left her feeling empty, she let the cup rest on the table and frowned staring into her lap.

Molly knew seeing the two of them together bothered Serena and wanted desperately to help. "Are you alright?" she asked kindly, "if something's bothering you, you can tell me Serena."

A serious silence followed before Serena sighed heavily, "ok maybe it bothers me a little" she admitted grudgingly, "seeing them together doesn't feel right."

"So you like him?"

"No." Serena sighed again, "I don't know why I feel this way! I mean I'd never like Darien, he's a jerk. But I feel so uncomfortable… watching this. I don't like the way she's hanging onto him!" She finished exasperatedly. "What should I do?"

"It depends" Molly chewed the last of her croissant and wiped her face clean. She reached out and took her cup before drinking into it. "You can ignore it, pretend you don't care and keep sneaking looks at them or you can walk over and say hi." Serena blushed scarlet, she was embarrassed that it was so obvious that she was sneaking peeks their way; Molly stared intentionally at her friend, ignoring her discomfort. "Which is it?" she asked.

Serena thought for a while, "what if they think I'm intruding?" she asked quietly

Molly chuckled, "Serena; you and Raye are friends! I don't think she'll mind, and if she doesn't, Darien shouldn't either."

"Really?"

"Really"

Serena brightened. She popped the last of her croissant and downed the remaining contents of her drink, "I think… I want to go talk to them." She grinned, "I love you Molly, thanks so much!"

"Are you joking me, I have to earn my keep right? By the way," She winked humorously, "that was me repaying you for my coco."

Darien chuckled, "and that's why he never gives extensions. I mean, the amount of late assignments must've made him change his mind!"

Laughter coated the words leaving Raye's mouth as she struggled to make them audible; "Are you kidding?" Holding her sides she laughed enthusiastically before saying "wouldn't you change your mind, if someone handed an assignment two months overdue?"

He shrugged, grinning; "I guess but c'mon, he never really followed up on the assignments so whose fault was it really?" he smiled at Raye, all things aside she was fun to be around. While her adoration of him often wore him out, she was easy company (easy to be around) and a good friend he enjoyed spending this time with.

"Oh, Darien, that's so fu-" she stopped midway and turned to face the two people approaching their table. He blinked, not sure of what he was seeing, Raye looked equally taken aback, her mouth gaped open. "Serena!" she looked at her friend, "when'd you get here?"

Serena smiled cheerfully, her feet covering the distance to their table. "Molly and I," she motioned to the cute red head standing beside her, she looked familiar and Darien remembered having seen her couple of times at the arcade with Serena. "We got here fifteen minutes ago." He looked behind her to see Asher, an employee of Mary-Ann's cleaning a used table, they'd been so close and yet he'd failed to spot those meatballs! Something was definitely wrong with him.

He nodded before smiling friendly at Molly, "I think I've seen you, you hang out at Andrews's right?"

Her freckled cheeks took on a red hue and she nodded vigorously, "yes, me and Serena were just about to leave, we wanted to say hello"

Darien loved her reaction, he noted not for the first time the effect his charm had and the ability he had to make it work on anyone he wanted it to. He studied Serena intently, truly bemused that he had missed her when she had been so close. "It's hard to believe I missed you meatball head." He threw her a cocky smirk, "I think it's pretty crazy that we're all here at the exact same time. Are you stalking me meatball head?"

Serena glared at him, "the name's Serena dweeb." She gritted her teeth, yea right. He wished she was stalking him! "Why are you so full of it? We came here after dress shopping."

Curiosity sparked within him and he was suddenly very interested. "Dress shopping?" why would she need a dress? Her wardrobe consisted of mostly cute but casual clothing, short shorts, skirts, but never a dress.

She caught the spark and smiled smugly, "proms coming up, I don't want to show up naked. No Darien, some of us are more e-v-o-l-v-e-d"

"Uhuh," He said skeptically, stretching out his body "hence the need for you to enunciate." Serena glared at him and he wondered who she planned on taking? The thought made him uncomfortable, Serena was the girl he loved to tease, his meatball head. Somehow he couldn't picture her dancing with some average guy from her high school.

Raye felt jealousy at their familiar banter and the need to take control of the conversation became very urgent. Raye force herself to giggle; why was it that whenever Darien and Serena where together she almost always faded into the background? "Yea meatball head" Pausing once under Serena's pinning glare she shrugged, "he did have a point, I mean you didn't have to enunciate, it was immature and unnecessary. You sure can be a baby sometimes." Raye winced a little; maybe the last part was a bit much. She exchanged a look with Darien and found herself loosened up a little by the broad smile he shot her. Believing he wouldn't be smiling if she'd been wrong she let her own smile mirror his own. She felt both sorry and grateful. Sorry that she'd had to tease her friend to gain Darien's attention but grateful because it had worked. Finally, his interest was back on her.

Darien moved his gaze from Raye and back onto Serena. He chuckled, enjoying the turn in conversation, this was better. They weren't discussing possible dates for Serena and that suited him fine. The teasing came as naturally to him as walking did. "Yea Serena" he said, finding himself siding with Raye not because she'd been right, but because he knew it would anger Serena. Truth be told her comment was as unnecessary as Serena's had been. The red-head: Molly walked back to her table and busied herself with gathering the shopping bags. He'd been watching her reactions during their exchanged and she'd definitely been uneasy. "You leaving?" he asked her kindly.

Molly smiled thinly, "ya, I think we should get going. "She looked at Serena and together they silently communicated that they needed to leave, people were beginning to stare. Molly began walking but stopped when her friend didn't follow "Serena?" she called back worriedly.

Serena smiled weakly at her friend. She felt her feet had to be bolted to the floor because she couldn't move. Raye's words had stung much more than she expected them to, she swallowed a little and registered how tight her throat felt and how badly her eyes burned with the very real possibility of tears. She was disappointed and hurt. Granted, she shouldn't have 'enunciated' but Raye was her friend she should've stood up for her. "Yea coming Molls," her voice was clipped and Serena knew she needed to leave; she'd have to thank Molly later for pulling her out of the conversation. She took her bags from Molly and turned to leave, but something stopped her. She'd give them a piece of her mind first. Glad they couldn't see her face she swallowed hard, "have fun with my so-called friend Darien. Oh and Raye? You can waste as much of your time with this creep as you want; I'm done" satisfied with the evident discomfort in the room, Serena proceeded to march through the doors. Even as her knees trembled her stride never faltered. She didn't once look back, not even when she felt the tears flowing down her face threaten to consume her and certainly not when she heard both Raye and Darien call out to her. They could have their coffee and they could have their date, she didn't need them.

When they had left Darien looked to Raye, but her eyes were downcast, ashamed. "I think Chad and grandpa might need me home now, I was supposed to help with prayer preparations" she said slowly, feigning a look at her watch. Raye Hino hadn't felt this bad in a long time. She'd insulted one of her closest friends for what? Darien: a guy who probably wouldn't go to the same length for her. Raye grabbed her black clutch from the table and stood to leave, how could she have been so impossibly stupid? Raye needed to get away, this afternoon had turned into a mess and she needed to speak to Chad. He'd have some quirky advice, advice that at that instant she found herself needing badly. Not waiting for him to answer she waved once before walking towards the café's exit.

"Ok, then" Darien himself nodded his head uncomfortably; he knew the blame for the direction of the conversation partly lay with him. I shouldn't have sided with either of them he thought; things had gotten out of hand. Still, what good would playing the blame game bring? Raye looked plenty upset as it was. Not wanting to do any more damage, he forced himself to smile. "Alright, I'll be seeing you." She didn't hear him. She had already grabbed her belongings and he could see her making a beeline for the opposite exit. Sadly, Darien watched her lithe frame running towards the Hino temple. He looked penitently down at his coffee and winced a little, what had he done? The way things had gone today Serena probably would never speak to him again. His heart twisted at the thought while his eyes looked towards the exit Serena and her friend had left from, this was not good. Silently he hoped she'd forgive him. Serena…

-End of chapter 3-

So there it is, I want to say thanks for waiting! Guess what, I'm working on my grammar! I know it gets plenty tiresome readin' it this way but please bear with me? I'm getting help from teachers and my little sis and I will keep trying to improve the quality of my fics to the best of my ability. Please, review and tell me what you want to see happen and you never know, it just might ;)

C.Q.: what did you think of Raye's reaction to Serena and Darien's banter… does it remind you of an episode you saw from the series? If so, let me know!

Hugs and jasmine kisses,

Analynn (insert bijilion hearts)