Title: A Loaf of Bread [Short story]
Author: W. Bymeeh
E-mail: jhyunl@aol.com
Rating: G
Website: http://members.tripod.com/jayhyun/sm/ 

*Author's Note: The title's a bit unusual, isn't it?  And 
it doesn't even pertain *that* much to my story.  The quote 
this story is inspired by is at the bottom of the page!  
Don't want to spoil it for ya...Hee hee.  Oh, well.  This 
is froth...pure froth.  Or, mostly froth.  It could do with 
more development of plot and such, but hey, I decided to 
keep it simple!  

*FYI: For First Love readers..."Forget I Said That" is 
going to be finished.  Really, I swear...AHHHHH.  The 
words I could use to describe the process of writing that 
story...OH yeah, the versions I sent to First Love 
and ASMR differs by about three lines that I changed.  
Just thought you'd like to know.  

*Disclaimer: The quote this story is inspired by and the 
characters used in this story don't belong to 
meeeeee.......

			A Loaf of Bread

	Her voice carried over the conversational din of the 
other customers in the arcade, and he watched her silently, 
from where he stood at the entrance.  With a toss of her 
head, she flipped her two golden streamers of hair behind 
her, and leaned forward as she laughed at something Andrew 
was saying.  He could hear snatches of their conversation 
as he stared intently at the way her sweet lips formed 
words that came out as clear as a bell. 
	She was saying something about how much she loved 
meeting Rita, Andrew's girlfriend, which Darien found 
ironic.  Just the other day, it seemed, she had been 
looking at Andrew with hearts in her eyes.  And practically 
stabbing Darien in the heart every time he had caught her 
at it.  
	But there was no mistaking the sincerity in her voice 
or the sparkle in her eyes, completely lacking in guile or 
sarcasm.  She really meant it.  And nothing glinted in her 
eyes that was more than friendship.  
	It was a foreign concept to Darien.  He didn't 
understand how this girl was never filled with bitterness 
at the obstacles that life threw at her.  She never became 
resentful or cold or cruel to those around her.  She was 
not at all like him.
	No, she was one who was filled with light and love 
and caring for everyone.  So different from him.  All he 
had ever known was loneliness...no family...no huge swarm 
of friends.  No, he had his own shield around him that kept 
all those away, even Andrew.  
	He wondered at the size of her heart.  She loved so 
many people, so many things in her life.  Did he honestly 
think that there could be room in her heart for him?
	His head told him no.
	He didn't just want a small piece of her heart.  He 
wanted all of it.  He was selfish, he knew...but he wanted 
her to love him as much as he loved her.
	He loved her so very much.
	He could not say at what point he had fallen for the 
klutzy meatball head...he only knew that he had fallen 
very, very hard. 
	It was amazing that cold-hearted Darien Chiba still 
had a heart underneath all that protective ice.
	But whenever he was around her, the ice melted away.  
He was always too focused on trading insults with her, when 
sparks would practically shoot out of her bright blue eyes 
and her lips would pout at him in the most adorable manner.  
And somewhere along the way, in calling her Meatball Head 
and being hit at with shoes and test papers...his heart had 
decided she was the one for him. 
	But he was obviously not the one for her.  Even 
though she was clearly over her crush on Andrew, she would 
never care for him in that way.
	Unwilling to let his heart be scorched further, but 
unable to keep away, Darien slowly walked over to where 
Andrew and Serena were talking animatedly at the counter.
	"Hey, Meatball Head.  Knock anyone else over in the 
streets today?" he said, trying to adopt a casual tone.
	Serena turned to face him, her smile swiftly 
disappearing into a frown.  Right before her eyes flashed 
with righteous indignation, they expressed something like 
hurt...
	"Don't be silly, Darien.  You're the only one I throw 
things at!"  She glared at him with her chin up proudly.  
	He felt vaguely, a sinking sensation inside of 
himself.  It wasn't enough, anymore.  The teasing, the 
insults...it wasn't even about Andrew, it was about him and 
his stupid heart, and how it would not stop insisting that 
he be with Serena...and not as her tormentor...as something 
more.  
	"Besides, I've had a wonderful day and I'm not about 
to let you ruin it.  My friend Molly and Melvin are turning 
out to be the most romantic couple alive...they're so 
incredibly sweet together.  Who would've believed it?"  She 
gave an envious sigh, but there was no bitterness in her 
eyes, just a little wistfulness.
	Darien stared at her, once again shocked at the proof 
of her loving heart.  She was happy simply because her 
friends were happy.  He asked, "You really do care about 
everyone, don't you, Serena?"  
	The 'Serena' shocked her, and she looked at him in 
surprise.  Andrew, in the middle of wiping down the 
counter, looked up from his work as well.  
	Serena nervously twisted her hands.  She had never 
thought about this before.  "I guess...just about, anyway.  
I never really think about it..."  She was afraid that she 
was going to embarrass herself now, in front of him!  What 
if he realized...?  
	She looked up again, trying to adapt her casual 
manner again.  "Why are you asking, Darien?  It's not like 
it matters...you don't care about what I do!" she scoffed, 
hoping she sounded believable and the hope in her heart was 
not showing. 
	That one hurt.  Darien faced the undeniable truth: 
Serena was a girl out of his grasp.  And unfortunately, she 
was the only one he wanted.  
	Not caring anymore that he was giving himself away, 
he said quietly, "I don't think I ever said anything about 
not caring about you, Serena."  And then he left the arcade 
abruptly, never pausing once to look back while his heart 
broke into a million pieces.
	"I...I don't understand..." Serena said softly, still 
staring at the place where Darien had stood.  
	Andrew sighed.  He had never expected Darien to snap 
like that and actually admit his feelings for Serena.  "I 
think Darien's in love with you, Serena."  As if it wasn't 
already obvious.
	She turned to him, her blue eyes wide with shock.  
She grabbed the lapels of his shirt and jerked him forward, 
saying breathlessly, "Are you serious, Andrew?  Do you 
really mean that?"  
	Andrew gulped and nodded.  He had seen the way Darien 
always looked at Serena...longing.  Then a thought occurred 
to him.  "Serena, why do you care?" he asked, trying to get 
her to release him from her chokehold. 
	To his surprise, Serena blushed.  
"Well...I...kind...of...er...fell-in-love-with-him-too."  
She saw Andrew's eyes widen and went on in a rush.  "I know 
what you're thinking...you thought I hated him.  And well, 
for awhile I thought so too.  But I guess...gradually, I 
just started enjoying our insulting exchange.  it was the 
only time I really...felt alive.  Around him." 
	Then the expression on her face saddened.  "But why 
did he just leave like that just now?  What did I do?  Does 
he hate me now?"  Uncertainties crossed her mind over and 
over, leaving her filled with insecurities.
	Andrew shook his head.  "Darien's different from you 
and me, Serena.  He's an orphan, and he doesn't have many 
friends.  I don't think he has many loved ones...other than 
you.  And he thinks that you don't care for him at 
all...that you couldn't love him."  
	"But that's not true!" Serena burst out.  Then, the 
wild look in her blue eyes settled.  "I have to go find 
him...I have to tell him."  She flew out of the arcade 
leaving Andrew behind, staring at her in wonder.  	

	She instinctively headed for the park.  Somehow, she 
knew that he would be there...and she didn't know how.  
	He stood by himself on the top of the hill, cold 
anger and hurt emanating from him in waves.  His tall frame 
was rigid, and he stared intensely out at the beautiful 
sunset without a trace of emotion.
	She walked up to him quietly, but he didn't notice.  
Finally, she spoke his name.  "Darien..." 
	His head jerked, but he refused to look at her.  It 
was too difficult now.  "Go away, Serena."  
	She waited for awhile, but didn't move away.  She 
gathered her courage and took a deep breath.  "Darien, you 
haven't had much in your life, have you?"  
	Her gentle voice reminded him again of all that he 
didn't have.  After a long moment, he slowly shook his 
head, still not looking at her.  "I guess Andrew told you.  
It's something you'll never understand...you have 
everything."  
	She laughed quietly.  Not a mocking laugh, but a 
gentle, mild laugh with a hint of sadness.  He looked at 
her in wonder.  This was not the usual joyful laughter of a 
joyful girl. 
	She whispered so softly Darien had to lean closer to 
hear her words.  "I don't have you, Darien."  
	His heart sped up.  
	"I...don't understand...what's left for me, when you 
give so much love to everyone else."  He said the last with a 
trace of sadness, but he waited for her answer.  Unfortunately 
for him, she took awhile to think of what to say.  
	"'The human heart is not like a loaf of bread,'" she 
finally said.  She wasn't one for memorizing pearls of 
wisdom, but she had always remembered that phrase.    
	He looked at her quizzically, glimpsing the sparkling 
depths of her beautiful blue eyes, and he felt a warm 
feeling come over him as he waited for her to continue.  
Somehow, he knew that it was something good.     
	"If you give a part away, that doesn't mean that you 
have less to give to another.  Darien, you never lose love 
by giving it away."  She smiled at him.  Not a casual smile 
of laughter or of teasing friendship...but of real, genuine 
love.  And it filled up the emptiness that had hovered in 
Darien's heart for so long.    
	She stepped forward, so that they were only inches 
apart.  "What do you have to lose, Darien, by giving a part 
of your heart away?"  
	He stared at her mutely, unable to think clearly with 
her this close to him.  
	"I love my family, Darien.  I love my friends.  I 
love the life I have.  But most of all, I love you.  And I 
need you.  My heart, my whole heart...belongs to you.  Tell 
me, Darien...do you have room in your heart for me?"  A 
wobbliness came into her voice as she looked at him 
nervously, fear coming into her eyes for the first time.  
	Ever so slowly, he brought a shaking hand to caress 
her soft cheek.  She leaned against his hand, and closed 
her eyes for a long moment.  
	When she opened them again, she met Darien's deep 
blue eyes looking deep into hers.  
	"Thank you, Serena."  
	It was her turn to be confused, and a look of 
puzzlement came into her sky blue eyes.  	
	"Thank you for teaching me how to love."  And then, 
he closed the gap between them and their lips met in a kiss 
that set them both on fire...releasing all of the passion 
that they had kept inside for so long.  
	When they finally separated, Darien smiled at her, 
Serena's happiness reflected in his eyes.  
	"I love you, Serena.  And I know my heart is safe 
with you...my whole heart..."
	She looked at him with trust and love in her eyes.  
"As mine is with you...forever."  
	

***********************

"The human heart is not like a loaf of bread; if I give a 
large portion to him, it does not follow that I must then 
give you a smaller slice."  - Joanna, Here Be Dragons by 
Sharon Kay Penman.  

*I know you're thinking that my title is pretty silly.  But 
that's okay, because I have the cheesiest, romantic titles 
for my other fics, and I decided to be strange on this one.  

*Love to hear comments!  I felt like writing a short story 
while I wondered how the heck I'm going to end "Forget I 
Said That".  I've always liked the quote 
I used...tell me if you liked this story, yeah?  I like 
some of my short stories more than my longer ones, 
especially since they're not such a pain to finish! =)  

w. bymeeh
jhyunl@aol.com
http://members.tripod.com/jayhyun/sm/