Loveıs Got A Hold On My Heart
Chapter 4
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
E-mail: salud731@earthlink.net
Rated: G

Disclaimer: Arenıt you people ever 
tired of hearing these things? 
Anyway, Sailor Moon doesnıt 
belong to me, and we already know
who it belongs to, right? ^_^

ANs: It almost looks like that
this story disappeared off the
face of the earth, huh? Not
exactly, just been busy with exams
and other things, but now that summer 
is here...more time for writing! For 
those of you who find this story 
their fave, here is the much long 
anticipated Chapter 4. Thanks to 
all my friends who have encouraged 
me and you all know who you are! ^_~

³Love is essential to a happy life so
take risks. Love with all your heart,
love with all your mind...it will be
more than worthwhile.²
*~Susan Polis Schutz*~


*~~~~~~~~~~*

  The outside of the restaurant
was already bustling with people who 
were anxiously awaiting the opening of 
one of the newest and already renowned 
restaurants in all of New York City.
The line outside of the restaurant took
up the sidewalks and ended around the
next corner and took up a few blocks.
While they were waiting, some
people were on their cell phones
either chatting about business or
to a friend and others were talking
amongst themselves, wondering 
what the inside of the restaurant
looked like and how the food tastes.

  Serena took a seat at a table
near the window while Darien went to
the main entrance and opened the
doors. He ushered each of them in a 
few at a time and had them settled at a 
table. When everybody was seated, a 
huge group of waiters or waitresses 
came out from the kitchen and started
taking peopleıs orders, or handing out 
menus. The band appeared from the back
of the stage, took their places on it, and 
began to play a sweet, soothing 
instrumental piece. It put everyoneıs mind 
at ease and they felt a great sense of calm 
and harmony.

  As Serena relaxed in her chair,
Darien along with one of the waiters
were walking towards her table. At the
sound of approaching footsteps, Serena
turned to face them.

  ³Serena, this is Josh, and heıll
be your waiter for today.² Darien
smiled at her while gesturing to the
tall brunette male standing next to 
him.

  ³Nice to meet you, Josh,² she
greeted him nicely, offering her hand to
him.

  ³Itıs a pleasure to meet such a 
lovely young woman like yourself, miss.² 
He kissed the back of Serenaıs hand 
affectionately.

  ³Alright, Josh, thatıs enough
with the flirting,² Darien playfully
reprimanded him. ³Miss Serena Lawson
is the food critic for ³The New York 
Times² so treat her nicely. Weıd like
to get the best review we can possibly
get.²

  ³Of course, Mr. Lane. Only the
best for Miss Lawson,² he reassured 
him while flashing Serena a charming
smile.

  ³Thatıs exactly what I want to
hear. Now if youıll excuse me, I need
to have a talk with a few of the chefs.
Iıll be back to check on you later, 
Serena.² 

  Darien walked away from
them and towards the kitchen. Josh
handed Serena a menu and waited
patiently for Serena to look
over the selections. Serena
scanned each page of choices 
carefully and thoroughly until
she finally closed the menu and 
looked up at Josh.

  ³I think Iım ready to order.²

  ³What will it be, Miss Lawson?²
Josh whipped out a pad and pen, ready
to take down her order.

  ³Iıve decided on the fettucine 
with shrimp and broccoli and the 
tandori-style chicken.²

  Without looking up, he asked, ³Anything 
youıd like to drink?²

  ³A glass of white wine will
do for me.²

  ³Is that it, Miss Lawson?²

  ³Yes, thatıs all for now, Josh.²

  Taking the menu from her,
Josh left to get her order and drink.

  Serena pensively gazed out 
the window while absent mindedly
drumming her well manicured 
fingers on the crimson table
cloth. Outside, cars whizzed
by, crosswalks overflowed with
people as they waited for the light 
to change, people walking in and out 
of stores like Macy*s, Bloomingdales,
or The Banana Republic with 
shopping bags, and vendors selling 
food to people on their lunck break.

  She looked on with lack of
interest and turned her gaze towards 
her surroundings. She watched as 
waiters or waitresses passed by her 
taking orders or bringing food out 
from the kitchen. People were talking 
animatedly with a few comments here 
and there about the restaurant. After 
one song was done, the band started 
another one. Each was soothing
to the ears and mind that a few 
people just sat still in their chairs, 
allowing the music to take over their 
whole body, mind, and soul.

  As she took in the rest of
her surroundings, Darien approached 
her with a single wine glass filled with
a clear white liquid.

  ³Hereıs your drink, Serena.²
He laid down the glass in front of 
her and took a seat across from her.

  ³Thanks, Darien, but arenıt the
waiters supposed to be the ones bringing
it and not the owner of the restaurant?²
She arched an eyebrow questioningly.

  ³You see, I met Josh on his way to
bring you your drink and I told him that I
would take it to you since I was on my
way over here anyway.²

  ³I see.² Serena took a sip of her
wine. 

  ³So what do you think of the music,
gardens, and services so far?² Darien
questioned her eagerly.

  ³The music is great. Itıs very
soothing and relaxing. Just what people
need when people come in here for their
lunch break and want to feel at ease
after a stressing day at work. The
gardens are amazing! Never in all my
life have I ever seen a garden so huge and
breathtakingly beautiful in my entire life.
And as for the services, so far itıs been
good. It seems that all the waiters and
waitresses are very friendly and are
eager to be at your service from what
I have observed. If the food is just as 
terrific as everything else, I can guarantee 
you a superb review by this weekend.²

  ³Iım very sure the food will
be just as delightful as what you have
seen so far.²

  ³Weıll see.²

  Josh approached the table with
Serenaıs meal and carefully set the
plate in front of her.

  ³Enjoy your lunch, Miss Lawson.²
Josh smiled warmly. ³And if there is
anything else you need, donıt hesitate
to wave me over.²

  ³Thank you, Josh. You have been
a very pleasant waiter.²

  ³Anytime, Miss Lawson. I enjoy
serving beautiful women like yourself
all the time.² Josh raised Serenaıs hand
to kiss it once more.

  Serena blushed.

  ³Again, thank you.²

  Once Josh left Darien and Serena 
to attend to some other customers, Serena 
picked up her fork and started on the 
fettucine first. She put a little on her 
fork and took a small bite of it. She 
chewed it carefully to savor the flavor 
of the noodles. Once she swallowed it, 
the expression on her face was unreadable,
making it hard for Darien to tell whether 
she enjoyed it or not. He shifted in his chair
uncomfortably and played with the edges of
the table cloth as he watched Serena go for
the chicken. It was the same process as when
she took a bite of the fettucine. After she 
swallowed it, he couldnıt discern her reaction
towards the food. After taking a sip of her 
wine, Serena finally spoke.

  ³Well, I have to say that each dish I
have tried is very...appetizing.² 

  ³Really?² Darien asked skeptically.
  ³Yes, really. Youıll get a good review 
so donıt worry. Your restaurant has lived up
to all my expectations.² Serena gave him an
amused smile as she picked up her fork to
finish the rest of her lunch.

  He breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing in 
his chair more.

  ³Since you like the meal so much, why 
not try some of our desserts?²

  Serena wiped her mouth with a napkin.

  ³Sure. Iıd love to try some of your
desserts.²

  ³Are you just about done with your meal?²

  ³Yes, Iım pretty much done so letıs taste
some of those desserts.²

  Darien called over Josh to their table and
requested to wheel the dessert cart over. Five
minutes later, Josh came back with a huge variety 
of desserts to choose from. Cakes, pies, cookies, 
all sorts of ice cream, and cheese cakes were 
among some of the selections on the cart. 
Serena scanned the cart excitedly, making it 
hard for her to choose just one dessert. After 
careful speculation of each dessert, she finally 
chose a berry-cherry pie with vanilla
ice cream on the side. Josh handed her
the tasty dessert and wheeled the cart
away. Serena immediately dug into the
pie and eagerly took a bite of it. Her
face took on the expression of pleasure
and delight as she dug in for more.

  ³Mmm,² she delightfully moaned
after taking another bite of the pie with
the ice cream.

  ³Iım guessing you like our dessert?²
Darienıs eyes twinkled with delight.

  ³You bet!² Serena exclaimed, licking
the fork clean of the berry sauce and ice
cream. 

  ³Our chefs make it a point to create
each dessert to perfection.² He grinned
smugly.

  ³I applaud their work. This dessert is
heavenly.² She used her fork to point to
the small piece of pie left on the plate to
prove her point.

  ³When should I expect to see that 
review?²

  After polishing off the rest of her 
pie and putting down her fork on the plate
with a soft clink, Serena replied, ³I should 
say Saturday.²

  ³Canıt wait to read it then.² Darien
smiled at her affectionately.

  Checking her silver wrist watch, she
got up from the chair and picked up her pocket
book as well.

  ³I better get going. I have some other
engagement to attend to.²

  He also got up and walked over to 
her.

  ³Iıll walk you to the door.²

  ³Uh...sure.²

  After passing through the mass of
tables and people to a less crowded area, 
Darien spoke.

  ³Iım assuming that since you like the 
food here, youıll come back again sometime?²

  ³Maybe. I might bring all my friends 
here so they can eat the delicious food, hear
the music, and tour the gardens.²

  ³Itıd be nice to see friends of yours.²

  Serena nodded her agreement.

  They reached the front entrance of
the restaurant. There were no people waiting 
outside to get in so it was easy for Serena to
exit the place without the trouble of pushing 
through people. But before Serena stepped out
into the busy streets, Darien gently grabbed 
her arm to stop her. She turned to face him, 
looking up at him expectantly.

  ³Serena, I-I know we just met and we
barely know each other, but I was wondering
if you...²
  ŒUh ohı, thought Serena. ŒPlease donıt
ask me out. Anything but that!ı

  ³If you would go out with me?²

  ŒBlast!ı

  She was silent for a moment. She
had a horrible feeling for quite sometime
now that Darien was going to ask her out 
from the first time they met this morning.
She wanted to the leave the restaurant and 
HIM as soon as the review was over. She
was almost home free, that is, until he stopped
her at the doorway.

  ³Serena? Serena?²

  ³Yes?² She turned her attention to him
once again.

  ³What do you say?²

  ³Darien, I donıt know how to break this to
you--²

  ³What? You have a boyfriend? Is that
it?² He abruptly interrupted her, his
face down cast.

  ³No, no, no!  Itıs just that...I donıt
want to go out with you,² Serena firmly
said.

  Darien snapped his head back up to
look at her incredulously.

  ³What? Why?²

  ³Darien, I really donıt want to go
through a long, boring explanation with
you.²

  ³I have all day to listen to it. So
explain.² He crossed his arms over
his chest, waiting for her to start.

  Serena sighed exasperated.

  ³Where do I begin...I guess Iıll
tell you this bluntly...I swore off guys.
I promised myself that I would never date
another guy as long as I lived.²

  ³I donıt understand.² He gave her
a perplexed look.

  ³What is there not to understand?! 
Iım tired of dating guys because I just 
wind up dating the wrong ones! Losers
to be more exact,² she coldly replied.

  ³Losers? How can guys be losers?²

  Serena got frustrated with all of
his questions that she soon felt he must 
be so dense to want to continue on with 
this interrogation.

  ³Since you canıt seem to get the 
whole picture, Darien, let me sum it up
for you in the best possible way I can 
think of. Every single guy I date are
either self-centered, conceited jerks 
with no brains and are utterly dull!²
Her eyes flashed with annoyance.

  ³But Iım not like the guys you 
date,² he insisted.

  ³Oh, no?² Serena gave him a
sarcastic look while laughing bitterly.
³By all means, Mr. Lane, keep persuading
me to go out with you. But I can guarantee
you, I wonıt yield to your charms, for I have
fallen for them way too much already.²

  She turned around and stepped out of 
the restaurant, head held high as she walked
to her parked car. Darien called after her
from the doorway of the restaurant.

  ³If you got to know me, youıll see that
Iım very different, unlike the guys you date.
I have many good qualities Iım sure youıll like.²

  Without turning around, she said, ³Ha!
Thatıs what all the guys I have dated said to 
me. Nice try, but all of you seem to think alike.²

  ³Serena, Iım never going to give up until
you give me a chance! Iıll find a way to prove to
you Iım worth your time! We will meet again! I 
can guarantee that!²

  She froze in her tracks for a brief moment 
then continued on her way, pretending that she 
didnıt hear a word of what he just said. As soon 
as she reached her car, she got in and slammed 
the door shut. She sat in front of the steering wheel 
for a while, thinking about Darienıs last statement 
before she got in the car. 

  ŒHow would he know that weıll meet 
again?! Thatıs not possible! Is it? Of course
not, Serena! Donıt be foolish. We wonıt be 
seeing each other ever again because Iım
never going to set foot in that restaurant
ever again. He wishes he could see me, but
thatıs not going to happen. The nerve of that
man! Saying such rubbish that is so untrue!ı

  Satisfied with her thoughts on Darienıs
meaningless statements, she started the car
and drove home.

To be continued...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~**

E-mail me please! I havenıt been 
getting much mail lately and I
would like to hear your thoughts
on my stories! ^_^ Ja ne, peeps!

Written June 26, 2001