Okay guys, this chapter goes a little quickly but that's okay, it's supposed to. This is the chapter you get a little more of a glimpse of what Darien's thinking about... let me know what you think because this chapter is starting to get into the sticky stuff. Lots of drama comming up really soon so REVIEW!!!

The Importance of Being Earnest

Darien sat at the table staring at Seiya who was in turn glaring at the peppy blonde jabbering happily to Serena. It had been two weeks since the event that had permanently placed Seiya in his house and Darien could feel anger filling him. As the days passed, everything Seiya did made him jealous and tainted him against the man he’d trusted Serena to. Watching Seiya carefully had become his new pastime and it seemed that the long haired teen was becoming more and more possessive of Serena. Blinking a few times in an attempt to clear his head Darien sighed and closed his eyes. Stop this Dare… you’re making things up in your head. Seiya’s a good guy, he loves her and you need to relax. His pep talk did little to sooth him.

“Anywho, I’ll see you at rehearsal tonight?” Jadeite smiled and stood with his tray in hand. Serena smiled in response and nodded. “Great! Bye all!” Darien watched the blonde walk away confidently making Seiya snort.

“Good God he likes to talk.” His voice reflected his disdain for the other male making Darien all the more aware of his own growing hate. “I don’t know how you can stand him sweet face.” There, it was, that damned nickname again.

“I like him.” Darien said flatly drawing Seiya’s icy cold eyes. “He’s optimistic and happy.” Raye squeezed his wrist lightly in an attempt to calm the internally blazing man. The two looked at one another before Seiya smiled and leaned back in his chair placing a protective arm around his girlfriend.

“That’s okay. I don’t mind Jed so much, not like you’re going to leave me for him right?” Serena nodded her head absently while she examined Darien. Something about her brother had changed since their encounter with Beryl and she wasn’t sure she liked it.

“So… how has dance today?” Raye ventured bravely finally managing to pull Darien’s eyes from Seiya. She had noticed a marked difference in Darien’s behavior over the past two weeks as well and it bothered her. “What did you do?”

“Oh, Serena and I are on tutoring duty until the others shape up. It amazes me how inexperienced these people are and yet we’re sneaking up on competitions.” He sighed and looked at Serena. “I bet we’re going to wind up with an old routine.”

“I don’t mind our old routines. Not like they’re bad or anything.” She smiled at the memory of their last routine together. She wanted nothing more to do that again. “I also had an Idea that would be lots of fun… so… I know you’re going to try and convince me that my plate is too full right now but I want to enter the talent show… we could do a dance together…”

“You don’t have time Serena. With your classes, the play, your health… when do you plan to make time for the talent show?” He stood up and took his lunch tray to the garbage leaving the rest of the table occupants stunned. Returning he looked at Raye who then slowly stood and shifted her eyes to Serena and moved toward the garbage can with her tray.

“Whatever Darien! Let me know when you get that stick removed from your ass!” Serena shouted and stood abruptly turning to leave the table. Whatever his problem was, she didn’t appreciate him making it her problem too.

She was in the courtyard before her class when he came after her and stood a few feet from her, his eyes dark and filled with untold emotion. She watched him as he stood silently looking at her, examining her. “I’m sorry. That was out of line.” He sighed then, with a weak smile, he closed the distance between them and hugged her tightly. “I was accepted.” His soft voice seemed to boom in her ears. In that moment she wanted nothing more than to escape him, pull herself away and run to Seiya so he could wash away her pain. How could Darien do this to her? “Raye did too.” He said cautiously after a long pause. “I’m going to ask her to move in with Andrew and I.”

She pushed herself from him violently and glared as fiercely as she could. There was little need for words and as they stared at one another she noticed Darien’s body begin to tense. He didn’t like telling her this. “So… what am I going to do while you’re gone? Mom and Dad are never home, Seiya’s going to be going to the police academy…”

“Police academy? When did he decide to become a police officer?” Darien furrowed his brow. He was unsure of what to do with this news. If Seiya became a trained official… well, many things could happen.

“He’s always wanted to be a police officer. I think it’s awesome but I didn’t think you were going to be moving… especially not with Raye.” She paused and looked at the ground. “Please don’t leave me.” He sighed and leaned against the wall in defeat.

“Serena, you have to stop this. I told you before this would happen. As for you, you’ll have plenty of people around. Seiya, Jadeite, the girls… I don’t see why you’re so apprehensive about this.” Serena looked at him with tears in her eyes making him hold his breath.

“Something tells me you never will.” She smiled and shook her head. “You’re right Darien, don’t worry about me…but… I’m doing the talent show.” She shrugged and turned on her heels. “Love you Darien but I’m going to class now.”

Darien sat quietly watching them. Since he had told her he was going to ask Raye to move with him to college she’d taken more to Seiya. The two were practically inseparable, something he found himself deeply resenting. So much so he’d resigned himself to this, watching her moan and sigh to the touch of a man he so desperately wished was him. He smirked to himself, she thought he was so very perfect but if she knew what he was doing at this very moment she’d be terrified. Terrified because this wasn’t the first time he’d watched her like this.

As she moved he began to think of what it would be like if he’d played along with Beryl. What if he had decided to take her in that house like he’d wanted to? He shook his head, he knew better. If he had she would never let him go away to college, she would demand him to stay beside her and he would be helpless to say no.

How he hated this, the life they led, in another world they could have been together. One that wasn’t as rigid as this, that wasn’t as terrible as this. He could tell her everything she wanted to hear, he could throw aside his responsibility to protect her from the world, but he wouldn’t. Fate had thrown them together in this way and he wasn’t in the position to change that destiny. He would move to college with Raye, they would graduate, and he would propose to the raven-haired woman. Serena wasn’t in the cards. Seiya would take care of her because it was clear his love was pure. Any man who wanted to help society by becoming a police officer had to be a good man.

Serena’s cry of ecstasy brought him from his thoughts and back to the dirty reality he was in. How could he watch this? He wasn’t supposed to be watching this, or even thinking like this.

Slowly he stood from his spot and was careful not to make any noise. He couldn’t be discovered, if he was then he’d have to answer to her and he wasn’t ready for that yet.

In school the next day Darien and Serena stood in front of the class in the classic dance hold. She was biting the inside of her cheek to try and distract herself from the idiotic people that were her classmates. They had been working on their routines for an entire month yet they still didn’t have their holds right. “Marvelous! I think we’re ready for the basic waltz.” The instructor smiled and looked to her two favorite students. She’d never say it but she was overly humbled to have the world champions in her class. The siblings were the most captivating couple she’d ever seen on the dance floor and that was no easy claim.

Darien began to lead the petite blonde in the typical, boring waltz until the class had it. “May we work on our dance routine now Ms. Jones?” He asked halting to make his point clear. The brunette woman nodded and continued to instruct her class as Serena and Darien began to compile their thoughts on what they should do for the upcoming competition.

By the end of class they had an action plan and Serena was excited. They decided on the tango, one of her favorite dances. It was so like her, always wanting him but never being able to get him because she had to act disinterested. She smiled at the irony. Between orchestra, dance, and the play she was beginning to realize how much her life with Darien modeled the very idea of cat and mouse. Each day in rehearsal she spoke the lines of Cecily Cardew as if they were her own… they practically were. “Oh, don’t forget Darien, the play is tonight. You’re all coming right?” She asked her brother hopefully.

“Of course I am Serena. Raye want to come too… but… are you sure you want Seiya there? I mean… with Jadeite and all?” He furrowed his brow. Seiya had definitely made his dislike for Jadeite known. Serena only laughed and shrugged before rushing off to her next class clearly eager for the play to open that night.

The anxiety registered on Serena’s face made Jadeite smile. She was so attractive and this current state of fidgeting didn’t help his mind calm either. He’d remained professional in hopes that she would take notice of him and leave Seiya the monster. He stood with his arms crossed and wondered if she knew exactly the type of person he was. “Nervous?” He asked politely then inhaled sharply as her cerulean blue eyes fixed on him.

“A little… this is my first time on stage in front of a real audience… I mean… I’ve done cutesy things for my brother and parents but nothing this big…”

“Don’t worry, pretend you’re out there in front of them rather than on stage.”

“Thanks Jed… I don’t know what I’d do if you weren’t so good to me.”

“You’d do just fine Serena. You’re an amazing woman and I know that you’ll be good in Hollywood when you finally make it.”

“If I didn’t have a boy friend that would have won you a ticket to my bed.” She winked and peeked out from behind the curtain to see the theater full of opening night patrons. “At least they’re both here.” She whispered as the lights dimmed.

“That’s my cue. Got to get ready.” Jed nodded and looked himself over in the mirror Serena watched as the first act progressed, all of her co actors playing their parts perfectly. As the curtain dropped for intermission Serena quickly readied herself for her first act. Composing herself she smiled at the woman playing her teacher, the girl was a senior, and had been asking her about Darien every chance she got.

The lights dimmed once again prompting the curtain puller to do his job. As the protective velvet red shroud revealed her, Serena felt herself embody the very soul of Cecily Cardew. The annoying one, as Serena had deemed her, smiled as she recited her first line. “Cecily, Cecily! Surely such a utilitarian occupation as the watering of flowers is rather Moulton’s duty than yours? Especially at a moment when intellectual pleasures await you. Your German grammar is on the table. Pray open it at page fifteen. We will repeat yesterday’s lesson.”

Serena approached the small table the girl sat at. “But I don’t like German. It isn’t at all a becoming language. I know perfectly well that I look quite plain after my German lesson.” Her face was drooped like that of a three year old pouting, such a face made the audience laugh.

“Child, you know how anxious your guardian is that you should improve yourself in every way. He laid particular stress on your German, as he was leaving for town yesterday. Indeed, he always lays stress on your German when he is leaving for town.”

“ Dear Uncle Jack is so very serious! Sometimes he is so serious that I think he cannot be quite well.” Serena’s mind focused on Darien… how relevant all of these lines were to their lives.

“Your guardian enjoys the best of health, and his gravity of demeanor is especially to be commended in one so comparatively young as he is. I know no one who has a higher sense of duty and responsibility.” The girl playing miss prism drew her diaphragm in sharply as she erected her back.

“ I suppose that is why he often looks a little bored when we three are together.”

“ Cecily! I am surprised at you. Mr. Worthing has many troubles in his life. Idle merriment and triviality would be out of place in his conversation. You must remember his constant anxiety about that unfortunate young man his brother.”

“ I wish Uncle Jack would allow that unfortunate young man, his brother, to come down here sometimes. We might have a good influence over him, Miss Prism. I am sure you certainly would. You know German, and geology, and things of that kind influence a man very much.” Serena turned to a diary on the table and began to write feverishly.

Miss Prism shook her head “I do not think that even I could produce any effect on a character that according to his own brother’s admission, is irretrievably weak and vacillating. Indeed, I am not sure that I would desire to reclaim him. I am not in favor of this modern mania for turning bad people into good people at a moment’s notice. As a man sows so let him reap. You must put away your diary, Cecily. I really don’t see why you should keep a diary at all.”

“I keep a diary in order to enter the wonderful secrets of my life. If I didn’t write them down, I should probably forget all about them.”

“Memory, my dear Cecily, is the diary that we all carry about with us.”

“Yes, but it usually chronicles the things that have never happened, and couldn’t possibly have happened. I believe that Memory is responsible for nearly all the three-volume novels that Mudie sends us.”

“Do not speak slightingly of the three-volume novel, Cecily. I wrote one myself in earlier days.”

“Did you really, Miss Prism? How wonderfully clever you are! I hope it did not end happily? I don’t like novels that end happily. They depress me so much.”

“The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what Fiction means.”

“I suppose so. But it seems very unfair. And was your novel ever published?”

“Alas! No. The manuscript unfortunately was abandoned. I use the word in the sense of lost or mislaid. To your work, child, these speculations are profitless.”

The play continued on, all the while Serena couldn’t shake the familiar feeling of the lines… they way they were stated threatened to expose her whole life. The banter between her and Jed about “Uncle Jack” reminded her of the conversations between her and Seiya. His lines of being wicked were almost word for word with Seiya’s explanations of his life. Occasionally she would glance at her brother who sat in the front row, that stern look on his face told her that she was not the only one to see the parallel.

After an hour and a half Serena bowed to her audience and smiled. The applause was over whelming making her feel truly accomplished for once in her life. The curtain drew once more cuing the actors to exit the stage and mingle with the guests. She didn’t hesitate to find her group waiting anxiously.

“You were great!” Darien exclaimed and swung her around in an exuberant hug. “We brought you flowers too.” Seiya produced a large bouquet of roses.

“So, I did okay?” She tilted her head to the side as she took hold of the flowers and smiled at her boyfriend. His icy eyes were full of admiration.

“Okay? Serena, that’s the most genuine performance of Cecily I’ve ever seen!” Raye laughed and slid her arms around Darien’s after he’d released his sister. It was a clear act of possession making Serena pause for a moment.

“It wasn’t as provocative as I thought… though there were some interesting plot pieces.” Seiya kissed her lips lightly then smiled. He’d liked it. Thank heavens he’d liked it.

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