Title: Learning How to Love
Author: BluCrescent
Rated: PG
Email: BluCrescent@hotmail.com
7/29/99


Author Notes: Sup everyone? How's everyone doing? First off I 
just want to ask was the last part so horrible that only 7 
people email me? Am I doing something wrong? Come on people if 
you don't like it you gotta write me and tell why so I can fix my 
mistakes but if you don't write then I won't know what I'm doing 
wrong. The response I got for part 3 was pitiful compare to the 
other parts. Just please WRITE me!You guys do realize that your 
responses are the only pay we writers get. So use a minute of so 
to write to all of the writers that you like k? (including me 
of course *_~) Ok I talk or rather write the rest of this later 
now to the story. I'm terribly sorry that this part is so short 
(wince blocking tomatoes, pots, and pans with my invisible 
shield call denial) but I didn't have much time this week. I'm just 
so tire and it's 3:36 am! And I'm putting the finishing touch on 
this. So here it is part 4! Enjoy...


Part 4



	The tall girl press continuously at the button waiting for the elevator. 
After what seem like forever the elevator finally came to a stop and open up 
its door for her. She steps inside with heavy footsteps and presses the 
number 4. The girl glance around at her surrounding. The carpet on the floor 
is of a dark red and the metals walls of the contraption reflect image after 
images of her. The place seems cold and eerily silent, which did not help 
settle the uneasiness inside of her. Her best friend had not shown up for work 
today and frankly she was worry. She had known the girl since middle school and 
her friend was never the kind to just take a day off of work for no reason. 
Quite the opposite actually, she was always the one willing to endure any kind 
of labor thrown her way. The elevator come to a jerky stop and woke the pale skin 
girl from her reminiscences. 

	The metal doors open painfully slow and try the girl's patient, which was 
already wearing thin at the moment. The doors finally made an opening large for 
her to get through and she hop out of the elevator and make her way to her 
friend's apartment door. 32...34...ah there it is apartment 36. She knocks gently
but with strength to make sure the person on the other side of the door would 
hear her. After waiting for a while and not hearing any noise from the apartment 
her imagination ran wild. Thoughts after thoughts ran through her mind and what 
could have happened to her friend and this time she knock loudly not caring if 
anyone else hears her. Her hands fly at the door banging it and shock at the 
doorknob hoping it would give way and let her in. But the door stand its ground 
and loom over her as if to mock at her incompetence strength. She had enough 
and decides to kick the door down. Assessing the force that she would need to 
knock it down, she walk a few steps back to give her a better chance at it. 
Running with full force she jumps up in the air and attempts to quadruple-kick 
the door. Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! She swings her leg around and land on her 
feet in a ready to fight pose. The door swing open with visible dents and the 
doorknob hang loosely from its place the in door. A smile creeps up her lip; 
obviously satisfy with herself. She gave the door a smug look and walk 
cautiously into the apartment.   


	"Well, the apartment isn't trash so that's rule out robbery" she mutter. 
The apartment looks as it always did. A big flush sofa sits in the middle of 
the living room facing the entertainment system. A rose bouquet sits on the 
coffee table with the remote control laying right beside it. A blue curtain 
hangs over the double window refusing to let sunlight in. Somehow the persistence 
sun found a way in and ray of lights filter in the room landing on the red 
oak dining table. The young lady walk through the apartment looking at every 
corner hoping just praying that it contains her friend. Every time the search 
comes up empty handed her heart would leap a little and horrid thoughts of what 
could have happened fill her mind. She slowly turns the doorknob to her friend's 
room. "Please God let her be safe," she prays looking up to the ceiling. She 
gently pushes the door open hoping that if she did it slowly enough her friend 
would be on the other side. Lumps rises up into her throat and made it hard to 
breathe as her eyes scan around the room.

	The room was neat as always but a dense and sad air hang in the once bright 
and sunny room that mirrors its owner's personalities. Her eyes darted around the 
room and finally landed on the wastebasket. It's over flowing with used tissue. 
On top of the nightstand sits a glass of water and a bottle of sleeping pills. The 
bed next to the nightstand is unmade and looks like it went through hell and back. 
Under the wrinkle sheets lay a distress blond with tears cascading down her porcelain face. 

"Serena?" Lita said as she lifted the sheets off of her friend's head. The blond 
hair is in multitude of tangles and big red puffy eyes look up at Lita. Her eyes 
are blood-shoot and the tears made her vision blurry. Serena stares up at the 
girl trying to register who she is and just how did she get into her home. 
Realization hits her as the walls around her crumbles. She lost control of herself 
and sob quietly into her pillows.
"Serena what's wrong?" worry apparent in her voice. 
"Oh Lita!" she flings into Lita crying her eyes out. Lita slowly surround the girl 
in her embrace and rock Serena slowly back and forth trying desperately to calm her. 
"Serena it's ok. I'm here for you." Lita held her in her arms as she whisper 
comforting words to her best friend. After an hour or so Serena had calm considerably 
and Lita attempts to find what's the root of the dilemma is.
"Serena?"
"Yeah?" trying to smile as she looks up at her face seriously face. She knows where this 
is going and unconsciously holds her breath as Lita try to bring up the much dreaded topic. 
"Serena...I...I want...to know what happened? What's wrong?" she said happy that she 
had finally got it out in the open.
"Please Lita, I don't want to talk about it right now," turning away from her 
friends imploring eyes.
"Serena I know it hurts but you have to talk about it and the sooner you 
do the better it'll be for you. Serena please tell me what's going on?" Lita plead.
"Darien said he love me," Serena mumble.
"I thought he said it already? But that's great! Why are you sad?" Lita ask 
looking at her friend a bit confused.
"I ran out on him after he said it." Her lips starting quavering and tears well up in her eyes.
"Oh Serena...but why?" Lita ask concern and confusion clear in her voice.
"Scott, Lita I can't get him out my head! Lita I can't forget what happened 
between him and me." At this point tears overflow Serena's eyes and fall onto the 
bedspread soaking it wet. Lita rush to her side and try her hardest 
to comfort her best friend. 

	Lita hold the crying girl in her arms and try to sooth her tense nerves. 
She could understand why Serena ran out on Darien. If she have had the same 
experience with Scott she wouldn't trust men either. God she thought Scott 
was out of Serena's life but apparently she was wrong. Even if he's not near 
her he still effects Serena in the deadliest ways. That bastard! His name burn 
on her tongue and she long to pound something but Serena is only starting to 
calm down and she doubted that it would help if she went around the house 
pounding everything in sight. Serena soon fell asleep; exhausted from crying. 
Lita carefully laid the girl down on the bed not wanting to disturb her sleep. 
She covers Serena with a blanket and tiptoe out the room. Lita too soon closed 
her eyes to much needed sleep and spent the night on Serena's sofa.   

	A blond woman steps out of her car catching the attention of every man there. 
She's wearing a navy blue business suit with black pumps. Oval rim sunglasses 
grace her face and shield her eyes from the harsh sun. The short skirt shows 
off her long legs and the slim jacket gave her a look of sophistication. Swinging 
her long hair over her shoulder she walk the short distance to the Crescent Palace. 

	Lita look up from the counter as she hears the tiny bell on the 
door ring announcing yet another customer. Surprise and pleasure surge 
through her as she realizes the person standing by the entrance was 
not the usual customer. Lita ask one of the hostesses to take over 
her post and excuse herself to welcome the woman. She walks up to the 
blond woman with surprise written on her face and open arms. 
"Mina! What are you doing here?" she said embracing the girl in her arm. 
"I felt the urge the to gossip and to check on Serena," 
Mina explain and smile at the girl.
Lita acknowledging her friend's reason lead her to one of the 
empty table so that they can talk.
"So how is she?" she ask concern in her voice.
"Seriously, I don't know. After last Sunday she went back to normal. 
Well, not exactly normal she's been working really hard. 
Even harder then when we first started the restaurant. She hardly 
talks nor eats and when she does it's just a little bite of this 
or that and she off again. Frankly I worry about her and I don't 
know what to do. Mina she seems so sad. So how's Darien?" 
Mina gave a long sigh and proceeds to tell the tale of her friend's emotional state. 
"Darien has...reverted back to his mask again."
"What do you mean?" Lita ask puzzle at Mina choice of words.
"Oh yeah I forgot! You never got to meet the Darien before Serena."
"So...what was he like before Serena."
"Cool, confident, and cold as ice!"
"Mina that doesn't explain things much for me! I need more descriptive 
sentences then six word make."
"Ok I'm sorry it just I'm worry about those two that all, not that 
we all aren't. Back to the subject before Darien met Serena he was 
one of those I found women to be boring type ya know. He was 
extremely serious and never bothers with women much. When he 
does it would be one of those 24 hours relationships. Now he 
locks himself in that hospital and doesn't even bother to return 
any of our calls. We ask him over for dinner last night hoping to 
get something out of him but he refuse saying that they need him 
at the hospital. He has been avoiding us ever since that day. 
Andrew tried talking to him but he refuse to talk about it 
stating that there was nothing to talk about. It's as if he 
close that chapter behind him but each time we mention Serena 
you could see the pain in his eyes. "
"He not taking it to well huh?" Lita ask with sadness in her eyes. 
"Nope! And with good reason too. Serena's the only one he ever said those words to."
"Ok that I didn't know. Poor guy." 
"Hey guys what are y'all talking about?" Serena ask coming up from behind the girls.
Lita and Mina were caught off guard found it hard to speak and just sit there 
staring at each other trying to think of something to say. Mina was the first 
to recover and try to cover up their conversation afraid that the topic would hurt Serena.
"Umm...nothing...it was nothing. Oh I almost forgot! Amy wanted me to ask 
you guys to come to a little get together that Greg and she are planning. 
Words has it that they're going to announce their engagement."
"Wow! Well, you can count me in! You going to come Serena?" knowing full 
well what Serena is thinking at the moment. I can't go he's going to be 
there her mind scream. Yeah but it's your friends big day. You can't just 
chicken out and not show up because of him another part of her reason. 
But HE going to be there! Deal with it! Another part of her counter.
"Yeah, I'm going to be there. It's Amy big day after all." 
Serena left the girls talking to go to her office in the back and 
bang her head various times on the wall for getting herself in 
this mess in the first place. 

	Darien glances around the room waiting to see if Serena's here. 
Half of him hopes that she wouldn't come and spare each other the 
awkwardness and the other wish that she would grace him with her beauty. 
Ok so even though she doesn't love him he still love her and going for 
so many days without seeing her is driving him crazy. He's on Serena 
withdrawn and it seemed to have the same effects on him as nicotine 
does on smokers. God he got it bad for her and every waking moment 
knowing that she doesn't feel the same way about him bore a hole 
through his heart.  A lump form in his throat as he caught sight of 
Amy greeting her as she enters. Wearing a blue pastel slip dress she look 
absolutely beautiful. Her hair is plait into a French braid with 
intertwine red rose buds. Waves of throbbing torture washes over 
him as the rose buds reminded him of the red rose that he had gave 
Serena on that fatal day as a symbol of his love. 

	As she hug Amy Serena couldn't help but look around for Darien. 
If he isn't here I'll just act normal and if he's here then...I'll just 
act...no avoid him at all cost. Oh my gosh there he is. Boy does he look 
hot in that shirt. And that little piece of hair that keeps falling into 
his eyes it makes him so dashing.  Stop it! You're not supposed to say 
that. Oh and those eyes those deep blue eyes that seem to change...STOP IT! 
STOP IT! Hey old habits die hard ok! Oh my god I'm talking to myself! 
Trying to gather herself together Serena walk up to the large dining 
table with Amy and pray that she would not have to sit next to Darien. 
Eyeing an empty chair next to Lita Serena walk a little faster afraid 
that someone might get to it before she does and have her end up sitting 
next to Darien. Pulling the chair backs she sit down and 
attempt to make herself invisible.

"You ok?" Lita whisper in her ear.
"I'll manage," come her short reply.
Greg clear his throat getting the attention of everyone at the table 
and together with Amy they stood up preparing to make their announcement. 
"Everyone is here now since Serena decided to be fashionably last," 
Greg cast a teasing smile at Serena. She suddenly finds the table 
clothe very intriguing and blush a soft red. 
"I'm sorry, I was a little detain," she said apologetically at Amy and Greg. 
"We understand," Amy smiles at the girl sympathy for what she had to 
do through these last few weeks. 
"I guess you are wondering why Amy and I gather you here today huh?" Greg 
asks with a rather goofy smile on his handsome feature. 
"YES!" they all said at once.
"Well, being the wonderful friends that we are we won't keep 
you in suspense anymore. Honey would you like to tell them?" 
Greg asks Amy his eyes speaking more volumes then his words could.
"How about WE tell them?" He kissed her on the cheek as she blushes becomingly.
"We're engage!" they said excitingly.
"That it! That's what you gather us here for?" Ray asks with a 
tad bit of annoyance in her voice.
Mina caught the look in Ray's eyes and decided to join the fun.
"I know! Andrew and I are married and we didn't gather all our 
friends and announced it." Mina said with a smile slowly creeping up.
"Well, I didn't elope!" Amy countered with a smile spread wide on her face. 
"No really, congratulation Amy," Lita said.
"Yep, even though it wasn't a big surprise with the way Greg and you were acting."
"So it wasn't a surprise?" Amy asks faking a pout. At that point they all jump 
up from their chairs to hug the bride to be.
"This is one of the coolest new yet. Anyone else have great news?" Mina asks 
glancing at Ray and Chad.
"Well, this isn't really our new but Darien have news." Greg said.
"Really! What is it Darien?" Andrew asks his best friend.
"Well...umm...you tell them Greg,"
"Darien is going to America to teach at Johns Hopskins University one 
of the greatest medical school on earth. And if I remember right 
you study for your PHD there."
"Yeah, sure did. It's a great place."
"Darien you're going to America?" Mina asks bewilder. Darien steal a glance 
at Serena to see how she's reacting to it all and he found himself staring 
at a mask of calmness. He leaving and she don't even care he thought. The 
pain of a broken heart never does truly go away he realize as his heart 
shatter into small pieces.
"Yeah, America."
"When and how long?" Mina asks. If Serena won't bother to ask she sure as heck will! 
After all that what's friend are for. She's sure that once Serena get home she'll 
cry her eyes over this fact. Might as well provide her with all the information 
before she breaks down. 
"Tomorrow but I don't know how long though."
"Oh..."           
   	         
	Tears roll down her eyes and soak the pillow beneath her. Try as she might 
she can't get the tears to stop falling. They didn't exchange one word that whole 
night. God she miss his company! The way his eyes light up with mischief, the 
smiles that always seem to warm her heart, that little strand of hair that 
always fall into his eyes. She miss it all, she miss all of him and mostly HIM. 
If she could only make him understand, if she could only explain to him her 
reason then maybe things would be all right. But she was too afraid too scare 
to trust him fully with her heart. She gave her heart away once and god did it 
hurt when her so called one and only shatter it with one action, one word. 
But strange how when she thinks of it now that dull pain in her heart then 
can never compare to the pain she feels now. This pain that slowly drive 
through your heart like a hot knife. It cuts you up inside till you're sure 
that if they open you up your heart would be in billion of pieces, unable to 
ever put back together. Just when you think the sorrow is subsiding one 
thought or a mention of his name send you back into the black abyss of despair. 
Blood pound at your brain with the strength of a hammer and every few moment 
a chill radiates from your chest making your feel hollow inside. 
No that pain can NEVER compare to this torture chamber inside of her. 

	The airport is buzzing with the sound of people. Families, couples, men, 
women, and even children rush about trying to get to their designated gated. 
Darien looks around the room hoping against hope that Serena would come. 
She would tell him that it's all just a big a mistake and that she do 
love him. Throwing her arms around him and kisses him to assure him that 
she truly does love him passionately. They would hug and kiss and just hold 
each other and Darien would cancel this whole teaching thing. He would go 
back to her and keep her in his arms forever. But she isn't there and most 
likely won't be. God the look on her face last night nearly killed him. That 
feature of complete calmness and coolness showed she didn't care. The thought 
of her not caring and oblivious to his pain hurts. They didn't talk last night. 
Darien didn't want to speak to her knowing that no matter what the love that he 
want from her will never be his. "All passenger on flight 380 to 
Baltimore, Massachusetts please board the plane now."
Darien picks up his suitcase and walks the short distance to the gate. 
Looking over the place one more time hoping to see her he board the plane. 
Guess she's not coming after all... But little did he know that a tall 
blond stand hiding behind a blue column watching him leave 
her world with tears in her eyes.   	 



To be continue...



Author Notes: So...how was it? Back to the subject of y'all writing me. 
Please write me with, I don't care anymore just write me k? And another 
thing if I don't get at least some mail from y'all out there in internet 
land I'm not sending in part5 for next week. (evil grin hehe =) I will 
however send anyone who writes to me this week part 5 through their email. 
Hehe so y'all better write me if you don't want me to do that. 
I'm doing this because honestly I feel like I'm wasting my time writing 
this if no one is reading it in the first place. I know this is a pathetic 
scheme to get more of y'all to write me but hey I'm human and I do love 
hearing what you think about the story. Just a thought but does anyone else 
beside me realize that guys like Darien don't exist in reality. And when 
they do they are either taken, a relative, or just plain unreachable? 
So not fair! I want a mamo-chan!!!!!!!(sigh) A girl can dream can't she? :)
Till next time!!



Love and Peace,
BluCrescent